may 17th – 31st, 2021
$3,900 includes: rail pass, hotels, activities, and select meals. flights are not included.
deposit due upon registration, balance due 2/19/21, or full payment if registration occurs after this date.
we’re hoping japan will allow international tourism in may 2021, and are planning another incredible trip.
we’ll start out in osaka, then take the bullet train to kyushu, in southwestern japan, where we’ll visit non-touristy parts of the country few americans visit. at the end of the trip, we’ll travel to kyoto, visiting various potteries, art museums, temples, shrines, and art studios. we’ll participate in some hands-on art workshops and get to experience the peaceful, different japanese culture that most tours don’t include.
the meals are incredible – an experience, not just food. it’s like edible sculpture on a plate! you’ll wear a yukata to some meals, (a house kimono), dress in a formal kimono and experience a brief tea ceremony, and do many more unforgettable, unique experiences. registration is open to any adult. couples are welcome. rooms can be single or double occupancy, same price.
there will be a fair amount of walking, with and without your luggage, as well as hopping on and off trains, busses, subways, and escalators which can be physically rigorous.
“japan is over the top great!”
sheri leigh o’connor, who has been studying japanese for years, has been to japan over 20 times. she is the chair of the fine arts department at snu tahoe, where she teaches ceramics. her work has been featured in ceramics monthly, and clay times , and several books. she has participated in numerous art exhibitions, including in utsonomiya, japan. her passion lately has been building serendipity art center, near unzen, and traveling to japan.
“i’ve never taken anyone to japan who didn’t absolutely love it!”
| itinerary – (subject to change):
may 17th – leave for japan from your home airport may 18th – arrive in osaka – kix airport in time for 7:30 pm meeting, stay at the nikko hotel in the airport. may 19th – osaka – guided tour – charter bus
may 20th
may 21st – takeo
May 22nd & 23rd – unzen – small quaint town – european style architecture – geopark
May 24th & 25th – gokanosho
may 26th – Yatsuhiro & Kumamoto
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golden pavilion – kinkaku-ji – kyoto
indigo dyeing in takeo |
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may 27th – 31st – kyoto and surrounding area
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hami seiho, volcanic ash potter in unzen |
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early registration is recommended as trips often fill up quickly. $549 deposit required at registration. balance due on february 25, 2020 and non-refundable after this date. you can petition for a refund if medical or family emergency occurs. video from japanese tv station featuring 2017 group
teapot demo in kyoto /td> |
2019 group at historic teahouse in yatsushiro
shigaraki pottery |
kyoto ceramics institute |
knife maker in osaka |
koda-yaki inlay process |
koda-yaki style agano pottery in yatsushiro – 15 generations! |
nightly dinner at the yumei hotel – incredibly enjoyable food and experience! |
 tea ceremony in yatsushiro |
shigaraki potter – arakawa sotashi |
 dinner at sakura-so in gokanosho – fresh trout and venison |
amazing food! cook flavorful beef while enjoying sushi and tempura! oishi! delicious! |
lord ogata of gokanosho – 49th generation of heike clan samurai! – this is his family tree! |
shodo (calligraphy) workshop. learn how to write your name in japanese!
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waterfall in gokanosho |
kiyoko koyama – shigaraki potter – japanese tv series “scarlet” based on her life! |
dinner experience in gokanosho at the heike-so, with our great guide – ken san – sake in freshly cut bamboo! such a treat! |
gion, kyoto – there’s so much to see and do! |
takahashi rakusai’s naborigama in shigaraki |
 master ogata’s shibori dyeing studio |
 kumamoto samurai
kyushu ceramics museum, arita |
