Destinations

Karamon Gate

Ninomaru Goten Palace

Karamon Gate

July 25th, 2016

A UNESCO world heritage site.  The Nijo Castle was built-in 1603 as a residence for the first shogun of the Edo period.  It was also the residence of the last Shogun who declared the return to power to the emperor in 1867, marking the end of the Edo Period.  It is known for spectacular wall paintings decorated with gold leaf still in existence today.

The main palace consisted of 33 rooms with multiple waiting and audience rooms. In the main audience room, the shogun would sit on an elevated door next to a large closet filled with security guards ready to protect the shogun at any instant.   The corridors have nightingale floors that  intentionally “chirp” as you walk along them.   There was no sneaking around the palace without being unheard.

Unfortunately,  we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside of the palace.

July 25th, 2016

Inari is the god of rice and the fox is thought to be the messenger of Inari.  This shrine contained endless red and black painted gates that line the trails from one shrine to the next with statues of foxes throughout.  We were told that to get to the very top of the shrine, it would take a couple of hours, we didn’t have that much time and only got to see the part that was at the bottom of hill.

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July 25th, 2016

Prior to my trip, I came across a documentary on Netflix that documented the sake making process.  The documentary was interesting but was very long.  At the end of it, I knew more than I ever wanted to know about Sake and now here I was in a Sake Museum.   Our Museum guide took us through the Museum and described the sake making process.  I think I got a little bit more out of the movie but nonetheless it was fun to see in person.   What the movie didn’t offer was a tasting or a bottle to go home with us.

I have to admit, although I have learned about the sake making process, I rarely drink and would have no idea what to order off of a menu.  I discovered Sushi in my early 20’s along with Hot Sake.  I even had a hot sake set.   It wasn’t until my 30’s that I learned that sake is not only served hot but also cold and that they were often paired with foods.

July 25th, 2016

A Buddhist temple just outside of Kyoto perched half way up on a mountain.   Over 1200 years old, a UNESCO world heritage site. The temple offers stunning views of Kyoto.  Since my arrival in Japan, I have been impressed with just how beautiful Japan is and this temple is another example of beautiful architecture set in a beautiful setting. Every temple we have seen has been beautiful but this one stood out along with the mountainside town filled with shops.  I felt like I had been transported to another time.  I Wish I could have stayed to have watched the sunset and the city nightlight.

It is here where we learned about “To jump off the stage at Kiyomizu”.  In English, we would way “To take the plunge!” It refers to a legend that said if you jumped off the veranda and survived the 50 foot drop, your wish would be granted.  We had a lot of adventurous people in our tour group but none that stupid to try.  There have been over 200 jumps recorded with an 85% survival rate.  the tour guide had no statistics if any of them could walk again.  The practice is now prohibited. Continue reading →

July 24, 2016

Prior to this trip, my brother-in-law called to tell me that he was being flown on an international trip via business class.  All I could say was that they treat you right and once you have flown business, you never want to fly coach again.  Would my experience at the Ritz Carlton be the same?  The short answer is, YES!  During the early part of my career, I installed system into hotels and I stayed in some very nice hotels.  When I finally started making enough money to travel on my own, I resumed travelling and make it a point to go on an international trip at least once a year.  This trip through Authentiscapes and Admiral Travel had been one of the best and well worth what I paid.

The hotel in Tokyo was upscale with great views of the city.  The rooms were nice and housekeeping attended to them twice a day.  The staff was super nice and if they were on the elevator and got off the elevator before you, they would exit the elevator, turn around and face you and then bow, and bow, and kept bowing until the elevator closed.  In Kyoto, we were greased by staff members who asked about the day and walked us to the elevators.  At one point, there were three members of the staff waiting outside the elevator bowing while we waited for the doors to close. It was one of those awkward moments, do we keep waving and saying goodbye?  Do we bow?  Susanne Curtsied which made it more awkward.  Finally the elevator doors closed slowly and the entire time, the three staff member were bowing and saying something.  Yep – awkward! Continue reading →

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Dinner was at a teppanyaki style restaurant at Kyoto Gion Mikaku .  I didn’t understand what teppanyaki style meant until they said that it was prepared tableside.  I immediately thought “Benihana” and that sounds good.  We sat down and to my right was Ryan Hilton, Roy and Denise Choi.  To my left was Sophon and the rest of the group.   I wasn’t the only birthday boy on this trip.   Roy had his Birthday 2 days ago and Carter, the son of the tour organizers, was turning 13.   The started out with Birthday Champagne and they sang Happy Birthday to Jim and Carter… and then toasted.  Carter wasn’t allowed to have champagne.

Off to the one side of the room was the cutting room.  The slabs of meat were brought into that room where they were cut up and we could all watch through a window.  I was impressed with the large knives as well as the large cuts of beef.  Sophon does not eat beef.  He is not vegetarian, he does not beef for religious reasons that have to do with giving up something that he liked.   He eats other meat, just not beef. They told him at the restaurant that they were preparing seafood.  Lobster to be exact.  A couple of people asked “Who is getting the lobster?  Whose birthday is it anyway?  Personally, I like steak as much as I like Lobster.  I wanted the beef.  No problem with him getting lobster.  I was going to enjoy every bite of that steak!  I am sure Sophon would share a few bits of his lobster! Continue reading →