"GOSEN KNIT FES 2026," an open-factory event that lets visitors tour knit factories, will be held in Gosen, Niigata, over two days on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026. Highlights include the return of the "BEAMS PLUS Limited Store," an "OFFICIAL BUS TOUR" of knit and weaving factories, an exhibition and special talk on stage costumes by knit designer Chihiro Hasunuma (蓮沼千紘), and a digital stamp rally introduced for the first time this year.
Gosen is one of the largest knit-producing regions in Japan. At this year's event, the 12th edition, visitors can get a close look at knitting machines in operation and the work of craftspeople inside factories that are normally closed to the public. A feature of Gosen is that factories, factory shops, exhibitions and food spots are clustered within walking distance. Visitors can stop by a shop after a factory tour and walk a little further to the next factory, so walking around town becomes a way to experience a knit-producing region.
Four Highlights
1. BEAMS PLUS Limited Store: Limited Knits Planned by Three Stores, Sold Only at the Venue
Crew Neck Sweater / Sakurai Meriyasu Factory (有限会社桜井メリヤス工場)
Birds Eye Half Zip Sweater / Takahashi Knit (高橋ニット株式会社)
Cricket Sweater / Saifuku (有限会社サイフク)
BEAMS PLUS will open a temporary store again, following last year. In addition to the 2nd floor of the main venue, LOOP&LOOP, a satellite shop will be set up at ラポルテ五泉 this year.
Launched in 1999, BEAMS PLUS is a label rooted in America, built around the concept of "authentic men's clothing that can be worn for years and never gets old." The label, which aims to make clothes that can be passed on to the next generation, meets the knitwear of Gosen.
The main attraction is the limited-edition knitwear planned by three BEAMS PLUS flagship stores in Harajuku, Marunouchi and Osaka.
The Gosen production region has accepted BEAMS PLUS staff training for several years, and members who learned there now work on the front lines of the stores. The limited-edition knits combine what these members have felt through daily conversations with customers and their own commitments, and were made together with knitters (manufacturers of knit products) in Gosen. The individuality of each of the three stores, which all have different characters, shows in the items.
The collaboration items are available only at the event venues.
For details on the items, see the BEAMS PLUS news page.
- Venues: LOOP&LOOP 2nd floor (main store), ラポルテ五泉 (satellite shop)
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
BEAMS PLUS regional training: Umeda Knit (ウメダニット)
BEAMS PLUS regional training: joint scouring and dyeing factory (共同精錬染色工場)
2. OFFICIAL BUS TOUR: Visiting Nearly Fully Booked Factories Together by Bus
On Saturday, November 21, an official bus tour will visit knit and weaving factories in Gosen. Lunch is at the long-established kappo restaurant Bunpuku (文福), with autumn flavors of Gosen. The tour ends at the "BEAMS PLUS LIMITED STORE" in LOOP&LOOP, where styling ideas using Gosen knitwear are presented.
What the Bus Tour Offers
- Even factories you could not reserve: Even when factory tour reservations are full, the tour gives access to the places where the products are made.
- Knit and weaving in one day: In the morning, the tour visits the weaving factory Yokomasa (横正機業場), and in the afternoon, the knit factory Umeda Knit (ウメダニット). It offers a chance to compare the two textile industries rooted in Gosen.
- No car needed: The bus takes visitors to factories scattered around the city. It is also convenient for those who come from outside the prefecture by train.
- Small group: With about 15 participants, visitors can see the craftspeople's hands up close and find it easy to ask questions.
Dishes made with taro are also served.
- Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Meeting point: In front of Niitsu Station
- Capacity: About 15 people (first come, first served)
Schedule on the day
- 10:15 AM: Niitsu Station West Exit
- 10:45 AM: Factory tour at Yokomasa (横正機業場)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at Kappo Bunpuku (割烹文福)
- 1:00 PM: Factory tour at Umeda Knit (ウメダニット)
- 2:15 PM: BEAMS PLUS LIMITED STORE
- 4:20 PM: Niitsu Station West Exit
- 4:55 PM: Niigata Station
Umeda Knit (ウメダニット)
Yokomasa (横正)
3. Chihiro Hasunuma Stage Costume Exhibition and Special Talk: Stage Costumes Displayed in a Temple Main Hall
Stage costumes by knit designer Chihiro Hasunuma will be on display. They were presented at a large-scale fashion show held in Niigata City this year that is popular with young women. The venue is the main hall of Kosenji Temple (興泉寺), within walking distance of LOOP&LOOP.
