Customer Testimonials
Marci, San Diego
The culinary tour to Japan with Tanpopo Studio was amazing! The diversity of events, food and accommodations was a great experience and it never felt rushed or like we were on a timeline or for that matter on a tour. Koshiki’s insight to the culture, flexibility, assistance with translations and recommendations added to the experience. I’m not sure that I had a favorite memory, as it was all so interesting: going to the Tsukiji fish market; making sushi and soba; the monastery, Ryokan and private Japanese farmhouse stays; soaking in the baths; sake tasting; the exquisite meals, … etc. I saw, learned and experienced a lot on this trip and now, have a broader knowledge and appreciation of the Japanese cuisine, culture and of the country. Thank you, Koshiki!
Judy & Chris, CA & NJ
Our time with Koshiki and Kenny exceeded all my expectations! Even though I am not an experienced fiber artist, I loved every workshop and the chance to experience Japan through its hands-on cultural traditions.Every day was a highlight; every garden a feast for the senses. Our guides gave great advice, made all the hard parts of travel a breeze and did it all with the gentlest touch.On a scale of one to ten, this trip was a 20! -Judy
Many many thanks for a great trip experience. I knew from my friend Lydia that the trip would be exciting and inspiring, but I really didn’t know how powerful the experience would be for me. As a fiber artist, I found that every detail of every day fed my creativity and gave me new ideas I never had before. It was as if the itinerary had been custom designed for me. I’ve already started planning for the remake of the kimona I got at Yuki’s. I can’t thank you enough for your planning, and even more for your thoughtfulness and caring about each member of our group. Speaking of the group, it was really fun to get to know everyone, and I think the group could not have been more welcoming and interesting. -My heartfelt thanks, Chris
Textile and Traditional Arts
Lacey, Minnesota
The Tanpopo Textiles and Traditional Arts tour was fantastic! The trip and crafts we participated in were extremely well organized. Koshiki was extremely knowledgeable and had great recommendations that were personalized for each member of our group (shopping, food, activity recommendations). I felt like I got so much more than I signed up for out of this trip and will definitely do another trip with Tanpopo.
Textile and Traditional Arts
Donna, UK
Visiting Japan with Tanpopo Journeys was an incredible and truly memorable experience. Myself and a friend booked the textiles and traditional arts tour. Our tour guides, Koshiki and Kenny were delightful – attentive, patient and incredibly kind and knowledgeable. It was obvious that Koshiki has invested a huge amount of time in building relationships with the craftspeople we visited. This has resulted in true friendships developing which really adds to the experience of the country – you feel you are witnessing the true Japan where craft and the forging of beautiful objects is truly cherished and appreciated.
Textile and Traditional Arts
I couldn’t fault anything – even experiences I was hesitant about such as the food and the stay in a Buddhist temple were a delight. Koshiki also runs culinary tours and her knowledge of Japanese food feeds into this experience as well. The location of all the hotels we stayed in was spot on, as was the organization of trains and transport.
A particular highlight was catching the local train to Nishi-Ueda station, Nagano for our trip to the Koiwai weaving studio, where silk has been cultivated and woven for kimonos for many generations.
We were able to observe the dyeing process, using both natural and synthetic dyes and how the looms were set up, which was incredibly labour-intensive. Particularly fascinating were the sample books, some dating back over 100 years, showing the different weaves and dye experimentation.
This was a fantastic trip and one which has had a real impact on my outlook and creative processes.
It was delightful to share it with like-minded people and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s an experience you will never forget.
Ann, Minnesota
This is a great tour for textile enthusiasts. We went to studios and shops of weavers, papermakers, indigo dyers, lantern makers and more. There was a good mix of places where we observed demonstrations of a craft and places where we actually had a chance to make something ourselves. We went to a small town, Yame, where the people generously shared their time and culture with us. Yame was a chance to get to know some of the Japanese people on a more personal level. It was obvious that they took pride in their work, and they wanted to share the history and processes that produced the work. We also had a chance to try many different Japanese foods, visit temples and shrines, and walk around the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The cities of Japan are spotlessly clean and we felt safe at all times.
Textile and Crafts of Kyushu
Margaret, Canada
I highly recommend the Textile & Traditional Arts tour. The tour was well-organized and well-paced with many opportunities for creative and independent adventures. The group activities provided wonderful opportunities to interact with local makers and to talk with them about aspects of Japanese arts and crafts.
It was a great pleasure to travel with Koshiki and Kenny. They were gracious, knowledgeable and supportive guides regarding the complex beauty and history of Japan’s textile and traditional arts. They also offered thoughtful insights into Japanese life that greatly added to the richness of our group travel experiences.
