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ARCH ON TOUR 73_JAPAN 5

Kyoto - Naoshima - Expo Osaka - Tokyo  
MAY 21- JUNE 04, 2025

Concept and expert accompaniment: : Marion Kuzmany / ARCH ON TOUR

as well as expert guiding by local architects and specialists: Tetsuya Kitaguchi, Ujizono architects, Coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects,  EXPO Austria, Tezuka Architects, e.a.

Tour operator: Mondial GmbH & Co. KG

The new ARCH ON TOUR to Japan starts in Kyoto, where our program leads us to special buildings and selected temples off the beaten path. A hike to “Kami Daigo”, the upper part of the Dago-ji temple complex, brings refreshment in nature, an overview of the city and an insight into Buddhist culture right at the beginning of the tour. Walks through the city let us admire Kyoto's famous handicrafts in architecturally interesting commercial buildings. The joyful tour continues to the Seto Inland Sea and the Setouchi Islands, which are famous for their high-quality architecture and art projects - including buildings by Tadao Ando for permanent art exhibitions by Hiroshi Sugimoto, James Turrell and Walter de Maria and the Teshima Art Museum by Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA) in collabotation with Rei Naito for his spatial installation. As well as the Inujima Art House Project by Yuko Hasegawa and Kazuyo Sejima.

This time we will experience our next destination, Osaka, from an extraordinary perspective, that of Expo Osaka 2025, to which we will dedicate two intensive days with visits to numerous country pavilions by internationally renowned architects and an exclusive reception in the Austrian pavilion.

The mega-metropolis of Tokyo offers a fantastic experience in every respect, not at least as a splendid conclusion of our tour. From our perfect location - right in the pulsating Ginza - we immerse ourselves in the dense city life and enjoy the fascination of the largest city in the world with it´s 37.2 million inhabitants. Two day trips and walks through the most interesting areas of Tokyo provide a wide variety of impressions.

Examples of traditional and contemporary timber constructions in Japan are a recurring theme throughout the extensive program. Starting with the unique temple buildings in Kyoto - such as the 120 meter long hall of the Sanjusangen-do Temple - we explore the topic by a wide variety of buildings, such as the historic wooden houses enriched with art interventions in a former fishing village on Naoshima, the mighty, ring-shaped timber structure of Sou Fujimoto, which encloses the pavilions as a key building at the Expo Osaka, the Rinshunkaku Villa from the Meiji period in Yokohama with its characteristic Shoji sliding windows, and last but not least the newly implemented timber structures at Niijima Junior College by Tezuka Architects.

 

The tour, which is composed of some highlights from the wide-ranging ARCH ON TOUR - Japan-repertoire in addition with many new discoveries, is, as always, enriched with selected culinary delights (all included in the tour price!), offers the opportunity to experience traditional baths in two of our hotels and also provides insight in Japanese culture and way of living beyond architecture.

I am very much looking forward to a wonderful tour to Japan and to exchanging ideas with interesting participants and local architects!

here to the ROUTE and TOUR PRICE

PROGRAM

as of 2024/10/14, subject to modifications

some visits and restaurants currently in request

 

approx. sunrise – sunset on our respective travel dates

Osaka 04:50 – 19:00

Tokyo 04:30 – 18:50

Wednesday, 2025/05/21 / VIENNA - MUNICH – OSAKA

individual check-in and boarding  

09:05 – 10:05 flight Vienna VIE –  Munich MUC by LH 2325 (Lufthansa Cityline / AIRBUS A319)

11:55 – 06:55 (+1) flight Munich MUC – Osaka KIX by LH 742 (Lufthansa / AIRBUS A350-900)

 

Thursday, 2025/05/22 / arrival at OSAKA KANSAI / bus to KYOTO

06:55 arrival at Osaka Kansai Airport, Terminal 1

coach transfer 

check-in Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, luggage storage

common brunch

walk:

Nishiki Market

WA House / Ujizono architects, 2023

Rokkaku-do Tempel / 1125, reconstructed after fire 1877  

Issey Miyake Store in a historical Machiya house / Naoto Fukasawa, 2018

Hakuhodo Cosmetic Brush Shop / Waro Kishi, 2014

Zohiko Urushi (Japanese Fine Lacquer Ware) Museum and Shop / Waro Kishi, 2014

Kyukyodo Monkoudokoro stationery shop / Naito Architect & Associates, 2020

Times I, II Building / Tadao Ando, 1983, 1991

Ponto-cho, historic Ponto-cho alley

K8 Space / Florian Busch Architects, 2016

15:00 check-in hotel rooms

siesta,  open-air hotsprings at the hotel Rooftop-Spa  

walk through Gion district

Pass The Baton Gion shop / Masamichi Katayama, 2015

common dinner

1st night at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, Kyoto

 

