Step into the quiet world of sumi-e, Japanese ink painting, on a journey no ordinary tour can offer.
From Kyoto to the countryside workshops of Nara and beyond, you’ll meet artisans whose families have made ink, brushes and paper for generations, and choose the tools that will become your own.
Whether you’ve never held a brush or have studied for years, each day balances hands-on making with time to simply watch ink meet water. By week’s end, you’ll carry home not just a painting, but a way of seeing.
In spring 2026, we welcomed our very first group on the Sumi-e Journey, and their heartfelt response moved us deeply. Encouraged by their words, we are delighted to open the journey once again in spring 2027.
Spring 2027 · Kyoto, Nara & Echizen, Japan · Limited to 10 travellers
Who This Journey Is For
This trip welcomes complete beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
No prior experience with sumi-e is required — Margot, our instructor, guides you from the very first brushstroke, teaching how to hold the brush, mix the ink, and trust the white space of the page.
If you’ve studied ink painting before, you’ll find room to go deeper: choosing your own tools, working at your own pace, and learning directly from artisans whose techniques span generations.
What matters most isn’t your skill level, but your curiosity — and a willingness to slow down and pay attention.
Organizer & Instructor
Your guide on this journey is Margot Tohkou (東虹) Olejniczak, a Swiss-Polish artist and educator who has travelled to Japan to study sumi-e since 2000.
Trained in the atelier of master Tohun Kobayashi, who gave her the name “Eastern Rainbow,” she teaches across Europe through Atelier Margot.
Over 25 years, she has built personal friendships with masters and craftspeople, opening doors to a Japan most visitors never see.