Tie Dying and Science! 4 Day Weekend Travel Extravanaza Day 2

The next morning, 11/1, I joined Mandy and went the the town Arimatsu just south of Nagoya to experience shibori, Japanese tie dying. Japanese tie-dying is completely different from american dyeing practices. In shibori first cloth is stitched into complex patterns, which allows for certain sections of the cloth to be dyed differently. At Shibori Kaikan (tie dying museum) we got to stitch some simple patterns firsthand. Hand stitching our little pieces of cloth was incredibly time consuming and challenging.  Yet even our modest efforts had impressive results.

After finishing our handkerchiefs, we watched some pros work on more complex patterns. It said when training to be a shibori seamstress, once stitching has become completely second nature, they are finished with their training. The patterns they create are truly magnificent, and the town Arimatsu is where the best of the best produce these works using traditional methods, in traditional buildings from earlier eras in Japan.  The rest of the museum featured various displays of shibori works, from traditional Japanese clothing and wall scrolls, to more creative ideas like a set of armor made of cloth.

Afterwards we walked across the street and ate the other Nagoya delicacy, miso nikomi udon. This rich bowl had a variety of vegetables and the strong Nagoya style miso enriched the savory broth.









Coming back into Nagoya, we ventured to the science museum. Unfortunately the planetarium was sold out (typical Japan), but we explored the other 6 floors of the museum instead. The museum puts a heavy emphasis on interactive exhibits, with each floor having different focuses like space, the human body, or industrial design. At points the place felt like a giant science playground for children, in the best way possible.  I apparently had too much fun myself, since it seems I forgot to take many photos. I especially appreciated the attention to detail in designing the rooms. For example, the the human body exhibit floor-plan makes the shape of a person, and the planet earth floor allows you to walk 'inside' the earth's layers.  The space room's ceiling had various lights hung around, which when observed through lenses at particular angles, created constellations. Some of the exhibits were rather impressive too, with a two-story cyclone generating machine and large Tesla coils creating lightning.


On our way back to the station, we stopped by the Design museum, which was featuring art deco products like clocks and radios. Being a fan of that era of design work, I was happy we made the detour.

At this point we grabbed tebasaki, Nagoya's notable spicy chicken wings, and waited for Mandy's bus. The more I have spent time in Nagoya, the more the city has impressed me. It's historical sections, large green spaces outside of the city, exciting city centers, and logical transit systems have made the city a lot of fun to explore. One day soon I will get to see that planetarium!