Sadly, we had to cancel our 2021 tour to Kyoto. Fingers crossed for November 2022... If you're interested, please click on the WAITING LIST link at the bottom of this page.
CLICK ABOVE to see a short slide show of our 2018 trip.
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.
Itinerary activities: Three textile
workshops - try your hand at a traditional technique
Five
artisan studio visits - an intimate glimpse
One
handicraft market - inspiring up-cycling
One temple
flea market - Toji's Kobo-San Market
Two free
days
Selected
heritage sites
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
9 nights in a western-style 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 host artisans
local guides
prep materials and other goodies
memory book after the tour
HOW MUCH IS IT? $3500 CLICK HERE for the intended itinerary for November 2021. November 2022 will be 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:
The hotel is not luxury-level accommodations but it is clean, convenient and comfortable - and the staff is fantastic. You'll have a private room with
bath, but the rooms are small. The meals will be authentic, local, and
plentiful, but you'll need to be able to eat with chopsticks and be open to trying new foods. 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 $500 deposit reserves your spot for 2021 (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.
REFUND POLICY: If you cancel, you'll get 75% back for cancellations made at least six months in advance, 50% for cancellations made at least three months in advance, and 25% for cancellations made at least one month in advance. If Kyoto Kimono has to cancel (only be under unsafe or travel ban circumstances), refund amounts would be issued minus any unrecoverable expenses already paid. While we cannot require you to purchase travel insurance, we highly recommend getting coverage not only for your flight and medical treatment but also to cover a full refund in case of cancellation. This is the only way you would recover all of your payment if you or Kyoto Kimono had to cancel.
