architect tour japan

Yayoi Kusama's yellow pumpkin, symbol of Naoshima, the artistic island in Japan Inland Sea

©Jordy Meow

Umeda Sky Building in Osaka : one of the biggest skyscraper in Japan. You can go to the top terrace

©Paul Cuoco/Unsplash

Drive on the Akashi Kaikyo bridge, the Tallest and Longest Suspension Bridge in the World

©Sean Pavone/123RF

Ritsurin koen, Takamatsu Japanese Garden is a magnificent natural setting in the heart of the city

©FranckinJapan/Pixabay

Naoshima, the artistic island to visit in Japan Inland sea

©Mathias Rhode/123RF

Himeji Castle, UNESCO world heritage, easy access from Kyoto

©Natthapon Ngamnithiporn/123RF

Old streets in Gion, traditional Kyoto district, during sakura season : a must-see when visiting Kyoto

Japan traditional dinner in your ryokan

©Payless images/123RF

• Travel insurance
• Japan Experience

Japan art and architecture tour

• Duration : 14 days
• Locations : Tokyo, Osaka, Awaji, Takamatsu, Kurashiki, Kyoto
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This trip to Japan offers many architectural discoveries , many of them by Tadao Ando .

After discovering Japan's two tourist cities - Tokyo and Kyoto - continue your tour by car to the islands of Shikoku and the Inland Sea.

Visit the artists' island of Naoshima , the Awaji Yumebutai hotel or the Church of Light in Osaka .

2 week itinerary 

• Departure city/airport : Tokyo  (Narita :  NRT  or Haneda :  HND )
• Tokyo (4 nights)
• Osaka (1 night)
• Awaji (1 night)
• Takamatsu (3 nights)
• Kurashiki (1 night)
• Kyoto (3 nights)
• End Return airport : Osaka   (Kansai international airport : KIX )

Please find below the itinerary details.

Tour length : 13 nights / 14 days (+ 1 day at the beginning if you leave from Europe)

Indeed, the tour departure and end dates presented on this page relate to your stay in Japan. On departure, you will have to leave Europe on the day before. The return flight is on the same day due to the time difference.

Example : 

• Departure from Europe : January 1st
• Arrival Tokyo  (date to be selected in the tour calendar while booking ) : January 2nd
• Return flight from Kansai international airport : January 15th

Why this trip to Japan ?

• A tour designed for fans of architecture with an itinerary and activity adapted to the theme!!
• Welcomed at the airport  by our team, you will be taken to your hotel in Tokyo by shuttle bus
• Enjoy a private guided day in Tokyo with a specialist in architecture!
• Take the Shinkansen to Osaka, to discover the city of Ando Tadao
• With your car, you can discover the architectural wonders of the islands of Awaji and Shikoku
• Enjoy the architecture and museum collections on show on Naoshima Island
• A traditional ryokan welcomes you in Kurashiki, city of art and history
• The trip ends in Kyoto, where a guided tour of the traditional district of Gion awaits you
• Enjoy unlimited  internet access  thanks to your pocket Wi-Fi
• If needed, contact our bilingual Japanese/English-speaking assistance team available 7/7
• Benefit from the expertise of  Japan Experience , European leading travel agency in Japan.

Your trip in detail

Day 1 : wake up in tokyo 東京.

Arrival in Japan

©Vasin Leenanuruksa / 123RF

Arrival at Tokyo airport (Narita or Haneda). Welcome to Japan! Yokoso 日本へようこそ！

Welcomed out of customs by our airport assistant, who will give you all your travel documents and Pocket WiFi. Unaccompanied transfer from the airport to Tokyo (see details).

This transfer is done in a shared shuttle or bus, with other guests departing for the same hotel or a hotel close to yours. These transfers depart between 1.5 and 3 hours after your scheduled flight arrival and stops can be made before your hotel.

If you would like a private, non-stop transfer directly after the actual arrival of your flight, feel free to take the "Private Taxi from the Airport" option.

Check-in at Hotel OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino Resorts or same category hotel 3* (rooms available from 3:00pm).

Day 2 : First steps in the capital

Shinjuku and New national stadium

©tobusora/123RF

What is there to do in Tokyo on the first day?

We advise you to slowly start visiting Tokyo from its western districts: - Harajuku: the avant-garde district - Meiji Jingû, the imperial shrine - Takeshita-Dori: the most famous street in Japan - Omotesando: Tokyo's Champs-Élysées - Shibuya and its unmistakable "crossroads"

One of our many experienced English-speaking guides can also accompany you to visit the classic sights of Tokyo (optional, from 9:00 to 17:00).

For lovers of Japanese art, head for the Tokyo National Museum, the oldest and largest in Japan.

Day 3 : The big loop

Hamarikyu gardens : One of Tokyo must see

©tupungato/123RF

For this second day of visiting Tokyo, we recommend the following "loop". Start from Tokyo Central Station, with its original architecture , then go to visit: - Ginza, Tokyo's chic district - Tsukiji, the small outdoor food market - Hamarikyu, the Japanese garden between Tokyo's buildings - Asakusa, a traditional district and place of pilgrimage, accessible by a cruise on the Sumida River - Sensô-ji Buddhist temple, one of the oldest in the city - Tokyo Sky Tree  reaching a height of 643m, and its panoramic view of Tokyo at sunset

Enjoy a cruise on the Sumida River between Hamarikyu and Asakusa..

In terms of architecture, you may come across buildings by Kengo Kuma, Takamitsu Azuma's Tower House or his daughter Rie's Hoshinoya Palace (details in your travel diary).

Day 4 : Architectural exploration

Ginza, Tokyo's chic and sleek district

©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

From the cellars of the past to the heights of the future, a guided tour on architecture through the vastness of Tokyo. Your English-speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel at 9am, to start the tour, which lasts until 5pm. From Shiodome, the heart of international business, to Ginza, Tokyo's 5th Avenue , and finally Omotesando, the most elegant, embrace the city with all our senses, from the underground to the clouds. You will never again see the city as you did before.

Last night in Tokyo.

Day 5 : First steps in the capital of Kansai

Depart for Osaka by train (2,5 hour direct journey until Shin-Osaka, included in your package).

Check-in at Hotel Intergate Osaka Umeda or same category hotel 3* (rooms available from 15:00).

In Osaka: - The medieval castle of Osaka, with its park full of plum and cherry trees - The city centre and its Nakanoshima Island, with its rose park in the middle of the buildings - Utsubo Park, an oasis of freshness in the business district - Rendezvous in Umeda, temple of Japanese style shopping - End up at the Umeda Sky building at dusk for a 360° view of Kansai (including Kyoto on a clear day!)

And for architecture lovers, the Church of Light in Ibaraki, designed by Tado Ando.

As an option, you can book a river cruise between the different parts of the day.

Day 6 : A condensed version of Japan

For the next 3 days, you can only explore the islands of Awaji and Shikoku by car , as the rail network is not developed enough to reach the various points of interest on the island. Don't be put off by the idea of driving a car in Japan! If in your country you are used to driving on the right, after a few minutes of apprehension about driving on the other side you will be impressed by the ease of driving on Japan's roads. Indeed, the Japanese/English bilingualism of most of the signs and GPS, very good road conditions, automatic cars, low traffic jams and the courtesy of Japanese people behind the wheel will make this visit of an unusual Japan pleasant! Remember that petrol in Japan is slightly cheaper than in the UK and many other countries. Highway tolls are however more expensive.

Pick up your rental car in the morning near your hotel in Osaka and drive to Awaji Island via the world's longest suspension bridge! (1 hour journey, mostly highway). In your travel diary you will find details for visiting the route: - Kobe, famous for its futuristic harbour, its Chinese district and its district of beautiful colonial merchant houses - The "paper church" designed by Shigeru Ban - Long sandy beach on the inland sea - Huge flower park popular with the Japanese - Amphitheatre restaurant facing the sea - Monumental Buddha statue overlooking the coast - A  masterpiece on the water designed by Tadao Ando Eventually, you will arrive at Awaji Yumebutai, a seaside complex designed by Tadao Ando. Available parking and overnight stay in the 4* hotel on site.

Day 7 : Artistic landing in Shikoku

The town of Takamatsu, by the inland sea facing Naoshima Island, is worth a visit

©kozo33/123RF

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Takamatsu with your rental car (1 hour 45, mainly highway). There are several stops along the way, including: - The oldest shrine in Japan - Naruto's whirlpools, an amazing phenomenon under the bridge leading to Shikoku Island - A museum with a life-size reproduction of the Sistine Chapel - The starting temple of the pilgrimage of the 88 temples of Shikoku - Two museums of two world famous Japanese sculptors - And finally, the incredible museum of teeth Unfortunately you won't be able to do everything, so you'll have to make your choice! Arrive in the late afternoon in the pleasant town of Takamatsu, on the Sea of Japan.

Settle into your 3* hotel with parking.

Day 8 : Garden and bonsai

Takamatsu concentrates nearly 80% of Japanese bonsai production

©Fabio Formaggio/123RF

Garden lover or not, the large Japanese garden in Takamatsu is a must-see. The Ritsurin koen, covering more than 16 hectares, is one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan.

You can use your car as it is located a little outside the city centre. Don't hesitate to visit the museums at the entrance of Takamatsu, which you couldn't do the day before. The car must be returned before 5pm the same day. You can of course return it earlier, or even the day before when you arrive in Takamatsu.

There are some great sights on Takamatsu and its region, such as the bonsai village south of the city. There are also many unusual restaurants and bar/café addresses.

Night in your hotel in Takamatsu.

Day 9 : The Art Island

We recommend that you spend the day visiting Naoshima Island on foot. The ferry terminal is a 20 minute walk from the centre, and it only takes 50 minutes to reach the island. (Purchase on site, about 8€/pers round trip). Details in your travel diary. On the island, we advise you to rent a bicycle (optional on this trip).

Naoshima Island is world-famous for its modern art museums, the architecture of some of its buildings, and the scattered outdoor sculptures throughout its territory. These numerous museums and buildings were designed by the architect Ando Tadao. You will be impressed, among other things, by Monet's water lilies, displayed in a simple room where you enter without shoes!

N.B.: access to one of the museums of Naoshima, the Chichu Art Museum, is subject to reservation.

Return to Takamatsu at the end of the day by the same route as in the morning.

Day 10 : THE romantic city of Japan

The town of Kurashiki is lined with canals and picturesque streets: a romantic city worth a visit!

©Vicky Ng/Unsplash

Head to  Kurashiki by train (1h10, 1 change, included in your offer). You will reach the island of Honshu via the longest bridge in the world comprising a road and a railway.

Check-in at your  ryokan   3* Tsurugata Ryokan or same category hotel3* in Kurashiki.

Kurashiki, an old commercial metropolis lined with canals, will seduce you: - Bikan, a district with typical architecture - The Ohara Museum, keeper of paintings by Monet, Matisse, Renoir... - The Museum of Popular Arts dedicated to regional history

At night at the ryokan, you will be treated to a tasty traditional Japanese dinner before retiring to your tatami room.

Day 11 : The White Heron Castle

Traditional Japanese breakfast at the ryokan.

The aim of the day is to reach Kyoto (train and Shinkansen, 2 hours, 1 change, included in your package). Halfway there, we advise you to stop at Himeji, to visit the largest feudal castle in Japan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you arrive in Kyoto , don't hesitate to admire the central station, a true glass and steel temple designed by the architect Hiroshi Hara in 1997.

In Kyoto, check into the RAKURO 京都 by THE SHARE HOTELS Hotel or same category hotel 3*. 

Day 12 : The former capital

We advise you to start your visit to Kyoto slowly by visiting the city centre and the Gion district: - The Nijo castle, former shogun's residence - Nishiki, Kyoto's culinary market - Kiyomizu-Dera, the great water temple - The historical streets of Sannen-zaka & Ninnen-zaka - Kodai-ji, the maple and bamboo temple of Kyoto

Finish off seeing the sunset in Gion. Meet your guide at 19:00 to start your late stroll around Gion, Kyoto's historic district. More details on the exact time and location in your travel diary.

This walk will be an opportunity to dive into most of the Japanese architectural styles, from the machiya of the Heian period to the kura of the Meiji era. A great discovery!

At the end of this 1 hour 30 walk, your guide will be able to advise you on the best places to eat out! Please note that it is strictly forbidden to take photographs in the historic district of Gion.

Day 13 : Gold and Silver Treasures

Visit Ryoan-ji, Kyoto, the most famous rock and zen garden in Japan

©Philippe Voisin

We recommend the following itinerary for this second day's visit to Kyoto: - Ryoan-ji Zen Garden - The Kinkaku-ji ( Golden Pavilion ) - Ginkaku-ji ( Silver Pavilion ) - The bewitching path of philosophy - The Nanzen-ji temple

One of our many experienced English-speaking guides can accompany you on a tour of these symbolic sites (optional, from 9:00 to 17:00).

For this last day, if you want a final touch of contemporary architecture, head for the Miho Museum, the work of Ieoh Ming Pei, designer of the Louvre pyramid in Paris. Details of the trip in your travel diary.

Day 14 : Sayonara, and see you next time!

Sayonara - bye bye Japan !

©Maksims Grigorjevs/123RF

Direct transfer to Kansai International Airport (included but not accompanied).

Return flight to Europe, North America, Australia.

Do not hesitate to extend your trip by one or more days to Kansai or elsewhere... We will be able to advise you!

Included in your self-guided tour

Accommodation

- 4 nights in a 3* hotel  in the heart of Tokyo, close to public transport

- 1 night in a 3* hotel  in Osaka

- 1 night in a  4* hotel in Awaji

- 3 nights in a 3* hotel  in Takamatsu

- 1  night in a 3* ryokan  in Kurashiki, traditional half-board

- 3 nights in a 3* hotel  in the heart of Kyoto, close to public transport

The basic rate includes a twin room for two people.

