Exploring Japan’s Art, Craft, and Architecture

During the Decorative Arts Trust’s first Study Trip Abroad in Asia, members delved into the distinct artistry of the fascinating country of Japan. Two simultaneous tours traversed the land of the rising sun on September 15–28, 2025, and both groups experienced the wonders of Tokyo, Toyama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Hakone, as illuminated in the notes below.

Tokyo

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in the city’s stylish Akasaka neighborhood served as our home base, and we kicked off our adventures with an introductory lecture by Anne Alene, art historian, and Dr. Kendall Brown, Professor of Asian Art History, California State University Long Beach. Guests also visited the 1928 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, a museum hotel displaying a range of Japanese art, and Omotesando Boulevard, Tokyo’s premier fashion district situated on a picturesque tree-lined promenade. Tours of the beautiful 1915–20 Meiji Jingu Shrine and the 17th-century Hie Shrine gave us insights into Shinto designs and traditions.

Toyama

After a bullet train ride to Toyama, we explored the Toyama Prefecture Suiboku Museum, known for its regional collection spanning the 20th century, and the Toyama Castle Ruins, with sections dating to the mid-16th century and reconstruction based on historical designs. The Toyama Glass Art Museum, with its spectacular display of works by Dale Chihuly who trained in Toyama,was a highlight of the city. The GO FOR KOGEI Festival, has installations in Toyama and Kanazawa, and was launched in 2020 to promote new perspectives on craft in a region steeped in history and tradition.

Kanazawa

GO FOR KOGEI Festival Director Yuji Akimoto joined us again in the Kanazawa iteration of the event, and we also had the opportunity to learn from contemporary lacquer artist Tanaka Nobuyuki. Walking through the Higashichaya district and the Nagamachi Samurai Quarter (including the Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence) gave us glimpses of the city’s flavor, and we admired architect Taniguchi Yoshio’s serene design of the Suzuki Daisetsu Museum. The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts is known for exhibits outlining 36 different types of crafts native to the region. The Kenrokuen Garden’s strolling-style landscape dates to the 1620s, offering a historic perspective. A kimono silk-dyeing workshop at Maida Yuzen Studio permitted us to witness craftspeople designing and a kimono piece by piece, an intricate and collaborative process. A demonstration showed us the elaborate process of dressing in a kimono and we left with a new appreciation for its fashion history. We continued to Kanazawa Castle, a feudal structure that has been meticulously restored using traditional Japanese techniques.

Kyoto

The tours briefly reconnected in Kyoto, with a visit to the I. M. Pei-designed MIHO Museum and a private performance at the Kawamura Noh Gakudo Theater. The Daitoku-ji Temple hosted us for a tea ceremony, and we viewed Hiroshi Senju’s fusuma paintings at the Juko-in Subtemple. We were thrilled to spend time with local ceramics artisans at the Utsuwa Gallery, painters and sculptors at the Kanegae Family Gallery, and gold leaf artisan Noguchi Yasushi at his studio. An early-bird excursion to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavillion, was a treat. A visit to Fukumoto Family Art introduced us to the fiber and indigo art of Shihoko Fukumoto and the ceramic art of her daughter, Fuku Fukumoto. In Arashiyama, members visited the 1339 Tenryu-ji Temple and bathed in the sounds of the Arashiyama Sagano Bamboo Forest. We learned about washi art from Eriko Horiki & Associates before journeying to Gion for a walking tour of the Geisha District. An optional morning visit to the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and its hundreds of torii gates was followed by explorations of the 13th-century Nanzen-ji Temple and its masterful Murin-an gardens. The Philosopher’s Path leads to Ginkaku-ji, originally constructed in 1482 as a retirement villa for the eighth shogun of the region. The Ryoan-ji Temple is a striking site known for its dry landscape rock garden.

Odwara and Hakone

A bullet train took us to Odwara, where the famous Castle, a fortress that dates to the mid-15th century. We traveled to Hakone to see its Open-Air Museum, which opened in 1969 in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park as Japan’s first outdoor museum. The city enchanted us with the hillside Hakone Shrine and the historic Tokaido Road and checkpoint. The Okada Museum of Art is known for its breathtaking display of its art and archaeology collections, and the Hakone Museum of Art is for its elegantly situated building and rich display of decorative arts. The MOA Museum of Art in Atami features a standout collection of Asian art as well as period rooms, and the Enoura Observatory’s views over the Sagami Bay and the Pacific Ocean cannot be topped.

The stunning sites, welcoming hosts, delectable food, and serene atmosphere of this Japan Study Trip Abroad were unforgettable, and we look forward to exploring other regions of Asia soon, including India in 2027! Our Instagram page features a “Japan highlight” with more images as well as videos, with the acknowledgement that many sites in Japan did not allow interior photography. It was truly a “had to be there” situation! See our Calendar of Events for upcoming programs, and be sure to join our mailing list for registration updates.