Ok.. After all your suggestions we are almost ready. Here is what we have in terms of logistics, please let us know what you think.
Again we will be arriving the 4th of june at 6.50 am. Will buy the Narita Tokyo ticket and will validate the JRP from the 5th.
Will stay in Tokyo at the Reinassance from the 4 to the 7 (using Marriott points). Will go for a day trip to Nikko. On the 7th will go to KYOTO. Will leave bags at the GRAN VIA HOTEl and will go for 1 nt to YOSHIMA RYOKAN (18,000 per person)Any experiences with this Ryokan??? On the 8 will chek in at the GRAN VIA. Will go for a day trip to NARA. Will come back on the 11 to NARITA (via TOKYO) Will fly back at 21.55.

HAve a couple of extra questions.
1. Any suggestions for a jappanese cooking class?
2. Any shopping that wont break our pockets?
3. Any KABUKI or show that we should not miss as part of the japanesse experience?

Thanks to all for all the incredible help!!!!

D

There was a poster on here last spring and early summer named monkeyrhino. She and her husband took a cooking class in Kyoto from an organization that starts with a "W". I will look for the name. They enjoyed it so much that I think they were going to do it again on their 2nd trip. Problem is that after she returned from the first trip, she cahnged her screen name and I can't think of what her new screen name is- if I coudl recall it I could bring up her post-trip posting for you.

Does anyone recall her new screen name?

I found the place for the cooking class, it is WAK (Women's Assn. of Kyoto). Here is their page w/the cooking class:

http://www.wakjapan.com/en/wasitu/index.html

Bonjour Dianas,

On the 6th, you should arrange with Renaissance hotel to have your bags sent directly to the Granvia so you'll find them on the 8th and won't have to stop there on your way to Yoshima ryokan.

Shopping: In Tokyo, explore the streets around Asakusa Kannon temple (Nakamise, Shin-Nakamise, then Kappabashi - the cooking ustensils street -) and maybe Yanaka. Museums often have interesting choices for a reasonnable price too.

In Kyoto, you'll unfortunately miss the fleamarkets, but good shopping can be found in the streets leading to Kiyomizu temple, and in the area between Oike-Shijo streets (North-South) and West of Karasuma to Gion.
The underground shopping centers at Kyoto station are worth a visit too, as are department stores around the station (less prestigious but cheaper than on Shijo street).

Anyway, you'll be spoiled for choice.

Kabuki: in Tokyo, you can attend parts of plays during the day (1 or 2 hours) at the Kabuki-za in Higashi-Ginza. Ask at your hotel.

Emd, Thanks for the inf. Will check that site. Thanks a lot.

Regarding kabuki, if you have an interest then I'd highly recommend seeing a performance at Kabuki-za:

http://www.shochiku.co.jp/play/kabukiza/theater/

I only saw two acts (took probably 1-2 hours, memory's a bit hazy) but it was wonderful. I love traditional Japanese music & culture so the experience couldn't be matched (although I know Kyoto has a theater even older).

There's a nice shop at Kabuki-za too. And they have English audio translations available if you want them, although I personally enjoyed it more to just listen to the performers even if I didn't know what was happening at times...

Florence, that sounds great, thanks for the tip. So the hotel would send our bags directly to the Granvia ( or any other??) in KYOTO. Many mnay thanks for teh Kabuki suggetsions....!! We might change hotels.... Thinking about the Westin (read great reports about it in fromers- one of the best hotels to stay) and maybe the Hiragaya Ryokan!!!! Checking with our walet and our pillow for that last one! THANKS TO ALL!

"or any other?" Yes, esp. Westin or Hiragiya.

Have you arranged your arrival time with Yoshima?

Emd. Thanks for the link for the cooking class. I will check the website and will book a course for us.
I was wondering if there are any NOT TO MISS restaurants in Tokyo or Kyoto. Any suggestions in NARA adn NIKKO I know there are plenty but.... any fodorites??
ALmost ready to go!!!

Glad I could help on the cooking classes.

Are you staying at the Westin Tokyo then? I've stayed there for total of 10 nights on two nights and it is heaven. Wonderful hotel, incredible service and food, great rooms.

Oh, did you mean the Westin Miyako in Kyoto? I've stayed there too. Also very good if you are in the nice rooms in the main bldg. (someone just posted this morning who stayed in the other bldg. and rm. was not as nice as main bldg. renovated ones). Location is eastern Kyoto, close to Higashiyama and Path of Philosophy, but a subway ride or taxi or bus away from most of the rest of Kyoto, and the area right around the hotel is dead as a doornail at night, although Gion is not that far.

Emd,
I am glad you are on line. I wanted to double check with you that. Since the Westin has a shuttle service to the station...we should stay at the Westin, right??? I understnad it is in the historical part of town. Also, what do you know about the Yoshi-ma. I have not found enough info and the price seems very good so I dont know if it is that good. THANKS

Emd. YEs I was talking about the KYOTO one. In Tokyo we are staying at the Reinassance (MArriott points) 3nts. So...we should stay at Gran Via (3nts) and 1 nt at the RYOKAN at GION.If the historical area is dead at night there is no point on staying there! Right? ANy other suggetsions. Just email teh cooking scholl for more info. Price seems very good.

Emd:YEs I was talking about the KYOTO one. In Tokyo we are staying at the Reinassance (MArriott points) 3nts. So...we should stay at Gran Via (3nts) and 1 nt at the RYOKAN at GION.If the historical area is dead at night there is no point on staying there! Right? ANy other suggetsions. Just email the cooking scholl for more info. Price seems very good.

On the restaurants, I have not had good luck on those and also just don't focus that much on great dining while I am there. I went to one very good restaurant in Kyoto in Gion w/mrwunrfl in April but I didn't get the name of it!

kuranosuke on this board did an in depth review of 3 good restaurants he went to last year. I will send them to the top of the posts for you. The titles are "Edogin, Matsukan, and Ukai Toriyama..."

Recently, hawaiitraveler did a trip report on Kyoto and he and his wife ate at some nice places. Try to find that report.

Emd: MANY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP! I Will try to find that report and will look for those restaurants you are mentioning!

Great I just saw the posts on the restaurants. THANKS.

I also just topped hawaiintravelr's trip report for you. Title starts w/Bangkok, Siem R... He went to quite a few nice restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo too.

I don't remember the name of the place in Kyoto either.

Search for Ukai Toriiyama on the web it looks really nice. I haven't been ther yet bus since it is kuranosuke's reccomendation it is going to be good. His rec of Sushizanmai in Tsukiji was right on.

That's how I felt about the Westin Miyako. Nice hotel, great location, but once we got back in at around 6-7 pm we never went back out, too far to walk, subway sounded like a hassle after a whole day of going around all over.

However, if you only have a few days in Kyoto and want to concentrate on HIgashiyama one day (and path of philosophy), Westin is great. And it is not bad location for other things, you just have to get on the subway, get a cab, or bus, because you can't really walk anywhere at night. I suppose you coudl walk to Gion, it's a long walk at night after walking a lot all day though. That said, my stay at Westin was free on points (1st 4 nights on points, and w/Starwood you get 5th night scott free, no points, no $, nada- free). And you can't beat that w/a stick.

I preferred the Okura for location, in central Kyoto, a hopping area at night w/shopping and dining open til late. we could walk to dining ans shopping at night from there easily.