We had a wonderful time. All of the private experiences were fantastic; they made our trip.
You and your team made everything easy so we could “be on vacation.” The logistics were flawless. One of the biggest stressors of traveling in a foreign country is the transfers, and JQJ made this stress free with someone to meet us at each end with train tickets in hand, getting us on and off the trains, etc. What a delight.
The itinerary was well planned, a great mix of city and outdoor adventures and mixed in just the right way. And what a pleasant surprise to find the reputed reserved Japanese warm and friendly.
Our favorite experiences were:
Tokyo – Everything we did in Tokyo we loved — dinner w/Kyoko, our guide Haruka, Jim the architect, dinner at the sushi place where everyone made us feel like locals, and of course Enoura. My dream is to go to Enoura at the Equinox. And we feel like we just scratched the surface.
Art’s knife experience – Everything exceeded his expectations. He was glowing. It’s an experience he will never forget. And the knife he made is gorgeous. Hopefully, he will let me use it.
Zenagi – This was Art’s favorite meal experience. The hike with the monk was quite steep and slippery in the pouring rain. Ando and I were both impressed that I did what I did. He said I was in great shape and was surprised to hear I am nearly 68. That said, I ultimately bailed, the monk went back on his own and Ando and I walked back together – that was the best part – I enjoyed chatting with him. The manager, David, was super accommodating and even had a bath waiting for me when I got back wet and cold from the hike. All that said, we have fond memories of all that we did at Zenagi.
Sasayuri-Ann – Tetsuji was an excellent host. Our guided hike (we went to the fourth waterfall) with him as Mountain Monk blowing the conch was an unforgettable spiritual experience. The conch reminded us of the shofar, which made it even better. And our favorite temples were in Nara.
Naoshima Island – What a unique place and a thrill to see such amazing site-specific art. Another experience we will never forget.
I could add several more to the highlights, and one I couldn’t let pass without mentioning was the Ryokan. We loved everything about it, the beautiful place, gardens, wonderful food, especially breakfast, the official Japanese bath and the wonderful service. All in all, a terrific trip.
Thank you for everything you did to make it so.
Thank you Scott and JQJ!