Thanks to the highly unrealistic and ambitious me, our tour to Japan was unbelievably packed much to Daniel's horror. After his conference, he was imagining a relaxing week of exploration and soaking into the culture. Well, we all got more than we bargained for, thanks to me ;) It was great but a feat never to be repeated. Hahaha.
Our trip to Japan saw us travelling through Tokyo, to Hakone [Mount Fuji] and Kyoto. We usually don't do tour packages because we like to stay at a location for at least 3 nights to a week before moving to another location and everyone knows that tour packages shoo you from one hotel to another. Another reason is that coordination with Dan's schedule that does not allow us to do a tour package...so I have to do it the tedious way. But as Dan always says - you learn more about a country doing the hard way.
I used www.japanican.com to do most of my hotel research and bookings as well as tripadvisor. For Japan, we realized that we needed a guide because we are really foreign to the language and the people. After some googling, I found a company that allows tourist to engage local guides in many parts of the world. www.toursbylocals.com was very useful to us during this trip. We engaged 3 guides for 3 locations. And my children developed a specially infinity towards a certain guide - Sarah loved Auntie Kaoru who brought us around Tokyo and Sammy loved Uncle Kenzo who brought us around Kyoto and our guide in HIde-San was a respectful retiree who brought mommy to a yummy popular store to buy a melt-in-the-mouth chimoto.
I used www.japanican.com to do most of my hotel research and bookings as well as tripadvisor. For Japan, we realized that we needed a guide because we are really foreign to the language and the people. After some googling, I found a company that allows tourist to engage local guides in many parts of the world. www.toursbylocals.com was very useful to us during this trip. We engaged 3 guides for 3 locations. And my children developed a specially infinity towards a certain guide - Sarah loved Auntie Kaoru who brought us around Tokyo and Sammy loved Uncle Kenzo who brought us around Kyoto and our guide in HIde-San was a respectful retiree who brought mommy to a yummy popular store to buy a melt-in-the-mouth chimoto.
Tokyo
We stayed at Keio Plaza in Shinjuku for our days there. Keio is a beautiful hotel that is conveniently located, with surprisingly large rooms and it allows free rental of prams which was great. And there is a free daily shuttle that runs straight to Disneyland [although we had no use of it]. Kaoru, was our guide in Tokyo. I think she is about her early 50s and she is gentle and unassuming. I was initially quite doubtful if she could be an effective guide. But in her quiet and observant ways, she met our requirements and more.
Day One
Our Tokyo guide, Kaoru brought us to the - International Origami Centre. I was intially puzzled as it seemed a most unlikely tourist destination. Kaoru chose it because of Sarah and Samuel. But at the end of the trip, all of us enjoyed ourselves tremendously. We saw up close how paper was made and we met the Origami Master [or more aptly magician] who was aged 70 or so. With deft movements, he created many shapes much to the delight of everyone, at the same time maintaining a conversation with us. It was really great fun.
Later that morning, we headed to the famous Asakusa Temple, explored the temple streets that were teeming with souvenir shops and snack shops and we had lunch there. Kaoru overheard Sammy saying that he would like to have udon for lunch and before we knew it, she had us seated at one of the more popular restaurants that served good udon there. That ended our 4 hour tour. A really good day but it wasn't over yet *gulp*
We had a short rest at the hotel before heading to our next activity in the night. I was especially looking forward to this - our home visits. Through googling, I stumbled across a home visit program http://www.nagomikitchen.com/ where the host family would cook a meal and host guests. I thought this was such a wonderful program that would provide for us a quick immersion into the Japanese culture. So in a mouthful, I signed our family up for two home visits - on consecutive days. *double gulp*
We stayed at Keio Plaza in Shinjuku for our days there. Keio is a beautiful hotel that is conveniently located, with surprisingly large rooms and it allows free rental of prams which was great. And there is a free daily shuttle that runs straight to Disneyland [although we had no use of it]. Kaoru, was our guide in Tokyo. I think she is about her early 50s and she is gentle and unassuming. I was initially quite doubtful if she could be an effective guide. But in her quiet and observant ways, she met our requirements and more.
Day One
Our Tokyo guide, Kaoru brought us to the - International Origami Centre. I was intially puzzled as it seemed a most unlikely tourist destination. Kaoru chose it because of Sarah and Samuel. But at the end of the trip, all of us enjoyed ourselves tremendously. We saw up close how paper was made and we met the Origami Master [or more aptly magician] who was aged 70 or so. With deft movements, he created many shapes much to the delight of everyone, at the same time maintaining a conversation with us. It was really great fun.
Later that morning, we headed to the famous Asakusa Temple, explored the temple streets that were teeming with souvenir shops and snack shops and we had lunch there. Kaoru overheard Sammy saying that he would like to have udon for lunch and before we knew it, she had us seated at one of the more popular restaurants that served good udon there. That ended our 4 hour tour. A really good day but it wasn't over yet *gulp*
We had a short rest at the hotel before heading to our next activity in the night. I was especially looking forward to this - our home visits. Through googling, I stumbled across a home visit program http://www.nagomikitchen.com/ where the host family would cook a meal and host guests. I thought this was such a wonderful program that would provide for us a quick immersion into the Japanese culture. So in a mouthful, I signed our family up for two home visits - on consecutive days. *double gulp*
Megumi and her family kindly hosted my family to a dinner at their place. Reaching their place was a challenge but we were glad we made it. It is such a comfort to be hosted in someone's home when you are in a foreign country. Megumi's sister and bro-in-law and mom were there to make us feel really welcome. By the time we headed home, it was about 10 pm or so. I think we saw and immersed enough to go home on Day One. Haha.
Day Two
Kaoru waited for us promptly at the hotel lobby for our second day of exploration of Tokyo. This time, we opted for the Edo-Tokyo Museum to educate us about the history of Tokyo. Lunch was at an interesting restaurant just beside the Museum - it was the Sumo Wrestler Restaurant. And we headed to a Japanese garden after our lunch. I will the pictures do the talking here.
Our second home visit was the Suzuki Family. I was particularly keen as there are 3 kids in this family and I wanted Sarah and Sammy to see how the kids in Japan lived. I also thought that it would be interesting to observe how they would interact with one another. Sarah and Sammy were shy initially but the sight of toys soon open them up. And as the night proceeded, it was so heartwarming to watch the kids interact. Suzuki's kids were folding origami for our kids and the kids communicated using non-verbal cues. It seems like everyone in Japan knows basic origami, even the fathers:) Food was great and company was great too.
That wrapped up our tour in Tokyo. We headed to Mount Fuji/Hakone next. Updates to be continued.
Day Two
Kaoru waited for us promptly at the hotel lobby for our second day of exploration of Tokyo. This time, we opted for the Edo-Tokyo Museum to educate us about the history of Tokyo. Lunch was at an interesting restaurant just beside the Museum - it was the Sumo Wrestler Restaurant. And we headed to a Japanese garden after our lunch. I will the pictures do the talking here.
That wrapped up our tour in Tokyo. We headed to Mount Fuji/Hakone next. Updates to be continued.
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