Taketombo — Traveler Stories

Curious Cases

Real stories from curious travelers who went beyond the tourist trail — into Japan's craft towns, studios, and artisan communities.

Whether you are making a pit-stop in one of our towns, or seeking a longer residency stay, we can assist with your travel planning. Each traveler arrives with their own curiosity — and leaves with a connection to Japan that no guidebook can provide.

These are their stories.

"Crossing cultures as artists through open dialogue and mutual respect — our commitment to craft makes us more alike than different."

The travelers

Barbara J. Allens in Japan

Barbara J. Allens

Ceramist & Art Educator · Specialty: Hand-build tea bowls, soda firing

Duration 2 days in Nanto, Toyama
Focus Inami woodcarving, cultural exchange

"Crossing cultures as artists through open dialogue and mutual respect, I find that our commitment and dedication to our craft make us more alike than different."

Read Barbara's story →
Brenton Maureillo in Japan

Brenton Maureillo

Ceramic Artist · Porcelain workshop specialist

Focus Porcelain, Japanese firing techniques

An Australian ceramist seeking the source of Japanese porcelain tradition — and finding it in a rural studio far off any tourist route.

Read Brenton's story →
Samson Poon in Japan

Samson Poon

Designer & Creative Director

Focus Craft & design intersection, rural Japan

A designer from Hong Kong exploring how traditional Japanese craft informs contemporary creative practice — and why proximity to artisans changes everything.

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Kelly Lamb in Japan

Kelly Lamb

Artist & Cultural Explorer

Focus Cultural immersion, slow travel

Arriving as a curious traveler and leaving as a genuine advocate — Kelly's experience shows what happens when you slow down and let a place reveal itself.

Read Kelly's story →
Ayako Takase in Japan

Ayako Takase

Japanese-born traveler rediscovering her own country

Focus Reconnecting with Japanese craft heritage

Sometimes it takes the eyes of an outsider to see your own culture clearly. Ayako returns to Japan's rural towns and finds a heritage she never knew was disappearing.

Read Ayako's story →

More stories, field notes, and craft dispatches from rural Japan in the Taketombo Journal.

Visit the Journal ↗ All stories on taketombo.jp ↗

Ready to write your
own curious case?

Explore our current programs and join the next group of curious travelers in rural Japan.

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