Amazing Japan

We connected to Kyoto and arrived late evening into Kansai International Airport. From there we headed to the Hyatt Regency Kyoto which is located in the traditional and secluded area of Higashiyama Shichijo, the heart of Kyoto. Upon arrival we were treated to the most fabulous meal at the hotels’ Touzan restaurant which consisted of seven courses of typical Japanese cuisine, including many delicacies and of course sake! There is not only the delicious Japanese food, the hotel also offers a Grill and an Italian Restaurant complete with wood fire oven. The hotel itself is contemporary in design with pretty Japanese gardens and I particularly loved my huge comfortable king bed with its kimono fabric headboard. The Regency Executive King Room was my favorite which overlooked the Japanese gardens. It also had a deep wooden Hiba bath tub, plus a Tatami living room with Japanese short table and seats. Very quirky! Several temples and museums can be found literally a stone’s throw from the hotel. We had the opportunity to see Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kodai-ji Temple which were both breathtaking. You definitely need a good camera! I honestly could have wondered around for hours just looking at the giant Buddha’s and taking everything in. Our guide was also very knowledgeable and explained everything in an entertaining way. After a light lunch we continued our adventures by going to see a typical Japanese guest house or as they are more commonly known as a ‘Ryokan’. Hiiragiya-Ryokan is one of the most reputable Ryokans in Japan. Here our shoes were kicked off and replaced with slippers. We sipped some green tea and then had a tour of the property. The feel is like that of staying in a traditional Japanese home and being treated as family. Meals are served in room once your (surprisingly comfortable) futon has been converted to your dinner table. Rooms are individually decorated and most enjoy a garden view. Next we enjoyed a private Calligraphy Experience. We learnt about the background of calligraphy, about specific Calligraphy techniques and about the correct method to draw strokes. We learnt not only how to write characters with a brush, but also about its spiritual dimensions. We ended the afternoon at the famous Gion Corner. Gion is the most precious district in Kyoto and a popular night spot where tourists can experience an overview of 7 kinds of Japanese traditional arts and entertainment in a single setting: Kyoto style Dance, Flower Arrangement, Tea Ceremony, Japanese Harp, Comic Play, Court Music and Puppet Play. Needless to say we took many photos of this fabulous display. The same evening we experienced a traditional Maiko dinner at the Tea House hosted by Kyoto Traditional Music Art Foundation. This was definitely one of the most magical parts of the trip. We learnt all about Maiko/Geiko (young geisha) from our guide and then literally ate dinner whilst being served by the stunning Maiko ladies, all dressed up like a scene from ‘Memoirs of a geisha’ which incidentally was filmed in Gion. They even put on a private music show for us and we could ask questions about their exciting lives as a Geiko. We didn’t want the night to end so after this truly memorable dinner we went to sing at a Japanese Karaoke bar with no less than 10 floors all dedicated to Karaoke!

The next morning we took a short and easy drive from the Hyatt Regency Kyoto to Kyoto Station. We jumped on our Bullet Train and little more than two hours later we arrived in Tokyo. After a quick taxi transfer we checked into the Grand Hyatt Tokyo which is located in Roppongi and is ideal for shopping, eating out etc...There is a wide selection of bars/clubs within walking distance, however these are very touristy and appear quite seedy although once inside are harmless enough if you can cope with the cheesy 80’s music! The hotel itself is well designed and very bright and airy. The bar is atmospheric in the evening with live entertainment and there is a selection of restaurants to suit all tastes, from teppanyaki to Japanese. A number of dining opportunities can also be found close to the hotel.

The following day after an early start we met our guide for some more sightseeing. The sun was shining as we made our way to see the Imperial Palace Plaza, Asakusa and Meiji Jingu Shrine. We were lucky enough to witness a traditional Japanese wedding, yet more photo opportunities!

After sightseeing we took a leisurely drive to Hakone, an area of Japan which is famous for its natural hot springs (onsens). We stayed at Hyatt Regency Hakone where rooms are either Western or Japanese inspired with Tatami so you can have an authentic sleeping experience. All rooms come with Japanese cotton robes (Yukata) which are worn by guests at all times within the hotel. My room had unbelievable mountain views and was spacious and extremely comfortable. Hyatt Regency Hakone even has dog friendly rooms, so perfect for all of the family. The hotel features Hakone's largest spa with 8 treatment rooms and two Japanese thermal hot spring baths "onsens" which you can bathe in.

We transferred from the hotel to the Valley, source of the hot springs and took a walk around the Owakudani area. This area had the most beautiful and breathtaking mountain views. We took a cable car and got the best views of the springs, mountains, dramatic scenery and also a perfect view of Mount Fuji. This was of course another memorable highlight of the trip. We then took a short cruise on Lake Ashi which reminded me of Lake Geneva, very calm and picturesque. The cruise is on a pirate themed ship which felt quite bizarre in Japan but the kids loved it!

Our next and final stop took us to the famous Park Hyatt Tokyo. This hotel is located on the 14th to 52nd floors of Shinjuku Park Tower. As you can imagine the views are spectacular and I watched the sunset over Mount Fuji from the luxury of my own bedroom! This hotel has a great indoor pool and you can work out whilst taking in this fabulous city’s skyline. We had dinner at the New York grill with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering breathtaking views of Tokyo. Everyone raved about their Steaks, which came as a welcome treat after eating Japanese food for days. The hotel also offers a French and Japanese restaurant however the New York Grill seemed to be a hub of activity and entertainment. Then after dinner there is the stunning New York Bar, Tokyo’s most spectacular venue for live music, featuring jazz and serving delicious cocktails. The next morning unfortunately our Japanese adventure was over and we headed back to the airport for our flight home. The JAL Lounge was busy and offered a wide selection of food and drinks. We flew back in Premium Economy with JAL and it was extremely pleasant, again with excellent cabin crew and comfortable surroundings. Overall my time in Japan was unforgettable and simply out of this world. It is a hard destination to describe as there is so much culture and vibrancy. I now look forward to returning to Japan and to exploring some more of this fascinating and magical place. Sayonara for now.