Mr. Black's Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka 2023.
June 13, 2023 - June 21, 2023
Back By Popular Demand!
We will begin our tour in Tokyo, Japan's sprawling, chaotic capital, where cutting-edge technology combines seamlessly with an age-old culture. Start with a whiff of the miraculous at Sensō‐ji Temple, where sacred incense smoke is said to have curative powers. Yearly festivals bring various groups to its iris garden and Treasure House, including the "Seven-Five-Three Festival," in which young children arrive dressed in mini kimonos. We will spend all of day four at the Tokyo Disney Parks (separate admission). From Tokyo we will take a day excursion to Hakone, where you will step into the misty beauty of a traditional Japanese watercolor. Peaceful lakes, stunning gardens, and magnificent views of Mount Fuji make Hakone one of the prettiest destinations for city-weary folks. After a lake cruise, ascend Mt. Komagatake in an aerial tramway, for an epic view of Mt. Fuji. Then jump on the fastest train in the world and zip to Kyoto. The Shinkansen, or "bullet" train, can travel up to 200 miles per hour. Arrival in Nara can be an eye-opening experience, as wild deer roam Nara Park -- once considered messengers of the gods, they are still a nationally protected treasure. The sense of "more is better" continues at Kasuga Shrine, where a thousand intricate bronze lanterns hang from the building. Our final city on the itinerary, Osaka, is dominated by the 16th-century castle, both economically (it's the single most visited sight in Japan) and architecturally. The castle maintains the city's historic past even as space-age buildings move Osaka into the future. Come up for air at the Umeda Sky Building, where you'll climb 550 feet to the Floating Garden Observatory for a bird's eye view of Osaka. For our farewell dinner, make your very own Japanese Okonomiyaki, the most interesting pancake you’ll ever eat.
We will begin our tour in Tokyo, Japan's sprawling, chaotic capital, where cutting-edge technology combines seamlessly with an age-old culture. Start with a whiff of the miraculous at Sensō‐ji Temple, where sacred incense smoke is said to have curative powers. Yearly festivals bring various groups to its iris garden and Treasure House, including the "Seven-Five-Three Festival," in which young children arrive dressed in mini kimonos. We will spend all of day four at the Tokyo Disney Parks (separate admission). From Tokyo we will take a day excursion to Hakone, where you will step into the misty beauty of a traditional Japanese watercolor. Peaceful lakes, stunning gardens, and magnificent views of Mount Fuji make Hakone one of the prettiest destinations for city-weary folks. After a lake cruise, ascend Mt. Komagatake in an aerial tramway, for an epic view of Mt. Fuji. Then jump on the fastest train in the world and zip to Kyoto. The Shinkansen, or "bullet" train, can travel up to 200 miles per hour. Arrival in Nara can be an eye-opening experience, as wild deer roam Nara Park -- once considered messengers of the gods, they are still a nationally protected treasure. The sense of "more is better" continues at Kasuga Shrine, where a thousand intricate bronze lanterns hang from the building. Our final city on the itinerary, Osaka, is dominated by the 16th-century castle, both economically (it's the single most visited sight in Japan) and architecturally. The castle maintains the city's historic past even as space-age buildings move Osaka into the future. Come up for air at the Umeda Sky Building, where you'll climb 550 feet to the Floating Garden Observatory for a bird's eye view of Osaka. For our farewell dinner, make your very own Japanese Okonomiyaki, the most interesting pancake you’ll ever eat.
Mr. Black, sushi chef.
Mon Sushi, Santa Monica, CA, 1996.