Friday, 2025/05/23 / KYOTO

breakfast at the hotel

meeting with Tetsuya Kitaguchi 

public transportation, walks

hike on the mountain trail to Kami Daigo (upper part of the Daigo-ji complex) 

common lunch at Restaurant Tobajin Fushimi

Daigo-ji tempel complex / founded: Heian -era, 874, since 1994 UNESCO world heritage (visit of the vast complex and gardens with numerous buildings, gates, 5-storied pagoda, etc. )

back to the hotel

free evening

2nd night at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, Kyoto

 

Saturday, 2025/05/24 /  KYOTO

breakfast at the hotel

meeting with Tetsuya Kitaguchi 

public transportation, walks

Kyoto Wand café / Coil Kazuteru Matumura Architects, 2022 (interior visit)

Sanjūsangen-dō Hall, Rengeō-in Tempel / 1164,  main hall reconstructed 1264 (with 120 m Japans longest timber hall, contains 1001 Kannon-statues)

common lunch

Shoren’in Tempel complex and garden / 13th century, main hall reconstructed 1895 

ev. Shogunzuka Mound / observation deck

free evening

3rd night at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, Kyoto

 

Sunday, 2025/05/25 / KYOTO – NAOSHIMA

breakfast at the hotel, check-out

coach transfer to Kyoto Station

by Shinkansen "Nozomi 99" to Okayama

coach

Ferry (with our coach) to Naoshima island / Miyanoura Port

Yayoi Kusama "red Pumpkin"

Chichu Art Museum / Tadao Ando, 2004  

individual lunch at Chichu Café

Benesse House Museum / Tadao Ando, 1992  

Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery: Time Corridors  

coach

Yayoi Kusama "yellow Pumpkin"

Art House Project: Conversions and extensions of 7 historical Machiya houses (Gokaisho, Kadoya, Minamidera, e.a.) in cooperation with architects & artists: Tadashi Yamamoto & Tatsuo Miyajima, Tadao Ando & James Turrell, Rei Naito & Masaru Kimura, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hiroshi Senju, Yoshihiro Suda, Shinro Ohtake

Ando Museum / conversion by Tadao Ando, 2013

Go´o Shrine / glass steps by Hiroshi Sugimoto, 2002

Ring of Fire - Solar Yang & Lunar Weerasethakul

​The Naoshima Plan "The Water"

Honmura Port: Taxi-ship to Shodoshima island / Tonosho Port

Hotel-Shuttle, check-in Tenku Hotel Kairo Tonosho

japanese bath and common dinner at the hotel

1st night at Tenku Hotel Kairo Tonosho, Shodoshima

 

Monday, 2025/05/26 / INUJIMA, TESHIMA

breakfast at the hotel

walk to "Angel Road" (sand road)

Hotel-Shuttle to Tonosho Port

Taxi-ship to Inujima island  

Inujima Seirensho Art Museum in former copper refinery / Hiroshi Sambuichi & Yukinori Yanagi, 2008

Inujima Art House Project / Yuko Hasegawa & Kazuyo Sejima (SANAA), 2010 (Galleries and art interventions in vernacular houses of the village)

Inujima Life Garden / Kazujo Sejima (SANAA), Akaruiheya garden planner, 2010

Taxi-ship to Teshima island / Karato Port

walk

Teshima Art Museum / Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), Rei Naito, 2010

Taxi-ship to Shodoshima island / Tonosho Port

Hotel-Shuttle

common dinner

2nd night at Tenku Hotel Kairo Tonosho, Shodoshima

 

Tuesday, 2025/05/27 / SHODOSHIMA - OSAKA

breakfast at the hotel, check-out

Hotel-Shuttle to Tonosho Port

Ferry: Tonosho to Shin Okayama-ko

coach transfer to Okayama Station

by Shinkansen "Nozomi 96" from Okayama to Shin-Osaka

subway

check-in Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba / KKAA Kengo Kuma & Associates, 2020

walk through Osaka Namba-Shinsaibashi: Dotombori shopping street, Ebisu bashi bridge, Galleria Akka / Tadao Ando, 1988, Hozenji Tempel, e.a.

exklusive Banquet dinner (japan. Kaiseki-Dinner incl. beverages) at Hotel Royal Classic (Sky Banquet room Ruri)

1st night at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba

 

