Exploring Japan Through Textiles & Culture
$7,295
per person, twin share (land tour only).
$995 supplement for sole use of a hotel room.
Tour Leader
Tour Info
OVERVIEW
This 13-day journey takes you from the fabric-filled streets of Tokyo's Nippori district through the mountain towns of the Japanese Alps to the ancient weaving districts of Kyoto. Along the way, you'll study sashiko stitching at an artisan studio in Takayama, coax color through indigo vats in the castle town of Gujo Hachiman, press wax onto fabric in a roketsu workshop with Kyoto master dyers, and work with the hemp and linen of the Omi Jofu region in a specially tailored session at a traditional craft center. Between workshops, you'll walk through thousands of vermillion torii gates, sleep beside Mount Fuji, wander through a UNESCO-listed village beautifully preserved from another century, and share dinners in some of the most enchanting towns in Japan.
HIGHLIGHTS
Workshops and Craft Experiences
Work with local arisans in furoshiki fabric wrapping, temari ball making, washi papermaking, sashiko stitching, indigo dyeing, and roketsu wax-resist dyeing. Every workshop is guided by people who practice these crafts daily, and you will leave with something made by your own hands.
Museums and Private Collections
The Itchiku Kubota Museum holds some of the most breathtaking kimono works in the world. The Tokyo National Museum offers the country's finest survey of art and artifacts. And Akie Ginza's personal Sashiko Museum is an intimate, moving record of a life spent preserving a single craft. Together, they offer an extraordinary range of ways to understand what Japan makes.
Textile Shopping and Studio Visits
Visit Yoko Saito's legendary Quilt Party shop in Tokyo, tour the a silk weaving factory in Nagahama, work alongside weavers at a traditional craft center in Lake Biwa, browse the Hida Sashiko textile store in Takayama, and wander through the huge stretch of fabric notions at Nippori Fabric Town.
Cultural Landmarks
Walk through thousands of torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, explore Matsumoto Castle, Todaiji Temple, and the Silver Pavilion. Wander the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto and the deer park in Nara. The cultural depth of this route is woven into every day.
START & FINISH
The tour begins with a welcome dinner on Day 1, Wednesday, May 12 in Tokyo. The tour ends after breakfast at leisure on Day 13, Monday, May 24 in Kyoto.
Shared arrival & departure transfers are included. (Some conditions apply - shared transfers are only valid between our designated hotels and airports during available transfer service times)
Itinerary
DETAILED ITINERARY
Click the button below to receive a brochure with the full daily itinerary.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email at:
Phone: 877-235-3767
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tour Leader
BRANDY MASLOWSKI
Brandy Maslowski is a quilt teacher, speaker, judge, and the author of children’s book, Kristy’s Quilt. She has been a light-hearted stitcher for 30 years. From clumsy beginner quilter all the way to showing her fiber art in galleries, Brandy has a passion for fabric, stitch, color, texture and everything quilting. She loves to travel the world with quilters to ignite their creativity with the tag line “More JOY, less OVERWHELM.” You can find her as the Quilter on Fire on Youtube, Facebook and Instagram or visit her website at www.quilteronfire.com.
ANA BUZZALINO
Ana Buzzalino is a teacher, lecturer, creator, and author with more than 40 years of sewing experience and a deep passion for slow stitching and textile arts. Her creative journey began in childhood, learning by watching her mother sew and collecting fabric scraps as treasured beginnings of her own artistic voice. Her work focuses on expressive, intuitive stitching that encourages presence, storytelling, and connection through cloth. She teaches and lectures internationally, sharing techniques and inspiration drawn from a lifetime of making, exploring, and creating with textiles. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook, or visit www.anabuzzalino.com
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Inclusions
TOUR INCLUSIONS
What is included in the tour price?
- Shared arrival & departure transfers (conditions apply)
- Transportation in Japan by chartered coaches & bullet train
- 12 nights twin-share accommodation at well-appointed hotels with breakfast daily
- 4 dinners, 2 lunches, workshops and entrance fees for activities stated in the itinerary
- An English-speaking guide throughout the trip in Japan
What is not included in the tour price?
- International airfare to Japan
- Travel insurance
- Porterage at hotels and personal expenses
- Gratuities and anything not mentioned
Hotels
HOTELS
The accommodations noted for this tour are what we used to price and design the itinerary, and they reflect the level of quality and location you can expect throughout the journey.
Because group space is finalized closer to departure, hotels are subject to change. If any adjustments are needed, we always select properties of similar quality and in comparable locations so the overall experience remains consistent.
Tokyo - Metropolian Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar)
Lake Kawaguchi - Hotel Mystays Fuji Onsen Resort (or similar)
Takayama - Tokyu Stay Hida Takayama (or similar)
Lake Biwa - Marriott Lake Biwa (or similar)
Kyoto - Hilton Garden Inn Shijo (or similar)
Tour Details
Waitlist OnlyBookings
Next Departure
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