OSAKA

Welcome to Japan! If you're just arriving today, we'll assist you with arrangements or instructions to get to our hotel in Osaka. We'll meet up with you there for an early dinner and regroup in the morning for our journey to Kyoto.

If you arrive early, you may want to take the subway to Osaka Castle Park - in addition to the castle itself, there's a fun museum of collectible figurines, from Godzilla to Hello Kitty and just about anything else you can imagine! But beware... you may develop an addiction for Gacha Capsule Toys... and they will then tempt you on every street corner for the rest of the trip!

KYOTO

We will take the train to Kyoto, where the fun begins! Our days will include visits to museum, gardens, temples, and shrines, in addition to textile studios and craft shops, and some amazing food! Our accommodations will be in a traditional ryokan where we'll enjoy a couple of wonderful Kaiseki dinners in the cotton kimonos provided. From there, we'll be a short walk to Walnut Kyoto, where we'll take a Knitted Amigurumi class and shop to our heart's content in their wonderfully curated shop. Several other wool, craft and fabric shops are nearby, as well as a few fascinating museums. At the Kyoto Shibori Museum, we'll take a dyeing workshop, and at the Netsuke Museum, we'll examine with wonder the intricacies of the delicate sculptures that were used to hang the coin purse from a kimono belt!

KYOTO

From our ryokan in central Kyoto, we'll board a private bus with our luggage today and head over the river to visit Kazue Yoshikawa at SashikoLab. This image shows what you can achieve if you keep at our project, but we will be focusing on creating the beautiful tasseled corner of a furoshiki cloth which you can take shopping with you in bag form, or use as a special gift wrap, table covering, or kerchief when you get home! SashikoLab is located near the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, so there will be a chance to visit there as well and walk through the seemingly endless red torii gates! We'll have a day with some simple workshops making bows and brooches, visit a Bento Box Museum before having one for lunch, and visit some truly spectacular temples and gardens, which will hopefully be in their autumnal glory.

NARA

After having a morning to explore some more temples from our base in Gion District, we'll board our private bus to make the journey to Nara, home of Amirisu Magazine. While in Nara, we'll visit Amirisu's new fabric and yarn store, Sail & Thread, as well as another little local gem. We'll also experience a Tea Ceremony, bow to the deer at Nara Park, enjoy more gardens, and have a full-day intensive indigo dyeing experience!

OSAKA

Before heading to Osaka, we'll have a little meander into the bamboo covered hills above Nara to visit a bamboo knitting needle factory and a matcha whisk studio. When we arrive in Osaka at last, we'll have time for a final dinner together before we stroll through the amazing Team Lab light installation at the Osaka Botanic Garden.

HOMEWARD BOUND

Whether you're flying home or taking the Shinkansen for the next leg of your journey, don't forget to look for Mt Fuji! Safe travels home, and we'll see you on your next adventure.

Heather loves designing and leading knitting and fiber tours. She’s fascinated with local traditions, unique yarns, and the modern twist added to both by current designers. Her ever-widening exposure to both has led to a long queue of patterns and a dramatic accumulation of stash! She’s also been trying her hand at new wooly endeavors like felting and spinning. When not knitting, traveling or planning your next trip, Heather tends her small flock of chickens and ducks, volunteers in her local thrift shop, and spends time with her diva dog, her family, and friends in Dunbarton, NH.

Heather has a long association with Japan, having traveled there for a month as an exchange student in high school. She is delighted to be finally sharing her experiences in Japan with you!