-  Airport transfers

- Prepaid public  transport card

-  Japan Rail Pass  for 7 days

- Licence translation for 1 person (see details below)

- 7-day rental car , English GPS and basic insurance

Experiences and meals

-  Airport welcome

-  Traditional dinner and breakfast  in the ryokan at Kurashiki

-  All breakfasts  except in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

- Private guided architectural tour in Tokyo

-  Guided night  tour of Gion (1h30)

Additional services

- Unlimited  Wi-Fi  access with pocket Wi-Fi

- Complete e- travel diary  sent 20 days before your departure

- The helpline is available from 8am to 10pm Japanese time, 7 days a week, in English and Japanese. The number will be given to you in your travel pack. It is valid for telephone calls and Whatsapp.

Not included in the price of your trip

- Flights Europe <> Japan

- Optional insurance policies

- Personal expenses including meals (breakfast optional)

- Public transport when your transport cards have run out (see details)

- Fuel for the car

- Anything not included in the "included in your tour" section

More about your trip

Your tour :

• The prices displayed on this page may vary according to the exchange rate of the Japanese ¥.
• Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
• Pets are not allowed.
• Children and babies accepted. From 3 to 11 years old a child rate is offered. In each accommodation, a standard adult bed will be offered to them, and a standard seat will be allocated to them in transport. From 0 to 2 years old inclusive, a "baby" rate is offered. This price corresponds to the allocation of a cot in the majority of the accommodation of the chosen circuit. However, we cannot guarantee a baby cot in each accommodation.
• This programme is subject to change due to circumstances such as weather conditions or any other case of force majeure. Please note that due to the current circumstances, any information mentioned is subject to change or modification.
• Travel diary by email 3 weeks before departure, and other electronic documents 
• Paper documents (airport transfer ticket, transportation card, Japan Rail Pass voucher) and Pocket WiFi upon arrival at the airport by our airport assistant.
• At least one person participating in the trip must have a valid driving licence in their country
• Note : In very rare cases, mostly in very high season, steps might be reversed. You will be informed in your mini travel-guide. Thanks for your kind understanding.

Your accommodation :

• Some hotels may ask you to pay a tourist tax on arrival. This depends on the city and even the hotel, as some do not include it in the booking price. Normally, it is 200¥/night/person (about £1.37/1.93$) but can be slightly higher in 4* hotels. It must be paid in cash at the hotel reception. For traditional Japan Experience accommodations, it is included in the initial tour price.
• Room size: in Japan, a densely populated country where everything is compact, 3-star luxury hotels are of very good quality but the rooms are often quite narrow (12 to 20m2/129 sq ft to 215 sq ft) depending on the hotel. Please note the size of the single room, between 10 and 16m2 (107sq ft and 172 fq ft). For more comfort, you can choose our luxury 4* accommodation upgrade option. 
• Double room: Rooms for two people in western hotels have 2 single beds (twin rooms) by default, which can usually be joined together. As an option, you can select a double room instead of a twin if you prefer a double bed.
• Single room: People travelling alone and wishing to book a single room must pay a supplement at the time of booking. The single room supplement is compulsory for orders with an odd number of participants. Please note that if you request more than two people in a single room, the single room supplement will be applied to all accommodation except for the ryokans (3 and 4*). In fact, as this is traditional accommodation, people with the same reservation are grouped together in spacious rooms for up to 5 people.
• 3-person room: If there are 3, 5 or more of you and you do not select the single supplement, a triple room will be allocated to you.
• In the case of a group order (> 5 people), it is possible, depending on hotel availability, that not all members of the group will be accommodated in the same hotel. Nevertheless, we aim to keep you close. 
• Names of the hotels : The names given on the site are for information only. In the event of unavailability, an establishment of equivalent standing will be scheduled. Hotels, corresponding to local standards, are given as an indication and may be changed on site for hotels of a similar category. The hotel in Awaji (Nikko Awaji Yumebutai) is also given as a information only. If unfortunately it turns out to be full on your travel dates, we will book a lower quality hotel in Awaji, but higher in Osaka.
• In the ryokan in Kurashiki, the rooms have a private sink and toilet. The single-sex collective Japanese baths ("onsen") then act as shared bathrooms, with showers and thermal baths. They are freely accessible, at the times in force on the site. These baths are often not accessible to people with clearly visible tattoo (s). The latter are invited to contact us to evaluate the possibilities of accommodation with private baths or shared baths that can be reserved. The 4* ryokan (see 4* option) have comfortable futons raised on either western beds in a traditional tatami room. The bathrooms and toilets of the 4* ryokans are private

Your transport :

• Flights are not included in this tour. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to include flights in your order: Flights in economy class with stopovers or direct flights, eco-premium or business air upgrades, provincial departures or abroad: we will be able to advise you.
• The tour departure and end dates presented on this page relate to your stay in Japan. You will arrive in Japan via Tokyo (Narita or Haneda airports) and depart from Kansai airport (KIX, not Itami ITM). On departure, you will have to leave Europe the day before and land at 6:30 p.m. at the most to make the most of the airport services of your circuit (reception and transfer to Tokyo). The return flight is on the same day due to the time difference, with a departure time of 9am at the earliest. Please do not hesitate to consult us for any uncertainty or need for precision in the choice of international flights.
• If the flights have been purchased by your care without the intervention of Japan Experience, it is necessary to send us by mail 1 month before your departure your flight information (flight number, airport, date and time of arrival) to allow us 'Organize your welcome and airport transfer
• Airport Transfers: The shared limousine bus leaves from the airport and stops either in front of your hotel or at a stop within 1-15 minutes walk from your hotel. Our airport assistant in Tokyo will drive you to the platform to pick up the airport transfer. The transfer to the hotel is unassisted. If you wish to be accompanied from the airport to your hotel reception, please choose the option "Accompanied Airport Transfer". This transfer is done in a shared shuttle or bus, with other clients leaving for the same hotel or a hotel close to yours. These transfers leave between 1.5 and 3 hours after your flight's scheduled arrival and stops can be made before your hotel. If you would like a private, non-stop transfer directly after the actual arrival of your flight, feel free to take the "Private Taxi from the Airport" option. Please note: due to the many changes in flight schedules by the airlines, if the airline notifies you of a change in arrival time less than 72 hours before your departure, and if it exceeds 45 minutes, we cannot guarantee your airport shuttle. You will then have to take a taxi at your own expense, requesting a refund from your airline for abusive schedule changes. The same applies to your return journey: 72 hours before your return flight, we cannot change the shuttle schedule. Similarly, you will have to take a taxi booked with the hotel, at your own expense, with reimbursement procedures with the airline company being the only solution. Japan Experience is not responsible for last minute schedule changes.The same applies to the return trip from Osaka to KIX airport.
• Included in your tour is a pre-charged transport prepayment card of ¥ 1,500 (around £10.30 / 14.54$) (suica or Pasmo brand); and a 7-day Japan Rail Pass. These cards should cover a large part of your trips during the stay. Upon expiry of the 1,500¥ Transport Prepayment Card, or if the line you are travelling on is not covered by your Japan Rail Pass, any travel will be at your own expense by recharging your pre-paid transport card (at vending machines in all stations and metro stations). 
• Travel by metro and bus in the cities (payable by pre-paid transport card, included in your package)
• Transfers from the train station to the hotels (by foot, bus, metro or taxi)
• Travel on private train lines (other than JR)
• Travel on Nozomi and Mizuho high-speed trains (shinkansen)
• Trips made outside the validity period of the Japan Rail Pass
• Japan Rail Pass: It is not necessary to possess a Japan Rail Pass which covers your entire stay. This is only cost-effective if it is used for long journeys between the different stages of your stay (especially in shinkansen) which are very expensive. In large cities like Tokyo, only about ⅓ of public transport is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and getting around is relatively cheap (Tokyo metro tickets: £1.71 / 2.42$; Kyoto daily bus card: £4.28 / 5.97$). Thus, providing you with a Japan Rail Pass for more than 7 days (14 or 21) would not be cost-effective and, on the contrary, would significantly increase the cost of your trip.
• If a person taking part in the tour is a Japanese national and a resident of Japan, or a foreigner with tax residence in Japan (including a student), then that person is not eligible for the Japan Rail Pass. Please contact us to get the price of the tour without a Japan Rail Pass. They will have to buy the train tickets for the tour directly in Japan. The Kansai Thru Pass is also subject to the same nationality/residency requirements. This is not the case for the Hakone Free pass. If this person is a Japanese citizen but not a resident of Japan, then he/she can benefit from the Japan Rail Pass under certain conditions (see  https://www.japan-experience.com/frequently-asked-questions .
• Licence translation for car rental: The translation of the driving licence into Japanese is included in your tour: we take care of all the necessary steps once you have sent us a valid driving licence. Once in Japan, the translation of the driving licence along with the original license allows you to drive legally and easily. This translation is only necessary for driving licences from the following countries France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco and Taiwan. For licences issued from other countries, you must obtain an international licence.
• We have one car for every 1 to 5 travellers. If you would like an extra car, please contact us.

Your activities :

• Airport reception is in English. Your airport assistant will be waiting for you at the customs exit holding a sign with the name of the reservation. They will give you your travel documents and take you to your airport transfer. They will not accompany you to Kyoto (this is possible, but optional).
• The guided tour of Gion takes place in groups of 12 people maximum, from 6pm to 7:30/8:00pm. In English. More details on the meeting place in your travel journal. Dinner is not planned but your guide will be able to give you their best spots.
• Tokyo Architecture Tour: Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at 9am, and the day will last until 5pm. Your meals, transport and visits are at your own expense. The guide's meals are included in your tour. More details in your travel diary.

Your meals :

• Traditional Japanese dinner and Japanese breakfast (mostly savoury) are included in your ryokan. Do not hesitate to indicate any dietary requirements you may have, we will pass them on to the ryokan so that they can take them into account when planning the meals. If the ryokan does not take any of these dietary requirements into account, we cannot be held responsible and no compensation will be issued.
• Breakfasts which are not included in your package can be added at the reception when you arrive at the hotel. However, you will find many cafés near your hotel serving copious breakfasts, often tastier than those in the hotels, which sometimes have tight schedules and are predominantly savoury. However, if you would like to add breakfast to your offer when you make your reservation, you can select it as an option.

Your additional services:

• A pocket wifi is included in your tour. It allows unlimited high-speed internet access. Your Pocket WiFi will be given to you at the airport of arrival.
• It comes with a small booklet to operate your device (don't panic: simple operation) and a prepaid envelope to return your device at the end of your stay. Your pocket wifi will work naturally until the last day of your trip to Japan.
• A maximum of 5 devices can be connected to a pocket wifi (phone, tablet, computer).
• A single pocket wifi is provided for a circuit order of 1 to 5 people. For an order of 6 people or more, a second pocket wifi will be added automatically and at no extra cost to your reservation.

When you buy, Japan Experience offers you 2 types of protection:

Japan Experience Flex :  Cancellation insurance before departure under conditions.

Japan Experience Protect : Pre-departure cancellation insurance under conditions and on-site assistance under conditions. 

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa? Do I need vaccinations?

As of October 11, 2022, Japan will open its borders to all Europeans (including the European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland) and North Americans (Canada and the United States) without requiring a visa.

Only non-triply vaccinated travelers need a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours prior to departure.

Do I still need a visa to travel to Japan as a tourist?

No, no visa is required for blue countries including all European countries (European Union, United Kingdom and Switzerland included) and North American countries (Canada and United States). List of blue countries: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html . If you have another nationality, please contact the Japanese embassy in your country of residence to obtain this visa.

Do I still need a PCR or antigen test to go to Japan?

No, if you are triple vaccinated with the vaccines approved by Japan (Pfizer, Moderna, ...exhaustive list here : https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page24e_000317.html ) there is no need for any test.

I do not have 3 doses of vaccine or I am not vaccinated against COVID, can I enter Japan?

Proof of Covid vaccines is no longer required for travelers from "blue" countries. Therefore, unvaccinated travelers can enter Japan if they live in blue countries. But a negative PCR test is required at embarkation for travelers who are not vaccinated 3 times.

Is there still a quarantine upon arrival in Japan?

Quarantine and testing on arrival have been eliminated for travelers from blue countries.

Is insurance mandatory?

No, but it is recommended. Japan Experience, as an option of its tours, provides appropriate travel insurance solutions.

What anti-covid measures are still in place in Japan?

The mask must be worn indoors (except in exceptional cases) and in transportation.

What applications should I download before entering Japan?

For tracking the evolution of the coronavirus epidemic, the Japanese government recommends downloading several applications:

MySOS, the health and location tracking app (it will be used to confirm your location, health status and accommodation).

COCOA, the COVID-19 contact confirmation app (this will be used to notify you of possible contact with a COVID-19 positive person).

For more information, please visit: https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/manual/pdf-en/summary.pdf 

Is it safe to travel in Japan? What about solo travellers and children?

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, ranked in the top 10 by the Global Peace Index. Therefore travelling alone is safe. Women and girls can travel alone without fear of being harassed or solicited in public places. The same goes for children, who can be seen going to school alone in the metro from the age of 7. This can give you an idea of the country's level of safety. Last but not least, Japan is a haven for children: the safety, the amusement parks, the friendly attitude of the population.

How long should a trip to Japan last?

For a first trip to Japan, a period of 2 weeks is optimal, with at least 3 days in Tokyo and 3 days in Kyoto and its region. Don't forget to take some time at the beginning of the trip to get used to the time difference.

Guided or self-guided tour... what type of tour should you go for?

Whether you want to discover new things or discover yourself, stay in a fully organised tour or take a leisurely one: at Japan Experience, you will find a tour to suit your needs! Discover our 3 tour formulas now: guided, self-guided or personalised tour: Guided tours: Travelling with a specialist Would you like to travel with a small group of 8 to 12 people, accompanied by a private English-speaking guide? Classic destinations or off the beaten path, Japan Experience offers many guided tours, for all kinds of budget. Offering several departure dates throughout the year, these tours start at €2,890 per person. Self-guided tours: Independent travel These tours, with pre-planned itineraries, include accommodation, flights, transport, 24-hour assistance and optional guided activities. From €540 per person, plan your days as you wish, following the recommendations in your travel diary. Tailor-made tours: Travel according to your desires Design the trip you've always dreamed of! Our specialist advisors are available by email, telephone or directly in one of our agencies to answer all your questions and help you design your own customised tour.

