Win a Trip to Japan

An advert has been popping up constantly over the last few weeks announcing a contest to win a trip for two to Japan. I entered. Here is the link.

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Kanazawa Hotel - Murataya Ryokan

I spent two nights in this ryokan. My room was named Kiku, one floor up and served by a very narrow and steep set of stairs - my private stairway - to the left of the common room. This feature made it more private than I expect the other rooms would be. The windows gave unto on an inner courtyard with a small Japanese Garden within. It seems many of the rooms gave onto the courtyard. The tatami mats, low table, futon, television were all well kept and clean. Like the other Japanese-style rooms I have had it was a decent size and the futon was comfortable with comforters and blankets. I did not have breakfasts at this ryokan so I can’t comment on them. They are 500¥ for a European breakfast and 800¥ for a Japanese breakfast. There is a computer with high-speed access to the internet. You can’t use your own as there is no wi-fi nor any possibility for LAN connections. (The Seattle’s Best Coffee outlet behind the hotel, on the main street has a Freespot). The one downside was that the smell of cigarette smoke from the common room drifted up to my room. The first night it didn’t last too long but the second night there was some Japanese league baseball game and three guys were having beers, snacks and cigarettes. Most places I have been to (inns and restaurants) have pretty powerful fans that blow that disgusting smell outdoors - not here. That aside, it is a nice place to stay. Great location off the main shopping street and easy walking to the main sights. The room rate was 4700¥. Value for money = 2.5 for non-smokers - 3 for those with that nasty habit.

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Takayama Hotel - Minshuku Kuwatani-ya

This minshuku (basically a family operated bed and breakfast) has been around since the 1920s. In many aspects it may not have changed much since then which makes it an interesting place to sleep. The thin red carpet looks like it has been walked on since the 20s! You must remove your shoes in the foyer and then are either barefoot or in your socks throughout the establishment. The exception is in the toilets where there are some slippers for you to wear upon entering them. My room was number 202, facing the street and did not have private toilet/shower. It had tatami mats, a comfortable futon with blanket and duvet, a refrigerator, table and big flat screen television. Both the first and second floors have open aluminum trough-like sinks with three faucets for washing face, shaving, tooth brushing etc. The baths are on the second for women and on the first for men. The bath itself is nothing special but nevertheless I enjoyed it. Overall I would recommend this minshuku. It is clean, you are left alone by the staff (I was only spoken to on check-in and out) and it is in a convenient location seven minutes walk from the train station. There is a computer for internet but it is painfully slow and running an old version of Windows. Pain. The rate was 4350¥ per night including taxes. Value for money = Three stars.

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Nikko Hotel - Annex Turtle Hotori-An

I slept two nights in this inn. I had a Japanese room on the top (third) floor (301) which cost me 6950¥ per night including taxes. It was spacious and had a private shower/toilet. The futon was very comfortable and the blankets and duvets kept me nice and warm on what were two chilly nights. The room had a heater which I turned off at night and the room temperature dropped to 14 degrees Celsius....great for sleeping when you are covered up like I was. The inn has wireless internet access and, though the innkeeper stated that it was only available in the common room, I was able to access it from my room as well (though Skype did not work!). There is a Japanese bath on the first floor as well as laundry services which I used (200¥ to wash, 100¥ to dry). The breakfasts were terrific and cost 1050¥. Fruits (banana, kiwi, grapes, melon), three pieces of bread, a hard-boiled egg and coffee/juice. A great start to the day. It is a bit off the beaten track and about a thirty minute fast walk from the JR train station and about 15 minutes from the main attractions. Having said that, it is on a quiet dead-end street that longs the river. Just to the west of the inn is a walk along the river which is beautiful.  I bought food at grocery stores and ate in the common room downstairs both nights.  Beer, sushi, noodles while writing and reading.  A great way to end a day of walking in beautiful Nikko.

This was a great place and I highly recommend it. Value for money = Five stars

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Tokyo Hotel - Ryokan Shigetsu Asakusa

While in Tokyo I spent five nights at the Ryokan Shigetsu Asakusa, in Asakusa. It is a six storey ryokan in a fantastic location just off of Nakamise-dori and Senso-ji, the two main attractions in Asakusa. I stayed in a western-style room as all the Japanese-style rooms were booked - 7700¥ a night, taxes in. Western-style of Japanese breakfasts are available in the mornings if you wish. I did have a Japanese breakfast my first morning which cost me 1300¥ - a little steep for my liking. Other mornings I ate in local restaurants and had toast-sets there. My room on the fourth floor was number 407. It was small but had all the required amenities including my own private shower/toilet and internet access with a LAN cable borrowed from the front desk. I did however use the Japanese bath on the sixth floor almost every evening. The bath provides you with a lot more space to shower. Hot steaming water. Very nice. My room had two windows which allowed for good air circulation and was very quiet. I did not hear my neighbours at all. In the spirit of honesty I must say that on the first two nights I did see a few bugs - a roach and two or three smaller bugs that really looked like “bedbugs”. Normally this would freak me out but the kind man at the desk was extremely apologetic, came up and sprayed and for the rest of my stay there were none. I have to say that the staff at the ryokan were amazing especially the older gentleman that worked the desk my first three nights. He helped me out with restaurant suggestions and we carried out a few brief conversations in broken English. Overall I would have recommended the hotel for its location and staff. The rooms are a bit small and dark and the bugs were a turn off but it is quiet and seemingly well run. The bath on the sixth floor is a nice addition. Value for money = Two stars. (Four had it not been for the critters). Unfortunately I can’t recommend it.

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An Ideeah Spawned By My Autumn in Japan

Here is a link to an article entitled Our Lack of Social Responsibility in my other blog, Ideeahs

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Fishy Behaviour

I just read this BBC News article which mentions that the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo had, in December, restricted access to its fish auctions due to disruptive behaviour by tourists.  The article suggests that these people would lick, ride and otherwise touch the fish causing hygiene issues.  The tourists would also use flash photography even when it is clear from guidebooks and signage that this is not permitted.  The access restrictions have been eased somewhat now with tourists being permitted from 5 am to 6:15 am as of January 19.

The respect that the Japanese show for each other, for property and for rules most impressed me during my stay in Japan last autumn.  I hope that these behaviours do not get negatively impacted by what some believe is a necessary increase in immigration over the next few years.  I hope that the foreigners (whether immigrating or visiting) check their disrespectful behaviour at their ports of departure and learn something from the Japanese regarding behaviour in a shared world.

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