Tasty Dishes & Enticing Cocktails

I began my search for the tastiest dishes of the year by sifting through my photos starting in January. However, by the time I reached the month of June, I had already chosen 30 different tantalizing feasts for the eyes! How to choose?

Be honest, do you want to see that many of my “highlights”? I don’t believe so. Therefore, I carefully looked for colorful, unique meals and surprisingly incredible drinks that are worth celebrating once again. A few of them are favorites due to their unique nature or element of surprise!

I have narrowed down this list to a more manageable number and I hope you enjoy revisiting them as much as I do!

Maui

We began a very ambitious travel year with a relaxing, mostly rainy, week in Maui. However, we raised a toast of Piña Coladas on a delightful, sunny afternoon by the pool. Cheers!

Oh, my dear, these are the best crab cakes on earth. Doesn’t the lovely plate and vibrant blue tablecloth put it over the top? Many of you have enjoyed Mama’s Fish House, in the small town of Paia and I know you feel the same way about this unique Hawaiian restaurant. The location looks like the set of a movie, and although pretty pricey, the food is fabulous!         

Iceland

Best Experience Ever!

With so many memorable adventures, our trip to Iceland remains one of the most out of the ordinary tours we have enjoyed. From the astounding natural wonders to petting wild Icelandic horses and an exquisite black sand beach with completely clear, faceted icebergs. The driver of our tour bus brought back a mini glacier rock where centuries-old ice was chiseled and added to our Bourbon Old Fashioned. Mic drop.

Also, we tasted the global favorite Icelandic hot dog from a cart in downtown Reykjavic. I am not a big fan of hot dogs, but Craig and our friends Danny and Drew from Collette sampled them for me. They unanimously agreed the dogs were delicious!

North Dakota

Does North Dakota come to mind when you think “fantastic food”?  Maybe not, but we sure had an amazing dinner where the steaks were cooked in hot oil on pitchforks! Always looking to find adventure in everything I do, I was shocked over the preparation of these steaks! Click here to read more about my trip to North Dakota – I was so impressed!

Italy

It is nearly impossible to find a favorite dish in the gastronomically superior country of Italy! I narrowed it down to these few, with still a dozen more I could share. Please say a prayer for our friends in Italy; the virus is indeed causing havoc with the travel industry.

My divine trip to Italy began with a culinary tour with Oldways. We were joined by chefs from SRV in Boston, MA. We took several hands-on classes while on the road in Verona and Northern Italy. This risotto below is soft and gooey with fresh peas and ham. I can never get enough gelato and in Italy, it is a 3:00 pm required refreshment stop.

A Road Trip in South Dakota with Awesome Food!

On our empty nester road trip through South Dakota, I was traveling with some very adventurous eaters! Watching someone else eat a Bison burger was just what this non-Bison eater needed. I do appreciate that many people love to eat different sorts of animals, but I will stick with the standard fare. Troy thought his enormous burger was outstanding.

Breakfast in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Our first time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will not be our last. This spectacular city is the kind of place I could stay for quite a while. With the Grand Tetons looking over your shoulder, the upscale restaurants excellent shopping and chic locals, it was my kind of place. This lovely laid-back town has a movie star vibe, and I kept looking for Kevin Costner to be sitting at the next table.

An LA dinner with friends Tammy & Steve

Close to home in Los Angeles, we enjoyed an eclectic meal with dear friends. LA is the foodie town of towns right now, and we are investigating as many restaurants as we can! Otium has been around for a while and serves consistently delicious and beautifully prepared dishes. Sharing is a must!

More Italy

Because well… there’s always more Italian food that needs revisiting!

Kansas City, Kansas Food Tour

Did you know that Kansas City, Kansas is a fabulous food town? We spent a day and a half sampling and sipping through this fascinating city. I have never been a fan of boba, but we visited this colorful little Boba Blend, and I am a convert now! Their recipes were smart, fresh and tasty, not to mention Insta-worthy!

Pasadena Masters of Taste

As a firm believer in dining with loved ones, we spent an afternoon with my parents at the Masters of Taste in Pasadena. On a warm Sunday afternoon, we tried lots of different restaurant samples and a few kick-ass cocktails. Do you have food events in your area? The Event Brite website usually has a long list of them.

Seattle

My list of Seattle favorites is very very long. The talented chefs maximize the local PNW ingredients and create inventive dishes. We look forward to our frequent visits here.

However, at this moment in Seattle, the corona-virus might be destroying the restaurant scene. Office buildings are shut down and most people are working from home so no one is going out to lunch and dinner. I feel terribly for the workers who don’t have customers to serve and small businesses that are suffering.

I have received many emails from local Seattle restauranteurs and chefs sharing the safety precautions taken in their restaurants. 

Japan

If you have been following my travels, you will know that I absolutely adore Japan! In addition to the intriguing history and spectacular architecture, the authentic local cuisine is fresh and healthy. 

To narrow down my favorites in Japan is impossible, so I just offered up three photos. The dessert below was so pretty, you couldn’t believe you could eat it! Shabu Shabu means “swish swish” in Japanese. The server heats up boiling water and dips our veggies and meat in the hot water to cook them. So good and so fun!

Two last photos of my food experience in Japan

While staying at the famous Park Hyatt in Tokyo I enjoyed a very fancy meal on the 52nd floor with a view of Tokyo and devoured the best dessert and cappuccino of my life!

Why do I take photos of my food? 

I have been doing this for years! Way before Instagram was a national past-time, my feverish, food photography was commonplace. The dazzling colors and presentations always make me smile, and I captured them for my enjoyment and reference. 

I now do this as part of my job, lucky me. Do you use Instagram to look for popular restaurants and dishes? When I am preparing to visit a new city, I always search for the hashtags that will help me find the most delicious and talked about places. Also, I search for blog posts that reference my destination. Our dining life has been saved on many of our trips because an avid food photographer took a great photo of a tasty-looking dish or meal. 

Check out my Instagram account @suzannestavert and my brand new one @theadventuresoemptynesters for food photos and adventures!

