All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

Thank you for teaching us patiently, we all had a lovely time! The teacher was patient and friendly, he explained each step of the making process clearly and even helped us when we were unsure of what to do. It was our first time making food samples but it was one of the best experiences!

This year is one of my mom’s most memorable visits in japan because of my surprise gift to her. I asked her to go with me in Nagoya to have a special lunch and after that we went straight to the kimono studio where all the friendly staff were waiting to do her hair and make-up for the kimono photoshoot. All the employees were so nice they tried to find the right kimono and shoe size for my mom. My mom enjoyed dressing in kimono. I can’t wait to share her beautiful photos. It was an amazing birthday experience for my mom.

The Gion Odori was an emotional, moving performance. You could never have the same authentic experience anywhere but Japan. There were maiko and prominent Kyoto residents in the audience, too, so you know it’s for real! The Veltra booking service made it super easy to get a ticket as a foreigner. I picked up my ticket at the theater about 30 minutes before the performance.

The show was very nice with magnificent colors. The location of our seats (view of the scene) was very good but the quality of the seat was poor, we were on add-on type hard seats instead of the normal softer seats. The show lasts one hour and tends to be boring with the same music and voice all along. In any case, a must-see show to get acquainted with Japanese culture.

It was 34 people in our group. The waiter and waitress were so busy catering to two groups of Japanese customers (about 20 people), they did not offer for us to order any drink. Our group was trying to get their attention to order some beverages but they did not walk over to us. The show itself is ok but I would not recommend this event.

If you're fortunate enough to be in Kyoto for this, I recommend you absolutely do it!

A few things to note:
-Booking online through Veltra guarantees you a seat; we were originally going to wait for tickets at the theatre itself, but they had long lines on the day of and it was SUPER cramped.
-We arrived an hour early to check in; just showed a print out of the Veltra voucher and got some souvenir stickers, and the lady at check-in said "Your seats are not very nice, so please accept this as an apology" -she gave us a free souvenir cloth - the same ones the Geiko & Maiko throw at the crowd during the show!
-We opted for the Tea Ceremony - After getting into a bit of a tight line on the upper level for 20 minutes, we got a piece of mochi and a bowl of green tea - just enough for a few sips, nothing too crazy/big. The room it is held in is quite small; it felt like a classroom with desks very close to each other. You are squeezed into a spot as soon as the previous people have vacated their seats; No photos but there is a Maiko and a Geiko at the front of the room looking quite solemn/stern so you might be lucky to be seated directly in front of them while you're enjoying your snack but you're equally likely to be put in the far corner. Again, a tight squeeze.
-The seats were really not that bad, we were on the highest level and it seems like other Veltra buyers were too (other Westerners). The view for us was great but it seems you don't have a choice in selection.
-It's not in the same spot as Gion Corner; the theatre for this is actually across the street from the Yasaka Shrine.
-Everything's in Japanese, heads up - even the program you receive. Again, we're a couple of fairly smaller people under 5'8" and it was a bit cramped - so take note if you're on the larger side. We noticed a heftier American couple with mobility issues having a slightly tougher time... but they also talked through the entire show. Avoid coming with bags!

One of the most beautiful dances I have ever seen and one of the highlights of my trip in Japan.

Nothing short of spectacular! These public dances emit a magical atomsphere that is sure to spell-bound everyone. There is nothing else like it in the world !

Good show with a quick cup of tea at first in a separate room. Easy to change the voucher into ticket (one hour before the show). Very pleased.

Very nice and impressive performance. The tee ceremony not really worth it, but the performance was excellent

Having the ticket beforehand has been great. I think there were still available tickets onsite when we got there but the place was pretty packed by showtime so still good to plan beforehand.

If you plan to do the tea ceremony, there will be several batches as the room is small. Try to sit in the first row to experience the Maiko serving you your tea.

I was given a foldable chair to sit in while other had regular seats in the theatre. I understand that I was not the only one given such a seat but it indicated that the theatre oversold their tickets? And given that I purchased my ticket one month in advance, I don't see how it should come to that. Veltra, as the go between, you should really look into the matter, or at least drop the booking from your site – as it reflects badly on you to be listing activities that don't meet a certain standard for paying customers. The show was great though.

Performance was excellent but was treated like maximazing turnover - tea ceremony too fast and on a personal level having book most expensive options well in advance was disappointed to be on an end row -on an additional hard chair unlike the the more comfortable seats in the auditorium - so my 3 reflects the efforts of the artists not the management

Have been to Kyoto before but never saw a dance performance. It was fantastic and the seats were very good too. I really appreciated being able to get them from the US before the trip -- I expect they would have been sold out by the time we were in Kyoto, especially as we had 7 people attending. Thanks, Veltra!

I have enjoyed cruising several times abroad. My daughter said, "You really like this, don't you, Mom?" and I participated again domestically without hesitation. The staff was very kind, and the food was delicious. We didn't go far, just cruising around the bay, but I was able to enjoy the meal while watching the sunset and planes taking off. At a nearby table, a couple from the U.S. military was celebrating a surprise anniversary, which was quite touching and added to the exotic atmosphere.

海外では何度かクルージングを楽しんできました。一緒に行った娘から「お母さんも好きだね～」と言われつつ、国内でも懲りずに参加しました。スタッフがとても親切で、お料理もおいしくいただくことができました。湾の中をグルグル回り遠出はしなかったのですが、食事を楽しみながらもサンセットや飛びだつ飛行機をみることができました。近くの席で米軍のカップルが、サプライズアニバーサリーをしていたので、ちょっと感激＆異国気分も味合うことができました。

Wearing kimono is a must do in Otaru. Everyone looks and treats you like you’’re a celebrity. It was loads of fun and Mina the shop owner was fantastic. She speaks some English and is very engaging. Email her your questions and she’ll get right back with you.

