Celebrating the visual languages of PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, CULTURE, and ENVIRONMENT through the global practice of resist-dye traditions and innovations, keeping in mind authenticity, reciprocity, and networking.
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Thank you for your interest in the SFS Arimatsu Program in 2011. The timing of this program is designed to coincide with Japan’s annual Shibori Fest in Arimatsu. This Arimatsu-ShiboriFest program will be offered annually around May/June.
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As you consider the cost of this tour, bear in mind that Japan is one of the most expensive countries in which to travel.
Specific questions? Email: yoshiko [AT] yoshikowada.com
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TO SIGN UP: See “Registration Checklist” below
DATES: 20 May – 06 June 2011
WHO: Only WSN web members (membership must be current at sign-up)
WHERE: Tokyo, Kiryu, Miyama, Arimatsu
HIGHLIGHTS: see overview description here
PRICE: $400 USD Deposit + JPY 393 000 Balance (based on shared occupancy)
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: (a) R/T international flight; (b) transfer from airport to arriving hotel; (c) transfer from departing hotel to airport
MINIMUM SIGN-UP: Minimum # of 10 sign-ups for trip to take place.
NOTE: Yoshiko will act in the dual role of program leader and often also as a guide to cut cost to minimum.
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These items must be done to complete the registration process:
Tour price: $400 Deposit + JPY 393 000 (Single Supplement +43,000 JPY)
Payments are broken down as listed below.
NOTES: (1) Read/ sign “Terms & Cancellation Policy (T&C)” (see below). (2) Balance Payments instructions in T&C pdf.
Download, print, read, sign and return
(1) Disclaimer-WSN (pdf) – coming
(2) Disclaimer-NTA (pdf) – coming
(3) Terms & Cancellation Policy (pdf) – coming
Mail or fax a photocopy of your passport to:
Nippon Travel Agency c/o Hisa Kumagai,
International Travel Dept., 3rd Floor, Shimbashi Ekimae Bldg 1, 2-20-15 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8606 JAPAN
F: +81-(0)3-3572-8766
Once you have made your travel arrangements, send us your flight details via this online form (launches new window)
NOTES: useful links
If you need additional accommodation preceding or following the SFS tour, please email our agent at Nippon Travel Agency (NTA).
Mr Hisa Kumagai, NTA Email: hisa_kumagai [at] nta.co.jp
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This online itinerary is meant as a GUIDELINE ONLY.
Confirmed travelers will receive itinerary by email.
Trouble viewing? Click to download as pdf.
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DAY |
DATE |
TOKYO – KIRYU – MIYAMA – ARIMATSU |
HOTEL |
||
0 | May 20 | North Americans: Depart from USA for Tokyo | |||
1 | May 21
D |
Arrive at Tokyo’s Narita Airport. Transfer to hotel by Airport Limousine bus (your own arrangement). Instruction will be given with Travel Prep Sheet sent after #2 payment. Price: JPY 3000 ONE WAY per person, ~ 2 hours. Group meets at Shiba Park Hotel in Shiba/Takanawa area, Minato ward. (SFS PROGRAM STARTS). Take a walk in the area, perhaps encounter a Buddhist ceremony at nearby Zojouji Temple.
PM: Light dinner & Orientation at restaurant Stay @ TOKYO (1 nt) |
TOKYO | ||
2 | May 22
B D |
*Pack overnight bag; SHIP OTHER BAGS TO KYOTO (1 pc/person included, additional bags for fee) Ryokan provides cotton yukata and wool hanten to sleep.AM: Tokyo to Kyoto by shinkansen (bullet train) with 1 LIGHT overnight bag.
AFTRN: Explore Kyoto Station; have lunch on own. Continue JR train to Miyama, a designated cultural heritage site known for its thatched roof farmhouses. Visits to: “Little Indigo Museum”; natural indigo workstudio of acclaimed fiber artist to observe natural dye processes. *Optional: indigo dyeing experience (small materials fee) PM: Enjoy hot bath before dinner. Dinner at traditional Japanese inn. Stay @ ryokan, MIYAMA (1 nt) |
MIYAMA | ||
3 | May 23
B L |
AM: rise early for hot bath and soak up natural scenery while enjoying quiet time in picturesque rural village of Miyama: rice paddies, thatched roof houses nestled in mountainside. Shuttle to Sonobe, then JR train to Kyoto.AFTRN: Lunch on temple grounds, a unique meal of traditional monk’s food. Explore ancient capital city, traditional market, galleries. Dinner on own
Stay @ KYOTO (2 nts) |
KYOTO | ||
4 | May 24
B D |
EARLY AM: Optional visit to monthly flea market at shrine (weather permitting) *Option: ship extra bags to Tokyo, your final stay. Big, sturdy, soft structured bags come in handy. Shipping not included.PM: Trips to kimono maker’s home; Nishijin weaving center; so on. *Optional visit to galleries; textile suppliers. BEFORE 5pm: *Pack overnight bag for last night in Kyoto. SHIP OTHER BAGS TO NAGOYA (1 pc / person incl., add’l bags for fee)
Dinner: walk to shabu shabu restaurant to dine with local artists in Pontocho district. Perhaps glimpse geisha and maiko hurrying to parties. Stay @ KYOTO |
KYOTO | ||
5 | May 25
B L |
EARLY AM: Kyoto half-day technical visits by chartered coach. End at JR Station. Before boarding next train, grab eki-ben train station to-go lunch box for quick bite.1:00p Train to Nagoya (by shinkansen, JR). Local train Nagoya to Arimatsu. Stroll along old Tokaido Rd preserved with traditional storefronts depicted in Hiroshige’s Edo woodblock prints. *Optional visit to museums, studios, shibori demos, etc. Orientation of area, shibori workshop program, etc. at Shibori Museum lecture room.
