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ITINERARY FOR KYOTO TRIP

NOVEMBER 2008


Day 1:   Thurs. Nov. 13    Depart Los Angeles

Day 2:   Fri. Nov. 14          Arrive Osaka at 4:55 P.M.  Transfer

                                      from Osaka Airport.  Dinner at our

                                      hotel.


Day 3:   Sat. Nov. 15       Riyoan-ji Temple, Golden Pavilion,

                                      Visit to paper-maker/artist, Daitoku-ji

                                      Zen Monastery


Travel via van/minibus to visit Ryoan-ji Temple followed by a short visit to the Golden Pavilion. After lunch we visit the studio of Sarah Brayer, an English-speaking contemporary artist who works with traditional Japanese techniques in paper-making. Sarah will give a talk on her process and experience working in Japan. We will also see how the fans she has designed are used in a live dance demonstration by a modern geisha. We then visit Daitoku-ji Zen Monastery, headquarters of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, to explore some gardens, enjoying the soothing feel of bamboo and maple trees in all their glory.

 

 Day 4:  Sun. Nov. 16     Miho Museum & Shigaraki Artisans


Travel via van/minibus to visit the Miho Museum outside of

Kyoto.  We will be accompanied by Kiyo Woodruff, a

Brentwood-bred Japanese American who settled in Japan

over 20 years ago and is one of the top guides in Kyoto.

On the way, we will visit restored Minkas, old farmhouses

which I.M. Pei used as a model to design the Miho. 

Kiyo’s husband, an American woodworker, who also moved to

Japan, was part of the architectural team responsible for

restoration of these Minkas. 

Lunch at the Miho Museum.  We will also visit a well-known

indigo dyer, Yoshio Mori and his wife, a weaver as well as a

famous Shigaraki potter.

Day 5:  Mon. Nov. 17           Silver Pavilion, Philosopher's Walk,

                                        Nanzen-ji Temple

 

Travel by city bus, a short ride, to visit the Silver Pavilion. Then we will stroll down Philosopher’s Walk, stopping for tea or coffee along the way. Lunch, tatami style, at the oldest tofu restaurant in Kyoto, very traditional and charming.  After lunch, a two minute walk to visit Nanzenji Temple, one of the biggest temple complexes in Kyoto where we will explore two beautiful gardens.


Day 6:  Tues. Nov. 18     A Day in Arashiyama: Tenryu-ji

                                        Temple, Bamboo Forest, Moss                                                           Temple


We go by van to Arashiyama, having our van drop us near
the train station so we can take a lovely walk across a bridge to visit Tenru-ji Temple. We will meander through a bamboo forest, and then have lunch at a local noodle shop. At just before 1 PM, we will get to Saihoji, the Moss Temple, where we try our hand at calligraphy and stroll through the mystical five-acre moss garden. (Entry only via special permit and advance reservations)

Day 7: Wed., Nov. 19          Calligrapher, Lunch at Teahouse,

                                        Netsuke Museum.                                    


Morning visit to a calligrapher, Mr. Ibata with our guide, Kiyo who

will then take us to some of her favorite crafts places. We

will then visit a very special temple located at “the navel” of

Kyoto, the absolute center of the city. Lunch at a beautifully

renovated Korean teahouse will follow. In the afternoon, we

will visit the Netsuke Museum, possessing an extraordinary

collection of both old and contemporary netsukes in a

restored shogun’s home, the largest in Kyoto. He has one of

the best netsuke collections in the world, collecting them for

40 years. In all, he has collected about 1,500 netsuke, old

classic pieces and interesting modern reproductions.

As our guest, enjoy a special dinner in a private tatami room at

Ganko, a former shogun’s home with a lovely garden.


Day 8:  Thurs., Nov. 20         Kanjiro Home, Kiyomizu Temple,

                                          Gion, Pontocho 


We will taxi to visit the beautiful home of the late master potter, Kawai Kanjiro who was also co-founder of the Mingei folk art movement in the 1920’s and 30’s. His home is a treasure to explore. We then take an interesting walk up to Kiyomizu Temple past cemeteries and shrines. At the top we will stop for tea. We will then walk leisurely down a long street of old houses, gift shops and food stalls until we come to a lovely traditional yet contemporary spot for lunch.
After lunch, we stroll through Maruyama Park to walk along Shinmonzen, a street filled with antique shops, old print shops, etc. and then meander through the Gion, the geisha area. If time permits, we will stop at a traditional coffee house along the Kamo River. We then cross the bridge and walk around Pontocho where we have an early dinner at Idumoya, overlooking the river.  After dinner, we will stroll along the very atmospheric streets of Pontocho.  (Dinner not included in cost)

Day 9:  Fri., Nov. 21        Shopping Day

Once a month there is a flea market at Toji Temple and today is it!! It is filled with “finds” like old kimonos, abacuses, dolls, and other weird treasures waiting to be found. We will take what will likely be a well-earned tea break. We will then taxi to the covered Food Market to see and perhaps taste and buy some foods and seasonings. Lunch, for a change of pace, will be at a local Chinese restaurant.
We will then explore one of the best shopping streets in Kyoto, Teramachi. We will visit a beautiful home shop selling pottery and other tabletop works of unusual design. We will stop into one of the oldest tea shops in Kyoto one of its best paper shops as well as some affordable antique shops. A rest will be in order and what better place than a charming boulangerie, with excellent pastries and good coffee.
We will end with a visit to an antique fabric shop, where the owner, Kai Kawasaka, will give us a talk about the array of fabric she has collected and their history. Dinner at our hotel. (We will be tired!)

Day 10: Sat., Nov. 22         Kurama/Onsen

We will take a short train ride to Kurama on the ourskirts of

Kyoto, and then a short tram ride up to visit a temple on top

of the hill.  Lunch will be at a charming local restaurant,

followed by a relaxing “onsen” (outdoor hot springs)

experience.  After a serious shopping day, a relaxing spa

soak will be perfect!


Day 11: Sun. Nov. 23        A Day Touring Nara


Drive to Nara via van/minibus and spend a day touring the


treasures of Nara like Todaiji Temple, Horyuji Temple and


Nara Park. We will spend the night at Nara Kankaso Ryokan,


a traditional Japanese inn, with traditional Japanese baths and


Kaiseki farewell dinner. 



Day 12: Mon. Nov. 24    More of Nara & Depart


Spend the morning exploring some more of Nara before we


depart for Osaka Airport at 6:55 P.M.


Arrive Los Angeles same day at 2:19 P.M..


Working on:       Presentation by mask maker/Noh theater

                        talk.  Classical music concert.  Visit to the Imperial Palace.

Please note:  Itinerary subject to change/modification.