Trip Recap: Highlights from Japan

Let me start by saying that my trip to Japan last week was a WHIRLWIND. I was a guest of Classic Vacations, along with four other travel advisors from around the country, and we were on the go most of the time. We followed the Golden Route of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Nara, and Osaka - staying in 5 different hotels and seeing two more hotels on quick visits (including our preferred partners Conrad Tokyo, Ritz-Carlton Tokyo and Kyoto, Four Seasons Tokyo and Kyoto, and the St. Regis Osaka). We made sushi, visited multiple shrines, saw Mt. Fuji on a chilly yet clear day, experienced a tea ceremony, learned the basics of origami, and did a lot of eating. As I look back on the week (and the hundreds of photos I took), it's hard to determine my favorite moment or specific highlights. It was all quite incredible and I cannot wait to book a return trip at a slightly slower pace. If you're thinking about a similar itinerary for your own trip to Japan, I'd definitely recommend at least 10 days to have enough time in each place. 

The Cities

 Kyoto was absolutely my favorite city that we visited. While I enjoyed Tokyo and Osaka, Kyoto charmed me instantly. The city doesn't have buildings taller than 8 stories so it's a welcome change from the endless skyscrapers you'll find in Tokyo. There are locals biking around town, tiny boutiques and restaurants dotting the streets, and you won't go too far without seeing a shrine, temple, or palace. The Kamo River flows through the city; I was so glad our hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, was situated on the river so I could head out for chilly early morning walks. There was also a lovely pool, sauna, and hot tub where I could warm up afterwards! 

 While in Kyoto, we saw a few of the most famous shrines, such as Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Temple) and the Fushimi Inari Shrine, ate our way around Nishiki Market, walked through geisha districts, and experienced a traditional tea ceremony (all of which can be arranged for our clients traveling to Japan). We even found some fantastic vintage shops and I was able to buy the one thing I really wanted - a vintage kimono. I only wish we could have stayed more than two nights as there was plenty we didn't get to experience during our short stay. 

 I'd suggest spending 3-4 nights in Tokyo, 3-4 nights in Kyoto (depending on if you want to do day trips from there), 1-2 nights in Hakone, and 1-2 nights in Osaka. 

The Food

 I fully expected to love all of the food during our trip and am happy to report that I succeeded! I may have also come home with a few too many Japanese sweets as souvenirs, including four different kinds of Kit Kats (just a fraction of the flavors they have in most Japanese shops). If you're focused on food for your trip to Japan, we can help you find food tours and unique culinary experiences with our partners. Or consider a sake brewery visit and tasting if that's more your thing. 

 We were able to enjoy wonderful breakfasts at all of our hotels, and all of them included a mix of Western and Japanese items. If you're curious about Japanese breakfast, you'll have the opportunity to try different things or even sit down to the traditional breakfast meal at some hotels.

 After spending a lot of time in Southeast Asia, I'm used to street food stalls and eating as I wander and explore. But that is not something you can do in Japan - eating while walking is strictly prohibited which keeps things clean but means you'll have to take your goodies elsewhere to enjoy. You'll often see people standing off to the side of the busy street markets eating whatever they've just purchased. Another amazing place to purchase food (but not eat) is in the major department store basements. Even if you don't want to buy anything, just go to ogle all of the incredible sweet and savory dishes and maybe you'll work up an appetite!

Make it Easy

 All along the way we had fantastic local guides and drivers that took us from place to place, showed us around the cities, and jumped in as translator every now and then. English is spoken in Japan though not as widely spread as you might think. Over the past 10-20 years there has been more English education in schools and you'll find a lot of signage in the bigger cities also in English. However, once you get out to Hakone, Nara, and even Osaka, you may find fewer things in English (and fewer people who speak it). Don't fret - by working with us to plan your trip to Japan, we can set you up with the best guides and, in the most dire of situations, there's always Google Translate (which we used a lot in Osaka!)

 Getting around Japan can be relatively easy (see: bullet train), but it's helpful to have guides and drivers when you want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time or if you want to plan day-trips from a home base such as Tokyo or Kyoto. There are many places within 1-1.5 hours from these cities which is ideal if you don't want to move around much while in the destination. 

 When you're in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, a great way to explore is on the metro. Navigating the subways was quite comfortable for me, though I've had years of experience riding the subway in NYC and around Europe so it felt pretty familiar. There are options for guided tours that will take you on the subways so you can learn the system before traveling on your own, and we're able to coordinate that for our clients as well.

What else do you want to know about traveling to Japan? Contact us for more info.