5-day Shibori Intensive (half-day), DAY 1: Shibori foundations, learn techniques in the traditional way at Mr. Kuno’s studio. EVENING: Dinner & local activities on your own (refer to travel highlights on web). Travel to hotel on your own via local train Stay @ NAGOYA (5 nts) |
NAGOYA |
6 | May 26
B L |
AM: Day 2, Shibori Intensive (half-day). Modern interpretations of shibori and the larger world of shaped resist. Experiment with new materials, dye, heat set, and more. Reciprocal creative exchange: artisans look forward to mutual sharing of ideas and creative input. *Option to extend your work in the studio until 6pm.PM: *Option to explore local area on own: Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Museum, Toyota Memorial Museum (Toyota automobile started as manufacturers of weaving looms), Tokoname folk pottery kiln. This is Arimatsu’s busiest time of year. As the town gears up for the Fest, they welcome and encourage you to get involved like a local – it’s the best way to see how things are done. Sit in on meetings, rehearsals, float preparations, installations, food making, etc.
Stay @ NAGOYA |
NAGOYA | ||
7 | May 27B L | AM: Day 3, Shibori Intensive (half-day). Continue exploration and experimentation.PM: *Optional to explore local area on own // immerse yourself in Festival preparations // work in the studio until 6pm
Stay @ NAGOYA |
NAGOYA | ||
8 | May 28
B L |
AM: Day 4, Shibori Intensive (half-day). Begin to think about the work you want to create for the upcoming SLOW FIBER STUDIOS exhibition at the Fest.PM: *Optional to explore local area on own // immerse yourself in Festival preparations // work in the studio until 6pm
Stay @ NAGOYA |
NAGOYA |
9 | May 29
B D |
AM: Day 5, Shibori Intensive (half-day). Continue to work on your exhibition pieces.PM: *Optional to explore local area on own // work in studio until 6pm
Dinner with local guests Stay @ NAGOY |
NAGOYA | ||
10 | May 30
B D |
*Pack LIGHT overnight bag. SHIP OTHER BAGS TO TOKYO (1 pc/ person included; add’l bags for fee) Ryokan provides cotton yukata and wool hantenAM: Travel Nagoya to Kiryu. Lunch on own on the train.
PM: Explore Kiryu – Orijuku Textile Archive to view an exhibition of Meisen Kimono from the first half of 20th century; weaving and knitting mills; local studios; Regional Textile Research Institute; and more. Dinner at local restaurant with guests. Stay @ KIRYU (1 nt) |
KIRYU | ||
11 | May 31
B L D |
DAY: continue exploration of Kiryu. Lunch w/ guests at the unique Basho restaurant.EVENING: by mini shuttle, adventure into mountains to stay at a typical traditional Ryokan tucked away along a riverside. Relish in exquisite yet rustic local cuisine followed by peaceful sleep on a traditional tatami mat in futon coverlet.
Stay @ ryokan, KIRYU (1 nt) |
KIRYU | ||
12 | June 1
B |
DAY: Travel Kiryu to Tokyo by train. Technical visits via public transportation using extensive network of city subways and railways (metro card included). See important cultural works at Tokyo National Museum, Japan’s oldest and largest museum housing 87 National Treasures and 100,000+ artworks and archaeological objects.Stay @ TOKYO (2 nts) | TOKYO | ||
13 | June 2B D | DAY: Continue exploration of Tokyo. Wander through antique and contemporary textile shops, fashion boutiques, designers’ studios, other design shops that make Tokyo a uniquely famous.Stay @ TOKYO | TOKYO |
14 | June 3
B |
AM: More exploration in Tokyo on your own. If you rise very early you can visit the famous Tsukiji Fish Market.PM: Travel Tokyo to Nagoya (by shinkansen and local trains). Stops at Itchiku Kubota Museum and Keisuke Serizawa Museum.Settle in for weekend-long Shibori Fest annual tradition.
Stay @ NAGOYA (2 nts) |
NAGOYA | ||
15 | June 4
B D |
DAY: local train to Arimatsu. SHIBORI FEST along Tokaido Road in Arimatsu – enjoy festival floats, vendors of all kinds of shibori, crafts, food, exhibitions INCLUDING EXHIBITION opportunity to show your experimental creative work at Atsumari Gallery, right by the train stationShibori Fest, the area’s most important festival of the year, draws people from all over the country who travel just to attend this lively celebration. The town and its leaders are delighted to invite the SFS group into their community during this bustling, exciting time of year. SFS is encouraged to get involved with & up close to the local traditions, celebrations, and preparations: sit in on music rehearsals, help decorate floats, observe food preparations, etc.Stay @ NAGOYA | NAGOYA | ||
16 | June 5
B |
DAY: *Optional: visits by local train to Arimatsu. SHIBORI FEST along Tokaido Road in Arimatsu – festival floats, vendors of all kinds of shibori, crafts, food, exhibitions. OR you may opt for day trips to explore nearby destinations. Consult with travel guide, local colleagues and Yoshiko.PM: Travel Nagoya to Tokyo (by local trains and shinkansen).Stay @ TOKYO (1 nt) | TOKYO | ||
17 | June 6
B |
AM: breakfast. (SFS PROGRAM ENDS)Depart for airport or continue on to your next destination. |