What are the essentials for a first trip to Japan?

The must-see places for a first trip to Japan are:

• Tokyo, the megalopolis with a thousand sides to it
• Kyoto, the capital of sophistication and Nara, with its temples and deer
• Hiroshima, between memory and modern times, and its sacred island Miyajima
• Mount Fuji, Japan's most famous mountain
• The Japanese Alps: Takayama, Matsumoto, Shirakawa-go
• Kanazawa, both modern and traditional, on the Sea of Japan

And many other unforgettable places to discover in our tours.

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City break - Osaka tour Self-Guided Tours in Japan

• Duration : 8 days
• Locations : Osaka
• Included : Airport Transfers, 3* Hotels, Non-flight transportation, Guided activity, Travel diary, Pocket wifi, Assistance

Tokyo, Mount Fuji & Kyoto Self-Guided Tours in Japan

• Duration : 10 days
• Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto
• Included : Airport Transfers, 3* Hotels & Ryokan, Non-flight transportation, Guided activity, Travel diary, Pocket wifi, Assistance

Japanese Immersion Self-Guided Tours in Japan

• Duration : 13 days
• Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Hiroshima, Osaka, Koyasan, Kyoto
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Romantic tour in Japan Self-Guided Tours in Japan

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Slow Travel Japan Self-Guided Tours in Japan

• Duration : 21 days
• Locations : Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Okayama
• Included : 3* Hotels & Ryokan, Airport Transfers, Non-flight transportation, Travel diary, Pocket wifi, Assistance, Activities

Our activities in Tokyo, Osaka, Awaji, Takamatsu, Naoshima, Kurashiki, Himeji, Kyoto

Bunraku, the traditional art of Japanese puppetry Activities in Osaka

• Duration : 2 hour
• Location : Osaka

Night cruise through the industrial zone Activities in Japan

• Duration : 1 hour
• Location : Tokyo

Noh, Ancient Japanese Theatre Activities in Tokyo

Tokyo Sumo Tournament (January, May and September) Activities in Tokyo

• Duration : 3 hour

Tokyo Game Show Activities in Tokyo

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Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Activities in Tokyo

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Japanese Architecture Tour: Japan Buildings Guide

Japan Architecture Tour, Tokyo Building Walks, Architectural Guide, Bespoke Architects Travel

Japanese Architecture Tour

Architecture Walking Guide in Japan, Far East Asia – Exclusive Architects Walks tailor made for Groups

post updated 1 Feb 2020

Japan Architecture Tour

Japan Architecture Tour: Exclusive Guided Walks

Our Japanese guided tours are all tailored to suit each booking, we do not allow for bookings to be joined. Our guided tours in Japan are all exclusive to each client.

We suggest two days in Tokyo, one day in Kyoto and another day in the area around the capital, such as Yokohama. However we can also provide bespoke tours that last only a morning or afternoon in the capital city seeing the major new buildings by Ando, Ito, SANAA, Kuma, Maki and Herzog & de Meuron.

Should you be planning an office trip, a conference, or university trip in the Far East please contact us and we would be happy to take your booking.

These architectural walks are available currently.

Please contact us for information on architecture walks in Tokyo or other Japanese cities – isabelle(at)e-architect.com.

As well as dynamic contemporay designs Japan is also home to three Frank Lloyd Wright buildings!

See buildings by world-famous architects such as Tadao Ando , Kengo Kuma & Associates , SANAA and Fumihiko Maki .

Your architectural tour can provide an excellent snapshot of the remarkable architecture of amazing Tokyo and historic Kyoto.

Japan is a country of great contrast with architecture that is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern, east and west.

Tokyo is a dynamic metropolis where you will find some of the world’s most unique and fascinating architecture.

Kyoto is a city steeped in tradition with an abundance of ancient temples, shrines and gardens scattered throughout a bustling modern city.

All Tokyo Architecture photos © Robert Day

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Japanese Building Designs

Japanese Architecture

Japanese Architecture Designs

Chichu Art Museum , Naoshima, Kagawa Architect: Tadao Ando Chichu Art Museum

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e-architect manage architecture tours in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Copenhagen and Paris

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A Japan Architecture Tour coincided with the 24th World Congress of Architecture in Tokyo: Japan Architecture Tours

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Japan This! Tours

Experience Japan Like a Local

Tokyo Architecture & Design Tour

My walking Tokyo architecture tour focuses on modern design and architecture, but I’m happy to include traditional and classical forms as well.

Architecture and Design

Tokyo, once a city of wood homes and palaces, is now a city obsessed with jaw-dropping architecture and design. From fashionable shopping districts to quirky alleys and side streets, there’s something to admire on every corner!

TOKYO ARCHITECTURE TOUR

Tokyo is home to a myriad of striking architecture, but navigating the city to see all the coolest stuff if probably impossible if you’re not a local. Well, luckily I am a local and I’ve been here for almost 20 years.

Explore Japan’s capital with a Tokyo Architecture Tour that focuses on eye candy for lovers of modern art & design! Tweet

This tour never runs the same way twice. We’ll explore Tokyo’s eclectic modern cityscape, focusing on Pritzker Prize winning architects and gorgeous interior spaces. I try to run the gamut from fashionable flagships stores to quirky buildings that have become beloved icons of the capital. The pacing is way more important that cramming in three days of buildings into a few hours, so we’ll can enjoy looking around the interiors and (if experience is any metric) probably getting distracted by all kinds of eye candy along the way.

• Destinations
• Ginza Japan’s most exclusive shopping district since the 1870’s The pre-eminent kabuki theater in the country, De Beers Building, Mikimoto Pearls, Maison Hermes, Tokyu Plaza, the iconic Yurakucho Crossing, Okuno Building, Louis Vuitton, too much to mention!
• Omotesando , Aoyama , and Harajuku Japan’s second most exclusive shopping district since the 1980’s Sunny Hills “Pineapple Building,” Prada Tokyo, Miu Miu Aoyama, Aoyama Hills, Hugo Boss, Tod’s, and more! There are some famous private residences too!
• Roppongi Japan’s premiere high end arts and fashion district Roppongi Midtown, 21_21 Design Sight, Roppongi Hills, etc.

Popular Add-ons

• Take a break from modern architecture and check out Tokyo’s pre-eminent woodblock print museum.
• Shop for woodblock prints in Ginza
• A full-on fancy schmancy dinner in whichever fashionable area we conclude the tour in.
• Add on a standard Dinner & Drinks experience.

If you’re interested in buying art, please let me know in advance . As this can be complicated, depending on your budget and the sort of art you hope to acquire. Also, if you’re here for the last weekend of May, the Roppongi Art Night event is taking place.

Starts at ¥55,000 (covers up to 5 people!)

You Might Also Like These Tours

• If you like learning, don’t miss my Crash Course in Japanese History tour.
• Are you more interested in traditional Japanese architecture ?
• I have more exciting Day Tours !
• Wanna take a two or three day Excursion ?
• Just need dinner, drinks, or karaoke? Try a night Out on the Town !
• Want to learn more about the Ginza neighborhood ?

Choose Your Own Adventure

Custom Tours

Tōkyō is home to hundreds of world class museums and thousands of galleries, studios, and art spaces/events. I’ll design an epic day for you if you tell me what you love.

Wanna mix a Tokyo architecture tour with shopping, a museum, or a maid café? All my tours are customized in one way or another. If you need a private tour or someone to make things smoother, or if you’re gathering contents and shooting video and need a fixer, I’m sure I can help out and get you sorted.

• Interpreter
• Historical consultant
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Modern Art & Architecture Japan Tour

For Travelers into Art & Architecture

Tour Highlights

brief explanation of what this Tour offers goes here.

Tour highlights

• teamLab Borderless
• Yayoi Kusama Museum
• Traditions in Kyoto

What's Included

• Airport Pick-up and Orientation
• Destination Transfers
• Accommodations
• Meals, Guides and Activities as detailed
• Assistance from our Japan Office

Our Commitment

• Trips of Experience
• Personal Service
• Commitment to Excellence
• Responsible Travel

If you like modern art, architecture and you’re planning a trip to Japan then this tour is for you!

Our Modern Art & Architecture Japan Tour is a journey through the master pieces of Ando Tadao , Jun Aoki, Yayoi Kusama just to name a few. Your tour is completely customizable so please do not hesitate to ask for changes like if you wish to visit a specific site or special event. Since this is a custom tour don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to visit a specific site or arrange a special event. Accommodations are selected based on your taste for art, for example on Naoshima Island you will stay at Benesse House Hotel, in Osaka the W Osaka and similar accommodations in other destinations. The tour will start in Tokyo , then move to Kyoto with a day trip to Nara . Your next destination will be Naoshima Island before Awaji Island and it’s fantastic Yumebutai installation. Finally you will arrive in Osaka where Ando Tadao grew up and where you will find plenty of his work. This is a tailor-made tour so feel free to ask any request to our Japan Travel Expert. At Rediscover Tours we will make sure you get the best modern art and Japanese architecture experience!

This tour can be fully customized. The below itinerary is an example of a Classical custom tour. Price per person based on double occupancy for two travelers: Classical : from US$5,710 Superior : from US$8,220 Luxury : price upon request

Sample Itinerary

The tours featured throughout our website are intended to give you ideas for what's possible when you travel with us. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created individually by one of our specialists to match your tastes and budget.

Your airport pick up will meet you at Narita or Haneda Airport and will take you to your hotel in Tokyo by public transportation. They will validate your JR Rail Passes, make seat reservations, answer any of your questions and hand you your pocket WIFI device to use during your trip. In the evening you will be free to have dinner as you like though your airport pick up will make a few recommendations. Your accommodations will be carefully selected based on your budget and taste.

Your private local guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and will show you Tokyo. They will take you to sights that interest you and will also make suggestions. We can work on the sightseeing itinerary before you go to Tokyo to better tailor your sightseeing. Possible sights include:

teamLab Borderless Museum This is one of the most unique museums in the world and words cannot describe it. It is truly one of those things that you have to experience live to appreciate.

Yayoi Kusama Museum The Yayoi Kusama Museum is a contemporary art museum in Tokyo, Japan dedicated to the work of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. The Museum is located in the Shinjuku Ward, in the western suburbs of Japan. The five-floor building was designed by the Japanese architecture firm Kume Sekkei

The Mori Art Museum is a contemporary art museum founded by the real estate developer Minoru Mori in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in the Roppongi Hills complex both of which he built in Tokyo, Japan.

Your guide will make suggestions for things to do in the evening and the following day.

One of the best ways to experience a culture is just to wander around and allow things to happen. Spend some time in Omotesendo, Tokyo’s elegant area of art, architecture and high fashion. Gaze around this district which contains some of the most famous architecture in the city. Your guide from day 2 will give you some suggestions about where to go, what to do and what are the last exhibitions or events available. They may even suggest a few places to eat for lunch. For dinner we can arrange for you to have dinner at one of Tokyo’s many wonderful restaurants and you may want to try one of their many Michelin starred one.

Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan, is where the traditional Japanese ‘high arts’ flourished like tea ceremony, calligraphy, poetry, philosophy and religion. Numerous temples and shrines are located throughout the city and walking along canals, next to traditional wooden houses and through the small streets really gives you an idea of the ancient imperial culture. Kyoto also famous for its crafts: textile, kimono and pottery.

Your private local guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and will show you Kyoto. Your guide will take you to Japan’s most beautiful and historic temples and shrines, and you will walk down ancient streets where Japanese nobles strolled. There is too much to see and do but you want want to focus on Higashiyama to see Kiyomizudera, Gion to see geisha walking to their next appointment or head north to Kinkakuji. Your guide will work with you so you see the sights you are most interested in visiting. We can work on the sightseeing itinerary before you go to Kyoto to better tailor your sightseeing.

Nara is located in the central west of Honshu, the Japanese main island. Formerly known as Heijo-kyo, this city occupies an important position in the history of Japan as the first capital from 710 until 784. During this period, a large number of shrines and temples were erected under the protection of the imperial family and aristocrats. However, when the monks in the surrounding hills started gaining too much influence and eventually tried to seize power, it was decided to move the capital to Heian-kyo, nowadays known as Kyoto. Many of the temples built at the height of Heijo-kyo, like the Todai-ji and Horyuji temples, are currently registered as World Heritage Sites. Both Japanese and foreign tourists visit the city to see these temples, to walk among the free-roaming deer of Nara park or to visit some of the beautiful scenic mountains surrounding the city. The train from Kyoto Station to Nara Station will take about 45 minutes.

Naoshima Island

Today you will leave Kyoto by Shinkansen Bullet train and head to Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea by train and ferry. This island has been inhabited for as long as people have lived in Japan but jumped to fame when Tadao Ando and others transformed it into an island dedicated to art and modern architecture.

Top attractions include:

• Chichu Museum – A unique modern art museum.
• Art House Project – Art scattered around a small port town.
• Benesse House – Combination of art museum and hotel.
• Lee Ufan Museum – Museum devoted to the Korean artist Lee Ufan.
• I Love Yu – A public bathhouse that is also an artwork.
• Ando Museum – A traditional residence with an unusual interior.

Today you will take some rest in Naoshima. One of the best ways to enjoy the island is to rent a bicycle. There are a number of different bike rental shops. Please note that most art exhibitions are closed on Mondays. One of the best ways to get around the island is to rent an electric bike. Please let us know if you would like us to make a reservation for you.

Awaji Island

Today you will transfer from Naoshima to Awaji Island where you will explore the Yumebutai Installation of Ando Tadao. This large complex includes several buildings, gardens, modern tea houses,… We featured the Yumebutai in our video about Ando Tadao .

