Craft Traditions Across Northern Japan
$6,390
per person, twin share (land tour only).
$955 supplement for sole use of a hotel room.
Tour Leader
Tour Info
OVERVIEW
Northern Japan's remote landscapes and deep indigenous roots make it home to some of the country's most distinctive craft traditions. This 12-day journey takes you from the wide streets of Sapporo through the ancient Ainu villages of Hokkaido, through Tohoku's quiet river valleys and apple-blossom countryside, and into the workshops and studios where some of Japan's most distinctive textile arts are still practiced by hand. You'll stitch patterns of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, embroider kogin on traditional linen, weave sakiori from recycled cloth, and finish a temari ball in Tokyo, all with makers who have devoted their lives to keeping these traditions alive.
Between workshops, you'll wander through contemporary art museums, browse specialty craft shops stocked with naturally dyed threads and handmade notions, view the historic tower of Hirosaki Castle, and share meals with a group of fellow travelers who came for the same reason you did: to go beyond the surface of Japan and find the people and places that show its creative heart.
HIGHLIGHTS
Craft Workshops
- Stitch traditional Ainu embroidery patterns in a workshop rooted in Hokkaido's indigenous craft culture
- Practice indigo dyeing and learn kogin embroidery, one of Japan's most distinctive regional textile traditions
- Weave sakiori from recycled cloth strips, a centuries-old upcycling technique in the Tohoku region
- Participate in a creative paper folding workshop at a contemporary textile design studio
- Paint and decorate a kokeshi doll in a workshop village where artisans have been crafting these wooden dolls for generations
- Stitch alongside a local sashiko group for an introduction to this intricate and beautiful form of Japanese decorative stitching
- Complete a temari ball workshop where you’ll learn the traditional stitching technique that makes each of these beautiful decorative ornaments unique
- Try ikkan-bari in Sendai, a traditional Japanese craft of layering washi paper over bamboo and wood
Museums, Cultural Visits & Shopping
- Explore the Ainu Cultural Village Museum in Nibutani and encounter the indigenous culture of Hokkaido
- Visit the Aomori Museum of Art, one of Japan's most architecturally distinctive regional galleries
- Walk through the Towada Art Center, a landmark of contemporary Japanese art in a small Tohoku city
- Stroll through Hirosaki Castle and its celebrated grounds, a historic tower framed by cherry trees
- Browse specialist fabric and fiber shops in Aomori for naturally dyed threads, kogin supplies, and handmade textile goods
- Explore the ASPAM Folk Craft shop for Tsugaru glass, kogin embroidery, rag weaving and regional pottery
START & FINISH
The tour begins with a welcome dinner on Day 1, May 6th in Sapporo. The tour ends after breakfast at leisure on Day 12, May 17th in Tokyo.
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
KAREN BOLAN
Karen Bolan is a quilt teacher, lecturer, and pattern designer in Northern California. Drawn to the layers of design and expression possible in quilting, she loves the learning that comes from experimenting and finds inspiration everywhere she goes. Her designs are out of the box, and integrate a love of geometry, experimentation, interconnection, depth, and texture. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines including a recent feature in Quilts Japan, and her quilts have been exhibited at local and international shows including QuiltCon, Pacific International Quilt Festival, and the de Young Museum. Learn more about Karen’s work by visiting her website at www.KarenBolan.com.
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
- 5 dinners, 1 lunch, 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.
Sapporo - JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo
Lake Toya - Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace
Hirosaki - Art Hotel Hirosaki
Sendai - Metropolitan Sendai
Yamagata - Metropolitan Yamagata
Tokyo - Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
Tour Details
Places AvailableBookings
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