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there recently cautioned us not to try to The adventurous can visit an onsen, a hot
see too many cities. spring, or a communal bath. Some hotels
Japan has impressive, clean, and effi- and resorts have onsens on the property.
cient transportation systems everywhere.
Bullet trains zip between major cities and Strategic Packing
hubs, and extensive networks of subways,
trains, and buses run throughout the As with any travel for extended times,
country. Ride-sharing apps and inexpen- consider the seasons, weather, modes of
sive taxi rides in clean vehicles with skilled transportation, activities, and accommo-
drivers are popular. The combination dations when packing. Japan’s public
makes it easy to navigate even the most transport and streets can be challenging
congested areas and get a feel for how with large luggage. A good plan is to have
the locals get around daily. larger luggage shipped ahead for next-
Your travel advisor can take the mys- day arrival at your hotel. Use small roller
tery out of selecting hotels, restaurants, bags or carry-on suitcases with spinner
modes of transportation, and the best at- wheels to take essential clothing and
tractions to visit and when, and develop items you need today, tonight, and to-
draft options to fit your budget. For effi- morrow. This alleviates the hassle of
ciencies, look for accommodations near struggling through crowds in the train
major train stations or transportation stations and lugging them onto the trains,
hubs. For cultural immersions, stay in the where baggage space is limited.
center of the towns, in a community near With the wide selection of durable,
the most important shrines and temples, mostly wrinkle-free clothing available
gardens, and historic areas with Geishas, from many companies, it’s easy to pack
Samurai museums, and local color. light and smart. Select complementary
Choose from small traditional inns colors that are easy to mix and match. We
(ryokans), regional or global chains, and like shirts with buttoned and zippered
some of the finest hotels in the world. pockets and durable pants with zippered
We used a travel advisor (my wife, back pockets for security. (Orvis, Clothing
Laura Gable) and her agency, Traveledge, Arts, Aviator, Lululemon, Vuori, Western
for planning. She developed draft itiner- Rise, Rail Rider, Love of Adventure). Have
aries and worked with the Asia Transpa- layering options, since summers can be
cific Journeys (ATJ) Destination hot and humid, winters cold, and rain-
Management Company (DMC) with Japa- storms can blow through unexpectedly.
nese expertise to recommend options for Wear comfortable shoes, preferably
our group of eight to consider. This in- waterproof ones, in inclement weather,
cluded having tour guides throughout our and slip-ons with socks for visiting shrines
trip to make it easy for our group and en- and temples. Many attractions require
hance the educational and cultural expe- significant walking or climbing stairs.
riences. Wandering around the gardens, temples,
We enjoyed alternating between sam- and towns can add thousands of steps to
pling the ultra-modern, high-energy, fast- your fitness app daily. Check the fore-
moving scenes in the big cities and easing casts and layer accordingly. We carried
into the serenity and comfort of small small travel umbrellas.
towns and historical sites. This included
staying in a traditional Ryokan inn with
Japanese architecture, sliding panels, low
beds, and meals with multiple courses.
134 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2025