Textile and Traditional Arts Japan
Kathy, California
Thank you for a really great trip. Interesting, well organized, smooth. I liked the hands-on workshops and also downtime to do what we wanted or rest. Yame was amazing – all the things we learned and also the Craft Inn was spectacular.
Textile and Crafts of Yame
Janet, England
Fabulous! I can’t recommend this Tanpopo Textiles and Traditional Arts tour enough. A clever blend of Japanese experiences; well managed, gorgeous hotels, easy travel (by Shinkansen, local trains, local buses, some shared taxis and on foot) and great food made this an exceptional experience. And then there’s the Japanese people, the culture, the practical workshops and the changing scenery – rural, mountains, big cities, charming gardens and lots of fantastic temple visits – watching the Buddhist monks chanting early in the morning was magical. I urge you, do sign up for this, you won’t be disappointed.
Textile and Traditional Arts Japan
Denny, Washington
This was my first trip to Japan and I wanted to see as much of the country as I could. This Textile and Traditional Arts tour did just that with a circuitous route around central Honshu. City life, country life, we saw a bit of it all! I tried to distill my admiration for Japan in a few words: Beautiful, Clean, Calm, Organized, and Tasty
Textile and Traditional Arts Japan
I will travel with Tanpopo Journeys again and again!
Karen, Massachusetts
What did I come back with after my trip on the Textile and Traditional Arts tour: so many stories and wonderful experiences. And of course, many photographs! This trip was so much more than I had expected. Some of the highlights: meeting with the potter from Kyoto. the 5th generation of potters in his family. Maintaining the tradition over the generations yet adapting over time, visiting with the weaver in Nagano, learning about his dye practice, silk worms and the silk yarn that was created, and watching him work on a loom passed down over the generations (oh, yes, I tried the crickets he offered as a snack), and visiting Kenrokuen Gardens, the Japanese garden in Kanazawa. The beauty and the care of the garden was everywhere we looked. All were immersive experiences and that is what was so unique about this tour. I came away with a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and the rich artisan history.
Textile and Traditional Arts Japan
Izumi, Japan
I want to say thank you for everything. I had a lot and lot of fun during my trip to the Amish Country. Because of you, I was able to achieve my goal, and had a comfortable trip.
夏の大草原、アーミッシュに出会う旅
Patel Family, England
Thank you so much for the wonderful trip you put together – it’s only as we have started to go through the photos we have realized just how special the trip was and how much we managed to do. A highlight was the temple and the gardens in Kanazawa – the pictures do not look real
Josh and Susan, Minneapolis
Being in Japan with Koshiki and Ben was more than amazing: incredibly knowledgeable, articulate, well-organized, and fun tour guides in a country that is so modern yet so ancient and culturally different was a once in a lifetime experience. Spending a day at Tsukiji Market, complete with a sushi-making class was the highlight for us. Take a very foreign, intriguing culture, add amazing food, a ton of history, and great travel – and you get a Tanpopo Studios tour to Japan!
Avery, Colorado
There are many ways to approach visiting Japan, but if you are into food, this is the way to go. As with any travel, figuring out what is actually authentic and local can be a challenge, but with tanpopojourneys, this is taken care of. Every planned meal on the trip is about as authentic as one can get, and is delicious. The low key, fun and chill vibe throughout the trip, aided in part by and excellent translator, makes exploring Japan effortless and fulfilling. I cannot recommend this tour enough, it is a sure way to gain perspective on how food is sourced, presented, and enjoyed.
Elizabeth, St. Paul
Our tour with Tanpopo Studios was excellent. It brought together the modern, urban and the rural, traditional in a skilled and intimate way. I chose this tour because we so loved their restaurant – to me it was Japanese ‘comfort food’. While the restaurant exists no more, others can still experience all that was so special about it through Tanpopo Studio tours. Travel with Koshiki and Ben is a lot like dining at their restaurant was – comfortable, relaxed, interesting, and incredibly delicious. I felt like I was traveling with an old friend, one who knew all the best places. It was a really special trip, and I plan to go again
Cathy & Marc, Minnesota
Over the past week I thought a lot about our tip and realized how less stressful it was compared to previous travels. As a guide you were so organized, knowledgeable and thoughtful. In addition, we thoroughly enjoyed your company and the many conversations over meals—that adds an extra dimension to our travels. Meeting your brother and seeing his work also added to that experience
Lynda, Florida
It was a wonderful tour and experience. Thank you for all you arranged and made possible for our group. All of the itinerary was packed with wonderful learning opportunities………. and remembrances! Thank you , again, for such a special introduction into Japanese textiles and……. the life!