Wednesday, 2025/05/28 / OSAKA / Expo

breakfast at the hotel

public transportation

Expo Osaka 

visit of selected participants´pavilions

common lunch at the  Expo site

other common and individual visits at the Expo 

(opening hours of the Expo 09:00-22:00)

free evening

2nd night at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba

Thursday, 2025/05/29 / OSAKA / Expo

breakfast at the hotel

public transportation

Expo Osaka 

visit of selected participants´pavilions

reception at the Austrian pavillon: meeting with the pavilion director, Expo Austria, guided visit of the pavilion and common lunch (incl. beverages)

other common and individual visits at the Expo  

free evening

3rd night at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba

 

Friday, 2025/05/30  / TOKYO: GINZA

breakfast at the hotel, check-out

subway

by Shinkansen "Nozomi 14" from Shin Osaka to Tokyo  

Yamanote Line

check-in The Gate Hotel Tokyo Ginza

walk through Ginza:

Tokyo International Forum / Rafael Viñoly, 1996

De Beers V88 Ginza Building / Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects, 2008 (from outside)

Pola Ginza Building / Nikken Sekkei Ltd + Yasuda Atelier, 2009

Pola Museum Annex / (visit of the current exhibition)

Higashiya Ginza (short interior visit)

Ito-ya stationery shop (individual visit)

Ginza Place / Klein Dytham Architects, 2016 (from outside)

Ginza Wako / Jin Watanabe, 1932

Maison Hermès / Renzo Piano, 1999, 2004 (visit of the current exhibition at Hermès Forum)

Ginza Six / Yoshio Taniguchi, 2017 (visit of the shopping mall, Tsutaya Bookshop and roof terrace)

Shiseido Parlour Ginza / Ricardo Bofill, 2001 (vsiit of the Shiseido Gallery)

Louis Vuitton Ginza Namiki / Jun Aoki and Peter Marino, 2021 (from outside)

common Sushi-dinner in Ginza

1st night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

 

Saturday, 2025/05/31 / TOKYO: TENNOZU - DAIKANYAMA

breakfast at the hotel

public transportation, walks

Pigment art supply shop / Kengo Kuma, 2015 (interior visit)

WHAT Museum und Archi-depot (vsiit of the architecture model depot and current exhibition)

common lunch, ev. at WHAT Café

Hillside Terrace / Maki and Associates, 1969-92 (walk through the publivc areas, Hillside Gallery)

Daikanyama T-Site: Tsutaya bookstore / Klein Dytham Architecture, 2012 (individual interior visit)

free evening

2nd night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

 

Sunday, 2025/06/01 / TOKYO - day tour to YOKOHAMA

breakfast at the hotel

public transportation, coach, walks

by train to Yokohama, coach

Rinshun-kaku Villa, Yokohama / Meiji-era (Visit to the villa with numerous buildings, shrines, temples, pagodas in the extensive garden)

coach and train back to Tokyo 

common dinner in Tokyo

3rd night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

 

Monday, 2025/06/02 / TOKYO - day tour to TAKASAKI

breakfast at the hotel

public transportation,  walks

by train to Takasaki

Niijima Gakuen Junior College Hall & Chapel / Tezuka Architects (guided visit)

common lunch

Gunma Music center / Antonin Raymond, 1961 (visit in request)

by train back to Tokyo

free evening

4th night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

 

Tuesday, 2025/06/03 / TOKYO: YOYOGI - OMOTENSANDO - SHIBUYA

breakfast at the hotel

public transportation,  walks

Tokyo Toilet Project: Yoyogi Hachiman / Toyo Ito; Haru no Ogawa Community Park, Yoyogi / Shigeru Ban

Yoyogi National Gymnasium / Kenzo Tange, 1964 (from outside)

Fender Store / Klein Dytham, 2023

Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado / Akihisa Hirata, 2024

individual walk to Omotesando and back (with map and instructions)

individual lunch

GYRE / Maison Margiela; Omotesando Hills / Tadao Ando, 2005; Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo Omotesando;

Dior Building Omotesando / SANAA; Omotesando Crossing / Aoyama Stores: Issey Miyake Pleats Please; HaaT, Comme des Garcons / Takao Kawasaki, Future Systems, 1999; Yoshi Yamamoto; Miu Miu /Herzog & de Meuron, 2015; Prada / Herzog & de Meuron, 2005; Collezione Aoyama / Tadao Ando, 1989; Nezu Museum / Kengo Kuma, 2009 (with Japanese garden and modern tea house) 

or:

