Japan: not just geisha, ninja and anime, but technological developments, new trends in popular culture and fashion, and ancient culture. Combined with thriving scenes for traditional and European performing arts, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and many other cities offer ensembles from any country the opportunity to perform at world-class venues and witness the many faces of contemporary Japan.

Classical Movements has been traveling to Japan since 1996.  Major symphony orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as well as smaller groups from the San Francisco Girls Chorus, The Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Los Angeles Children’s Chorus have all enjoyed successful multi-city tours to Japan with the company.

Sights & Sounds

  • Tokyo
  • Opera City
  • Metropolitan Theater
  • Meiji Shrine
  • Mount Fuji
  • Kabuki Theater
  • Osaka
  • Dotonbori Canal
  • Shitenno-ji Temple
  • Kyoto
  • Kinkaku-ji (Golden Shrine)
  • Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
  • Taiko Drumming
  • Itsukushima Island
  • Hiroshima
  • Peace Memorial and Park
  • Sapporo
  • Yokohama

Testimonials

“I’ve been extremely happy with our tours we’ve taken with Classical Movements these past six years. We have used them exclusively for international touring, because they have worked so hard for us, getting us featured at prestigious international venues such as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan; the Gateway Music Festival in Beijing, China; and the upcoming 4th of July concert in Havana, Cuba. They have excellent national staff that listen to your needs, as well as important musical contacts in major cities internationally. Through Classical Movements we have been able to sing at amazing venues to full audiences around the world. If you are interested in a top-notch musical, as well as educational tour, I recommend you employ the services of Classical Movements.”

–Dr. Susan McMane | Artistic Director, San Francisco Girls Chorus

“Our tour to Japan, Singapore and Myanmar was a revelation. Our students performed the B Minor Mass to sold-out houses in some of the top concert halls in these countries. We owe Classical Movements our great debt not only for attending so well to the practical details, but for understanding and being sensitive to our mission of using sacred music to reach out to the cultures of the world. Maestro Suzuki joins me in congratulating Classical Movements!”

–Martin Jean | Dean, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, 2013

“I’ve been extremely happy with our tours we’ve taken with Classical Movements these past six years. We have used them exclusively for international touring, because they have worked so hard for us, getting us featured at prestigious international venues such as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan; the Gateway Music Festival in Beijing, China; and the upcoming 4th of July concert in Havana, Cuba. They have excellent national staff that listen to your needs, as well as important musical contacts in major cities internationally.  Through Classical Movements we have been able to sing at amazing venues to full audiences around the world. If you are interested in a top-notch musical, as well as educational tour, I recommend you employ the services of Classical Movements.”

-San Francisco Girls Chorus

Press

“The musical director and conductor of the Yale Glee Club said the group chose the destination ‘because of the wonderful friendships they discovered in Turkey.’ The Turkish word ‘dost’ (friends for life) is the reason we are performing in Istanbul,’ said Jeff Douma.”

-Hürriyet Daily News, Hatice Utkan | August 5, 2010

“Khubat Abbas Abdul Razaq, a cellist and one of the orchestra’s four women members, said: “I just want to say this is an honor to come to Washington and to play here.”

Samir Yosif, a double-bass player, said: “We want to let the American people know that we have a culture, that we have something to give them. It’s a great honor to be here and we thank the people who have helped us here to play.”

-The lndependent/UK, December 12, 2003

“Blue Heart has followed its clients’ suggestions to map out its expanding destinations. Vacationers travel from Guangzhou to Hong Kong by train visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Tian’anmen Square and take in a performance of the famed Shanghai Acrobats.”

-Tour and Travel News, Michael Milligan | May 8, 1995

“The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra visit involved a human element that transcended the usual business of arranging orchestra tours for Neeta Helms, executive vice president of Classical Movements. She ushered the musicians from their first nerve-wracking security checks at New York’s JFK Airport to their last tourist stop at Rockefeller Center on the way out of the country.”

-Symphony Magazine, Rebecca Winzenreid | March, 2004

“Kevin Fox, who is working with the Neemrana Foundation, the Capital City Minstrels and Delhi School of Music in the Capital, says that the Indian singers are very keen on the music and are eager to do more and learn more about choral singing. He adds, ‘I’ve met some excellent directors and teachers here who are working very creatively to spread the musical and social benefits of group singing.'”

-Mail Today, Srijani Ganguly | Feb 15, 2017