Japan: Secret and Soulful, Setouchi

You may be saying, "Set...what?!" I did too when I first came across it, but research has led me to dream of how I could visit this region and what I should explore in the area. What really had me intrigued, was when I heard more about where this region is located. They describe this region as, "The Aegean Sea of the East." Which ultimately means it has warmer weather all year round and less annual rainfall. As an Oregonian, I certainly love to travel to warmer areas around the world, so I can escape the rainy weather back at home!

This region can easily be tied in with a trip to the major cities that most people to travel to Japan for. You could start your adventures in Tokyo, make your way to Kyoto and end in a city or town that is in Setouchi. If you’re like me, after a week of packing everything in, waking up early for tours and going to sleep late after walking around to see the cities at night. Slowing down at the end of your trip before heading home- is a great idea! Or you could start your trip in this area and get rid of your jet lag in the meantime.

I'll be the first to admit it, I have been known to plan a day around a meal. Especially when I'm traveling in foreign countries. Are you also one of those people? I approve, and I sincerely encourage this kind of planning while on holiday! When you finally make it to Setouchi, I have good news for you. You can easily find a place that carries Kobe beef on their menu and it's the real deal. There is also something else that I have several friends that would travel across the world for- this area is also famous for its oysters! If you're crazy for oysters, you could even plan a trip around the Miyajima Oyster Festival, which happens every February.

To be honest, I would most enjoy trying different dishes made from Udon noodles while in the region (yes, they are also known for Udon here!). I was literally eating Udon noodles for breakfast while I was in China last year, so I would love to see how they prepared them in Japan. Pro tip: get a cooking lesson from a local chef and learn how to make them yourself on your trip. You can do this as a solo traveler, with your travel buddy or it's a great activity to enjoy as a family. Believe me, all kids love noodles!

Okay enough about the food for now, you're going to also have to move around to work up your appetite. No worries here, you'll have P L E N T Y of things to do. I'd say the one big thing that I should highlight in the area and that has really captured my attention, is the Kosanji Temple on Ikuchijima Island. Depending on how active of a person you are, you can reach the island by boat or by bike. You'll find me on the boat taking in the views, but I'll cheer you on if you're signing up for a day of cycling. The grounds, including the temples, the gardens and different levels of the monuments throughout the place, took over 30 years to complete! This was all done as a homage from a son to his mother. That is some serious love right there. He even shipped marble from Italy to complete one of the areas of the temples. Be sure to plan a short stop while you are in this area. You can take a seat and order a drink at the cafe.

Another must visit place for me would be to explore the Himeji Castle. It can be enjoyed as a nice day trip from Hiroshima. As a castle lover myself, I'm sure I could spend a slow, half day tour there, taking it all in. I would love to hire a great guide to reflect on the history of the buildings that make up the castle grounds. UNESCO has dubbed it as "the finest surviving example of early 17th century Japanese castle architecture."

It would be a mistake if I didn't make enough time to get out on the water and to enjoy the calm seas. Or even over the water in this region. You can hire a seaplane to take you over the sea for 50 minutes of exciting sightseeing from the skies! If you're looking for something a bit more relaxing and wanting to connect with nature, a kayak or bike rental may be more your pace. If you're like me, you may want to do all three. I've also read about where you can enjoy a nice catamaran tour that you can consider. I imagined a nice relaxing afternoon on the water, sea breeze in my hair, sipping local sake from the region and a specialty lunch in one of the old towns.

So where do you stay in the region of Setouchi? A hotel geek like myself has a lot of options for you to consider. Though it all really depends on how we decide to fit Setouchi into your itinerary and where you are coming from beforehand or if this is your last stop(s) on your trip. Japan has a variation of different accommodations for you to think about enjoying during your journey through the country. I personally love to mix it up for my clients, this way they can experience something a bit more traditional, as well as places that are sleek and modern.

One question that I will ask my travelers, can you picture yourself surrounded by forests and tucked quietly away in nature? Or in an elegant suite, over looking the water and the bays that are widely spread through this destination? Maybe you would prefer to be in the hustle and bustle of things and you'd prefer to stay in the historical center. This way you can enjoy taking in some of the well preserved buildings in the old towns, visiting cafes and window shopping in your free time. Lots of options and even more reasons to spend more time in a special destination like this.

