Experience the bounty of nature and the simple but rich lifestyle of the island
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HOSHINOYA Taketomi Island, a resort on Taketomi Island in Okinawa Prefecture, will offer an "Island Handicraft Stay" package between September 1 and November 30 2022, for participants to feel the bounty of nature and experience a simple but rich lifestyle. In this program, participants will weave folk handicrafts using island plants over a two-day period. Learn about weaving yami kago (basket bags) under the guidance of island masters and decorate them with a furoshiki (wrapping cloth dyed with plants and trees) in the color of their choice. By going out to search for native plants used as materials in making folk crafts and visiting a master weaver’s workshop, these local handicrafts can be learned in depth. It is a program that allows participants to feel the bounty of nature on Taketomi Island and experience the richness of living while utilizing the plants available.
Background
In the old days, most of the tools necessary for daily life on Taketomi Island were made at home. From farming tools to children's toys, for example, people made their own tools by using the special properties of various plants that grew in the wild. The master craftsmen were also skilled at identifying seasonal changes in the way plants grew. Autumn, in particular, is said to be the best time to harvest materials for making Yami baskets. We created this project in the hope that our guests will experience the wisdom of the ancestors who lived in harmony with nature and learn about a simple yet rich lifestyle through the process of making handicrafts.
Characteristic 1) Making the one and only Yami basket
A master craftsman will teach participants how to make a traditional island basket over the course of two days, where the class will be held in the participant’s room. A Yami basket is a basket bag traditionally used for shopping at the market. After the basket is completed, it can be decorated with furoshiki, dyed with plants and trees in the color of your choice. Handmade with great care and personalized to your liking, these pieces are one-of-a-kind and something you can look forward to incorporating into your daily life. Participants can experience the richness of island life by making the most of nature through handicrafts made from plants.
Weaving the Yami Basket
For this activity, the leaves of the island's octopus tree*¹, which have been painstakingly processed by masters beforehand, are used. Working in the privacy of your own room, you will immerse yourself in the handiwork of weaving the octopus tree leaves by hand, one by one. You can also take a break now and then to look out at your room's garden with its beautiful tropical plants and flowers. This experience lets you take your time, focus on the work, and create your own unique Yami basket.
*1 A plant belonging to the Pandanaceae family. The name is derived from the shape of the aerial roots coming out from the base of the plant, which resembles an octopus.
Personalize your Yami basket using a furoshiki cloth that has been dyed using plants and trees.
You can personalize your own Yami basket with a furoshiki cloth that is dyed using pigments made from the island's plants and trees. The cloth can be tied around the handle or placed inside the basket and used to wrap its contents. The island is home not only to folk tools but also to a long-standing tradition of herb-dyeing. No two colors are identical because of the unique characteristics of the plants used to produce the dyes, which include the yellow of the Fukugi tree, the pink of the shell ginger, and the gray of the momotamana plant. The soft colors unique to natural dyes are a perfect match for Yami baskets, also made from plants.
Characteristic 2) Learn about handicrafts in depth through the finding of materials and visiting workshops
Participants will first tour the village with our staff to look for plants that can be used as materials to make traditional tools. This tour will allow participants to see the plants in the soil and learn from the staff how each plant was used in the past. New realizations such as the way islanders have identified and used plants as materials for tools to live on the island can be made. Following the tour, participants will visit the workshop of a master craftsman of traditional tools. The way the plants are processed and made into tools with care can be seen up close. In addition, a visit to the museum to learn about the tools that were used in daily life and details of the local handicrafts is part of the program to take a look into the lifestyle of islanders.
Island Handicrafts Stay at a glance
Period: 1 September to 30 November 2022 (except on days related to the island's festival)
Price: 45,980 JPY per group (tax and service charge included)
Price includes:
Capacity: 1 pair per day (1 to 2 persons)
Reservation: Required by 2 weeks in advance.
Others: Depending on the island festivals and celebrations, a part of the program may be subject to change.
About HOSHINOYA Taketomi Island
Address: Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama, Okinawa 907-1101
Price: Starts from 112,000 JPY per night per room (includes tax and service charge, excludes meals)
Number of Rooms:
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 12:00 pm
Directions: Approximately 10 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Port (shuttle service available from Taketomi Port)
About HOSHINOYA Brand
Luxury hotel embodying the true characteristics of land, history, and culture
HOSHINOYA is an accommodation with distinct themes, conceptualized from each location's land, history, and culture. Woven into these distinct themes is our attention to detail in every aspect from the design to hospitality; contributing to the creation of a one-of-a-kind world of HOSHINOYA. Enrich the heart with the epiphanies of travel through a unique stay experience.
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