The focus of the tour is understanding the culture and history of Japanese textiles and the fashion by visiting weaving studios, dyeing studios, and meeting weavers who practice freestyle weaving. However, I will incorporated other cultural experience as what tour members are interested in. It includes explorations of Kyoto, Osaka, Yufuin, and Himeji where I have been in every tours. Hiroshima will be determined by tour members’ interest. We will visit Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, Japanese gardens, hot springs, sushi restaurants, and craft shops, museums and more. Mihoko has been organizing and guiding the tour since 2005. This one will be her 12th tour.

Several people had been back to her tour. She will conduct a group check-in meeting almost everyday to share tour members' needs and experiences, which makes this tour unique. She believes that traveling is a great opportunity for people to grow. Also, she is open to change/add/making options to pursue your personal Japan-related interests. Mihoko does not want the relationship of tour members and her as a service provider and customers. Instead, she wants to invite tour members to contribute to plan/shape the tour itinerary together. As soon as you let Mihoko what you want to do, it’s more likely that she would be able to coordinate it in the tour.

You will take an adventure of  the deep cultural experience that most visitors can’t have without a Japanese guide such as hot spring bathing or shopping Kimono at recycling stores. 

We will use mostly public transportation including bullet trains (Shinkansen) and subways. We would occasionally shop ready-made food at a local supermarket to take them to an inn, have meals at casual local restaurants and street vendors. All accommodation is double occupancy basis. If you want to have a private room, Mihoko will do her best to arrange it with extra cost. Also, bedding will be mixed with traditional futon and western beds. The bathrooms in the inns and hotels we are going to stay have  western toilets.

If you are interested in the tour, please let Mihoko know via mihoko@mihokotextiles.com.