Day One at Fujino

Yesterday was such a wonderful day - it is so interesting and exciting being here. After negotiating my way to the Southern Central Hotel, Tokyo, asking people who don't speak English the way, and them drawing paper maps, I managed to get to the 20th Floor to meet the other 10 people and the person conducting the workshops on time. We were taken in two cars along amazing freeways (built in 1964 for the Olympic Games) to Fujino, a little village south west of Tokyo.

Firstly we had lunch, prepared by the cook, Hiro, (Brazilian born Japanese man) which was delicious. Then our 'homework was examined and we were given a talk on Katazome resist dyeing techniques as well as an overall view of our time here.

We then planted some polygonum tinctorium (Japanese indigo) in seed trays after which we were finishing our homework. We then proceeded to a Japanese restaurant set in the mountains, with thatched roofed cottages, beautiful lights in the surrounding forest and Japanese bamboo music floating into the evening. This restaurant specifically had a chicken menu, consisting of several courses - food was delicious, we used chopsticks, drank sake and it was all very special and traditional with women in kimono and lots of bowing (which I really like).

Restaurant where we had dinner

150 year old farmhouse where we are staying - this is the silk worm storage house

Entrance hall area room with a weaving loom in it (we take off our shoes)