How was your 2019? What were your tastiest dishes of the year? Do tell!

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The recent celebration of the Academy Awards prompted me to share this special story of my spectacular stay at Park Hyatt Tokyo and how a movie influenced my experience.

A movie that sparked a dream

17 years ago, back when I was not a travel writer or even much of a traveler, I saw a film that captivated me. Lost in Translation was a film with an Oscar-winning screenplay starring comedian Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, a fantastic rising star. A large part of the movie essentially took place in an impressive, upscale, chic, I had never seen anything like this hotel in Tokyo, Japan called Park Hyatt Tokyo. 

I was enchanted by the dazzling city views out the hotel’s high rise windows. The elegant interior design and chic cocktail bar were total fantasy to me. Travel to Japan just wasn’t that common in my circle and this fact made the movie seem even more exciting and mysterious.

Back then, I truly never dreamed I would ever see and certainly never stay at a hotel like Park Hyatt Tokyo. I was a suburban mom with a limited budget, a packed schedule and busy children where this type of travel was not a realistic endeavor. Travel here was just too far out of my realm of thinking. 

My travel life today

Fast forward many years, with my kids all grown, I am enjoying a fulfilling career in travel writing. An opportunity to cap off a work trip where I was touring through Japan by rail, allowed me time to stay longer and make a reservation! Are you kidding me?

Just a year or so before, I traveled to Japan for the first time as a brand ambassador. I was introduced to this extraordinary country while on the Cultural Treasures of Japan tour with Collette Travel. The unique sites coupled with brand new adventures I never knew existed, created a huge fan. I was smitten and adored eating the fine, fresh sushi and was captivated by ancient architecture that sits right in between the prolific city of skyscrapers. Mesmerized by the magnificent landscape, bustling cities and incredible local hospitality, Japan was my new favorite destination.

Where the dream comes true

So when I was invited by two Japanese travel companies, Keihan and Odakyu, to return and experience even more of the many wonders of Japan, I jumped at the chance! To read all about this trip you can check out this post and this one!

I used Hyatt points and stayed on the 51st floor of Park Hyatt Tokyo. If you are not earning points and miles to travel, you are missing out. My husband and I stay in Hyatt properties over 130 nights each year and they reward our loyalty with special upgrades.

Come along on my stay at Park Hyatt Tokyo

This exceptional hotel is located in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo where the streets are pristine and the public parks are perfectly manicured. Many austere government buildings line the streets nearby and the tower is within walking distance of the spectacular Shinjuku train station. These stations are so well equipped that you could fprobably live there for the rest of your life without needing a thing. They offer everything from American coffee to French pastries, home goods, an array of global restaurants, fashion boutiques and a multitude of other options.

Once I arrived at Park Hyatt Tokyo by taxi, a staff member greeted me at the ground floor door and personally delivered me to the 41st -floor check-in area which looks more like an opulent banking office. And as it turns out I didn’t even have to check-in. The greeter just took me directly to my room. Fancy! The hotel occupies 14 floors of the 52-story building and I was upgraded to a deluxe room with a view of Mount Fuji, but on that day the afternoon fog obscured my view so I had no idea she was right there out my window. 

Once settled, three days of total luxury were at my fingertips. My exquisite room sat high in the sky where I could view 180 degrees of the stunning Tokyo skyline and Mount Fuji. Would you like a tour? Check out this video!

More Photos to Enjoy

Hotel Extras – Brunch, Bakery & Deli

Daily Breakfast/Brunch

Sitting at the bar or not

For me, traveling alone can be quite different than when I am with my husband. I am not fond of sitting at a bar by myself but knew I wanted to experience the most famous place in this hotel. The Bar! There were several scenes in Lost in Translation filmed on those seats. It is called the New York Bar and it is out of a movie… Oh, I told you that. Seriously, it was like I walked into a glamorous movie set, as a gorgeous jazz singer dressed in a red, sang for a packed room where every seat in the bar was taken. Not the perfect seating scenario for me, so I created a better plan.

Dinner is served

Since I enjoy fine dining, I cleverly decided to book a reservation at the also famous and elegant New York Grill Restaurant which is adjacent to The Bar. My table was on the edge of the room overlooking the city and a long line of servers was ready to indulge my every request. I sure felt special.

To maximize my ability to taste and see as many dishes as I could, I ordered the Prix Fixe menu and a martini (or two).

I enjoyed every dish and presentation, every one of the unique combinations of flavors and textures. The service was kind, but not intrusive, friendly but respectful. I enjoyed talking with my primary server and listening to his personal stories about his journey to Japan. His occupational aspirations and intense work schedule were inspiring.

Every dish and every ingredient was better than the next during my memorable meal.

Final thoughts

As the memory of the intriguing “Lost In Translation” intertwined with my own extraordinary experience of my stay at Park Hyatt Tokyo, it fulfilled an almost impossible dream. The hotel will certainly remain in my heart forever, but now I must return to Park Hyatt Tokyo with my husband to share these luxuries that I was so fortunate to experience!

Let’s connect on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram – Hope to see you there!

For more information about Japan check out these posts:

Japan is For Food Lovers :: Pack Your Bags and Go

Travel in Japan is Easier Than You Think

Travel By Train on a Trip To Japan and So Much More

Find Adventure With Me on My Amazing Adventure in Japan

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The post My Connection Between “Lost in Translation” & My Stay at Park Hyatt Tokyo appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.

Hello friends & Happy New Year – I hope that you were able to hang out with family and friends, devour some delicious meals and maybe even find a little adventure! We enjoyed all of these things too!

It has been a fabulous year of travel!

Wow, to narrow down my top travel highlights of the year was truly a challenge. 2019 was one heck of a travel adventure full of eclectic destinations, firsts and second time visits, discovery and nature so big it takes your breath away. Literally.

January began with a relaxing but rainy week in Maui and then the travel wheels got moving very quickly! No time for resting, extraordinary destinations were waiting for us to arrive.

