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By onemall 
Last updated: 2026-10-25.
TL;DR
Furoshiki (風呂敷) is a square Japanese wrapping cloth used to wrap gifts, carry a bento box or a wine bottle, or tie into a bag. The most common furoshiki size is about 68–70 cm (27 in); 45–50 cm is for bento and small gifts, 90–105 cm for a furoshiki bag. A tenugui (手ぬぐい) is a thin cotton hand towel, about 33–35 × 90 cm, with cut, unhemmed ends — used as a towel, head wrap, gift wrap or wall art. Kyoto’s Musubi and Miyai are well-known furoshiki makers; Kamawanu, Eirakuya, Nijiyura and Hamamonyo are popular tenugui brands.
As of October 2026, this guide covers the furoshiki meaning and history, a furoshiki size chart in cm and inches, the main furoshiki wrapping methods, how to make a furoshiki bag, materials and care, what a tenugui is and how to use it, the main brands, and how to buy them from Japan.
What Is Furoshiki?
Furoshiki definition: the name of the Japanese wrapping cloth — a square of cloth for wrapping and carrying things. Which cloth type? Cotton is the everyday choice (see materials below). Cloth wrapping goes back to the Nara period, when it went by other names; the name 風呂敷, literally “bath spread”, dates from the Muromachi period, when nobles at a shogun’s bathhouse wrapped their clothes in silk cloths, and it became established in the Edo period, when merchants printed their shop names on furoshiki.[1][2] In English, furoshiki is usually translated as “Japanese wrapping cloth”; the Japanese art of gift wrapping with cloth is simply called furoshiki wrapping.
In 2006 Japan’s Environment Minister Yuriko Koike designed a “Mottainai Furoshiki” made from recycled PET-bottle polyester with Itō Jakuchū bird-and-flower designs, to promote furoshiki as a way to cut packaging waste.[3][4] February 23 is Furoshiki Day, set in 2000 by the Japan Furoshiki Federation (2-2-3 can be read “tsu-tsu-mi”, wrapping).[5]
Furoshiki Size Chart
Traditional furoshiki sizes are named by haba (幅, a width unit). This is the standard Japanese furoshiki sizes chart:
| Name | Size (square) | Inches | What it wraps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chū-haba (中幅) | 45 cm | 18 in | Money envelopes, bento box, tissue box |
| Shaku-san-zun-haba (尺三寸幅) | 50 cm | 20 in | Bento box, small gifts |
| Futa-haba (二幅) | 68 cm | 27 in | The most common size; boxed sweets, a book, a wine bottle |
| Nishaku-haba (二尺幅) | 75 cm | 30 in | Boxed sweets, two bottles |
| Nishi-haba (二四幅) | 90 cm | 35 in | Furoshiki bag / eco-bag, tablecloth, noren curtain |
| Mi-haba (三幅) | 105 cm | 41 in | Larger bag, tablecloth |
| Yo-haba (四幅) | 128 cm | 50 in | Four floor cushions, sofa cover |
| Itsu-haba (五幅) | 180 cm | 71 in | Kotatsu cover |
| Mu-haba (六幅) | 205 cm | 81 in | Futon set, single bed |
| Nana-haba (七幅) | 238 cm | 94 in | Double bed |
Sizes follow the Kyoto maker Miyai;[6] actual cloths vary by a few cm by maker. Inches are rounded. Musubi’s English shop groups them simply as S 45–50 cm, M 68–70 cm, L 90–120 cm and XL 130–195 cm.[7]
- Furoshiki for a bento box: 45–50 cm.
- Furoshiki for a wine bottle: 68–70 cm (one bottle) or 75 cm and up (two bottles).
- Furoshiki to wrap a book or gift box: about 2.5–3 times the box’s longest side; 68–70 cm fits most books and boxes.
- Furoshiki bag: 90 cm or 105 cm.
