Autumn in Japan

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

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

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

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

Here is a link to an article entitled Our Lack of Social Responsibility in my other blog, Ideeahs Let me know what you think about what you have just read. Please and thanks!

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 behaviou