I know that you are super busy and you cannot always make time to read every single one of my posts… so here are some of the top travel highlights and links to their respective posts. I once again want to thank you for being here and for reading and commenting on my adventures. I truly appreciate you.

My goal is to provide you with helpful, interesting info that you couldn’t find anywhere else!

A few fun statistics:

Travel In the US

I visited SIX new states in the beautiful USA! I spent time in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Kansas! Discovering more of the US, especially by car, was something I have wanted to do for quite some time. There is no better way to see a new state than to drive through it because it is just not the same to fly in and fly out.  As we drove through the grasslands of North Dakota the only two colors we could see for miles was the crisp baby blue of the sky and the vibrant chartreuse green of the grass. We meandered through the spectacular Badlands of South Dakota and West all the way across Wyoming to Jackson Hole.

Driving through the Kentucky horse country was just like you and I dreamed it would be! It was easy to stop in small charming towns and then make our way down to the fantastic Music City of Nashville.

Europe & Asia

I was able to once again this year make it back to Italy, the land of handmade pasta, prosecco and the best darn cheese on earth.  I traveled through Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto Japan to venture deep into the local culture, enjoy their kind hospitality and eat amazing food! I feel so fortunate to work with companies like Collette, Oldways, Odakyu and Keihan where they took me on an insider’s tour of some incredible and delicious destinations.

Lots of travel in wildly different places!

Overall, I took 17 trips, flew thousands of miles, drove more hours in the car than I EVER have before and filmed an e-p-i-c video of our tour in Iceland with my friends at Collette. I traveled through several states in the Midwest where I sampled some sweet and savory BBQ, sipped some outstanding bourbon with delicious hints of caramel and then ended my year in December with a milestone birthday for both my husband Craig and my Mom. Whew!

I am b-l-e-s-s-e-d.  It is not lost on me that this ambitious travel schedule may sound crazy to some of you and others wish you were packed in my suitcase!

My free-lance travel writing career keeps me super busy, especially now that my nest is empty, there is plenty of time for this exciting and satisfying occupation. I LOVE working with companies who want to share their tours and destinations with you! What better way to see a destination up close than when I take you along with me through video, social media and my blog posts.

Here we go, my top travel highlights of 2019!

Maui x 2

We were lucky enough to visit our beloved Maui once in January and then again for an extended time in October celebrating 35 years of marriage. We were upgraded to a ridiculous suite at the Hyatt Andaz and treated truly like VIPs. I will never forget our spectacular and relaxing anniversary trip!

Iceland

Next, I had to research and pack up just the right layers of clothing for our trip to Iceland in February. Besides experiencing wonders of nature that I never knew existed, chasing the Northern Lights was a bucket list item for me and for Craig. We did it! We stood in the middle of the night watching the vast sky in the frigid wind to catch a glimpse of the dancing, elusive Northern Lights.

Italy

Guess who traveled with Oldways and three chefs from the restaurant SRV in Boston to enjoy art, local cuisine, architecture and culture? Me! Oldways is helping people live healthier, happier lives through honoring cultural food traditions which includes food and nutrition. I love it!

They have created these one of a kind tours to celebrate in the origins of healthy foods, as well as offer insights and education through participating chefs and other programs. While on tour, the cooking classes led by these culinary experts, help us understand how to create delicious dishes all while visiting the countries of origin. Such a brilliant idea!

Additionally, Craig met me at the conclusion of the tour in Venice and then we traveled through the Emilia–Romagna region which has earned “the breadbasket” of Italy title. This area is known for its gastronomic and wine-making tradition. Eating and touring our way through this heavenly place was a dream for both of us!

North Dakota

Yep, I went to North Dakota and I loved it! I attended the Midwest Travel Conference in Medora, ND and had a blast in this adorable tiny town. The entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park sits just steps away from downtown Medora and we drove thru the park early in the morning where we walked among wild horses and witnessed many baby Bison quietly grazing next to their mamas. You don’t see this in Los Angeles!

South Dakota/Wyoming

Craig met me in North Dakota and we drove a few hours to Rapid City, South Dakota to meet with the other half of our traveling foursome, Troy and Brad. We have all been friends since before we could drink bourbon, and several years ago we began to create innovative itineraries to see these “bucket list” destinations. Mt Rushmore and the Badlands have been in on all four of our travel bucket lists and now was the time to see them!

Oh – klahoma! – Pawhuska, OK

Even if you have never seen her show, I bet you know probably know who The Pioneer Woman is!  Ree Drummond also known at The Pioneer Woman, has lovingly beautified the tiny town of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. This destination is about an hour outside Tulsa and she has built quite the attraction. Her exquisite hotel is called The Boarding House and we were able to nab a reservation for two nights in August which are nearly impossible to get!

My mother-in law Claudia has followed Ree’s career on the Food Network from the beginning and just loves everything about her. We took this active 85 year old all the way to OK in the dead of summer to enjoy the entire experience! It was a once in a lifetime trip. You can read all about it HERE!

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

The Travelers had one more bucket list item left for 2019 – To drive through the Bourbon Trail, visit distilleries and any other historic sites along our route. This is an adult tour every fan of bourbon should take! Oh my! The history, the craftsmanship, attention to detail and marketing genius of these distilleries was inspiring, not to mention super tasty!

The tour is filled with quaint small towns, kind people, enthusiastic bourbon drinkers, fun bars, speakeasys and a fabulous food scene. For hipsters to empty nesters, a trip to the Bourbon Trail is an awesome adventure.

Nashville

After meandering through Louisville, Lexington, Frankfurt and Bardstown, Kentucky it was time to keep moving south to the very lively and special city of Nashville, TN. I was lucky to have been before, but the guys had not. However the city is rapidly changing and growing, so it was like visiting a new place all over again for me!

We stayed in a super hip Airbnb just steps from downtown and then attempted to see, experience, eat and listen to as much as we could in just a couple of days. Good grief the food is amazing!

Seattle with the girls

I don’t often travel with girlfriends, but it was finally time to arrange our crazy schedules and carve out time to visit Seattle, one of my most favorite cities in the US and where our grown up daughter lives. We had a blast!

