Fukuoka's Hakata-Ori Textile Workshop — Weave Your Own Obi

Hakata ori is a silk weaving tradition dating to 1241, when a merchant named Mitsuda Yazaemon brought the technique from Song Dynasty China. The resulting fabric — dense, stiff, with geometric patterns of alternating satin and ribbed weave — became the most prestigious material for the wide kimono sash (obi) worn by both men and women. Modern Hakata ori workshops in the Gion district offer half-day experiences on traditional floor looms.