Most Inspirational Moment
I really enjoyed staying at the ryokans, the meals we had there and the onsen experience. The most memorable temple was Daishō-in on the island of Miyajima. The atmosphere was amazing and it felt very spiritual. I found the visit to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum very touching It was great to be able to see the snow mountain monkeys and spot Mt Fuji from our hotel room window in Tokyo! I loved all the food that we have been able to try Last but not least I loved the kindness and the composure of the Japanese people, their respect towards other people and nature, the technology, the cleanliness ... In a nutshell, I will treasure every moment.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Misa is very organised, knowledgeable, kind and patient. She was very attentive and always made sure we were all right. She has given us very good tips of what to do in our free time. One evening, when she should have been free to rest, she has accompanied me and my husband to the district of Gion in Kyoto's as we had not been able to go with the rest of the group on the previous evening due to personal commitments. She also accompanied the group to Hakone for a day trip on her free day. She has definitively go out of her to ensure all the participants had a good time and has thought us a lot of the Japanese culture.
Advice for Potential Travellers
In our group there were people with very specific dietary needs. I think that they have found it a bit difficult at times to find the right food for them. People with special dietary needs (e.g. vegan, vegetarian, coeliac) might find it a bit challenging to find the right food for them at all times.