Sample Itinerary: Arts Group
9 Days, 8 Nights
Kyoto, Naoshima Island,
Shuzen-ji, Tokyo
Custom Escorted Group Tour
An Introduction to the Arts of Japan
This custom tour was created for a party of travelers interested in the traditional and contemporary fine arts of Japan, both as enthusiasts and collectors. The carefully crafted itinerary allows you to meet Japanese artists one-on-one, in their studios and homes. The days were also designed to flow effortlessly from one beautiful temple garden, art studio, gallery, museum, tea ceremony and neighborhood to another. This itinerary also includes travel to the Benesse Art Site – three islands of museums and installation art located in the Inland Sea of Japan. A visit to this continually evolving site is often a highlight for museums, curators, docents and art enthusiasts. In addition to some of the classic Japanese travel experiences, such as ride on the Shinkansen (bullet) train, each step of the way offers special moments with the people who make up the living culture of Japan in all its rich history and vibrant expressions.
The hundredfold palace!
even in the shinobu grass
on its old eaves
I find a past for which
I long yet ever more.
Emperor Juntoku (1197 – 1242)
Custom Arts Tour Highlights
φ Learn about the aesthetic of Japanese arts and fine crafts, from traditional to contemporary
φ Share thought-provoking introductions to Buddhism and Shintoism, through private meetings with priests and monks in their temples or shrines
φ Enter the studios of revered artists and craftsmen, the sensei who carry forward Japan’s rich artistic heritage. Meet masters of cha no ya (tea ceremony), calligraphy, textiles and more.
φ Visit contemporary galleries and museums in exciting Tokyo
φ Spend time in exquisitely maintained gardens
φ Ride on Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet train
φ Visit the Benesse Art Site's three islands
Custom Arts Daily Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Japan
Arrive Osaka Kansai airport. You will be met and transferred by private hire car to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure with self-guided touring instructions for the adventurous.
Accommodations: Western-style hotel
Day 2
Kyoto
Start your touring day with a introduction to the Way of Tea, including the proper etiquette, in a private, authentic setting. Spend the rest of the morning at nearby Daitoku-ji Zen monastery, including visits to Koto-in and Zuiho-in. After a Zen-style vegetarian lunch travel to eastern Kyoto to visit a friend’s gallery for an introduction to Japanese ceramics. Afterwards you can have an optional walk along the Philosopher’s path or a visit to Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavillion). Tonight we will enjoy a shabu-shabu dinner of luxurious Wagyu beef and crisp vegetables dipped into bubbling broth tableside and served with traditional condiments and dipping sauces.
Accommodations: Western-style hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Kyoto
This morning we travel to eastern Kyoto to visit an artisan whose intricately woven silk cords and tassels are commissioned by shrines, temples and Tiffany and Co. Our next stop is Renge-ji, a classic Taoist-inspired garden with special symbolism, including references to the crane and the turtle as well as the land of the Immortals. A Kyoto-style lunch will be served in a private room at Kyoto’s oldest inn and garden, located along the Takano River. The current proprietor is the 20th generation in his family to run the inn. Afterwards we will have an ikebana demonstration featuring a wide array of ceramics and baskets used to enhance the display of seasonal blooms. End the day with a visit to the studio of a calligraphy master and performance artist to see her wield her gigantic brush to create a masterpiece-in-the-moment. After a special event, dinner will be on your own this evening.
Accommodations: Western-style hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Kyoto
We begin today in Western Kyoto in Arashiyama, where we will start at Tenryu-ji, one of the oldest gardens in Kyoto, dating from the early 14th century. The garden was designed by Muso Kokushi, a renowned priest, diplomat, meditation teacher and garden designer. After a short walk through the Bamboo Forest, we will have a private tour of the Hogo-in villa, which is not open to the public. The villa is an outstanding example of highly refined and inventive sukiya-style carpentry. After our group lunch, we have a visit to one of Kyoto’s many stroll gardens. This is followed by a visit to the Nishijin textile district to meet a 5th generation master of gold leaf in his beautifully preserved, traditional Kyoto-style merchant house. He will introduce you to his intricate process used to create custom obi. Dinner tonight will be on your own or we can arrange a banquet meal at a delightful old restaurant in the Gion (geisha) section of Kyoto.
Accommodations: Western-style hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5
Naoshima Island
This morning, travel via train, private car and ferry to Naoshima Island and the Benesse Art Site. Your hotel is on the island is one of the four hotels designed by Tadao Andoh. You will arrive in time to explore this quiet island on the Inland Sea, including the Chichu Museum, the Lee Ufan Museum, the Tadao Ando and the Art House Projects. For dinner tonight, enjoy the fabulous continental inspired cuisine at the Terrace Restaurant.