Furoshiki Wrapping Methods
Furoshiki rules are simple: pick a cloth about 2.5–3 times the item’s longest side, start on the diagonal, and finish with a square knot. These instructions work as a quick DIY tutorial for kids too; folding techniques are below. In Japan, furoshiki wrapping classes, courses and short wrapping experiences are also offered by shops and cultural centers.
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Otsukai-tsutsumi (お使い包み) | The basic wrap, also used for a bento box: two opposite corners knotted over the top |
| Hira-tsutsumi (平包み) | Formal gift wrap with no knot; corners folded over in turn |
| Kakushi-tsutsumi (隠し包み) | Semi-formal; the knot is tucked out of sight |
| Futatsu-musubi (ふたつ結び) | For long items; two knots that undo easily |
| Bin-tsutsumi (びん包み) | Wraps a single bottle, with a carrying handle |
| Awase-tsutsumi (あわせ包み) | Wraps two bottles side by side |
| Wine wrap (ワイン包み) | Gift wrap for one bottle of wine |
| Suika-tsutsumi (すいか包み) | First used for watermelons; for balls and round shopping |
| Bag / basket wrap (バッグ包み) | Turns the cloth into a bag with two handles |
| Ma-musubi (真結び) | The square knot every method starts from |
Method names and descriptions follow Miyai’s wrapping guide, which shows each step with diagrams.[8] The Ministry of the Environment also publishes an English “How to use Furoshiki” guide.[9]
Furoshiki dimensions and shape: furoshiki are square (or very nearly square — most are a few cm longer one way), not rectangle cloths. A large furoshiki is 90 cm and up; a furoshiki 100 x 100 cm sits between nishi-haba and mi-haba. For a rectangular box, use the square cloth on the diagonal.
Furoshiki gift wrap ideas and techniques
- Present wrapping steps: place the gift in the center on the diagonal, fold the near corner over, fold the far corner over, then tie the two side corners with a square knot (otsukai-tsutsumi). For a formal gift, use hira-tsutsumi with no knot.
- Yotsu-musubi (four-tie): tie both pairs of opposite corners on top for a flower-like finish; good for square boxes and holiday wrap.
- Jar or cylinder: stand it in the middle and wrap like a bottle (bin-tsutsumi).
- Camera or fragile item: wrap in a cotton furoshiki, then pad it; furoshiki itself is not shock protection.
- Lunch wrap: a 45–50 cm cloth wraps a lunch box and opens out as a placemat — the classic Japanese cloth for wrapping food.
- Wrapping paper vs cloth: furoshiki replaces wrapping paper and can be reused by the recipient — the Japanese gift wrapping technique with cloth that the Ministry of the Environment promotes.
Furoshiki etiquette: when giving a wrapped gift, the custom is to untie the furoshiki, hand over the gift and take the cloth back home, unless the cloth is part of the present.
How to make a furoshiki bag
Furoshiki bag tutorial — making and tying a bag with handles, no sewing or kit needed. The simplest furoshiki bag needs no sewing: lay a 90–105 cm cloth flat as a diamond, tie each pair of adjacent corners into a knot to make two handles, then pull the remaining cloth up into the bag. For a stronger bag, Japanese shops sell furoshiki bag handles — wooden, bamboo, rattan or leather rings (search 風呂敷 ハンドル) — that the corners slide through. A furoshiki tote can be folded flat into a pocket, which is why it is a popular eco-bag and grocery bag.
Other furoshiki bag styles: a shoulder or crossbody bag and sling bag (tie two adjacent corners into one long strap), a drawstring bag, a backpack (tie two long straps and wear it on both shoulders), a hobo or teardrop handbag shape, and a mini furoshiki bag for makeup or travel. Accessories include magnetic handles, purse handles and leather straps. A furoshiki can also be worn as a scarf, bandana or hair wrap.
Furoshiki vs bojagi: bojagi (보자기) is the Korean wrapping cloth, often pieced patchwork; furoshiki is usually a single printed or dyed square. In Chinese, a wrapping cloth is a 包袱 (bāofu). In Japanese, furoshiki is written 風呂敷 in kanji and ふろしき in hiragana, pronounced fu-ro-shi-ki. Vintage furoshiki and ukiyo-e furoshiki designs are popular as decoration.