Your private local guide will welcome you in Osaka and show you around this city rich in architectural wonders. Osaka is changing at a very fast pace and here highways literally pass through buildings. You will discover the city where Ando Tadao grew up and if you are interested, we will design a tour around his most prominent work including the first house he ever created. Osaka is primarily known for its people, food and sense of humor. Your guide will not work from a predetermined itinerary and will show you sights that are interesting to you. They are also very flexible and can make on the fly changes to fit your style, mood, weather and crowds. Possible sightseeing spots include in Osaka include Dotonbori, Doguyasuji, Shinsaibashi, Tsutenkaku and many others. Since Osaka is known as the “Nation’s Kitchen,” we invite you to try tasty food like including udon noodles, kushikatsu, takoyaki and okonomiyaki and your guide will know the best shops. Due to the flexible nature of your sightseeing we do not include transportation, entry fees or meals while you are with your guide. If you have a specific sight you want to visit with your guide please let me know.

At your leisure you will explore Osaka and discover the dynamic city of Osaka. Possible sights in Osaka include: *Osaka Castle: though it has been rebuilt with concrete it still provides a great view over Osaka. If you would like to visit a traditional castle, Himeji is a must. Let us know if you are interested as it can be included on your way to Naoshima. *Dotonbori: best enjoyed in the evening when all the neons are lit. *Doguyasuji: a narrow merchant street where restaurants owners buy all their tools (knifes, dishes,…) *Shinsaibashi: the fashion district where you will find Louis Vuitton’s flagship Osaka store covered in curving glass sails, designed by Jun Aoki. *Tsutenkaku: “deep Osaka”

Today will be your last day in Japan and your last chance for sightseeing and shopping. Please make sure you arrive at Kansai Airport or Itami Airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled flight.

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Our team of Japan experts have all lived in Japan for years and know its the hidden treasures. Our team is here to answer all your questions and to build your tour just the way you want it.

Jeff Aasgaard

Jeff was born in a south suburb of Chicago named South Holland and lived in Japan for 14 years. He now lives in Commerce Township, Michigan with his wife Yoshimi, son Shota, and daughter Mina. He enjoys playing with his kids, volunteering with his daughter’s marching band, cycling and training and teaching Aikido.

Michiyo Kakiuchi

Michiyo was born in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido Prefecture though currently lives in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture. Her main passions in life is traveling all around the world and enjoying their cultures.

Izumi Yamauchi

Izumi has spent most of her life in the Kansai region, except for the 10 years that she enjoyed in the UK. Living abroad has made her appreciate her own culture and local beauty even more. She currently lives in Osaka with her family, including two cats and two dogs.

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• Art & architecture

Insider Experience: Tokyo architecture tour

Let our "Insider" show you the wealth of cutting-edge architecture Tokyo has to offer.

Tokyo is home to some of the world's most innovative architecture: but how do you know where to begin? Let our very own "Insider" take you on a specially curated tour of Tokyo's most iconic buildings.

Together you'll start in Ginza to see the eye-catching facades of the luxury brands: Maison Herm�s, Armani, Dior, Gucci and Chanel - each a gift to the rejuvenation of Ginza at the turn of this century.

Heading west, you must first see the world's busiest zebra crossing outside Shibuya Station before heading up towards Omotesando Boulevard. Here your Insider will introduce you to the Pritzker Prize winners: first Kenzo Tange's 1964 Olympic Stadium, then self-taught architect Tadao Ando's who's beguiling shopping mall Omotesando Hills sits here. You'll continue onwards towards Roppongi and Aoyama to see one eye-popping three-dimensional statement after another. TOD's by Toyo Ito, the Prada building by Herzog & de Meuron and The Jewels of Aoyama by Jun Mitsui & Associates to name just a few.

The full-day tour is flexible and can be tailored to suit your tastes. For a more contemporary take on tradition, WA SPACE, tucked down a backstreet in Akasaka, is well worth a visit. Alternatively let your Insider introduce you to Roppongi, where you'll find The National Art Centre designed by Kurokawa and the well-known Mori Tower. Tokyo Midtown, less than a kilometre away, is where you can see Tadao Ando's 21_21 Design Sight.

It's difficult to appreciate just how vast an urban sprawl Tokyo really is. While there are many gems sprinkled about, you could easily spend a week barely scratching the surface. So let our architecture tour tilt the scales of time and treasure in your favour. Bring a good pair of walking shoes and enjoy!

For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380

Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.  

located in Tokyo

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Fantastic views and innovative art at the Mori Art Museum.  

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• Architecture City Guide

Tokyo Architecture City Guide: 35 Iconic Buildings to Visit in Japan's Capital City

• Written by Andreea Cutieru
• Published on April 29, 2022

One of the world's leading metropolises, Tokyo is home to extraordinary architecture that fascinates through its blend of traditional values and high-tech expression. The 1923 earthquake and the bombardments of World War II dramatically influenced the image of the city and its architecture, giving rise to modern urban environments with complex infrastructure.

The Japanese capital constitutes the most populated metropolitan area in the world, housing 33 million inhabitants. Divided into 23 wards and numerous neighbourhoods, the city features a diverse blend of atmospheres and urban fabrics that support an amalgamation of architectural typologies.

The following list showcases 30 iconic modern and contemporary buildings that will provide a good starting point for your first visit to Japan's largest city, including works from renowned architects such as Nikken Sekkei , Herzog & De Meuron , Toyo Ito , Kengo Kuma , Sou Fujimoto , Kenzo Tange , OMA , Jun Aoki and Kazuyo Sejima .

Ginza Neighborhood

Tokyu plaza ginza / nikken sekkei.

Maison Hermès Tokyo / Renzo Piano

Yamaha Ginza / Nikken Sekkei

Louis Vuitton Matsuya Ginza Facade Renewal / Jun Aoki & Associates

De Beers Ginza Building / Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects

Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center / Kenzo Tange

Tokyo International Forum / Rafael Viñoly Architects

Louis Vuitton Ginza Flagship Store / Jun Aoki Architects + Peter Marino Architect

Omotesando Neighborhood

Miu miu aoyama store / herzog & de meuron.

Omotesando Keyaki Building / Norihiko Dan and Associates

Coach Omotesando Flagship / OMA

Shibuya Neighborhood

Yoyogi national gymnasium / kenzo tange.

Sunwell Muse Kitasando / Takato Tamagami and Tsutomu Hase

Miyashita Park / Nikken Sekkei

TRUNK (HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK / Keiji Ashizawa Design

UPI Shop in Omotesando / Happenstance Collective [HaCo]

Shinjuku Neighborhood

Japan national stadium / taisei corporation + azusa sekkei + kengo kuma & associates.

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower / Kenzo Tange

Spiral Building / Fumihiko Maki

Asakusa Neighborhood

Asakusa culture and tourism center / kengo kuma & associates.

Koenji  Neighborhood

House na / sou fujimoto architects.

Setagaya  Neighborhood

Breeze / artechnic architects.

Suginami Neighborhood

Za koenji public theatre / toyo ito.

Shibaura  Neighborhood

Shibaura house by kazuyo sejima.

Sumida Neighborhood

Asahi beer hall / philippe starck.

The Ariake Gymnastics Centre / Nikken Sekkei + Shimizu Corporation

Sekiguchi Neighborhood

St. mary cathedral / kenzo tange.

Oshiage Neighborhood

One @ tokyo / kengo kuma & associates.

Kodaira Neighborhood

Musashino art university museum & library / sou fujimoto.

Hachioji Neighborhood

Tama art university library / toyo ito & associates.

Harumi  Neighborhood

Harumi residential tower / richard meier & partners architects.

Meguro City

Tokyo institute of technology hisao & hiroko taki plaza / kengo kuma & associates.

Minato District

Azabudai hills / heatherwick studio.

Toranomon Hills Station Tower / OMA/Shohei Shigematsu

Nihonbashi Neighbourhood

K5 tokyo hotel / claesson koivisto rune.

We invite you to visit our list of Architecture City Guides .

Editor's Note:  This article was originally published on April 29, 2022.

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Experience the best of Japan’s built environment with an architectural travelling tour

Old City Itsukushima, Hiroshima Bay.

Image: Daniel Gregoire via Unsplash.

Travelrite’s architecture tour of Japan returns after eight years following the Japanese government’s recent move to permit specialized group tours to enter the country for the first time since the pandemic.

Marking Travelrite’s 20th architecture tour, the 2022 Japan tour will cover 17 nights from 22 October to 8 November and includes six Japanese destinations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Mount Fuji and Hiroshima.

Led by recognized architect and former principal of Scott Carver Architects, Malcolm Carver, the tour will take place during autumn in Japan – a time of year Carver describes as one of the more spectacular to appreciate the country and its infrastructure.

Carver admires Japanese architecture for its “pure simplicity” and enduring timelessness. He said, “[Japan] is original and unaffected by Western styles; it stems from a long monocultural history.”

Carver added, “It’s a delightful journey to discover that the same building design principles are evident in its hard and soft landscape, in the people, and of course in the culinary delights.”

Tadao Ando Gallery in Naoshima, Japan.

Image: Jo Quinnn via Unsplash

Following the success of the 2014 Japan tour, this year’s program has considered guest feedback to compose an itinerary with six additional nights featuring Japan’s world-class architecture, memorable contemporary buildings and striking temples along with authentic Japanese food.

The Pritzker Prize for Architecture has been awarded seven times to Japanese architects since its inception in 1979, with four awarded the revered prize in the past decade. Carver will take the tour to see works of eminent Japanese architect Tadao Ando and of ten other significant and internationally acclaimed architects including Tange, Ito, Sanaa, Isozaki, Kuma, Kidosaki, Piano, Pei and Vinoly.

“Japanese architects have excelled, mostly in Japan, over the past fifity years,” said Carver. “The international demand for their services today is extraordinary: just look at the new Sydney Modern by Sanaa and the Botanical Pavillion at the National Gallery of Victoria.”

The rich itinerary will include a tour of Peace Memorial Park and Museum; a trip to Naoshima Island, known for its art museums and sculptures; and journey to a modern Buddhist water temple, among other activities.

The tour is limited to 32 participants and includes accommodation, guided sightseeing, entertainment and meals.

For more information visit the Travelrite website .

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Project Description

Tours in tokyo, the ultramodern capital of japan.

Tokyo is the ultramodern capital of Japan. Most of its buildings are modern and contemporary, which, along with its characteristic neon and crowded streets, gives the city the look of the true city of tomorrow.

Among its most iconic buildings are the TokyoSkytree , Tokyo Tower , Rainbow Bridge , Kenzo Tange National Yoyogi Gym , Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building , Tokyo Big Sight , Asahi Beer Hall designed by Philippe Starck , the International Forum of Tokyo by Rafael Viñoli and many others. Also noteworthy are buildings such as the Nakagin Capsule Tower by Kisho Kurokawa and many other examples of the impressive creativity of the architects who have had to adapt to the very high density of the city. All of this makes Tokyo a great destination for lovers of the most avant-garde constructions.

Choose from one of our tours in Tokyo oriented to design, urban planning and architecture in Tokyo, ​​or request that one of our architects prepare a customized itinerary. All our guides are professional architects, who will be happy to prepare your tailor made itinerary . From Artchitectours we can organize your private tour to Tokyo, ​​ study trip or incentive trip as well.

ARCHITECTURE TOURS IN TOKYO

Tokyo – Aoyama, Harajuku and Omotesando

Tokyo – The architecture of Ginza

Tokyo – Contemporary Architecture

Comments from our clients.

Really excellent guide with a passion for architecture which we share. He also gave us a good first introduction into the Japanese culture and some local conventions which we found very useful. Nice man with great sense of humour. Regards.

Hoy tuvimos nuestro paseo con Dani, un joven arquitecto encantador!!!! Él preparó el recorrido con mucha seriedad, trajo textos y nos dio una explicación digna de un profesor universitario. Quedamos encantados con él y muy agradecidos contigo por haber organizado está visita de arquitectura en Tokyo. Te mando un beso enorme y será hasta la próxima vez que espero que sea pronto.

Thank you the Tour was fine and the tour guide was very passionate about the topic, what we gladly appreciated. Thank you for everything. Best wishes

Hi, we had a great tour with Yoshi – he was great with our very diverse group. Highly recommend him! Best rgds

We were in fact very happy with Yoshi. He was truly knowledgeable and a pleasant person to get around with. He was also ready to go the extra mile to accommodate our specific interests. We’d be happy to recommend him to others without the slightest qualification. All the best.

Thank you for the assignment of your guide for our group. He was awesome! – well organized, knowledgable and thoughtful. Everyone including myself very much enjoyed his tour, and I look forward to working with him again. Many thanks.

Everything went well – really a perfect guide Thank you – have a nice day All the best

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ROBERT DAY TRAVEL

Over 30  years of Japanese Tourism experience

Specialised and personally curated Art, Architecture and Design tours of Japan by Robert Day

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2024 ART, ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN TOUR now has minimum numbers are will proceed SO DON'T MISS OUT.

BOOK NOW  for the . This incredible tour will spend 5 nights in Tokyo, 3 nights in Kyoto and 2 nights in Kanazawa. Immerse yourself in Japanese Culture, Art, Architecture and Design. See international art exhibitions, buildings by famous architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier and Kengo Kuma and outstanding contemporary design. Find out more...

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JAPAN "DESIGN & CULTURE" TOUR 2 - 14  SEPTEMBER 2024  

Autumn leaves tour ceramics, art, architecture & design 25 november - 7 december 20 24  .

PLACES ARE AVAILABLE   for the 2024 Japan "Autumn Leaves" Tour.  This  incredible tour will visit Nagasaki, Arita (the birthplace of Japanese porcelain), Kurashiki, Imbe, Kyoto and Tokyo and offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese Ceramics, Art, Architecture, Design and Japanese Culture during the wonderful Autumn Leaves season in Japan. Find out more...

