Your A&K Experiences:

Learn the intricate process of crafting ceramic at a Kutani pottery workshop, where nearly 400 years of tradition come to life, creating a personalized memento; tour fascinating silk dyeing studios employing centuries-old techniques; and visit Nomura-ke, an exquisitely restored samurai residence. Elsewhere in the city, Omicho Ichiba, a vast covered market dating back to 1721, and the time-warp teahouses of Higashi Chaya-gai, the thriving geisha district, await guided exploration. 

Your A&K Experiences:

Explore Kyoto's rich cultural heritage via traditional vestments, donning an intricately layered kimono under guidance within an authentic machiya townhouse. Afterwards, delve into the art of origami, learning to transform simple squares of paper into elegant sculptures – a craft that has flourished in Japan since the Edo period (1603-1867). 

Your A&K Experiences:

Your time in Naoshima revolves around tours of great contemporary art institutions, including Chichu Art Museum and Lee Ufan Museum. Stay at the uniquely captivating Benesse House, a museum and hotel designed by Tadao Ando, where art, architecture and nature converge in a remarkable environment. On Teshima Island, a boat ride away, tour Teshima Yokoo House, a renovated harbor-facing home turned art space; Teshima Art Museum, a droplet-shaped marvel in a restored rice terrace; and “Les Archives du Cœur”, where Christian Boltanski has been recording heartbeats since 2008. Add your own to this global collection.