Craft & Cultural Wonders of Japan
$6,590
per person, twin share (land tour only).
$1205 supplement for sole use of a hotel room.
Tour Leader
Tour Info
OVERVIEW
Uncover the culture, craft, and character of Japan's most iconic destinations on this 12-day journey through some of its most iconic cities and traditional towns. Beginning in Tokyo, you’ll explore serene gardens, temples full of story, and the kind of fabric shopping that will have you reaching for a bigger suitcase, woven together with hands-on craft experiences you’ll carry home long after the trip ends. From there, the route carries you west through the scenic Fuji region and into the Japanese Alps, where ancient castles, onsen retreats, and traditional folk arts set the stage for something quieter and deeply memorable.
In Kyoto, Japan’s creative and ceremonial capital, the pace deepens. You’ll visit artisan studios, browse vibrant markets, and take part in workshops in techniques that have shaped Japanese textile culture for centuries. This route was built for the traveler who wants it all: world-class sights, genuine craft encounters, and the kind of local access that only comes from a well-planned, small-group journey. If this is your first time in Japan, you’re in excellent hands. And if you've been before, you'll find that seeing it through the lens of fabric, craft, and creative tradition makes it feel entirely new.
HIGHLIGHTS
Textile Workshops & Living Craft Traditions
- Try your hand at shibori tie-dyeing in Arimatsu, a town that has kept this tradition alive for over 400 years
- Learn the art of wax resist indigo dyeing with a hands-on roketsu class
- Participate in a Yuzen silk painting session where you'll see how kimonos are made more beautiful under skilled artisan hands
- Learn the intricate threadwork of temari ball making in Matsumoto where even the manhole covers boast the beautiful designs
- Make your own washi paper in a centuries-old workshop in the Japanese Alps
Cultural & Artisan Museums
- Visit the Akie Ginza Sashiko Museum in the mountain village of Hinohara, a personal collection and lifetime dedication to this meditative stitching art
- Visit the Aomori Museum of Art, one of Japan's most architecturally distinctive regional galleries
- Spend a morning at the Tokyo National Museum, Japan's oldest and largest museum, where the collection spans thousands of years of Japanese art and material culture
Iconic Japan: Temples, Castles & Gardens
- Walk beneath thousands of vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, visit the gleaming Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, and contemplate the famous rock garden at Ryoanji Temple
- Explore Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s finest original castles, stroll through Koishikawa Korakuen garden in Tokyo, and wander Gokayama Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site of thatched-roof farmhouses
Fabric Markets & Shopping
- Spend an afternoon at Nippori Fabric Town in Tokyo, a destination that needs no introduction for anyone who loves textiles, with shop after shop of fabrics, notions, and trimmings
- Visit two beloved Tokyo quilting destinations: the iconic Quilt Party by Yoko Saito, a pilgrimage stop for quilters from around the world, and then step into the charming independent quilt shop Mothers Dream for exactly the kind of find you stumble onto when you're traveling with people who love fabric as much as you
START & FINISH
The tour begins with a welcome dinner on Day 1, May 10th in Tokyo. The tour ends after breakfast at leisure on Day 12, May 20th 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
MADONNA RANDT
MaDonna Randt has been quilting for 25 years. Originally, MaDonna owned a quilt shop in Naperville, IL before moving to Arizona with her husband and 2 daughters and thriving as a cosmetologist. 10 years ago, she received the opportunity to take ownership of a quilting store in Mesa, AZ. Her love for quilting, sewing, and embroidery wouldn’t allow her to say no. Thus, Mad B’s Quilt & Sew was born. Throughout those 10 years, she has grown her business by focusing on bringing the classic quilting generation into this modern world and vice versa. She has joined with strong partners in the industry like Bernina, OESD, Sew Kind of Wonderful, Kimberbell and more to bring her customers the best experience possible. She is known for her stellar fabric choices, creative solutions to tough patterns, her growing skills in longarm quilting, and the classes she teaches. She has an arsenal of tips and tricks and loves to share!
Inclusions
TOUR INCLUSIONS
What is included in the tour price?
- Shared arrival & departure transfers (service hours may apply)
- Transportation in Japan by chartered coaches & bullet train
- 11 nights twin-share accommodation at well-appointed hotels with breakfast daily
- 4 dinners, 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 - Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
Kawaguchiko - Mystays Fujisan
Takayama - Mercure Hida
Kyoto - Hilton Garden Inn
Tour Details
Places AvailableBookings
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