Studio Policies
Please carefully read our important policies listed below before you book SAORI classes or SAORI Retreats offered at our SAORI studio locations.
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Booking and Cancellation Policy
Last Update: 2026.8.24
1-Day Visitors’ Class
Booking and Payment:
Reservations for the 1-Day Visitors' Class at our SAORI studio locations are required and should be completed online via the SAORI Global scheduling website. Availability is subject to change based on the location and time.
Bookings are available 5 months prior to the first day of the month during which the chosen session is scheduled. For example, online booking for the classes scheduled on July 1, 2021 begins on February 1, 2021. All reservations need to be made at least 120 hours (5 days) before the start of the session. We will decline class participation without a reservation in advance.
If you would like to book the 1-Day Visitors' Class on multiple days, please select all desired dates on the scheduling website, and reserve a spot on each day. Please understand that we must cut and remove the woven fabric from the loom at the end of each session unless you are weaving on consecutive days.
Session fees for the 1-Day Visitors' Class reserved through this website include material costs for weaving with cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, lambswool, silk, and linen.
To weave with cashmere, the Cashmere Add-on Fee must be prepaid. As a general rule, we cannot accept requests to add or cancel the Cashmere Add-on after the booking has been paid—including on the day of the class.
Pre-payment for 1-Day Visitors’ Class session fees is required at the time of booking. We accept payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover).
Cancellation Policy:
If, for any reason, participants choose not to attend the session they have booked, please notify our staff as soon as possible.
If participants choose not to attend or are unable to attend the 1-Day Visitors’ Class they have booked and paid for, we will issue a refund of the prepaid fees depending on the cancellation date. A minimum of 50% of the session fee will be retained to cover the service costs associated with each reservation.
50% of the session fee and 100% of the add-on fee will be refunded for cancellations made 15 or more days prior to the start of the session.
No refund will be issued for cancellations made less than 15 days prior to the start of the session or in cases of non-participation.
* This includes cancellation or non-participation due to illness, including COVID-19.
Unexpected Circumstances and Adjustments:
If we are unable to proceed with part or all of the 1-day class as scheduled due to health, family, or operational reasons on our side, we may adjust the arrangements of the class as needed. We will make reasonable efforts to reschedule or otherwise rearrange the session where possible. If such adjustments are not possible, a full or partial refund of the amount received will be issued, depending on the situation.
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Multi-day SAORI Retreat
Retreat Booking Process
Before submitting your request, please review all booking and cancellation policies listed on this page.
Our 3-day, 7-day, and 12-day SAORI Retreats are offered on selected dates, with the duration of each retreat specified in our annual schedule.
Please choose from the scheduled retreat sessions currently available and submit your request through our dedicated inquiry form.
If more than one scheduled retreat session works for you, you are welcome to indicate multiple preferred sessions when submitting your request.
Multi-day SAORI Retreats are generally not available outside the scheduled retreat periods. If none of the available retreat sessions fits your travel plans, we encourage you to consider our 1-Day Visitors’ Class instead.
As our retreats require advance coordination with multiple parties, we do not maintain a cancellation waitlist and cannot accept new reservations or changes within two months of the retreat start date.
Scheduled Retreat Dates & Availability
Retreat dates and availability are announced on our SAORI Retreat Dates & Details page.
Each retreat session has a maximum capacity of two participants.
Scheduled retreat sessions and availability may change due to operational circumstances. A retreat is not confirmed until you have received confirmation from us and completed the required booking process.
We encourage you to contact us well in advance, particularly for spring and autumn retreats, as some sessions may fill several months before the scheduled start date.
Schedule Adjustments
As a general rule, participants are expected to attend the scheduled retreat period.
For 7-day and 12-day retreats, if fixed work or travel commitments make it difficult to attend the full scheduled period, it may be possible in limited circumstances to shorten or extend the retreat by up to three days.
Any adjustment is subject to operational availability. The scheduled start date generally cannot be changed, and special arrangements may not always be possible.
If the retreat period is shortened or extended, the Retreat Fee will be adjusted accordingly.
We cannot accept reservations for Multi-day SAORI Retreats lasting fewer than three days. If you wish to weave for one or two days, please consider our 1-Day Visitors’ Class instead.
For Registered SAORI Studios
Separate retreat arrangements may be available for instructors of Registered SAORI Studios and their accompanying participants.
These arrangements may be scheduled outside the retreat sessions listed publicly on our website and require additional coordination with our team.
If you are planning a retreat as an instructor of a Registered SAORI Studio, please contact us as early as possible so that we can discuss possible dates and arrangements.
Depending on the purpose of the visit, certain periods may include time for meetings, discussions, or other activities related to the Registered SAORI Studio.
Participants from a Registered SAORI Studio who are traveling without their instructor are asked to choose from the publicly scheduled retreat sessions.
