Experience
Weave, Test, and Personalize Experience World-Class Quality in the Home of Imabari Towels
Overview
Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture is Japan’s largest towel-producing region. Its towel industry has a history of more than 120 years, dating back to 1894. Since 1960, Imabari has continued to hold the top position in Japan in terms of towel production value.
Located in the city center, Texport Imabari is home to the official Imabari Towel flagship store and the hands-on Imabari Towel LAB. Visitors can try the famous “five-second rule” absorbency test, experience towel weaving on a handloom free of charge, and have purchased towels embroidered with their names. It is a place where visitors can take home a one-of-a-kind towel.
Highlights
Located close to Temple No. 55, Nankobo, this facility allows visitors to experience Japanese craftsmanship through all five senses while traveling along the Shikoku Pilgrimage route.
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See the “five-second rule” for yourself.
The “five-second rule” is Imabari Towel’s own absorbency standard. A small piece of towel is placed on the surface of water, and if it begins to sink within five seconds, it passes the test. At the LAB, visitors can drop both a passing and a non-passing sample into water at the same time and clearly see the difference. Considering that the general Japanese Industrial Standards test allows up to 60 seconds, the absorbency of Imabari Towels is immediately apparent.
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Try weaving and watch the looms in action.
Visitors can experience towel weaving using an actual loom and observe the production process up close. The space, designed by creative director Kashiwa Sato, offers a direct encounter with the techniques and sensibility of this famous production region.
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Take home a towel embroidered with your name.
Towels purchased at the flagship store can be personalized with name embroidery, making them popular as both travel souvenirs and gifts. Imabari Towel is not the product of a single company, but a regional brand supported by around 100 manufacturers. In this town, the spirit of craftsmanship and the pilgrimage culture of osettai come naturally together.
Information
※Please note that prices and services are current as of the time of writing and may be subject to change.
- Nearest Temple：
- Temple No. 55, Nankobo, located in central Imabari, about a 5-minute walk from JR Imabari Station Duration: Approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Duration：
- Approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Price：
- Admission to both the Imabari Towel flagship store and Imabari Towel LAB is free. Name embroidery costs ¥165 per character, including tax.
- Language：
- The official brand website is available in English. The flagship store offers tax-free shopping.
- Booking:：
- No reservation is required for experiences at Imabari Towel LAB.