Umeda Knit, サンクミル and ナック of the Gosen Knit Industry Cooperative (五泉ニット工業協同組合), and Yokomasa (横正機業場, silk fabrics) of the Gosen Textile Industry Cooperative (五泉織物工業協同組合) supported the costume production. The costumes return to the production region as pieces made in Gosen.
- Costume exhibition: Saturday, November 21, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; Sunday, November 22, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Special talk: Sunday, November 22, from 2:00 PM
- Venue: Kosenji (興泉寺), 2-35 錦町, Gosen, Niigata
Kosenji Temple (興泉寺)
From 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 22, Chihiro Hasunuma Explains the Exhibited Works in Person
KNIT ARTIST Chihiro Hasunuma
Special talk: Sunday, November 22, from 2:00 PM
Chihiro Hasunuma (蓮沼千紘)
Knit artist. Graduated from the knit design department of Bunka Fashion College (文化服装学院) in 2008. She leads the hand-knit brand an/eddy (アンエディ). She has held solo exhibitions and pop-up shops in Japan and overseas, including Kyoto, Harajuku and Shimokitazawa, as well as Paris, Shanghai and Macau. Her works have been used in magazines, advertisements, videos, and costumes for musicians' live performances and music videos, and her activities range widely to interiors and stage art. For the costume production for TGC NIIGATA 2026, she visited Gosen's textile-producing region in May 2026.
4. Digital Stamp Rally: Visit Venues Around the City and Enter a Prize Draw
A feature of this event is the many attractions within walking distance. A digital stamp rally is being introduced for the first time this year. Visitors can take part just by scanning the QR code at each venue with a smartphone, and no login is required. Collecting stamps lets visitors enter a prize draw, with Gosen specialty products and knit items as prizes.
With plenty of programs this year, visitors can enjoy visiting a variety of spots.
The stamp rally is available from 9:00 AM on November 21.
BEAMS PLUS Initiatives Together with the Production Region
BEAMS PLUS goes beyond opening a store, devising and supervising projects that energize the production region together with local schools and businesses. These are efforts to stay involved with Japan's textile-producing regions over the long term. A portion of the Limited Store's sales will be returned to the Gosen Knit Industry Cooperative (五泉ニット工業協同組合).
Product planning with high school students, part 1
Product planning with high school students, part 2
Sales training session
Muramatsu Branch School Art Exhibition
Based on an idea from BEAMS PLUS director 溝端, students of the Muramatsu Branch of Niigata Prefectural Gosen Special Needs School (新潟県立五泉特別支援学校村松分校) will exhibit works created on knit fabric canvases. The canvases were made by Sakurai Meriyasu Factory (有限会社桜井メリヤス工場), and the display is arranged by BEAMS PLUS VMD staff. More than 30 works will be shown at ラポルテ五泉ガレリア.
Gosen High School Students x BEAMS PLUS Collaboration Mufflers
Mufflers designed together with students of Niigata Prefectural Gosen High School (新潟県立五泉高等学校), incorporating the school colors, were made by the Gosen knitter 株式会社ナック. They will be sold at the Limited Store. On the days of the event, Gosen High School students will also take part as store staff and volunteers.
LOOP&LOOP will also host a workshop for making a "sheep keychain" together with high school students, using yarn from the cooperative (participation fee: 500 yen, no reservation required).
BEAMS PLUS Talk Session
Last year's opening talk
Staff in charge at BEAMS PLUS Harajuku, Marunouchi and Osaka, along with three knitters that worked on the limited-edition knits (Sakurai Meriyasu, Takahashi Knit and Saifuku), will talk about how the items came to be. The talk takes place on Saturday, November 21, from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM, on the 2nd floor of LOOP&LOOP.
In addition, collaboration foods with local eateries (とりかん x 栄軒, mokmög and パティスリーありがとう。) will be sold at LOOP&LOOP on both days.
Access
Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event name | GOSEN KNIT FES 2026 (五泉ニットフェス2026) |
| Dates | Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Venues | LOOP&LOOP (main venue), knit factories around the city, ラポルテ五泉, 越後天然ガス ミライe, 興泉寺, 五泉市立図書館 and others |
| General information desk | In front of JR Gosen Station |
| Organizer | GOSEN KNIT FES 2026 Executive Committee (Gosen Knit Industry Cooperative / 五泉ニット工業協同組合) |
For the latest information on the event, see the official website and social media.
- Official website: https://gosenknit.or.jp/knitfes-2026/
- Instagram: @gosenknitfes
- X (formerly Twitter): @knitfes
