Re: trip to Japan

Joi,

Jeffrey has advised that I contact you regarding the trip to =apan... It is so kind of you and your wife to help us, I very =uch appreciate it and hope that I can return the favor if you ever need =ssistance.

Please let me know what would be the best way to contact you or =our wife about it. May be we could set up a quick skype call if that is =onvenient?

Thank you so much!

Karyna.

Hi Karyna,

We can try to Skype today or you can tell us what you're =ooking for and we can help. One thing Jefrey said was that you wanted =o take some cooking lessons. Mizuka might be able to help. We'd =eed to know the what kind of cooking and you and level, =tc.

Hi Joi and Mizuka,

Thank you again so much for your help!
Yes, we would love to take some cooking lessons. Neither of us has =earned about Japanese cooking, so we would probably need to start with =he basics, although.is a chef, but she has experience only with =uropean/american cuisine. But we do love Japanese food a lot! at least =he American version of it.
Other then food, we probably will do lot's of sightseeing, since =his is going to be our first time in Japan. I would love to get to know =ore about traditional Japanese architecture and design. We would also =ike to see sumo and kabuki performance, as well as kodo and tea =eremony. So if you may have suggestions on any of the above, it would =e amazing. Otherwise, we are open to any other recommendations you =ight have and very much looking forward to this trip!
Thank you both very much!
Karyna.

Most likely we will be there from September 18th till 29th (will know =or sure on Friday after I get my visa).

If you could recommend a good cooking class and where to see an =ncense ceremony, it would be great!

Also, which hotel would you recommend to stay at in Kyoto?

Thanks a lot!

Karyna.

Can you tell us your travel dates?

What would your priorities be of the list of stuff below?

Sumo tickets are harder, Kabuki is easier. Do you need a guide for =11 of this?

Karyna Shuliak

Hi Karyna,

We recommended 2 Japanese-style hotels and 1 western hotel.

1, Hiiragiya

http://www.hiiragiya.co.jp/en/

The Bath tub is bigger than Tawaraya.

2, Tawaraya

Tawaraya is much more famous but the bath is a small - you can't =xtend your legs.

=ttp://www.annes-de-pelerinage.com/tawaraya-ryokan-review-best-hotel-in-t=e-world/

3, Hyatt Regency Kyoto

https://kyoto.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/offers.html

I like the breakfasts.

You can try to do an incense ceremony in Kyoto.

http://www.shoyeido.co.jp/english/

http://www.yamadamatsu.co.jp/en/index.html

I'm trying to figure out the cooking class level. Should we have =en the focus or make it so both of you can participate evenly? I think =hat if we make Jen the focus, we can have a fairly high level class =ith you as support. Otherwise, we can try to organize a more =E2Q4kstartern course for both of you. One question, are you =omfortable working with raw fish?

Mizuka ( & Joi)