With the theme of "extraordinary," each facility at Hoshinoya welcomes guests with its own unique hospitality. One aspect of that hospitality is the diverse programs that guests can participate in. Each program, created based on the culture and traditions of the area, is a new attraction of Hoshinoya.
In this third installment of our Hoshinoya Okinawa stay review, we will focus on the special program "Bashofu Salon Dressed in a Cool Breeze," which allows guests to experience the beauty and elegance of Kijoka Bashofu, a national intangible cultural property, and the staff at Hoshinoya Okinawa who were involved in its development.
A special program at Hoshinoya Okinawa where you can experience the charm of Bashofu
Bashofu is a symbol of Okinawa's traditional crafts, nurtured by the climate and history of Okinawa. Hoshinoya Okinawa has created a special program where you can visit Kijoka, Ogimi Village in the northern part of Okinawa's main island, visit a Bashofu workshop, see the entire process of making the cloth by hand, and hear directly from the makers.
This program, named "Bashofu Salon with a Cool Breeze," is packed with a variety of activities, including not only a tour of the workshop, but also the opportunity to try on a haori coat made from Bashofu and feel how cool it feels, as well as watching classical Ryukyu dance performed by dancers dressed in Bashofu costumes.
A field in Kijoka, Ogimi Village, where thread bananas grow lushly
The tallest are 2 meters, with the largest exceeding 3 meters. Thread bananas grow in rows on both sides of a narrow path about 1 meter wide, continuing all the way to the back of the path. The tips of the leaves swaying in the wind are turning white and withered, and parts of the surface of the trunks are about to fall off. In late February, when the light reminiscent of early summer was pouring down, the thread banana harvest was coming to an end in Kijoka, Ogimi Village, in the northern part of Okinawa's main island.
There are three types of banana: fruit banana, flower banana, and thread banana, and thread banana is the material used for Bashofu. Incidentally, fruit bananas bear bananas. Also, the Basho is not a tree but a perennial plant, and what looks like a trunk is actually a stem formed by the overlapping base of each leaf, botanically known as a "pseudostem."
The harvest of Itobasho means the harvest of fibers that are literally made into "threads," and Bashofu is made by weaving threads made from these fibers. This thin, firm fabric with a smooth texture and good ventilation, essential in the hot and humid tropical climate, was not only worn by royalty during the Ryukyu Dynasty, but was also highly valued as a premium tribute to China and Japan.
Bashofu, which has long been the work of women in Kijoka, declined for a time during the turmoil around the time of World War II, but has made a remarkable comeback, with "Kijoka Bashofu" designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1974. Additionally, Toshiko Taira, who played a central role in the revival of the craft, was designated a Living National Treasure in 49.
Bashofu, which is breathable and thin and firm, is also called "dragonfly's wing" and was used as summer attire for the royal family during the Ryukyu Dynasty. Today, it is a fashionable summer garment and a coveted item for kimono lovers.
It took four years to build the Bashofu program
Accompanying us to Kijoka was Matsubara Mirai from Hoshinoya Okinawa, who was the central figure in developing this program.
"I wanted to somehow incorporate Bashofu, one of Okinawa's most representative crafts, into the programs at Hoshinoya Okinawa. With that in mind, I visited Kijoka four years ago. At the time, Living National Treasure Toshiko Taira was still alive, but I mainly consulted with her daughter-in-law, Mieko, about the content of the programs."
"It is a fabric that was born from the lives of the people and is deeply rooted in Okinawan life. Every step of the process is done by hand, and the work begins with the cultivation of the thread banana plant. Our guests should be able to experience for themselves what Bashofu is, and not just see it as an art piece on display in a museum, but actually wear it and experience its splendor. We thought hard about how to achieve this."
