November 9th - 22nd, 2025 - "The Six Ancient Kilns of Japan!"

Leave you home airport for Japan. Most flights will arrive the next day due to the time change. 

Arrive at Kansai Airport in Osaka (KIX) and check into hotel right at the terminal. Enjoy Japanese cuisine, shop, and relax.

Day tour of Osaka. We'll go to the Rikyu Museum and learn about the tea ceremony, and enjoy one too, watch a knife being forged, and visit the Ceramics Museum. 

We'll take a day trip to Tokoname, the first of the six ancient kilns.  Walk the Pottery Path, see the Inax Museums, Terracotta Museum and the Tokoname Tou no Mori Museum, 

Day trip to Seto, the second ancient kiln town, where we'll visit the Manekineko museum, the Blue and White museum, and the Setogura Museum.

Today, we'll go to Taijimi to see Minoyaki - Mino ware. We'll visit the Mino Ceramic Art Museum, the Ceramic Park, and the Mosaic Tile Museum, We'll go to Kyoto tonight.

Day trip to the town of Echizen, another one of the six ancient kilns. We'll see the Echizen Old Kiln Museum , Echizen Pottery Village, and the Echizen Pottery Museum.

Today we'll tour Kyoto visiting the Robert Yellin Pottery Gallery, the Raku Museum and the iconic Kinkakuji Temple - Golden Pavilion.

Another day of seeing the gorgeous sites of Kyoto including the Kiyomizu-dera temple, the Kyoto Ceramics Center, and the Unrakugama studio and gallery. 

Another ancient kiln town with lots of pottery to see! We'll go to the Hyogo Ceramics Museum, the Sue No Sato Ceramics Park, Toshihiko-gama, and Shoyo-gama studios.

Today we'll visit another ancient kiln town. We'll visit three different well established potters, viewing their studio and work, and we'll go to the Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park and see outstanding facilities.

We'll go to the sixth of Japan's six ancient kilns today: Bizen! We'll visit various pottery stores and galleries, and see a few studios. Most of the work is unglazed and decorated by the flame in their wood fired kilns.

Today we'll go to the Toji market located at the gorgeous Tori temple grounds. It's a shopper's paradise with all kinds of vintage Japanese items like scroll paintings, kimonos, and yes, pottery! Free time in the afternoon.

Travel back home from KIX airport in Osaka. We'll take a train from Kyoto directly to the airport. You can also opt to stay in Japan longer on your own if you want. 

If possible, schedule some down time when you return from Japan. The time change and jet lag is challenging! Japan is amazing and you'll treasure your photos and all the beautiful things you bought!