JAPAN’S ART & CULTURE Thursday 2 - Thursday 16 April 2020

14 nights

TRAVEL & LEARN

IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? The focus of this tour is art and culture and so will

appeal especially to people who would like an in

depth experience of Japan’s art and crafts,

architecture and gardens. It does not include a wide

ranging exploration of Japan and its major tourist

attractions. However people may choose to stay on

at the end if they would like to see more of Japan

while they are there. This tour is suitable for anyone

who can walk for more than two hours in comfort.

Walking is approximately 3 - 7km each day, generally

on level pavement and can be accomplished by the

most leisurely walker. There will be some short inclines

usually on steps that can be completed at an easy

pace.

TOUR OVERVIEW Japan has one of the richest and most continuously active art traditions in Asia. Buzzing with innovation and

creativity, Japanese contemporary art ranks with the best in the world. Art, craft, architecture and design are the

focus of this tour; not only the ‘fine arts’ of painting and sculpture but also ceramics, textiles, metalwork and

gardens as well as the special aesthetics of food and eating.

The tour begins in Tokyo where over three days, we will visit some of the world-renowned galleries and museums

and innovative architecture that this vibrant, modern city offers. At the Tokyo National Museum, we will find

national treasures and important cultural items. Nezu Museum prides itself on its varied collection and its vast

Japanese garden. Mori Art Museum has mainly contemporary exhibits while the Suntory Museum of Art cherishes

art in our daily lives.

Visits to these museums set the scene for our exploration of Japan’s Inland Sea, an exciting region of art,

architecture and gourmet dining and one of the most intriguing regions of water in the world. The tour takes us

through this serene body of water that was at the furthest eastern extent of the Silk Road and at the heart of

Japan’s earliest history. The Inland Sea is a 450 kilometre long body of water surrounded by Honshu, Shikoku and

Kyushu, three of Japan’s four main islands. It is dotted with an archipelago of islands, islets and shoals, and blessed

with calm seas and a mild climate. Villages of closely clustered clapboard houses, which seem to have been

largely bypassed by modern Japan, lie on the shores of larger islands. Here and there simple, elegant Shinto

shrines stand on promontories overlooking the sea. The hushed solitude of the Inland Sea and its islands are in

great contrast to the elegant and fascinating cities, including Takamatsu, Hiroshima and Onomichi, that cluster on

the sea’s coastal periphery.

We explore the Inland Sea’s history and culture with a focus on the recent past and the gathering pace of

recovery in the fortunes of the Inland Sea and its communities. We also explore movies made here and the cuisine

of the region which has at its heart delicious seafood and citrus fruits. On our journey we delve into the work of

Japan’s famed movie directors; the father of Japanese modern architecture, Kenzo Tange, and American-

Japanese sculptor, Isamu Noguchi. All were drawn to the region in the last half of the 20th century. Since then

many of Japan’s best artists and architects are increasingly active in and around the Inland Sea adding a new

vitality that is permeating into the furthest flung islands including Naoshima, Inujima, Teshima and Omishima and

has given impetus to the region’s revival.

Although the tour includes exploration of some of Japan’s more remote islands, each night will be spent in

comfortable urban hotels with an experience staying in traditional accommodation with onsen hot spring baths.

Walking is approximately 3 - 7 kilometres each day and can be accomplished by the most leisurely walker.

Above: Yayoi Kusama’s giant pumpkin sculpture on Naoshima

TOUR MANAGER Leen van Duin is the perfect tour manager for this tour. After 13 years with

Air New Zealand, Leen joined Calder & Lawson House of Travel as an

Owner/Director where he spent 25 years growing the corporate travel

business. Relaxed, caring, and friendly with a quick sense of humour, Leen

aims to make his travel companions comfortable and at ease. From the

moment Leen and Diane meet the group at the airport; it is clear that

every aspect of the trip has been taken care of. Both bring a wealth of

experience to every tour from their own travel adventures and the many

tours they have organised over the years. They have recently returned

from Japan researching the details of this tour; they travelled using local

transport and stayed in a variety of accommodation. They especially

enjoyed their visit to the island of Naoshima with its outstanding modern art

museum, architecture and sculptures. They returned with such enthusiasm

for the warmth and friendliness of the people. In their opinion, ’Nowhere

else presents everything with such detailed precision and thought, be it

architecture, food, art or nature.’ Leen and Diane are looking forward to

sharing this fascinating tour with you.

TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland

Share twin per person NZD$14,799

Single supplement (limited availability) NZD$ 1,465

Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place.

GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 12

VARIATIONS IN TRAVEL We can make arrangements for any travel you would like to do before or after this tour, or

book business class seats for the flights. Please contact us.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

• The services of an experienced New Zealand-based

Calder & Lawson Tours tour manager

• Economy class airfares

• 14 nights accommodation

• Breakfast daily and all but one dinner

• Other meals as specified in the itinerary

• All group transfers as specified in the itinerary

• Admissions as detailed in the itinerary

• Sightseeing tours with local guides as detailed in the

itinerary

• All tips for local guides and other service providers

• Pre-tour material

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

• Airline taxes

• Travel insurance

• Personal expenses

• Meals not specified in the itinerary

• Beverages during included meals, unless specified

• Hotel or airport porterage

• Please note that, if you wish to pay by credit card,

a surcharge fee of 2.5% will be charged.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Three days exploring the world renowned

galleries, museums and architecture in vibrant

Tokyo in the cherry blossom season

• An indepth exploration of the Seto Inland Sea,

which besides being one of the driest and

sunniest areas of Japan, is a treasure trove of

history, art, charming islands, spectacular views

and modern art and architecture

• The spectacular art on Naoshima, the small

island at the centre of the Inland Sea’s art

boom

• One of the best small train journeys in Japan

from Okayama to Takamatsu over the 13 km

Seto Ohashi Bridge, which affords vast,

grandstand views over the Inland Sea

• Visiting projects and talking with people who

are using art as a catalyst for the revival of the

islands of the region

• Staying at Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot

spring towns in Japan, where we enjoy a

relaxing soak in baths in a delightful modern-

style Japanese inn.

• Visiting Miyajima, an island famed for its

ancient shrine built out over the sea

DAILY ITINERARY

Leave Auckland for Tokyo’s Narita Airport, arriving in the afternoon. We will

transfer to our hotel and have the rest of the day free.

We will meet our English-speaking guide and depart by public transport for a

full day sightseeing tour of Tokyo. We visit Tokyo National Museum, one of the

oldest and largest national museums in the country. Here we will find an

impressive collection of national treasures and important cultural items such

as old paintings, archaeological artefacts, and antique kimono and samurai

attire. Then a visit to Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine,

dedicated to the spirit of the late Emperor Meiji and one of the popular sites

in Japan for a traditional Japanese wedding. The park that surrounds the

shrine has around 120,000 trees, making one forget that just outside the

shrine grounds are two of the city’s popular shopping districts, Harajuku and

Omotesando. We will have some free time in Omotesando and

neighbouring Harajuku, commonly referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysees.

This broad, tree-lined avenue features a number of flagship stores designed

by internationally renowned architects. In the afternoon, we discover Nezu

Museum which displays the private Japanese and East Asian art collection

of one of Japan’s leading entrepreneurs, Nezu Kaichiro. Besides a varied

collection of antiques, from Japanese calligraphy to Chinese potteries, Nezu

Museum also prides itself on its vast Japanese garden that comes with a

pond and a couple of well-preserved teahouses. In the evening we will

enjoy a welcome dinner.

This morning we transfer to Roppongi’s Art Triangle to enjoy Tokyo's cutting-

edge arts. Both the Mori Art museum and the National Art Centre have

large exhibition spaces with a range of contemporary exhibits related to

culture, history, philosophy and science from Asia, Europe and Africa. The

Suntory Museum of Art cherishes art in our daily lives, so it focuses on finding

beauty in the tools and furniture we use, garden rocks, plants and our

behaviours. It was originally founded in Marunouchi, Tokyo in 1961, but was

relocated in Roppongi in 2007.

Today we take the train from Tokyo to Himeji. After leaving our luggage at

our hotel, we meet our guide and travel by local bus to the outskirts of the

city to ride a cable car up Shosha-zan, a mountain atop which sits the 1,000-

year-old Engyo-ji temple. The serene, unspoiled setting here appears fre-

quently in films and was most notably used as a location for the Last Samu-

rai starring Tom Cruise. After returning to our accommodation, we refresh

ourselves before enjoying dinner together at a hospitable, local restaurant.