Meiji Jingu: individual walk through the garden and visit of the shrine complex

Meiji Jingu Museum / KKAA Kengo Kuma & Associates, 2019

meeting and common walk to Shibuya

Tokyo Toilet Project:  Jingu Dori Park / Tadao Ando

Shibuya Miyashita Park / Takenaka Corporation + Nikken Sekkei, 2020 (walk through the shopping complex)

Shibuya Yokochoo Food court

Shibuya Fukuras / Tezuka Architects, Nikken Sekkei Ltd., 2019

exklusive Cocktail and Buffet-dinner incl. drinks at the Skybar BAO by CÉ LA VI Toyko

Ginza Line Shibuya Station / Naito Architect & Associates, 2020

5th night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

 

Wednesday, 2025/06/04 / NARITA – WIEN

breakfast at the hotel, check-out

Coach transfer or Narita Express

11:10 – 18:25 flight Tokyo Narita NRT – Vienna VIE  by OS 52 (Austrian Airlines / BOEING 777-200/200ER)

ROUTE ​​

2025/05/21 / 09:05 – 10:05 flight Vienna VIE –  Munich MUC by LH 2325 (Lufthansa Cityline / AIRBUS A319) / 11:55 – 06:55 (+1) flight Munich MUC – Osaka KIX by LH 742 (Lufthansa / AIRBUS A350-900)

2025/05/22 / 06:55 arrival at Osaka Kansai Airport, Terminal 1 / coach transfer to KYOTO / visits by foot in Kyoto / 1st night at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, Kyoto

2025/05/23 / mountain hike and visits by foot and public transportation in KYOTO / 2nd night at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, Kyoto

2025/05/24 / visits by foot and public transportation in KYOTO / 3rd night at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace, Kyoto

2025/05/25 / by Shinkansen to Okayama,coach and ferry to NAOSHIMA / visits by coach and by foot on Naoshima island / Taxi-ship to Tonosho / 1st night at Tenku Hotel Kairo Tonosho, Shodoshima ​

2025/05/26 / Taxi-ship to INUJIMA and TESHIMA / visits by foot on Inujima and Teshima island / 2nd night at Tenku Hotel Kairo Tonosho, Shodoshima ​

2025/05/27 / by ferry, coach and Shinkansen to OSAKA / visits by foot in Osaka / 1st night at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba

2025/05/28 / visits by foot and public transportation at the Expo Osaka / 2nd night at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba

2025/05/29 / visits by foot and public transportation at the Expo Osaka / 3rd night at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba

2025/05/30 / by Shinkansen to TOKYO / visits by foot in Tokyo / 1st night at  The Gate Hotel, Tokyo Ginza

2025/05/31 / visits by foot and public transportation in TOKYO / 2nd night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

2025/05/01 / day tour by train and coach to YOKOHAMA / 3rd night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

2025/05/02 / day tour by train to TAKASAKI / 4th night at The Gate Hotel, Ginza

2025/05/03 / visits by foot and public transportation in TOKYO / 5th night The Gate Hotel, Ginza

2025/05/04 / 11:10 direct flight Tokyo Narita NRT – Vienna VIE by OS 52 (Austrian Airlines / BOEING 777-200/200ER) / 18:25 arrival in Vienna

 

 

TOUR PRICE per person in a double room: 7.145 EUR (incl. tax.);  single room supplement: 1.350 EUR

INCLUDING: flights (Economy class) by Lufthansa: Vienna - Munich - Osaka Kansai, direct return flight by Austrian Airlines: Tokyo Narita - Vienna; 13 nights incl. breakfast in selected and central located hotels (3x at Hotel Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto 5*; 2x at Tenku Hotel Kairo Tonosho 3*, Shodoshima ; 3x at Hotel Royal Classic, Osaka Namba 4*; 5x at The Gate Hotel Tokyo Ginza 4*), 14 common meals in specially selected restaurants (among them min. 3x including beverages, e.g. at: banquet dinner at Royal Classic Hotel Osaka, lunch reception at the Austrian Expo-pavilion, Cocktailparty with dinner-Buffet at Bao Sky Bar in Shibuya); all entrance fees to museums, temples, etc. according to the program; Expo tickets;

all transports: airport transfers, public transportations, Shinkansen, private coach, Taxi-ship; tourist tax, tips; expert guidings, program and expert accompaniment by DI Marion Kuzmany​

not included: individual meals and beverages, partly beverages at common meals (except at min. 3 meals as discribed above), coffee breaks, individual program, taxi rides, etc.

SOLD OUT

maximum number of participants: 33 persons

 

IMPORTANT: VERY good walking ability is required for this tour!

here to the TRAVEL- and CANCELLATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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