All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

A wonderful experience with lovely people! Our hosts were very welcoming and the kimonos were absolutely beautiful, we definitely recommend this studio.

I participated in a craft experience during my trip. Among various crafts, I found some to be a bit challenging to master. Since you can't redo parts that you've carved away, you need to be decisive. Even if you make mistakes, those become memories... You can choose your favorite glass and design, but the most important thing is to enjoy it without overthinking! There were parts I couldn't do as I had hoped, but I was satisfied with the valuable experience. I want to cherish the finished glass as well.

旅行先で工芸品の体験ものがあると参加している。いろいろな工芸品の中でもちょっとコツをつかむのが難しいものだと思う。削ってしまったところはやり直せないので思い切りが必要。失敗したとしてもそれも思い出ということで…　好きなグラスと好きな図柄を選ぶことができるが、凝りすぎず楽しむという気持ちが一番！　思うようにできなかったところもあるが、貴重な体験ができて満足。出来上がったグラスも大事に使いたいと思う。

I vacationed with a group of 5 people and for the plastic food experience we made a total of 4 different items: full size parfait, mini sundae, ramen, and fruit tart. We had a blast.
The staff explained well in English and helped and guided when we had problems (not big problems and they were problems of our own making as non-professionals - they fixed an overworked piece of wax and guided a better parfait swirl).
The atmosphere there was really fun and energetic. There are 4 tables in workshop 3 so other people are making stuff at the same time. Our food turned out wonderfully. We would absolutely do the plastic food activity again.

Every year, my sister and I have an event where we take my niece out to celebrate her birthday without the parents. Now that she’s in the fourth grade, we wanted to do something different from the zoo or amusement park, and although I thought it might be difficult, we participated in an Edo Kiriko glass-cutting experience. I was a bit worried about how much I could understand from the objective explanations given by the instructor, but we didn’t get hurt, and she said it was the best experience yet and that she wants to come back next year! Thank you very much.

毎年姪っ子の誕生日に親は抜きでオバ二人で出かけて遊ぶと言うイベントをやってますが、小学四年になったので動物園や遊園地じゃない何かをと探してて、難しいかもと思ったけど江戸切子の体験に参加しました。
説明をしてくれたお兄さんの客観的な説明をどのくらい理解出来たのか不安に思いましたが、怪我もせず、来年も来たい！と今までで一番いい評価でした。ありがとうございました。

When advertising this dinner cruise, please indicate what drinks are "all you can drink". I don't drink sake, whisky and may drink beer, That was it. You get a lot of Europeans and Americans on this dinner, so include things like bourbon and a variety of beers. Food was fine, but I couldn't eat a lot of it as it didn't explain what was what. I ate eel but didn't know till someone told me I had. Andy was a godsend and knew his craft, asset.

I made an Ice Cream Food Sample and I am really happy with it! Every step was explained really well, there was no rush and the English instruction was also good. Making the ice cream part was not too easy, but I got assistance at first and later on could chose if I wanted to do it on my own(which I did). I'm really happy with the whole experience and the result! Everybody was really nice and seemed to have as much fun as we were! Thank you very much!

I made a Ramen Food Sample and I am really happy with it! Every step was explained really well as well as the materials, there was no rush and the English instruction was also good. Everybody was really nice and seemed to have as much fun as we were! Thank you very much!

Wonderful staff and quality of Kimonos. Photographer was professional.
Would recommend.

My daughter, myself and a friend attended the plastic food sample class on Sunday morning and we had a great time! The teacher was very helpful especially with my young daughter. We enjoyed very much and our samples are now hand-made gifts for people back home. We loved this activity and would come back again next time we're in Japan!

The food was based off of local Kyoto tradition and was a wide selection of food. There was a Geisha dance but it was only one Geisha and was a short performance which was disappointing. The place was nice and garden was pretty though.

* logistics - the place was about 30min Metro ride from Tokyo, it was easy to find from the train station.
* people - we had a lovely Young man looking after us, his english was excellent. He explained the history of plastic Food sample art and was patient in answering all our questions. He was so good with the kids!
* activity - from a technical perspective it was easy but the end result looks amazing. The kids were so thrilled with the result!

