12- day trip to Japan
Japan
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Oct 22 - Nov 2, 2023
Planning and Booking are ok. Our expectations and what we got are very close. After the trip we understood that something could be changed, but not much, that is very personal, hard to predict, especially for first-time visitors.
Communication with Sandy was excellent. The Tokyo guide - Yumi, and Kyoto guide - Noriko, are very knowledgeable and provided lots of detailed information. Additional thanks to Noriko for helping with booking tickets back to Tokyo.
The last trip to Kobe and Himeji left mixed fillings. The visit to the Sake musicum was interesting, and Kobe meat restaurant at lunch, reserved by Yasuko, was excellent. The afternoon trip to see White castle was difficult for us due to lots of steps climbing and 2 hours took to get back to Kyoto. Thanks for having a private van.
Hotel Reviews
Very good hotel, convenient located near train station.
The rooms are very small and have steps inside.
Newly renovated hotel with excellent location in the hart of the city. 4 stars only due to size of the room.
Activity Reviews
![Full Day Nara City Tour From Kyoto with Fushimi Inari Taisha](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/c74ec8559c29480a0795fe7a6113c287f90aca0e/medium-31a4dc1e1c65072bb974b0b93d5937e8.jpg)
Very unusual experience with the deers in the Nara park surrounding the shrine. We feed them from hands and they bow in response. The shrine is absolutely amazing, especially gates.
![Full Day Tokyo City Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/668894006f891fc2c1c3de8cb272f5d049abb198/medium-e9b5cae1182a0639e73988b75e985abb.jpg)
Very informative. Thanks to the guide for navigating via underground transportation
![Full Day Tokyo city tour (Asakusa )](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/668894006f891fc2c1c3de8cb272f5d049abb198/medium-e9b5cae1182a0639e73988b75e985abb.jpg)
Very good, amazing view from the radio tower.
![Drive to Hakone from Tokyo](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/7488ca054adc72492ad1445a8b2dac409391fc6a/medium-e6c0b8cf09c118bde906639bd69d860e.jpg)
Must use the local bus due to lack of taxi service.
![Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Arakurayama Sengen Park Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/273763da636e8cd3234c945f9db7617ff4196a2c/medium-b11577c05add0b092a7b179a705b12d4.jpg)
Very nice trip and boat tour with a view on mount Fuji. Excellent ride on cable way up to the hill to view mount Fuji again
![Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/f66db6e39a329fe9993f80b5c02ac69623a82ae2/medium-1b32abab1157fe0c14e4e59ad5e4cd28.jpg)
Very nice temple surrounding by garden, pond and bamboo grove. Travel guide - Noriko is excellent. Lake water tour very nice with amazing views.
![Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/31602450aa2e7b9e2ad03f73c00a3f662d7bf13a/medium-625c8d5bbf3702dba847cb316aa6a38e.jpg)
Samurai fighting equipment in the museum is very old but in excellent condition. We got additional historical facts. The Kimono Tea ceremony was so unusual for us. Besides the tea itself, we learned Japanese tea tradition and etiquette.
![Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/9fc8ca0c6acbca8e8732802c7ff77efd13a3de9e/medium-9e55b71d6e53206f6b6d787b329ce298.jpg)
The Sake museum is very informative, but may be not for every one, we think, mostly for men. The Himeji Castle is gorgeous outside. For going inside we have to climb over very steep stairs. That wasn't easy for us. Since we spend too much time for travel, it wasn't enough time to see the beautiful garden next to castle.
![Sandy](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/users/profile_photos/cd0421454ea8964227149bca3a4337e560686409/original-9239dbd510bd7f1c84ccea5d61e68628.jpg)