Higeta Indigo Dyeing Workshop, established during the Kansei era (1789–1801), is a fabric-dyeing and weaving workshop. It is a rare workshop in Tochigi that inherited traditional indigo dyeing. It still uses the dyeing area created at the time of its establishment to dye the fabric in the traditional manner. Inside the 200-year-old building with a thatched roof, 72 earthenware indigo vats are neatly arranged. The building and the vat area are Tochigi Prefecture’s tangible cultural assets, and visitors can freely visit and see them. Indigo is a plant dye that has long colored ethnic costumes. Long ago in Japan, 80% of commoners’ cloths were dyed with indigo. The indigo color produced by the traditional Japanese indigo dyeing and plant dyeing methods is called Japan Blue and, together with the dyeing methods, is highly recognized around the world. The workshop engages not only in dyeing but also cotton cultivation, yarn-making, yarn dyeing, and handweaving in order to preserve the cotton tradition essential to the indigo dyeing culture. The workshop sells indigo-dyed cotton fabric, coasters, and tablecloths. Please come and see the traditional techniques and the beauty of indigo.

Mashiko is dotted with a number of relaxing cafés serving treats and drinks in Mashiko-ware. Many of these cafés are off the beaten path, so they often go unnoticed by those who haven’t done their research.

Embrace the town of Mashiko, where culture, art, natural beauty, history, and craftsmanship have combined to create a unique form of Japanese pottery and a National Traditional Craft.

The Pottery Fair have been held twice a year since 1966.Once in the spring during Japan’s Golden Week Holiday, and once in the fall around November 3rd. There are about 50 shops and as many as 550 tents set up selling pottery. There is a great variety of pottery sold from traditional Mashiko pottery, such as vases and pots to articles for daily use like cups and plates. The Pottery Fair provides a great chance to enjoy talking with young artists and local potters in the shops and tents. Besides pottery, freshly-harvested vegetables grown in Mashiko and some other speciality items from the region are big attractions of the fair. Every year about 600,000 people come to enjoy the fair.

The “Autumn Mashiko Pottery Fair” is held on early November every year. This fair started from 1966, there are about 50 shops and as many as 550 tents set up selling pottery. The Pottery Fairs provide a great chance to enjoy talking with young artists and local potters in the shops and tents. Every year about 600,000 people come to enjoy the fair.