So tell me, are you ready to be charmed by Setouchi? This was only a teaser of what you can do while visiting this exciting destination in Japan! I’m just a call or an email away if you have any questions about Japan and I can’t wait to share more info with you.

Traveling Luxuriously

There may be a definition for luxury in the dictionary, but there is no real definition for luxury travel. At least not from how I see it and how you may see it.

lux·u·ry /ˈləkSH(ə)rē/ noun

1. the state of great comfort and extravagant living.

Do you see what I’m getting at? What DOES that mean? Your comforts and my comforts are in fact completely different and our expectation of our stay at a hotel will also be very different. So what do you expect from your stay at a hotel and the inclusions that come with where you lay your head at night? Something beyond the necessities, what could they be?

Luxury. It’s actually a word that I’ve grown tired of, just like the word “boutique” or “authentic” and even “foodie!” They now feel overused and underwhelming. Luxury, isn’t a description that I can work with when people are trying to describe their ideal holiday. Or as I hear pretty often “we don’t need something really luxurious.” Yes, even my millionaire clients say this to me. It’s my job to break down what they mean by that. Luxury can also be assumed to feel stuffy, super high end, white glove kind of service. When in fact there is also something out there in the world called barefoot luxury, which makes me giggle, but I can understand it, since I’ve experienced it at several properties.

Do me a favor and google "Luxury hotels in Rome”. You will be surprised by what pops up. Hint: not all hotels are luxury! Every hotel wants to market their property to the best that they can, so in their description on their website, they may state that you will have a luxurious stay at their property in one of their luxury rooms. You’re already feeling relaxed or intrigued, am I right? When in fact they are a hotel in a sad area of town and they haven’t updated their linens in over 25 years. That’s not screaming luxury to me, but how would you know those details without working with an advisor that knows their properties that they work with? Words mean nothing, that just happens to be a good marketing scheme, using words that draw people in!

When I break it down with clients, I can hear from each traveler what they have in mind for their own type of luxury. A lot of couples aren’t on the same page about this, but someone will usually take the lead and the other will agree with their spouse for the sake of their comfort. Some people even say, I’d love to have breakfast included in our stay or the option to have in room dining. Others say- I’d love to have a Sea View Room. The travel partner may disagree and say, “the room isn’t as important to me, as to what I’m doing while in the destination.” Real luxury for some, is a special experience, such as a private guide or private cooking class.

In the time that I started writing this post and I’ve stopped to check my inbox, I have two new emails. One from a hotel and one is a tour company and in the subject line, low and behold there is our infamous word “luxury.”

As an example, I’d like to share what I have come to find as a luxury when traveling. True luxury is the service that I receive when staying somewhere. I like to be greeted, acknowledged, asked how my stay is, if the staff can assist with anything, if I need directions in the city while I’m visiting. I want to know that whoever is running the show, is taking care of each guest. I don’t want to feel like just another person checking into their hotel. From the moment I arrive, my first impression with the staff is what I’m going to get excited about. They will be setting the tone for my stay. If I’m arriving in a hot destination, a cold towel to wipe my hands with and then a refreshing welcome drink to sip on during my check in. Someone has already grabbed my checked luggage from the back of the taxi or transfer and they are already arranging for my luggage to be delivered to my room for me. You guys, that is my luxury.

Then something else that I’m a sucker for, is turn down service. It’s the silliest of things, but after a long day of being out and about, when I open the door to my room and I catch a glimpse of a soft glow from my bedside lamp…that is so appealing. I step further into the room and see the blinds have been pulled down, my pillows set up differently, the corner of the blankets on the bed are pulled back slightly, slippers next to the bedside and a fresh bottle of water with a glass are on my nightstand. The extra mile is when there is a note, addressed to me, with the weather or the schedule for the next day.

This isn’t how I always travel and I don’t expect that at every hotel, but this level of service is my luxury!

Think about your luxury; your expectations while traveling. A detail that is significant enough to be memorable for you and this particular trip. These are fine points that I like to discuss with clients.

Travel with a purpose and I’ll select your hotels, your tours and your guides with careful consideration.

Thailand: A fun day in Phang Nga Bay!

I’ve come to find out that I really, really enjoy spending time on a boat. Island hopping around Phang Nga Bay was the highlight of my most recent trip to Thailand. We spent a couple of our days island hopping in the area, but one day in particular certainly stood out for me. It’s a day that I could relive over and over again. Yes, it was that close to perfect.