One of the best things about traveling with these three ladies is that they just said, “Plan whatever you think we will like!” and I could not have asked for better travel partners. We all seem to love the same things like food, architecture, history, hand-crafted cocktails, laughter, you get the idea…

I was given carte blanche to create the itinerary and even to dictate the hotel I wanted to stay in, the restaurants I wanted to revisit and anything else I adored about Seattle.

Kansas City, KS

Five food and travel writers and I were treated to a thoughtfully planned, 1 1/2 day-feast, filled with tastes from bakeries, to snack foods, cocktails to BBQ by Visit Kansas City. Since I had never visited Kansas before, this fun foodie trip checked one more state for me to almost complete my visits to all 50 states

I gained an education eating my way through KCK (Kansas City, Kansas)! We made 15 stops and were quite full by the end of two days. I highly recommend you taking a look at these tasty food stops.

I was introduced to a long list of delightful, delectable, savory and sweet bites I had never ever tasted before! The Kansas City food scene impressed me a lot.

Japan by Rail

To end the year with another trip to Japan, was a dream come true. I was invited by two transportation companies to see for myself how comfortable and convenient it is to tour Japan by rail.

My tour in Japan began in Tokyo, where enormous train stations like Shinjuku and Shinagawa, stretch through city blocks and offer fantastic shopping options, casual dining, coffee houses and sweet treats. Everyone uses public transportation and companies like my hosts offer quite a long list of terrific options which carry every passenger where they need to go.

Japan should be on the travel list of every traveler; it is nearly impossible to compare it to anywhere else in the world. Tours are a great way to explore it and my friends at Collette took me on a tour that was so detailed, so well executed that I never had to worry about anything!

Did you enjoy my travel highlights of 2019? I hope you will come back here soon and also visit me on social media. Thanks again!

Let’s connect on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram – Hope to see you there!

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Buckle up, we are headed to Kyoto!

If you somehow missed Part One of the Trip ==> Click HERE

Travel in Japan! Riding on the Shinkansen or bullet train you will find that it is extremely clean, super fast (199 MPH) and just as cool as you think it might be. I sat there like a bullet train geek anticipating this transportation adventure as I watched many locals just chill out and read the paper. No big deal, they ride it everyday!

Bonnie, my travel partner and fellow writer, and I picked up two bento boxes for the three hour trip to Kyoto. We placed our suitcases at the back of the train behind the last row of seats and there was an overhead area for our carry-on bags, etc. You purchase assigned seats, so there’s no stress looking for a seat, no hassle. I even bought a ticket to Tokyo by myself in the crazy busy Kyoto station. I felt like a travel Rockstar!

Our trip continued on to the Hieizan and Biwako resort area just outside of Kyoto. Hotel accommodations were hosted by the Biwako Hotel, located directly on Lake Biwa, which was designed to look/mimic a large ship. This super clever design complimented this very large and impressive resort.

The rooms are impeccable, there are eight excellent upscale restaurants and views of the lake to make you swoon. In the summer Lake Biwa is extremely popular, for couples as well as families, but our time there in November was fantastic as well. Honestly, in my humble opinion there is no bad time to visit Japan.

So convenient

As guests of Keihan we were able to get where we needed to go from hotel to shrine – so convenient! We strolled over to the train station which took us to the Sakamoto Cable Railway, the longest cable car route in Japan. We went straight to the peak of Mt Hiei offering gorgeous views of Lake Biwa, the largest fresh water lake in Japan. Mt Hiei is a world cultural heritage site as well as the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism.

Enryakuji is one of the most important monasteries in Japanese history and it was founded in 788 by Saicho, the monk who introduced Tendai Buddhism from China to Japan.

While on the mountain, you can catch the bus between temples, all of the schedules are listed, so it is easy to just time your visit around the next arriving bus. After eating a meal “like the monks eat”, we headed over to Downtown Kyoto, all by public transportation!

It was a busy day. So let’s retrace our steps…

At 8:00am, after a short walk from The Biwako Hotel, we took the train, then walked to an adorable cable car, after visiting the temples and enjoyed a vegetarian lunch on the mountain, we then took bus, bus, bus, bus, bus (5!) to visit different shrines and gardens, then back down the mountain via rope way, we switched over to cable car, two more trains, a walk and then train, train to our final hotel in Kyoto. We arrived at 6:00pm, toured the hotel and had dinner reservations at 7:00pm. And you thought travel writing was easy…

I don’t know if tourists know enough about Kuramo, this relaxing area outside of Kyoto. We took the train from downtown Kyoto and the train cars have windows in the ceiling and the seats are situated sideways in order to take in the view better.We literally rode through the “Tunnel of Maples” – the trees were spectacular! The local area was quiet and it was easy to find your way to the next mode of transportation… another cable car to the top.

Fun fact; I never really gave it much thought, but there first needs to be a rope way partly up the mountain because the cable of the cable car could not stretch that far. Brilliant!

A day for a hike

We hiked from Kurama- dera Temple over to Kibune Shrine, it was not for the weak of heart, but it was worth the trek. A cable car takes you to the base of the mountain top and then you hike up to a beautiful temple where if you stand in the triangle you can receive power from the temple. Yes of course I did it! We then hiked over rocks and major inclines through the cedar smelling forest to the river area of Kibune.

Kibune is an inviting enclave that I’ve been told is super crowded in the summer (think Laguna Beach, CA), but we lucked out to stroll through in the Fall and do some leaf-peeping. The air was crisp and the loud rumbling of the river was another reminder that nature was literally by your side. The popular local onsens are small and lovely, plus, in the summer the restaurants put tables in the shallow beds of the river and make a pop up restaurant complete with candlelight! Love that idea, sounds like it would be worth fighting the crowd in the summer!

Make a wish

One of my surprise and favorite adventures of the trip was to visit Kibune-jinja shrine. For 200 yen, (about $2 US) you can purchase a blank piece of paper on which the fortune appears only when you float it on the water of the shrine’s fountain.

