Luxury Travel Advisor - February 2008 - (Page 23) table encounters with it. We were set up with a private meeting and zazen (meditation) lesson with a monk at a Buddhist Temple—a highlight of our trip. Clients interested in other Kyoto offerings, like sublime sushi, Kabuki theater, pottery or a tea ceremony, can be matched with local English-speaking experts. Luxury travel advisors should contact Head Concierge Keiko Takahashi (concierge.kyoto@hyattintl.com; 81-75-541-1234). Additionally, Associate Director of Sales Ashley Takayama (ashley.takayama@hyattintl. com; 81-75-541-3161) and General Manager Kenichiro Yokoyama (kenichiro.yoko yama@hyattintl.com) are on hand to assist with extraspecial guests. The Hyatt Regency Kyoto has three excellent and popular restaurants: The Grill, which offers French fare, Trattoria Sette, whose cuisine is Italian, and Touzan, our favorite, is Japanese. The 10course Kaiseki meal at Touzan comprised some of the best food we ate in three weeks of fine dining in Japan. The spa, Riraku, has 10 treatment rooms and sports a minimalist look as well. Western and Eastern treatments are offered, but guests should take advantage of shiatsu and Ishoku Dogen, a kind of Japanese acupuncture. Note: Children younger than 16 are not permitted at the spa. Reservations can be made anytime (riraku@hyattintl.com; 81-75-541-3130). The closest international airport to the hotel is Kansai International Airport in Osaka. For luxury ground service, the hotel offers a “Jambo Taxi,” which can seat up to eight people. Guests can land a private helicopter on the roof of Kyoto Station, about five minutes away. Tip: There is no “bad” season to visit Kyoto. Springtime is famous for cherry blossoms, and the fall boasts spectacular foliage; these two seasons are the most difficult to book. The obvious advantage to visiting in the off-season is the lack of crowds, especially important for clients who want to enjoy the full serenity of the temples and gardens. Japan is famous for its elaborate and colorful festivals; Kyoto’s major festivals include the Jidai Festival (October 22), the Aoi Festival (May 15) and the Gion Festival (July 14-16). Getting there: We flew business class on American Airlines (www.aa.com) to Japan. Japan Airlines (www.jal.co.jp/en), which partners with AA, offers $90 flights domestically throughout Japan for international travelers. From Kyoto, clients can jet up to Hokkaido, down to Kyushu or spend several days in Tokyo. For lovers of fast trains, Japan Railways‘ (www.japanrail.com) Shinkansen system comprises some of the fastest in the world; Japan Railways also offers deals to international travelers, with seven-, 14- and 21-day unlimited passes that let you move throughout the country in great comfort. For more information, visit Japan Tourism at www.jnto.go.jp/eng. —Lizzie Simon THE HYATT REGENCY’s Regency Executive Suite overlooks Japanese gardens dating to the 16th century (this picture). KIMONO FABRICS (shown right) display prominently above beds in many of the Hyatt Regency’s guest rooms. Tip: Book rooms that overlook the lovely Zen rock garden; they have far superior and more relaxing views. Make good use of the excellent concierge services at the hotel, which can elucidate the mysteries of local culture and deliver intimate and unforget- www.luxuryta.com February 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 23 http://www.aa.com http://www.jal.co.jp/en http://www.japanrail.com http://www.japanrail.com http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng http://www.luxuryta.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.