11 Days World Quilt Festival Tour & Kimono Quilt Workshop

Day 1 Tokyo | Arrive in Japan & Check-in Hotel

Welcome to Japan! We will have transportation services to take you to your hotel. Please refer to your tour handbook for more information.
Rest at the hotel and be ready to start your exciting tour tomorrow.

**INFORMATION**
From Narita Airport to downtown hotel in Tokyo - about 90 mins(Bus)
From Haneda Airport to downtown hotel in Tokyo - about 30 mins(Bus)

Day 2 Tokyo | Yokohama World Quilt Festival

Day 3 Tokyo | Premier Quilt & Crafts Shopping

Today, we'll show you what traditional Tokyo has to offer and the premier destination for quilters.

In the morning, we are visiting Quilt Party established by Yoko Saito, one of the world's top quilters. She revolutionized Japanese quilting with her bold use of exquisite designs and brilliant blend of taupe color in her artwork.

Next stop is Ozu Washi, Founded in 1653, Ozu Washi carries traditional Japanese Paper (Washi). We will learn the process of making washi paper and see a beautiful array of washi there. It will be a great inspiration for your next quilting project.

After the workshop, let's take a break at the Sensoji temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, the oldest and most popular Japanese temple in Tokyo. The iconic red lantern will welcome you and enjoy the local crafts and sweets at the lively traditional shopping street.

We will finish our day shopping at the famous Nippori Textile Town. You can find stores like Tomato, Mihama and so many more. This district is lined with numerous fabric shops, selling a wide assortment of beautiful fabrics often at discounted, affordable prices.

Day 4 Tokyo & Yamanashi | Traditional Arts at the Kubota Art Museum

We will explore some of Japan's most astonishing fabric related museums in the suburbs of Tokyo today.

Our day begins with a trip to the Sashikokan in Hinohara Village, located in the western part of Tokyo. Home to Sashiko artist Akie Ginza's exhibition of Sashiko art, this quaint museum housed in a 200-year-old farm house showcases the Little Stabs style of sashiko stitch art.

Before making our way to the next destination, we will stop for Hoto, a Japanese noodle dish native to the Yamanashi area. Hoto is a noodle soup filled with lots of local fresh vegetable, like daikon and kabocha, with miso based flavor and is a comfort food especially during the winter.

Then we will visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. With western buildings built in a serene Japanese garden over looking Mt. Fuji, you will surely find this site a magical place. Itchiku Kubota was a textile artist who devoted his life to recreating the forgotten 15th century Tsujigahana fabric tie dye technique. Many of his works are on display at this museum. Browse through the extensive collection of Kimonos decorated in this traditional Japanese art.

Day 5 Shimane | Visit three-star site in the Michelin Green Guide Japan

Today, we are taking a flight to Shimane prefecture, located in the Chugoku region and is Japan’s second least populated prefecture.

The Adachi Museum of Art is a museum known for its great collection of artwork and celebrated Japanese gardens. Founded in 1980 by Adachi Zenko, the museum was created with the belief that a Japanese garden should be seen as a living painting. The museum features renowned works of art by famous Japanese artists, including Taikan. Enjoy the works from Yokoyama Taikan, one of the founders of the Nihonga style of painting. His works, as well as other well-established Nihonga painters like Uemura Shoen, who was born in Kyoto. She painted noble and elegant women in Kimono and she made endeavors to express the inner depth in addition to those features.

Day 6 Izumo | Kimono Quilt Workshop with Quilter Mutsuko Yawatagaki

Today, we participate in the exclusive quilt workshop presented by Mutsuko Yawatagaki.

Known as one of the most renowned artists of Japanese style quilting, Mutsuko Yawatagaki has been creating amazing works including embroidery, woven, dyed, and quilt. She put American quilting and Japanese traditional culture together in a beautiful way using the 100-300 years old kimono as materials, and her works have been showcased in major exhibitions inside and outside of Japan. In 2006, she opened The Izumo Museum of Quilt Art as her permanent exhibition. We are delighted to offer an opportunity to participate in Mutsuko Yawatagaki's workshop just for our quilt tour. There will surely be something for everyone to enjoy during Mutsuko Yawatagaki's special kimono quilt workshop.

Day 7 Okayama | Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quater

Today we will take a train to the next destination, Kurashiki.

