HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR TOKYO, HAKONE/KYOTO-NARA CUSTOM TOUR
TOKYO
- The Peninsula Tokyo feels like our Japan home away from home – the staff is so friendly and warm-hearted. Although Bev and I appreciate the sleek design and amenities of our room overlooking the Imperial Palace grounds, Zen and Sofia are convinced the Peninsula’s hot chocolate is the best in Asia!
- Hibiya Park, directly across the street from the Peninsula, is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Our mornings started with a walk through the park’s lush gardens for beautiful cherry blossom views.
- Ghibli Museum (west of Tokyo in Mitaka) is perhaps the most interesting fine-arts museum in all of Japan, featuring the Japanese anime (Japanese animated film) work of Academy award-winning filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away”). This was a euphoric experience for Zen, Sofia and Toni – Ghibli is a kid’s animation wonderland!
- Origami – All of us enjoyed the private one hour origami lesson we arranged at Origami Kaikan. We created fish, our elaborate Christmas tree, talking “lips”, and even a dragon. Although assimilated and refined in Japan, origami was actually introduced to Japan via 6th century Chinese Buddhist monks. The shop at Origami Kada is a treasury of origami related papers and gifts.
HAKONE/GORA KADAN RYOKAN
A short 45-minute bullet train ride from Tokyo, Hakone is a world apart from the big city in terms of the lush, green mountainous environment and its rejuvenating onsen (hot mineral springs).
Our sole purpose in traveling to Hakone was to make a brief relaxation stopover at the amazing Gora Kadan Ryokan – we loved this place! Proprietress Mikawako, the third generation of Fujimotos to run Gora Kadan, has blended traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern Western design in creating a luxurious ryokan spa experience. The Gora Kadan’s original building dates back to 300 years and was the summer home of the Kan’in-No-Miya imperial family.
Gora Kadan was Zen and Sofia’s introduction to a “public” onsen at the ryokan’s main natural hot springs bath area. Following a brief “public” soaking, they retreated to our room with its own private granite open mineral springs bath, fed by the Gora Kadan’s natural springs. With its airy east-west fusion aesthetic, its wonderful (Kaiseki) food service, and total relaxation spa, Gora Kadan is definitely on our A-list for high-touch ryokans in Japan.
THE NEW JR GREEN CAR (N700) BULLET TRAIN
We were most impressed with the new First Class (Green Car) N700 series Shinkansen “bullet” train to Kyoto-Osaka. With its large and improved ergonomic designed seats, LED reading lights and futuristic design, this next-generation rail service is an amazing experience. Its advanced “tilting” capabilities allow the N700 to cruise smoothly up to 186 mph. Think of our advanced jet aircraft on rails! Still, Zen is more impressed with the tasty “Ekiben” station lunchboxes.
KYOTO (THE ONE AND ONLY!)
We feel Kyoto represents the cultural and aesthetic essence of Japan; amazing Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, the highest quality ryokans, geisha culture, wonderful food, and in April, sakura (cherry blossoms)! And Kyoto at night, particularly in the lantern-lit streets of Gion, is magical and wondrous. There is literally no place on earth like Kyoto.
HANAMI (CHERRY BLOSSOM VIEWING)
From our 2-night base at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto (think Frank Lloyd Wright aesthetic with Japanese refinement) we ventured out our first night for some celebratory “hanami” (cherry blossoms viewing) in Maruyama Park. With all of the remarkable food/game stalls and, of course, the famous weeping cherry tree, this was a fun and amusing night for Zen and Sofia.
TODAI-JI TEMPLE, NARA DEER PARK, AND FUSHIMI-INARI
Today we were re-united with the Xu Family (Jay, Jennifer, and Toni) for two days of exploration, fellowship, and good times! For the next two days we were trusted with our favorite Kyoto guide, Izumi-san. She is simply the best!
Our travels today took us out to Nara and the most impressive Todai-ji Temple (Japan’s largest Buddhist temple within the world’s largest wooden building) and to adjacent Nara Deer Park. Although we were again over-run with the deer feeding, Zen, Sofia and Toni enjoyed every moment! En-route back to Kyoto we stopped at our favorite Shinto shrine, Fushimi-Inari (think of Memoirs of a Geisha!). Dating back to the 8th century. Following a hike up Fushimi’s pathway, Zen, Sofia and Toni wrote their prayers on the wooden blocks at the shrine’s entrance.
MAIKO DRESS UP!
Today was “Geisha” day for the girls! In Kyoto, they do not use the word Geisha, but “Geiko” instead. A younger, apprentice Geiko is called a “Maiko”. A quick way to tell the difference between a Geiko and a Maiko is that the older Geiko always wears a white neck collar.
Today was very exciting because Zen, Sofia and Toni were all made up as Maiko - yes, real Maiko with all the make-up, the wig hair, and beautiful kimonos. Hannah Montana eat your heart out! It took over an hour to prepare their make-up, hair, and kimonos. They were later able to walk down the street like real Maiko in the Gion district. It was unreal!
PRIVATE GEISHA DINNER/ENTERTAINMENT
This was one of the truly special and unique high-lights of our Japan private tour. While being served a delicious multi-course kaiseki dinner at Mitoko in the Gion district, we were graciously hosted by two Geiko and one Maiko. The older Geiko, Yumi-san, played a shamisen, an old Japanese musical instrument that looks like a banjo with a long neck. The younger Geiko, Hisano-san, and the Meiko, Mitsuna-san, performed traditional dancing for us. The dancing was so gentle and beautiful. After our long Kaiseki dinner, Hisano-san and Mitsuna-san taught us some traditional Japanese parlor games to play. Zen will try to teach these to her classmates at Francis Parker School! The most fun game was konpira fune-fune (“slapping box” game). Although too complex to explain, this was great fun!
HIIRAGIYA RYOKAN
We stayed at Tawaraya Ryokan last year, directly across the alleyway from our chosen ryokan this year, Hiiragiya. Improbably, two of the most famous luxury ryokans in all of Japan stand directly across from each other! A stay at either Hiiragiya or Tawaraya represents a complete 24-hour high-touch immersion with traditional Japanese culture.
Enclosed in a traditional sukiya style wooden structure, Hiiragiya was conceived in 1818 when Hiiragiya, a seafood dealer, began providing accommodation to traveling merchants. Later, Hiiragiya welcomed many members of the imperial family including writers/governing officials/international celebrities.
Our two families shared a lovely kaiseki dinner together, served on traditional kiyomizu pottery, with each course exquisitely prepared with an understated aesthetic.
We give an A+ to both the Tawaraya and Hiiragiya, although we feel Hiiragiya is perhaps more accommodating and open to Western eccentricities.
CONCLUSION
Although only eight days, this particular Japan trip turned out to be one of our most rewarding trips ever! Extraordinary fun with dear friends, Jay, Jennifer and Toni, geiko/maiko experience, the girls’ makeover, Shinto/Buddhist culture, sushi and kaiseki, origami, world-class transportation, and among the very best ryokan/hotels in all of Japan.
In the final analysis I feel Japan is an extraordinary family/friends travel destination. Notwithstanding my love for China, Southeast Asia, and India, I admit to a special longing for Japan. On top of its other-worldly culture and scrupulously clean, world-class infrastructure, Japan is easy to prepare for. No visas or shots required – just a valid U.S. passport and some precious time to spend with your family and friends.
In terms of weather conditions, we recommend travel to Japan in April-June or September-October.
We look forward to serving you!
Randy Lynch
CEO
Kipling & Clark
