Experience the best of Japan
Japan
|
May 6 - May 16, 2024
The overall trip was great. The first three days in Tokyo were relatively unplanned, but Myaen offered wonderful suggestions for visiting sights. We enjoyed having the unscheduled time. Leo, our tour guide in Kyoto, was knowledgeable and friendly. Visiting Nara was one of the highlights of our tour. The bowing deer were adorable and the Toda-ji Temple was my favorite temple. I also thought the Golden Pavillion in Arashiyama and the Bamboo Forest were trip highlights. The Iwatayama Monkey Park was not my favorite experience, the trek up is rigorous for minimal interaction and is very crowded. Our favorite guide was Ako, who took us to Miyajima Island. She was a thoughtful, knowledgeable guide, even bringing tea and snacks up to the top of the mountain for us to enjoy the beautiful view.
We requested a minimum of four-star hotels, and they were, for the most part, very nice. The hotel in Hakone, Hakone Airu, is traditional and a beautiful facility. The food was amazing! In a traditional hotel room, we slept on mats and didn't have raised seating, which might be physically uncomfortable. The ensuite onsen was delightful. I wish we had more time in the town because it was truly charming.
My least favorite hotel was the Hotel Vishio, only because the hotel had no restaurant or bar. The shared baths were very nice, and the room was large and comfortable, but since we were out all day on tours, we could have used some on-site dining. It is conveniently located across from a shopping center with a large Don Quixote (worth checking out).
I highly recommend the JR pass. Taking the trains was incredibly easy, affordable, and comfortable. Be sure to have your passports to make seat reservations through the kiosk.
Having your passport for shopping is also necessary because many stores will not charge tax if you have your passport.
Hotel Reviews
Like most rooms in Japan, it is small but comfortable. The bathroom is great, with a full bathtub. The staff here were super helpful and friendly. The breakfast menu is limited.
The hotel facilities are beautiful, and the dinner and breakfast were amazing. However, it was very slow to check in and check out. We had limited time in Hakone, and a significant portion of the time was spent waiting for service support. This hotel has a lot of potential.
The hotel room was spacious for Japanese standards. It is new and modern. It doesn't have an on-site restaurant (except for breakfast—which was GREAT!) or bar. There are shared gender-specific bathing facilities. The staff is less helpful. For example, they couldn't help us with dinner reservations or suggestions.
This hotel has a beautiful rooftop bar with a great view—perhaps the best thing about the hotel. Breakfast is a set menu and wasn't really to my liking. The restaurant on the first floor is quite good but book ahead for reservations. Having the reception area on the 14th floor is a bit inconvenient, and only having access to toiletries on the first and 14th floors was a bit of a pain.
The rooms were very small, and the beds were against the wall. However, the bathroom and shower are amazing. This was the only hotel with a coffee maker in the room. The bed was also the softest and most comfortable. Most hotel beds in Japan are pretty hard.
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and kind words!
I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed your trip overall and that my suggestions for Tokyo were helpful.
I’m glad Leo-san and Ako-san made a positive impact on your experience, especially with their knowledge and thoughtfulness. Your feedback on the Iwatayama Monkey Park and Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA is very much appreciated and will be taken into consideration for future recommendations.
Thank you again for... Read more