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Textile traditions of northern Japan

Day 1: Aizu-Wakamatsu (Aizu-Momen cotton); Day 2: Aizu-Wakamatsu–Kitakata (Aizu-Katazome)–Aizu-Wakamatsu; Day 3: Aizu-Wakamatsu –Yonezawa (Yonezawa-ori); Day 4: Yonezawa–Morioka; Day 5: Morioka (Nanbu-Shibori, Nanbu-Katazome)–Odate; Day 6: Odate–Takanosu (Akita-Hachijo)–Tsuruoka; Day 7: Tsuruoka (Tsuruoka silk); Day 8: Tsuruoka–Sekigawa (Shinaori linden-bark textile)–Atsumi-Onsen; Day 9: Atsumi-Onsen– Muikamachi; Day 10: Muikamachi–Shiozawa (Echigo-Jofu and Shiozawa-ori)– Muikamachi; Day 11: Muikamachi–Tokamachi (Tokamachi Kimono)–Bessho-Onsen; Day 12: Bessho-Onsen–Shioda-Daira (Ueda-Tsumugi)–Bessho-Onsen; Day 13: Bessho-Onsen–transit to Ueda for JR connection

 

Themes:

  • Traditions—

  • Crafts— Aizu-Momen cotton, Yonezawa-ori, Aki-Hachijo, Tsuruoka silk, Shinaori linden-bark, Echigo-Jofu, Shiozawa-ori and Ueda-Tsumugi silk textiles, Nambu-Shibori tie-dyed textile, Aizu-Katazome and Nanbu-Katazome stencil-dyed textile, Tokamachi Kimono, Aizu lacquerware, Aizu bamboocraft.

  • Townscapes—Aizu-Wakamatsu, Kitakata, Tsuruoka, Shiozawa

  • History— Tsuruga-jo castle, Kai-Honke residence, Matsugasaki Park historic precinct, Uesugi clan mausoleum, Tsuruoka Park historic precinct, Matsugasaki-Kaikonjo historic site, Sekigawa village, temples of Shioda-daira

  • Food—Japanese sake, fermented foods, dengaku skewer grill, soba/mugi-kiri noodles, traditional sweets, traditional vegetables and fruits, the country kitchen

  • Onsen—Atsumi-Onsen, Muikamachi, Bessho-Onsen

 

Accommodation options:

  • 7 nights Western-style, 2 nights traditional Japanese minshuku, 1 night new-style Japanese ryokan with Western-style beds, and 1 night tourist-style Japanese ryokan

 

Physical fitness requirement—LOW/MODERATE: This tour involves considerable amount of walking at times between individual textile studios and attractions at each locality. Depending on the number of studios and attractions visited, the total distance walked per day may be up to 10 km. Walking on steep stone steps may also be required to access temples, shrines and other sights. Transport can be organised between the studios and attractions, at an additional cost.

 

Seasonal availability: All year; itinerary subject to change depending on weather and snow conditions.

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