SPRING 2027
March 28 – April 7, 2027
Led by Margo Thoma and Andy Bender
ITINERARY:
March 28 – Sunday – Depart USA
Depart for Japan on your individually arranged flight. Many guests choose to arrive early to acclimate and explore Tokyo on their own; pre-tour nights at our tour hotel may be arranged on request, and tour guests will have access to Esprit Travel’s proprietary information portal for sightseeing suggestions, practical tips and cultural insights.
March 29 – Monday – Arrive Tokyo
Transfer by private car to our centrally located hotel (if you arrive before today, private car transfer will also be available). After arrival, join us for a welcome dinner to meet your fellow travelers.
Accommodations in Tokyo: mesm Tokyo
Meal included: Dinner
March 30 – Tuesday – Tokyo
Today we will feature some highlights of the arts, architecture and culture of Tokyo, the world’s largest metropolis (specific visits to be decided closer to travel dates to allow for special events in the city), with time to enjoy dinner at your leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
March 31 – Wednesday – Tokyo to Tomonura
Shipping our large luggage to our onward destination, we head to Tokyo Station to buy a bento lunch of your choice before boarding the Shinkansen bullet train to Fukuyama in western Honshu Island. Our home for the next two nights, the nearby port town of Tomonura, was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Ponyo, and the peaceful coastal scenery continues to charm. After a walking tour of the town, we will settle in at our inn for baths in in-room hot springs and a sumptuous dinner.
Accommodations in Tomonoura: Migiwatei Ochikochi
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner
April 1 – Thursday – Tomonoura
Today we travel into Fukuyama to visit Monden Yuichi, who left his career as an engineer to follow in the footsteps of his father, the iconic Monden Kyogoku. A drive of approximately one hour takes us to Kurashiki, a picturesque town with a well-preserved historic district around one-time shipping canals; the Ohara Museum with its unparalleled collection of the Mingei (“folk craft”) movement; and shops featuring locally made denim. We return to Tomonoura in time for dinner at the inn.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
April 2 – Friday – Tomonoura to Beppu
Another journey on the Shinkansen takes us to Japan’s far-western island, Kyushu. Our destination is coastal Beppu, long known as a center for bamboo crafts, highlighted at the Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center. Rooms at our hotel for the next three nights have private baths and balconies overlooking the city, in addition to the hotel’s design-savvy common baths to sample the famed local waters. Accommodations in Beppu: ANA Intercontinental Hotel Beppu Resort & Spa
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner
April 3 – Saturday – Beppu
Today we immerse ourselves in the bamboo arts of the region, with a rare showing of treasures from the vault of the Oita Prefectural Art Museum and a visit with legendary bamboo artist Shono Tokuzo at his stately home. We return to Beppu in time for dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants in town.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
April 4 – Sunday – Beppu
We continue our exploration of bamboo art with a visit to the homes and studios of Living National Treasure Kibe Seiho and Kawano Shoko, taking in other sights along the way. We return to Beppu for a group show and dinner with local bamboo artists.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
April 5 – Monday – Beppu to Kyoto via Osaka
This morning we depart Oita Airport for a nonstop flight to Osaka, hub of the Kansai region and home to Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, one of the most exhibited contemporary Japanese bamboo artists. We have been invited to the Tanabe home to see the workshop and spend time with the Tanabe family. From Osaka it is a drive of about 90 minutes to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital. Our hotel, opened in 2024, sits near the crossroads of the city by the Kamogawa River and close to the central shopping district. We’ll have an orientation walk including suggestions for dinner nearby at your leisure.
Accommodations in Kyoto: Hilton Kyoto
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
April 6 – Tuesday – Kyoto
Today we have an insider look at Kyoto’s distinctive culture with a morning visit to a famed temple, one of 2,000 temples and shrines in the city! With lunch and the afternoon at leisure for shopping and sightseeing, we’ll reconvene for a farewell dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner
April 7 – Wednesday – End of Tour
Depart Japan via individual arrangements; flight planning suggestions will be provided from one of the airports in nearby Osaka, as will a variety of options for transfer to the airport on your own. For guests extending their stay in Kyoto, post-tour nights at our tour hotel may be arranged on request, and Esprit Travel’s proprietary information portal can provide sightseeing suggestions.
Meal included: Breakfast
Note: Actual visits and events will be finalized approximately 30 days prior to departure to allow for the inclusion of special exhibitions, visits and events, and are dependent on the schedules of our Japanese colleagues. A final itinerary will be sent to you about two weeks prior to tour departure. The itinerary is subject to change at any time.