Matsubara Mirai has developed a variety of programs, including the "Bashofu Salon Dressed in a Cool Breeze." Subtropical plants, including thread bananas and fruit bananas, grow lushly in the gardens of Hoshinoya Okinawa. Program participants begin with a "Bashofu Invitation," where they are guided by staff around the gardens after arriving at the facility, and gain basic knowledge, such as the characteristics of the basho as a plant. (Photo taken in the gardens of Hoshinoya Okinawa)
Matsubara himself traveled to Kijoka, which is just under two hours by car from Hoshinoya Okinawa, many times to learn about the history and manufacturing process of Bashofu. Impressed by Matsubara's enthusiasm, Mieko Taira gradually began to give him various advice.
"The best time for the process of joining fibers together to make thread, known as 'Uumi,' and for weaving that thread is the humid months of May and June. We wanted our guests to see the process during the most suitable time for those involved in the process, so we set the program period from March to June."
"The process you can see will vary depending on the work being done that day. When you tour a workshop, you usually tend to focus on the 'weaving' part, but in the case of Bashofu, there are many manual steps that go into the process before that, and I hope you will understand how important these are."
Mirai Matsubara has been involved in various tasks as a staff member at Hoshinoya Okinawa since it opened in 2020. While she currently mainly works on program development, she also serves as the manager, overseeing the entire facility.
Kijoka is a quiet seaside village just under two hours by car from Hoshinoya Okinawa.
At the Bashofu Hall, the tools used to weave Bashofu are on display and for sale, as well as accessories made from Bashofu, such as wallets and bags.
This program begins with a visit to the Bashofu Hall in Kijoka. After getting an overview of Bashofu by looking at the tools used in Bashofu production on display in the hall and footage documenting the production site, you will then take a special tour of the Bashofu Weaving Workshop established by Toshiko Taira.
There were several looms lined up in the workshop, and weavers were working on some of them. The distinctive sound of the reeds of the looms reverberated rhythmically. As I was admiring the beauty of the Bashofu that was slowly coming together, Ms. Mieko Taira from Basho Weaving Workshop called out to me.
"Let's go to the fields. To understand Bashofu, you must first see the fields."
Bashofu production starts from the fields. Weaving accounts for less than 1% of the total work.
With Taira's guidance, we make our way into the thread banana fields. We get a close-up look at Taira's work, which he does himself - "Utoushi" (cutting down the ramie) and "Uhagi" (peeling off the ramie). He cuts down the thread bananas and peels the bark from the base. The bark is divided into four parts, from the outermost part to the core, and it is the third, highest quality part that becomes the fabric for kimonos. Taira's fingertips are stained red with sap oozing from the cut-down thread bananas. Taira tells us stories between tasks.
Taira-san performs the "uhagi" process, which involves peeling the bark off a cut down thread banana. The outermost bark is used to make cushions and tablecloths. (The content of the tour varies depending on the program period and the work being done in the workshop.)
"Weaving the cloth is an obvious task. What's even more important is that all of the raw materials are sourced locally in the Kijoka area. It takes three years to grow the thread-basho plants, extract the fibers from them, spin them into thread, twist them to make them stronger, dye them, and go through a number of other processes before and after that before finally reaching the stage of weaving. It's said that making Bashofu starts from the fields, and that's absolutely true; weaving accounts for less than 3% of the whole process."
Taira sits next to a spinning wheel used for twisting threads together to make them stronger. In his hands is a base thread for the weft, which has been manually wound into a cocoon shape on a skewer.
Daily care is very important to harvest high-quality fiber, such as spreading compost such as oil cake and cow dung on the Itobasho fields and carrying out a pruning-like task called "leaf removal." On the other hand, about 1 grams of high-quality fiber can be extracted from one Itobasho stalk, and about 5 kilogram, or 1 Itobasho stalks, are needed to weave one bolt of cloth. The women of Kijoka have been carrying out this mind-boggling work for a long time.
"At the workshop, you can see the entire process of turning the fibers of the Itobasho into thread, and then turning that thread into Bashofu. Currently, most raw materials for thread, such as cotton and silk, are produced overseas and are imported and processed into thread, which weavers then purchase and weave in their factories. At the workshop, the exact opposite is preserved: the origins of weaving, which does not use any motors at all."
