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15 - 25 April, 2012
In 2011 I visited Japan to explore Japanese textiles and the art of Shibori and indigo dyeing. The beauty of Japanese art and textiles made a huge impression on me. The highlight of my visit was to meet Bryan Whitehead the owner of Japanese Textile Workshops. Bryan, originally from the West Coast of Canada, has been living in Japan for 23 years, growing and processing his own indigo for 18 years, and raising silkworms for 14 years. He runs a small textile school at his traditional Japanese farmhouse that focuses on indigo, natural dyes, shibori, stencil dyeing, thread making from silk cocoons, and weaving on traditional Japanese looms. The house is situated in a mountain village in Fujino just outside of Tokyo. The village is well known for silk farming. Bryans work with traditional Japanese textiles if often documented in the Japanese media. His students come from many parts of Japan.
Tour Costs
My interest in craft has been evolving over many years as I lived, worked and became exposed to the cultures and crafts of various countries, from the Sahara regions of North Africa and the equally fascinating empty quarter of the Arabian Peninsula to the tropical regions of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. My Thai mother influenced my love of sewing and basket making, while I explored and worked with quilting, embroidery, spinning and natural dyeing. In addition to exhibiting my work in Barcelona, Houston, Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, I have been sharing my interests through regular posts on my blog. My recent interest with traditional Japanese textiles took me to Japan, where I met Bryan. When I met Bryan we discovered that his expertise in Japanese traditional textiles and my own interest in crafts, influenced by extensive travel and an expatriate lifestyle, complement each other well. So Bryan and I have decided to offer a glimpse into the wonderful world of Traditional Japanese Textiles by arranging a study tour available to a small group of no more than 10 persons. There are currently no radiation health concerns associated with the meltdowns at the Fukushima Nuclear Power plants in any of the areas covered by this study tour, including the Japanese Textile Workshops farmhouse where you will be staying.
Tour Package: AUD $ 3,800 Package Includes:
All fees for Japanese Textile Workshops, and all supplies. If you want to dye extras for gifts etc. the cloth and indigo will be available at cost price. All accommodation (first night at Shinjuku Hilton, Tokyo and 10 nights in traditional Japanese style farmhouse - double occupancy) All breakfasts (Hilton buffet breakfast plus healthy Japanese breakfasts) All transportation within Japan Meals: 2 evening meals (welcome and farewell dinners) Museum entrance fees Bilingual (English-Japanese) tour guide service as applicable Personal luggage transfer required (airport to Fujino and return) Cost of Hachioji Indigo workshop fee and all supplies (approx. 2000)
Package Excludes:
International air fares Travel insurance Restaurant meals except the 2 evening meals included above Entrance fee to Onsen, Japanese bath (approx. 600)
ITINERARY
Day One: Sunday April 15th
You arrive at Tokyo Narita International airport. Nat and Bryan will greet you and take you by Narita Express reserved seat train to the Shinjuku Hilton for an overnight stay. We will have our tour orientation and dinner in the Shinjuku district nearby. The men and women bathe separately. Dinner and the optional hot spring are not covered, but neither is expensive. Both are experiences not to be missed.
lunch at a the Fujizakura beer brewery on the slopes of Mt. Fuji http://www.fujizakura-beer.jp/ Dinner out, and be home in time to do some weaving or braiding or tie dying before bed
the Kaiki silk museum http://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/kaiki/ a pottery studio a visit to the Mt. Fuji climbers shrine
visit a few local potters and artists in the village. Lunch will be at a delicious Korean restaurant and dinner at a local restaurant.
just chill out. Bryan will be available to help and offer advice on whatever you decide to do this day. You might also want to use the local post office to send a parcel back to your home country to lighten your luggage. Bryan has an extensive library on Japanese textiles and you can make photocopies of anything that has caught your eye. We will have a farewell dinner at the unique Shu restaurant in Fujino.