DEPOSIT | 2023 Quilting & Textile Tour of Japan
SOLD OUT Please contact Patricia to be on the Wait List +here
12-day Tour :: Quilting & Textile Tour of Japan
WED October 25 - SUN November 5, 2023
Tour Deposit: $1,750
Total Tour Cost: $8,750 Single Occupancy
Tour limited to 16 participants
TOUR LEADERS: Victoria Stone & Patricia Belyea
Let the allure of Japan captivate you with its dynamic contrasts.
You start in historic Kyoto, a mecca for masterly textile traditions, and end up in the modern metropolis of Tokyo for contemporary textile and quilting delights. In between, you journey into the mountains to see the ultimate kimono exhibit at the Kubota Museum.
This tour delivers a non-stop array of memorable activities — from insider visits to textile studios, hands-on workshops, celebrity meet-ups, special group meals, and more.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive at Kansai Airport (Osaka) and be transported to your 4-star riverside hotel in the heart of Kyoto.
Day 2 After group introductions, head to a kyo-yuzen studio for a silk-dyeing workshop. Walk to an offbeat tenugui museum and then continue to the secret needle shop in the grand shopping arcade. End your day with a lively Welcome Dinner. BD
Day 3 Adventure to rural Ohara! Meet a renowned dyemaster in his indigo workshop, then savor a group lunch in a rustic restaurant, followed by a natural-dyeing workshop at a near-by botanical farm. BL
Day 4 Meet a collector and curator of antique Japanese textiles. Enjoy a special group lunch before visiting the renowned Nishijin Textile Center for a kimono fashion show. BL
Day 5 Experience a silk weaving workshop with a fourth-generation artisan. Visit a local shrine dedicated to the goddess of weaving, followed by tea and traditional treats at Japan’s oldest confectionery. B
Day 6 Take the bullet train to the outskirts of Mount Fuji and view remarkable hand-dyed silk kimono at the acclaimed Kubota Museum. Continue to an elegant hot-springs hotel. BD
Day 7 Journey to the farmhouse and atelier of a sashiko master in the foothills of the Okutama mountains. Then visit the home of a celebrity kimono expert before arriving at your luxury hotel in Tokyo. B
Day 8 Head to northern Tokyo for a temari thread-ball workshop at an exciting dye studio and cafe. Then meet with a Japanese quilting luminary and see a selection of her work. B
Day 9 Be welcomed into the home of Amy Katoh, a champion of Japanese arts and crafts, to learn about her private textile collection. After a farm-fresh group lunch, stroll to Amy’s iconic shop – Blue & White. BL
Day 10 At last! Travel to the port city of Yokohama to explore the thrilling exhibitions at the World Quilt Festival. Then back to Tokyo to treasure hunt in the endless textile shops of Nippori Fabric Town. Your day ends with a group Farewell Dinner. BD
Day 11 Learn about the art of chusen dyeing and dye your own colorful tenugui (a Japanese hand towel). Then tour the city’s oldest temple, Senso-Ji, in the neighborhood of Asakusa. Finish your day discovering the fascinating shops in the area. B
Day 12 Check off a quilter’s wishlist destination with a stop at Yoko Saito’s famed fabric boutique, Quilt Party. Then on to Haneda or Narita Airport (Tokyo) for your departure. B
NOTE: The dates of the 2023 Yokohama World Quilt Festival have not been published yet. This tour assumes that the Festival will be at the same time as the last two years.
Fitness
Okan Arts tours explore vibrant cities, rural areas, and artist studios so a good fitness level is important. Japan is a country that tends to build up and stairs are a common feature. You will be welcomed into private homes and ateliers where seating may be limited or even on the floor.
To experience this tour to the fullest and keep up with the rest of the group, we request that you are able to:
- walk for at least one hour without resting
- ascend two flights of stairs without using a handrail
- sit on the floor for one hour and get up on your own
Food
Most traditional Japanese food is free of the common allergens of dairy and peanuts. However, on your trip to Japan we cannot guarantee allergen-free meals.
