14-Day Pottery Tour

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14 days 13 nights

Price On Request

Welcome to Osaka! You will be met in the airport's arrival hall by your tour guide who will escort you to the hotel by private coach.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

We will start our tour off in Kyoto, which was once the capital of Japan. Upon arriving, we will first visit the Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery. This gallery showcases antique and modern Japanese pottery, including vases, jars, and sculptures created by, Robert Yellin, an American Japanese ceramics specialist. We will then visit the Silver Pavilion, or Ginkakuji, which was constructed in 1482 as shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa's retirement villa. We will then explore the Philosopher's Path, a stone path that runs along a water canal lined hundreds of cherry blossom trees. In the evening, we will visit the Nomura Museum of Art, which contains several exhibits of art such as paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, etc.

Breakfast / Lunch

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

After breakfast, we will travel to Kiyomizu Temple, one of the most celebrated temples in all of Japan. The temple was built near the Otowa Waterfall, which lies at the base of the temple's main hall. After exploring the temple's grounds, we will meet with experienced potters in the Kiyomizu Potting District, who will provide insight into what they do. We will then explore Kawai Kanjiro's House, where we can see work from the famous potter on display. The beautiful wooden townhouse was restored in 1973 and has been preserved as a memorial by the family. Afterwards, we will visit the Kondo Yuzo Museum, where traditional ceramics are on exhibit. Guests can see the masterfully painted vases and pots, which have been painted and created by three generations of the Kondo Family. We then travel to Gion, known for its Geisha District, where we will enjoy dinner. We will savor the flavors of traditional Kyoto Cuisine in the company of a geisha, who will entertain us during the dinner.

Breakfast / Kyoto Kaiseki Cuisine with Geisha Performance

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

We begin our day by visiting the Raku Museum, a museum dedicated to Raku-style pottery. Raku pottery is a traditional Japanese art form characterized by pieces that are formed by hand rather than on a potter's wheel. It is known for its irregular shape and uneven edges and is often used in traditional tea ceremonies. We will then travel to Kyoto National Museum, one of Japan's oldest museums, which opened in 1897 and showcases ceramics, sculptures, paintings, and more. After exploring the museum, we will enjoy a traditional green tea ceremony, where a tea master will show us the proper way to prepare, serve, and enjoy green tea. In the evening, we will visit Shinmonzen Antique District, where several businesses sell antique tea sets, paintings, and even kimono. Enjoy exploring these traditional shops before heading back to our hotel for the night.

Breakfast / Lunch

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

In the morning, we will depart from Kyoto and make our way to Koka to visit Miho Museum in the tranquil Shiga Prefecture. Miho Museum was constructed by the famous architect, I. M. Pei, and named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. The museum was designed to fit in with the natural surroundings of the area and features exhibits on ancient civilizations. After we explore the museum, we will travel to Shigaraki Pottery Town, a small town at the foot of Mt. Shigaraki. The area is known for its clay beds, and locally mined clay is often used by the local potters, who we will meet with before heading to our hotel for dinner.

Breakfast / Dinner at Ryokan

Hotel Kikyou or similar class

After breakfast, we will travel to Komatsu, where we will once again be able to ask questions and discuss pottery with the lcoal craftsmen. We will then travel to Nomi, where we will first visit the Asakura Isokichi Museum. This small museum contains several examples of ceramics from the Edo Period of Japan. We will also visit the Nomi Kutani Ceramic Museum, where guests can learn about the origin and history of Kutani Ceramics. Kutani ware is a style of Japanese porcelain, some which date back even before the Edo Period. After explroing Nomi and its museums, we will travel back to our hotel for dinner.

