Japan Tours
A tour for craft artists, photographers, potters and people who want to look behind the scenes.

 

Japan Behind the Scenes

 

A tour for craft artists, photographers, potters and people who want to look behind the scenes.

See Japanese potters and traditional craft artisans at work in their studios, cherry blossoms, Kurume, Hita, Kumamoto Castle, Imperial Palace East Garden and Mt Fuji. Art gallery visits include MIHO Museum, MOA Gallery and Hakone Open Air Museum.

Departing 13 April , returns 27 April, 2009
Land Only Price AUD$7,380 ( about US$6,800)

Click desired photo to enlarge

Exclusive demonstrations & special visits

On this tour you will have exclusive appointments with traditional artists, to see them creating their works of art that are unique to Japan. Watch landscape gardeners delicately manicure their picturesque trees, visit an indigo dye workshop where raw yarn is dipped into huge vats in an earthen floor, watch pottery masters producing fine ceramics, see a wood carver and washi paper maker at work and experience a traditional banquet in an authentic Japanese style Ryokan.

These are just a few of the great photo opportunities awaiting participants on this unusual tour visiting villages, rural areas and well known city sights in central Japan .

Destination Management has been operating pottery and craft tours to Japan since 1983. Our personal contacts in Japan will ensure you of an indepth experience that other tours can`t match .

 

Old World Japan

See more of "old world" Japan as well as the "must see" places on this 14 day fully escorted tour.

Stroll through country villages, narrow cobblestone lanes and experience Japan as very few western travellers have done before. This close-up tour, will introduce you to traditional customs which still influence the people and lifestyle of today's Japan.

Enjoy the elegant charm of traditional Japan with authentic Ryokan accommodation, tea ceremony, Zen design stroll gardens, picturesque wooden architecture and awe inspiring temples.

 

Traditional Inns, Spa Baths & Local Cuisine

Relax in the therapeutic waters of a natural spa bath at an Onsen, delight in the fine flavours and presentation of a Japanese banquet dinner and take an evening stroll dressed in your (yukata) cotton gown with big sleeves and (geta) wooden sandals supplied by your inn.

The picturesque architecture of exquisite wooden buildings, (shoji) sliding paper doors, tatami mat floors, carp ponds, courtyard gardens and stone lanterns create for you an image that is unmistakably 'Japan'. A welcome bow from a courteous innkeeper and friendly service make you feel like part of the family.

 

Personal Experience

Off the beaten track, few Japanese speak English. This stops most independent travellers from finding those little known, out of the way places that add great interest to your tour and create such a memorable experience.

This visit to Japan can be a complete cultural experience. For those with a spirit of adventure and a willingness to adapt to new ways of doing things it is an adventure of a lifetime. Even day to day aspects such as sleeping, bathing in hot springs and eating, all take on a new significance and become fun events.

 

Meet the Craft Artisans

Introductions in Japan can mean the difference between an artisan agreeing to meet you or not.

On this tour, special arrangements have been made for you to meet studio potters and craft artisans in their workshops to see the making of pottery, lacquerware, folding fans, washi paper, wood carving, indigo dyeing, textile weaving, bamboo artistry and a kimono maker.

 

Cherry Blossom, Rural Villages

You will be seeing Japan when it's Springtime Cherry Blossoms can be enjoyed in parks, gardens and along the streets, making April a wonderful time for photography. Because you will be travelling through different climatic zones on this tour, you are guaranteed of seeing Cherry Blossom in all stages from bud to full bloom, in various locations along our route.

Rural areas, high mountain peaks, small villages, national parks, therapeutic spas, historic forest trails and secluded valleys are all visited on this tour. Once again we have included a selection of small towns and villages such as Hita, Onta, Kurume and Yonezawa that you will not find on other tours.

 

For Detailed Itinerary & Price Click Here

Some of our small group tours become fully booked very quickly by people who are on our private mailing list .

You can put your name on our private mailing list too , by filling out the 'Information Form' that will appear when you Click Here

If you prefer , you can Send us an E mail