we had a wonderful time.  of the special events we thing the soba making and its wonderful owner and outstanding dinner  and the taiko were the most outstanding.  the onsen hotel and unusual dinner rated the best in hotels.  the hunt experience was wonderful and the hunter unusually good.  we loved seeing the preparation of the meat but i think some others might be more squeamish and not want to see that part.  his set up at home to prepare the deer was outstanding.  we love our indigo pieces and the experience that went with it.  the goto museum will remain in our hearts as a treasure.  the gardens wonderfully planned with the one associated wit  the six flowers the most rejuvenating and peacful . but would be better in flowering times.  the shinto shrine, with a traditional wedding and the warm red bean mochi and the forests around it another highlight.  you were able to get us tickets to the ballet gala and even though the don quixote is not my favorite ballet, we were impressed by the craftmanship of the japanese dancers, so precise and steady and extremely quick in their movementsand graceful at the same time.  their spins in the closed pas de eau position are some of the fastest and more steady we have seen.  i hope you enjoyed it as much as we did sharing with you.

i had a hard time on the mountain but the park person and Suksuki were wonderful helping and always there.  suksuki was a great guide with a soft voice so augmentation would have helped when we were riding in the van.  she is so helpful in so many ways and very bright.  we could not have had a bettr driver, careful, always prompt picking us up at strange locations.  we wish we had known about the languages he speaks.  we would be perfect for those who speak chinese when they travel with you.

the crab restaurant did not meet expectation: noisy, ran out of most crab choices, the butterfish was overcooked and was served first with a long wait until the crab came but still an interesting experience.  i think we would have liked to go to the fish market, pick out our own and eat in that interesting setting.

thank you for all you have done to make this an exceptional experience.  hope you are seeing the lovely large Harvest Moon.  sending aloha from Honolulu.