Japan Ningyo Tour

Days 1-4: Tokyo

Fly into either of Tokyo’s airports. Haneda is much closer to our Tokyo hotel, but there are often less expensive fares to Narita.

During our first day in Tokyo, we’ll visit Yoshitoku, one of the oldest doll stores in Japan. We’ll spend time with contemporary doll makers, some of whom have become good friends from past Ningyo tours, such as Fujimura Kokan. In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner with our Yoshitoku friends.

On our second day, our highlight will be a visit to the western suburb of Hachioji. There, a puppeteer will introduce us to the art of Kuruma-Ningyo, a unique form of puppetry.

Days 4-5: Niigata

Board a Shinkansen bullet train through the Japanese Alps to the city of Niigata, a major port on the Sea of Japan. We’ll have a walking tour of the old town of Niigata, including a dinner highlighting the local culture.

Days 5-7: Sado Island 

After a morning ferry ride to Sado Island, we’ll spend the next two days exploring the unique culture of this large island in the Sea of Japan. This includes two different styles of puppetry, as well as the taiko drum tradition that drummers from Sado share with the world! (HE Travel President Phil Sheldon first saw them perform in Boston in the 1980s and is excited to see their talents in their home community.)

Day 7-10: Akita

From Sado, we’ll return to the mainland, then head up the Sea of Japan coast to the heart of Japan’s Tohoku (“East-North”) region. Our home for these three nights will be in Akita, the capital of the prefecture of the same name.

The mountains and rugged coastlines of Akita hide some Ningyo traditions that are unlike anywhere else in Japan. Artists on the Oga Peninsula are famous for their Namahage tradition, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On New Years’s Eve, young men dress as ogre-like deities with fierce masks and straw capes. They go house to house giving warning to lazy children and idle family members, who in turn welcome them with food and sake. After this first part of the ritual, the Namahage offer their blessings for the new year.

Another excursion from Akita will be Kakunodate, known for its well-preserved street from Samurai days and (in season) its weeping cherry trees.

Days 10-13: Kitami and Lake Akan on Hokkaido

From Akita, we’ll fly to Sapporo, the main city of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four major islands. From there, we’ll connect to a flight to Memanbetsu on Hokkaido’s eastern coast.

Our home for the next three nights will be an exquisite ryokan overlooking Lake Akan and its picturesque mountain surroundings.

In this remote region, Alan Pate will show us an historic but rarely visited Ningyo display. In the small town of Kitami, a temple named Shinzenkouji has maintained a special collection of dolls since they were made in 1923.

As Japan opened to the world following the 200 years of isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji government sent soldiers and farmers to settle its northern frontier by clearing and farming the land in eastern Hokkaido. These settlers were called “Tondenhei” symbolizing an encampment of farmers and soldiers.

In their honor, the head nun of the temple sent photographs of men who had moved to the Kitami area to a Nagoya doll maker. He then created 75 uniformed dolls, each designed to resemble one of the men in the photographs. They have been carefully preserved in Kitami ever since.

During our stay in eastern Hokkaido, we will also explore the natural environment, such as Lake Akan, the magical views from Bihoro Pass, and Kushiro Marsh – a vast wetland area teeming with wildlife.

Days 13-16: Kyoto

We will fly from Hokkaido to Osaka, then transfer to our Kyoto hotel for a 3-night stay.

While in Kyoto, we’ll have time for shopping and gallery hopping among the arts and crafts boutiques of the Shinmonzen District near Gion and a chance to visit Tazawa Antiques, with perhaps the finest collection of antique dolls in Japan.

Our tour will conclude with a memorable farewell dinner.

Day 16: Farewell to Japan

For those starting home today, enjoy breakfast, then transfer to the airport for your flights home.

If you have enough time, we invite you to join us for our tour extension. (Destination to be announced.)