If Japan's fabulous fall foliage has been on your travel radar, you're in luck because Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced last week that independent tourists will finally be welcomed back as of October 11 and that visa requirements introduced in response to the pandemic will also be rescinded. My clients on standby with a custom-designed family trip through Japan are now ready to go, at last. Journey to Japan this fall and you too will have an unforgettable trip at this incredible moment. It's also a perfect time to visit the artistic side of Tokyo and enjoy it with fewer crowds for now....
Excerpt below is from 2/15/2022 article produced by Virtuoso and Tokyo Visitor & Convention Bureau found HERE.
From traditional craftsmanship to modern art and architecture, Japan's capital has it all. For travelers seeking art and time-honored craftsmanship, Tokyo is tough to beat. Around every corner in Japan’s capital city, there’s something new or exciting – in some cases, both – for lovers of all things art to see, do, experience, and shop for. Whether you’re dreaming about visiting Japan or you’re ready to book a trip ASAP, check out these exhibits, classes, and boutique shops that’ll satisfy your craving for immersive, creative experiences.
Museums: Local Art from Past to Present
For an unparalleled introduction to Japanese art, spend a few hours perusing Tokyo National Museum’s two-story main gallery. On the second floor, Highlights of Japanese Art presents the evolution of Japanese art in chronological order, from Neolithic Jōmon pottery to the Edo period. On the first floor, genre-specific exhibition spaces feature everything from ceramics to swords to lacquerware.
Opened in July 2018, teamLab Planets offers visitors to Tokyo a place to not only view colorful works of art, but become part of them, too. Upon entering the museum (barefoot!), guests can wander among its larger-than-life, immersive artworks – you can walk on water, frolic in a technicolor flower garden, and weave your way between floating, jumbo spheres – which are housed in soaring, contemporary exhibition spaces.
In recent years, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has won legions of fans in her native country and abroad with colorful interactive works that include everything from mirrored rooms to enormous, painted pumpkins. Experience a full range of the avant-garde artist’s works at the Yayoi Kusama Museum, which opened in 2017 and presents a collection of her work, along with lectures and other events.
Classes and Tours: Dive Deep into Artistic Traditions
Sword-making is a centuries-old tradition in Japan. In Tokyo, EXO Travel arranges for travelers to learn expert techniques and the history of sword-making under the tutelage of world-renowned swordsmith Tsuguyasu Matsuda in a private workshop that’s not available to the general public.
Windows to Japan tailors city tours to specific interest: Architecture buffs, for example, can take a privately guided stroll along Omotesando Boulevard to spot buildings in styles ranging from minimalist to ultramodern. The tree-lined avenue is home to fashion houses such as Dior, Gucci, and Tod’s, as well as Omotesando Hills, a luxe shopping mall designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando.
“Tokyo’s art scene is really vibrant, but it’s not always easy to navigate,” says Sophie Richard from Richard & Tezen, a leading art consultancy, who recommends a private guide with knowledge of the numerous smaller, more specialist art museums and hidden galleries. For guests who want to take in the contemporary art scene – and maybe take a piece or two home – Virtuoso on-site tour connection Boutique JTB can design custom itineraries with visits to venues such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and Mori Art Museum as well as galleries such as Take Ninagawa, Nanzuka Underground, and Ota Fine Arts.
Artisan Craft Shops: Keepsakes You’ll Want to Display at Home
Edo kiriko, a manufacturing method in which colors and patterns are cut into glass, is said to have originated in Tokyo in the nineteenth century. Today, shoppers can pick up glass serving trays; wine, sake, and cocktail glasses; and rare black patterns of edo kiriko at Kimoto Glass Tokyo in the Taito City area of Tokyo.
You don’t have to be an expert chopstick handler to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each set at Ginza Natsuno, which specializes in making these traditional Japanese utensils. For an extra touch of personalization, ask the shop’s staff to etch your name – or the name of a lucky recipient – on your chosen pair.
Founded in 1590, Ibasen is a celebrated purveyor of traditional silk and paper fans. The delicate fans, which are available in folded and round styles, feature a range of patterns, from insects to landscapes to anime and manga characters, and come with color-coordinated carrying pouches
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