Our visit to Japan was amazing from beginning to end. Our guides Nao and Yuki were wonderful. Nao was so happy for us to view Mt. Fuji and the beautiful cherry trees which were in peak form that day. She was happy to bring us shopping for some specific things and picked a great lunch spot on our Mt. Fuji day.
Yuki was especially concerned with us understanding him and even brought visual aids with him. He was constantly concerned with our comfort and happiness. He made time for us to...
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Our visit to Japan was amazing from beginning to end. Our guides Nao and Yuki were wonderful. Nao was so happy for us to view Mt. Fuji and the beautiful cherry trees which were in peak form that day. She was happy to bring us shopping for some specific things and picked a great lunch spot on our Mt. Fuji day.
Yuki was especially concerned with us understanding him and even brought visual aids with him. He was constantly concerned with our comfort and happiness. He made time for us to stop for ice cream and shopping, brought us to my favorite lunch spot with the conveyor belts delivering our food and was very patient with our group of 8 women. He was a great translator during our tie dye experience and seemed to really enjoy showing us around.
We loved the first and last hotels, as they were a bit smaller and gave more personal service. The Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was very nice but maybe a little big and touristy for my liking, although they had a lovely gift shop.
I enjoyed Tokyo and Osaka as cities and also the surrounding areas. In Kyoto, maybe because of where we stayed I did not get a good feel for the city itself. However, we loved the tea ceremony, day in Miyama and the Philosopher’s Path, which we did from Kyoto.
All of our activities were so well planned and we enjoyed them all. Thanks to Sandy for the arrangements and for including everything we asked for.
Japan was so clean and beautiful. The people we met were gentle and polite. The food was delicious. The public transportation was easy to navigate. The bullet train was clean and comfortable. We even got lucky with the weather. Our only rain was during a travel day and our day at Mt. Fuji was sunny and clear.
Thank you, Sandy, for putting together a trip that I will remember fondly forever.
I will go to Kim.Kim again when planning my next adventure.
Marianne O’Shaughnessy
Hotel Reviews
The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama
I loved the size and location of this hotel. It was next to the subway stop and a short walk to the river.
Authenticity & Character
Breakfast was beautiful and delicious.
Location
Loved jumping on the subway and walking along the river.
Staff
Very friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was clean but a bit cramped for two of us.
This hotel was a bit big for my liking. Too many big tour busses, a line up for breakfast in the morning and locates on a busy street.
However, it was clean and beautiful inside and the gift shop is lovely.
Authenticity & Character
A bit too big and commercial
Location
I would have like to be in a quieter area where I could stroll to shopping and food.
Staff
Staff was friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were a bit cramped for 2 people but very clean. I didn’t love the step up to the bathroom.
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku
Tokyo
The Asakusa View Hotel Annex was wonderful. I think being in the Annex and not in the larger hotel across the street was good. I like the feel of a boutique hotel and I got it here. The food was good, the staff friendly and helpful and the rooms were roomy and made the most out of the space. 2 of us were very comfortable here.
Authenticity & Character
The breakfast included traditional Japanese foods and the geisha show in the evening was enjoyable.
Location
On a pedestrian mall and easy to walk and shop any time of day.
Staff
The staff was friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were spotless and they made the best use of space so 2 people were very comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class
Osaka
The ladies teaching us today were wonderful. We really got to experience the art of making sushi.
Quality of Experience
Teachers were great! The kitchen was clean and organized.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were great teachers, organized and patient.
Transport
We took taxis here today and did well.
Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle
Osaka
I loved visiting the Nara deer park, the temple with the large Buddha as well as Osaka castle. However, the museum at Osaka castle was a bit overwhelming and there wasn’t time to read all the information. I enjoyed our stop for Ramen for lunch and our stop later for ice cream and shopping. We stopped at an observation tower late in the day and I could have skipped that. I know Yuki was doing his best to show us everything.
Quality of Experience
Yuki was forever trying to make us happy
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yuki and Mr. Li were wonderful
Transport
Vehicle was comfortable and our driver great.
Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto
Japan
Our day began with a tie dying activity on our way into Mijama. It was fun learning about the indigo ink that is popular in the region. Then touring the village with the thatched roofs and visiting their small museums was very interesting.
Quality of Experience
Our tie dying activity!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yuki was fun and informative, as always.
Transport
Driver was always there when we needed him.
Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple
Kyoto
This temple area in the city was beautiful. Mao taught us how to purify ourselves to approach the temple and hue to bow in front of the temple. It was interesting learning about the religions of Japan.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour
Kyoto
Loved our walk around the monkey park. It was beautiful and the monkeys were sweet. I enjoyed feeding them and seeing the babies.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was great and so was our driver. The staff at the park were all very friendly.
Transport
Our driver was always there when we needed him
Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto
Don’t miss this experience! It was so much fun picking out a kimono to wear and getting dressed up. The tea ceremony was wonderful, we learned a lot and had a great time.
Quality of Experience
The staff was great and the girl leading our ceremony was wonderful
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We were on our own today-took a taxi to the spot, had a little difficulty getting there. The staff at the tea ceremony was wonderful.
Transport
Had a hard time communicating with the taxi driver but it all worked out.
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Onsen experience
Tokyo
Knowing that Mt.Fuji isn’t always visible made our day so much more spectacular. We had a clear view of the mountain all day. To add to it, the cherry blossoms were at their best the day we visited. It was a magnificent day!
Quality of Experience
Our guide Nao did a great job. We made the decision not to climb higher on the path because it would be another 2 hours. I think it was a great decision as we had a wonderful view from where we were.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was wonderful today
Transport
Our driver was always there when we needed him.
Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo
Tokyo
This was a fun activity. A great way to spend lunchtime. Probably the most touristy thing we did but I’m glad we included it.
Quality of Experience
The MC was knowledgeable and spoke both English and Japanese perfectly. The wrestlers were entertaining and fun to watch.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Chase Cherry Blossom with Meiji Jingu in Tokyo
Tokyo
The wooded area we walked through was beautiful and I enjoyed the temple and museum.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
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