Quilts and Fiber Arts: Design Inspiration Journey through Japan with Artist Sarah Nishiura

Quilts and Fiber Arts: Design Inspiration Journey through Japan with Artist Sarah Nishiura

$5,250.00

Savor the Beauty and Culture of Japan with WMQFA and Artist Sarah Nishiura!

October 31 - November 14, 2026

Total Cost: $10,500, registration closes 6/1/2026 or when full.

Airfare to/from Japan is at your discretion and cost and not included.

The first 50% ($5,250) of the fee is due upon sign-up and is non-refundable. The remaining 50% ($5,250) is due by July 1, 2026.

We strongly encourage you to obtain trip insurance, including medical. Japan may require you to show proof of ability to pay for any medical expenses you incur.

The trip is limited to 17 people, plus the 3 staff/artists.

Cost of the trip is for a single occupancy.

Experience design inspiration in Japan with artist Sarah Nishiura. Featuring hands-on workshops, tours, and more, this intimate tour is the perfect way to travel.

This trip is for you if:

You want to travel with an artist and professional quilter who will offer mentorship and help you find creative inspiration as you travel.
You are interested in meeting Japanese quilters and learning from them.
You are interested in an immersive experience of Japanese art, design, and traditional crafts, including textiles, ceramics, and more.
You want to travel to Japan with a Japanese native who speaks the language and understands the culture.
You want to try wonderful Japanese cuisine.
You enjoy meeting and making new friends.
You want to experience something totally new and different!

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What’s Included:

14 nights in 4- and 5-star hotels (breakfast included at all hotels)
Guided English-speaking experiences and tours (tickets included)
Chartered buses and bullet train tickets between cities, in-country airfare

About Sarah Nishiura, Artist

Sarah Nishiura is a Chicago-based quiltmaker who utilizes traditional techniques to craft quilts from recycled and vintage materials. Inspired by numerous textile traditions including 19th and early 20th century American Quilts, Sarah's work explores and celebrates the infinite possibilities of geometric design. Her quilts have been exhibited in museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad, including the Iowa Quilt Museum, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, the New England Quilt Museum, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, and the Yokohama Quilt Fest in Japan. Her quilts have been featured in numerous magazines and blogs, including Martha Stewart Living, QuiltFolk Magazine, Chicago Magazine, and Food and Wine, and they are included in private, corporate, and public art collections throughout the United States. Sarah's work has been supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Center for Craft. Sarah has an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a B.A. in visual arts from Brown University.

More information about Sarah's studio practice can be found at http://www.sarahnishiura.com/.

About Takako Willden, Trip Leader, Planner, and Translator

Takako Willden is a native of Niigata, Japan, who lives in Cedarburg, WI, and is a dedicated volunteer at WMQFA. She says of her textile experiences: "I grew up in Japan playing with silk scraps as my maternal grandmother sewed kimono for her clients by hand. I always loved making things - from folding origami papers to sewing doll clothes. I live in the U.S. now – almost 30 years. When my children were young my mother-in-law taught me how to make American quilts for them, I’ve enjoyed the craft ever since.

During a trip back to Japan my love for Boro began. Boro refers to the practice of reworking and repairing textiles, often clothes or bedding, through piecing, patching and stitching, in order to extend their use. It started when I found a vintage Japanese Ikat bedding fabric at an antique shop in Japan. Now I enjoy making quilts using Japanese Boro and big running stitches."

Two-week Itinerary (Please note, this itinerary is subject to change)

- L – lunch, D – dinner, PYO – Pay Your Own meal (Please note, alcohol is not included in the meals)

Activity level of this trip:

Moderate amount of walking daily which involves stairs, uneven sidewalks and cobble stones, busy train stations, from bus to destination.
Must be able to handle your own luggage.

*We may not always be able to accommodate your food allergies. We cannot honor “food preferences.” PLEASE communicate with the Museum Director before signing up to determine if this trip is for you.

Day 1 - Saturday, October 31 (Dinner included) - Tokyo

1900 (7:00PM) Welcome Dinner

Overnight at New Otani

Day 2 – Sunday, November 1 (Lunch and Dinner included) - Tokyo

Oedo Antique Market (tentative)

Nezu Museum

Katazome Workshop

Overnight at New Otani

Day 3 – Monday, November 2 (Lunch included) - Tokyo

Design Inspiration Meeting with Sarah Nishiura – “Japanese Aesthetic and Design”

Meet Quilt Expert Naomi Ichikawa - Lecture on “Kawaii Quilts”

Japan Craft Museum (Mingei)