2026 TOURS SOLD OUT
18 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY 2027 – a couple of places available (note, this tour is almost fully booked with people who missed out on the November 2026 tour)
22 FEBRUARY – 9 MARCH 2027 – twelve places available
A brief overview of our Japan Blue tours plus a selection of testimonials from previous Japan tour travellers can be found HERE
Welcome to our deep dive into the world of Japanese indigo! We ran the first indigo textiles tour in Japan back in 2019 and it has proven so popular that others have now started running their own copies. But we believe our itinerary is still the best, giving you access to artists and experiences that you’d never be able to access on your own and providing a deep dive into the world of sukumo and aizome. (Our tour is definitely the best value for money too). Come, travel with the original and the best!
This information pack comprises the following three documents:
- Itinerary
- Trip Notes
- Application Form & Booking Conditions
1. Please read all documentation carefully and thoroughly to determine if the tour is right for you, noting the insurance, health, fitness and mobility requirements. Be sure to also read the Important Notes below.
2. Should you wish to apply for a place, please download and complete the Application Form and Fitness to Travel document and email them to retreatrecreate@gmail.com when applications open at 9:00am on xx xx 2026 AEDT. If Australian Eastern Daylight Time is not your time zone, simply google and calculate the time difference and schedule your email to send at the appropriate time. Applications received before the opening time can not be accepted.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- a deposit of AUD$1500 will be required to secure your booking. Banking details will be provided to successful applicants;
- the tour price and inclusions can be found on the last page of the itinerary;
- all payments must be made in AUD (Australian dollar);
- this tour is for women only;
- if we don’t reach our minimum group size (8) the tour will not proceed and your deposit will be refunded or credited to a future tour;
- if we receive more applications than there are places (12), unsuccessful applicants may request to be added to the waiting list;
- places are not allocated on a first come first serve basis as we need to juggle the availability of single and twin rooms against applications. However our Japan tours fill quickly so we encourage you to apply promptly at 9:00am on x x;
- the itinerary provided doesn’t include names of hotels, venues etc. A detailed itinerary will be provided to successful applicants closer to departure;
- please note the differences between the two tours. The January/February tour will be led by our local Japanese (English-speaking) guide and retreat|recreate host Susan Rees-Osborne. The February/March tour will be led by our Japanese guide only. Other differences are marked in red on the Itinerary document;
- this itinerary is the result of much painstaking research and careful curation, and we expect that within reason, everyone in the group participates fully. If you intend to take days off from the itinerary to go shopping or pursue your own interests, we ask that you reconsider your application. Our tours have long waitlists, filled with people who would love to participate in all the wonderful activities on our tours. If you wish to explore independently, please plan some pre and/or post tour days;
- this tour is for active, curious, tolerant and cheerful travellers who enjoy being part of a group, and have an enthusiasm to learn about Japanese culture, textiles and indigo;
- this itinerary is very similar to the 2026 Blue tours, but completely different to the 2019 – 2024 Blue tours. Please read the itinerary carefully, particularly if you had your heart set on something that you may have seen on previous indigo itineraries. There is also no general sightseeing on this tour – ie. we do not visit the main Kyoto temples, nor do we have a tea ceremony, or take you to flea markets. These are all experiences you can easily arrange for yourself before or after the tour. To ensure value for money, our tour days are spent visiting locations and private studios and undertaking workshops that you are unlikely to access on your own.
FITNESS AND MOBILITY EXPECTATIONS (please see the application form and ‘fitness to travel’ declaration for further details):
- to participate in this tour you must be able to squat or kneel over a vat for periods of time. While some dye vats are conveniently at waist level, many of them are buried in the ground;
- you must be able to sit on the floor for some presentations and meals;
- you will stay at a temple accommodation where the bed is a thin futon on a tatami mat, and the room’s walls are paper screens;
- you will stay at a temple accommodation where baths and showers are communal (hot springs bath);
- you may encounter the occasional squat toilet;
- you must be able to embark and disembark planes, trains and automobiles without assistance;
- you must be able to manage your own luggage.
We’ve tried to anticipate all questions by providing information on price, conditions, workshops and activities etc, in the documents below but if you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us. (However, please read this web page and the document contents first! All the information you likely need is here).
retreat | recreate 