Japan is the Now Destination to Take Your Children and Grandchildren and Here is the Best of the Best: Part I Cities to Visit and Where to Stay, Selection of the Tour Company and Guides

Why is Japan the NOW destination? According to the Wall Street Journal, the

Japanese yen has lost one third of its value against the U.S. dollar over the past five

years. The U.S. dollar has gained 15% against the yen since the end of 2023.

This Grandma recently returned from Japan with my thirteen year old grandson. It was

his choice as a destination as he is into anime and manga. Anime is a type of

animation, cartoon series, that originated in Japan. Manga are comic books or graphic

novels originating from Japan. I am now hooked on the anime series, “My Hero

Accademia,” the version dubbed into English. Start watching with your children and grandchildren. It is exciting and addictive.

Part II will concentrate on preparation, tips, the itinerary and experiences we considered

the best.

Here is Part I the best of the best of Japan.

WHERE TO VISIT

Definitely go to Tokyo and Kyoto. We spent five days in each. Kyoto is a great base for

day trips if you want to see Nara, the original capital, and Hiroshima/Miyajima. We

added Hakone, Mt. Fuji, which my grandson loved. We were one of the few lucky

enough to see Mt. Fuji when I understand few have such opportunity as it is mostly in

the clouds.

We went to Osaka for a day, and it is a destination I would skip as I thought it was

honkytonk, and we were not into street food which it is famous for. Hiroshima/Miyajima

is family specific as it is intense and emotional and, in my opinion, more appropriate for

older teens and above.

My daughter and grandson are going to Japan soon, primarily Tokyo and Kyoto, and

have added a destination for relaxation at the end, Asaba, staying at Izu. They are

adding Kanazawa, staying at the Hotel Sanraku, Kanazawa. They are doing a day trip

to Hiroshima/Miyajima and an evening food tour of Osaka from Kyoto.

SELECTION OF TOUR COMPANY

Yes, I recommend that it is best to use a tour company. This Grandma is a Tripadvisor

user and contributor, and plans most trips without a tour company, but English is not

spoken as much as you would expect and the cultural differences are not to be

minimized. You will not manage to do and see half as many amazing things on your own in a

country like Japan with language and cultural challenges.

Because Japan is the destination of the moment, planning far in advance for hotels and

especially securing the best guides appropriate for your family, children and

grandchildren is most important.

Know your family and what they like and ask key questions before you commit to a tour

company.

Selection of our tour company came from a recommendation of a trip taken by an adult

family member. I did not know the right questions to ask when traveling to Japan with

children and learned. Kensington Tours, who we used, highly rated, and popular,

“partners” with Destination Asia as their associate in Japan. Basically, Kensington

agents, who had been to Japan, helped us prepare an itinerary which I learned was

based on pre-made half day tours, and everything else was delegated to Destination

Asia. Destination Asia’s brokers contacted the hotels; our favorite in Kyoto did not even

know either name, but rather told me a broker contacted them.

When you select a tour company, ask if they have their own presence in Japan, select

the guides themselves, or do they “partner” or delegate any of the process to others.

Decide what is most important to you.

My daughter has selected a tour company for Japan that has its own representatives in

Japan, but she has not yet gone to Japan. Boutique Japan, the company she is using,

has five star reviews on Google. This is a review on Tripadvisor Forum:

“ Their attention to detail and commitment to customer service is the best. They work very

closely with you to understand what you really want, and not want, to see and do while in Japan.

They will plan an itinerary based on your timeframe, desires, and pace. They will make

restaurant reservations and purchase advance tickets if needed. They will check in with you pre-departure, during your trip, and after you arrive home. They have local English speaking

partners in Japan that you can contact in case of emergency. They will have a welcome

package waiting for you at your first hotel. This package will contain additional information

including maps, guides and advance tickets. I highly recommend Boutique Japan. “

If you prefer a fully escorted group tour, check out Gate 1 Travel.

www.gate1travel.com. A dear friend took their Japan tour and loved it, comprehensive

but exhausting. Gate 1 Travel’s motto is see the world for less, wait for a sale to book,

and they cover everything. My teenage grandchildren have been taken on two Gate 1

Travel tours.

GUIDES: THE MOST IMPORTANT TO MAKE OR BREAK YOUR JAPAN

DESTINATION

It is best that you have the same guide in each location for however long you are going

to be in a location in Japan. For you to secure the best guide, book early and again,

ask key questions.

Booking through Kensington Tours, Destination Asia selected the guides based on what

I had told Kensington about wanting a guide in each location that was expert and

experienced in positively dealing with American teenage boys. I had no personal

contact with Destination Asia.

The guide can make or break your trip to Japan.

You want an experienced and expert guide who is not only bilingual, one whose cultural

stance and knowledge is positive and favorable to American children, teens, and young

adults, makes them the priority, is flexible to adapt to what interests them and can on

the spot vary, adjust and perfect for your family a previously prepared tour. The earlier

you book, the best opportunity to have to secure the best guides.

I was clear that the guide must be appropriate for my grandson, a thirteen year old

American boy. Two out of three were outstanding for us and fit perfectly within the

parameters set above.