Payment & Fees
For all SAORI Retreats, payment of the Retreat Fee plus 10% consumption tax is required to confirm the reservation.
We accept payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover).
Retreat Fees do not include weaving material costs or optional Weaving Day Options.
Material costs and other purchases made during the retreat will be recorded and charged separately. Any remaining balance will be settled at the end of the retreat.
Current Retreat Fees, material fees, and details of what is included are listed on our SAORI Retreat Dates & Details page.
Changes to Confirmed Reservations
Requests to shorten, extend, or change the dates of a confirmed retreat must be made more than two months before the scheduled retreat start date.
All changes are subject to operational availability and cannot be guaranteed.
We cannot accept changes within two months of the retreat start date.
If you are unable to attend your confirmed retreat, and no permitted schedule adjustment can be made, the Cancellation Policy below will apply.
Retreat Reservation Eligibility & Decline Policy
We strive to provide a retreat experience that aligns with the philosophy, values, and practice of SAORI.
Participants are expected to understand that the SAORI Retreat is dedicated to SAORI practice and does not provide instruction or technical support for other weaving traditions, methods, looms, or tools.
In order to maintain the integrity and purpose of our retreats, we reserve the right to decline any reservation request that we reasonably determine may not align with the essence of the retreat or the expectations of the participant.
We will decline retreat booking requests that we reasonably determine may infringe upon, conflict with, or be inconsistent with our trademark, intellectual property rights, or the fundamental philosophy and concepts of SAORI, including those communicated in our Intellectual Property Policies on our FAQ page.
We will also decline booking requests from individuals and/or organizations who are offering or planning to offer classes, activities, products, or services that imitate, replicate, or are based on the philosophy, concepts, or methods of SAORI without our authorization, regardless of whether they use SAORI products or products from other brands.
This includes activities that may cause confusion regarding the identity or integrity of SAORI.
These policies are in place to protect the integrity, uniqueness, identity, and purpose of SAORI Retreats and to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel a confirmed Multi-day SAORI Retreat, please notify us as soon as possible.
The following cancellation fees apply:
70% refund for cancellations made 15 or more days before the first day of the retreat
50% refund for cancellations made from 14 days until 24 hours before the first day of the retreat
No refund for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start of the retreat or in cases of non-participation
This policy also applies to cancellation or non-participation due to illness, including COVID-19.
Unexpected Circumstances and Adjustments
If we are unable to proceed with part or all of the retreat as scheduled due to health, family, operational, or other circumstances on our side, we may adjust the arrangements as needed.
We will make reasonable efforts to reschedule or otherwise rearrange the affected portion where possible.
If such adjustments are not possible, a full or partial refund of the amount received will be issued, depending on the circumstances.
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Please Direct All International Inquiries to SAORI Global:
Please refrain from making direct inquiries to SAORI Studio locations in Japan by email, phone call, and via social media, as they are not in a position to assist with international reservations or inquiries. SAORI Global LLC has the exclusive right and responsibility to handle international booking requests on behalf of all SAORI Studio locations in Japan listed on the SAORI Studios in Japan page. This arrangement aims to maintain the consistent policies for all international travelers visiting the listed SAORI Studio locations in Japan.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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Studio Policy
Last Update: 2023.09.10
LOST AND FOUND
Please take care of your personal belongings. Sakaiseikisangyo Co., Ltd. or SAORI Global LLC is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Anything left behind will be disposed of unless requested otherwise.
FOOD AND DRINK
Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks into the studio. We only ask that you eat in the designated break areas away from the looms and other equipment. We would be happy to provide more information about stores and restaurants nearby upon visitors’ arrival.
CELL PHONES
To encourage an environment in which people can be fully present and engaged with their surroundings, we kindly request that visitors keep cell phone usage to a minimum while in the studio and leave their headphones for use outside of the studio as well. We do not wish to pressure people into interacting if they would not like to, but we also wish to maintain an open environment free of barriers to communication. If you need to take a phone call, please do so in a room that is unoccupied or outside.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We welcome guests to take photos to document their experience while visiting our SAORI locations. Please note, however, that it is courteous to ask for permission before taking photos of others, particularly if you would like to display or post any in public or on social media.
During your SAORI experiences, our staff may take photos of you and your weaving for our records and/or social media posts. We may also use some of the photos we take in our future print or online publications to cultivate inspiration shared among our community in and beyond Japan. If you do not want to have photos of yourself or your work posted on social media and/or included in future SAORI publications, please notify our staff.
VIDEOS
We welcome guests to take videos to document their experience while visiting our SAORI Studio locations as a resource to support their personal creative practice continued back home. However it is not allowed for any guests to disclose the videos to a third party and/or post it on social media without our express written permission. Such an action would be considered an unauthorized use and/or disclosure of our intellectual property.
