Ceramic Tour in Japan–Small group to visit artist’s at their kilns.

During my years here, I have had many opportunities to meet with wonderful ceramic artists in their studios and see their work.  Now, I am excited to announce a new ceramics focused tour for a small group of about 10 people.  If you are interested in joining me, the tour itinerary, which includes Bizen, Hagi and Karatsu, can be seen at Itinerary of Ceramics Tour in October, 2009.

Custom Travel in Japan I work with Esprit Travel & Tours, which I founded in 1992.  For 6 consecutive years, Esprit and my colleague Nancy Craft have been named to Condé Nast Traveler Magazine’s “Greatest Travel Pros on Earth” list.

Tour planning for individuals or groups.
We work directly with clients in planning custom itineraries based on their individual interests. Our most popular service provides complete, customized packages for individuals, couples and small groups. We arrange everything—from the moment people arrive at the airport in Japan, until they return home. For many, the packages include guides and private cars. For more adventurous travelers, we provide step-by-step instructions that help them to comfortably and successfully take full advantage of Japan’s complex but highly efficient transportation system on their own. Packages can include hotels, hot spring inns, airport transfers, as well as train reservations and ticketing.

Many clients choose our guide services: We like to take people to our favorite places in cities and the rural countryside.  Although we can include some famous places in our custom itineraries, we hope travelers will want to include the many historical, cultural and “simply beautiful” sites that are off the “tourist trail.”   Some people like to have some focus on Japan’s legendary gardens.  Others prefer to explore local neighborhoods.  For those interested in Japanese arts and crafts, we can visit artists, potters and other craftsmen in their studios. And for contemporary architecture enthusiasts, there is so much to see here.  Japan is always changing, the Japanese always creating and innovating.

Our guides can assist people with shopping, too. A productive afternoon of assisted shopping can save a lot of time and energy.

Extended Visits:
Recently we have begun assisting people who want to “live in Japan” for a month or two—or longer. Some people plan to do in-depth study with a craftsman or artist (i.e. ikebana, textile dyeing, ink painting, tea ceremony). Whatever the reason for an extended visit, we set them up in an apartment with kitchen and bath and give them a full orientation, including ongoing assistance and support in their everyday activities. We provide language assistance when needed, and plan excursions for them, either guided or independent.