So a couple of further comments. I was obviously so impressed with our last stay that I thought I’d try something - I thought I’d try coming back a few days later just for another night and see how the experience resembles / differs. Because obviously the first stay was powered by the AGM, so to say, so since he was absent the second time I was curious to see how the place would function.

- when we arrived, everyone was ready for us. No name asked at the entrance, of course, and several people came out to greet us.
- room ready of course, and check in in the room, not at the front desk (same as before though)
- we got the _other_ Ninenzaka house this time. I prefer it to the second one - it’s adjacent to the first but it’s not a corner, so it’s much more private. I recommend this one. (306). However! I went to check out the regular “garden view” Park Suite, 307, and I was blown away - it’s a REALLY nice suite. Not all are the same, though - due to the nature of the hotel, the roof slopes, so Ninenzaka suites have a very low ceiling. The Park suites at the back of the building have probably a 5m ceiling, and I’m probably only slightly exaggerating. 307 also has a nice terrace to a private Japanese garden. It’s obviously darker, since no sunset, but it also has a view of the 150 year old tea house that belonged to the restaurant (though it’s up on the hill, so unless you stare up all the time, I wouldn’t exactly call it a “view”). Also, you can’t eat on the terrace (since, well, it’s a Japanese garden). But it’s VERY nice. I believe the two adjacent Park suites have a similar layout but lower floor ones would likely not.
- we got welcome drinks this time. Not sure why, but it was nice, and even had the same champagne as the LH F FCT. Nice touch. No sparkling here.
- last time when we stayed, I asked if there were any wagashi (Japanese sweets) we could procure. It was late at night that day and their restaurant wasn’t able to accommodate, and all stores were closed, so they apologetically said they couldn’t. It wasn’t an issue, I didn’t think twice of it, but ... our table was set up with (very good) Japanese sweets.
- new gifts for kids. Totoro plush, origami book, etc.
- breakfast preferences were retained. “Would you like the same thing at the same time?”
- In casual conversation, I mentioned we went to Nara to try the new JW. The next day, a _different_ staff member asked me how the JW experience was. Definitely impressive communication.
- I asked for Japanese tea in the evening. Oddly, there isn’t any in the room - only odd artsy creations (“african solstice”? “blueberry merlot”??...). i thought of being a bit mean and asking specifically for gyokuro, but decided against it. i just wanted some green tea to go with the sweets. they brought actual room service tea; I said I didn’t intend to _order_ any, I just wanted some tea. The bill instantly disappeared, and an apology was offered. Yeah, I admit it was a bit cheap on my part, especially since room service tea seems to be 600 yen (I only found out later, by reading the menu). Still. And btw... it turned out to be gyokuro. Hah.
- ran into Mark several times during the stay (and on checkout, though the latter was probably intentional on his part). Had a good talk with him.

All in all, I’m really impressed. Frankly, this is a level of service i’d expect from an Aman - not a traditional “chain”. I also acknowledge it’s COVID, so it’s low occupancy, so probably easier to take care of people. But nevertheless - really good experience.