Kurashiki is a city known for the centuries-old buildings and shops of the Bikan Historical Quarter. It is the birthplace for "Washi Paper". You can find these colorfully designed washi tapes all over Japan and around the world today. Some of the shops are offering on site craft workshops using this colorful washi tapes. It will be the perfect souvenir from your Japan trip.

Kurashiki is also the birthplace of the domestic jeans industry and t it is a paradise for denim enthusiasts from all over the world. There is a shopping alley called "Kurashiki Denim Street" with Japanese denim brands gathering along. You will have a chance to find this rare original high-quality offcuts as well as the various products.

Then, we are headed to Kyoto, Japan's old capital and the birthplace of kimono fabric.

Day 8 Kyoto | Stunning Japanese Craft Arts Workshop

Today we will start with Kyo-Yuzen workshop. Kyo-Yuzen is one of traditional dyeing technique of Kyoto, and the dye is directly applied to the fabric and the designs often depict nature and animals of the different seasons with vivid and vibrant colors. You will learn how to use / wrap the "Furoshiki" (square shaped cloths used in Japan to wrap items and carry the personal belongings) and dye your own Furoshiki. You can even take your work of art home for a perfect souvenir to remember the unique experience.

After lunch, we will head to the Kyoto Shibori Museum. The museum has various masterpieces created by shibori for you to gain lots of quilt inspirations.

Last stop is Yuzawaya craft shop in Kyoto. Yuzawaya is one of the famouse craft chain stores in Japan. You can find wide variety of Japanese craft supplies.

Day 9 Kyoto | Craftman's Work & Specialities Shopping

Here, we will take you to the most amazing places that produce and restore Japanese traditional crafts.

The Kyoto Shishu Restoration Studio is dedicated to repairing embroidery and traditional Japanese cloth pieces.. The embroidery that comes through the doors are sometimes 100, 200, and even up to 300 years old. Therefore, the Kyoto Embroidery Restoration Studio employs only skilled embroidery specialists to restore the works in order to bring them back to life. We will get to see the artists in action and ask questions while taking a tour of the site.

We will then visit Nishiki Market, Kyoto's popular marketplace filled with fresh flavors and culinary treats. Often called Kyoto's Kitchen, Nishiki Market is located in an arcade shopping area which hosts popular craft stores like Nomura Tailor, Misuya Needles, and SouSou. Nomura Tailor carries dazzling fabrics and materials perfect for your crafts when you get back home. Be sure to sample the selection of Misuya Needles. These special needles are of high-quality and produced in the Matusbara district of Kyoto. Known for their strength, flexibility, and quality, these are a must for any sewing fan. SouSou offers several stores that each specialize in different themes. Some have fabrics and Tenugui towels, Japanese traditional kitchen clothes, while others sell socks and small gift items.

It's time to get kimono remnants. We will explore the kimono stores which has a great selection of unique Japanese cotton fabric scraps, kimono fabric offcuts, traditional floral pattern etc. They will be the perfect material to review the workshop.

Day 10 Kyoto | Rickshaw ride through Bamboo Forest & Hand-weaving Experience

We will enjoy a spirited rickshaw ride through Arashiyama, the Bamboo Groove Forest. You will be welcomed by friendly smiles of Rickshaw drivers who are both entertaining and very knowlegable. They will also take you amasing picures in the Bamboo forest that you want to show all your friends back home. You have time to enjoy visiting many traditional-style shops and grab some food for lunch after the rickshaw ride.

We will head to the Golden Pavilion, or Kinkakuji Temple, a must see Kyoto attraction where the two upper floors are covered in gold leaf. The reflection of the golden temple on the pond adds to the stunning sight.

Next destination will be the Nishijin textile center where you can learn about the pure Japanese silk. After understanding how the silk is extracted with vidoes as well as dioramas, now it's time to try handweaving. You will see the dazzling kimono show at the end.

Our final stop of this tour is the Gallery of Kyoto Traditional Arts & Cratfs. It is a showcase for local artists practising in traditional genres. The museum also has a great collection of arts and crafts for you to gain inspiration for your next project after your vacation ends.

Enjoy the last group dinner together with your tour group and share your favorite memories with your guide of your experiences travelling Japan.

Day 11 Kyoto | Tour Disbands & Depart from Japan

Your pleasant and memorable Japan tour ends today. Your quilt tour will disband after breakfast. Fly home with cherished memories or enjoy an extended stay vacation in Japan.