WIFI ACCESS
At our SAORINOMORI in Izumi, we do provide WiFi at both the studio and the Weavers' Condo. Please note that in the Weavers' Condo, the WiFi is limited to a certain quota that is shared amongst all guests staying there throughout each month. And so, we recommend it for light data use only, such as sending occasional messages and e-mails, but not for downloading files, streaming videos or making calls. You are welcome to use the WiFi at the studio, but if for example you would like to regularly make calls via Skype or Facetime while at the Condo, we kindly ask that you rent your own personal pocket WiFi router. There are several different services available in Japan, which you could pick up and return at the airport. We would also be happy to help arrange for one that you could pick up and return here at the studio.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
We provide all tools and materials for you to use in SAORI Classes and Retreats offered at our studio locations. Bringing in and using your own tools or materials are not allowed. In case you have an exceptional reason that you must bring in and weave with any of your own fibers or materials, please notify us at the time of booking. We will consider if we can make exceptions on a case by case basis.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
We kindly request that all international visitors and class participants be mindful of and follow our health and safety policies in order to create beautiful and safe SAORI experiences with everyone sharing the precious time and space in our SAORI studios and Weavers’ Condo.
Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap when entering the SAORI studios and the Weavers’ Condo.
Refrain from participating in the SAORI Classes and Retreats if you are feeling unwell.
For visitors staying in our condo: please swiftly notify our staff if you are feeling unwell. We will consult the local government and try to help you by following their instructions.
For visitors staying in other lodging facilities: If you are feeling unwell, please swiftly contact a consultation service to receive necessary guidance and support. Contact one of the consultation services located in the prefecture where you are staying.
The contact information, opening hours, and available languages of each consultation service can be found on the dedicated website prepared by Japan Tourism Agency: https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html.
Please swiftly notify our staff if you are not participating in any of your classes that you have booked, so that we can know you are not attending.
We also require all international visitors to purchase travel insurance before departure and be prepared for purchasing necessary treatment and services in Japan if needed. Please make sure that you purchase travel insurance that includes the coverage related to COVID-19.
Our health and safety policies correspond to the guidelines provided by the government of Japan. More information about the guidelines for the international travelers entering Japan is available in the websites listed below on this page.
We kindly ask that you revisit this page to check for any changes to procedures or policies prior to your trip.
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Health & Safety Information for International Travelers
We list below the websites prepared by the government of Japan in order to assist the international travelers entering Japan. We believe it is meaningful for you to visit these websites and learn the procedures and risks related to COVID-19 as well as where to contact to receive assistance in case of emergency.
Japan Official Websites
COVID-19: Practical Information for Traveling to Japan (Japan Travel)
COVID-19: Border Measures (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Multilingual Support for Visitors Traveling in Japan
Japan Visitor Hotline (Japan Travel)
Safety Tips (Push-enabled information alert app for foreign tourist)
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Condo Rules
Last Update: 2023.03.18
Below are a few important things that we kindly ask all guests staying in the SAORINOMORI Weavers’ Condo to pay attention to during their stay. Our condo is different from hotels and other conventional lodging facilities. We do not have a housekeeping service or staff members specifically dedicated to cleaning and maintaining our facilities. Instead, everyone on our small team shares the responsibily of preparing the condo and studio to welcome the next visitors while fulfilling other important roles in our day-to-day operations. Being a small team with a limited capacity, we humbly request each visitor to cooperate to fulfill a part of the shared responsibility to preserve the comfortable and clean space in the condo for the visitors who arrive after you. We would be grateful if you could read and understand the general rules listed below before booking a SAORI Retreat at the SAORINOMORI in Izumi.
Please be considerate of the immediate neighbors on both sides, above and underneath the condo. Do not make loud noise in the apartment and in the outside hallway.
Remove your shoes when entering the condo. Feel free to use the slippers inside the cabinet at the entryway. Please do not wear any slippers in the tatami room—barefoot or socks only.
No smoking inside
Sleep in the same bedroom throughout a visit.
Place your personal belongings in your private room and clear the shared space for everyone staying in the condo.
Please note that the internet access available in the condo is limited for light data use only, such as sending occasional emails and messages. If you intend to use large amounts of data, you will need to rent a modem or pocket WiFi router. Please read the related Q&As on the FAQ page for more instructions for doing so.
Clean up after yourself and be mindful of others sharing the space. At least once a week and before your check out, please vacuum your room and the common areas, wipe down surfaces, dispose of expired food items, and empty all trash (including the kitchen sink basket, which is not a garbage disposal, and bathroom drains) and bring it to the studio.
Launder your own bedding and towels as needed. We provide only one set of bedding and towels for each guest. Please launder as needed instead of using extras.
Be aware of your personal belongings. We are not responsible for anything that is lost or stolen.
Turn off all lights, gas, hot water controllers and air conditioning / heating units and lock the door when leaving the condo.
Swiftly notify our staff if you feel ill.
Read carefully and follow the rules communicated in the Visitor Information booklet in the Condo.