Breakfast / Dinner Ryokan

Hotel Kikyou or similar class

Today, we will explore the Japanese Alps, learning about the tranquil surroundings and crafts from this area. We will first visit Ohi Museum, where we can see Ohi Pottery, a specific type of pottery that has been made by one family in Kanazawa for 350 years. The ceramics are shaped by hand, with no wheel used and the products are often used for tea ceremonies. We will also have the opportunity to meet potters from this area. We then head to Shirakawa-go, a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the stunning scenery and visit the Gassho-zukuri Minkaen, which are traditional houses with thatched, steep roofs located in the tiny village.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Associa Takayama Resort or similar class

This morning, we will visit Takayama's local Morning Market, where we can shop at the many stalls and purchase local crafts, vegetables, or even flowers. We then visit visit Takayama Jinya, the local government office from the Edo Period, now turned into a museum. Visit the nearby Old Town, with houses that have been preserved since the Edo Period (1600 - 1868), where many shops and stores can be found selling lcoal crafts and goods. In the afternoon, we visit the Kusakabe Folk Museum, which serves as a folk crafts museum. Visitors are welcome to walk around and learn more about each craft displayed. After the museum, we will have the chance to experience the Takayama Yatai Kaikan, a museum that displays four of the floats used for the Takayama spring and autumn festivals.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Associa Takayama Resort or similar class

Today we will leave Takayama and travel to Tajimi, where we will have the opportunity to visit the Gifu Prefectural Art Museum. This small museum contains several examples of stuning ceramics from the Heian, Momoyama, and Edo periods. We will be able to explore the museum at a leisurely pace before meeting with potters from the Tajimi area. Feel free to ask questions as they explain more about life as a potter and show you examples of their work. We will then head to Nagoya in the afternoon.

Breakfast / Lunch

Nagoya Tokyu Hotel or similar class

To start our day, we will take a 50-minute bus ride from Nagoya to the historic pottery town of Tokoname, where ceramics production remains as the cornerstone of the local economy. Once we arrive, we will visit the Inax Museums, a hands-on experience sure to thrill the senses. Out of the six buildings, one of the most popular exhibits is the Tile Museum, which contains about 1000 beautiful decorative tiles from various periods in time. After our lunch, we will then visit Kyoeigama to see more examples of ceramics from the area.

Breakfast / Lunch

Nagoya Tokyu Hotel or similar class

We will transfer from our hotel to Nagoya Station, where we will board the high-speed bullet train, which can reach up to speeds of 150–200 mph (240–320 km/h). Once we arrive in Tokyo, we will pay a visit to Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple. Marvel at the architecture around the ancient Buddhist Temple and see one of the largest paper lanterns in Japan. You can also visit Nakamise Street, a historical shopping street lined with souvenir and snack shops near the temple. We will then visit the nearby Kappabashi Street, known for selling restaurant equiptment, food models, and cutlery. Enjoy shopping on this street before heading to the Tokyo National Museum, which features one of the most extensive collections of art and archeological artifacts in Japan.

Breakfast / Dinner

Tobu Levent Hotel Tokyo or similar class

NOTE: We will courier your big baggage from Nagoya to your hotel in Tokyo. Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you to Tokyo.

This morning, we will first visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the first Emperor of Modern Japan. The paved walking paths surrounded by thousands of trees make for a pleasant walk to the shrine. After exploring the shrine grounds, we will visit a few pottery galleries that are popular in Tokyo, starting with Bizen Gallery Aoyama. This gallery specializes in modern ceramics and is known for Bizen ware, a unique unglazed pottery made by firing clay in a wood-fired kiln for about ten days. After, we will visit Kuroda Toen, a gallery exhibiting antiques and ceramic products. You can find masterfully crafted tea cups, tea pots, vases, and more. We will then visit Gallery Pousse, another gallery with fine examples of ceramic products.

Breakfast / Lunch

Tobu Levent Hotel Tokyo or similar class

On the last day of our tour, we will take a trip from Tokyo to Mashiko, a city known for its pottery style called Mashiko ware. We will first visit the Mashiko Sankokan Museum, established by Shoji Hamada, a master potter. Exhibits at this museum showcase Shoji Hamada's personal collection of ceramics, textiles, and lacquer ware that are said to have influenced him over the years, as well as his own creations. We will then visit the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, where we can see examples of Mashiko ware, which is typically a thick type of ceramic known for its rustic charm. We can also see examples of Western ceramics and English porcelain before meeting with potters who specialize in Mashiko ceramics.

Breakfast / Dinner

Tobu Levent Hotel Tokyo or similar class

After breakfast, our tour officially ends! The rest of your day is free for leisure until your transfer to Narita Airport or Haneda Airport for your flight.

Breakfast