THE LITTLE INDIGO MUSEUM

In 2005, local indigo dye artist Hiroyuki Shindo opened his private home as a museum dedicated to indigo art. Located in Miyama Kayabuki no Sato in Kita, Miyama Town—a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings—the museum occupies a traditional thatched-roof house originally built in 1796, formerly the residence of the Nakano Hachiroemon family.

On the first floor, the traditional earthen floor area and northern workshop feature buried indigo vats, allowing visitors to explore a classic indigo dyeing workshop, alongside a space showcasing Shindo’s works. In the attic on the second floor, selected items from Shindo’s extensive personal collection of about 300 pieces, accumulated since his student days, are exhibited. Highlights include tie-dye textiles from Indonesia and Nigeria, as well as Edo-period work clothing and other valuable indigo dyeing materials. A museum shop is also available, perfect for purchasing indigo-dyed souvenirs.

Notable attractions include seven crossed wooden beams called "Chigi" adorning the roof, seasonal flowers blooming in the garden such as the weeping cherry blossoms that reach full bloom in mid-April, and the "Aizen Well" where visitors can enjoy delicious, fresh water. Be sure to also take time to wander around Miyama Kayabuki no Sato, where traditional Japanese scenery is beautifully preserved.