JAPAN CERAMICS EXCURSION
November 6-25, 2024

CREATIVE TRAVEL - LEARNING VACATIONS
The amazing history and culture of JAPAN

GUARANTEED DEPARTURE! November 6 -25. This exciting tour of Japan has been completed for 2023. Please contact me if you wish to make a deposit for 2024, or you can make a $1000 USD deposit for 2024 on my PayPal link in the BOOK NOW section of the website.

 Explore the magic of this rich and diverse culture in the colourful autumn season.
Enjoy its amazing gardens, temples, potteries, ancient kiln sites, cuisine, fabrics and architecture. Appreciate Japanese flower arranging, tea ceremony, paper making, laquerware, and woodworking. Travel with a on-board professional Japanese guide and a on-board Japanese escort. Savour out of the way places and the electric energy of city life.

Excursion Highlights
Itinerary
Timetable
Package Includes
Cancellation Policy
Payment Information 

Excursion Highlights

We are spending 19 nights in Japan, 7 of which are in the rich jewel of Kyoto.

Our tour includes a wide variety of temples and gardens, some famous such as the Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa (one of Japan’s “great three” gardens), and some less known ones such as the Shisen-do temple and garden in the Kyoto region.



Zen Garden in the Daitoku-ji Temple Complex, Kyoto

Arrangements are underway for visits to a traditional Washi paper making workshop, and an artist casting ancient style iron tea kettles. 

Garden in Kurashiki

I have made arrangements with several potters including a “National Treasure” artist for studio, kiln and showroom visitations.

This excursion has a healthy, although certainly not exclusive ceramics focus. It is suitable for anyone interested in the art, culture, people and history of Japan. Ceramics play an important role in Japanese culture in the serving of both food and tea.

 

Teahouse in the Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa

There is a rich interwoven tradition involving the Japanese tea ceremony (Way of Tea), Zen Buddhism, the use of handcrafted ceramic tea bowls, a particular type of flower arranging (Chabana), calligraphy in the form of hanging scrolls, tatami mats and the use of lacquer ware trays for serving food. The setting of the teahouse within the Japanese garden is also an important part of this tradition.

Look forward to experiencing tea in such a setting.

 

Marumatagama – multi chambered climbing wood kiln in Shigaraki

There are several important pottery kiln sites on our agenda including Mashiko, Bizen and Shigaraki. We will also visit traditional and contemporary artist studios in Kaga. 

In the Kyoto area, our group will visit many museums including the Raku Museum, Miho museum and the Kawai Kanjiro house, studio and kiln museum. We will also visit the Yakimono Gallery which houses a wide selection of Japanese pottery from all regions.

In Kurashiki, we will visit the Ohara museum. This museum contains important collections of Japanese painting,woodcuts of Munakata Shikoand dyeings of Serisawa Keisuke. Here, we will explore the great collection of the potters and artists of the Mingei tradition, including members of Yanagi’s core group Shoji Hamada, Kanjiro Kawai, Kenkichi Tomimoto and Bernard Leach. An optional add-on day trip to the "Art "island of Naoshima is planned

 Mingei is a term coined by Yanagi Soetsu in 1926, and it refers to the Japanese folk-art movement, where beauty was appreciated in everyday and utilitarian objects created by nameless and unknown craftsmen. Yanagi’s influential book, ”The Unknown Craftsman”, examines the Japanese way of viewing and appreciating art and beauty in everyday crafts, including ceramics, lacquer, textiles and woodwork.

Our studio visitations provide an ideal vehicle for a deeper connection with Japanese people, as one can ask questions through our interpreter and observe and photograph their everyday life. 

I have set the time of the year and the route sequence so as to best experience nature’s extraordinary display of autumn leaves. 

 

We have a very special access to a region of Japan that is less visited by tourists. This is possible due to the personal connections made through the sister city relationship that my home, Salt Spring Island, has with the small town of Yamanaka. Yamanaka has one of the three leading hot springs in Japan. We will be welcomed by locals and taken to woodturning, lacquer ware, fabric and ceramics studios.

