Design and Visual Art in Japan
Artists for centuries have been inspired by Eastern aesthetics and the craft of Japan helped to advertise each community before technology. In today’s society, Japan’s artists lead the world in innovative thinking and aesthetics while Japanese pop-culture has gone global. Experience the world of Japanese art and design.
TokudAw also offers custom itineraries to focus on a particular form of art, music or pop culture. Reach out to let us help you build your custom tour.
Educational Experiences We Offer
Immerse students in Japan’s history and culture with hands-on experiences and travel tourism designed to inspire the artist’s curious mind.
Have something else in mind? We'd be happy to work with you to create a custom experience to meet your learning objectives.
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TokudAw has scoped out the best design and craft museums, what they have to offer, and how they might benefit your learning objectives. With over 604 museums in the nation, there is a museum for every artist: from fashion, textiles and jewelry to advertising, animation and modern media studies.
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TokudAw partners with local businesses and artisans and can arrange for site visits of often closed-to-the-public studio spaces. If you have a place in mind and are struggling to make a connection, we are also happy to help facilitate a meeting with our connections. Many of these places may require interpretation support services upon visit, which we are happy to provide.
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Learn side-by-side with some of the best craftspeople in their trade. TokudAw has created specialty curriculum so that there are memorable and practical life lessons embedded into each workshop. We call these Treasure Sessions TM.
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Tokyo is home to more Flagship stores and artisan boutiques than any other city. We’ve identified the stores artists love, from brush, ink, and paper stores, to bead stores and natural dye shops to the best stores for nostalgic and contemporary characters in manga.
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We collaborate to give back to the community in practical ways relevant to your student’s talents.
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Japan is home to many semi-regular art festivals known as Biennale and Triennales, usually taking place in rural Japan. We coordinate logistics so your group can experience the event on the most optimal days with access to the top priority destinations.
Japanese Design Concepts
Help your designers develop a global perspective and a critical eye through first hand experiences with these Japanese art principles.
Wabi Sabi
Learn to find the beauty in the imperfections.
Treasure Session to try:
Kintsugi (repairing with gold leafing)
Edo Kiriko (etched glass)
Shodo (calligraphy)
Iki
The art of subtlety.
Treasure Session to try:
Edo Kommon (Kimono textiles stencil painted with a subtle pattern)
Aizome (indigo dying)
Edo Tegaki Chochin (Lantern making)
Yugen
The art of mystery.
Treasure Session to try:
Noh (Japanese performing arts)
Pottery
Kawaii
The aesthetics of cuteness.
Treasure Session to try:
Manga and Anime drawing
Karaoke and voice acting
Food Sample making
What is a TokudAw Treasure SessionTM?
Specially designed workshops that bring people together to unlock the secrets of Japan’s cultural treasures and share long-lasting life lessons.
Sample Tours
Help your designers develop a global perspective and a critical eye through first hand experiences with these Japanese art principles.
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Explore Japan’s urban design through the eyes of city planning. We’ve mapped the best public art in Tokyo and the best public (and private) gardens to help you study the art in the public ream.
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Visit not only the modern beauties, the retro Showa-era relics on the verge of extinction, and the ancient wooden traditional temples and shrines. We’ll also bring you to the museums that highlight Japan’s building philosophies and house models of some of the finest specimens of architecture.
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Explore art history from a different point of view—visit temples and festival museums to uncover ancient building techniques and discover how the Japanese made paint.
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Explore the modern side of Japan, everything from modern video game design and esports, to the roots of manga and anime in Hokusai ukiyo-e and Studio Ghibli.
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Explore the evolution of the written word to modern graphic design in Japanese culture. Explore topics such as understanding how Japanese paper is made and different than other papers, to how calligraphy can express so much meaning, and how the Japanese organized so many lead type characters.
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Embedded in Japanese Culture are several practices that help create peace of mind, which unlock creative energies. Study mindful practices such as forest bathing, incense making, and taiko drumming. Discover how a tea ceremony and ikebana are a form of meditation and how Japanese diet staples can fuel creative energies.
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Depending on the subject matter desired, we can curate the right itinerary. Whether it is street, night, lifestyle, landscape, portrait, or even artistic photography—and we can stop at the best camera gear shops.
Why choose TokudAw for your Educational Travel Partner?
Licensed Professionals
Our experienced drivers and vetted consultants understand Japan’s culture, business nuances, and transportation network.
Cultural Guide
We’ll help tailor the trip so your group experiences the “real” Japan not just the touristy one.
Locally Certified
We’re registered with the government to provide tour and transportation services to our guests.
Travel Coordination
Stress free organization and Japan-based logistics. We’re also happy to help strategize budgeting and fundraising ideas with your group.
Unique Offerings
We’ve developed unique programming under the consultation of professional artisans and design-school graduates.
Educator designed
We’re co-founded by a working educator, who helps customize each itinerary with your learning outcomes.