Furoshiki Materials and Care
- Cotton: the most common; machine wash and air dry.
- Silk (often chirimen crepe): formal gifts; dry clean only.
- Rayon: a silk-like sheen; avoid water and dry clean.
- Polyester: absorbs little water, so it suits wet items and is machine washable.[10]
For silk scarves and kimono fabric, see our Japanese silk guide.
What Is a Tenugui?
A tenugui (手ぬぐい, Japanese hand towel) is a thin cotton cloth, about 33–35 × 90 cm (roughly 13 × 35 inches). The Edo-era standard was about 30 × 90 cm. The short ends are cut and left unhemmed so water doesn’t collect and the cloth dries fast; any fraying stops by itself after 5–10 mm.[11][12] That is also the main difference from a terry hand towel: a tenugui is flat-woven, thin and quick-drying rather than fluffy. For thick towels, see our Imabari towel guide.
Tenugui dimensions: tenugui towel measurements are about 33–35 cm by 90 cm; a few makers sell large tenugui or half sizes. Tenugui is written 手拭い or 手ぬぐい in kanji and hiragana (てぬぐい) and pronounced te-nu-gu-i. Tenugui fabric by the yard isn’t really a thing; the cloth is woven and dyed in 90 cm lengths.
How to use a tenugui
- Towel: hand towel, face towel, onsen and sauna towel, kitchen and cleaning cloth.
- Head wrap: a headband or hachimaki; in kendo it is worn under the helmet.[12]
- Wrapping: a tenugui can wrap a bottle or a bento box like a small furoshiki, and doubles as gift wrap.
- Wall art: hang it on a tenugui rod or put it in a tenugui frame; Kamawanu sells frames made for them.[13]
- Gift: light, flat and cheap to ship — one of the easiest Japanese souvenirs.
- Kitchen: as a dish towel, tea towel, dish cloth or napkins; it dries faster than terry and gets softer with washing.
- Wear it: as a bandana, neck scarf, hat or head wrap, mask, or hair wrap for long hair; sports and hiking fans use it as a sports towel.
Tenugui vs bandana vs handkerchief: a bandana is a square of printed cotton; a handkerchief is smaller and hemmed; a tenugui is long, thin and unhemmed. It is closer to a Turkish peshtemal or fouta, but thinner. Tenugui display: hang it with a tenugui hanger, rack or holder (手ぬぐい掛け, tenugui-kake), a tapestry hanger for wall hanging, or a picture frame (vertical or horizontal).
Japanese hand towel culture
Tenugui definition and purpose aside, Japan has other personal hand towels. Many people in Japan carry a small hand towel or towel handkerchief (タオルハンカチ), because many public restrooms have no paper towels. Restaurants hand out an oshibori — a hot hand towel in winter, a cold one in summer — before the meal. At an onsen (hot spring), the small towel never goes into the bath water, which is why bathers fold it on their heads. A Japanese body towel (ナイロンタオル) is a long nylon washcloth for scrubbing in the bath, used by holding both ends behind your back. For the bathroom, cute Japanese hand towels sit on a hand towel tray in many homes and inns; worn-out towels and old tenugui end up as a cleaning rag. Folding a tenugui towel in thirds lengthwise makes a neat headband (no DIY sewing needed). Linen and waffle hand towels and retro hot spring hand towels printed with onsen names are popular souvenirs.
Chusen vs printed tenugui
Many tenugui are chusen (注染) — “pour-dyed”: dye is poured through stacked layers of cloth, so the pattern shows on both sides with soft, slightly blurred edges. Kamawanu and Nijiyura sell chusen tenugui.[14][16] Cheaper tenugui are screen-printed (捺染, nassen), which gives crisp lines on one side; Hamamonyo uses printing.[17] Indigo tenugui, white tenugui, vintage and ukiyo-e tenugui, and seasonal, anime and character prints are all common; a tenugui pack of several designs is a good starter set. High quality tenugui use fine-count cotton and chusen dyeing.