We spend the morning visiting Himeji Castle, a complex of 83 buildings,

including its towering keep, and the finest example of a feudal-era,

Japanese fortress. An imposing edifice, the castle has been listed as a

UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has also been used as a location for many

films including Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha and Ran, the 5th James Bond

movie You only live twice, and the Shogun TV mini-series, which was based

on James Clavell’s book of the same name. We also visit the excellent

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History built by Kenzo Tange and the Himeji

Literature Museum designed by Tadao Ando. We return to Himeji Station to

begin our journey to the shores of the Inland Sea and Takamatsu, our

destination this evening. A super-fast Shinkansen bullet train whisks us to

Okayama, where we change to an express train for the last leg of our

journey today to Shikoku, Japan’s fourth main island. This leg of the journey

takes us over the 13 kilometer long Seto Ohashi bridge, for one of the best,

small train journeys of the world. The Seto Ohashi is, in fact, 11 conjoined

bridges that affords vast, grandstand views across the Inland Sea. After

arrival in Takamatsu, we check in at our hotel , before heading out for our

evening meal together.

Thursday 2 April

Auckland – Tokyo

Meals: In flight

Flight: 11 hours

Overnight: Tokyo

Friday 3 April

Tokyo

Meals: B/D

Overnight: Tokyo

Saturday 4 April

Tokyo

Meals: B

Overnight: Tokyo

Sunday 5 April

Tokyo - Himeji

Meals: B/D

Walking: 2 km

Overnight: Himeji

Monday 6 April

Himeji - Takamatsu

Meals: B/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Takamatsu

Takamatsu is an elegant city and one of the driest and sunniest places in

Japan. Its port is a busy hub for ferries plying to and from the islands that, as

far as the eye can see, pepper the Inland Sea. We spend the day exploring

Takamatsu by vehicle starting at the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, sited

in the Mure stone-working district on the outskirts of the city. Here, with luck,

we meet Masatoshi Izumi, a stone mason and assistant of Noguchi who

collaborated with the artist to create the monumental works of art that are

now found around the world. Izumi, who is a self-effacing man, is renowned

in his own right for his use of stone in architecture, sculpture and garden

landscaping. From here we visit other sites of architectural interest including

those designed by Kenzo Tange, one of the most significant Japanese

architects of the 20th Century and the nation’s first Pritzker Prize winner. On

our travels we also learn about Masanori Kaneko, Kagawa Prefecture’s first

democratically elected governor who had the insight to introduce modern

architecture to Takamatsu and was instrumental in bringing Noguchi and

Izumi together. In doing so Kaneko set the early foundations for the growth of

modern art in the Inland Sea region. En route on our travels today, we stop

off at the beautiful Ritsurin Koen, a showcase garden of the Edo-Period (1603

-1868). It is particularly known for its exquisite niwaki sculpted pine trees, while

a tea house beside a pond is the epitome of serene traditional Japanese

architecture. We enjoy lunch together of Sanuki udon wheat noodles,

a simple but very popular, local delicacy. We return to our accommodation

in the late afternoon before another foray into town for our evening meal.

Note: Meeting Masatoshi Izumi is subject to his availability.

An early breakfast before sending our main luggage by overnight courier to

our hotel in Onomichi. We then board a sea taxi for a day island hopping.

The 450 kilometre long Inland Sea is protected by land on all sides and is one

of the calmest bodies of salt water in the world. We begin our journey visiting

the smaller islands lying close by Takamatsu before heading to Teshima and

then Inujima. Many islands in the region have found a new stimulus through

association with the Setouchi Triennale, a contemporary art festival. In

common with much of rural Japan, the islands here have long suffered from

declining and ageing populations. The principal aim of the festival, which

was established in 2010, is to reverse these trends in a sustainable and

creative way. Much of the artwork has remained in situ after each Triennale

and is to be found juxtaposed with the everyday life here in sandy coves,

little harbours, and fishing villages. On Teshima island we visit the spectacular

art museum, designed in collaboration by Ryue Nishizawa and artist Rie Nai-

to. The museum structure, an artwork in itself, is a freestanding concrete shell

designed to resemble a water droplet poised by water tension. From

Teshima we cross the waters to Inujima and the audacious Seirensho, a long-

disused copper smelting works transformed into an immense artwork to a

concept created by Yukinori Yanagi, one of Japan’s most stimulating artists.

