2023 March 1 to March 12
Prices listed are per person:
Shared Room: $8998
Private Room: $11,298
Physical Challenge
Highlights
Tour doll-themed museums, exhibits, doll shops, and exquisite gardens.
Explore historical districts and traditional mountain villages.
Visit the renowned Yoshitoku Doll Company.
Create your own Kokeshi dolls!
Wander through Takayama’s Old Town Warehouse District and browse the Miyagawa Morning Market.
Indulge in a unique ningyo shopping experience at an antique ningyo specialty gallery.
Savor traditional multi-course Japanese culinary traditions.
Overview
Our Japan Ningyo Tour is hosted by Alan Scott Pate, author of several well-researched books about Japan’s ningyo traditions. These dolls are an integral part of Japanese family customs and theatrical themes. They encompass everything from heroes, icons, courtesans from the pleasure districts, fairy tales, fanciful amusements, objects for diplomatic exchange, as well as play dolls.
Itinerary
Map:
Days 1-5: Tokyo Area
Tour the Tokyo National Museum with its curator.
Explore the traditional Asakusa District. Visit the renowned Yoshitoku Doll Company and see a doll-making demonstration by one of the country’s most prominent artists. Savor a festive Welcome Dinner on a Sumida Riverboat with Japanese artists, collectors, and friends from Yoshitoku. Observe the process of making Kokeshi dolls at Usaburo Kokeshi and try your hand at creating your own Kokeshi dolls!
Enjoy the expansive new Iwatsuki Doll Museum. Relax on a free day with the option to visit the Heiwa-Jima Antique Fair.
Days 6-7: Kanazawa
Join an optional Noto Peninsula excursion to see a festival lantern museum and 1004 illuminated terraced rice paddies at sunset. Spend a morning in Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. See the doll exhibition at the Seisonkaku Mansion.
Witness the colorful doll displays at Dolls Museum in the samurai Nishi Chaya district.
Days 8-9: Takayama
Stop at historical Shirakawa village, known for its high thatched-roof houses. Wander through the Old Town Warehouse District and browse the Miyagawa Morning Market. View the karakuri festival float exhibition at Yatai Kaikan and a huge diorama at Nikkokan.
Day 10: Nagoya
Stop at the Mino Washi Paper Village. See the excellent Hina Matsuri exhibit at the Tokugawa Museum in Nagoya.
Visit a doll shop near Nagoya to see their Hina collection.
Days 10-11: Kyoto
See the Kyoto National Museum Hina Matsuri exhibits. Visit a contemporary doll-maker who follows traditional methods, such as creating Gosho palace dolls. Indulge in a unique ningyo shopping experience at an antique ningyo specialty gallery. Enjoy an optional evening stroll through illuminated temples (if operating at the time, and weather permitting). Conclude our tour with a traditional kaiseki farewell dinner.
Days 12: Farewell or Hiroshima Extension:
Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the airport for your flights home or continue on for the Hiroshima extension.
Price Includes
Price Includes: 11 hotel nights in deluxe hotels in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Takayama, and Kyoto; Daily breakfast, 5 lunches, and 3 special dinners; All group ground transportation after arrival at our Tokyo hotel until the last morning in Kyoto; Private touring with English-speaking Japanese guides; Expert commentary by Japanese Antique Doll expert Alan Scott Pate; Logistics coordination by HE Travel tour director; Admission fees for included sightseeing; Medical and evacuation insurance should anything happen during the trip for anyone not otherwise covered (due to insurance regulations, this is only offered for residents of the US.)
Not included: International flights; Transfer from either Haneda or Narita Airport to Tokyo hotel, and from Kyoto to Kansai International or Osaka Airports or Kyoto train station; Meals not shown as being included; Gratuities; Personal expenses such as telephone, Wi-Fi, beverages; Cancellation insurance; Hiroshima Extension does not include Hiroshima airport transfer, meals not mentioned as included, gratuities, and personal expenses.
Optional Tour Choices:
$2300 Single Supplement (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom)
$240 Noto Peninsula excursion from Kanazawa including tour and bento dinner
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
Hiroshima Extension:
Price includes: Train from Kyoto to Hiroshima; Two nights at a deluxe hotel; Breakfast and one dinner; Local transportation; Guided tours of Peace Park and Miyajima Island; Services of HE Travel tour director.
$1590 per person in a shared room
$1940 for a private room
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
Extensions
Days 12-14: Hiroshima Extension
Visit the Peace Park for a perspective on Hiroshima’s role in history and Miyajima Island to see the region’s natural beauty and temples.
FAQ
- What if I am traveling alone?
- Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it’s usually because they’re looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn’t have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you’ll be traveling with friends. You don’t need to pay the single supplement if you’re traveling alone. We’ll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can’t match you with someone.
- What is the physical activity level of this tour?
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Physical Activity Level
- Additional Questions
- For answers to your additional questions, please email info@hetravel.com or call 305-294-8174