Accommodations: Western-style hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Teshima and Inujima Islands
Today, travel by private ferry to visit nearby Teshima Island to experience Christian Boltanski’s Archive and the Teshima Museum. Then travel on via ferry to Inujima Island to see the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum and the F-Art House. Return at the end of the day travel back to Uno Port and transfer to your hotel for the night in Okayama. Dinner will be on your own at any of the restaurants conveniently located near your train-station hotel.
Accommodations: Western-style hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Shuzen-ji
Today travel via Shinkansen (bullet train) and hire van to a small onsen town. You may explore the town of Shuzen-ji on your own, after arrival, enjoying their beautifully preserved bamboo forest, bright red bridges over a flowing river, small walking streets lined with shops and the numerous small temples and shrines in the hills beyond the town. Tonight you will stay at a deluxe traditional Japanese ryokan (inn) and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki meal served banquet-style, ending the night with a special speaker.
Accommodations: Traditional Ryokan
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8
Tokyo
Start your day with a trip to nearby Odawara to visit Enoura Observatory, the museum dedicated to the works of Hiroshia Sugimoto, before heading to the exciting cosmopolitan city of Tokyo. After arrival, there will be a final sponsored event with your hosts from the Asia Society in Tokyo.
Accommodations: Western-style Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9
Optional Tokyo Extension
The main tour ends this morning, when participants may either transfer to the airport of their choice by private hire car or have extended guided time in Tokyo.
For those on the extensions, tour with your Tokyo-based guide, starting with an introduction to Shinto at Meiji Shrine with an experience of sacred kagura dance and music. Afterwards, take a contemporary architectural walking tour through the exciting Omotesando area or see the youth culture in Harujuku. After lunch, we suggest a visit to one of Tokyo’s quieter neighborhoods, Yanaka, where your guide can show you local life and you can meet with a Nihonga artist. Alternatively, your guide can introduce you to some of the contemporary art options around Tokyo, either museums, small private galleries or unique stores, such as Nuno fabrics, internationally renowned textile designers.
Accommodations: Western-style Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10
Optional Tokyo Extension
Tour with your Tokyo-based guide, starting with a walking tour of the Ginza district, ending at the fascinating opening ceremony of one of Japan’s flagship department stores. Follow this with a visit to a private bamboo art gallery for an introduction to this classic Japanese art form. You might explore cutting edge architecture and interior design throughout the city. Stop at various galleries featuring Japan’s leading ceramic and textile artists. You may want to visit Ueno Park, one of Tokyo’s largest, and site of the Tokyo National Museum. After returning to your hotel for a rest, head out for dinner tonight and then take in some views of the city from atop one of its many skyscrapers for your final night in Japan.
Accomodations: Western-style Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Pricing
Group Size: For a trip of this nature, we would recommend a group of no more than 16 participants. That would be the ideal size of entrance into studios, restaurant and dining flexibility, availability of hotel rooms and optimizing the ryokan stay portion of the tour.
Time of Year: The best time for group travel to Japan is in the shoulder seasons when there are smaller crowds and restaurants and hotels are more amenable to assisting with groups. Off season is best, but usually undesirable for weather reasons. Shoulder seasons are: first two weeks of March (cold), second two weeks of April (best), end of May/early June, late September, early October and early December. Summer can be humid, however, if your party is accustomed to heat and humidity, it's a good time since many sites will be less crowded. We do not recommend travel in August or early September due to monsoons - which can wreck havoc with travel plans.
Pricing: For more information about current pricing for an itinerary like this, please contact us directly. Pricing for a group itinerary has many drivers, but the key factors are the level of hotels, the length of the tour, the number of people who are paying, the exchange rate of the yen and the season of travel.
During an initial phone call or exchange by email we try to get a feel for what kind of trip and services you are looking for, your dates, your style of travel, your budget and any special needs and interests which we can accommodate. Based on that initial information, we can prepare a budget and proposal Itinerary outlining a route, types of accommodations, and other services we can provide.
Contractual: Once we have agreed to a plan and pricing we will enter into a contract with your organization for the specific tour and deliverables. A non-refundable tour planning fee will be due at this time as we will start making all the arrangements necessary in Japan to manifest your tour.
Benesse Hotel Bookings: Please note that some hotels only permit booking at one-year in advance of a travel date. For Benesse House, we endeavor to make our bookings exactly 365 days prior to your tour. If you are trying to conduct a tour at less than one year in advance, Benesse House is only available if no other group has a booking for that night in question. Please note that adding Benesse House to an itinerary requires that the group organizers have significant date flexibility due to this restriction.
Special note: The itineraries upon which this was based included numerous private group sessions for the tour members in interesting locations. The meetings were not included and alternative suggestions were inserted for purposed of illustration.
Note: The itinerary(s) will be finalized approximately 30 days prior to departure. Artist visits are subject to availability and the schedules of our Japanese colleagues. A final itinerary will be sent to you about two weeks prior to departure. The itinerary and visits are subject to change at any time.
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St. George, Telluride, Santa Monica,
Tokyo, Kyoto