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 15 Days 2008 Trip: October 4 - October 18 2009 Trip: September 26 - October 10 2008 Landcost $538 Group Size: 16 participants, 2 leaders View our favorite pictures from this trip (9 images) From sculpture gardens and visits with master artisans, to sunrise services at ancient temples, we explore the traditional influences on contemporary design in Japan today. The trip includes such eclectic experiences as breakfast at the Tokyo fish market, flower arranging at the Sogetsu Ikebana School, and hot springs bathing at a samurai's manor on the Izu Peninsula. An overnight at a Shinto shrine is the setting for a moonlit waterfall dip. Traveling on to the remote mountain temples of Koyasan, we wander through an ancient cryptomeria forest and sample “shojin ryori”, an exquisite Buddhist cooking tradition. Other highlights include our island stay at Benesse, an architectural masterpiece by Tadao Ando – a hotel within an art museum - reached by ferry on the Inland Sea. The old island homes are now being converted into art installations by artists such as Turrell and Miyajima, and the local fishing village is being “reborn” as a site of contemporary art and culture. An additional delight is our visit to the studio of the late Isamu Noguchi on Shikoku Island. Our final destination is Kyoto, heart of traditional Japan. Our time here includes studio visits with artisans and such highlights as the Miho Museum. Our final dinner is a “kaiseki” feast that captures the diversity and stunning visual delights of Japanese cuisine and hospitality. Contact us for a day-to-day itinerary for this trip    |
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