The beautiful, traditional, long-tail boat waited for us at a nearby port. We hopped onboard and we were off to explore the unique beaches in the bay. Chaya the resort manager explained that she was taking us to a place that the Thai people called “the room.” She didn’t give much away and I’m so glad that she didn’t, because it was such a fabulous surprise once we were there. Before we reached it, we passed by these beautiful limestone stalactite formations, coming out of the cliffside. The boat slowed and we idled into a cave, above us were the great, big pieces of stone. It was quiet, everyone stared up at these masses of rock.

The boat sped on. Soon we saw a narrow opening between two walls of cliffs and the boat turned in that direction. All of us got to our feet, anxious to see this room we’ve been hearing about.

I’m pretty sure the first thing that came out of my mouth was “WHAT?!!” We sailed into the room, where walls of cliffs fully surrounded this stunning pool of water. What really surprised me was how shallow the water was inside this area. We took the kayaks off of the boat and the others jumped off to have a walk around. My travel buddy (mom) and I paddled around the rim of the room, noticing that the water was only waist deep everywhere that we went, never deeper. Both of us were surprised we had this area all to ourselves. This kind of day trip is certainly kid friendly. I know my niece and nephew would just go crazy exploring these “secret” coves, in the bath-like, calm waters. Thailand is a destination that the whole family would enjoy. Perfect for multi generation trips if you ask me!

Nu from ANI (left) showing off a star fish and my mom sitting in the bay.

After taking the photo of the starfish, I looked up and couldn’t believe how beautiful of a shot the entryway to the room was (below). With those tiny islands dotting the background of the scene, the tranquil water and not another boat in sight, I swore I’d remember this day for the rest of my life.

We stopped in front of another beach, only one other boat was anchored there, two people snorkeling in the crystal blue, clear water. I had just mentioned to my mom that I was anxious to see some marine life and wondered what type of fish they had in this region. My mom had the ladder over the side of the boat as soon as we stopped and she was back in the water. Little did she know she wasn’t alone- all sorts of different schools of fish swam around her. I couldn’t believe my eyes! The water was so clear, I was watching fish swim in around the boat, from all different directions.

Our next stop was for lunch. Which was another pleasant surprise. We were back on the boat, headed to another island. We saw three boats anchored on another beach, but not a soul was at the one we were pulling up to. The ANI team said they packed a picnic, but as we had come to find out day after day, they don’t do anything simple. A picnic to you and I may mean a cheese plate, some snacks and don’t forget the wine! Of course the ANI team also didn’t forget for our little rendezvous. Ice cold rose was pulled from a cooler, as well as go-vino plastic wine glasses. I think I high fived myself when I saw this. (I do that some times…)

Lunch wasn’t a picnic in my opinion. Though I’m sure chef Yao from the villa would argue that it’s very casual and simple. Tae, Nu, Narin, Berb and the team quickly set up these adorable wooden tables and mats for us to sit on in the sand. Place settings, all of the the glorious food, individual sauces were set out, our wine glasses filled and we were happily saying cheers to one another in the shade of the tree, looking out at the bay.

Why does swimming and being in the water make you feel so hungry? We ate until our bathing suits began to talk back and then rolled into the water to float in the cool water. I am far from being the cool, stylish girl, but I sure wish for this trip I had found myself a great beach hat. Something I could have taken into the water with me. Next time!

Our last stop for the day was the monkey island. Which the staff had told me about and I basically insisted that we stop the boat there. I didn’t know there would be THAT many monkeys. Some off the ANI team tossed a bit of fruit into the water and the monkeys were already jumping into the water when they saw our boat pulling closer to shore. They were swimming out to the boat!! I was shocked. I had never seen a monkey do this, not that I hang out with monkeys all the time, but this was just crazy to see in person. The little buggers weren’t just out for a swim, some of them made their way onto the boat, which was even more of a shock. Their sweet noises when they were eating just cracked me up. I could have watched them forever.

We made it back to the ANI Villa and were greeted by warm smiles. It was one of the best days, my mom and I had been smiling and laughing all day. I’m sure both of us will cherish these moments for a very long time. A huge thanks to the ANI team for showing us your beautiful island and all of the ones surrounding you in the gorgeous bay. This is a very special part of the world, I look forward to sharing it with other travelers!