Off Cruise Ship and Straight to Kyoto: An American Couple's 5-Day Condensed Japan Journey

Let's rewind to September 2024.

My attention was caught by a bolded line in an email: "Our cruise ship will soon arrive in Tokyo, and we'd like to go to Kyoto." This message came from Robert and Mary, an American couple who had recently retired and were traveling the world by cruise ship. Their ship was about to dock in Japan for only five days, yet they hoped to experience as much of Japanese culture as possible during this short time, especially Kyoto.

"We've read so many books about Kyoto," Mary wrote in the email, "the autumn leaves of Kiyomizudera Temple, the reflection of Kinkakuji Temple, the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine... these images have been in our minds for over a decade." Their longing for Kyoto was evident in every word.

Five days, with Kyoto some distance from Tokyo - the whirlwind tour blending sea and land began!

Off Cruise, onto Shinkansen, Racing Towards Kyoto

My brain worked as furiously as a ship's propeller, rapidly arranging an itinerary based on their wishes. Since Kyoto was their priority, I decided to make it the first stop. They would disembark the cruise and directly take the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto.

On the early morning of the cruise ship's arrival at the port, I specifically arranged for an English-speaking guide to wait for them. When Robert and Mary came through customs, the guide was already holding a sign with their names, next to a comfortable minivan. Their luggage was quickly loaded, and the car headed straight for Tokyo Station.

"Will we really make the 9 o'clock Shinkansen?" Mary asked with some anxiety. The guide smiled and handed them two warm Japanese rice balls: "Don't worry, we've allowed plenty of time. This is mentaiko (spicy cod roe) onigiri; have a little something to tide you over." Through the car window, they saw their first glimpse of Tokyo's morning cityscape - office workers in suits hurrying across intersections, and the bustling activity around a 7-Eleven convenience store.

The Shinkansen "Nozomi" departed on time. Robert and Mary's gazes were fixed on Mount Fuji outside the window. The visibility that day was exceptional, and the snow-capped peak shimmered in the sunlight, its triangular silhouette so perfect. Two and a half hours later, as the train smoothly pulled into Kyoto Station, Robert checked his watch: "That was faster than driving from Seattle to Portland."

Enjoying Their Dream Kyoto Tour

Their Kyoto itinerary began at Kinkakuji Temple. Kinkakuji Temple shimmered under the perfect sunlight, its golden pavilion reflected in the Mirror Pond. Mary said with surprise: "It's exactly as I imagined it in Yukio Mishima's The Golden Pavilion..." It turned out that she had read the novel in her youth and had always dreamed of seeing the building. Robert quietly bought a Kinkakuji-shaped refrigerator magnet and slipped it into her hand, a memento that still gleams on their refrigerator in Seattle today.

In the following days, we arrived at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. Sunlight streamed through the thousands of vermilion torii gates, casting dappled shadows on the stone path. Mary gently touched a vermilion pillar, softly reading the names of the donors inscribed on it: "These names span centuries." Robert, meanwhile, became interested in the construction of the torii gates, crouching down to study the mortise and tenon joints of the base.

In the afternoon, we arrived at Kiyomizudera Temple. The wooden stage, shrouded in morning mist, jutted out from the cliff. Robert stood at the best viewing spot and suddenly pulled a small notebook from his pocket, quickly sketching.

"When I used to teach, I always told my students about the ingenuity of Japanese architecture," he explained as he drew, "now I can finally see this cantilevered structure built without a single nail with my own eyes." Mary was captivated by the love stones at Jishu Shrine. Although she was too shy to touch them with her eyes closed like the young people, she secretly took a photo to send to her granddaughter.

During their three days in Kyoto, they also thoroughly explored Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka, Yasaka Shrine, and Gion.

Back in Tokyo, the tight itinerary unexpectedly yielded the warmest interlude. In front of Kaminarimon Gate at Senso-ji Temple, the guide suggested they imitate the classic pointing pose from "Detective Conan." Initially, the two seniors were a bit shy, but when they saw their serious expressions in the photo, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

A month after they returned home, I received a long email from Mary. She said that while organizing their travel photos, she realized that the most precious ones weren't the postcard-perfect landscapes but rather Robert's focused profile as he counted the Buddhist statues at Sanjusangendo Temple, the wonderful expressions on her face as she sampled a Japanese set meal at Tsukiji Fish Market, the two Shinkansen tickets, and that funny photo in front of Kaminarimon Gate.

Robert added his thoughts at the end of Mary's email: "We had a fantastic time in Japan and we want to thank Asia Odyssey Travel for making it so. Asia Odyssey Travel made sure that every detail and logistical need was covered and that we were well-informed about what to expect. Abby was our primary contact and she was superb! Every question we had was answered in a timely way before the trip and in real time during our visit to Japan. The hotels and daily itineraries she recommended were excellent."

Now, whenever cruise ship passengers inquire about short-stay itineraries, I always think of Robert and Mary. Helping travelers experience the trips they dream of and creating fresh, heartwarming memories for them is always my top priority.