I have lead a number of trips to Japan over the past 20 years. First for Parson’s School of Design. Then for Skidmore College, Dai Ichi Arts Gallery, Japan Society and The North Group, and recently 2 independent trips. The Japan trips are very special in that we visit artists and artisans who are friends and mentors of mine including Living National Treasures as well as the new generation of young artists.
I do not lead these programs often as it is a big commitment on my part as well as that of the artists who agree to participate.
      The accommodations are first class wherever possible. And we visit people and places that would other wise be impossible.
I lived 9 years in Japan and have built an extensive network of artists and artisans.

Following is the trip offered in 2006.This would be very similar to the one planned for 2009:

Ceramic Artists & Artisans of Japan
October 9 – 28,  2006

An intimate tour of Japan that is lead by Jeff Shapiro will be a special opportunity to visit studios and homes of well established and up and coming artists in the field of Japanese contemporary ceramics.

The trip is 19 days and includes:

4 nights in deluxe rooms in Tokyo with breakfast and 2 very special dinners
Private buses when needed
First class travel on Bullet Express (Shinkansen)
Baggage portage to destinations
Museum entrances
All transportation to planned events
1 night in a hot springs ryokan in Hakone with breakfast and dinner
1  nights in hot springs hotel in Nagoya area with breakfast and dinner
1 night hotel in Nagoya with breakfast
1 nights in local Bizen ryokan with breakfast and dinner
2 nights accommodations in Okayama with breakfast
Local Bizen lunch
Isamu Noguchi Museum tour with curator.  Noodle lunch near by
2 nights on the very special island of Naoshima with breakfast and dinner ( the hotel is inside the museum!)
Ferry and private bus to Japan Sea Coast
2 nights at a Yumura Hot Springs Onsen with breakfast and dinner (1 night) and a special dinner the following night at a potter's home
4 nights at the Westin Miyako Hotel in Kyoto with breakfast
2 special dinners while in Kyoto( including farewell dinner at Westin Miyako)
1 day trip with private bus to Shigaraki and the Miho Museum where we will have a box lunch at the museum before going on to visit  Shigaraki artists
Airport bus transfer to Kansai Airport

     Jeff Shapiro has made friends while living and studying for 9 years in Japan. He considers some of those people as mentors, some are contemporaries of his, and so the opportunities are available to have discussions with a number of prominent artists as well as young promising artists.
We will visit 2 Living National Treasures
We will visit with no less than 14 artists in their own studios and homes.
We will have a presentation by Rob Yellen at his gallery in Mishima about Contemporary Japanese Ceramics.
We will also have opportunities to visit temples and a National Designated Park in Okayama. The experience promises to be rich and insightful.

Itinerary is available upon request.
Participation is limited to 13 people maximum

The cost including all the above but without air fare, is $8,589.00 *price to be adjusted

For more information contact:
Jeff Shapiro  jeshapi@juno.com  or Tel. 845 626 0684

The next Japan trip is tentatively planned for Oct. 2009

Recently, I have become involved with Italy. And have lead workshops in Tuscany and the mountains of Andagna near the French boarder. There is an article on the web page about building the kiln at Spannocchia near Sienna.
I plan to continue the connection with Italy and will post upcoming trips and programs. Although there are no set dates for programs in Italy at the moment, I am thinking of summer programs there for the near future.
I am accepting inquires about programs to Italy

I am also planning a tour to artist’s studios in Australia in Fall of 2008
I fell in love with the country and the people and have made very good friends there. We will visit Australia’s finest artists/artisans at their homes and studios: Janet Mansfield, Chester Neely, Owen Rye, Paul Davis at Sturt Craft Center, and Gail Nichols to name a few.
This tour will be about ceramics and food as well as other craft. We will travel along the East coast. There may be an optional segment before or after to New Zealand.

AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS TOUR
WITH JEFF SHAPIRO

Tentatively set for Nov. 2008

Based on double occupancy (Single supplement available at most hotels) includes:

 2 Nights Melbourne

 1 Night   Lakes Entrance

 2 Nights Tathra

 2 Nights Canberra

 1 Night   Mittagong

 2 Nights Gulgong

 1 Night Blue Mountains

 3 nights Sydney

 Hotels are 4 and 5 star wherever available

 Breakfast each day

 2 Lunches

13 Dinners

Introductions and studio visits to Australian artists

Private coach/bus from location to location

Guided tour in Melbourne Museums

Opera house performance or equivalent in Sydney  

Airport transit from Airport ( 1 bus on arrival day)

Airport transit from Hotel to Airport upon return

                  * Work will be available at studios and galleries 

For tentative itinerary, list of tentative artists, and further information contact:

Jeff Shapiro :  jeshapi@juno.com    Tel: 845 626 0684 

Travel arrangements and accommodation by: Custom Tours Att. Brian Maitland Tel. 239 949 5590