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ONE PLACE AVAILABLE! AUTUMN LEAVES TOUR Ceramics, Art, Architecture & Design 3 - 14 NOVEMBER

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STORY Explore the world of Japanese architecture Discover famous Japanese architecture ​throughout the country

• Stories & Guides
• Explore the world of Japanese architecture

Photo copyright: (c)Hiroyuki Hirai

Visit and immerse yourself in the works of architectural masters

Kenzo tange.

©JAPAN SPORT COUNCIL

Fumihiko Maki

©Maki and Associates

Omotesando Hills

Kisho Kurokawa

Kisho Kurokawa was also a leading figure in the Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1970, as well as a founder of the radical the radical architects' group, the Metabolism movement. He worked with concepts of metabolism, information, and recycling. He called this "Principle of Life".

Toyo Ito is an architect that is not by any means constrained by style. His free-form designs are full of curves and glass and reflect the character of land and locality. He was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2013. His credits include the sendai mediatheque in Miyagi, the Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line in Kanagawa, and the ZA-KOENJI Public Theatre in Tokyo.

©Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects

Kengo Kuma is one of the most popular contemporary architects in Japan. His work is inspired by the surroundings and history of the area, and he often incorporates natural resources and materials into his art.

Some of his notable works include the Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum in Kochi, Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum of Art in Tochigi, Nezu Museum, Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, and Meiji Jingu Museum that are all in Tokyo, among others.

Photography by ©Takumi Ota　

Shigeru Ban

Shigeru Ban is famed for using recycled and recyclable materials in his work. Some of his favorite items to use include shipping containers, paper and cardboard tubes, and wood. He was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2014.

(c)Hiroyuki Hirai

Arata Isozaki

Arata Isozaki is a leading figure of postmodern architecture, yet he is the one of the least bound by style. Despite being over 90 years old, he continues to push the architectural needle, creating more and more functional art pieces with his buildings. This is why he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2019.

These architects and their brilliant works not only change our view of Japanese architecture but continue to transform society.

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Architecture Tour of Japan with Malcolm Carver

• Includes Accommodation, Guided Sightseeing, A selection of entertainment & meals
• Departs 4 November 2023
• Hiroshima, Kurashiki, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo

PRE CRUISE TOUR

Post cruise tour.

Our tour includes the top six destinations in Japan, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Mount Fuji and Hiroshima. Japan in autumn is more than just spectacular colour, it’s full of intrigue, with fascinating variety and a land of contrasts. We will visit not only significant modern and contemporary work in Japan but also traditional architecture, all with outstanding landscape design.

Timeless and traditional design has been the leading inspiration for the modernists worldwide through the influence of Japanese design principles. So following the success of several Travelrite tours of the USA we will visit a few of Frank Lloyd Wright’s projects outside of America. Japanese architects have now won the prestigious Pritzker Prize for Architecture seven times since 1979 with four being in this past decade. We will not only focus on eminent Japanese architect, Tadao Ando, but also view exciting projects of ten other significant, internationally acclaimed architects. The best, most popular sites from our guest feedback of our 2014 tour are included plus 25 more memorable contemporary buildings and priceless temples. We are delighted that Yasuko, our wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide from 2014, who also arranged many memorable authentic Japanese lunches, will also be joining our team to make this the ‘tour of a lifetime’.

A professional development opportunity. Limit of 32 participants, so book early.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Welcome drinks
• Explore some of Hirsohima’s fascinating contemporary buildings
• Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum
• Travel to Naoshima Island, known for its art museums, architecture and sculpture
• Chichu Art Museum, Benesse House and Ando Museum all by Tadao Ando
• Travel to Tazaemon Yamamura House
• Journey to modern Buddhist Water Temple, Awaji Island
• Oyamazaki Museum (Ando) and Katsura Imperial Villa
• Explore some of the outstanding modern works in Kyoto
• Church of Light
• Visit Miho Museum and Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shinto shrine in Japan
• Meiji-Mura, an open-air architectural museum near Nagoya
• Visit the House in Yatsugatake (Kidosaki Architects) and Hakone house (Kidosaki Architects)
• Sightseeing in Asakusa district, well-known as a region of Old Tokyo
• Explore Tokyo's architectural wonders
• Visit Nezu Museum, 2121 Design Sight (Ando), Omotesando Hills (Ando) and Tod’s Omotesando Building (Ito)
• See Sky House (Kitutake), St Mary’s Cathedral (Tange) and the Olympic Stadium (Kuma).
• Farewell dinnner
• Travel in first-class chartered coaches
• Bullet train travel from Osaka to Hiroshima
• Accommodation in first-class and moderate first-class, centrally located hotels with private facilities throughout the tour. Hotel taxes and service charges
• Buffet breakfasts daily
• Welcome drinks in Osaka
• Entry to buildings, museums and attractions as detailed in the itinerary
• A farewell dinner on Monday 20 November 2023
• Tour leadership by well-known architect Malcolm Carver
• Fully escorted by a professional tour manager and an accredited Japanese tour guide

TOUR LEADER MALCOLM CARVER

Malcolm Carver (AIA AWI) is an Architect and former Principal of Scott Carver Architects, a highly successful Sydney-based practice which has won numerous awards for their work including the RAIA National Environment Award. Over the past 40 years Malcolm has travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and the Americas having led over 14 Travelrite Tours. His passion for architecture is only matched by a keen interest in sketching and painting and he has many solo exhibitions of his work. His sketches appear online at www.carverstudio.com

PARTICIPANTS ON OUR 2014 JAPAN TOUR SAID…

• The best part of the tour, as always, was the camaraderie of the group
• Tour was excellent for its architecture content, but also for the opportunity to experience a different culture
• Malcolm was a wealth of information and a lot of fun
• Third tour, very happy, would go again
• Group was very good, had some fabulous food
• Malcolm was excellent, contributed to the group’s congeniality
• Saw and experienced far more than the itinerary could convey

PARTICIPANTS ON OUR 2018 TOUR SAID…

• Many thanks to you both (and Travelrite) for a fantastic US tour! A very memorable experience indeed…and nice to meet all the tour group as well!
• What a delight and privilege it was for me to spend that time soaking in amazing architecture with such a lovely, interesting group of people. I enjoyed meeting all of you.
• As one of the “non architects” I was impressed how you made every building interesting for me and simultaneously brought humour and bonhomie to each and every day. I learnt a lot from you, the guides and from many of our fellow travelers also along the way and for this I am grateful. A terrific, eclectic group of people and a well-oiled touring machine; a credit to you and your colleagues.

DAY 1 Saturday 4 November 2023 Osaka, Japan Arrival day in Osaka. Check in is available after 3:00pm (Flight and pre tour accommodation options are available). This evening join Malcolm for welcome drinks.

DAY 2 Sunday 5 November 2023 Hiroshima The tour begins this morning with a transfer to Osaka Train Station for a high speed Shinkasen train to Hiroshima. On arrival we will explore some of Hirsohima’s fascinating contemporary buildings including the MOCA Gallery and the Museum of Art (Kisho Kurokawa). We hope to visit the Itsukushima Shrine at sunset which is being renovated. If inaccessible we will visit the small chapel within the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

DAY 3 Monday 6 November 2023 Kurashiki This morning we visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Afterwards we travel to Kurashiki with a stop at the Kohtei Pavilion then a traditional house in Kamitomii (Shin Ohori) (subject to owner’s permission). Wander the historic town of Kurashiki in the evening.

DAY 4 Tuesday 7 November 2023 Kurashiki This morning we travel to Naoshima Island, known for its art museums, architecture and sculpture. We will see the Ferry Terminal before visiting the spectacular, Chichu Art Museum, Benesse House and Ando Museum all by Tadao Ando. Chichu Art Museum has paintings from Monet’s “Water Lilies” series. Benesse House Museum shows contemporary sculpture.

DAY 5 Wednesday 8 November 2023 Kobe This morning we travel to Tazaemon Yamamura House (Yodoka Guest House), the first of two Frank Lloyd Wright buildings we will see in Japan. After lunch we arrive in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan’s ten largest cities. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan’s most attractive cities. The afternoon will be free to explore the city.

DAY 6 Thursday 9 November 2023 Osaka This morning we visit another of Tadao Ando’s spectacular works – the Water Temple, Awaji Island. This is a modern Buddhist temple built of concrete and located underground, with a circular pool of water planted above the prayer space. Tadao Ando was also the architect for the nearby Yumebutai Hotel & Observation Terrace research centre which we will also visit. We then continue on to Koshino Hiroko House. Ando designed the Koshino House for fashion designer Hiroko Koshino and her family during 1979 - 1984.

DAY 7 Friday 10 November 2023 Kyoto This morning we drive past Ando’s Azuma House. This is a private residence so will not be able to enter. We continue on to Oyamazaki Museum (Ando). We then visit Katsura Imperial Villa (completed in 1645), one of the finest examples of Japanese architecture and garden design.

DAY 8 Saturday 11 November 2023 Kyoto Kyoto is old Japan with atmospheric temples, sublime gardens, traditional teahouses and is the heart of Japan’s geisha world. It is most well known in Japanese history for being the former Imperial capital of Japan for more than one thousand years. Today we explore some of the outstanding modern works in Kyoto. We begin with a visit to the Garden of Fine Arts (Ando), followed by Kyoto Concert Hall (Isozaki) (external view only unless attending a concert) and Nishjin Lifestyle Museum. We the visit Shisendo Temple. Former samurai, Chinese classics scholar, and landscape architect Ishikawa Jozan built the shrine in 1641 as a retirement villa. We conclude the day with a visit to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, with a spectacular view over Kyoto.

DAY 9 Sunday 12 November 2023 Kyoto This morning those that wish to do so can attend a service at the Church of Light (Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church) (Ando) (attendance at the service is subject to room being available for a group on the day) followed by a visit to the spectacular Arashiyama Bamboo Grove one of most photographed sights in Kyoto. We continue on to Ryoan-ji Temple. Originally an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period, the site was converted into a Zen temple in 1450 and belongs to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. It is popular for its rock garden. After lunch we visit the famous Kinkaku Ji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.

DAY 10 Monday 13 November 2023 Kyoto A free day in Kyoto to visit some of its historic sites. You may wish to visit Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district made famous from the novel and film Memoirs of a Geisha. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geisha and maiko (geisha apprentices) entertain.

DAY 11 Tuesday 14 November 2023 Nagoya We depart Kyoto and travel to Nagoya today. Along the way we will visit Miho Museum (I M Pei) and Ise Grand Shrine, Naiku. Ise Grand Shrine is Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine and dates back to the 3rd Century. It is considered to be the spiritual home of the Japanese and its national religion Shinto.

DAY 12 Wednesday 15 November 2023 Chino Today we visit GC Prostho Museum Research Centre (Kuma) and the Imperial Hotel Foyer (photo below) at Museum Meiji-Mura (Wright). Meiji- Mura is an open-air architectural museum near Nagoya. The museum preserves historic buildings from Japan’s Meiji (1867–1912), Taisho (1912– 1926), and early Shōwa (1926–1989) periods. Over 60 historical buildings have been moved and reconstructed. The most noteworthy being the main entrance and lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright’s landmark Imperial Hotel, which originally stood in Tokyo from 1923 to 1967, when the main structure was demolished to make way for a new, larger version of the hotel.

DAY 13 Thursday 16 November 2023 Tokyo This morning we visit the House in Yatsugatake (Kidosaki Architects – photo above) a minimalist home cantilevered on the top of a hill overlooking the serene mountainscape and Hakone house (Kidosaki Architects) (subject to the owner’s permission). We arrive in Tokyo late afternoon.

DAY 14 Friday 17 November 2023 Tokyo There aren’t many places on Earth that blend ancient tradition and the ultra-modern quite like Tokyo. Centuries-old gardens and cobblestone laneways live in perfect harmony with soaring skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights. We will visit the Asakusa district, well-known as a region of Old Tokyo, the Asakusa Kannon Temple, a Buddhist temple also known as Sensoji, built in 645 A.D with the finest Japanese architecture. In the afternoon we will visit Tokyo International Forum (Rafael Vinoly), Mikimoto Ginza 2 Building (Ito) and a special visit to Hirotaka Kidosaki’s own house (Kidosaki Architects).

DAY 15 Saturday 18 November 2023 Tokyo A full day of exploring Tokyo’s architectural wonders including the Architecture Museum Edo W, Sumida Hokusai Museum and the National Art Museum.

DAY 16 Sunday 19 November 2023 Tokyo Today we visit Nezu Museum, 2121 Design Sight (Ando), Omotesando Hills (Ando) and Tod’s Omotesando Building (Ito)

DAY 17 Monday 20 November 2023 Tokyo Our final day in Tokyo We will see Sky House (Kitutake), St Mary’s Cathedral (Tange) and the Olympic Stadium (Kuma). The afternoon will be free for individual sightseeing or last minute shopping. We will have a farewell dinner this evening to celebrate a wonderful tour.

DAY 18 Tuesday 21 November 2023 Departure We transfer to the airport for our flights back to Australia and New Zealand.

Speak to our consultant about great airfare deals to join the group.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

• International airfares, air taxes, fuel and government surcharges
• Passport and visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Meals and drinks unless specified in the itinerary
• Sightseeing and general expenses unless specified in the itinerary
• Additional travel arrangements not in the detailed itinerary will be quoted for separately

General Information and Booking Conditions

Touring can involve a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing in the places visited and it is important that all tour participants have a level of physical fitness that allows them to take part in this tour without the need of assistance from others.

TOUR OPERATOR: Travelrite International Pty Ltd (ABN 64 005 817 078) is the tour organiser. All passengers must complete and sign a Travelrite International booking form.

DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT: A deposit of $1000 per passenger should be sent with a completed Travelrite International booking. As soon as the booking is confirmed, (usually within 24 hours), a confirmation advice will be posted to the client. A further deposit of $1500 is due by 4 May 2023. Final payments are due to be paid to Travelrite International 60 days prior to the commencement of the tour. A 1.5% administration fee will be added to payments by credit card.

