Sneaker Traveller: #38 - Japanese hospitality

Tokyo undergroung map

Tokyo style international breakfast

Tokyo is a nice city, but the hectic bustle may get you out of breath. Couple of years ago I had an opportunity to experiment some interesting semiconductor companies, advanced universities, crowded subway, and tasty food in Tokyo. After a week I started to feel exhausted.

Luckily the next two days were reserved for a visit to an international semiconductor company located at the Awaji Island, 500 km south-west from Tokyo. Our hosts had taken good care of all the practical arrangements. A private bus took us from the Naruto airport to our hotel at Sumoto. As a positive surprise I noted that we were going to stay at a beautiful spa. All of us enjoyed hot baths (onsen) early mornings and late evenings. The hospitality at the factory was also more than friendly. Finnish and Japanese flags were welcoming us in the morning and the day was started by the group photo of the Finnish visitors with Japanese hosts. The official Japanese style dinners were delicious. Even if we worked hard in the meetings, I felt like a re-born man after those two days.

Our Spa at the Awaji island

Sneaker Traveller enjoying delicious
Kobe beef from the local farms

Authentic Awaji style breakfast table on a private room

Time run and it was time to get back to Tokyo. At the weekend Mr. E. - our half native guide -guided us on an exciting hiking tour at the Japanese mountains outside Tokyo. All that relaxation and exercise was needed to survive another hectic week in the bustle of Tokyo.

Lessons learnt:

Learn from Japanese punctuality, hospitality and ability to relax.