Shabu Shabu for lunch!

Final Night of Luxury at The Thousand Hotel in Kyoto

If luxury is at the top of your vacation requirements, a stay at the newly opened The Thousand Hotel will please you immensely. This-was-my-kind-of-place with extraordinary architectural design, innovative techy room accessories, a sleek urban aesthetic and magazine worthy restaurants. Oh my goodness I loved this hotel and was sorry only to stay one night.

Final thoughts:

Traveling by train and other public transportation throughout Japan seems to me to be the very best way to travel. The trains are extremely clean, quiet, prompt and abundant! If you miss the Shinkansen to Tokyo, there is one more right behind it 10 minutes later. So efficient and stress free. The brochures list everything you need to know and navigating this long list of options was very efficient.

There is an endless list of adventures, unique foods to try, culture and customs to learn, busy cities to watch, and delightful local people to meet. Although language can be challenging at times, I have found the locals to be kind and patient. Hiring a guide is indeed a very BIG plus. In addition to helping with translation, they can illuminate the local history in ways we as tourists could never do on our own.

I believe that travelers can be intimidated by travel to Japan, but after watching me effortlessly move through each of these transportation options, my friends and family have moved Japan to the top of their adventure list. How about you? Would you like to hop on the train and see one of the loveliest places on earth? I think so too.

More from this trip: Travel by Train on a Trip to Japan – Part One

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My trip to Japan was over the top amazing – Again!

Does a trip to Japan seem a little intimidating? I think so too, but I just returned from my second trip to this intriguing country and I believe I have the hang of it now. Or at least the cities of Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto!

As a guest of two Japanese companies Odakyu and Keihan, rail companies who offer many kinds of transportation as well as hotels and restaurants, I discovered how much easier it can be to get around Japan, if I actually knew about these helpful ways to get there. Once introduced to these options, I now can share them with you for your next trip to my new favorite place to visit. All opinions are my own honest observations and any enthusiasm you feel from me is genuine. My trip to Japan was unapologetically fantastic.

I traveled to three cities I have visited before, but this trip was entirely different as we saw new things, stayed in new hotels and ate delectable local cuisine in totally different restaurants. However, even though I have been to Japan twice in less than two years, I still feel like I have only scratched the surface of possibilities. I am ready to go back!

For Part One of my trip to Japan, my traveling partners in Hakone were Bonnie van Dorp, a freelance travel journalist from Australia and Mari Ohara, our personal guide. During our time in Hakone, we were joined by several terrific representatives from our host, Odakyu. At times language was a challenge, but with some translation assistance from Mari and a lot of smiling, we all had a blast.

Why a trip to Japan?

Why am I so smitten with Japan? Good question, thanks for asking. It’s different, different than any country I have visited. The cleanliness, fast paced, fashionable cities dazzle visitors with the innumerable dining options, fantastic shopping and their public transportation is mind blowing.

Additionally, outside of the urban area, Japan’s charm and culture are so easy to find. Shrines and temples invite you to cherish nature, make wishes, say prayers and enjoy the peace and beauty that surrounds you. I love the juxtaposition of modern and ancient, simple and sophisticated that literally exists everywhere in Japan. I feel like I can find whatever it is I am looking for in a destination – right here.

Our tour begins

My entire tour included trains, buses, cable cars, ropeways, more trains, more buses and a couple of automobiles as well. On our 80 minute ride from Tokyo to Hakone we took the Romancecar, an electric train with only reserved seats and wide windows for viewing the lovely scenery. It is called the “Romancecar” because the seats are two by two so you can sit next to your sweetheart. Super cute.

We began our tour in Shinjuku Station, an enormous train station that is considered the world’s busiest train station.  I can certainly attest to that because when I arrived at Shinjuku from the airport, it was 5:30pm and there were thousands of people headed toward the trains. I was on my way out of the station and therefore had to swim against the current. I thought about taking a photo, but honestly, I just wanted out!

Odakyu has a tourist kiosk called Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center where the travel assistants speak several languages and can help you plan your trip and buy your ticket. The track for the Romancecar is only steps away and honestly it was super easy. Once you know these travel options exist, your travel adventure through Japan, gets that much easier.

Up, up and away!

Once we arrived in Hakone we took the Hakone Cable Car up to the top and then switched over to the Hakone Ropeway with a surprise sighting of Mt Fuji herself. Where much to our delight and without a cloud obstructing our view, the shy Mount Fuji greeted us in all of her glory. Even our guide was astounded by how clear we could see the magnificent, iconic volcano.

Once we arrived at the base of the mountain on the other side, we sailed on a pirate ship (yes I said pirate ship) across Lake Ashi in the first class cabin. On our sightseeing cruise, the winds were calm, the sun was shining and Mt Fuji in the distance was absolutely extraordinary and a photographer’s dream.

For our trip to Hakone, we used the Hakone Free Pass which is a discount excursion ticket which allows travelers to use eight different transportation systems in the Hakone area and can be purchased in a two or three day option. Additionally, the pass includes a round trip from Tokyo as well. It was so easy and convenient to hop on hop off by just swiping this pass.

Ah, the Onsen

What is an onsen (hot spring) and how does this work? I now feel like I have had enough experiences with visiting onsens, that I can explain it a little better. The volcano provides an abundance of steaming hot, pure, mineral-rich water that the Japanese love to sit and soak in or just sit and put your feet in the water. Once you leave the bath, your skin feels silky smooth, the body relaxed and bed is a welcome sight.

At several of the hotels I stayed in on this trip, there were public and (lucky me) private onsens as well. Couples, singles and families visit the public bath to relax in the warm water. After entering the bath locker room wearing your yukata (robe), you must fully soap and shower your body and then enter the bath with other people… naked. Yes naked. The public baths are quite large and some are indoor/outdoor. As it turns out it isn’t a big deal, I only felt out place for a few minutes and frankly the water is so relaxing you just focus on your own peaceful well-being.

