FUN-photos: A&K Private Jet Wild Life Safari – Japan
December 29, 2022 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-photos: A&K Private Jet Wild Life Safari – Japan
On October 7th we boarded our 757, configured with 48 first class fully reclining leather seats, for our eleven-hour flight. Crossing the International Dateline had us arriving the next afternoon where we spent 3 nights at the Peninsula in Tokyo.
Day 1 – To see the Macaques, AKA snow monkeys, we took a bus to the train station, boarded our 5-star Gran Class bullet train, and then took another bus ride to the park, which took 3+ hours. Once there we trekked up over a mile-and-a half to reach the natural hot springs that they love to hang out in.
Amazing & magical for sure! Especially since it rained the 2 days prior, and the monkeys were nowhere to be found. The sun was out when we reached the summit at the top of the stairs where over 60 of the sweet monkeys were playing and preening.
Day 2 – We toured the temples in Kamakura and saw the Sumo wrestlers.
FUN-fact– Our crew was from Iceland and the service felt like being on Pan Am in the 60’s! Caviar & Veuve Clicquot Champagne awaited us, and their “uniforms” changed with each country.
FUN-video: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Movie Trailer
April 26, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-video: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Movie Trailer
FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! Part 2
April 26, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! Part 2
Uniquely UNESCO & Totally Templed!
- The big “trip attraction”… Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera…one of the 21 places vying for the New 7 Wonders of the World. We have now officially made it to 20 of them! Don’t think Timbuktu is ever gonna happen. Japan has 21 UNESCO World Heritage sites & we saw a total of 10. Plus we made it to a grand total of 17 Temples/Shrines.
- We found Scottie, our travel agent at Experience Japan Travel, through Zicasso. He lives in Kyoto and is a Kiwi by birth. So know language barrier! He did a fabulous job of creating a customized itinerary based on our desires. He can be reached at scott@experiencetravel.com.
FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! “Cherry Fest”
April 26, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! “Cherry Fest”
Cherry Blossoms are to Japan what Beer is to Germany…a reason to party! And “Cherry Fest” starts as soon as the first blossoms appear. They draw thousands of people who flock to parks, gardens, and riversides to eat, drink & be merry under the flowers.
Nice & sweet at just 14 days…we started & ended in Tokyo with visits to Yokahama, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Osaka, Himeji, Kyoto, Nara, Uji & Hakone.
FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Hakone
April 24, 2018 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Hakone
…see Mt. Fuji via the local train…
…to the Hakone Cable Car…
…to the Hakone Ropeway…
…to the Pirate Ship Cruise.
Arrived to blustery wind & rain…
…so just not gonna happen!
- Alternate Plan B…
…take short 15 minute walk…
…to two temples…
…both closed…
…try one more another 10 minutes…
…spectacularly beautiful built into the mountain…
…with waterfalls on each side…
…but alas it too was closed.
- Alternate Plan C…
FUN-fact – When the wind blows…the spent cherry blossoms…mimic a snow flurry…as the petals flutter to the ground.
More FF – We were on our own without a guide the last 2 days and managed to get on & off all trains and get where we needed to go just fine!