tamaki niime & Banshu-ori

To be honest, I had never even heard of Nishiwaki City before the day I boarded a train from Himeji, curious to learn more about traditional Japanese textiles. This small city in Hyogo Prefecture was once considered the capital of Japan—and today, it’s affectionately called Japan’s belly button for its central location on the map.

But what I discovered at tamaki niime, a brand built on the centuries-old craft of Banshu-ori, was far more than a textile lesson. It felt like entering an entirely new world—one I didn’t even realize I’d been missing.

I met passionate people working hard to keep a 200-year-old tradition alive, and doing it so beautifully that the brand has now become known across Japan. This visit made me pause and reflect on creativity, sustainability, and the quiet joy of making something slowly, by hand.

The article you are reading is my personal account of that visit—and why I believe tamaki niime deserves a place on any travel itinerary in Japan, especially if you’re into slow travel, craftsmanship, or ethical fashion.

To understand tamaki niime, you first need to know about Banshu-ori (撲州織)—a traditional textile technique that began right here in the Nishiwaki region of Hyogo Prefecture over 200 years ago.

The origins of Banshu-ori, also known as Banshu weave, date back to 1788, when a carpenter from Nishiwaki was sent to Kyoto to help rebuild the Imperial Palace. While in Kyoto, he encountered the sophisticated looms used in Nishijin brocade, one of Japan’s most famous textile arts. Inspired by what he saw, he brought the knowledge back home and, by blending it with local techniques, created something entirely new: Banshu-ori.

What makes Banshu-ori truly special is its sakizome (先染め) method—dyeing the threads before they are woven. This gives the fabric a rich, layered color that doesn’t fade easily with time or washing. It also softens the texture, making it gentle on the skin. Thanks to ultra-fine warp and weft threads, the result is a detailed, high-quality fabric with nearly infinite color possibilities.

Historically, Banshu-ori became known for its use in high-end dress shirts and luxury fashion textiles, and has even appeared in department stores and boutiques overseas. But like many traditional crafts in Japan, its survival was threatened by mass production and fast fashion.

That’s why what tamaki niime is doing today is so remarkable. Rather than letting Banshu-ori fade away, the brand is reimagining it for the future—through flowing silhouettes, bold color palettes, and a spirit of play that feels anything but conventional.

Tamaki-san is originally from Fukui Prefecture, another region deeply connected to Japan’s textile history. Surrounded by fabrics and thread from a young age, she developed a natural love for materials. But it wasn’t until she encountered Banshu-ori that something clicked.

She found an abandoned building that had once been a Banshu-ori factory and transformed it into a beautiful creative hub. Today, it’s home to around 100 staff members, all working together to shape the future of Japanese textiles.

Many of the old machines—some dating back over half a century—were brought back to life with the help of local masters, who passed their skills to a new generation. It’s not just about preserving tradition; it’s about evolving it.

Now, her brand tamaki niime is known for one-of-a-kind pieces: vibrant shawls, colorful, loose-fitting clothing, and designs that simply can’t be replicated. Since the threads are dyed before weaving, no two items are the same. Every piece carries a unique expression—pure joy in color form.

My visit began at the tamaki niime Lab & Shop, located inside a renovated dye factory. Here, you can shop the latest collection and try things on. As you might remember, everything here is unique—even if the design is the same, the textile colors are always different. That’s what makes tamaki niime so special.

If you contact them in advance (details at the end of the article), as I did, you can also take a tour of the workshop and learn more about the process. And believe me, it is absolutely worth it. Inside, you can walk through the Lab, where the weaving process unfolds right before your eyes.

I saw vintage looms clattering gently, colorful threads lined up like paint on a palette, and artisans working side by side. From the outside, it feels like arriving at a small village: sheep and even alpacas roam freely on the grounds, and in summer, cotton plants grow in the fields nearby.

Outside, sheep, dogs, and even alpacas roam freely. Cotton plants grow in the fields during summer. It feels like a dream—a blend of countryside charm and cutting-edge textile design.

I was honestly moved by this almost utopian place. In a modern world where fast fashion dominates and garments come and go without meaning, this was the complete opposite. And I’m here for it.

After the tour, I got to try the shawl-making experience. While I didn’t start from raw thread, I was able to choose my favorite pre-woven fabric, trim it to size, finish the edges with help from the staff, and sew on the official tamaki niime tag by hand.

If you’re tired of mass-produced souvenirs and surface-level experiences, tamaki niime offers something real.

Yes, it’s far. Yes, it takes effort. But the kindness of the people and the purity of the river made it feel like home.