For centuries, residents in the snowy mountains of the Niigata, Japan, have stayed warm with the help of meticulously crafted fabrics. The region has long been known for its textiles, and that heritage continues today at the Shiozawa Tsumugi Fabric Museum where visitors can weave a bit of history themselves.

On the museum's second floor, visitors can create traditional designs with historic techniques and threads on wooden looms. The museum's most popular offerings are silk weaving experiences in which visitors create bookmarks, coasters, placemats, obi, and even full kimonos under the guidance of their weavers. 

Step up to the loom and find yourself connected to the thread of this region's textile history as you use your hands and feet to operate the machine. Craft your own shiozawa-ori silk creation, a weaving style inspired by the region's UNESCO-honored echigo jofu fabric. The shiozawa-ori silk has its own heritage but draws from the echigo jofu patterns and textures. It is famous for its lightweight design and handcrafted details.

The museum's first floor houses displays showing the various fabric-making processes along with a demonstration room.