REFUNDS: The tour is based on arrangements that do not allow for any refunds in respect to sightseeing, accommodation, meals, airfare or other services not utilised after the tour has commenced.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: All passengers will require a valid passport. If you hold another passport please check with Travelrite International.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Adequate travel insurance is highly recommended to cover tour members for the consequences of unforeseen events during the tour and for cancellation fees which could result from events such as illness, accident, death etc.

BAGGAGE: All passengers qualify for 1 piece free baggage allowance.

MINIMUM TOUR NUMBERS: The tour has been priced on the basis of a minimum number of passengers having booked 90 days prior to departure. Travelrite reserves the right to cancel the tour, giving a full refund of all monies paid or offer arrangements to proceed with the tour at a modified cost. Travelrite International reserves the right to change advertised entrances if necessary for the smooth operation of the tour.

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Home » Tours » Asia » Japan » Art, Architecture and History of Japan 2024

Art, Architecture and History of Japan 2024

Status: limited, 29 oct – 13 nov 2024, other departures.

• 28 OCT - 12 NOV 2025

Dr Mark Erdmann

Lecturer in Art History at the University of Melbourne, with a PhD in Japanese art and architectural history from Harvard University. Mark lived in Japan for 15 years and is fluent in Japanese. His research focuses on castles, warrior elite residences, palaces, as well as the Jesuit mission in Japan and their impact on visual culture.

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Art, Architecture and History of Japan 2024 Tour Highlights

• Travel with Dr Mark Erdmann , an expert on Japanese art and architecture, as he explores the country through the lens of its artistic traditions, from the art and architecture of ancient temples, to the current cutting edge creative scene.
• Visit the well-preserved historic districts of Kanazawa, Kyoto and Nara. Walk through streets lined with old wooden buildings that were once the homes of samurai, artisans and merchants.
• Discover some of the region’s finest museums, including the Nezu Museum and the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo, I.M. Pei’s Miho Museum in the Shigaraki Mountains, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, and the magnificent Adachi Museum in Mitsue, where the museum is set within an extraordinary garden.
• Visit the annual Nara National Museum Shosoin Exhibition, when artifacts from the treasure house of Todai-ji Temple are selected for special display for a few weeks in autumn.
• Trace the development of Japanese sacred and secular architecture, with visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Todai-ji, Horyu-ji, Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji in Nara, and Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) and Nishihongan-ji in Kyoto.
• Meet artisans who continue the long traditions of Japanese crafts like paper-making and ceramic work, adapting and evolving their work to the lifestyles of the 21st century.
• Spend two days visiting Naoshima and Teshima, two of the famed ‘Art Islands’, where extraordinary architecture by luminaries like Tadao Ando was built to house modern and contemporary art from around the world.
• Visit splendid and formidable castles from the feudal era, from where the daimyo guarded his territory with his army of samurai . Explore the vast UNESCO World Heritage Listed Himeji Castle, with its bewildering maze of rooms and corridors.
• Enjoy the peace of remote temples and shrines, a refuge for contemplation and prayer. Take the rope-way up Mt Shosha to Engyo-ji and walk the path through the tranquil forest, past the many Buddha statues and stone lanterns scattered along the route.
• Travel by boat to peaceful Chikubushima, ‘Island of the Gods’ on Lake Biwa, to visit the Buddhist temple Hogon-ji and the Shinto shrine Tsukubusuma-jinja, both tucked away in the forest.
• Visit Meiji-Mura, an open-air architecture museum where we see the entrance and foyer building of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel Tokyo, saved from demolition and transported here in the 1960s.

Overnight Tokyo (1 night) • Kanazawa (2 nights) • Nara (2 nights) • Kyoto (4 nights) • Inuyama (2 nights) • Himeji (1 night) • Okayama (1 night) • Kurashiki (2 nights)

Palaces, Temples and Castles in Premodern Japan – lecture by Dr Mark Erdmann

Testimonials Recently I participated in ASA’s Art, Architecture and History tour in Japan.  This was my fourth ASA tour.  Like the others in Italy and India, it was superbly well organized, headed by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable leader, and took me to places that I could never have discovered by myself.  I thought I knew Japan, having lived there for a year in the 1970s, but this tour threw a new light on the country – both in the places we visited and in the expert commentary of the leader, Mark Erdmann.  I can thoroughly recommend ASA for their ability to show Australians how other people live in other countries and cultures. James, VIC.

The following itinerary describes a range of gardens, museums and other sites which we plan to visit. M any are accessible to the public, but others require special permission which may only be confirmed closer to the tour’s departure . The daily activities described in this itinerary may change or be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate alterations in opening hours, flight and train schedules and confirmation of private visits. Participants will receive a final itinerary together with their tour documents prior to departure. The tour includes meals indicated in the detailed itinerary where: B =breakfast,  L =lunch and  D =dinner.

Tokyo - 1 night

Day 1: tuesday 29 october, tokyo.

• Tour commences at 10.00am in the foyer of the Hotel
• Welcome Meeting
• Nezu Museum
• Ota Memorial Museum of Art
• Welcome Dinner

Meeting Point: The tour commences at 10.00am in the foyer of the Hotel. Check-in time is not until 3.00pm, however your luggage may be securely stored until we return from our day’s program at 4.30pm.

We commence with a short welcome meeting which will be followed by a visit to two of the most interesting museums in Tokyo that will provide an excellent introduction to the traditional art of Japan. The Nezu Museum, in a building designed by Kengo Kuma, houses a collection of traditional Japanese and Asian works of art once owned by Kaichiro Nezu, a railroad magnate and politician. At any one time the vast space houses some of the collection’s 7000 works of calligraphy, paintings, sculptures, bronzes, and lacquer ware. The building is set within a beautiful garden.

The nearby Ota Memorial Museum of Art is a delightful museum specialising in Japanese Ukiyo-e, the country’s famous woodblock prints. The museum has a collection of over 14,000 works from all eras of this art, including masterpieces by Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusa (including a print of The Great Wave ) and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Tonight we enjoy a Welcome Dinner at our hotel.  (Overnight Tokyo) D

Kanazawa - 2 nights

Day 2: wednesday 30 october, tokyo – kanazawa.

• Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Tokyo – Kanazawa
• Higashi-Chayagai District
• Nomura-ke (restored samurai residence & house garden)
• 21 st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
• Evening lecture at the hotel

This morning we travel by Shinkansen train to Kanazawa, considered one Japan’s best-preserved Edo-period cities. Kanazawa is a popular place for the Japanese to visit, but perhaps because of its remote location and very cold winters few foreigners make the journey to experience its rich cultural legacies.

The feudal atmosphere of Kanazawa still lingers in the Nagamachi district, where old houses of the Nagamachi Samurai line the streets that once belonged to Kaga Clan. The T-shaped and L-shaped alleys are distinct characteristics of the feudal town, and the mud doors and gates of the houses remain the same as they were 400 years ago. The houses with their samurai windows ( bushimado ) and mud walls under the yellow Kobaita wooden roofs, which were protected from snow by straw mats ( komo ), evoke a bygone era. We will visit the Ishikawa-ken History Museum that is dedicated to the history of this prefecture.

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), the scale and dispensation of land to samurai families who lived in this district, and others in the city, was a fairly accurate indicator of rank. One of the larger Nagamachi estates was assigned to Nomura Denbei Nobusada, a senior official in the service of the first feudal lord of the Kaga domain. The reforms that accompanied the Meiji Restoration in 1868 decimated the lifestyles of the socially privileged. The samurai, whose social class was nullified, not only had their stipends terminated, but their estates were also appropriated by the state. Consequently, the Nomura family, whose considerable land holdings dated back 12 generations, lost their home and were reduced to turning a section of the remaining part of their property over to the cultivation of fruit and vegetables. Though they were discouraged from public displays of ostentation, merchant families and those of former samurai were not prohibited from commissioning the construction of exquisite gardens.

We visit the restored residence of Nomura, displaying the lifestyle and artefacts of the era, and explore its garden which features trees that are over 400 years old. Broad, irregularly shaped stepping stones provide access to the inner garden whose attractive entrance is flanked by a Chinese maple tree with leaves that turn a brilliant red in autumn.

Contrasting ‘Old Kanazawa’ is the 21 st Century Museum of Contemporary Art that opened in 2004 with a design by SANAA architects. The building is circular, opening equally in all directions and transparent. Sustainability is one of the guiding principles when commissioning works, while another is the ‘democratizing’ of contemporary art to make it accessible to all.

We finish our day with a lecture at the hotel, when Mark will provide an overview of Japanese history and some of its most significant moments and people. (Overnight Kanazawa) B

Note: Our luggage will be transported separately to our hotel in Kanazawa.

Day 3: Thursday 31 October, Kanazawa

• Artisan Visits
• Kanazawa Castle (exterior)
• Kenroku-en Garden
• National Crafts Museum

This morning we visit the ateliers and stores of several craftsmen who continue to practice traditional Japanese crafts: papermaking, bamboo weaving and pottery. From these master craftsmen we will learn of the techniques, discipline and philosophies that are essential for the creation of each piece.

We then visit Kanazawa Castle, the seat of power of the local Maeda clan, hereditary feudal lords ( daimyo ) of the Kaga province from 1583. Burnt down on a number of occasions, only the superb Ishikawa Gate and the Sanjikken Nagaya samurai dwelling survive from the original construction.

Kenroku-en was once the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and there has been a garden on the site since the late 1600s. The original garden, begun by the fifth Maeda lord, Tsunonori Maeda, was called ‘Renchi tei’ but it was almost entirely burnt out in 1759. It was restored in the 1770s and in 1822 became known as Kenroku-en, a name that means ‘the garden of six sublimities’ or, ‘a garden combining the six aspects of a perfect garden’. These six features were what the Chinese traditionally believed were necessary for the ideal garden – spaciousness and seclusion, artifice and antiquity, water-courses and panoramas: all these characteristics are to be found in the 25 acres of this beautiful garden.

We finish the day with a visit to the newly opened National Crafts Museum. This collection was previously housed in the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, relocating to Kanazawa in 2020, and comprises craft, graphic and industrial design work from the Meiji era (1863-1912) to today.

This evening we dine at a charming local restaurant. Hidden behind a traditional façade hung with lanterns, the restaurant specializes in delicious charcoal grilling.  (Overnight Kanazawa) BLD

Nara - 2 nights

Day 4: friday 1 november, kanazawa – kyoto – nara.

• Shinkansen Kanazawa – Kyoto
• Horyu-ji Temple Complex, Nara (incl. Chugu-ji Golden Hall and Pagoda)

This morning we take the Shinkansen to Kyoto, and then travel by coach to Nara, a beautiful town that retains the atmosphere of ancient Japan, and from 710 to 784 it was the nation’s first permanent capital. It is home to many of Japan’s oldest temples, particularly Buddhist and Shinto shrines.

On arrival we visit one of Japan’s oldest temple complexes, Horyu-ji, founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku. This extensive Buddhist temple complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and the Western Precinct is home to the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures – the central gate, the main hall and a five-storey pagoda.  (Overnight Nara) BLD

Day 5: Saturday 2 November, Nara

• Toshodai-ji
• National Nara Museum, and the annual Shosoin Exhibition

This morning we visit two important temple complexes that are included as part of the  UNESCO designated World Heritage Site ‘Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara’. Yakushi-ji was constructed by the Emperor Tenmu in the late 7 th century in gratitude for the recovery of the Empress from illness. This Buddhist temple complex has a strictly symmetrical layout, with a main hall flanked by two pagodas. Today it is the headquarters of the Hosso school of Japanese Buddhism.

Toshodai-ji is of the Risshu sect of Buddhism, and its Golden Hall, the kondo, is considered the archetype of the ‘classic style’ of Buddhist temple architecture. The façade of the single story structure  is divided into seven bays and topped by a hipped tile roof.

After time at lesiure for lunch we visit the impressive Todai-ji, founded in 745 by Emperor Shomu. Although rebuilt following a fire in 1709 to two-thirds of its original size, it nevertheless remains the largest timber building in the world. Two seven-metre tall guardian gods flank the entrance, to the great Buddha Hall, the Daibutsu-den, which houses the 15-metre-tall bronze statue of the great Buddha. The original casting was completed in 752, when an Indian priest stood on a special platform and symbolically opened its eyes by painting on the Buddha’s eyes with a huge brush. This ceremony was performed before the then retired Emperor Shomu, his wife Komio and the reigning Empress Kogen, together with ambassadors from China, India and Persia

We finish the day with a visit to the Nara National Museum, one of the pre-eminent national art museums in Japan. The museum houses a marvellous collection of art belonging to the temples and shrines in the area, and is renowned for the collection of Japanese Buddhist sculpture, scrolls, paintings and altar goods. Our visit is timed to coincide with the annual Shosoin exhibition, when artefacts from the treasure house of Todai-ji Temple are selected for special display for a few weeks in autumn. (Overnight Nara) BD

Kyoto - 4 nights

Day 6: sunday 3 november, nara – shiga – kyoto.

• Miho Museum
• Shigaraki Village

This morning we depart Nara and visit a remarkable site in the hills to the north east of the city, Joruri-ji. This Buddhist Temple of the Ritsu sect dates to the mid-eleventh century and the complex holds four national treasures and nine important cultural properties. Of particular importance are the group of nine sitting Amida Nyorai statues, each one symbolizing one of the nine stages of Nirvana, and the group of the Four Heavenly Kings. The temple’s historic garden is one of the few remaining examples of a Paradise garden of the early Heian Period (794-1185); the layout is said to be in the shape of the Sandskritt letter ‘A’, expressing paradise.

Further north we visit the Miho Museum, located in the beautiful Shigaraki mountains, an extraordinary contemporary space designed by I.M. Pei. Home to an impressive private collection of Asian, African and European art, the museum is built into the mountain itself (80% pf the structure is underground), in order to create harmony between the building and the natural landscape. The architecture echoes the temple design of the past, and clearly reflects Pei’s philosophy “that light is the key to architecture”.

