CLICK ABOVE to see a short slide
show of our 2018 trip.
October
13th - 22nd, 2019
OVERVIEW: This tour
is held entirely in Kyoto, where you'll learn about Japanese textiles and
culture, shop at the temple markets, meet several traditional artisans, and
tour one of the most beautiful and exotic cities in the world. We meet in Kyoto
(airfare and transportation to/from the airport is on your own but we can help
with recommendations). And yes, we spend the entire time in and around Kyoto!
Is it enough? Nope. Most group members arrive a day early and extend their stay
to explore other parts of Japan.
Kyoto
Kimono owner Nancy McDonough leads the tour. Nancy lived in Kyoto from 1992-95
and that's where her love of Japanese textiles began. She's looking forward to
sharing "her Kyoto" with you. 2020 will be Nancy's last time to lead this tour, so we're taking reservations for that year as well as for 2019.
Activities: Two textile
workshops Five
artisan studio visits One
handicraft market One temple
flea market Two free
days Selected
heritage sites
WHAT'S
INCLUDED?
- 9 nights
in a western-style hotel (Palace Side Hotel) - single
occupancy room with private bath - all
workshop, tour activities, and entrance fees - breakfast
every day - lunch on
tour days - Welcome
Dinner and Farewell Dinner -
transportation during the tour - gifts for
our teachers and guides - prep
materials and other goodies - memory
book after the tour
HOW MUCH IS
IT? $3500
CLICK HERE for the tentative itinerary for 2019; the 2020 tour will be quite similar
CAUTION!
This trip is not for everyone. If you're flexible, healthy, eager to visit
Japan, and normally not inclined to travel in groups (but welcome the chance to
meet like-minded others) - this trip could be what you've been waiting for. We
provide a great framework from which you can create your own unique,
once-in-a-lifetime experience, but hand-holding is at a minimum. You'll have
free days to explore in and around Kyoto on your own, so if you're a hesitant
traveler, this is not the trip for you. Also, if you have dietary restrictions,
physical limitations, or a low tolerance for the unfamiliar, this is really not
the trip for you. We can't emphasize enough the need for everyone to be
sufficiently physically fit to do the daily walking!
Tour
members will be asked to prepare for the trip and to conduct themselves in ways
that may sometimes be a challenge: -- physical requirements: be able to walk unassisted at a standard 3-mile/hour pace for up to an hour at a time, several days in a row -- balance requirements: get up and down for floor seating (required at some meals and studio visits) -- meal requirements: be able to eat with chopsticks and have no strict dietary or allergy issues -- cultural awareness: be knowledgeable about Japanese customs and etiquette, be able to master basic greetings, counting, and polite speech -- group participation: be punctual, flexible, compassionate, attentive, and respectful of group dynamics
COMFORT
LEVEL: We will not have luxury-level accommodations or meals in Japan, but our
hotel is clean, convenient and comfortable. You'll have a private room with
bath, but the rooms are small. The food will be authentic, local, and
plentiful, but you'll need to be able to eat with chopsticks. You'll get to
know Kyoto from an ex-pat's and textile-lover's perspective, and we'll do
whatever we can to help you feel comfortable heading out on your free days to
pursue your own adventures. The focus of the trip will be to enjoy Kyoto at a
reasonable pace -- we can't possibly see it all, so lets be in good spirits and
well-rested to enjoy what we can see in the time we have.
PAYMENTS: A
$1000 deposit reserves your spot for 2019 ( payment link below), which would only
be confirmed after a phone chat with Nancy to discuss the trip and share
expectations or concerns. The balance is due by check - half by March 15th and
the rest by June 15th. (The deposit for the 2020 tour is $500.)
REFUND
POLICY: 75% back for cancellations made at least six months in advance. 50%
back for cancellations made at least three months in advance. 25% back for
cancellations made at least one month in advance. It is strongly encouraged
that everyone get traveler's insurance to cover the gap between full trip cost
and refund amounts allowed.
SCHEDULE
DETAILS:
Late
November: First invitations are emailed to our First Dibs List Members. (To get
on the First Dibs List for the next trip, email Nancy.) Early
December: deposits due and initial Tour Chat with Nancy scheduled Mid-December:
Any open slots are advertised in a December Newsletter (To get on the
newsletter list, sign up below.) March 15th:
Half the balance due by check; flight itineraries due April: Prep
cycle begins (group introductions, web, book, and movie recommendations
suggested, Free Day interests shared among the group) June 15th:
Balance due by check July: More
prep materials suggested, pre-trip goodie bags sent out, more prep talk among
the group September:
Final pre-trip check in October
13th: We all meet up in Kyoto! (US members leave on the 12th to arrive on the
13th)
Click here to sign up for our First Dibs list for next year or our Weekly "What's New" email.
