Experience Japan Pottery Making Tour with Bruce McWhinney

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Japan has long history of ceramics with pottery towns existing nationwide with variety of glaze, highly honed techniques and cross fertilization with other Japanese traditional cultures such as tea ceremony, flower arrangements and food.

This tour is designed for participants to experience the full pottery making process in 11 days. Highlight of this tour is that you not only form clay using hand building techniques or potter’s wheel but you will also experience trimming and glazing, something that is not offered in general tours.

Advanced program is also offered for those who would like to learn directly from English speaking potter about clay or old established glazes.

Tour is concluded with a farewell dinner where you will eat from your very own handmade ware.

 

How can we make a piece in 10 days?

Well it isn’t “RAKU”. Pottery studios used for this tour are also generally the kiln manufacturers and therefore, is equipped with microwave kiln and/or gas and electricity hybrid kiln. By utilising these high technology kilns, drying time is significantly shortened and we are able to complete firing in 10 days. This tour showcases Japanese traditional culture which is ceramics but also another face of Japan which is its advanced technology.

 

Joining this tour:

Bruce McWhinney, will be joining this tour as a teaching consultant for not only during ceramic workshops but also to share his valuable knowledge of art and pottery.

Bruce is a practicing ceramic artist and Head of Department at a major Art College in Sydney with over 30 years of professional experience.

His work is in private and public collections including; Shepparton Art Museum, Campbelltown Art Gallery, Manly Art Gallery Museum, and the collection of the curator of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington USA, private collections.

Pricing

Tour only:
$3,811 per person

With Singapore Airlines Return Airfares:
$5,258 per person including taxes
(Flight departs Sydney the night before and arrives the following morning)

With Japan Airlines Return Airfares:
$5,581 per person including taxes
(Flight departs Sydney in the morning and arrives the same day at night)

 

Download printable flyer here pdf

 

 

 

 

Day1 – Wed, 10 Oct 2012 (Australia – Chubu Int’l Airport – Tajimi)

Upon arrival at Nagoya (Chubu) International Airport, you will be met by a local staff who will assist you with transfer you to your accommodation in Tajimi by train. Tajimi is a popular pottery town in Gifu prefecture especially famous for the variation of glazes such as “Shino” and “Oribe”. Light supper will be provided upon arrival. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Dinner (light meal)

Day2 – Thu, 11 Oct 2012 (Tajimi)

In the morning, visit ceramic museums in the area to learn the basic and general information about the history and characteristics of Mino pottery. After having lunch at local restaurant, visit a local pottery studio and make your own pottery using an electric wheel or by hand building. In the evening, enjoy welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day3 – Fri, 12 Oct 2012 (Tajimi)

In the morning, visit two or three (time permitting) traditional pottery studios. After having lunch at local restaurant, get back to pottery workshop (you will do trimming and decorations mainly.) at a local pottery studio. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day4 – Sat, 13 Oct 2012 (Tajimi – Tokoname)

Transfer to Tokoname from Tajimi by a local train. Tokoname is considered to be one of the “6 Ancient Kilns” of Japan, particularly famous for “Shudei teapots” and is a well-respected area amongst potters. A local tour attendant will take you to the accommodation. In the afternoon, you will visit traditional pottery studios. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast

Day5 – Sun, 14 Oct 2012 (Tokoname – Seto)

In the morning, enjoy your free time in Tokoname. Tokonome Path, a path filled with old traditional houses, workshops and buildings remained unchanged keeping its unique pottery town atmosphere is highly recommended. In the afternoon, transfer to Seto local train. Seto is the most famous area for its ceramics which is called “Setomono” in Japanese, named after the city. After checking into the hotel, visit Seto Gura Museum, closely located to your accommodation. Seto Gura Museum displays the history of Seto-yaki with reproductions of the former Owari Seto Station, lime kilns and chimneys. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast

Day6 – Mon, 15 Oct 2012 (Seto)

