KimKim created a fabulous vacation

Japan | Feb 2 - Feb 12, 2025

This is a fascinating cultural experience! It is a traditional Japanese guest house in every sense (except that there is heat, electricity and plumbing -- although placed so as not to interfere with the authenticity of the property) and is a step back in time. The beds were set out while we were having dinner and were surprisingly comfortable. The traditional dinner we were served was unforgetable!

This half day tour gave us a great overview of the city and of things to experience in Tokyo.

Among the thousands of restaurants in Tokyo, our local guide took us to 5 "hidden gems." These are places no tourist would ever find, although they were right in the heart of Shibuya. We were the only tourists in each, although each was full of local patrons. Our guide was able to explain the local qualities of the food, how to eat it and what to look for. This was a terrific cultural experience.

This tour provided an amazing view of a sport little understood by Americans. Our guide was obviously a fan herself and was able to give us a wealth of information about the sport, how contests work and how men train for it. It was also a fascinating look at the life of sumo wrestlers because it is much more that a sport -- it is an entire way of life.

This was a blast! It is a good distance from the center of the city, but well worth the trip. You actually get a see a lot of Tokyo because you literally drive your go-kart around the city streets, at all times following the guide. I was never afraid of traffic because our guide was fabulous.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about a ceremony I had heard of, but really knew nothing about. The person performing the ceremony described how it worked, her training necessary to perform it and its purpose. It was a wonderful lesson in enjoying simplicity and hospitality. As a bonus, the traditional kimonos we wore were a great experience! My favorite souvenir from the trip is a set that enables me to make matcha at home in the traditional way.

Kyoto is such a wonderfully historic and beautiful city, full of treasures. I loved this tour because I learned so much about history and customs that I would never have learned had I visited these sites on my own. In fact, I don't know that I would have gone to Nara on my own, simply because I didn't know anything about it. However, it was once the capital of Japan and there was much to see and learn there. Our guide also took us to a small restaurant for udon which we would have never found on our own and it was fabulous!

Osaka is the food capital of Japan for good reason. As a tourist, I always try to find places where the local people eat to get the best and most authentic food. It is not always easy, especially when there are language barriers (both spoken and written). Our guide took us to fabulous places where there were only local people, and I definitely tried foods that I would have not thought to try. All were delicious!