Eleanor Chen

Very nice accommodations

Loved the green vibe

Great location and good breakfast food

Fun learning how to make sushi and some Japanese food

We experienced some local food but it was not unique. The restaurants were just on the tourist strip and not places that would be special finds.

Recommend this for everyone visiting Tokyo. It was our favorite experience in Japan.

This is a nice no-frills hotel with a public bath and very convenient location just a block from Sapporo station. You can choose amenities from the lobby. We had two rooms for our family of four, with our kids across the hall from us. We saw a lot of Asian tourists, and very few Westerners. On the second floor there is a restaurant that has free drinks and snacks available in the evening (though the desserts had always run out when we checked), plus some vending machines, and ice machine, and men's and women's baths with one coin-operated washer dryer in each. The room was very clean but pretty compact, and every day we got 2 bottles of water and fresh pajamas from housekeeping. The breakfast buffet wasn't huge but had a more-than-adequate selection of Japanese and western foods and a chef who prepared the crepe of the day. The front desk staff were always very courteous and helpful. I missed the opportunity to take advantage of this, but the breakfast tickets could also be used at Kitano Gurume, a seafood market and restaurant that offers a free shuttle for both pick-up and drop off (reservation required). We don't eat much breakfast, so next time I'll definitely save my ticket to use at Kitano Gurume instead! In addition to Sapporo station, there were a few department stores and underground shopping areas nearby, as well as plenty of restaurants, izakayas, and sake bars on nearby streets. It was a 15 or 20 minute walk to Ramen Alley and Tanukikoji shopping arcade. Because Sapporo is not humid like the places we visited in Honshu, it was quite pleasant to walk around in the city, especially in the evening.

I have stayed at this temple a few times before, starting with a couple of hiking trips in the mid 90s. At that time, we took the train partway and then hiked up to the mountain top. We had basic tatami rooms with several futons and not much else, which was perfect for my budget at the time. I remembered the shojin ryori made with mountain vegetables and koya-dofu as well as a sesame tofu. Then I brought my husband to Rengejo-in during his first trip to Japan in 2008, and he fell in love with it too. In fact, we came straight here from Kansai International. On that trip, we also woke up early to join the 6 am chanting ceremony. The food was delicious and generous in portion. I remember that the doorways were all lined with paper --very traditional -- and we could faintly hear other guests coughing in the distance. Not a problem, but part of the rustic nature of staying in a Buddhist temple. This time, we brought our 2 kids, 12 and 15, with us. We got a ride directly there from Kyoto. Our room, booked by our Kimkim travel specialist, was the beautiful and luxurious Himalaya Junior Suite. It was truly stunning, with a beautifully decorated large tatami room with closets and private bathroom with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a garden. We had a small table with a teapot and snacks, and a mini-fridge and safe. The room was also stocked with yukata and a short jacket that you could wear over it for cooler weather (not necessary in June!) The bathroom was very modern, with a washlet (and lid that opens and closes automatically), beautiful shower and bathtub, and two sinks! The cherry on top: a fancy hairdryer and skin care products. To be honest, I saw how pricey this room is to book, and I'd never choose it for myself, but I am grateful that Eleanor chose this to give us an unforgettable stay. It's worth noting that there are standard rooms in the shokubo with a shared bathroom that are much less pricey. After a quick trip to Family Mart (about 20 minutes away on foot) to stock up on extra snacks for the kids, we adults joined the 5 pm meditation, which started with a brief explanation in English and Japanese, followed by about 40 minutes of meditation. I've gone to a meditation center a couple of times, so it wasn't too bad to sit for 40 minutes. Then we enjoyed our sumptuous dinner in a private dining room, which was served on 2 raised trays with several small dishes (different types of tofu, rice, pickles, vegetables, mushrooms, tempura, soup), and they brought in a third tray with more dishes after we sat down on our cushions. The meal looked like a work of art and we loved it, but our kids filled up mostly on rice --one prefers meat and the other is still picky about vegetables. Luckily we were supplied with an extra large bowl of rice and a pot of green tea for refills. There isn't much to do otherwise, but you can walk around the gardens, and there is a small common room with a TV. We ventured out for a walk and found several other temples and shokubo very close by, as well as a pagoda and children's park. We also discovered an izakaya (Ima-chan) nearby on the opposite side of the street as well as several vending machines with hot and cold beverages and snacks, but we were still full from dinner (I ate some of my kids' food too because it was so tasty and healthy). There are baths for men and women, but the men's bath was already full so we used the bath in our suite instead. The next morning, we checked out and left our luggage near the front for a few hours while we took the bus (about 10 min walk from the temple) to Okuno-in. Another lovely and memorable stay at the beautiful Rengejo-in!

