Shona Zhang

It was fine -- we'd been staying at 5 star hotels our whole trip -- this one was noticeably older and less great. Little things missing like access to an outlet for both sides of the bed. The beds were ROCK hard. The buffet food wasn't very good -- didn't feel very fresh or delicious. I liked the idea of the morning coffee service, but in practice, the coffee was weak. They also charge $40 USD for late checkout, even though we'd booked a suite.

Beautiful hotel, really great amenities for suite level bookings, very kid-friendly

Really pretty hotel, lovely location. Their shuttle service was helpful, but they should add more shuttle pick up spots. The room had a bit of a musty smell, but probably due to people walking in it with wet feet from the onsen on the balcony. The buffet was huge and a bit intimidating, but I felt like most of the food was pretty good.

Great service and breakfast

The deer are wild and pretty aggressive but very cute, and the temple was magnificent -- the Buddha is huge!

The Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple were so cool to see! The Temple was our favorite we saw on our trip -- a beautiful Japanese garden and pond, lots of places to walk barefoot. It felt super cool -- and we loved learning that it used to be a villa! The Bamboo Grove was so crazy crowded though -- glad we went to see it and take photos, but it wasn't a relaxing experience

We didn't have a sake tasting, and we actually didn't want one since we have a baby with us. But we loved seeing the Golden Pagoda and Fushimi Inari Shrine this day! Teresia our guide was great.

We did not do the Whisky Tasting because it was actually not available the day we were there (regularly closed on that day). This is something Shona our local specialist should have researched before offering it to us as an option when we booked. We didn't actually see Mt. Fuji, and Lake Kawaguchi isn't really that exciting without the view.

Not kid-friendly. They didn't have any high chairs so our toddler was running around the whole class. They had another couple there, so they were teaching at a fast pace while my husband and I were trying to take turns learning and taking care of the baby. They didn't provide her with any entertainment or really anything, so she picked up their broom and started sweeping and pulling things off of shelves. We thought they'd give her something like rice and seaweed to touch and play with and also that they'd go slowly and make sure we understood the steps before moving on, but they didn't and we felt rushed. Also they wouldn't allow us to take any of the sushi we made home with us, and our baby was ready to go about 3/4 of the way through the 2 hour class, so we didn't get to eat much of what we made.

Our favorite! Everything is a 10/10!

Authentic Japanese Experience!

Great location, nice rooms, good breakfast options.

We were hoping for a sake tasting at the end of museum and to learn more about different types of sake. It was just a small taste of 2.

Wonderful guide and experience, but we would have preferred a small group to talk with people.

Wonderful guide and experience, but we would have preferred a small group to talk with people.

Could have been a little shorter. Train ride was fun, but it took a while after a long day.

Must do! So fun!

Sounds like it’s seldom Fuji can be seen, so I’m not sure it should be a must-do.

The Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo was a very good accommodation. Its location was ideal, allowing easy access to many attractions, including a large market within a 20-minute walk, which suited our love for walking. There was also a chic supermarket in the basement where we could grab delicious snacks or dinner, which was convenient and tasty. Breakfast was also satisfying. While it ranked third among the three hotels we stayed at, it was a wonderful place to stay, just that the others were exceptionally better.

Great location and the best breakfast of all the hotels on the trip. Located in Shinjuku center, easy walking to shopping, restaurants, and a whole manner of tourist sites. About a 8-10 minute walk to the subway. Welcome drink and very helpful staff. We had to leave before the breakfast on the last day and the hotel provided a wonderful boxed breakfast. Very clean!

Great location, wonderful breakfast. Loved the SkySpa! PJs were awesome.

The Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting had its pros and cons. Initially, I was disappointed as the tour got delayed to an 11:30 start. The whisky tasting was intriguing, but the tour was primarily in Japanese with limited translation, diminishing the experience for non-Japanese speakers like myself. We did, however, enjoy touring the distillery, tasting the whisky, and even received some credit at the gift shop to make up for the setbacks. The highlight was having a clear day to see Mt. Fuji, which was splendid. Overall, it was enjoyable, but I would suggest ensuring an English translation for international tourists to maximize the experience.

The Osaka Cooking Class was a completely unique experience compared to the tea ceremony. It was a private, three-hour sushi-making class, conducted by two wonderful women in a rented apartment in Osaka. We learned to make miso soup and various types of sushi, and enjoyed eating our creations at the end. It felt intimate, engaging, and gave us a newfound appreciation for the art of sushi making. Having the instructors guide us through each step in their little apartment was truly delightful.

The Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya was one of the highlights of our trip. My daughter and I loved the experience of dressing in kimonos, and the entire process was beautifully organized by the ladies who assisted us. Even my husband found it enjoyable. The ceremony itself was a fantastic blend of culture, fun, and history, conducted in a traditional home setting, which made it even more special. We appreciated learning about the history and the cultural context while enjoying tea in a traditional setting.