A short distance from the Miho Museum is Shigaraki, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. The development and popularity of Shigaraki ware flourished from the 14 th century as the tea ceremony evolved in nearby Kyoto and Nara, and by the Edo period (1603-1867) the kiln produced tea jars, sake bottles, and miso jars, followed by charcoal braziers during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Today, the local craftsmen use traditional techniques to create objects suited to the 21 st century, particularly vases, tableware and ceramic planters.

We will enjoy a leisurely visit to Shigaraki village where the proud tradition and history is celebrated, then continue on to Kyoto. (Overnight Kyoto) B

Day 7: Monday 4 November, Kyoto

• Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion)
• Afternoon at Leisure

We start the day with a visit to the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji). During the 15th century the Chinese Sung Dynasty exercised an enormous influence in Japan as artists, poets and Zen priests were gathered together by Yoshimitsu, the third Ashikaga shogun (1358-1409). Yoshimitsu began construction of the Golden Pavilion just before he retired in 1394, handing power to his nine-year-old son so that he could move to his estate. Little of his work remains but we can sense the character of the garden in its pond, rockwork and extensive plantings.

The pavilion at Kinkaku-ji recalls Sung period architecture but it is a recreation, having been burned down in the 1950s. The present building is an exact replica, except that where Yoshimitsu proposed only to gild the ceiling of the third storey with gold, now the whole building is gilded. Yoshimitsu positioned his palace on the edge of a lake. The ground floor was a reception room for guests and departure point for leisure boating, the first storey was for philosophical discussions and panoramic views of the lake while the upper floor acted as a refuge for Yoshimitsu and was used for tea ceremonies. The size of the gardens is increased visually by the water’s convoluted edge, the use of rocks and clipped trees and by visually ‘borrowing’ a distant view of Mt Kinugasa that creates a sense of gradation between foreground, middleground and deep distance.

We then visit Daitoku-ji, a large complex of Zen temples with prayer halls, religious structures and 23 sub-temples with some of the most exquisite gardens in Kyoto, some quite small, including raked gravel gardens and, in the Daisen-in, one of the most celebrated small rock gardens in Japan. The Japanese consider Daitoku-ji one of the most privileged places to study and it is associated with many of Japan’s most famous priests. Unlike many of the larger public Buddhist temples of earlier sects, the Rinzai sect monasteries were intimate, inward looking and remained isolated from the outside world.

The temple received imperial patronage and grew out from its centre in an organic way. A transition occurred as the complex expanded from a formal centre to semiformal and informal precincts. The central north-south walkway is most formal with wide paths to accommodate processions and ceremonies, while to the side are sub-temples with gates. As you walk through one of these gates you immediately come upon a less formal world with narrow paths, turns and walkways. The temple site contains a number of notable gardens including Daisen-in, Zuiho-in and  Ryogen-in. It also celebrates Autumn with special openings of areas of the complex usually closed to the public.

The afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to visit some of Kyoto’s many temples and gardens, stroll along the Philosopher’s Path or explore the city’s many artisan shops selling traditional wares. (Overnight Kyoto) B

Day 8: Tuesday 5 November, Kyoto

This morning we visit Tofuku-ji, a large temple complex founded in the 13 th century and is one of the ‘Kyoto Gozan’ or ‘five great Zen temples of Kyoto’. The Hojo, a garden designed in 1939 by Shigemori Mirei who masterfully combined 20th-century design with elements from Japanese tradition. Mirei implements subtle, restrained design themes such as chequer-boards of stone in moss to allow the natural form and colour of maples on the surrounding hills to make full impact. The main gate ( sanmon ) is a national Treasure and the oldest surviving gate in the country.

This afternoon we escape the crowds that flock to Kyoto to enjoy the glorious autumnal colours, and visit Sekiho-ji, a tranquil shrine with a stroll garden. Founded in 1713, the temple is of the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism. Stone paths lead visitors through the garden to a bamboo grove where 500 stone statues are arranged, many by famed painter and sculptor Ito Jakuchu.  (Overnight Kyoto) BL

Day 9: Wednesday 6 November, Kyoto

• Nishihongan-ji
• Shimabara Sumiya

Nishihongan-ji is a large temple complex built in 1591. Many of its buildings have been designated as National Treasures, while the complex as a whole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nishihongan-ji celebrates the beauty of autumn by opening up buildings that are normally closed to the public. In the central courtyard is an old gingko tree that displays beautiful autumnal colour. The tree is given particular care as it is credited with saving the surrounding buildings from fire in 1864 by ‘spraying’ them with moisture.

Our afternoon is spent in Shimabara, one of the historic courtesan districts, and later also a geisha district of Kyoto. Our focus is the Sumiya, one of the few secular buildings in Kyoto to survive from the Edo period and the only remaining former ageya (‘pleasure house’). The first floor had a banquet room for up to 100 people, facing a large garden to the rear of the property. There was also a smaller banquet room facing an inner garden and three tea houses. The upper story had had smaller rooms that could be opened up for larger parties or closed for privacy. Throughout the Sumiya is adorned with paintings from different phases of the building’s life, along with fascinating insights into the patronage of the establishment. The archives contain poems by noted haiku poets who had a salon here, while the sword rack and sword chest where clients checked-in their katana are testimony to the measures required to prevent outbreaks of violence.  (Overnight Kyoto) B

Inuyama - 2 nights

Day 10: thursday 7 november, kyoto – chikubushima – inuyama.

• Hogon-ji Temple, Chikubushima Island
• Tsukubusuma-jinja, Chikubushima Island
• Inuyama Castle (exterior)

Today we drive to Nagahama on the shores of Lake Biwa, and from there we take a short ferry ride to Chikubushima Island. Known locally as the Island of the Gods, Chikubushima is thought to have its own benevolent spiritual energy. It is a beautiful and peaceful place, with temples and shrines tucked away in forested hills. The Buddhist temple Hogon-ji dates to 724, while the nearby Tsukubusuma-jinja is a Shinto shrine and National Treasure that dates to 420.

Returning to the mainland we continue on to Inuyama, where we pay a visit to Inuyama Castle, strikingly situated overlooking the Kiso River. The castle was founded in 1440, although the current buildings date from the 1580s. Once surrounded by barracks, gates and other such buildings, only the keep survives today – the other buildings were demolished at the end of the Edo period in the mid-19 th century.  (Overnight Inuyama) BLD

Day 11, Friday 8 November, Inuyama – Mino – Inuyama

• Urakuen Garden, Inuyama
• Meiji-Mura (including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel)
• Mino Tesuki Washi House

Our first visit today is to the tranquil stroll garden located near our hotel, Urakuen. We continue on to Meiji-Mura, an extraordinary open-air architecture museum where buildings from the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926) and early Showa (1926-1989) eras are preserved in a large park. This was an era when Japan started to open up to the world and started to adopt aspects of Western culture. A highlight of the museum is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel Lobby and Front Entrance. Built in 1923 in Tokyo, the hotel was demolished in 19767 to make way for a larger hotel, and this front section of the building was dismantled, moved to Meiji-Mura and reassembled. Other notable buildings include schools, a brewery, a military barracks and the 1901 Tomatsu merchant house that survived the bombing of Nagoya during World War Two.

We then visit Mino, a charming town famed for the production of high-quality Mino washi paper – listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The historic Mino Udatsu district retains Edo period wooden houses that were the homes and businesses of the washi paper merchants.   (Overnight Inuyama) BD

Himeji - 1 night

Day 12, saturday 9 november, inuyama – nagoya – himeji.

• Shinkansen Nagoya – Himeji
• Himeji Castle

This morning we drive to Nagoya from where we take the Shinkansen to Himeji a city in the Kansai region famous for the sprawling white castle that dominates the skyline. Himeji was strategically situated on the San’yodo Highway connecting this region with western Japan, and was therefore an important stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate. It is one of the few original castles for the feudal period, surviving many battles and natural disasters throughout its 800 year history, even incendiary bombing air raids in the final days of World War Two. The UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises a network of 86 buildings, including a six-storey keep and three smaller subsidiary keeps, towers, kitchens, storehouses and gates. Many of the defence systems are still intact and provide a fascinating insight into the brutality of feudal warfare and the innovate architectural features that were developed. (Overnight Himeji) B

Okayama - 1 night

Day 13, sunday 10 november, himeji – engyo-ji – okayama.

• Mount Shosha Ropeway
• Shinkansen Himeji – Okayama

This morning we explore the mountains outside Himeji, an opportunity to visit an area of great natural beauty and historic architecture that is not often visited by tourists. We travel up the mountain by the Mount Shosha Ropeway, a kind of funicular that will carry us up the mountain to Engyo-ji, a temple complex spread over a spacious densely forested site. 33 Buddha statues line the path from the ropeway station, and trails through the trees lead from one temple building to the next. We will see the Daikodo (main hall), Jikido (dining hall, now exhibiting the temple treasures) and the Jogyodo.

After returning to Himeji by the ropeway we travel by train to Okayama where we check-in to our hotel for the evening, located alongside the station. (Overnight Okayama) B

Kurashiki - 2 nights

Day 14, monday 11 november, okayama – teshima – kurashiki.

• Ferry to Teshima Art Island
• Teshima Art Museum
• Return to mainland by ferry

This morning we drive to Uno from where we take a ferry to Teshima Art Island. There are around 3000 mostly uninhabited islands in the Seto Inland Sea, and hidden amongst them are the ‘Art Islands’, where cutting edge museums and extraordinary art installations have brought world-wide fame to the region.

The Teshima Art Museum was designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa and artist Rei Naito. It is intended to resemble a water droplet at the moment of landing. The harmony of nature, art and architecture is enhanced by a natural spring that wells up inside the building, and the two large openings that allow the outside world to enter the museum – even snow on occasion!

After out visit we return to the mainland then continue on to the historic town of Kurashiki. The evening is at leisure to stroll through the Bikan Historic Quarter (old merchant quarter) where traditional 17 th century wooden houses line canals.  (Overnight Kurashiki) BL

Day 15, Tuesday 12 November, Kurashiki – Naoshima – Kurashiki

• Ferry to Naoshima Island
• Chichu Art Museum
• Lee Ufan Museum
• Farewell Lunch at Benesse House Museum Issen Restaurant

The island of Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea is home to a number of contemporary art museums and outdoor sculpture exhibitions. The Benesse Corporation installed much of the art on Naoshima and the neighbouring islands, and commissioned the design and construction of several museums by Tadao Ando. This commission included the Benesse House Museum, the Chichu Art Museum and the Lee Ufan Museum.

This morning we take a ferry from the mainland to Naoshima Island and spend a day visiting some of the remarkable art exhibitions, sculpture and architecture the island has to offer. We also enjoy our farewell lunch at the Issen Restaurant at Benesse House Museum, where the focus of the cuisine is on the sustainability and exquisite presentation of each dish.

In the late afternoon, we return to the mainland by ferry.  (Overnight Kurashiki) BL

Day 16, Wednesday 13 November, Kurashiki – Matsue – Izumo Airport

• Adachi Museum of Art
• Tour ends at Izumo Airport at 1.15pm

This morning we drive north to Matsue, where we shall visit the Adachi Museum of Art, located in the rural landscape of the Sinmane region. This is a contemporary art museum set within a large garden, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. The museum was founded by Adachi Zenko who felt a strong resonance between the sublime sensibility of the Japanese-style garden and the paintings of Yokoyama Taikan whose work he collected. This is a contemplation garden which visitors observe from various carefully designed points within the museum. Each season reveals itself through different aspects of the garden, and during our visit we can expect the hills that form the backdrop to the vista before us to be a blaze of autumnal colour while vivid reds enliven the foliage of the garden.

We then transfer to Izumo Airport where our tour officially ends at 1.15pm. B

All hotels are rated 4-star locally and are comfortable and conveniently situated. All rooms have en suite bathroom. Further information on hotels will be provided in the ‘Tour Hotel list’ given to tour members prior to their departure.

• Tokyo (1 night): 4-star Tokyo Prince Hotel – a modern hotel in the Minato-ku district  www.princehotels.com/tokyo
• Kanazawa (2 nights): 4-star ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel – a modern hotel conveniently located near the Kanazawa train station.  www.ihg.com/crowneplaza
• Nara (2 nights): 4-star Ando Hotel Nara Wakakusayama – located in on the hillside overlooking Nara and the Todai-ji temple complex, a modern hotel that draws on the traditions of the Japanese ryokan, with onsen (bath) facilities and exquisitely presented cuisine  andohotelnara.com
• Kyoto (4 nights): 4-start Rihga Royal Hotel – a modern, hotel with spacious rooms, a short walk from the bustling hub of Kyoto Station www.rihgaroyalkyoto.com
• Inuyama (2 nights): 5-star Hotel Indigo Urakuen Garden – a stylish ‘design’ hotel in a tranquil garden setting, with bright, spacious rooms and onsen facilities  inuyama.hotelindigo.com
• Himeji (1 nights): 3-star Hotel Nikko Himeji – a basic ‘business-style’ hotel located near the train station www.hotelnikkohimeji.co.jp
• Okayama (1 night): Hotel Granvia Okayama – a modern, comfortable hotel linked to the train station www.granvia-oka.co.jp/en/
• Kurashiki (2 night): Kurashiki Royal Art Hotel – A comfortable hotel a short walk from the historic Bikan district. www.royal-art-hotel.co.jp

Note :  Hotels are subject to change. In this instance a hotel of similar standard will be provided.

Single Supplement

Payment of this supplement will ensure accommodation in a double room for single occupancy throughout the tour. The number of rooms available for single use is extremely limited.  People wishing to take this supplement are therefore advised to book well in advance.

How to Book

ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION FORM

Please complete the ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION and send it to Australians Studying Abroad together with your non-refundable deposit of  AUD $1000.00 per person  payable to Australians Studying Abroad.

