Ofurocafe Hareniwanoyu, a hot spring and relaxation facility in Kumagaya, Saitama, is holding a "Uchiwa Workshop" every Sunday in June 2026. Kumagaya is well known as one of Japan's hottest cities, regularly recording temperatures above 30°C as early as May, making heat stroke prevention a genuine concern for residents and visitors.
The workshop is also timed nicely with the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival, one of Saitama's three major festivals alongside the Chichibu Night Festival and the Kawagoe Festival. The festival has been held every year from July 20 to 22 since the Edo period—heading there with a personally crafted uchiwa makes the occasion even more special.
Uchiwa-Making Workshop
The workshop starts with "ori-zome," a technique where washi paper is folded and dipped in dye to produce vivid, spreading color patterns. Once the design is complete, the dyed paper is attached to a plain uchiwa base and finished off with Hareniwanoyu's original stickers. Staff members are available to help throughout, so even young children participating in crafts for the first time can join without worry.
Workshop Details
- Dates: June 7, 14, 21, 28, 2026 (every Sunday in June)
- Time: 2:00 PM onwards
- Capacity: 25 participants per session
- Location: Hareniwanoyu 2nd Floor "Asobiba"
- Fee: Free
- Reservations: Not required—drop in anytime during session hours
Both families with children and adults on their own are welcome to take part.
About Ofurocafe Hareniwanoyu
Hareniwanoyu's concept is "a garden where body and mind can clear up." The facility offers a variety of baths and saunas, a restaurant serving dishes made with freshly harvested vegetables, and a lush green lounge where guests can unwind barefoot—spending the day as if relaxing in a garden.
Address: 939 Kubojima, Kumagaya, Saitama
Official Website: https://ofurocafe-hareniwanoyu.com/