Today, you will experience clay or traditional glaze techniques at a local pottery studio in Akazu area with English instruction. (Staff of the pottery studio in Tajimi will do biscuit firing for your works today.) Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day7 – Tue, 16 Oct 2012 (Seto – Tajimi)

Take local train from Seto to Tajimi. In Tajimi, you will do glazing (“Oribe” and “Kizeto”, typical glazes of Mino pottery are recommended) to your works you made on day1-2 and load them into an electric kiln at a local pottery studio. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day8 – Wed, 17 Oct 2012 (Tajimi)

Your work will be fired using an electric kiln at a local pottery studio while you enjoy your free time at Tajimi today. We recommend you visit Nagoya to do some shopping or Tsumago if you like to be in a more traditional scenery. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast

Day9 – Thu, 18 Oct 2012 (Tajimi)

In the morning, your work will be unloaded from the electric kiln. After the unloading, free time in Tajimi. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day10 – Fri, 19 Oct 2012 (Tajimi)

Free time in Tajimi until evening. In the evening, enjoy the fruits of your labour by eating from your own dish work (dish and cup) at the farewell dinner. Overnight at a Western style hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day11 – Sat, 20 Oct 2012 (Tajimi- Chubu Int’l Airport – Australia) Leave Tajimi to Nagoya (Chubu) International Airport. Meals: Breakfast

  • Return airfares from Sydney to Nagoya (for airfare inclusive plan)
  • 10 nights accommodation in a Western style accommodation
  • Bruce McWhinney as a teaching consultant throughout the tour
  • Professional tour leader throughout the tour
  • English speaking local attendant on day 3 and 4
  • National qualified tour guide on day 8, 9 and 10 to assist free time activities
  • Various pottery studio visit for workshops
  • Material for pottery: clay, glaze, facility, tools rental, biscuit firing fee, glost firing fee, technical assistance by Japanese speaking staff on spot
  • All necessary transport and museum admissions as indicated in the itinerary
  • Breakfast daily
  • 4 x lunches
  • Welcome dinner and farewell dinner

 

Galleries that support this tour:

 

Innercity Clayworkers Gallery

‘ The Innercity Clayworkers Gallery at St Johns Road, Glebe, celebrates its 30th birthday this year, making it one of the oldest co-operative run galleries within Sydney.  Many of todays well-respected ceramic artists have been part of this venture during its history. The gallery features a completely new exhibition every month, highlighting not only the new work of member ceramists, but also allowing guest artists to appear every year in its well-known ‘public’ exhibitions such as The Annual Sydney Teapot Show. The gallery is situated on the corner of St Johns Road & Darghan St, Glebe, and is open Wed to Sun 10.30am – 5.00pm. T: 02 9692 9717,    www.clayworkers.com.au ‘.

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  • All prices are in Australian dollars inclusive of taxes
  • Valid for sale until 10 Aug 12
  • Tour participants must ensure they hold all appropriate visas and their passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure
  • Tour participants must ensure they hold valid travel insurance for duration of this tour
  • If you have special requests such as flight seats, room allocation, diet consideration, please let us know in writing via email or post at time of booking. Whilest every effort will be made to fulfill this request, we cannot guarantee they will be met.
  • If you have any disabilities or illness that may affect your travel, please let us know at time of booking
  • Details of this trip may change depending on unforeseeable circumstances such as traffic conditions, extreme weather or supplier unable to provide services
  • Deposit is required within 7 days of booking confirmation
  • Airfare payment due date will depend on the airline chosen
  • Full payment is required 60 days prior to tour departure
  • Minimum of 10 participants are required to operate. Tour operation will be confirmed 4 weeks prior to departure.
  • Credit card fees apply
  • Amendment fees apply
  • Cancellation fees apply
    • Over 60 days prior to departure: deposit amount plus any other applicable cancellation fees such as from airlines
    • 45-59 days: 50% plus any other applicable cancellation fees such as from airlines
    • Less than 45 days 100%
  • Prices correct as of 1 Dec 11 and may change due to currency exchange rate
  • New World Travel Pty Ltd. ABN 84 003 148 196 Travel Agent Licence No. 2TA001961