Practical Information

The number of flags is a guide to the degree of difficulty of ASA tours relative to each other (not to those of other tour companies). It is neither absolute nor literal. One flag is given to the least taxing tours, seven to the most. Flags are allocated, above all, according to the amount of walking and standing each tour involves.  Nevertheless, all ASA tours require that participants have a good degree of fitness enabling 2-3 hours walking or 1-1.5 hours standing still on any given site visit or excursion.  Many sites are accessed by climbing slopes or steps and have uneven terrain.

This 16-day Cultural Tour involves:

• Moderate walking and standing during site visits; walking tours may include steep slopes, flights of stairs, cobbled streets and uneven ground during garden visits.
• Rail travel between Tokyo and Kanazawa (Day 2), Kanazawa and Kyoto (Day 4), and Nagoya and Himeji (Day 12).
• Ferry transfers to and from Chikubushima Island (Day 10; 30 minutes each way), Teshima Island (Day 14; 40 minutes each way) and Naoshima Island (Day 15; 20 minutes each way)
• No lifts at railway stations; you will be required to carry your hand luggage up and down stairs as you change platforms with a limited time to make the train connection.
• Hotels are generally of 4-star standard, with seven hotel changes.
• Visits to a number of temples. When entering temple buildings you may be required to take off your shoes.
• You must be able to carry your own hand luggage. Hotel porterage includes 1 piece of luggage per person.

It is important to remember that ASA programs are group tours, and slow walkers affect everyone in the group. As the group must move at the speed of the slowest member, the amount of time spent at a site may be reduced if group members cannot maintain a moderate walking pace. ASA tours should not present any problem for active people who can manage day-to-day walking and stair-climbing. However, if you have any doubts about your ability to manage on a program, please ask your ASA travel consultant whether this is a suitable tour for you.

Please note:  it is a condition of travel that all participants agree to accept ASA’s directions in relation to their suitability to participate in activities undertaken on the tour, and that ASA retains the sole discretion to direct a tour participant to refrain from a particular activity on part of the tour. For further information please refer to the ASA Reservation Application Form.

Luggage Transfer

This tour involves several journeys on Japan’s high-speed bullet trains. Larger suitcases are not permitted on these trains; the group’s luggage will therefore be transferred by truck to the hotel:

• Tokyo-Kanazawa: this journey is by bullet train. The group’s luggage will be transferred by truck from Tokyo to Kanazawa and will be ready for the group when they check-in at the end of the day’s program.
• Kanazawa-Kyoto-Nara :  the group will travel from Kanazawa to Kyoto by bullet train, and then by coach to Nara. The group’s main luggage will be transferred directly to the hotel in Nara.
• Nagoya – Himeji: this journey is by bullet train. The group’s luggage will be transferred by truck from Nagoya to Himeji and will be ready for the group when they check-in at the end of the day’s program.

Tour Price & Inclusions

Aud $15,680.00 land content only – early-bird special: book before 31 january 2024, aud $15,880.00 land content only, aud $2090.00 single supplement, tour price (land content only) includes:.

• Accommodation in twin-share rooms with private facilities in hotels generally of 4-star standard
• Buffet or served breakfast daily, lunches & evening meals as indicated in the itinerary where:  B =breakfast, L =lunch &  D =dinner
• Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included.
• Transportation by air-conditioned coach and rail as outlined in the itinerary
• Departure airport transfer
• Porterage of one piece of luggage per person at hotels (not at airports or train stations)
• Lecture and site-visit program
• Entrance fees to all sites
• Use of audio headsets during site visits
• Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals

Tour Price (Land Content Only) does not include:

• International Airfare: Australia-Tokyo, Matsue-Australia
• Arrival airport transfer in Tokyo
• Personal spending money
• Airport-hotel transfers if not travelling on the ASA ‘designated’ flights
• Luggage in excess of 20kg (44lbs)

Travel Insurance

A non-refundable deposit of  $1000.00 AUD per person  is required to reserve a place on this ASA tour.

Cancellation Fees

If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply:

• More than 75 days before departure: your initial deposit of $1000.00 is non-refundable.**
• 75-31 days prior 50% of total amount due
• 30-0 days prior 100% of total amount due

** $500.00 of this amount (ie 50% of your deposit) may be credited to another ASA tour departing within 12 months of the original tour you booked. We regret, in this case early-bird discounts will not apply.

Unused Portions of the Tour

We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions of the tour, such as meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers.

Will the Tour Price or Itinerary Change?

If the number of participants on a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates ASA reserves the right to amend the advertised price. We shall, however, do all in our power to maintain the published price. If an ASA tour is forced to cancel you will get a full refund of all tour monies paid. Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of ASA make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes in due course.

ASA requires all participants to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. A copy of your travel insurance certificate and the  reverse charge emergency contact phone number  must be received by ASA no later than 75 days prior to the commencement of the tour.

Final Payment

The balance of the tour price will be due  75 days prior  to the tour commencement date.

Limitation of Liability

ASA is not a carrier, event or tourist attraction host, accommodation or dining service provider. All bookings made and tickets or coupons issued by ASA for transport, event, accommodation, dining and the like are issued as an agent for various service providers and are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by each service provider. ASA is not responsible for their products or services. If a service provider does not deliver the product or service for which you have contracted, your remedy lies with the service provider, not ASA.

ASA will not be liable for any claim (eg. sickness, injury, death, damage or loss) arising from any change, delay, detention, breakdown, cancellation, failure, accident, act, omission or negligence of any such service provider however caused (contingencies). You must take out adequate travel insurance against such contingencies.

ASA’s liability in respect of any tour will be limited to the refund of amounts received from you less all non-refundable costs and charges and the costs of any substituted event or alternate services provided. The terms and conditions of the relevant service provider from time to time comprise the sole agreement between you and that service provider.

ASA reserves the sole discretion to cancel any tour or to modify itineraries in any way it considers appropriate. Tour costs may be revised, subject to unexpected price increases or exchange rate fluctuations.

Interested in this tour? Take the next step

Make an Enquiry now

or alternatively Download PDF Reservation Application

Physical Endurance Rating

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Mark is a Lecturer in Art History at the University of Melbourne. He received his doctorate in Japanese art and architectural history from Harvard University and has studied at University of London SOAS as well as the University of Tokyo, Gakushuin, Kindai University, and Osaka University. He lived for 15 years in Japan and is a specialist in Japanese pre-modern architecture. His research has focused on castles, master carpenters, as well as artistic exchange with Jesuit missionaries.

Mark joined ASA Cultural Tours for the 2023 art and architecture tour to Japan.

Make an enquiry

An ASA consultant will call you within 24 hours between 9.00am and 6.00pm Monday through Friday should read 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday through Friday EST, Australia

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Space Un celebrates contemporary African art, community and connection in Japan

Space Un, a new art venue by Edna Dumas, dedicated to contemporary African art, opens in Tokyo, Japan

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Space Un embodies the French-Cameroonian roots of its creator, collector Edna Dumas; her experience as a contemporary African art collector; and her insights from living long-term in Japan. The newly launched creative hub in the heart of Tokyo was co-founded by actor and artist Yuta Nakano and entrepreneur Lothar Eckstein, and it was designed by architect Go Hasegawa. 

Dumas explains: 'It's a space to bring people together. “Un” means one in French, but also explores themes of unity.' Inaugurated with work by Senegalese artist Aliou Diack, Space Un juxtaposes Senegalese artworks with Japanese material contexts, facilitating conversations on the intercontinental, cultural exchange between Africa and Asia.

Space Un: Tokyo art scene’s newcomer dedicated to contemporary African art 

Space Un is located in Tokyo's Aoyama, between the cultural and commercial hubs of Roppongi and Shibuya. Strategically positioned in this bustling area, Space Un aims to attract as many potential collectors, art enthusiasts and new audiences as possible. 

Dumas says: 'Contemporary African art is sadly under-represented in this part of the world.' Through Space Un’s wider programming, she aims to challenge preconceptions and stereotypes of contemporary African art in Japan and beyond.

The project's architect was keen for his design to address Space Un as a fundamental space for communication, beyond the stereotypical image of an art gallery. To that effect, the venue’s wide, street-side glass window is lined with an L-shaped bench that encourages visitors to stay, enjoy the café and continue to engage with the space. 

'We made the bench with Japanese cypress from Yoshino, a very precious, premium wood, often used for important shrines in Japan,' Hasegawa continues. He paired it with sourced tables from Cameroon, Togo and Nigeria: 'It's a meeting between the Japanese bench and the West African table.'

Inside, Hasegawa designed a bespoke frame structure for the ceiling, to conceal pre-existing steel beams. There were two more reasons behind this gesture. The first was to create a space for storing equipment for future shows, and the second was his intention to celebrate the shoji; the room partition devices used in traditional Japanese architecture , typically made of paper and lattice frames of cypress wood. 

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The gallery's design extends outside, to the landscaping of a small garden, which features indigenous African plants. Hasegawa flags that it already stops passersby in their tracks: 'Even for the people who do not enter, the garden acts as a second gallery for this space.'

'Art for me is this universal language,’ says Dumas. ‘You can be Japanese, or Senegalese, but when you are in front of art, sculpture, or performance, it speaks to you. This is what I want the audience to feel like when they come to that space. To say, ”I understand, I feel at home”,’ says Dumas. 

Launched alongside the physical gallery, the Space Un Residency Program invites contemporary African artists to visit Japan and produce work from Hasegawa’s Yoshino Cedar House , originally constructed in 2017 as part of Airbnb’s House Visions project. Artist Aliou Diack has already spent a month there producing work for the current exhibition at Space Un. Hasegawa explains that 'there is already a lot of communication between the African artists and Yoshino rural people - they made the frames for Diack’s artworks'.

Dumas says: 'I would love the Japanese audience to be taken by contemporary African art – to have the experience of seeing something other than what they have been accustomed to [...] I think the space will bring something new thematically and hopefully, they will embrace diversity and find something in common.'

spaceun.tokyo

Nana Ama Owusu-Ansah is a writer and photographer from London. She first wrote for Wallpaper* in 2021, in a series on the new vanguard of African designers practising in Africa and its diaspora. She is drawn to projects centring on decolonial approaches to art, architecture, as well as community and sustainability. Nana Ama read Economics and Spanish at University of St Andrews, and, as an avid linguist, is passionate about using accessible language to invite new audiences to engage in design discourse.  

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California firm's new ceramics line reflects diverse landscapes of Japan

Ever since visiting Japan as a child, Amanda Gunawan, co-principal of California-based architecture design firm OWIU (Only Way is Up), dreamed of having her own book on sale at Japanese bookstore giant Tsutaya. This month, that idea was realized with the debut of Gunawan’s Travel Guide at the company’s Daikanyama T-Site branch. 

Filled with personal photos and a detailed list of recommendations for a Japan trip, the guidebook recalls the journey made by Gunawan and her colleagues in March 2023 that inspired the creation of OWIU’s latest ceramics line, Japan, a project that has taken a year of development including intensive R&D.

Returning to Japan in April to launch the line and book in Tokyo, Gunawan and her co-principal and Joel Wong noted the importance of the country’s culture and philosophy to their work.

“We got inspired to start our ceramics line through visiting Japan and experiencing the true idea of omiage [souvenirs],” Gunawan said. Rather than simply choosing a gift to bring home for someone, omiage involves thinking about that person and bringing them back part of the trip experience, she explained. 

Even when buying a souvenir for oneself, there is the “attachment between you and the object itself and the place you had an experience,” she said, pointing out that when she makes matcha in Los Angeles using OWIU’s Forest Bowl it reminds her of her time in Japan’s forests. 

“The whole ceramics collection is centered in connection, memories and experiences … the Japan collection is one of many that will stem from this idea of collective or singular experiences,” she added.

Inspired by the smells, tastes, colors and textures of the OIWU team’s trip to Karuizawa, Matsumoto, Noto & Wajima, Komatsu, Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto, the Japan collection aims to reflect the diverse landscapes of the country through a series of glazes: Bamboo Forest, Cherry Blossom, Waterfall, Moss Garden and Wajima.

The pink and pearl tones of Cherry Blossom, for example, are designed to mimic a subtle fluidity, reminiscent of the brief but brilliant moment the cherry blossom bloom in unison, while Waterfall uses deep blue and onyx tones with foamy white accents to convey water plumes. Unique to this glaze, the color is not graded but more evenly applied to suggest the swirling constant movement of the water. 

A portion of the proceeds from the Wajima line is being donated to artisans affected by the devastating earthquake on the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, on January 1.

All the ceramics are handmade and hand painted in Los Angeles, each with the same level of attention, shared Wong: “We wanted to crate something that was unique in its own way, that we haven’t seen before in the market. We wanted to establish and create our own design language for these pieces.”

And, although the ceramics are inspired by Japan, customers who have bought them at Isetan Shinjuku and other Tokyo stores have noted their “California touch,” the sense they are a new kind of ceramics compared to Japan’s traditional wares, said Wong. 

Given the level of interest among Japanese consumers, Gunawan is hopeful that OWIU’s Japan can become a traveling collection, moving from the capital to Kyoto and on to the regions. 

Gunawan and Wong are big fans of rural Japan, where they have been particularly  impressed with the landscapes and shokunin (artisans). They recall with fondness craftspeople they have met in different parts of the country and what they have learned about their own approach to art along the way. 

Indeed, much of OWIU’s California-based architecture and design work is heavily influenced by Japan. Some of its projects even involve collaborations with Japan-based talent, including a Fukushima Prefecture-based tatami mat maker who is helping the pair incorporate tatami into pieces of furniture.  

Kaizen, the Japanese concept meaning continuous improvement, has also long been top of mind for the pair, who have become increasingly impressed by Japan since visiting in 2015. 

“At that time, we had gone through enough architecture school and training to look instead of see. With that different lens and perspective, we could come here and understand craftsmanship like never before, from a perspective that is not just technical but philosophical, too,” said Gunawan. 

“The idea of kaizen , of always wanting to improve ourselves — that’s Only Way is Up in a nutshell.”

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