Our accommodation in Yamanaka is nestled over the scenic Kakusen Gorge next to two important bridges. The lovely autumn foliage of the gorge can be viewed from the Kōrogi Bridge (Cricket Bridge), built completely of cypress wood, and from the Ayatori Bridge, famous for its avant-garde form, designed by Teshigahara Hiroshi. The famous natural hot spring supplies mineral water for the Onsen bath in our accommodation, available for your soaking pleasure. This is a very special opportunity.

 

Tranquil stream below our accommodation in Yamanaka Onsen

We will travel in a small group with Rumiko, our Japanese woman guide, interpreter and escort, and a professional Japanese guide and tour leader.

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Itinerary 

Japan 2024 tentative itinerary including main activities:

Day 1. November 6, 2024 Individual arrivals to hotel in Asakusa district in Tokyo. 

Day 2. Orientation meeting. Tokyo tour including Senso-ji temple,Yanaka Street (historical district),walk to Nezu Shrine via Hebi-michi,optional Ueno Park or National Museum of Art visit.

Day 3.  Visit to the pottery town of Mashiko. Day trip by private coach with local guide, Hamada studio, kiln and museum, studio visits.

Day 4. Depart Tokyo on fast train to Kanazawa, orientation and  historical walk to old Giesha district.

Day 5. Famous Kenroku-en Garden,castle, gallery and studio visits. 

Day 6. Kanazawa. Arts and crafts studios, including the Miyazaki family (14th generation) tea kettle casting foundry.

Day 7. Kanazawa to Yamanaka. Private coach to the traditional paper making studio, visit Shirayamahime Shrine nearby. Lunch. After lunch, visit Ishikawa Prefectural Lacquerware Centre in Yamanaka to learn about how lacquerware is made.Transfer to Kaga and hotel. Dinner included at our hotel. Optional soak in the Onsen.

Day 8. Day trip to Kaga. Ichizo Yamashita pottery studio, Hisaichi Nakamura wood fired pottery studio and kiln, lunch at café and art showroom Kasanomisaki, Kutaniyaki Museum, Kutani ancient kiln, dinner at our Yamanaka hotel with special menu included.

Day 9. Yamanaka. Studio visits to famous wood turner, Takehito Nakajima and world class lacquer ware master Mushu Yamazaki, free afternoon, gorge and river walks from hotel.

Day 10. Travel by train to Kurashiki. Orientation, canal walk, free time, dinner.



Day 11. Kurashiki Exploration. Ohara Museum, historical Bikan area tour, bamboo gardens, historical canal area, Indigo shop. Free lunch and afternoon. Optional add-on day trip to the island of Naoshima.

Day 12. Day trip to ancient pottery town of Bizen with local guide, visit to National Treasure potter, kilns and showroom (to be confirmed); lunch served on Bizen ware plates, Co-op Bizen showroom, Overnight at hotel in Okayama.

Day 13. Okayama. Visit Koraku-en, one of Japan’s “famous three” gardens. Train to Kyoto.

Day 14. Kyoto. Guided visits to Ginkaku-ji temple (Silver Pavilion), Robert Yellin Yakimono Ceramics Gallery and talk( to be confirmed), Philosophers walk, Chion-in temple, optional evening garden light up.( to be confirmed)

Day 15. Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera temple and garden, Higashiyama pottery district, Kawai Kanjiro memorial museum, house, studio and kiln, Kyoto National Museum or Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa (to be determined).

Day 16. Visit to ancient pottery town of Shigaraki. Day trip by private coach using local guide; Soto-en Kiln, ancient largest functioning Nobori Gama climbing wood kiln in Japan.Pottery studios. Visit to the famous MIHO museum.

Day 17. Kyoto North. Private guided tour. complex, Nanzen-ji Temple and garden, Raku Ware Museum. Ryoan-ji temple and garden.

Day 18. Miyama day trip with private coach and local guides. traditionalv thatch roof houses, lunch and cooking with locals in 4 private houses.