A Special Meal at the Onsen

At a very special dinner at Hotel Hatsuhana a more traditional Japanese hotel/onsen, we were served a gorgeous eight course meal. The service is personal, quiet and each of the servers want very much for their guests to have a wonderful evening. The meals are slower, and there was no rush for this Type A personality to hurry through her meal. No looking at phones, just nice conversation and delicious food. A novel idea indeed! Loved it.

A Modern Onsen – Hakone Yutowa – Opened August 11, 2019

Hakone Yutowa is considered a Japanese-modern style hotel and it was very brand new for our visit. The hotel has a spa-feel with a lovely Japanese aesthetic. My huge room was beautiful, well-appointed and there were several chic, cleverly designed common areas.

What to do while in Hakone

Sail on a Pirate Ship!

Walk through an ancient Cedar Forest

Mishima Skywalk – Walk across the longest suspension bridge in Japan.

Walk through an innovative Hakone Open Air Museum on a mountain top

Eat Soba Noodles 

Drink Tea

Eat Beautiful Food 

Relax

Now it was time to head to Kyoto as a guest of Keihan by private car. Stay tuned for Part Two.

What else did I see and eat this on this trip to Japan? Please come back for many more adventures in Hakone, Kyoto and Tokyo soon… There is so much more to share!

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More food info today – I just can’t help myself. I have been introduced to so many delicious dishes recently that my inner foodie is doing cartwheels!

A delicious Japanese dish you and I have never heard of!

While in Japan we ate some ridiculously amazing food that I could really write about for days. I am spreading it out so as not to make you hungry every freaking time you come to the blog!

This particular experience was especially fun and unexpected. When you join a tour like I did, you never have to think about anything. Everyday is planned perfectly and you are introduced to experiences you never knew existed!

At the end of our incredible tour of Japan, we visited the multi-faceted city of Kyoto. Kyoto offers stunning temples and impeccable gardens. It is also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes and geisha, female entertainers found in the Gion district.

We took a day trip from Kyoto by Bullet Train (Shinkansen) out to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. As you can imagine this was quite a moving experience and one I will never forget.

On this day we were introduced to a culinary surprise and it was delicious! The huge variety of flavors in Japan are over the top! Have you ever heard of Okonomiyaki? No, me neither.

Okonomiyaki ~

We stopped at a nondescript food mall in downtown Hiroshima to try a local and super tasty dish that is totally unique. If I could compare it to something I had eaten before it would be a like an Asian-flavored tostada without a tortilla and cheese. So really nothing like a tostada except that it was round!

Adding the bacon ~

It starts with a thin crepe-like pancake, then sautéed cabbage, fried squid,(for that added crunch) egg, bacon, ramen noodles, a special sauce, and then it sits right on the hot teppan grill where you eat it straight from the stainless steel surface! They give you a personal spatula that has a sharp edge in order to help you cut it.

Adding the Sauce ~

You can juggle between the spatula-spoon and chopsticks. By this point in the trip I became quite adept with chopsticks and familiar with using both hands to eat!

I actually could only eat about 2/3 of the dish, but almost everyone else ate the whole thing!

The traveling foodie experience on the tour opened my eyes to Japanese cuisine that I never knew about. Of course I was familiar with sushi (and love it) ramen and other typical Japanese fare, but tasting okonomiyaki was a huge treat!

For more of my tour of Japan, check out these links ~

Find Adventure With Me on My Amazing Tour of Japan

Japan is For Food Lovers :: Pack Your Bags and Go!

A Memorable Moment From My Trip to Japan (It’s actually one of many)

A New Adventure :: Suzanne in Japan with Collette Travel

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Japan is For Food Lovers Everywhere!

Part of the fun of travel is to immerse yourself in the local culture. To visit the farmer’s markets, fish markets and fruit stands to see what is fresh and in season is always at the top of our list of adventures. Our trip to Japan with Collette Travel was no exception, we were treated to some fantastically prepared meals, visited charming local markets and ate like kings and queens.

Local Markets

On a really wet and wild Monday we trudged through puddles and hid between tour buses to avoid the pouring rain in Tokyo. It was really kind of funny, we were all just getting to know each other and you can really get to know another traveler quickly when you hurdle a HUGE obstacle like Mother Nature!

We walked about the circumference of the Tsukiji Nippon Fish Port Market where fish mongers yell in Japanese, crowds sample their tasty options and the photo taking is at a premium!

After our stroll about the market, we walked over to our first sushi lunch! Smooth and buttery, the sushi and sashimi were dee-licious! It was a fabulous beginning!

How about a $130 cantaloupe?

While on our walk in downtown Tokyo, near the Shibuya Crossing, the busiest intersection in the world, we found this gorgeous display of fruits! Have you ever heard of a $130 cantaloupe? Seriously these were expensive melons! The shop smelled like fruity heaven, sweet with the scent of strawberries and oranges.

Pretty as a Picture:

The produce is displayed like a work of art. Most of the items are hand wrapped in plastic and carefully stacked into gorgeous piles of vegetable perfection. I kept saying “This is a regular grocery store?”

Oodles of Noodles ~

Funny story (see fork below)~  It was my first day in Tokyo and I went to a super popular Noodle House. With lots to choose from, I chose tempura and these cold-ish (I didn’t actually understand they would be cold) noodles that you dip in that tiny little cup of broth. What? How am I going to get those noodles on the chopsticks, then in the cup and then in my mouth? Fork please! I was also wearing a white shirt, need I say more? I will say that by the end of the trip, I have certainly mastered the skill of using chopsticks effectively!

Our experience was quite the mash-up. We were able to sample the specialty dishes from each of the various regions we visited and they came in all shapes and textures. Udon, buckwheat, soba, we sampled them all!

Favorite Meals ~

This is definitely a tough one, because we ate amazing food every single day, but if I had to go for a favorite dinner it would be this one.

We were in a charming old town called Takayama. The air was a chilly 30 degrees, my nose was red and I was happy to be led into this homey restaurant. The menu featured the local Hida beef, which is rich and flavorful like Kobe or Wagyu.

