Kyoto Trip 2008 Evaluation Feedback

The following questionnaire was sent to all five of the guests on our May 2008 trip to Japan. Numbers are averaged and comments appear in their entirety. Several guests have said they would be glad to correspond with other who are considering going on the trip. Email me if you would like to speak to one of them personally.

Please rate the following items on a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) and feel free to add comments under any of the items.

Communication prior to the trip             9
Communication during the trip                9
Price of the trip                                      10
Quality of service during the trip             10
Variety of things scheduled                     9.5

Toyoko In                                  7.5
COMMENTS: Ehh...it was OK.
Altho the location was more central, I prefered the Palace Side.
(note from Nancy: we got squeezed out of the Palace Side Hotel, our usual spot, with a large school group. I intend to book earlier this year!)

Rikiya Ryokan                                       10
COMMENTS:
- Lots of fun, perfect location.
- I think of this as my home in Japan. I hope it is there forever. 

Temple Markets                                    10
COMMENTS:
- Fabulous - even in heat and even in rain
- Toji was bigger, Kitano more manageable, loved them both

Sight-seeing (ohara, Museums, Temples, Shrines)                                   10
COMMENTS:

Any places you would add in the future?  
COMMENTS:
- Nope

Rozome (wax resist)  workshop             10
COMMENTS:
- Great, must do.
- I enjoyed this one the most, it made me feel almost talented!

Weaving Workshop                                  10
COMMENTS:
- Didn't do this one....
- I had never done weaving before, and while it will not be the next hobby I take up, it made me appreciate the work that goes into making         fabrics.

Vegetable Dye Workshop (in Ohara)     10+
COMMENTS:
- This was like a "great adventure": bus, country lanes....and be secure in the knowledge that we coulnn't do it without you!
- I enjoyed being at the dye place, and the day in Ohara, and especially the temple.

Which are "must do" for next time:
- All keepers!
- Weaving and Rozome - (not sure about weaving)
and which ones should we consider dropping?
-

Any workshops you would add in the future?
-- Kimono dressing at Nishijin. For about $40, they dress you in a simple kimono w/ what looked to be a Nagoya obi, tabi and geta ,and you could wander around for a few hours.

Would you have wanted more free (unscheduled) time? If so, how much more?

- Free time was about right, but I am never adverse to more. If you are bored in Japan, its your own fault.
- No it was fine. Every time I considered going off on my own, I realized how much I'd miss.

Which are "must do" for next time and which ones should we consider dropping?
- I could see the point of all of them, even when I didn't care for the tofu.
- Meals this year were very good. I liked food on a stick and the temple lunch best. I liked the ramen place least. But maybe I just picked the wrong thing.

What was the least enjoyable part(s) of the trip for you?
- I guess when I fell down the steps, but once again, that was before the trip officially started, and no lasting harm done. I have tough Irish bones with lots of padding!! For which I am most grateful....

What suggestions would you make to us for next time?
- You don't need suggestions from me - this is a beautifully run, loose, pleasant tour. The cost is really low - that's great!
- All good. Definately land at KIX. Directions to take the train were excellent. So easy. But don't try to cram too much into a taxi!

- Count me in to go again! Maybe not next spring, but when you go in October... I could never get tired of it.