This place was amazing - our favorite stay during our 2 weeks in Japan. When you first walk in, you are greeted by staff who take your luggage and direct you to put your shoes in lockers (2 people per locker). The locker keys are kept at the front desk in exchange for your room key. The entire facility has tatami mats, which felt so nice and cool under our feet. On the way to our room, we passed an area where we could pick from 4 or 5 different types of pillows (buckwheat, double fold, etc.) The room itself was quite spacious - we had 4 futons on raised platforms. I pushed two together as a makeshift king bed for hubby and me. The fridge was stocked with bottled water. There were pajamas that you could wear throughout the facility in the rooms, and you can exchange them at the front desk if you need another size. Near the lobby there is also an area where you can pick out a yukata (cotton kimono robe) and obi (belt) in assorted sizes and colors. Other amenities include a lounge where you can get probiotic drinks, filtered water, popsicles, and noodles, selection depending on the time of day. In the welcome lounge, there were cold teas and sake, plus a sweet treat in the evening. One of the highlights of this hotel was the public and private baths. We were feeling modest, so we opted for the private bath - there are 5 rooms available on a first come, first serve basis. Often there was no wait, and when we did have to wait, it was a fairly short time. There are no showers available in the bath facility as guests are asked to shower in their rooms before bathing. The private baths were beautiful - each one had a different shape and there was a lovely but secluded outdoor space. The breakfast buffet was outstanding. The selection included different types of traditional Japanese foods, but also some western, Korean, and Chinese dishes plus a salad bar, cereals, and desserts. It was almost overwhelming! If you go during peak periods you may have to wait for a table, but the turnover was fairly quick. Last but not least, there are onside massages available. We went for massages twice during our stay, and my favorite was the foot massage - perfect after a long day of walking in the extreme heat and humidity. It was pretty easy to get a same day appointment, and prices were very reasonable. This is truly a special place that I hope to visit again if I'm ever in Kyoto.

This was probably my least favorite accommodation on our trip. It was fairly conveniently located, but the front desk staff was unfriendly at check-in, and the included breakfast only had 2 choices (yogurt with granola and an egg sandwich) that you had to select ahead of time. We ended up just getting breakfast for our kids at a nearby conbini. There wasn't much in the immediate neighborhood, but you could walk to Hondori fairly easily, though that mean passing through a red light district. It never felt unsafe, but there were a lot of signs with provocative pictures of young women, and when we walked through with our tour guide she was a little embarrassed. The room was well appointed with a mini kitchen and in-unit washer dryer, which we made good use of. Not a bad stay, but I wouldn't choose to stay here again.

Conveniently located near Tokyo Tower and Daimon station. There are many convenience stores just steps away, and plenty of restaurants, izakaya, and bars within easy walking distance. That said, it's a fairly quiet neighborhood, so if you are looking for lots of excitement and nightlife, it may. not be the best location. We stayed here with our 2 kids, 12 and 15. They had their own room, but we felt like it was very safe. The room was clean and well-stocked with eco-friendly amenities. We actually stayed here twice -- at the beginning and end of our trip -- it was close to some stores and restaurants that we wanted to visit in Roppongi and Azabujuban. The staff is friendly and attentive, always willing to help to call a taxi. There are refreshments and coffee in the front lobby as well as a lovely library lounge stocked with a variety of books. We enjoyed the healthy breakfasts with plenty of Japanese and western foods. The only small snag we had was that we were supposed to have breakfast included for all of us (4 people, 2 rooms) and initially we were told only one room included breakfast. We had help from our travel specialist to correct this but the internal hotel system and process were a bit inefficient in handing the situation. There were coin-operated (and IIRC they might have also accepted credit card payment) laundry machines on the 4th floor (both washer and dryer) but it sometimes takes some patience and planning as there were only two machines for the entire hotel.