For each of us, a place setting with all of the ingredients to cook our meal was plated like a painting. They lit our own personal hibachi and without much instruction or fanfare, we grilled our own dinners. It was super fun and amazingly delicious!

Lunch Fave– In Kyoto the “okonomiyaki”

They cook it all in front of you and the entertainment value alone was worth the trip. This yummy dish was made with a light pancake, cabbage, bacon, egg, deep-fried squid,(sounds weird, but wasn’t) and a special sauce. It was kind of like an asian tostada. I could barely finish mine, but even the smallest of our travelers gobbled up their dishes. Monday I will give you more details. It was a hoot!

Lots of Variety ~

I know that Japan has the most Michelin Stars of any city, according to the London Telegraph, 302 stars total and twelve 3-star restaurants! We did not have a chance to visit one, but it is on my list for the next trip. The pizza is terrific, the pastries, cookies, matcha lattes too! Street food is safe and super popular. You will often see people strolling with sticks in their hands! Check out my post coming soon all about the street food.

They even eat little baby octopus. Truthfully I nearly gagged, but people LOVE them! There is a quail egg stuffed in the head. YUCK! To each his own as my mother would say!

How About Ice Cream Covered in Gold Leaf?

Yes, this is a thing. In Kanazawa, which is on the west coast of Japan, gold leaf products can be found everywhere. Craftsman in this city have been working with gold leaf since the 15th Century. The foodie world has taken this to another lever by offering desserts with gold leaf. I have seen this gold leaf decorative design with candy and pastries, but never on ice cream and never this much gold leaf! The ice cream cone cost $20. Fun!

Presentation~

Like an artists canvas, each dish, no matter how simple, was pretty as a picture. At the fancier restaurants we were given radishes shaped like shaped like cherry blossoms and yellow butterflies cut from potatoes. The craftsmanship was so impressive.

What a foodie adventure – Japan is for food lovers !!

It was exhilarating discovering new and adventurous dishes! I was naïve enough to think that the Japanese food I had sampled here in the United States was all there was to offer. WRONG – The variation in style, texture and preparation is as varied in Japan as it would be for any other country and their different regions. The level of expertise and quality of presentation rivals any other cuisine I have enjoyed. We even had vegetarians in our group that were totally happy.

I would rush back to Japan in a New York minute. Even if the flight is twelve long hours going west, the overall experience is so spectacular that I cannot wait to share it with Craig. YOU WILL LOVE IT TOO!

To learn more about this tour click here ===> Cultural Treasures of Japan

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A tour of Japan and so much more.

Where is my favorite destination? I often get asked this question and truthfully this is nearly impossible to answer! We travel to many extraordinary places, so I usually answer with whatever place I have just returned from! So today, my favorite place in the world is Japan. Seriously it is. My recent tour of Japan, Cultural Treasures of Japan by Collette Travel, allowed me to dive in to a culture and experience things I never knew existed!

Japan is Mount Fuji, advanced technology, pristine streets, tiny cars, packs of pedestrians, snowy mountains, warm noodles, respect, elegance and inspiration. The country is filled with grand, ancient temples, bright vermilion bridges, sticky rice and freshly caught fish. Phenomenal shopping, bountiful restaurants and diverse architecture can be found everywhere and there is so much more.

Honestly, a tour is a must.

I am not saying this because Collette Travel invited me to experience the Cultural Treasures of Japan Tour, but because I can say unequivocally, I could have never planned a trip like this. Even if I researched for weeks, there were so many unique opportunities and nuances that were impossible to duplicate.

The word  “authentic” certainly describes our tour experience, but it’s more than that. It was personal, intimate and enlightening. Combining Japan’s long and unique history with an expert guide, can be a powerful duo! Our delightful guide Kazumi was our personal liaison and she made sure that every detail was accomplished and her expert commentating created the perfect travel scenario.

In addition, I met nineteen fantastic individuals from four different countries! We got to know each other and for me, my tour was greatly enhanced because of all of them. Everything was planned for us, but there was still a little wiggle room for me to go and meander on my own. No worries, no confusion, all handled seamlessly. That is the way to travel to a country that is especially complicated and oh so foreign to me.

Tokyo is off the charts amazing.

Move over Sydney, Tokyo has become my new favorite city in the world. That is a tall order, but this city impressed me. A lot. It is sophisticated, elegant, fashionable, delicious, stylish, vibrant, clean and exciting. It is a perfect mix of fashion-forward and ancient architecture. I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning!

I started to make a list of all of the unique experiences and the places we visited, but as the number was climbing past twenty-five, I realized in order not to write a book, I must just hit the highlights. But to be clear, that list of twenty-five was just for our time in Tokyo! Imagine! I will come back and write a post specifically dedicated to Tokyo as well as some other adventures that require a more detailed look. Japan is far too amazing and complex not to revisit on the blog several times.

Temples, Bridges &  Landscapes – Oh My!

Delicious dishes for every food lover as well as the prettiest plates!

What I loved most about the food of Japan was the creativity. They can make a bowl of broth and some noodles seem like a feast. We were so fortunate to devour meal after meal of fresh sushi, veggie and shrimp tempura, grilled Hida beef (like Kobe), yakatori, and MORE!

The presentation of every dish was worthy of applause! The service is kind and doting and we never had to think twice about it. At every stop we visited a local establishment, sampled the local specialty and engaged with the people there. You could not have asked for a more immersive foodie adventure! Look for an upcoming post about the details of my meals! You know how I love my food photography!

Experience the Culture

In each big city and small village, Kazumi would give us the back story and history of the area and touch on the uniqueness of the architecture and art. We walked through houses in Shirakawago, another UNESCO site, where each roof was thatched and made of three-foot thick pampas grass. A tradition that has been in this village for hundreds of years.

We walked through exquisite Japanese gardens, climbed high into ancient black castles, strolled through old samurai villages, tasted sake and discovered beautiful rock gardens. We even took the Shinkansen (The Bullet Train) to Kyoto.

