Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Ceramics, Sushi and Sightseeing!
Ceramics, Sushi, and Sightseeing, May 11th - 24th, 2024
MAY 11TH - Fly to Osaka
Fly from your home airport to KIX, Kansai International airport in Osaka, Japan. Most US flights will land tomorrow due to the time change.
May 12th - Arrive at KIX in Osaka
Sheri will meet you as you arrive. Check into the Nikko Hotel located conveniently at the airport, just a short walk away. Relax and rest up for an action packed tour starting tomorrow.
May 13th = Osaka Tour
Visit various sites in Osaka, including the Rikyu Museum, where you'll learn about the beginnings of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and enjoy an informal tea ceremony with our group. Travel to Okayama that night. Hotel Granvia Okayama.
May 14th - Okayama - Bizen
May 14th - Okayama - Bizen
We'll visit galleries and studios in Bizen like the Kibido Bizenyaki, pictured above.
May 15th - Kumamoto
May 14th - Okayama - Bizen
May 16th - Gokanosho
Travel to Kumamoto in Kyushu, southwest Japan. Visit the castle, the breathtaking Suizenji Garden, and the Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center with all kinds of pottery and other crafts. Richmond Hotel.
May 16th - Gokanosho
May 14th - Okayama - Bizen
May 16th - Gokanosho
Get away from the city and visit a very special place deep in the mountains. Visit inspiring waterfalls, stay at a family run inn who are direct descendants of the Heike Samurai Clan. Enjoy a scrumptious dinner like this! Shared rooms at Heike-so or Sakura-so.
May 17th - Gokanosho
We'll do some fun hands-on workshops at the Gokanosho Crafts Center. Learn from Japanese masters. Get creative in mediums you've probably never tried before.
May 18th - Yatsushiro/Takeo
Visit the Agano Kiln and see the 12th and 13th generation making Kodayaki style pottery. See the centuries old order book for their ancestors exclusive designs.
May 19th - Takeo Onsen
A chartered bus will take us to Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Master Ogata, where you'll make your unique masterpiece. We'll also
visit a potter, Master Koga.
May 20th = Takeo=Arita/Kyoto
May 20th = Takeo=Arita/Kyoto
Visit Kyushu Ceramic Museum in Arita, and walk around downtown Arita - Japan's porcelain birthplace.
Travel to Kyoto in the early evening. Hotel Forza Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi, located near the Nishiki Market and Gion.
May 21st - Kyoto
May 20th = Takeo=Arita/Kyoto
May 22nd - Kyoto-Shigaraki
Above: Raku Museum Chawan - Tour of Kyoto today. We'll see: the ornate Nijo Castle, the Raku Museum, the Robert Yellin Gallery - filled with "The Who's Who" in Japanese Pottery, and the Golden Pavilion.
May 22nd - Kyoto-Shigaraki
May 20th = Takeo=Arita/Kyoto
May 22nd - Kyoto-Shigaraki
Above: Shinohara Nozomu -Today we'll take a tour of Shigaraki Pottery town with Seita. We'll go to the internationally known Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural park, and visit three different well established Shigaraki potters.
May 23rd = Kyoto
May 24th - Travel Home
May 24th - Travel Home
We'll visit the Kiyomizudera temple, the Ceramics Center, Kiyomizu-yaki area, where there are many pottery galleries/stores. We'll tour the Unraku-gama studio there.
May 24th - Travel Home
May 24th - Travel Home
May 24th - Travel Home
Due to the time change, you'll often arrive in the US before you left Japan! No planned activities today except traveling from Kyoto to KIX airport on the "Hello Kitty" train to the KIX, Kansai airport in Osaka.
Savor the experiences!
May 24th - Travel Home
Savor the experiences!
You'll want to come back to Japan as soon as you leave! The Japanese people are the kindest on the planet! Deposit now to reserve your space in an ARTsome Trip2Japan!
Information
PRICE AND WHAT'S INCLUDED
The tour fee is $4,700. Includes: all accommodations, rail pass, all planned activities such as museum entry fees, and select meals. Does not include airfare. Please deposit early to hold your spot! A $100 non-refundable deposit is due at that time. The balance of $4,600 will be due two months prior to the trip, by March 11th, 2024, and is non-refundable after that date.
Single rooms - No Extra Charge!
No extra supplemental fee for single rooms. The group will share rooms for two nights in Gokanosho. Single rooms at all other locations included. Double or shared rooms available.
Rigor
This tour involves a lot of walking! It's not suitable for people with mobility issues or with low physical fitness levels. In addition to a lot of walking, participants hop on and off trains and busses with their luggage, hike on uneven trails, and are often on their feet for long periods. We'll be trekking to view waterfalls, hiking in the mountains, and sitting on the floor on tatami mats.
Itinerary subject to Change
This tour is still in the planning stages, and slight changes to the itinerary may occur due to availability of Japanese guides, artists, opening hours, etc.
Who can Participate
Any adult 20 years old and up. You don't need to be a potter, you just need to love pottery. We'll be doing a lot more than just ceramic related things. Friends and spouses are welcome! Group size 6 to 15 maximum.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
Discover exciting destinations that are off the beaten path. See the "real" Japan, not just the typical touristy sights. Meet Japanese artists, craftspeople, and direct descendants of Samurai!
INFORMATION AFTER REGISTRATION
Upon registration, you'll receive a lot of information about what to expect, pack, and prepare for while on the trip. Sheri is accessible and happy to answer all your questions and will provide a lot of "Japan Tips" that she's learned from all of the great trips she's taken to Japan! She's a professor emeritus of ceramics, so she loves sharing information, and will provide all the necessary paperwork too.
Contact Trip2Japan
Schedule a Call or Zoom Meeting
Please email Sheri to set something up. SheriLeigh@Trip2Japan.com
trip2japan
Truckee, CA 96161
