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| Recently our World of Design series took us to Japan! The Japanese have one of the world's oldest and most exciting cultures. The people we met left us with an enormous amount of inspiration and ideas! Ones we can't wait to share with all of you. Following are some candids from our journey into the Eastern aesthetic.
January 30th, 2000 9:00pm & 12:00am (Eastern Time) 6:00pm & 9:00pm (Pacific Time) Don't Miss it! |
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| During our Travels we visited the city of Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku. Ritsurin Park is one of the city's most beautiful gardens. We were completely transformed as we strolled over Japanese bridges, balanced atop stepping stones and admired all the meticulously manicured trees! It's a place definitely worth a visit. See Places To Visit for more information. | ||||
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| At Ritsurin, we took a break to experience a traditional cup of Japanese green tea at the Tea House. The best part about the Tea House is that it dates back to the 17th century and allows visitors the opportunity to experience traditional Japanese tea in an authentic environment! The views of the pond and the wall-to-wall tatami mats are also a treat! | ||||
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| While on the Island of Shikoku we had the exciting opportunity to visit the house and studio of celebrated artist Isamu Noguchi. Here, Joe stands in front of Mr. Noguchi's house in the small village of Shikoku-Mure. The house and studio are open to the public and visiting them is quite a wonderful experience! See Places To Visit for more information. | ||||
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| Noguchi's wonderful paper lanterns are pieces of art in their own right. In fact, today the lanterns are being reproduced and can be purchased for your own home. But be aware of the many "counterfeits" out there. True Noguchi lanterns must have the authentic Noguchi stamp and signature of the artist. For inquires on where to purchase your own Noguchi lantern or how to visit the Noguchi Museum in New York contact:
32-37 Vernon Boulevard Long Island City, New York 11106 Tel: (718)545-8842 Fax: (718)278-2348 |
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| One of the most interesting differences between the East and the West is the way in which people live, and no where is this distinction more evident than in the home. We visited the restored village of Shikoku-Mure where over 80 early Japanese structures are on display! We found the building techniques, the bamboo floors and thatched roofs to be fascinating! Learn more about these structures in January when "The Best of Japanese Design" airs nationwide. | ||||
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| At Shikoku-Mure each house has been set in a natural environment, creating an atmosphere of traditional Japanese landscapes. These settings along with the houses themselves make for a fabulous visit! (The Noodle Restaurant on the premises is also a great place for traditional Japanese noodles!) See Places to Visit for more information. | ||||
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| The art of Japanese indigo dying is one of Japan's oldest art forms. Traditionally used to decorate Kimonos, today the fabric is used in a variety of ways. Throughout Japan you'll see this beautiful fabric covering doorways and windows. Stay tuned for our visit to Azienkobo where we'll give viewers a first hand look at how this intricate fabric is made! | ||||
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| Here the owner of the Azien Kobo workshop, Ms. Hisako Utsuki, poses with one of her indigo-dyed fashions. | ||||
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| Kyoto is one of Japan's most beautiful cities. Here we had a insider's guide to some of the best decorating shops in Kyoto, thanks to our very knowledgeable guide Inja Yang. Inja comes to Japan several times a year to search for interesting items to sell in her San Francisco showrooms. To find out about Inja's showroom and the shops she took us to, visit Places To Shop. | ||||
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| While in Kyoto we stayed at the lovely Miyako Hotel. The hotel offers both western style rooms (which we found to be impressively large for Japan, and quite comfortable) as well as Japanese style rooms. The Japanese rooms are the real treat at the Miyako (furnished with traditional tatami mats, futons and shoji screens). You'll also enjoy the staff who greet you in authentic kimonos! Visit Places To Stay for more information on the Miyako. | ||||
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| Kyoto is famous for its temple gardens, and when visiting the Kodai-ji Temple Garden it's easy to see why. It dates back to 1605 and has a fascinating history. We were lucky enough to have garden designer Mark Bourne give us the formal tour. Marc is an American who studied Japanese Garden Design at Kodai-ji under the direction of his mentor Mr. Kitayama. Today he has his own Garden Design business in San Francisco. Mark will appear on HGTV with Mr. Kitayama in a special program on Japanese Garden Design. Bourne Landscaping Design Tel: (650)-941-4610 |
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| For More Information on Traveling to Japan Contact: | ||||
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Japan National Tourist Organization LOS ANGELES 515 S. Figuero Street, Suite #1470 Los Angeles, Ca 90071 Tel: (213)623-1952 Fax: (213)623-6301 |
Japan National Tourist Organization NEW YORK One Rockefeller Plaza, #1250 New York, New York 10020 Tel: (212)757-5641 Fax: (212)307-6754 | |||
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For Cultural Walking Tours of Japan including the Gardens of Kyoto Contact: Cultural Walking Tours of Japan 2101 Wilshire Boulevard, #101 Santa Monica, CA 90403 Reservations: 1-800-377-7481 Website: www.espprittravel.com Email: esprits@aol.com
To Learn More About Japanese Garden Design
For more information on where to shop, eat and stay while in Kyoto, we recommend a teriffic book by author Diane Durston, entitled "Old Kyoto". Old Kyoto is a guide to traditional shops, restaurants and inns situated in this magical city. Diane has the unique ability to take you behind the scenes to uncover the little known destinations and hidden charms of Kyoto. An experience unlike any other guide book, Old Kyoto is a teriffic pocket sized traveling companion. (Don't go to Kyoto without it!). Published by Kodansha International in 1986, the book is now in its 15th printing. It's Available at your local bookstore or Amazon.com. Check it out!
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Produced by "Ruggiero Ideas" © | |