There was just enough of a history lesson to complete the excursions but not too much where you felt like you were in school. The balance was just perfect. Everyone loved it. We learned about hand painting kimono fabric and the gold leaf process in Kanazawa. I even decorated my own bento box with gold leaf!

The people are so special.

If I had to narrow down my long list of “loves” of Japan, my top love would have to be the people. They greet  you with huge smiles even when we don’t share the same language. Always considerate, bowing to let us pass first, our comfort was important to them. Very often the local people wanted to learn where we were from and we met so many friendly folks every single day!

On this day we went to visit the extraordinary bamboo forest and as I was walking along the street a group of high school students stopped me to ask if I would take a photo with them. My first reaction was “Oh they want to take a photo with an American!” No, they were on a scavenger hunt and needed to take a photo with someone with a Canon camera with a larger lens. I happened to be walking with Kazumi and she interpreted for me.

She told them I was a blogger and they thought that was super cool and they loved my cartoon on my Adventures of Empty Nesters business card. I love this photo. It is was such genuine experience.

P.S. – Don’t forget the shopping!

Japan has many unique shopping districts like the crazy crowded Harajuku Neighborhood in Tokyo, that Gwen Stefani sang about, the Ginza, the Gion and Shibuya, just to name a few! My favorite store of all was in Tokyo in the Ginza and was called Itoya – A twelve-story home and stationery store that would blow your mind. I have never seen such specialized, laser cut, 3-D, rainbow-inspired products anywhere in the world.

Final thoughts of my tour of Japan ~

The Cultural Treasures of Japan tour exceeded every expectation! This insider’s itinerary included so many delights and it was such a treat to experience what every traveler would want to see, but never knew existed. The colors, the beauty, the incredible culinary feasts were all part of my magical adventure in Japan. I will dream of this trip for a very long time and lucky for me I can revisit this tour every time I am on my blog! I hope you will consider moving Japan to the top spot of your “Adventure List”, you will not be disappointed.

Please visit here later this week for some detailed stories of my Japan foodie adventures! Make sure you don’t miss a post, by leaving your email in the box to the right, to receive our posts every time we publish them.

Hope you enjoyed it!

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A View of Mount Fuji

An email arrived yesterday from a new friend from the trip to Japan with the photo above attached. Pascal and his wife Laure who are French, but who live in Wales (very interesting!) sent me this snapshot from a very special afternoon.

We had just arrived in Hakone, a quiet idyllic town in the mountains. I was reminded by this moment in time that I will never forget.

The story goes like this . . .

Earlier that day, we spent time at the base of the majestic and active volcano, Mount Fuji about sixty miles away. According to UNESCO, Mount Fuji has “inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries”. As luck would have it, the roads were clear enough that we could drive and reach the 4^th station(level) of the summit and were able to look up and actually see this magnificent volcano. Enjoying an unobstructed view of Mount Fuji in the winter is tricky business. You need a whole lot of luck for this to happen. Fortunately for us, once we climbed that high above the clouds, the sun was shining and we could see it just above us. Amazing!

After we left Mount Fuji we traveled to Hakone to check in to Hotel de Yama during the late afternoon and take a rest before an amazing celebratory dinner. (Collette Travel is 100 years old!) I was only in the room about ten minutes, just long enough for me to take this video of my beautiful room and view of the landscape.

Our always “on the ready” tour guide Kazumi, knocked on my door, “Have you seen the view? The clouds have cleared and you can see Mount Fuji from here!” She knocked on every one of our doors to make sure we did not miss this! Who does that? You don’t have to ask me twice! I pulled on my shoes, grabbed by camera and ran outside to see! With no coat in 35 degrees, I couldn’t stay long, but look at what I saw!!

I was over the moon to be able to see this extraordinary sight and when I could stand the cold no longer, went inside to join sisters, Jan and Sandra, from Melbourne, Australia for a lovely cappuccino. We just sat there in awe of the view we were privileged to enjoy! Seeing Mount Fuji in the distance and having coffee with my new international friends, on an icy cold afternoon, in the middle of rural Japan, was truly priceless. It was a pinch me moment of epic proportions.

This special moment in time on our trip to Japan was only the beginning, because the rest of the adventure was piled high with pinch me moments too.

But I am reminded by these photos that just one precious moment can stay with you forever. I try to be aware of these unique experiences with split second timing, careful planning, combined with a little luck.

Do you have favorite moments like this from a trip that you have taken? Stay tuned for many more posts from my Cultural Treasures of Japan Tour with Collette Travel. There is SO much more!

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Come with me to Japan with Collette Travel ~

Buckle up friends, I am taking you to Japan! Please join me on all of my social media channels starting Friday! I will be traveling with Collette Travel on their tour 14-day Cultural Treasures of Japan.

Yes, this is a pinch moment and I couldn’t be more excited. The best news is that I can take you with me (kind of). I will be sharing photos, details and video of my adventure all along the way. What better way to get to learn about another culture than to hear all about it from a friend. (That’s me).

This is an adventure of epic proportions and to get you in the know, click on this link to see my itinerary ==> Cultural Treasures of Japan

Social Media for #SuzanneinJapan

Social media – If you want to find me, follow along with the hashtag #SuzanneInJapan on Instagram => HERE, Twitter => HERE and on my two pages on Facebook: Suzanne Stavert and Adventures of Empty Nesters!

If you are curious about the Blooming of the Cherry Trees, you can click here for the ==>  2018 Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast. My friends at Collette have provided me with these photos in order to ignite our travel curiosity!  What a thrill to experience the architecture and beauty of Japan in person! I hope you follow along!

I know many of you have already traveled to Japan. What was your favorite thing? Right here on Adventures of Empty Nesters, my dear friend and Guest Adventurer Angela, shared her extraordinary adventure walking the Nakasendo Way in Japan. (I had never heard of it either, but it’s AMAZING) It is so fun to learn about the unique details of extraordinary destinations from other people and live vicariously!

Hungry for more? Check out these posts of travel to Japan with Collette Travel ~

• Learn to Live in the Moment at a Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Geisha: The Most Exclusive Performers on Earth!

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