It bears repeating that the guide can make or break your trip to Japan.

Our guide in Tokyo was amazing. Our guide in Hiroshima was amazing. Our guide in

Kyoto appeared offended by my thirteen year old grandson, would not engage him, and

“broke” our Kyoto stay. For example, in a major temple with a huge golden Buddha as

the centerpiece, my grandson was drawn to the giant statue of a samurai warrior to its

left. The guide did not notice, not paying attention to him, and continued with his

prepared tour of the temple going right. It was as if my grandson and his interests did

not exist. Our Kyoto guide was not an appropriate guide for a child, an American teen.

On the other hand, to our Tokyo guide my grandson was the priority, and she geared

everything to what he was interested in, prepared surprises based on his interests,

participated with him in experiences with those Senseis (teachers) who spoke no

English, and expanded his horizons by introducing him to Japanese culture, treats and

foods. She watched, listened, and planned for subsequent days, varying the preset

itinerary, with what she knew would make him happy, for example, stopping in a parking

garage on the Rodeo Drive of Tokyo, as she knew he was interested in luxury cars.

Hotels:

Location! Location! Location!

I would recommend that you select your hotel in each location by where you want to

walk on your own at night and when you are done with the morning tour and afternoon

tour. You can choose between a modern or traditional hotel or a modern or traditional

ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional small Japanese inn that offers a unique cultural

experience. There are now modern ryokans where the futons are more like real beds.

Ryokans are located throughout Japan, known for their hospitality, personalized service,

many historic.

Tokyo is huge and each area has its own character and things to do. I would

recommend a hotel convenient to the outstanding subway system, as your tours in

Tokyo will most likely be by subway.

We stayed at the Keio Plaza Hotel, recommended by Kensington. I chose staying on the club

floor. With an American teen, it was wonderful to have access to the breakfast and dinner

appetizers, and snacks in the club room as well as their sky room, where you could watch the

nightly light show on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office across the street, eating waffles and drinking Starbucks. Having both American and Japanese foods in the club floor gave us an opportunity to explore the Japanese options and have the American as well. We enjoyed staying in Shinjuku, with the subway entrance right outside the hotel door, and where we could walk in the neighborhood, also close to McDonalds and Subway.

Walking distance to the east, there’s a district with long-established department stores, cinemas and theaters. In Shinjuku, many restaurants operate all night, and districts such as Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) or Shinjuku Golden Machi have back streets filled with tiny restaurants and bars that reflect each owner’s unique taste and style.

My daughter is staying at the Janu Tokyo, also in Shinjuku.

In Kyoto, there is Old Kyoto and New Kyoto and a choice of ryokans and hotels. I selected, on my own, the Tripadvisor number one hotel, a historic and traditional ryokan in Old Kyoto, with only five suites, but minutes’ walk from the best shopping district in New Kyoto. The Shirame is spectacular. My grandson loved this inn and it was a favorite part of our trip to Japan. My daughter is planning to stay there as well with my twenty one year old grandson. From the proprietor description you can see the location is the best:

Discover your own Kyoto as you stroll around the stone paved streets along Ochaya

buildings and lose yourself in small, centuries' old back alleyways. You can walk to

many famous tourist spots from Shiraume Ryokan: Yasaka Shrine, Chion-in Temple,

Shore-in Temple, Kodai Temple, Kiyomizu Temple,Kenjin Temple. We are about a 5

minute walk from Shijo Street and downtown Kyoto. Other nearby attractions include

Furumonzen, Shin-furumonzen and Nawate Streets packed with antique shops, tea-

ceremony-accessory shops and craft stores drawing aficionados from all over Japan

and the world. For outstanding dining experiences, we can recommend a wide range

of restaurants and cafes near-by: sushi, udon noodles, traditional Japanese cuisine,

Western cuisine, bars, Japanese sweets, Matcha green tea shops,etc.”

Kyoto Shiraume Umemi

78-6 Sueyoshicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 6050085, Japan

Phone: +81 75-561-1459

Here is my Tripadvisor review of the Shiraume:

“Perfection. Shirame clearly ranks as one of the greatest experiences as a place to stay

in Kyoto. It is a,traditional ryokan 350 years old up to modern standards, beautifully

appointed, but be prepared to sleep on futon like comfort on the floor. Location could

not be better, over a short bridge over a river, in the center of Gion in Old Kyoto walking

distance to nearly everything you might want there. With only 5 suites, you must book

as soon as you know you are coming to Japan. The service and food are impeccable.

Have breakfast in the open air in the river room overlooking running river water and see

a gray heron pose for you. Have a multi course gourmet Kobe steak dinner beautiful to

look at and delicious to eat. Relax daily in one of two private jacuzzi rooms and have a

private masseuse arranged for you in your room (9,000 yen was quoted for one hour).

Welcoming and caring as if you are a guest in a private home, with daily beautifully

hand written notes left by Saho, the charming proprietress, decorated with origami birds.

Perfection.”

Next, Japan is the Now Destination to Take Your Children and Grandchildren Part II of

the best of the best of Preparation, Tips, the Itinerary and Experiences.

Joy,

Mema

#Hotels