Overall - the activity was such good value for money because it incorporated craft, a cool Souvenir to take home, constant interest in restaurant Windows afterwards and an educational element for the kids.

Sensei gave us an introduction to the ceremony and an explanation of the process. It was interesting for those in our group who had some experience with sado and those who were completely new.

I'd note it was quite hot in the room (in April) and you'll be kneeling or sitting on tatami, so dress with care.

Great cruise with great hosts. Food was amazing and the ladies looked after us well. Great finish to our holiday in Tokyo.

Would recommend to anyone

I chose the best course called the Cattleya Course, but it was not delicious at all. The view was also average. I regret not opting for the barbecue plan without expectations. The main dish meat was tough and unappetizing. I took one bite and got off the boat to go somewhere else. It's important not to have excessive expectations. There were too many staff members who couldn't speak Japanese (laughs).

カトレアコースという一番いいコースにしましたが
全く美味しくありませんでした。景色も普通。期待せずバーベキュープランにすれば良かったと後悔。
メインディッシュのお肉は固くて不味い。一口でやめて船降りて別の所へ行きました。過度な期待は禁物です。スタッフも日本語通じない人多すぎ（笑）

Pros:
The teacher can speak English, very polite
Many different Art work you can choose

Cons:
Some parts of the artwork are PVC with is pre-made, so cannot experience the whole making process

Overall:
It is a nice experience

We rented a kimono my sister and I with the basic plan, and we had such a good time. The very kind ladies speak english well, and helped us getting dressed, arranged our hair. We felt special!
We spent the day walking around asakusa and took a lot of pictures. Very good experience and not too expensive! :)

First and foremost, the response from the tour organizer was crucial. It was wonderful! After receiving notice that my desired reservation was not possible, they suggested an alternative experience at a different time. However, that suggested experience was just before the Shinkansen departure. With that in mind, they consulted with me on how to ensure that tourists could enjoy themselves as much as possible and provided the best plan within the constraints. Their response was excellent.

As for the experience, I had to leave partway through, but until then, I thoroughly enjoyed the "Maiko's dance and tea ceremony." It’s a casual and affordable plan that allows you to soak in the Kyoto atmosphere, even if just a little. It became a wonderful memory! I highly recommend it!

If possible, please experience it from the "special seat" (additional fee of ¥200 per person, limited availability). You can see the Maiko's dance from the front row!!

Thank you to everyone involved in the plan, the Maiko, for providing such a wonderful time!

まず情報提供として大切なのが、ツアー主催者の対応でした。素晴らしい！希望の予約が無理であるという連絡を受け、別の時間帯体験をご提案していただきました。しかしそのご提案の体験は新幹線発車ギリギリ。そのような中で出来るだけ観光客に楽しんでもらうには・・・という事を前提として色々とご相談、決められた中での最良プラン提案をしていただきました。素晴らしいご対応でした。
体験ですが、途中中座せざるを得ませんでしたが、それまで「舞妓さんの舞、お点前」はしっかりと堪能でき、京都へ来て京都らしい雰囲気をわずかでも堪能できる気軽＆安価なプランです。よい思い出となりました！めちゃくちゃお勧めです
出来れば「特別席（追加料金￥200/人　※席数に限りあり）」で体験してください。最前列で舞妓さんの舞を見ることができます！！
プラン関係者の方々、舞妓さん、素敵時間を満喫させていただきありがとうございました！

Really enjoyed the show, the Maiko was so pretty.

A nontouristy evening excursion. Most passengers are locals out for a pleasant evening boat ride. Very little English is spoken but the staff was eager to please and be helpful, and between hand signals and dictionaries, we were able to communicate well enough. A nice dinner menu starting with sashimi, followed by tempura, rice, soup and dessert. Boat stopped to allowed photos at scenic spots along the Tokyo skyline. Nice evening outing.

I was able to efficiently visit World Heritage sites such as Hōryū-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Tōshōdaiji. I think it was a good decision to join a bus tour since I wouldn't have been able to hear the guide's explanations if I had gone by train on my own.

法隆寺・薬師寺・唐招提寺など効率よく世界遺産を巡ることができました。
自分で電車で行くとガイドさんの説明も聞けなかったのでバスツアーにして良かったと思います。

The course is very funny and interesting. The kids enjoyed it very much. We are planning to join another food sample activity in our next trip to Tokyo.

