Originally Posted by lanago2 (Post 22920932)

Good $10 English speaking tour guide--a night walk in Gion. Very interesting to learn about these women, Giesha (they prefer to be called geiko and maiko) who devote their lives to entertaining men. I didn't realize that they were respected and virtually revered in Kyoto.

Originally Posted by Drek82 (Post 22961383)

Which tour company did you use for this tour? My wife and I are planning a trip this fall and this sounds interesting ...

Originally Posted by basscadet75 (Post 22922530)

I might have missed where you said definitively but I get the impression, at least, that you went by yourself. My first trip there was also alone (for business) and I immediately loved it too. I actually think that going alone lets you immerse yourself more than if you're with someone else or a group from your own country.Anyway, glad you enjoyed your trip!

Originally Posted by lanago2 (Post 22920932)

Some general impressions: I've found that the overriding difference between Japanese and Americans was that they value the community first and we value the individual first. That value system permeates every aspect of their lives. Or at least their public lives. The jam-packed subways in Tokyo were virtually silent. People speak and laugh quietly in the crowds. People are not physically demonstrative. There's no ringing cell phone on public transport. If you care to talk above more than basically a whisper, you stand between the cars and do so. The few times that there was a loud person, you could see the subtle disapproving glances and raised eyebrows of other Japanese commuters. There just seems to be a great emphasis placed on the smooth running of society and not disturbing others rather than each person doing what he or she wanted. Even the most common man drinking a beer on the street, one of the few visibly homeless people perhaps, used the proper metal recycling bin that you see everywhere. People don't honk their horns or audibly curse other drivers. Everyone waits in line, stands in a certain place, follows the queue according to lines painted on the concrete, it's all very, very rules-oriented. There's no such thing as crowding around the door to get in, you wait in line quietly and patiently.

I have never traveled anywhere where people are more helpful. I'm almost always lost and I'm either looking at the map on iPad or the paper map. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I don't think I ever looked at it for more than 15 seconds without someone coming up to assist me. While they generally spoke no English, the maps are printed in both Japanese and English alphabets, so the person was able to generally assist me. Often, it wasn't enough to try to just point or tell me where I should be heading, but more often than not, the person would insist on walking me at least part of the way there to make sure that I am okay. I really have never seen anything like this in all of my travels over 30 something years.

Apologies are a big part of Japanese life. If there is anything wrong at a hotel or anywhere, if you mention it, the person apologizes so profusely that you really regret saying a word. If you're asked how something is, and you say that it was lovely or delicious or so pleasurable, you will receive many expressions of gratitude about that. It was amazing watching the ticket checkers on the Shinkansen go to the end of the car after they checked people's tickets, look in our direction, arms at his side and deeply bowing and then rising up and walking to the next car. I was shocked on the crowded Tokyo subway to see a standing woman placed her purse on the rack above the seated person in front of her. The train was crowded and she wanted to place it there so as not to disturb the person near her by hitting them with her purse. Imagine how long that would last in much of America or Europe, purses placed on the rack or someone could grab it and run out of the train. The Japanese were polite, helpful, efficient, kind. I had hesitated taking this trip because I was afraid I couldn't navigate and the culture seemed so, well, foreign. In fact, it was one of the easiest travels I've ever had, one of the most unique, and I hope to return one day.