My two girls and I had an amazing time making ice cream sundaes!! Our host was so kind and ever so patient with my kids. Although, we do not speak Japanese, he was so gracious to speak to us in English and was easy to understand, so funny and engaging! I would recommend this workshop to anyone, it was definitely a highlight in our trip to Japan!

This is a great way to see Tokyo at night. The staff were extremely helpful and attentive. Even though their English was limited they made sure the evening was great for us. The food was delicious and gave us a chance to sample different types of food. Definitely recommend

They kindly taught how to cut and draw Edokiriko glass. We could communicate with the instructor in English as well as Japanese. The glasses we made were kind of not perfect one, but really adorable and handmade.

The yakatabune (houseboat) is used for various purposes, and this is my first time here. It's stylish in many ways. There was a sunken kotatsu, but we had chair seating during our visit. My foreign friend was delighted! However, the sunken kotatsu allows you to feel the movement of the waves more directly. Compared to others, it feels more elegant and doesn't have a rustic vibe. The all-you-can-drink system is well-organized; they bring drinks when you order instead of self-service. It's a nice cruise dinner experience. Oh, and there was a smoking area too!

屋形船はいろいろ利用していて、こちらは初めてです。
いろいろな意味でおしゃれ。掘りごたつとありましたが、我々のときは椅子席。
外国人の友人と一緒だったので喜ばれました！
しかーし、掘りごたつのほうがダイレクトに波の動きを感じられる。
他と比べるとおしゃれです。泥臭い感じがありません。
飲み放題も自分ではなく、ちゃんとオーダーすれば持ってきてくれるシステム。
おしゃれなクルーズディナーと思えばよし。
あ、喫煙所もあったし！

The venue was easy to find, the signage outside made it clear we had arrived to our destination. The helpers were extremely sweet and enthusiastic about the history and process of food sample making. It took perhaps 30 minutes in total for the session-we chose to do the Full Size Parfait with 6 Pieces of Fruit. It was very quick. All of the pieces were pre-made. All we focused on was creating the parfait base and swirl. Very straightforward, fun little craft, also great souvenir to take home. Was just under the impression the process would be a bit more hands on - perhaps with the other options available? Interesting experience, would recommend to others to try at least once.

The staff is so helpful and we had a really great time!

We are so pleased with this experience. The make up and hairdo were well done. We short listed 3 kimonos beforehand and then chose 2 on the actual day. We were properly dressed in the grand wedding kimonos and then driven by the photographer in a 7 seater car to Yusentei, a wonderful house with a garden. Every time we move our assistant would adjust our kimonos. Service was excellent. The photos were very nice!

The experience was great. The instructor knew a lot of English and was a good teacher; she worked with me to design my own custom piece. I am in love with my new little piece of art and I would recommend this opportunity to anyone who wants an experience different than the tourist spots. (It is a bit tough to find...when you arrive at street level, walk straight ahead about 10-15 feet and turn right onto the street. It looks like an alley, but it is not. Look for small blue signs with the house number. When you find the store that sells glass and crystal ware, you have arrived. The location/house is on your left side.)

The curry is a bit tricky to make, but the results are great. Note that as the curry is wax it can't be kept in direct sunlight or it will melt!
Instructor was very nice and helpful. Great experience.

This was great - lots of fun and the instructor was kind, patient and friendly. Highly recommended!

I surprised my foreign friend with a gift, and they were very happy. The location is easy to find, and there is a wide variety of kimono types, so I highly recommend it.

外国の友人にサプライズでプレゼントしましたがとてもよろこんでいました。
場所も分かりやすく着物の種類も豊富でおすすめです。

I experienced Edo Kiriko for the first time!

After choosing a glass, I received a brief explanation of the machine and then immediately practiced with a practice glass. I was so nervous thinking, "Wait, we're doing it already?" (laughs)

At first, I wasn't very good, but gradually I got the hang of it and was able to engrave my favorite design onto the glass. It was fun to work at my own pace. The instructor was also in a spot where it was easy to talk to them, which made for a very pleasant environment!

Since I made it myself, I ended up with a glass that I feel very attached to!

江戸切子を初めて体験しました！

最初にグラスを決めたあと、軽く機械の説明を受けたらすぐに練習用グラスで実践。
えっ、もうやるの？とドキドキでした（笑）

最初は下手でしたが、徐々に出来るようになって、自分の好きなデザインをグラスに刻めるようになりました。
マイペースに作業できて楽しかったです。
先生も話を聞きやすい場所にいて下さるので、とても嬉しい環境でした！

自分で作ったためにとても愛着の持てるグラスに仕上がりました！

I got caught in traffic and arrived just in time. Despite causing a lot of inconvenience, the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Thanks to them, I was able to see a beautiful sunset! The atmosphere on the ship was great, and the food was very delicious.

渋滞に巻き込まれ時間ギリギリに到着になってしまいました。とてもご迷惑お掛けしたのにも関わらず、スタッフの方々はとても笑顔で対応してくれました。
おかげで、とても綺麗な夕陽を見る事が出来ました！船内の雰囲気も良く料理もとても美味しかったです

It was a very beautiful annex, and I was able to enjoy delicious sukiyaki! The maiko were lovely, and it was a precious experience to see them dance up close. I was significantly late for my reservation, but they were very polite and accommodating. I would definitely like to use this place again if I have the opportunity. Thank you!

とても綺麗な別館で、美味しいすき焼きをいただくことができました！舞妓さんも可愛らしく、近くで踊りを見ることができて貴重な体験でした。予約の時間に大幅に遅れてしまったのですがとても丁寧にご対応いただきました。また機会があれば是非利用したいです。ありがとうございました！