The content met my expectations, which was great. I requested to sit in a special seat for an additional ¥200, but the person in charge was not aware of it, and on the day of the event, my family of four ended up sitting in separate seats. There was only one special seat left, so I purchased it. I wish we could have sat together. It's disappointing.

内容的には期待通りで良かったです。 ¥200を追加すると特別席に座ることができるとのことでVertraにお願いしましたが担当の方が把握しておらず、当日は家族4にんがバラバラの席に座ることに。特別席は一席だけ残っていたので購入しました。出来れば一緒に座りたかったです。残念。

My teen daughter and her friend had an unforgettable day in their kimono and wandering around in the temple grounds was very special. My daughter remarked that the staff were very kind and enthusiastic. I highly recommend this place. It was tiny so us mothers had a nice wait in local cafe. Domo Arigato gozaimaau! *************

We had a great time creating tiny plastic ice cream sundae models with expert help.

I was expecting a luxurious dinner while watching the sunset from a boat, but in reality, it was just a short trip around the harbor, and I only saw the same scenery. The meal was neither good nor bad...

舟の上から夕日を見ながら豪華ディナーというのを期待していたのですが、実際には港の中を一回りするだけで、代わり映えのない景色を見ただけでした。
食事は可もなく不可もなし…

This tour is an incredible experience! From the beginning you are taken on a bus tour of Kyoto with audio and video in your language about the shrines, temples, and history of Kyoto. You are taken to the beautiful Shozan resort in the mountains where you are are introduced to a traditional Kyoto style feast and watch a beautiful maiko dance in front of your eyes in perfect poise. The package also includes photo with the maiko and a stroll within the shozan garden. This beautiful garden is definitely worth checking out with incredible nature and photo opportunities. You are then taken up the mountain for a breathtaking view of the city of Kyoto at night. Very relaxing and a great way to experience an authentic maiko performance.

Second to the last day of our Japan trip, we had booked a rental at Sakura Photo Studio in Asakusa. Being.that we had a large group, of seven participants, we wanted to go in early to get ahead of the crowd.

We arrived via Ginza line, and in a few short blocks we were at the studio. It was located in 4 story building on the corner of two streets. Signs were posted on thier windows to show where they were located. The elevator is small, so you'll have to go in small groups of 3 or 4 at a time.

As we got there most of the employees of Sakura Photo Studio were just getting in, but we're ready to help us get into our kimonos. They were really quick and patient in helping us choose our kimonos. One of the employees spoke FOUR LANGUAGES: Japanese, Korean, Chinese ( Mandarin), and English! That was really helpful especially when other groups started to enter the studio,including that the studio is very small for changing into the kimonos.

The staff was able to get us into.our kimonos within the hour and let us know how long we had the rentals for the day. They also had some discounts on Rik Shaw rides through Asakusa. You'll look extra traditional with your kimonos.

Overall, the service was great, the quality of the kimonos were great and diverse, and the staff was very helpful. Will do again if I come back to Asakusa.

The guy who taught us had great English and was very kind. He answered our questions and we got to learn the trade secrets behind fake food! Cool unique souvenir from Tokyo.

I gave a present to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. It seems that all the passengers celebrated with them, and they were very happy. Thank you very much.

It seems that the meal was a standard course and a bit disappointing, but I was relieved to hear that they were satisfied overall.

父母の結婚５０周年の記念にお祝いでプレゼントしました。
乗船客の皆様に祝っていただいたようでとても喜んでいました。
ありがとうございました。


食事が、コースでありきたりだったようで、少し残念だったようですが、
トータル満足だったのことで安心しました。

When you have done and seen everything on your ‘must do’ list in Tokyo, this is the perfect way to create your own momento of your visit.

The instructor was patient and knowledgeable about what is required to make your own Kiriko glass, the rest is up to you. There was a good amount of time to practice before you start to make your own cut glass and there are sample designs for you to copy which you sketch onto your glass.

I would not recommend this for very young children as it requires a steady hand and concentration when using the mechanical wheel.

The only suggestion I would make to Veltra is that they send instructions of the venue in map form as it was slightly tricky to find the venue.

All in all a very enjoyable activity for a few hours.