Over the coming days, we come across Yanagi’s work and, with luck, the

artist himself. Finally, our sea taxi takes us to the mainland for onward

transport to Okayama and our accommodation for the evening.

Tuesday 7 April

Takamatsu

Meals: B/L/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Takamatsu

Wednesday 8 April

Takamatsu - Teshima - Inujima -

Okayama

Meals: B/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Okayama

Left: Hemeji Castle. Right: Cherry blossom

After breakfast in our hotel, we make the short journey by local train and

Ferry to Naoshima, the small island at the centre of the Inland Sea’s art boom.

Our arrival at Miyanoura, Naoshima’s tiny ferry port sets the scene for the rest

of our day here. The terminal building is a simple, modernist structure de-

signed by SANAA. Adjacent are two psychedelic pumpkins, motifs of

Yayoi Kusama, perhaps Japan’s most successful artist today. A fast, easy to

use island bus service allows whole day. Late afternoon, we board the ferry

and then train to Onomichi, where we spend the next two nights. We relax

over our evening meal in town.

Ferry to Momoshima island to visit Art Base, the home of Yukinori Yanagi, the

artist behind Seirensho on Inujima and some of the marvellous artworks we

saw on display yesterday in the Benesse Museum on Naoshima. Art Base is

one of Yanagi’s latest projects using art as a catalyst for the revival of the is-

lands of the region. If he is in residence, he will personally welcome us and

explain his art. Transferring by ferry to Tsuneishi-ko harbour from Momoshima,

we pass close by a shipyard, where large ships in different stages of

completion appear as works of art on an industrial scale. A further transfer

brings us quickly to Tomonoura, where we have lunch before exploring this

picturesque fishing port of charming clapboard houses and narrow lanes. In

the 1990s, the locals successfully fought to preserve Tomonoura’s bay from

development. A nationwide cause célèbre at the time, their efforts

protected a delightful sea vista. It has been the location for many films

including, perhaps surprisingly, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. We return by local

bus to Onomichi. Note: Meeting Yukinori Yanagi is subject to his availability. We spend today strolling around Onomichi, an elegant town beside a busy

waterway. The old centre of tightly packed houses, many built about a

century ago in an intriguing Japanese-Western fusion style, in a maze of

narrow lanes, is perched on a hillside overlooking the port area. Here we also

find the ancient temples that attest to Onomichi’s centuries-old merchant

and seafaring wealth, which had its roots in the trading ships that plied

between Osaka and Hokkaido via the Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan

during the samurai Edo Period (1603~1868). The town is regularly used in

movies most famously by Yasujiro Ozu, who filmed his acclaimed Tokyo

Story at Jodo-ji, one of these temples. Nagisa Oshima, who was known for his

later films Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, also set

one of his earliest films, Boy, in the town. Our stroll begins at Jodo-ji and takes

us on a meandering exploration of Onomichi. Although our route today

includes a number of climbs and descents our pace is relaxed allowing us to

appreciate the town’s delightful atmosphere and enjoy some splendid vistas

that open up to us at higher points. En route we see wonderful old properties

that are in different stages of being brought back into use, and meet some of

the younger Japanese who are lending a hand in the building work and

establishing the new businesses that occupy these buildings. A highlight is a

journey by cable car to a hill top from where we descend through a temple

complex to Miharashi-tei, one of these newly revived buildings. Once a

sumptuous retreat for a local shipping magnate, the building fell into disuse

and decay before being rescued by a local group led by a prominent archi-

tect, Yoshitaka Watanabe. Today, Miharashi-tei has been brought back to life

as a lodging and café, and is one of many examples of the renewed vigour

being brought to Onomichi. Late afternoon we transfer to Ikuchi-jima, an is-

land in the Inland Sea.

