Monday // Day 1: Departure to Tokyo
My night was sleepless- Knowing that in just 12 hours I would be in my way to the other side of the globe, which I had no plans of just 48 hour prior. I am very honored and thankful to the Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and Discover Japan for collaborating in offering me a complimentary ticket to Japan on either JAL (Japan Airlines) or ANA (All Nippon Airways). I selected ANA as they are part of the wonderful star alliance. The trip would give me a strong kick to maintain my Premier 1K status.
The rest of the trip was up to me. As my ticket was issued on Friday night at about 9pm, it was truly last minute for a Monday departure. The tickets offered were ONLY in economy class. The fare level they booked me in did not allow any changes, upgrades, purchased upgrades, bump upgrades, bribe upgrades, smile upgrades—you get the point – none whatsoever. But of course, being the Steele Traveler that I think I am, I tried every way possible.
I finally said to myself, okay, this is a humbling trip for me. I am going for a new experience. To temporarily escape and suspend what I am accustomed to. I will fly economy class and it will be fine.
Before I left, I did my research as to what I wanted to do in Japan.
I wanted an authentic Japanese experience, no running to gay bars, or scrambling through a bustling city.
Tokyo was out.
I came across this fantastic, luxurious hotel group called HOSHINOYA. They have two properties and a few more that are opening in the near future.
Hoshinoya Kyoto and
Hoshinoya Karuizawa are two ultra modern properties that offer a modern twists to the traditional Japanese Ryokan, both very easy to travel to from Tokyo.
A Ryokan is a Japanese style inn outfitted with tatami-matted rooms with futon beds. Delicious meals are also usually included in the Ryokan. Words can not describe how special these two properties seemed to me.
I contacted the US representative for Hoshinoya, Yuki, who was about just as excited as I was for my special retreat.
Yuki is
Japanese angel.
She helped me plan my entire trip from trains to directions.
For once, I took the back seat in travel planning.
The level of service that Yuki provided was only a hint of what I was about to experience in Japan.
I packed by bags and headed to the airport for my 11:00am departure headed for Tokyo…
