Hachioji, on the western edge of Tokyo, has a long history of silk production and a strong base of small manufacturers. Once a year the city opens many of them to the public. The event is called Hachioji Open Factory (八王子オープンファクトリー), and the 2026 edition runs on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, 10:00–16:30.
This is the fourth year. It started in 2023 and has drawn over 8,000 participants so far. This time 35 sites are taking part, the largest line-up yet, including 8 businesses joining for the first time. You can watch robots being built, make your own stained-glass box, pick vegetables on a farm that has been in the same family for about 200 years, or try indigo dyeing with a technique dating back to the Edo period.
Key facts at a glance
The event is organised by Hachioji City and Japan Convention Services, Inc., with sponsorship from Tama Shinkin Bank and support from the Hachioji Tourism Convention Association. The full venue list, map and booking pages are on the official Hachioji Open Factory website.
Confirmed venues and fees
So far, details have been announced for 7 of the 35 sites. Fees and dates for everything else will be on the official site.
| Venue | Fee | Day(s) | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hachioji Nagata Yosan | ¥12,000 | Sun only | Make a lap quilt from silk floss |
| Nakanishi Farm | ¥1,500 | Sat & Sun | Harvest 4 kinds of seasonal vegetables |
| Robot Ride | ¥3,000 | Sat & Sun | Factory tour, robot piloting, assembly |
| Ozawa Seisakusho | ¥11,000 | Sat only | Make a stainless-steel phone stand |
| Stained Glass Lilithchian | ¥5,500 | Sun only | Make a small stained-glass box |
| Noguchi Somemonoten | ¥20,000 | Sat & Sun | Indigo dyeing with the nagaita chugata method |
| Kissho Kenchiku Kogei | ¥5,000 | Sun only | Carve a kanawa-tsugi wood joint |
Sat = Saturday 14 November, Sun = Sunday 15 November. The sections below go through each venue in the order of the table.
Hachioji Nagata Yosan: a silk-floss lap quilt
Nakanishi Farm: pick your own vegetables
Robot Ride: a robot factory you can pilot
Ozawa Seisakusho: make a phone stand from sheet metal
Stained Glass Lilithchian: a small glass box
Noguchi Somemonoten: Edo-period indigo dyeing
Kissho Kenchiku Kogei: traditional wood joinery
Premium experiences
Last year the event introduced a Premium tier: longer, more serious sessions with professional tools and materials. It went down well, so this year there are 15 of them. Four are listed above (the silk quilt, the phone stand, indigo dyeing and wood joinery). Two more have been named, but their fees and times are not out yet:
- A craft gin production tour at a distillery, followed by making a cocktail
- Making a miniature modelled on the floats of the Hachioji Festival
Beyond the Premium tier, the announced line-up also includes hand-drip coffee at a long-established Western-style bakery and hammering your own spoon and fork from brass. Check the official site for their details.
How booking works
Some experiences need a reservation. Booking starts on Thursday 1 October. The booking method, fees, locations and which sessions need a reservation are all explained on the official site, so check there before you go.
Tips for planning your day
- Check which day each venue runs. Several sessions are held on only one of the two days, so matching two venues on the same day is the first thing to sort out.
- Venues are spread out. The sites are located all over the city, not in one hall. Look up each address on a map before choosing more than one per day.
- The info desk is open Saturday only. The general information desk at Ekimae Terrace is set up on 14 November only.
- Plan a return trip for indigo dyeing. You finish the Noguchi Somemonoten session on a later visit.
If you are making a weekend of it in the Tokyo area, you could also look at the Aki no Norihodai Pass for unlimited JR local trains, or unwind afterwards with the half-price Tokyo sento coupon. For more free and low-cost days out, see our guide to the Shibaura Canal Festival and the Ghibli Park exhibition tour.
FAQ
- Q. When is Hachioji Open Factory held?
- On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026, from 10:00 to 16:30.
- Q. When can I book?
- Bookings open on Thursday 1 October. Some experiences need a reservation; check each one on the official site.
- Q. How much do the experiences cost?
- It depends on the session. Among the announced ones, the vegetable harvest at Nakanishi Farm is ¥1,500 and the indigo dyeing at Noguchi Somemonoten is ¥20,000. Other fees are listed on the official site.
- Q. Is there one main venue?
- No. The factories, workshops and farms are spread across Hachioji City. A general information desk is set up at Ekimae Terrace on 14 November only.
- Q. What is the Premium tier?
- Sessions where you work with professional techniques and materials, such as wood joinery with a master carpenter or making a phone stand from sheet metal. There are 15 of them this year.
Source: press release from the Hachioji Open Factory Secretariat (PR TIMES). Details may change, so check the official site for the latest information.