The semi-escorted tour includes a full-day private guided tour of Mashiko. Tour highlights include a walk around the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, Togei Messe, pot throwing and souvenir shops. Upon arrival at Mashiko station walk to Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art where you can see some of Mashiko’s 380 different types of pottery on display. Visit Togei Messe (Ceramic Art Messe); a locale famed for the production of Japanese ceramics. There are five exhibition halls; Ceramic Art Hall, Exhibition Hall with works by the late Shoji Hamada amongst others. The other halls display works by artists currently active in Mashiko. Ceramic utensils for everyday use produced in various regions of Japan are also displayed in their own exhibition halls. The Sasajima Kihei Hall also displays woodblock works. You will then have the opportunity to throw your own pot. After, you can either walk along the streets of Mashiko or browse the souvenir shops.
You will also have a full-day private sightseeing tour of Shigaraki famed for its ‘Tanuki’ Pottery. Browse the pottery displays at Shigaraki Sangyo Kaikan and at the Tourism Board Office. Walk to Togeimura ‘Pottery Village’ where you will be able to browse the pottery shops of Shigaraki. In the afternoon, visit Soto-en, home to the largest ‘nobori-gama’ in Japan; a step-like kiln constructed on a slope. Visit Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park where you can view contemporary ceramic designs, arts and crafts
| Date | Itinerary |
| Day 1 | London Depart on a direct flight to Tokyo. |
| Day 2 | Tokyo Transfer by airport bus to your hotel. Stay for 3 nights. |
| Day 3 | Tokyo Morning sightseeing tour of Tokyo, including Tokyo Tower Observatory. Imperial Palace Plaza and Asakusa Kannon Temple. Afternoon free. |
| Day 4 | Tokyo - Mashiko Full-day private guided tour of Mashiko. |
| Day 5 | Tokyo - Takayama Travel with a guide to Takayama. Visit Yatai kaikan Hall, Kusakabe Folk Museum and Kami Sannomachi Street. Stay overnight |
| Day 6 | Takayama - Shirakawago - Takayama Guided sightseeing tour of the Takayama morning market, before continuing to the World Hertiage-listed village of Shirakwago, famed for unique architecture called Gassho-Zukuri. Continue with a guide to Kanazawa by local bus. Stay overnight |
| Day 7 | Kanazawa - Kyoto Guided sightseeing tour of Kanazawa including Kenrokuen Garden, Kutaniyaki Pottery Kiln, and the Nakamachi Samurai district. Transfer by express train to Kyoto. Stay for 4 nights.. |
| Day 8 | Kyoto Morning guided sightseeing tour of Kyoto, including the Golden Pavillion, Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace/Nishi Honganji Temple. Afternoon free. |
| Day 9 | Kyoto - Shigaraki - Kyoto Full-day private guided tour of Shigaraki (we can arrange for the chance to throw Tanuki-style pottery. Contact us for further details). |
| Day 10 | Kyoto Free toe xplore Kyoto or you may take an optional tour. |
| Day 11 | Kyoto - London Transfer by shared shuttle taxi to Osaka Itami Airport. Depart on a flight to London via Tokyo, arriving the same day. |
Tour Prices for 2012
| Departure Date | Standard |
| 04 Jan - 18 Mar | £3,210 |
| 19 Mar - 31 Mar | £3,495 |
| 01 Apr - 08 Apr | £3,770 |
| 09 Apr - 21 Jul | £3,495 |
| 22 Jul - 21 Aug | £3,770 |
| 22 Aug - 08 Dec | £3,495 |
| 09 Dec - 23 Dec | £3,405 |
| Single Supplement from | £615 |
Note: Prices subject to change without notice due to exchange rate fluctuation and/or airline tax changes. Please contact Jaltour for alternative arrangements and tailormade tours.
Departure Dates
| Jan - Feb, Dec | Tue |
| Mar - Nov | Tue & Thu |
The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 3227. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.