The Day Trip to Furano from Sapporo was mostly well-coordinated, but there was a misunderstanding about the start time due to lack of prior communication, which led to our guide waiting for us. It was resolved, but could have been avoided with clearer communication.

This was the first tour of our trip on the day after we arrived in Japan. Thanks to jet lag, we awoke early and met with our guide Watanabe-san, who had messaged me on WhatsApp the previous day to confirm our meeting time at the hotel lobby. He also asked about our meal preferences and food restrictions so that he could choose a suitable restaurant for lunch. Watanabe-san was also monitoring the weather conditions, especially the clouds, in the hopes that we would get a good view of Mt. Fuji. It was a pretty long drive from Tokyo -- about 2 hours -- but fortunately we were in a comfortable minivan with plenty of room. Our first stop was Lake Kawaguchi (aka Kawaguchiko), where we rode on a sightseeing boat that used to be a type of battleship. The top level had the best views, but was crowded, so we were happy to stay on the lower level in the shade and enjoy the gentle breeze, a welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat and humidity. Then we went for an early lunch at Konami, which was a combination restaurant and boat rental store. Their featured dish was hoto, a wide noodle similar to udon that is a local dish from Yamanishi prefecture. Although it was a hot day, we tried hot noodles with tempura and fish -- yamame (trout) and wakasagi (pond smelt) were the local catch. They also had shrimp, pork, and other seafood and meat options. From there, we headed to Oishi Park, which had beautiful flower gardens and a view of Mt. Fuji. We had a decent view except for some stubborn clouds that obscured the peak. The park was very crowded with tourists taking selfies, so we moved through fairly quickly before stopping by a souvenir shop, mostly for the shelter and air conditioning. The next stop was Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, a Shinto shrine complex at one of the Mt. Fuji trailheads. There is a nice gravel walkway from the road lined with statues. It wasn't too crowded, which was nice. We learned that this used to be a Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine, but during the Meiji period, the government tried to suppress Buddhism. When we finished the planned itinerary, it was on the early side, so our tour guide offered other options where we might still get a peek at Mt. Fuji but we were already quite tired having just arrived the previous day and we wanted to get early dinner in Tokyo. So we headed back, and I believe we all enjoyed a nice nap on the way.

The Lake Shikotsu Moss Corridor Hiking Tour was a beautiful and not too strenuous outdoor adventure. The scenery was breathtaking, and since it was at the end of our trip, it was the perfect relaxing way to wind down.

Wonderful hotel; more remote but enjoyed the spacious room + museum inside the hotel. Wonderful staff.

Great hotel & convenient location in Kyoto!

We had issues with our initial, but Eleanor and the hotel were quick to move us to a different room! Wonderful amenities and central location.

Our favorite hotel of the trip! The staff was so kind & the location was on a beautiful, quiet street. We loved the suite + amenities - very comfortable & cozy!

Excellent hotel, great location in Asakusa. Would stay here again!

We had a wonderful 2 day tour with Hiroko. She was very knowledgable and shared so much history on the various sites. Hiroko also adjusted the tour based on our interests which made the tour even more memorable. Hiroko also worked magic taking photos of us without crowds in the background.

Wonderful tour with Fumi who was our guide for 2 days. Fumi curated our tour based on our interests and shifted to off the beaten path, indoor activities when it started to rain. We highly recommend tours with Fumi!

Great tour with Yumi!

Great locstion

Nice hotel with very modern facilities, staff was very nice and humble.