Furoshiki and Tenugui Brands
| Brand | Where / since | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Musubi (Yamada Sen-i 山田繊維) | Kyoto; 1937 | Furoshiki in S–XL sizes, Kyoto shop, global online store |
| Miyai (宮井) | Kyoto | Furoshiki and wrapping guides |
| Eirakuya (永楽屋) | Kyoto; 1615 | Tenugui and furoshiki; sister brand RAAK |
| Kamawanu (かまわぬ) | Tokyo (Daikanyama shop 1987) | Chusen-dyed tenugui in many patterns; tenugui frames |
| Nijiyura (にじゆら) | Sakai, Osaka; brand 2008 (Nakani, 1966) | Chusen-dyed tenugui |
| Hamamonyo (濱文様) | Yokohama; brand 1993 (Keis, 1948) | Screen-printed tenugui and furoshiki |
| Kenema (Miyamoto 宮本) | Osaka; brand 2005 (Miyamoto, 1949) | Tenugui; JIKAN STYLE shops |
- Musubi is the brand of Yamada Sen-i, which began in Kyoto in 1937, opened its Kyoto shop in 2005 and its global online store in 2017.[18]
- Eirakuya was founded in Kyoto in 1615 and makes tenugui and furoshiki; RAAK is its sister brand.[15]
- Kamawanu opened its first shop in Daikanyama, Tokyo, in 1987.[19]
- Nijiyura is the chusen brand of Nakani in Sakai, Osaka (company 1966, brand 2008).[16]
- Hamamonyo belongs to Keis in Yokohama (factory 1948, brand 1993).[17]
- Kenema is the tenugui brand launched in 2005 by Miyamoto, an Osaka company founded in 1949.[20]
Price guide: a chusen-dyed cotton tenugui from Kamawanu was ¥1,760 including tax (checked 2026-10-25),[14] and Musubi listed 48 cm prints at about US$10–16 and a 90 cm cloth at about US$39 in its global shop.[7] Plain cotton furoshiki from Japanese marketplaces cost less; silk furoshiki cost more.
Not the shoe: “Vibram Furoshiki” is a wrap-around shoe from Vibram named after the cloth, so searches for furoshiki size charts in shoe sizes belong to Vibram, not to wrapping cloths.[21]
Japanese Words for Shopping
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 風呂敷 | furoshiki | wrapping cloth |
| 手ぬぐい / 手拭い | tenugui | thin cotton towel |
| 包み | tsutsumi | wrap / wrapping |
| 結び | musubi | knot |
| ちりめん | chirimen | silk or rayon crepe |
| 綿 / 正絹 / レーヨン / ポリエステル | men / shōken / rēyon / poriesuteru | cotton / pure silk / rayon / polyester |
| 注染 | chūsen | pour-dyed (both sides coloured) |
| 捺染 | nassen | screen-printed |
| 額 | gaku | frame |
| 〜cm幅 | -senchi haba | width in cm |
| エコバッグ | eko baggu | reusable shopping bag |
| ハンドル / 持ち手 | handoru / mochite | bag handles |
How to Buy Furoshiki and Tenugui From Japan
- Search in Japanese: 風呂敷 70cm, 風呂敷 綿 大判, ちりめん 風呂敷, 風呂敷 ハンドル, 手ぬぐい 注染, かまわぬ 手ぬぐい, 手ぬぐい 額.
- Check the size in cm and the material (綿, 正絹, レーヨン, ポリエステル).
- Bundle: both fold flat and weigh little, so they are cheap to add to a parcel. The first six orders consolidate free; each additional order costs ¥100.
- See it before it ships: wrong/missing-item checks (¥200) and unboxing photos (¥500 / ¥700) let you confirm the pattern at the Tokyo warehouse.