If you have severe allergies or food restrictions, please assess your comfort with eating in a different culture with a language barrier.
*Please note that if you have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance, most soy sauces —a common seasoning in Japanese foods— contain wheat.
Face Masks
In Japan, it is viewed as polite to wear a face mask. You will see most Japanese people wearing masks indoors as well as outside on the street.
Tour members may be asked to wear a face mask for some outdoor and indoor activities.
Your $1,750 Tour Deposit is non-refundable
If you cancel your booking more than 120 days before the start date of the Tour, Okan Arts will seek to fill your place. If a replacement is found, you will be refunded your deposit less $50.
Final Payment
Your Final Payment of $7,000 is due 120 days before the start date of your tour. You will receive an invoice 10 days earlier that can be paid online with a credit card or with a check in the mail.
Tour Contract
Within 24 hours of paying your Deposit, you will receive the Tour Contract via email. You must return the completed and signed Tour Contract to Okan Arts within one week to finalize your tour booking.
COVID-19
If your tour is canceled due to Japan closing its borders to travelers, a full refund will be made which constitutes a full settlement.
In the event of a tour cancellation, Okan Arts is not responsible for any additional expenses prepaid by you, such as airline tickets, passport fees, or visa fees.
With Okan Arts, you travel with like-minded textile and quilting enthusiasts who want to be inspired by the people, places, and traditions of Japan.
Okan Arts offers more than tailor-made itineraries and knowledgeable tour leaders—we care that all our travelers have an extraordinary experience!
- Japan, our only tour destination, is our specialty
- our tours cap at 16 participants–with two leaders and a Japanese Tour Expert
- we design trip-of-a-lifetime tours with insider events and hands-on workshops
- accommodations are single occupancy in 4- and 5-star hotels
- includes all breakfasts, a Welcome Dinner, a Farewell Dinner, and additional special group meals
- includes transit and transfers within Japan including first-class travel on the bullet train
YOUR TOUR LEADERS
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Victoria Stone, co-owner of Okan Arts, has a lifelong passion for textiles and sewing. Victoria co-led the 2020 Okan Arts Quilting & Textile Tour of Japan where participants appreciated her insider tips on intriguing shops, local restaurants, and after-hours adventures. |
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Patricia Belyea, co-owner of Okan Arts, is crazy about Japanese textiles and everything quilty. Patricia, a quilting teacher, speaker and author, shares her passions with joy. Patricia’s knowledge and extensive travels throughout Japan are the foundation of the Okan Arts tours. |
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Yumi Sugai, our Japanese Tour Expert, started working as a tour guide in 2000. Since then, Yumi has traveled all across Japan with many visitors from abroad. You will never feel a cultural gap once Yumi appears. |
Included
- A 12-day quilter and textile lover's tour with exclusive visits, experiences, and workshops as stated in the Itinerary
- 11 nights in a 4- to 5-star hotel, single occupancy
- All breakfasts (B), and special group lunches (L) and dinners (D) as stated in the Itinerary
- Two co-leaders and one Japanese-speaking guide
- All tour transportation and transfers within Japan
Not Included
- International airfare
- Passport and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Emergency medical travel insurance – required
- Personal expenses, shopping money, and meals when on your own
It was such a great experience and the group was very special. I had a wonderful time.
Lynn H - Aiea HI
The workshops were great — so was the food. I especially enjoyed the Kyoto hotel where we stayed. It was well-located; we could walk many places from there.
Toni B - San Francisco CA
Thank you for being flexible and doing side excursions. Giving us a Suica card and Tokyo subway/train maps was a great idea.
Lily K - Aiea HI
I hope that others will be able to have the rich and rewarding Japan experience that I had!
Ellen M - Santa Cruz CA
I had such a memorable experience, one I’ll never forget. No drama. No negativity. All love and respect.
Jude S - Los Angeles, CA
I do feel lucky indeed, to have had the special opportunity to travel with Okan Arts to Japan.
Mary K - Chattanooga TN
