Japan Pottery & Art Tour

Immerse yourself in the traditional ceramics and vibrant art scene of Japan while on our Pottery and Art Tour. Japan's ceramics are celebrated the world over for an elegant simplicity in their designs; its artisans honed their craft in hidden pottery villages and private workshops across the country for over 400 years. Using a range of techniques and traditions passed down through families over many generations and expressing styles that offer a sense of tranquil harmony with the natural world, exquisite Japanese porcelain was once a luxury restricted to the rich but now can be enjoyed by all. Ceramics form just a single facet of Japanese art, in a creative world that is vibrant and varied, spanning centuries of creative expression up to the modern age, and includes drawing and painting, sculpture, calligraphy, architecture, and much more. These tours of Japan covers a wide range of Japanese art, with an especial focus on ceramics, in 14-day and 17-day itineraries.

Explore the pottery culture of Japan with visits to hidden pottery villages - each with their own unique ceramic styles. Tour Karatsu, home to Karatsu-ware and the ruins of a number of old-fashioned climbing kilns which produced a simple, sturdy ceramics with an earthy tone. Arita (and nearby Imari) is the birthplace of Japanese ceramics, and is famed for producing elegant porcelain that was popular in 17th and 18th-century Europe. Bizen produces Bizen-ware, a kind of heavy, unglazed porcelain with a rustic appeal. We also explore Sasebo (for Mikawachi porcelain created by the "sometsuke" technique), and Hasami (known for making sturdy, affordable porcelain for common people). We visit the pottery districts of Kyoto for Kiyomizu-ware (a magnificent porcelain from the ancient capital city), and visit the historic home / workshop of one of Kyoto's foremost ceramic artists - Kawai Kanjiro. We include a Kintsugi Experience to learn the art of "golden joinery" that mends broken pottery with shining lacquer. And travelers looking to find their own treasured souvenir won't miss out: browse the Antique shops in the streets of Shinmonzen and Furumonzen. And during our extended itinerary, you will be able to explore the ceramic galleries in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district.

Ceramics aside, our tours aim to immerse you in the world of Japanese art at Naoshima Art Island, which features modern galleries created by popular architect Tadao Ando, as well as the Benesse House, a unique fusion of hotel and art gallery. You will experience the modern architecture in Osaka with a Guided Walking Tour, and we include visits to top museums like the Adachi Museum of Art and Ohara Museum of Art, with the Nezu Museum, Kawaguchiko Muse Museum, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, and Mori Art Museum included in the extended tour.

And what is a trip to Japan without sightseeing some of the country's historic landmarks? The temples and gardens of Kyoto, the Gion Geisha District, historic Osaka Castle, the idyllic Kurashiki Canals, Kobe's classic Chinatown, gorgeous Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, and many more time-honored treasures are included for your enjoyment. Our Tokyo extension features even more must-sees, such as Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Hamarikyu Garden, Imperial Palace East Gardens, and views of Mount Fuji (in clear weather) from Oishi Park.

Our dining and accommodation also reflect the tour's Pottery and Art theme, with such experiences as a lunch at Arita House (a Japanese restaurant using Arita-ware pottery), a meal of Kyoto cuisine with Maiko entertainment, and a couple nights at an onsen ryokan offering a traditional Kaiseki dinner. Transport for the tour is facilitated by our comfortable private coaches, and you will travel in the company of one of our knowledgeable and friendly English-speaking guides, who are on hand to help you navigate the country, and who share a passion for Japanese traditional pottery and art. For more information, please feel free to browse the detailed itineraries for our Japan Pottery and Art Tours.