Inside the workshop, where high-speed looms are lined up, all staff members are involved in every task, from farm work to weaving, and work together to create Bashofu.
Return to Hoshinoya Okinawa and wear the Bashofu haori coat
I returned to Hoshinoya Okinawa feeling humbled after seeing the women working silently in the workshop. A haori coat made from Bashofu was brought into the wooden dojo. It was surprisingly thin yet firm, and I could see why it was nicknamed "dragonfly wings." The yellow color, which exudes the dignity unique to Fukuki dyeing, looks golden in the sunlight.
Wearing a type of haori coat called "Unchanashi." I was even more impressed to see how the painstaking work I had just witnessed had turned into such a light piece of cloth. (©Hoshino Resort)
"These wonderful fabrics are produced through the accumulation of painstaking work at the Kijoka workshop. Although it is a short experience of about two hours, I believe that by witnessing the painstaking work that goes into making them, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the fabric even more."
Matsubara, who developed the program, had this to say.
Watch a classical Ryukyu dance performance by dancers dressed in Bashofu costumes, some of which are so precious they are on display at the exhibition. Be enchanted by the beautiful dance and the sound of the sanshin. (©Hoshino Resort)
Paying respect to Ryukyu culture, we bring it into the modern era and devise new programs.
"In addition to Bashofu, Okinawa has a wide variety of traditional crafts, including dyeing and weaving techniques such as bingata and pottery from Yomitan Village. We have already implemented several programs based on bingata and pottery, but we plan to continue creating new programs in the future. For example, Okinawa has an event called Choyo no Sekku, which has been held since the Ryukyu Dynasty. We would like to create a new program based on this event, which is held to pray for the health and longevity of families."
Fortunately, Okinawa has a lot of culture and customs other than traditional crafts. I would like to respect these cultures and customs and bring their essence into the modern era."
Okinawa is dotted with historical sites called "Gusuku," surrounded by stone and earthworks. The theme of Hoshinoya Okinawa is "Gusuku Residences," surrounded by "Gusuku Walls" that imitate the stone walls of "Gusuku." Just as various aspects of Ryukyu culture once flourished within the "Gusuku," a variety of programs that sublimate Ryukyu culture into the modern era have been born within the "Gusuku Residences," bringing a new sense of the extraordinary.
The sun sets, painting the western sky crimson red. Guests enjoying the infinity pool, which is open 24 hours a day, lose track of time and gaze at the beautiful sunset.
◆ Hoshinoya Okinawa "Bashofu Salon with a refreshing breeze"
・Dates: November 2025th to December 3st, 1
Price: 1 yen per person (tax and service charges included) *Accommodation fee not included
Included: Invitation to Bashofu, tour of Bashofu Hall and workshop, appreciation of Ryukyu classical dance, experience of trying on Nchanashi
・Reservation method: Accepted up to 2 weeks in advance on the official website
・Maximum 6 people (minimum 2 people)
Eligible: Guests staying at Hoshinoya Okinawa
・Notes The work that can be observed will vary depending on the day.
◆What is Hoshinoya Okinawa, the pinnacle of Okinawan luxury?
Hoshinoya Okinawa is made up of low-rise guest rooms stretching for about 1 km along one of the few remaining natural coastlines in Okinawa. Of the 100 rooms in total, 4 are top-class suites, and 1 room is dog-friendly.
The vast grounds are functionally laid out with a variety of facilities, including a reception desk, a shop, a library, a lounge called "Tsunaino-yakata," spa facilities, and a dojo for learning Ryukyu karate.
Banta Cafe by Hoshino Resorts, one of the largest seaside cafes, is open to non-guests and All Grill, which offers a wide variety of menu items such as steaks, seafood, and hamburgers, is also popular.
A 10-minute walk away is the village-run "Nirai Beach." Swimming in the natural ocean is a different kind of fun than swimming in a pool.
text by Sakurako Miyao
Photography by Azusa Todoroki
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