Arrive at Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan

Airport pickup any time night or day. 

We’ll begin the day with an introductory meet-and-greet with Leonie before heading out to explore.  

Our morning starts with a visit to Osaka Castle, where we’ll have time to sketch this iconic landmark and take in its history.  

Next, we’ll visit the Osaka National Museum of Art, a unique underground museum. Its striking entrance, inspired by the vitality of bamboo, is a work of art in itself.  

This afternoon, you’ll have time to explore further or spend more time sketching before we return to the hotel.  

In the evening, let’s come together for a Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of our journey!  

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Nakanoshima Park this morning- an island of peace in this bustling city. Beautiful gardens and great for people watching and sketching.

We’ll move onto the Dotonbori District- it is famous for its food scene, so let’s find lunch and take time to explore.

This area is quintessential Japan neon lights in the evening, perhaps you would like to come back later?

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Off to Kyoto this morning in our bus, we’ll arrive in time to check out the World Heritage Listed Toji Temple and Kobo-ichi Market- a flea market held in the grounds of the temple. Plenty to experience, explore and draw today.

In the afternoon we attend a Tea ceremony  and share the fun of dressing in kimono for the event.

After booking into our hotel, we’ll make plans to meet up for a show and tell session and dinner later.

B,D, Tea Ceremony.

This morning, we are off to explore the Nishiki Market- it is where Kyoto goes to shop for fresh produce. 

It is bright and busy, maybe there will be no place to sketch but lots of local culture and inspiration. 

Just outside a quick visit to quaint Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, just a few meters from the eastern end of the market, look for the lanterns. 

Perfect to take a break and pull out your sketch pad. You can write a wish for the deified sage Sugawara-no-Michizane, who is enshrined here.

Lunch will be found back in the market, so much choice.

In the afternoon we will go to the Kakogawa Riverbank.This is where Kyoto goes to walk or jog, you can also chance upon a Geisha or two, walking on the riverbank.

Later we can wander down to Gion the Geisha district full of picturesque wooden houses and great for people watching.

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Temples today. 

The stunning Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) famous for its beauty and that the upper 2 stories are covered in gold. A Shjun’s retirement home that become a Temple in 1408. 

Wander the gardens and complex, you will come upon the Sekkatei Teahouse where you might like to take tea and sit to sketch.

We’ll have lunch together.

Tenryu-ji Temple most famous for its gardens, the temples are also beautiful. They were first built in 1339 by the ruling shogun Ashikaga Takauji. The temples have been destroyed and rebuilt many times, but the gardens are said to be true to the original design.

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Let's go early and avoid the crowds tovisit the Fushimi Inari Shrine.

It is known for its thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates and scenic walking trails. 

We’ll take our time exploring and sketching this beautiful site. It’s the most important of many shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. You’ll also notice plenty of fox statues around the grounds, as foxes are believed to be Inari’s messengers. The shrine has a rich history, dating back to before Kyoto became the capital in 794.  

the rest of the day is yours to explore or find a comfortable spot to sit and sketch.

In the evening, let’s gather and share our travel journals before enjoying dinner together.

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Kyoto is home to many stunning temples, Ginkakuji, or the Silver Pavilion, a serene Zen temple nestled in the eastern Higashiyama mountains.  

Built in 1482, it began as a retirement villa for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, grandson of the Golden Pavilion's creator. This temple became a hub for the culture of its time, influencing tea ceremonies, flower arranging, Noh theater, poetry, garden design, and architecture—all thanks to Yoshimasa's interests.  

Today, Ginkakuji features the elegant Silver Pavilion, several temple buildings, a peaceful moss garden, and a unique dry sand garden. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of these areas by following a circular walking route around the grounds.  

Nearby is the Philosopher’s Path, a charming canal lined with trees. While it’s famous for cherry blossoms in April, this area is equally magical in the autumn, with leaves beginning to turn and adding to its beauty.  

We’ll spend the afternoon exploring these lovely spots or wandering further afield. Later, let’s gather before dinner to review our sketchbooks and then enjoy a meal together.  

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We’ll transfer to Osaka by coach and have a free morning to explore, shop for souvenirs or find a place to sketch.

Let’s meet again in the afternoon to drink tea and have a show and tell session with Leonie.

Then share a Celebratory Dinner after our time together.

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We will arrange individual drop to the airport for departures from Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan

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MATERIALS  LIST  

➢ HB Pencil or clutch pencil 0.5mm HB 

➢ Pencil sharpener 

➢ Black Pigment Liners or Drafting Pens 

 0.05mm water resistant (Staedtler is one brand) 

➢ White plastic eraser  

➢ Grey kneadable eraser 

➢ Waterbrushes (available at art shops) 

➢ Coloured pencils, can be aquarelle but will be used dry and can be used in conjunction with paint. Optional. 

SKETCHBOOKS 

These are available in all shapes and sizes. Use cold  pressed  300gm (smooth not rough) paper. 

o 8 x 5 in is a good size.  

o You can purchase an A4 pad and have it cut in halves  and bound at Officeworks for an excellent sketchbook.  

➢ DO NOT bring cartridge paper in your sketchbooks. This will buckle. 

 WATERCOLOURS 

➢ Pan sets or 5ml tubes. Compact Pocket Travelling Watercolour Pan sets eg. Winsor & Newton Cotmans brand. 

➢ Waterbrush Pens. Has reservoir for water and nylon brush. Available Art Shops in small, medium or large. Medium is a good all round size. 

➢ Small box Tissues 

USEFUL WATERCOLOURS ARE: 

Various palettes will have different colours. This is not a problem.

Just bring what you have. T

here are also empty palettes you can buy and fill them with tube watercolours if you already have tube colours. 

Cadmium Lemon 

Cadmium Yellow 

Yellow Ochre 

Cadmium Red 

Permanent Rose 

Alizarin Crimson 

Winsor Violet Quinacridone Magenta 

Burnt Umber 

Burnt Sienna 

French Ultramarine 

Cerulean Blue 

Sepia 

Naples Yellow

COLOURED PENCILS 

If you would like to use coloured pencils, bring a selection of colours. It does not matter if they are water soluble or not. These can be used for sketching, or in conjunction with watercolour. 

They can also be purchased individually. 

Some useful green coloured pencil colours are: 

Sap Green, Olive Green, Pine Green, Cedar Green, Apple Green    

Getting Around

We’ve got your transportation covered!

• Airport Transfers: We’ll pick you up from the airport and drop you back at the end of the trip.
• Between Cities: We’ll travel between Osaka and Kyoto by vehicle for comfort and convenience.
• in Osaka we'll use the metro and walk- the Castle is vast and beautiful to explore.
• In Kyoto: We’ll use a mix of taxis, the metro, and walking to navigate the city.
• In Kyoto's Old City, walking is the easiest and most rewarding way to get around. You’ll experience more of the charm and details that make this area so special, and it’s often quicker than other forms of transportation. 

To fully enjoy the experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking at a steady pace for a few kilometres (a mile or so).