Sashiko Japan Tour 2023

April 12th to April 22nd (may be extended to 24th by choice).

10 for Regular ~12 days for Extended

(Within 2022)

Early Registration: $4,650.00 for 10 days / $5,150.00 for 12 days(without Airfare to Japan)

or

(After Jan.2023)

1st Regular: $5,000.00 for 10 days / $5,700.00 for 12 days(without Airfare to Japan)

+$300.00 for pre-trip Online Class (only if you have NOT taken any Atsushi's workshop before).

*This pricing is for "trials" tours - the future tours will be higher than this pricing. We try to find the best for experience & people, then find comfort in transportation & staying. We will priotize the comfortness & better experience (We won't find the cheapest option to lower the price).

*For your personal usage of exchanging the currency, "Wise" has the lowest fee so far. (If you know any other service, please let me know!)

• Socializing Event to meet Japanese Sashiko stitchers - Keiko & our work's Exhibition.
• Meeting & Stitching with Keiko in Takayama (Sashiko & Boro & Hitomezashi Workshops) - for days.
• Famous Takayama Festival (Spring) from Local's View.
• Traditional Meal in Takayama, in 200+ years old restraurants with Michelin starts. Atsushi personally explain the significance of this place in English.
• A Whole Day in Takayama for Shopping & SightSeeing from Local Eyes.
• A Whole Day in Kyoto for Shopping & possible Workshops (Store list available in the Itenary) 
• A Whole Day in Tokyo for visiting friends & Shopping
• Kogin-Sashi Workshop with meeting a legendary Teacher in Tokyo.
• A visit to Shirakawago (National Heritage) to see the houses (places) where they would be stitching for their survival.

• Authentic Natural Indigo Dye workshop.

This is NOT a tour sold to public. Although State of PA doesn't require the license to arrange a trip, this is very personal travel and I will take you to many places where I would go. For that purpose, anyone who share the same interest in Sashiko & Japanese Culture with one from following requirements (the one I consider as friends).

1. A Graduate of Sashiko Workshop "Core & Essence" (an In-person workshop for more than 3 hours length).
2. An Online Sashiko Class Student
3. Patreon Supporters.(*1)
4. Anyone with references from (1) ~(3) people (Strongly Recommended to take Atsushi's class before the trip if they join the workshop).
5. Anyone who is wishing to take the Online Sashiko Class before the Trip.

• The arrangement of transportation in Japan, from the tour starting location (the first hotel In Tokyo) to the ending location (the last hotel) in Tokyo. 
• Sashiko Materials & arrangement to join the special Sashiko project.
• The entrance fees for museums (if applicable),
• The workshop fees - Sashiko, Boro, Kogin (which everyone will take together).
• Hotel stays (sharing a room with 2 beds - like a twin-bed room - is standard. If available, I may book single room for everyone. For the stays in Takayama, we stay at a whole house with 4 bed rooms with sharing) - A single room throughout will be arrangeable with extra fees.
• 3 Official Meals
• Most of the Breakfast (small discount if you do not need).
• Atsushi’s On-Site Translation & Cultural Story Reading Materials before/while/after the Tour.

• International airfares to/from Japan (To/from TKO)
• Transportation from/to the Airport to the first Hotel in Tokyo (Atsushi can help you to arrange the transportation from/to with actual expense).
• The Hotel Room before the first night and after the final date night if you plan to stay longer. (The final day depends on the plan).
• Travel insurance (Please read the insurance requirement).
• Workshop You Choose outside of the Itinerary (if applicable in “Free Time”).
• Add on Plans not mentioned in the Itinerary (such as Kimono Rental).
• Porterage at hotels
• Gratuities, Food & Meals such as lunch and 7 dinners), and other personal shopping. (Atsushi will usually suggest a place for meals)
• Alcohols Drinks in 3 official dinners.
• Personal expenses (Snacks, coffees, and choice of upgrading the transportation - taxi).

It is important to keep the luggage as “carry-able”. This trip doesn’t have “private bus” to take us everywhere.

Although I will do my best to arrange the comfortable transportation with possible suitcase, please keep your suitcase as carry-able as possible from city to city (like Bullet Train).

Atsushi can assist you to ship the lugguage from city to city. The Japanese Shipping Logistics is Awesome!

• Official Dinner is the special meal included to the travel fee. Atsushi will reserve/prepare the dinner. 
• Un-official dinner/lunch is a meal where you can choose to come with Atsushi or go by yourself (with anyone). The fee is NOT included to the tour price, but I will NOT take you to somewhere fancy - but something very Japanese if you decide to follow me.
• Most of the breakfasts are included in the hotel stay 
  • If you do not need breakfast like me, I can issue a small discount.
• If you would like to add more shopping opportunity in Tokyo (or other cities), please get a flight ticket as necessary. It is only 2+ hours of bullet train ride from Kyoto to Tokyo.
• I booked the best graded hotels as the budget allow (For example, Deluxe Twin Room instead of standard twin Room). Please let me know if you would like to have a single room so I can get the reasonable & single room in the same hotel (or nearby hotel).

In Tokyo/Kyoto, we will use subways for the best in pricing & time.

To travel to Takayama from Tokyo, I am thinking to use "Bus" because of 2 reasons:

1. No need to change train in Nagoya/Toyama
2. The Luggage will come with us & no need to worry about them once we are on the Bus.

• It is 5h30m ride. 
• Seats are 2 x 2 (2 seats each - 4 row seats). The seats are bigger than airplaine economy seats, but not "that" comfortable.

The tour doesn't require any running or hard physical activities. However, it could include some walking between stations with your luggage(s).

For your protection, comprehensive travel insurance is required and in the best interest of each traveler, to protect you before and during the trip. Travel insurance is not included in the price of the tours. Upon your purchase, of the insurance, I will ask you to sign the liability waiver as well.