REVIEWS

We simply had a fantastic time. We had lived in Tokyo twenty years ago for a couple of years but not travelled much, and wanted our teenage children to experience Japan for themselves (having heard many of our stories many times....) We wanted a variety of things to do: we shopped in Harajuku (and at the Pokémon Centres - Tokyo and Osaka versions!); climbed the staircases at Matsumoto Castle and enjoyed the taiko festival and potteries; bathed, slept and ate at onsen; traversed mountains and dams in the Japanese Alps ; saw the illuminations at Kodai-ji and the amazing dragons at Kennin-ji; enjoyed incredible hospitality at Ryokan Iwaso at Miya-jima and took the night cruise through the shrine gates at high tide; recovered from the blistering heat with the aid of delicious shaved ice; visited Hiroshima on Peace Day, astonishingly moving and inspiring; cycled, swam and experienced the art works on Naoshima; enjoyed yet more incredible hospitality at Uno Port Inn(hi Miko-san!) (and I never even mentioned the incredibly incredible kindness and attentiveness at Hotel Mume in Kyoto). What a pleasure it was to be in Japan as a tourist! I can't wait to go back. I would happily do all of the above again, but would like new experiences too, so will probably find some different places to go. And both our children want to go back (without us!).