Day 19. Day to be determined based on the timing during our Kyoto stay, free time in afternoon.

Day 20.( November 25, 2024) Breakfast. Tour ends.

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Timetable

Tentative Timetable
The excursion starts in Tokyo at 7 pm on the evening of November 6, 2024 in the lobby of our hotel, and ends in Kyoto at our hotel after breakfast on November 25, 2024.

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Package Includes

  1. 19 nights accommodation double or twin occupancy. Several of which include access to Onsens (traditional Japanese hot spring baths).
  2. 19 breakfasts.
  3. 2 or 3 dinners (to be determined).
  4. Two special lunches, one in a family home in Miyama (a small town near Kyoto).
  5. Transportation throughout the tour in private bus and train.
  6. City and site transportation using metro, taxi, or private coach.
  7.  Entrance fees to museums, gardens and temples.
  8. Guided visits to several sites, studios, museums, gardens and temples.
  9. Japanese escort and interpreter for the entire trip.

    10. Professional on board Japanese guide for entire tour.
    11. Luggage transfer for train rides between cities.

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Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel, the following cancellation fees will apply:

 

      Applicable Dates

        Cancellation Fees

2024 excursion 

 

1.    • May 15-July 15/2024

2.    • July 16/24-July 31/2024

3.    • August 1-Sept. 15/2024

4.    • Sept 16-Nov. 6/2024

 

 

1.    •   Deposit plus 30% of excursion cost

2.    •   Deposit plus 50% of excursion cost

3.    •   Deposit plus 80% of excursion cost

4.    •   No refund

There is no refund for arriving late or leaving the trip early.

Discovery Art Travel reserves the right to cancel the trip due to low enrolment, or if we feel that the quality of the trip or the safety of travelers would be compromised. In such a case, we will refund all payments received to date, which constitutes full settlement.
 The trip has  been given a GUARANTEED DEPARTURE STATUS.
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Payment Information

Japan:  November 6-25, 2024

Please confirm your space  by making  a deposit of $1000 USD using our secure online PayPal link on this website at BOOK NOW or Telephone 1-250-537-4906 to make a credit card deposit.

 

The  revised 2024 payment schedule is as follows:

  Sept 22, 2024. A few spaces left. Please register now to reserve one. The total excursion cost is $9895 USD. An additional interim payment of $2000 USD is payable on or before July 31, 2024, and the final payment is due in our office on or before August 15, 2024. An invoice for the remaining balance will be sent out to you on or before August 5, 2024. The single supplement amount is $1450 USD. The single supplement is also due and payable on or before August 15, 2024.

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Payment Information

Online Payment

Deposit Full Payment - excl. Airfare Interim Payment
$1000 USD. - $100 refund if received before March 31st
$9895 USD.*
Type in amount:
$

*Deposits can be made in either USD or Canadian currency. Discovery Art Travel pays for services in foreign countries in USD. The final excursion price in USD is estimated 12 months ahead of the departure date. Therefore, depending on currency fluctuations, price increases in services, surcharges and taxes, the final excursion price may vary.

Prices on your final invoice will be stated in USD. Clients are welcome to make payments in either USD or the equivalent Canadian currency.

Registration Process

When your deposit has been received, you will receive a confirmation email that you have purchased your secure option for a seat in this excursion.

You will then receive a registration form; letter/contract; and liability waiver. 

We recommend that you do not book non refundable flights or other services until this excursion has been given a guaranteed departure date. This guaranteed departure date will be given to you as soon as possible.

There will be additional information letters sent to you as needed, and an invoice for the interim payment and for the final payment. 

 

Explore the magic of this rich and diverse culture in the colourful autumn season.
Enjoy its amazing gardens, temples, potteries, ancient kiln sites, cuisine, fabrics and architecture. Appreciate Japanese flower arranging, tea ceremony, paper making, laquerware, and woodworking. Travel with an on-board professional Japanese tour leader and a Japanese escort. Savour out of the way places and the electric energy of city life.

For More Information: Ph/Fax (250) 537- 4906 • E-mail: Denys James.