Art & Design Inspiration Tour of Japan

Art & Design Inspiration Tour of Japan

$4,750.00

Savor the Beauty and Culture of Japan with WMQFA and Artist Sarah Nishiura!

May 9–22, 2025

Total Cost: $9,500.00 (Deposit: $4750.00; and Final Payment: $4,750.00, due January 15, 2025)

Please note, the Deposit is non-refundable. Membership discount code applies to the two installments. Airfare is at your discretion. The trip is limited to 15 people.

Experience design inspiration in Japan with artist Sarah Nishiura. Featuring hands-on workshops, tours, and more, this intimate tour is the perfect way to travel.

This trip is for you if:

You seek an immersiveexperience of Japanese art, design, and traditional crafts.
You want to travel with an artist and professional quilter who will help you find creative inspiration as you travel.
You want to travel with a Japanese native who speaks the language and understands the culture.

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What’s Included:

14 nights in 4- and 5-star hotels (breakfast included at all hotels)
Guided English-speaking experiences and tours (tickets included)
Chartered buses and bullet train tickets between cities

About Sarah Nishiura, Artist

Sarah Nishiura, courtesy of the artist.

Sarah Nishiura is a Chicago-based quiltmaker who utilizes traditional techniques to craft quilts from recycled and vintage materials. Inspired by numerous textile traditions including 19th and early 20th century American Quilts, Sarah's work explores and celebrates the infinite possibilities of geometric design. Her quilts have been exhibited in museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad, including the Iowa Quilt Museum, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, the New England Quilt Museum, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, and the Yokohama Quilt Fest in Japan. Her quilts have been featured in numerous magazines and blogs, including Martha Stewart Living, QuiltFolk Magazine, Chicago Magazine, and Food and Wine, and they are included in private, corporate, and public art collections throughout the United States. Sarah's work has been supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Center for Craft. Sarah has an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a B.A. in visual arts from Brown University.

More information about Sarah's studio practice can be found at http://www.sarahnishiura.com/.

About Takako Willden, Trip Leader and Translator

Takako Willden is a native of Niigata, Japan, who lives in Cedarburg, WI, and is a dedicated volunteer at WMQFA. She says of her textile experiences: "I grew up in Japan playing with silk scraps as my maternal grandmother sewed kimono for her clients by hand. I always loved making things - from folding origami papers to sewing doll clothes. I live in the U.S. now – almost 30 years. When my children were young my mother-in-law taught me how to make American quilts for them, I’ve enjoyed the craft ever since.

During a trip back to Japan my love for Boro began. Boro refers to the practice of reworking and repairing textiles, often clothes or bedding, through piecing, patching and stitching, in order to extend their use. It started when I found a vintage Japanese Ikat bedding fabric at an antique shop in Japan. Now I enjoy making quilts using Japanese Boro and big running stitches."

Two-week Itinerary (Please note, this itinerary is subject to change)

May 9 - Day 1, Tokyo (Dinner included)

Arrival Day + Welcome Dinner

Overnight at Hotel East 21

May 10 - Day 2, Tokyo (Lunch and Dinner included)

Design Inspiration Meeting with Sarah Nishiura

Japan Craft Museum

Katazome Workshop

May 11 - Day 3, Tokyo (Lunch and Dinner included)

Japanese subway experience

Antique Flea Market at Japanese shrine grounds

Fukagawa Edo Museum