Japan: Temples, Treasures & Teahouses

Although not physically demanding, the trip will yield greater rewards if you are in good physical condition and able to stay on your feet for 6-7 hours per day. In Kyoto, there is much to see, and a fair amount of walking is necessary to take it all in—and you will find there are many steps to climb! Japan is a land of staircases and hills and you will enjoy the trip more if you are dressed comfortably and are in good physical condition. Please remember we will be sleeping on futons and eating at floor level, so it is important that you are able to sit down on and get up off the floor without much difficulty.

Japan’s climate and temperature range is similar to the East Coast of the US, with four distinct seasons. In March and April, the weather is turning spring-like and we hope to enjoy the cherry blossoms. Viewing the blossoms is somewhat of a national pastime in Japan. However, as the spring is a transitional season, we can expect some rain. Temperatures should range from the 50s to the 70sF. Fall brings similarly mild and pleasant temperatures, with highs around 70F and a slight chance of rain. In the mountains, the weather is unpredictable and we may encounter rain or snow.

Japan is a blend of the traditional and modern, and our trip encompasses this unique mixture. We will stay at traditional ryokans as well as Japanese-style hotels. The quiet world of the ryokan is a venerable cultural institution—a way to experience a simple, timeless way of life. After being warmly welcomed, we trade our street shoes for slippers. Once inside, we remove our slippers as we step onto the finely woven tatami mats covering our sleeping room floors. Our rooms are spacious and pleasant with low tables and comfortable futon mattresses with quilts and blankets. Please note that in Japan, double occupancy is often accommodated in twin rooms rather than double rooms. Additionally, at ryokans single guests may share accommodations with another guest in the group of the same gender.

Some of our rooms will have attached toilets, while others will have “down the hall” toilet facilities that are shared by all guests. In addition, some may have private Western-style showers or tubs in the rooms, while others may not. All of the ryokans have a communal ofuro (a Japanese-style bath). An ofuro is an integral part of the traditional Japanese bathing ritual, emphasizing cleansing and relaxation. Normally, a fresh cotton yukata (robe) is provided for each guest at the ryokans. These light kimonos can be worn anywhere in and around the ryokan, including the ofuro, and we often wear them to meals (make sure to wear the left side over the right). For many of our breakfasts and dinners, beautifully presented meals are served as we sit on the floor at low tables on our tatami mats.

A highlight of any visit to Japan is its superb cuisine defined by fresh ingredients and artful presentation. We will have ample opportunity to sample both familiar and new dishes. Usually the first “bite” is with our eyes, the presentation being a tantalizing array of fresh fish, beef, vegetables, tofu, miso soup and, of course, rice. We eat with chopsticks and are usually seated at low tables on the floor. At some ryokans, you may choose between a Japanese breakfast of fish, rice, miso soup, tofu, vegetables, pickled condiments and tea, or a western breakfast consisting of eggs, toast, salad, and coffee. Many places, however, offer only Japanese food.

During our stays in major cities, you will have some dinners and most lunches on your own, allowing you ample opportunity to sample the endless variety of Japanese food. For lunches, we may try an obento (box lunch) or get a bowl of udon, ramen, or soba noodles. We often eat lunch at the noodle shops, the sushi bars, and the small neighborhood lunch spots, avoiding the infamous high-priced meals of Japan. Napkins are not used except at western-style restaurants; bring your own handkerchief.

Keep in mind that Japanese food is very different from what we are used to, and with the limited availability of American foods, your food intake will be a big part of the Japanese adventure. Please note that vegetarian options are available, but limited. Strict vegetarian diets, vegan diets, or gluten reduced diets will be difficult to accommodate due to the pervasiveness of the fish-based stock dashi and the use of soy sauce and miso in Japanese cuisine. Gluten free cuisine will not be available.

In Japan, bathing is a time-honored tradition and a relaxing daily event. While staying in our ryokans, we will bathe as the Japanese do—using the ofuro system. In separate men’s and women’s sides, the custom is to wash and rinse before entering the ofuro, a large tub of hot water where we can sit back with legs extended, submerged to the neck (this trip is not for the very modest!). Early Shinto was a religion of cleanliness and purification. Ritualistic bathing began during this time and has been perfected over the centuries. Either as a divine imperative or a luxury, bathing in Japan has always been regarded as more than a hygienic chore. The ofuro is the perfect way to finish a hectic day of travel. After a relaxing bath, we gather for the evening meal.