(above cover photo: Sapporo in October) Version 2023-12-24

Northern Japan is among today’s most attractive global contemporary art and design destinations, and its original (Jomon) civilization goes back 14,000 years. The living indigenous Ainu culture goes back over 1,000 years, and has suffered similar struggles to colonized indigenous people on other continents. This newly-developed tour focuses on very special places in Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures. With arranged transportation, accommodations, and meals, join a group of like-minded adventurers led by Mark and Dana, and enjoy private presentations and direct interactions with local Japanese subject matter experts including Ainu representatives. This tour is for you if you are interested in Japanese and ancient local cultures (Jomon and Ainu), contemporary artist like Yoshitomo Nara, Isamu Noguchi, and Taro Okamoto, beautiful mountain, sea, and lake landscapes amidst fall foliage, and internationally cutting edge projects in regional placemaking and urban design.

The 11-night/12-day immersion tour has been designed by and will be led by Mark Holzbach and Dana Friis-Hansen. Having lived in Japan for five years during the 1990s, and since then having organized exhibitions and written extensively about Japanese art, their insights, experiences, and insider connections will make this a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.

DRAFT ITINERARY (subject to updates)

DAY/NIGHT 1: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20: ARRIVAL IN TOKYO / CONNECTING FLIGHT TO SAPPORO

Welcome to Japan!

Arrive in Tokyo (either Haneda, HND, or Narita, NRT, airports) and transfer on-your-own (a clearly marked / uncomplicated transfer) to your Sapporo-Chitose airport (CTS) connecting flight (not included). An associate will meet you at Sapporo-Chitose airport and transport you and your luggage to our downtown hotel via private car or van (about 1 hour)

Overnight: JR East Hotel Mets Sapporo (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 5: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24: HAKODATE

Hotel Breakfast, check out, & board bus. Drive to Hakodate Jomon Culture Center for special tour with Jomon cultural expert/scholar. Afterwards, drive to Hakodate City for downtown tour / wak & lunch. Drive to hotel near Shin-Hakodate train station, check in, rest, have dinner, and rest.

Overnight: Hotel La'gent Plaza Hakodate Hokuto (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 6: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25: AOMORI

Hotel Breakfast, check out, & board Shinkansen (bullet) train for Aomori.

Bus meets us at Shinaomori station & takes us to Aomori Kenritsu Bijutsukan

Lunch at Museum. Walk to visit Sannimaru Jomon Site. after visit, bus picks us up and takes us to downtown hotel for check-in, dinner, and rest.

Overnight: Hotel Daiwa Roynet Aomori (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 7: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26: AOMORI

After hotel breakfast, walk from hotel to Nebuta Museum & A-Factory (lunch at A-Factory)

After lunch, bus to Jomon Komakino Stone Circle site. Return to hotel for dinner and rest.

Overnight: Hotel Daiwa Roynet Aomori (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 9: MONDAY, OCTOBER 28: OIRASE

Resort day! Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and assortment of resort activities.

Overnight: Hoshino Oirase Keiryu Resort (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 10: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29: TOWADA & HACHINOHE

Hotel Breakfast & checkout & board bus to Hachinohe

Visit Hachinohe Art Museum, then visit Towada for lunch at the Pizza Community Co-working space followed by a visit to the Towada Art Center & meet with the director.

Drive to Aomoriya Hoshino Resort near Misawa. Check in. relax, have dinner (& show!)

Overnight: Hoshino Aomori-ya Resort (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 11: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30: TOKYO

Hotel Breakfast & checkout & board train to Tokyo.

Transfer from Tokyo station to nearby Ginza hotel. Check in to hotel, relax, enjoy finale dinner.

Overnight: Hotel Muji Ginza (or similar)

DAY/NIGHT 12: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31: FLY HOME (or extend trip)

The tour ends after our hotel breakfast this morning. We will arrange your airport transfer according to your flight schedule. Please ask if you are interested in options for extending your time in Japan (e.g. an additional night or two in a traditional Japanese ryokan, or a temple stay.)

Please Note:

The itinerary is a sample and is subject to change. The final schedule will be determined approximately 30 days prior to departure to allow for the inclusion of special exhibitions, visits, and events and are dependent on the schedules of our Japanese colleagues, current museum and gallery shows, and opportunities which may arise.  In the event that a requested visit is not available, a similar visit will be substituted.  A final itinerary will be sent to all participants about three weeks prior to the tour departure.

Japanese cuisine, both traditional and contemporary, is unique and a key part of this trip. We will do our best to accommodate allergies and other food preferences, however we regret that we cannot provide gluten-free, vegan, or fish-free meals.  If you have other food restrictions, please inquire.

What’s included:

• 10 nights hotel accommodation in the hotels listed or similar level

• All breakfasts included, lunches and dinners as indicated

• Admissions to museums, gardens and temples

• Local transportation as described in itinerary: airport transfers, local taxis, charter buses, trains (first class), private boats

• Services of guides and experts

We strongly recommend coming at least one day early to recover from the long flight and adjust to time zone and have a little extra time to explore, or stay longer at the end to deepen the experience. Tiny World Tours can arrange pre-trip and post-trip accommodations and local experiences based on your interests.

Tour Cost: $9,000

Tour Design: Tiny World Tours (Mark & Dana) with local Japanese collaborators

Tour Leader: Tiny World Tours (Mark & Dana) with local Japanese collaborators

* If you are a single traveler desiring your own private room, and/or if you’d like a hotel room upgrade please inquire about availability and additional costs.