Japan with Heath Ceramics

Welcome to Tokyo! For newcomers and seasoned visitors alike, this city never disappoints. It’s a collision of old and new, a bastion of both tradition and innovation. We’ll begin our trip with an informal orientation at the Conrad.

Here, we’ll meet our tastemaker and our local guide shares cultural tips and inspiration for the immersive experiences ahead. As the enchantment starts to set in, we’ll shuttle off to our welcome dinner, which is exactly what you’d expect—a meal curated by fresh ingredients anchored in centuries of culinary tradition.

This morning, we officially begin our exploration. Our first destination is 21_21_Design Sight, an art museum created by architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake. It’s the perfect introduction to the vibrant design resurgence in the beating heart of Tokyo.

Lunch is nearby at a local gem—a simple food counter elevated by both its minimalist aesthetics and intentional menu of seasonally selected sashimi and hotpots. In the early afternoon, we’ll wander over to Daikanyama, a bustling neighborhood akin to Brooklyn, and explore independently. Don’t miss the iconic shop on Mina Perhonen or the Tsutaya bookstore.

Dinner tonight is on your own in the culinary Mecca of Tokyo. We can’t wait to hear about it in the morning.

This morning we’ll dive deep into Japanese pottery with a visit to Kasama—a city famous for its local ceramics community—and meet well-regarded potter (and friend of Heath Ceramics) Akio Nukaga, who will give us a behind-the-scenes look at his studio and introduce us to other local potters, including Toyo Kobayashi.

After lunch at a local spot, we’ll continue our art-filled afternoon with a visit to Hamada Studio and Daisengama Pottery Studio to learn about the climbing kiln process.

We’ll have some time to shop and explore before heading back to Tokyo for an evening to explore and dine on our own.

Today, we embark to the art islands via a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Okayama, making sure to arrive at the station early enough to admire the elaborate, clockwork-like rituals with which porters greet each train. Next, we’ll catch the ferry to Naoshima, reveling in the soft breezes off the sapphire waters.

A once-sleepy fishing island nestled along the Inland Sea, Naoshima is today a destination for art pilgrims the world over, thanks to the vision of Saichiro Fukutake. We’ll check in to our hotel—the Benesse House, itself a work of art, and one of the most visually stunning properties in Japan—and explore its on-site art works. Our highlights for the day include the Chichu Museum, built mostly underground to avoid disrupting the natural landscape, and the Benesse House Museum.

After, we’ll enjoy some time to relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel.

This morning we’ll head to Teshima, the “island of abundance” and another of Japan’s famed art islands. We’ll visit its flagship art museum, a concave shell of a building that perches on a hill overlooking rice terraces and the sea below like a water droplet trembling at the moment of landing. If it sounds both dreamy and complex, it’s because it is. We’ll also make a stop at the Teshima Yokoo House, an immersive art museum dedicated to artist Tadanori Yokoo. It transforms an 80-year-old traditional residence into a lively collection of paintings and installations exploring “Life and Death”.

After, we board a ferry back to Noashima and stop for lunch before visiting the island’s Art House Project, with seven formerly empty homes taken over by artists for truly unique gallery and installation spaces.

After exploring the myriad exhibits and installations, we’ll reconvene for dinner overlooking the sea at the Benesse House’s Terrace Restaurant. The cuisine is French, with a Japanese twist, and we’ll raise a glass to one of the most inspiring places on Earth.

We’ll start the day at the water’s edge, boarding a ferry bound for Takamatsu. It’s a short crossing, but one that places us deeper into a part of Japan where art and daily life have long overlapped.

Once there, we step into the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, the previous working home and studio of Isamu Noguchi. His stone sculptures remain where he left them—partially shaped, some still bearing the marks of hand tools—set among trees, light, and open sky.  From there, we continue to the George Nakashima Memorial Museum, where the legacy of another Japanese-American master unfolds through wood. Inside the gallery, the scent of cedar and walnut lingers, and each piece reflects a deep respect for material.

After immersing ourselves in the sheer originality of creation, we’ll fix our compass toward Kyoto. A few hours later—by boat and bullet train—we’ll arrive in the eternal city just in time to check into our serene, luxurious hotel.

Dinner tonight is a truly special experience: meeting and dining with a traditional Kyoto geisha. For the first half of the evening, we’ll be treated to an ancient performance that requires years of schooling and apprenticeship to perfect; afterward, we’ll enjoy a conversation over dinner.

This morning, we find and embody zen. First, we stop at Sanjūsangen-dō, where 1,001 gilded Kannon statues stand in quiet formation, their expressions shifting subtly as light moves through the long wooden hall. Shortly after, under the tutelage of a local master, we’ll immerse ourselves deep in meditation and punctuate the act with the ancient art of a tea ceremony. By midday, we’ll enjoy some free time to explore Kyoto and have lunch. Pass by beautiful temples and kimono-clad hostesses before stepping into some of the finest shops and restaurants in Japan.

Later in the afternoon, a visit to the Hosoo Showroom reveals a lineage of textile making, where intricate three-dimensional weaving techniques are still practiced by hand, each piece reflecting centuries of Kyoto craftsmanship.

Dinner this evening is at a nearby local spot.

We spend today in pursuit of inspiration, looking at how art and design carry influence across industries. First, we journey to Osaka to visit Truck Furniture. Owners Kise Tokuhiko and Karatsu Hiromi, who use their designs to accentuate the natural beauty of materials and connection, are friends of Heath. Their approach is an inspiration for Heath Ceramics, and you’ll understand why.

We then set out for culinary inspiration, walking Osaka’s heavenly markets in search of the perfect bites. From juicy and vibrant fruits and Japanese pickles to Osaka’s specialty takoyaki pancake balls, everything is fuel for the imagination. Lunch is up to you in the country’s foodie heart and soul, followed by a Kintsugi experience for an intimate introduction to the fine art of using decorated lacquer to repair broken vessels.

Dinner tonight is truly special. As we bid farewell to Japan, we’ll feast on our one-of-a-kind creations and toast to the incredible week of discovery joy.

Our journey has come to an end. As we say goodbye to our new friends, we know that we’ll have to return, and soon. In the meantime, the soul of Japanese craft will travel home with us, helping us find the beauty wherever we look.