18 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY 2027 – SOLD OUT
22 FEBRUARY – 9 MARCH 2027 – ONE SPOT 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 extraordinary exploration of the world of Japanese indigo! Our itinerary gives you access to indigo artists and experiences that you would have difficulty accessing on your own and provides a deep dive into the world of sukumo and aizome. Our Japan Blue tour was the first indigo itinerary, and it’s still the best!
There are two Japan Blue tours scheduled for 2027. Dates are above, in red.
This page comprises the following three documents:
- Itinerary
- Trip Notes
- Application Form & Booking Conditions
Please read all documentation carefully and thoroughly to determine if this tour is right for you, noting the insurance, health, fitness and mobility requirements. Be sure to also read the Important Notes below.
Should you wish to apply for a place one of these tours, please complete the Application Form and Fitness to Travel document and email them to retreatrecreate@gmail.com
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- a deposit of AUD$1500 will be required to secure your booking. Banking details will be provided to successful applicants. All payments must be made in AUD (Australian dollars)
- the tour price and inclusions can be found on the last page of the itinerary
- these small group (min. 8, max. 12) tours are for women only
- if we don’t reach our minimum group size (8 on each tour) 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, unsuccessful applicants may request to be added to the waiting list
- 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. The other differences are marked in red on the Itinerary document on Day 3
- this itinerary is the result of much painstaking research and careful curation, and we expect that within reason, everyone in the group participates fully. 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 indigo, culture, and textiles
- 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 ‘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
- 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 