A rare and exciting opportunity!

Hello, friends!

You may have already read or heard about the tour group I’ll be leading to Japan with Opulent Quilt Journeys this coming May. Our tour had been sold out, but due some very unfortunate health circumstances, we’ve had three spots open up just recently. This is a very rare and thoroughly exciting opportunity for YOU to join us! You can bring your husband / sister / mother / friend / significant other, or if you want to join the group as a single, no problem! You’ll be made to feel more than welcome and we’ll personally take great care of you. You’ll be surrounded and included by new friends, my sweet hubby and myself, and we’ll make sure you feel right at home.

Now is the perfect time to join the group. We’ve got the itinerary all set, it’s the perfect time to make flight arrangements, and you’ve got time to save and plan and make all the necessary arrangements for vacation time so you can come on this amazing adventure with us! And my goodness, do we have tons of fun things planned. Just check out this itinerary:

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Tue May 9 Arrive Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 2 Wed May 10 Tokyo

After breakfast visit the Tokyo National Museum, one of the oldest and largest of Japan’s top-level national museums. Stroll through the traditional Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and explore Asakusa market and the famous Sensoji Temple. Also visit Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square where you can find some special souvenir. (B)

Day 3 Thu May 11 Tokyo

Today take a tour of the Janome Sewing Machine Company and enjoy an exclusive half-day workshop in the Education classroom at the headquarters. We make a stop at Amy Katoh’s special shop – Blue and White, which houses artisan ceramics, designer clothing, traditional textiles, fun jewelry, collectibles, and gifts. Visit Ozu Washi that offers a wide range of the finest traditional Japanese washi paper before returning to our hotel. (B)

Day 4 Fri May 12 Tokyo

Morning visit to the historic Nippori Fabric Town, home to nearly 100 shops carrying all sorts of fabric and notions. Then visit Quilt Party, owned by the world-famous quilter Yoko Saito, specializing in quilting, fabric, and patchwork materials needed for any craft project. Stop at Okadaya Shinjuku Honten, one of the best places for craft supplies in Tokyo. The shop stocks fabrics and craft materials of every kind, it is a haven for sewing and craft-making enthusiasts. (B)

Day 5 Sat May 13 Tokyo-Hinohara-Kawaguchiko

Travel by coach to Kawaguchi Lake with a stop at Akie Ginza’s remarkable Sashiko Museum in the small village of Hinohara. The museum is filled with her sashiko work, apparel, wall hangings, handbags, jewelry, and home décor and more. Also make a stop at the beautiful Itchiku Kubota Museum to see the stunning Kubota Kimono Collection. This evening enjoy the views of Mt. Fuji from our onsen hotel. (B, D)

Day 6 Sun May 14 Kawaguchiko-Shizuoka-Kyoto

Today we attend the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, one of the best and most popular occasions nationwide to see shibazakura (pink moss or phlox moss). It is located in the Fuji Five Lakes area, offering breathtaking views of vast fields of shibazakura, with Mount Fuji in the backdrop on clear days. Later we take train from Shizuoka station to Kyoto, where we visit the famous Shibori Museum. This is the only museum in Japan specializing just on the tie-dye theme. (B)

Day 7 Mon May 15 Kyoto

This morning visit Yoshiko Jinzenji’s studio. Yoshiko Jinzenji is one of the foremost quilt artists in the world. In the studio view a variety of her finished quilts, homeware pieces and yardage with her printed designs. Return to Kyoto, we participate in a Roketsu dyeing workshop using a traditional wax-resist dyeing method. Then visit the spectacular Kinkakuji Temple, known as the Golden Pavilion. The temple’s stunning gold leaf coating makes it one of Japan’s must-see structures. End our day with a walk through Kyoto’s best-known Geisha quarter – the Gion District. (B)

Day 8 Tue May 16 Kyoto-Arimatsu-Kyoto

Following breakfast, travel by Bullet Train to Arimatsu – the center of Shibori dyeing dating back to the early 17th century. Visit the Narumi Shibori Museum and participate in a Shibori-dyeing workshop. Explore the town before returning to Kyoto. (B)

Day 9 Wed May 17 Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto

Take an excursion to Nara and meet the famous deer at Nara Park before returning to Kyoto and create your own masterpiece in the Yuzen painting workshop. (B)

Day 10 Thu May 18 Kyoto

In the morning, we visit the intriguing Fushimi Inari Shrine. The magical, seemingly unending path of over 5000 vibrant orange torii gates that wind through the hills behind Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine makes it one of the most popular shrines in Japan. Then visit the famous dying shop Aizenkobo and visit the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design (formerly the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts Fureaikan). Familiarize yourself with the techniques and history of local handicrafts, and admire exhibits covering dozens of categories and over 500 samples of traditional crafts. We then stop at the iconic Nomura Tailor before our farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 11 Fri May 19 Depart Kyoto

The tour ends after breakfast. (B)

A VERY SPECIAL TOUR EXCLUSIVE:

Did you notice the EXCLUSIVE day we have planned for May 11th? We’re the ONLY tour group who will be able to spend a fascinating and productive day at the Janome Factory outside of Tokyo! My goodness, we’ve got such a fun workshop planned. I just learned we’ve been able to book a world-renowned Japanese quilting and textile designer/instructor to teach our group in a very special workshop in the Education Center! For those folks who would rather not stitch that day, we’ve got an interesting side-trip in the works! More details on all that coming soon. I can hardly wait to tell you all who the instructor will be!

There is so much planned for each and every day. Plus, I’ve been preparing fun surprises to share throughout the trip (stitching kits and more!) and I think we’ll have time for one or two quilting-related “game nights,” so you may be asked to bring a few 2 1/2″ fabric strips to join in the fun!

Workshops, shopping, Japanese textile studio visits, Sashiko stitching, heaps of sight-seeing, great food, all in the company of good friends. Did I mention the dates happen to fall right in the middle of wisteria blooming season?

This trip is going to be positively EPIC. It’s easy to put a small deposit down to hold your spot.

Just click on this link to find out more at my website.
Download the brochure by clicking here.
Or print out the booking form by clicking here.

If you’d like to speak to someone personally, call Judy Berry at: 480-720-1992, or reach out via email at moc.syenruojtliuqtneluponull@yduj.

Don’t delay — because there are only 3 spots left. We’ve capped the tour at 25 participants — so there will be lots of personal attention and hands-on experiences at the artists’ studios. I can’t wait for you to just us. Because we’re super fun, travel-savvy folks.

See you soon!