We send our main luggage by overnight courier to our hotel in Hiroshima

before starting our exploration along the Shimanami Kaido, the road linking

Honshu to Shikoku via a series of bridges connecting a chain of islands across

the Inland Sea. Our journey includes a visit to the ancient Oyamazumi Jinja,

a Shinto shrine associated with the Minamoto clan who, after decades of

conflict, were victorious over their enemies the Taira clan in 1185. We also visit

some great examples of modern Japanese architecture including one

designed by Toyo Ito, who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2013. We eat

lunch together at a local restaurant and later visit the Mt. Kiro-san

Observation Park an early work by Kengo Kuma, another one of Japan’s top

Thursday 9 April

Okayama - Naoshima - Onomichi

Meals: B/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Onomichi

Friday 10 April

Onomichi - Momoshima -

Tomonoura - Onomichi

Meals: B/D

Walking: 3 km

Overnight: Onomichi

Saturday 11 April

Onomichi - Ikuchi-jima

Meals: B/D

Walking: 3 km

Overnight: Onomichi

Sunday 12 April

Ikuchi-jima - Shimanami Kaido -

Dogo Onsen

Meals: B/L/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Dogo Onsen

architects. From here we have a final spectacular view today over the

Seto Inland Sea before crossing the last bridge of the Shimanami Kaido to

reach the Shikoku mainland and finishing our journey in Dogo Onsen, one

of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan. We enjoy a relaxing soak in baths

before dinner in our accommodation, a delightful modern-style Japanese

inn.

Today, we travel inland to Ozu, a delightful yet little-known, small, rural

town that once flourished as a major centre of candle wax production.

This industry no longer exists here but the wealth it once brought to Ozu is

apparent in its charming, period streetscape, which largely avoided the

ravages of war and modernity. In recent years, efforts to restore and

sensitively repurpose buildings are bringing a much needed revival to the

local community. On the edge of the town on a bluff overlooking a river is

the beautiful Garyu Sanso, comprising a villa, tea house and gardens that

were completed in 1907 for Torajiro Kouchi, a wealthy local merchant.

Kouchi employed Japan’s top craftsmen on a labour of love over a

ten-year period creating a subtle masterpiece composed of traditional

architecture, gardening and crafts. A guided visit allows us plenty of time

to appreciate the vision of Kouchi and the skills of the craftsmen. Before

returning to our hotel we visit a small museum that celebrates the life of

Juzo Itami, who wrote and directed wryly humourous and insightful films on

his fellow Japanese including The Funeral, Tampopo, and A Taxing

Woman. Tonight, we once again enjoy a lavish Japanese dinner in our inn. After breakfast, we make our way to Matsuyama’s port to catch a Super

Jet Ferry, which whisks us back across the Inland Sea to Hiroshima. Here we

transfer to Miyajima, an island famed for its ancient shrine built out over

the sea. We return to Hiroshima, a vibrant city that belies its tragic past. We

check into our hotel before heading into town for our farewell dinner.

We round up our tour with an early morning visit to the Peace Park, the

design of which was entrusted to Kenzo Tange. His Hiroshima Peace

Memorial Museum, found within the park, set the tone for modern post-

war architecture in Japan. We also include a walk across the bridge,

which was rebuilt according to designs by Isamu Noguchi and learn how

his design for the park’s cenotaph became the basis for the final version

realised by Tange. In the late morning, we fly from Hiroshima to Narita

Airport and on to Auckland, arriving in the morning of Thursday 16 April.

Monday 13 April

Dogo Onsen - Ozu - Dogo Onsen

Meals: B/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Dogo Onsen

Tuesday 14 April

Dogo Onsen - Matsuyama -

Hiroshima

Meals: B/D

Walking: 4 km

Overnight: Horoshima

Wednesday 15 April

Hiroshima - Tokyo - Auckland

Meals: B/in flight

Walking: 4 km

Flights: 1 hour 30 minutes and 10

hours 35 minutes

HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR

A deposit of $1,000 is required to secure your place on the tour. When minimum numbers are reached, the tour

will become a ‘confirmed departure’. At that point we will advise when the full tour payment will be due.

• Click here to complete the online registration form, pay the $1,000 deposit and your place on this tour is

secured.

• Or you can complete a paper registration form. You can download one from the website

www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz, or give us a call and we will email or post one to you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Can be found on the website www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz, on the back of the paper registration form or on

the summary page when you complete an online registration. Please note that if you wish to pay by credit card,

a surcharge fee of 2.5% will be charged.

VARIATIONS

This itinerary is Version 1 dated 12/09/2019 and is subject to change. Exchange rate fluctuations may result in a

change to the tour price.

Top right: Ogijima

Bottom right: Ritsurin-koen Garden

Left: Takamatsu art