Kyoto Artisan Tour of Pattern, Silk, Pottery, Dyeing

This 2-day artisan tour brings you exclusive and in-depth experience of Kyoto's traditional artwork such as pattern, silk, pottery and dyeing. This tour includes comfortable transportation via 7-seat vehicle within Kyoto but does NOT include overnight accomodation by default. However, we are happy to help you book a hotel stay if you need it.

Day 1

We will meet at Atelier Japan (inside Hotel Granvia Kyoto) in the morning.

Pattern Artwork Experience

We will guide you to a pattern artisan whose 120-year-old workshop produces high-quality pattern paper for various segments such as sliding doors, wallpaper, souvenirs, etc. The famous Ritz Carlton Hotel Kyoto is one of their elite customers. The artwork is all hand-made by artisans who are well-versed in various materials for Kyo-hyogu.

We will guide you through the studio and see various creative products. You will see how the things appearing in daily Japanese life are produced and it happens right here. At the gift store, you'll find plenty of souvenirs that won't weigh you down. Climb up to the second floor to see the artisans in action.

You will make your own patterned postcards!

Make 4-6 custom postcards by choosing from over 10 paper colors, 9 patterns, and 2 paint colors. You can even mix and match paint if you're feeling extra creative! The authentic woodblocks you'll use are scaled down from the usual size, making it easy and fun to experience this traditional art.

Silk Experience

Silk has been widely used in Japan since thousand years. We will guide you to a well-established silk manufacturer and see how silk is made, starting from silkworms to finished silk strings. You will see experts handweaving at the workshop.

Then, try your hand at printing silk with yuzen dyeing techniques. The artisan will guide you through the process of printing a beautiful flower pattern onto a silk wrapping cloth.

After the silk workshop experience, we will send you back to Kyoto Station or your hotel in Kyoto city (extra fee may apply, depending on the distance)

Day 2

Pottery Workshop Experience

We will bring you to a pottery workshop situated in Kyoto's natural beauty. The workshop was converted as part of a traditional wooden house surrounded by mountains, trees, flowers and grass, where you will spend a day with the artisan.

Arriving at the workshop, you will enjoy a home tour and its surroundings. Shortly after the home tour, an authentc lunch made with home-grown vegetables and served with handmade pottery and lighting by the artisan herself.

The workshop begins after lunch. At the studio, you'll be able to appreciate an authentic indigo dye created through a fermentation process using water, wood ash, and home-grown indigo plants. The workshop is hosted by a collaboration between the two studios, which will give you a set of souvenirs that will remind you of Kyoto's natural beauty.

We call it a day of relaxing in nature and art. We will send you back to Kyoto Station or your hotel in Kyoto city (extra fee may apply, depending on the distance)

Included

• Experience and entrance fees of all visits

• Lunch of Day 2

• Transportation and guide

Excluded

• Travel or accidental insurance

• Extra food and drinks

• Accommodation

• Any commercial item purchased by the guest during this visit