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Tokushima's indigo, along with Yamagata's safflower, is said to have covered the entire country in blue from the mid-Edo period to the Meiji era. Awa indigo refers to the indigo dyeing practiced in Tokushima Prefecture (Awa Province), or the materials used for it, such as the Japanese indigo plant (Tadeai) and sukumo (indigo balls). At AoAwo Naruto Resort, you can fully enjoy the charm of indigo through indigo-themed accommodations, indigo-themed food, and a natural lye fermentation Awa indigo dyeing experience.
Indigo dyeing | An authentic indigo dyeing experience using natural lye fermentation.
Making indigo
Natural lye that has been passed down since the Edo period(evil)Fermentation-based
Awa Indigo Dyeing Experience
Indigo has been valued since ancient times for its various properties, including antibacterial, deodorizing, insect-repellent, and heat-retaining effects. Why not incorporate indigo dyeing into your handkerchiefs and tenugui (Japanese hand towels) to enjoy both its benefits and stylish design?
●Reservations required by 20:00 PM the day before. <Maximum 4 people per time slot>
●Reservation location and reservation hours/
Beach counter (10:00 AM - 17:00 PM, extension 21)
Or Awa Province (18:30-21:00)
■Holding time/10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 19:00
■ Estimated time: 90-120 minutes
■Target audience: Elementary school students and older (ages 10 and above, and at least 130cm tall)
Indigo dyeing experience online reservation *Reservations must be made by 17:00 PM the day before.
What is Awa Indigo? | Learning about Indigo
What is "Awa Indigo," the true form of indigo?
Indigo leaves (Persicaria tinctoria)
Natural indigo dye produced in Tokushima from the Edo period to the mid-Meiji period."Sukumo" Not only was its quality exceptional, but its production volume was also the highest in the country, and it was known as "Awa Indigo," and Awa prospered during this period.
Tokushima today is the heartland of indigo dye production, known as "sukumo," and this tradition continues to this day.
Indigo dye using sukumo (a type of indigo dye). This dye faithfully adheres to dyeing techniques passed down since the Edo period, and is a dye that protects nature and allows us to coexist with fish and insects without using chemical dyes.
Because it is an extremely labor-intensive process, it is said to account for only 1% of all indigo-dyed products in modern times.
What is sukumo, the raw material for indigo?
"Sukumo" made from indigo leaves
The indigo used is sukumo (indigo dye) produced using a traditional method that has been passed down for over 600 years in Awa (present-day Tokushima Prefecture).
Sukumo is made from the leaves of the Polygonaceae plant, specifically the indigo plant, which are harvested, dried, and then fermented.
Because the leaves of the Japanese indigo plant are not water-soluble and cannot be boiled, it is not possible to dye fabric by soaking it in a liquid extracted from the leaves, as is done with other plant dyes.
Therefore, the pigments in the indigo plant are chemically altered to make them fixable to fibers.
Indigo is a living thing
Ai is alive.
This dyeing technique uses microorganisms to color the fabric, and the color develops upon contact with oxygen in the air. This is the "natural lye fermentation indigo dyeing" method that has been passed down since the Edo period (and is different from typical plant dyeing).
Every day, we peer into the large vats and tend to the indigo plants, checking on the "indigo blossoms" floating on the surface of the liquid and observing the plants' condition by looking into the vats.
From indigo to dye [The process of dyeing]
[Step 1]
The harvested leaves are immediately moved from the field to the garden of the indigo dyer's house and put through a cutting machine. The cut indigo leaves come out of the cutting machine's outlet and are blown away by a fan. The stems and leaves are separated here because the distance they are carried by the wind differs depending on the difference in weight. The separated indigo leaves are thoroughly dried in the sun and stored. This is called "aikonashi" (indigo powder preparation). In September, the stored indigo leaves are placed in beds. After that, only water is added to promote fermentation, and a process called "kirikaeshi" is repeated, in which water is added and mixed in every 5 to 7 days, until the weather gets colder."Sukumo," the dye used for indigo dyeing.Is completed.
[Step 2]
In the sukumo (indigo dye solution) stage, the indigo (blue pigment) is not yet dissolved in water. Therefore, it is further reduced in lye (an alkaline aqueous solution) by the action of microorganisms to create a dye solution. This process of creating a dye solution for reduction dyeing is called "building the indigo dye saturation."
[Step 3]
Daily care is also important. The day begins with peering into the vat. We check the way the bubbles, called "indigo flowers," rise on the surface of the liquid, as well as their scent and color. Managing the indigo after it has been prepared is also extremely difficult, as we are dealing with nature, which is constantly changing—temperature, humidity, weather, etc. It is a skill that can only be learned through experience, using all five senses. If the indigo is tired, we sometimes give it "bran" (wheat husks) to "appease" it. Indigo is a living thing, just like a human being.
Stay in Indigo | Immerse yourself in indigo in rooms adorned with indigo dyeing.
Accommodation available
Awa Indigo Room
From the mid-Edo period to the Meiji era, Tokushima's indigo dye, along with Yamagata's safflower, is said to have covered the entire country in blue. The Awa Indigo Room is a unique and beautifully designed guest room created by four leading Tokushima "indigo dyeing masters" who carry on this traditional technique, with themes such as "Awa Odori" (Awa Dance) and "whirlpools."
■Room 509 Produced by Noriharu Furushō
Theme / None
■Room 502 Produced by Aishu Yano
Theme / Naruto whirlpools, waves, and blue waves
■Room 609 Produced by Masanori Harada Futaai
Theme / Moon (sphere)
■Room 602: Produced by Misako Kondo and Mieko Fujimori
Theme / Awa Odori Waves
Accommodation available
Bridge ViewTwin ~Awa Indigo~
Known as "Japan Blue," Awa indigo is characterized by its beautiful indigo color. Adhering to the time-honored, environmentally friendly natural lye fermentation dyeing technique, two masters who boast some of the highest dyeing skills in Japan, Masakazu Akiyama (Miyazaki Prefecture) and Yoshikaze Suwa (Yamagata Prefecture), have created works inspired by the Naruto whirlpools in the "Bridge View Twin - Awa Indigo" room. This corner room offers a view of the Great Naruto Bridge.
■Room 401 Indigo Dye Art Production Artist: Akiyama Masakazu
■Room 301 Artist: Yoshikaze Suwa (Representative Director, National Awa Indigo Dyeing and Weaving Artists Association)
Buy Indigo
Indigo GOODS
We have gathered works by artists who love the color indigo.
What is Awa indigo...?
This refers to "sukumo," a natural indigo dye made by fermenting the dried leaves of the indigo plant, a member of the Polygonaceae family, cultivated in Tokushima. Five indigo dyers still continue to produce it using traditional methods. This precious "sukumo" is used in a traditional indigo dyeing technique passed down since the Edo period, called "natural lye fermentation dyeing." The dye is applied to building materials and sliding doors in the alcove, and indigo-dyed furnishings are also included.
The traditional culture of Awa indigo dyeing has been designated a Japan Heritage site.
In May 2019, "Awa, the Hometown of Indigo: Visiting the Supreme Blue that Dyed All of Japan," an application submitted by nine cities and towns in the Yoshino River basin (Tokushima City, Yoshinogawa City, Awa City, Mima City, Ishii Town, Kitajima Town, Aizumi Town, Itano Town, and Kamiita Town), was certified as a Japan Heritage site by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.