Note: I wrote this blog post over the course of the second half of 2024 from June all the way to November where it amassed 155 pages in a Google document. This blog is being released in 8 different parts where each read has lots of content but is digestible without reader burnout: Pre-trip, May 17-19, May 20-21, May 22-23, May 24-25, May 26-27, May 28-29, May 30-31
Here is the link to view the all parts (released/unreleased)
May 22 Wednesday
Wednesday of the trip started with breakfast at the hotel once again. Breakfast I found was one of the best ways to connect with other trip members and this particular morning was an unexpected surprise with Maaike from the Netherlands. We might be located far apart in the world but we had many experiences that brought us to a common understanding!
Our first stop of the day was walking distance from our hotel, Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Instead of going straight to the temple area, our group met the Temple lecture hall/offices off on the side where one of the head monks would end up giving us a personalized tour.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple grounds
He provided the history of the temple and led us to a private room full of thousands of small buddhas all around with us standing on a platform multiple stories up. We received 2 papers that we associated intentions or prayers with and got to drop them to the bottom of the Buddhas feet. This was such a surreal experience for me and further developed my appreciation and understanding of Buddhism. I learned from this monk that everything just IS - not good or bad and that we will never experience the same moment ever again in time. We got to stop next at the garden where we were able to look out and be mindful for quite some time. This was one of the top gardens that was meticulously maintained from the top of a hill down to the main pond area.
Kiyomizu-dera Garden
After our garden moment, we entered the chaos of the rest of the tourists that were there. We did get to go behind the scenes to the main area to perform a private prayer with the monk though. See image below for explanation.
Main area of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Finally we went to an observation area that overlooked Kyoto and said our parting ways with the monk.
Kiyomizu-dera observation area
After the temple, everyone was on their own to grab lunch on the Higashiyama streets enroute back to the hotel for a bus to pick us up for a daytrip to Nara. This is where Kristin (Modern Refresh) and I got to chat and ended up grabbing sandwiches and coffee together. I had met Kristin previously at a Container Store event in LA so we were familiar with each other but not much about our business and lives. Once back at the hotel, we all hopped on a bus for about an hour and a half bus ride to Nara park.
Before getting to Nara all I’ve heard about this is where you can feed deer. After arriving to Nara Deer Park, deer were literally everywhere and there were stands that you could purchase food to feed them. Aki (our tour guide) mentioned that you bow to the deer, they bow back, then you feed them. This happened in most cases except some of them were more aggressive and wanted to be fed. We had about an hour of roaming and deer feeding before our next stop at Todai-ji Temple. After a few rounds of feeding, I went on a walk with Kelly, Maaike, and Kristin to explore other areas of the park. This is where Kelly and I had a really nice bonding experience and got to learn about each other's businesses!
Nara Deer Park
Maaike, Kristin, Michael, Kelly @ Nara Deer park
After our free roam time, we met at the entrance of Todai-ji Temple which houses the world's largest bronze Buddha at 15 meters tall. Although super busy, we got a private tour from the head monk who walked us on the private side paths to reach the temple where we would get to go on the upper level of the buddha that was normally not accessible to visitors, even getting to touch the statue itself! We got to do some ceremonial activities in front of the Buddha which added to the specialness of this experience that helped me get in touch further with my inner self. This was also where I procured my first memento of the trip - some buddhist wrist beads!
Todai-ji Temple bronze Buddha up close
After the temple, we hopped back on the bus to travel back to our hotel in Kyoto where Dinner would be at the restaurant at the hotel CICON. We all sat at long tables and got to feast family style on a variety of European inspired dishes including Prosciutto, Oysters, Calamari, Beef, etc. I recall this is the first time of the trip that I got to learn about Jenna and her business. She and I had attended the same certification course in 2019 but somehow never really crossed paths until now. We would continue to build our friendship later on in the trip when we were on our own adventures outside of the main trip.
May 23 Thursday
Thursday was a super early start as we needed to check out of the hotel and pack an overnight bag to travel to Ise. Our main luggage would be transferred straight to the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo when we would arrive the next day. This would be our first public transit adventure as a main group taking a limited express train to Ise-Shima. My friend Melissa had the more creative backpack of the trip seen below.
Melissa’s creative backpack
I got to sit next to Melissa on the train and zone out for a few hours as this was my first real break in days. After our train arrived we would hop on a bus in Ise to have lunch at Ise Todaya Ryoan. The meal was a multicourse traditional Japanese dish and it all tasted as good as it looked. We later found out this was a Michelin Guide restaurant/hotel on our way out.
Ise Todaya Ryoan
After lunch we would hop back on the bus to visit Netsuke Sculpture Museum for a Netsuke Demonstration with the master and his apprentice. Netsuke art are tiny wood carvings that are collectibles and can be hung on kimonos. The price for some of the more complex pieces were in the thousands of dollars! The master had been doing this artform his entire life and was passing this art form down - Takumi was able to arrange this special viewing as you would have not even known this workspace existed in the first place if you were driving by.
Netsuke Sculpture Museum
Netsuke Master
Back on the bus again we would head to Futamiokitama Shrine located on the coast in Ise. There were many frog statues and themes around this shrine and this shrine is typically a place couples would go to pray for their marriage. This was the first shrine where I would get to purify our hands and before the prayer and offering. I didn’t get any photos of the shrine itself but here are the Meoto Iwa Wedded rocks that represent male and female entities bound together by rope of earthly and spiritual realms. This area reminded me of a California coastal trail with paved areas leading to all the attractions.
Futamiokitama Shrine - Meoto Iwa Wedded rocks
The journey was not over yet this day, as we would hop back on the bus again and head to Ise Jingu Geku. Ise Shrines consist of over 100 different shrines but Geku and Naiku are the main ones that we would visit. Going to Geku was fully in nature as it was located in the middle of a forest area - the area was large and not overcrowded by tourists. Here is the main shrine below that was the deity of food that we got to pray and provide an offering to. It was interesting to note that every shrine was represented by a different deity so normally you would get to pick and choose the ones that you wanted to visit based on what was happening in your life.
Ise Jingu Geku Shrine
After visiting Geku, I think the entire group was worn out for the day and the bus ride to the Kashikojima Hojoen hotel was about an hour. After making a pit stop at a Lawsons where I grabbed a few cans of beer for road beverages we finally made it to the hotel close to sunset time. The hotel was super swanky and overlooked a bay to the south. I didn’t have much time to explore the grounds before we needed to be at dinner but here was the view from my room.
Kashikojima Hojoen Hotel
Going to dinner was super extravagant. The tables were all lined up in a large room for just our group. I got to sit next to Hiroko who is now located in NYC and previously Japan. Having her explain some of the dishes to me was very helpful! The grill dish in the upper right was abalone that was alive and then once the fire they lit went out, you were able to eat it. I was definitely spoiled by all the meals we had been eating. Some trip members did mention I was super adventurous for digging into all the dishes without hesitation, but why not!
Kashikojima Hojoen Banquet Hall
Kashikojima Hojoen Multicourse Meal
After dinner I would get to have my first Onsen (hotspring) experience at the hotel. Basically you dress up in a traditional outfit, the men and women are separated, you wash off prior, strip naked and just hang out in the hotspring. The mens onsen overlooked the bay and the moonlight was out. There were no other people in my onsen when I went. It was a very therapeutic moment for me during this trip!
Onsen Adventure