OneMall buys from Japanese marketplaces such as Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, Rakuten and Amazon Japan, and from other Japanese online stores (including maker web shops) through LinkBuy. Items that need a lottery entry, purchase limit, Japanese identity verification or a merchant account cannot be purchased. International shipping is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height ÷ 5,000) of the box the warehouse uses.
Service fees are ¥300 per item on most marketplaces; from ¥200 per item on Yahoo Auctions and LinkBuy. The first six orders consolidate free; each additional order costs ¥100. Storage is free for 90 days after arrival (30 days after consolidation). Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal, settled in USD.
US buyers: since August 29, 2025, US-bound parcels of any value go through customs and pay applicable duties, taxes and fees — the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies. OneMall currently ships to the United States by ECMS and DHL; the live quote at checkout shows which lines accept your parcel.
Browse furoshiki listings, chusen tenugui or furoshiki bag handles, and compare the best Japan proxy services and proxy costs by total landed cost. Furoshiki and tenugui also make easy stocking fillers — see our Christmas gifts from Japan list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does furoshiki mean?
Literally “bath spread” (風呂 bath + 敷 spread); today it means a Japanese wrapping cloth.
What size furoshiki should I buy?
68–70 cm (about 27 in) is the most versatile; 45–50 cm for a bento box, 90–105 cm for a bag.
What is the difference between furoshiki and tenugui?
A furoshiki is a square wrapping cloth; a tenugui is a long, thin cotton towel about 35 × 90 cm. A tenugui can wrap small things too.
Why are tenugui edges not hemmed?
So the cloth dries quickly and doesn’t hold water; the fraying stops after a few millimetres.
How do you wrap a wine bottle in furoshiki?
Use bin-tsutsumi or the wine wrap with a 68–70 cm cloth: stand the bottle in the middle, knot two opposite corners over the top, and twist the other two around the neck into a handle.
Can you wash furoshiki and tenugui?
Cotton and polyester, yes; silk and rayon should be dry cleaned. Wash new chusen tenugui separately at first, as the dye can run.
What is a tenugui used for in kendo?
It is tied over the head under the helmet (men) to absorb sweat and keep the helmet in place.
References
- Miyai, History of furoshiki. https://www.miyai-net.co.jp/furoshiki/history/
- Furoshiki (Wikipedia). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furoshiki
- Ministry of the Environment, Mottainai Furoshiki. https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/info/furoshiki/
- Ministry of the Environment, Press release 2006-01-19. https://www.env.go.jp/press/6751.html
- Kyoto Furoshiki-kai, Furoshiki Day. https://www.furoshiki-kyoto.com/how_to/furoshikiday.html
- Miyai, Furoshiki sizes. https://www.miyai-net.co.jp/furoshiki/size/
- Musubi furoshiki, Collections. https://www.musubi-furoshiki.com/en-us/collections
- Miyai, How to wrap. https://www.miyai-net.co.jp/furoshiki/wrap/
- Ministry of the Environment, How to use Furoshiki. https://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html
- Miyai, Furoshiki care. https://www.miyai-net.co.jp/furoshiki/handling/
- Kamawanu, Notebook vol. 2 (tenugui). https://kamawanu-store.jp/blogs/notebook/vol-2
- Tenugui (Wikipedia). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenugui
- Kamawanu, Tenugui frame. https://kamawanu-store.jp/products/06046221
- Kamawanu, FUJIYAMA tenugui. https://kamawanu-store.jp/products/06450936
- Eirakuya, Company. https://www.eirakuya.jp/view/page/company
- Nakani (Nijiyura), About. https://nakani.co.jp/about/
- Hamamonyo, Company. https://www.hamamonyo.jp/company
- Musubi, Company overview. https://www.musubi-furoshiki.com/en-us/pages/company-overview
- Kamawanu, About. https://kamawanu.com/pages/about
- Miyamoto (JIKAN STYLE), Company profile. https://miyamoto.jikan-style.jp/company-profile
- Vibram, Furoshiki. https://www.vibram.com/us/shop/furoshiki