Textiles of Japan
Maximum number on this tour is 10 adults
Holiday Inclusions:
- 10 nights accommodation – 10 breakfasts, 3 dinners
- Fully escorted from day one of your tour
- Airport transfers throughout
- Private driver and English speaking guides through out
- Domestic flight from Tokyo to Yonago Airport
- Train ticket on JR super express
- Sightseeing in Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Shimane, Kyoto
- Washi making workhop
- Sashikokan Museum
- Itschiku Kubota Art Museum
- Adachi Musuem of Art
- Izumo Quilt Museum + Quilt Workshop
- Izumo Taisha Shrine
- Kyo-yuzen Workshop
- Kyoto Shibori Museum
- Nishijin Textile Centre
- Hand-weaving Worshop
- Shishu Resturation Studio
- Kinkakuji
- Rickshaw Ride
- Gallery of Kyoto Traditional Arts & Crafts
Itinerary
Day 1 - Travel from home to Tokyo, Japan
Although your tour does not include your airfare, we can help book the best fare to suit your needs. Please get in touch to discuss the options with either Jo or Mandy.
Day 2 - WELCOME TO TOKYO
Arrive at Tokyo Airport, meet your airport assistance guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. Check in to your hotel. Tonight we will enjoy a welcome dinner as a group so we can get to know each other. Overnight, bed and breakfast at your centrally loctated hotel in Shinjuku. Hotel: Keio Plaza Hotel - or similar (4 nights)
Day 3 - TOKYO
After breakfast this morning our English speaking guide will introduce us to the sights and sounds of Tokyo. Today is a half day sightseeing tour, giving you time in the afternoon to explore the local area independently. Highlights of the mornings tour include Shinjuku, the location of our hotel, and Harajuku.
Day 4 - TOKYO
Today we spend a full day out sightseeing with our private driver and English speaking guide. Highlights of the day include - The Quilt Party retail shop Ozu Washi traditional paper seller store. We take part in a 2 hour paper making workshop here Sensoji Buddhist Temple, for some quiet calm in the midst of a busy day Nippori Textile Town, for some more sensational shopping opportunities
Day 5 - TOKYO - KAWAGUCHIKO - TOKYO
Today we venture out of Tokyo, visiting Kawaguchiki, with our private driver and English speaking guide. We depart the hotel at 8am and return at 7pm, so it is a full and relaxing day getting out into the countryside. Highlights for today's adventure include: Sashikokan Museum, which sits at the foot of Mt. Fuji Fuji Shibazakura Festival of flowers Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
Day 6 - SHIMANE
Today we say farewell to Tokyo and transfer to Haneda Airport. We are heading to Shimane. Shimane is a mountainous, sparsely populated costal prefecture in the western part of Japan's Honshu island. Departing Haneda Airport: 12:15 Arriving Yonago Airport: 13:35 On arrival we will be met by our English speaking guide at the airport and head off to visit the Adachi Museum of Art. At the end of our visit, we'll be driven to the hotel for check in at approximatley 5.15pm Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Shimane. Hotel: Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu - or similar (2 nights)
Day 7 - SHIMANE
Today is a full day of touring Shimane by private vehicle with an English speaking guide. We will be visiting: The Izimuo Museum of Quilt Art. We have the option to take part in a quilt workshop at the Musuem Izumo-Tashia ancient shrine Our day touring concludes at 3pm when we return to the hotel. The remainder of today is free to enjoy at leisure.
Day 8 - KURASHIKI
Today we travel from Shimane to Kurashiki by train. For ease of travel, our luggage will be sent on ahead to our Kyoto hotel, so today you just need to pack an overnight bag for the 1 night stay in Kurashiki. 08:00 Transfer from hotel to Matsue Train Station 08:58 Train departs Matsue station 11:27 Train arrives Kurashiki station On arrival we are met by our English speaking guide and driver. Highlights today include: Walking tour in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter Shopping for 'MT" Masking Tape We arrive to check in to our hotel at approximately 6pm this evening Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel. Hotel: Kurashiki Ivy Square - or similar (1 night)
Day 9 - KYOTO
This morning we drive from the hotel to Okayama Train Station, where we board our bullet train to Kyoto. 09:27 Depart Okayama by Bullet Train 11:02 Arrive Kyoto Train Station On arrival we will have lunch at the station and wait for our English speaking guide and driver to pick us up at 1pm and take us on a half day sightseeing tour. Highlights today include: Kyo-Yuzen Workshop Kyoto Shibori Museum Nishijin Textile Centre for a hand-weaving workshop and kimono show We arrive at our new hotel at 6pm this evening and enjoy a group dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant. Overnight, bed and breakfast at your centrally loctated hotel in Kyoto Hotel: The Thousand Kyoto Hotel - or similar (4 nights)
Day 10 - KYOTO
Today is a full day sightseeing with our English speaking guide, using local train transport. Places of interest we will be visiting include: The Kyoto Restoration Studio Nishiki Markets Nomura Tailor Misuya Needles Kimono DAIYASU Yuzawaya Craft Shop After a full day we return to our hotel at approximately 6.30pm.
Day 11 - KYOTO
After breakfast today we enjoy another full day of sightseeing in Kyoto. Today we are accompanied by our English speaking guide and private driver. We visit the following places of interest. The Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji Temple A Rickshaw ride through Arashiuama, the Bamboo Grove Forest Enjoy strolling along Arashiyama Visit the Gallery of Kyoto Traditional Arts & Crafts We return to the hotel in time for a short rest, before we head out to a local restaurant for our farewell dinner together as a group.
Day 12 - Back to Narita
After breakfast today we transfer to Kyoto Train Station for the train journey back to Narita Airport for our flight home. Bullet train from Kyoto to Shingawa Narita Express train from Shingawa to Narita Airport On arrival at Narita Airport we check in and depart for Auckland, or your final destination
