Reiki trip to Japan 2023

Question: 100 years ago in 1922 Usui Sensei had his Satory exeperience and I have heared that is celebrated in Japan. Do you join any of these with the group?

Answer: I have been looking with Frans Stiene at this. There are several celebration organizers. Due to Corona we don´t know which celebration finally really takes place. Some have a minimum and others a maximum of participants, some are considered more for practitioners of individual Reiki lineages only, one is sheduled for April, another for May, another for August. Eventually we decided not to make our trip organizing depending of this and others. Of course the trip 2022 is special and we could make a circle with all trip partitioners from all the different countries and Reiki backgrounds to exchange thoughts what makes it special for and take a moment in silence to honour and thank the Reiki founder Mikao Usui Sensei while being in this country and following his footsteps with that trip.

Question: Could I make a reservation a couple of weeks before until it is sure that I get free days from the company?

Answer: Please understand that reservations are difficult to make. We would have to make this possible for others as well. It´s not good to reject bookings and hold reservations that might finally not lead to bookings while the others have in the meantime decided to spend their time somewhere else. Worst case finally not all places are booked and before bookings have been rejected. It´s just too much work and advertisement costs to risk that.

Question: I wonder if I am young enough to do a trip with pilrimage charakter, what do you think?

Answer: Age is not the criteria to join our group. Though you have to keep in mind that this is not a journey with four star air condition bus and an own driver how carries your luggage to the hotel. We use public transport, changing the means and going to or leaving from hotels means walking and carrying luggage oneself. Please take care that your luggage is not too heavy for you and give preference for suitcases with rolls.

Question: Two years ago I have been to Tokio and as a hotel guest I received a mobile which I could use inside and outside for calls and mobile internet. It was easy to use the Google maps, to browse and I could download my whatsapp account or whatever social media account. Public Wi-Fi leaves a lot to be desired in Tokio but the mobile internet on the handy worked well. As far as I know it is a common and free service at a lot of hotels in the cities. If that is the case in the hotels you are going to book then there is no need to buy a sim card, right?

Answer: In 2016 I didn´t personally experience that and I am sure that not all hotels will have that service during our trip. Some have Wi-Fi, so if you are happy with time to time access to the internet in hotels, restaurant or local public spots, you really don´t have to care for a sim card. Finally it´s your choice. I personally would prefer if everyone would have a sim card, so that in the unlikely event that someone might get lost, we could easily stay in contact.

Question: Could I have a single room if the price is not much different?

Answer: Concerning single rooms let me explain what is problematic about. The question is less the price. The question is what does this mean for travel organisation? If offered to you it must be offered to all. If the price would not be that much higher, everybody would of course prefer a single room.

As you can imagine hotels are not really interested in this. For travel organizers it would be much more difficult and complicated to find hotels. With 20 travellers added 2 with Frans and me at least eleven rooms are already a limitation of hotel choice.

In the tourism industry hotels or travel organizers or hotels and travel organizers try to avoid this by the price. The travel company RVD for example charges for a single room or a double room with single occupation the price as for two persons. So Holistika informs from the very beginning that only shared rooms are offered.

Though from organizational point there could be the need for single occupation when there is no adequate number of men and women to share the room with the same gender. So having an uneven quantity of women or men could single occupation make necessary, if not three people occupation is the solution. And honestly not only in small hotels in Japan shared rooms with more than two people is the normal case.

In case of single occupation a fair and for all acceptable solution has to be found. In that cases the lot shall decide among those who would be interested in single occupation. A new hotel would mean new lottery.

Question: We have a dog. Are there any limitations on bringing her along?

Answer: Unfortunately you can not bring your dog for the following reasons:

• We are staying in different hotels. During the trip organization I often and even last minute cancel reservations after having found better hotels that before cancelation of others have not been detectable. So first, I am not sure if all the hotels were we are staying would accept dogs. Second, replacing hotels that would be a new and additional criteria. There are already several criteria to choose a hotel from rooms, service to location. To accept dogs could be a limitation factor to the amount of hotel to choose from.
• Due to the actual planning we are using a lot of public means like buses, metro, cable cars and trains. I am not sure if all those in all different cities that we are going to accept dogs. People at the hotel receptions speak English and normally give answers to questions. I doubt asked employees of all companies of public means in all that cities would first give an answer and second give a positive answer. Not considering the challenge to find out whom to ask.
• We are visiting Kurama montain and Mt. Hihei which are not public but private property. I am not sure if that communities of faith as owners accept dogs on a place were visitors look for retirement and silence.
• We are visiting public places including temples and shrines where I am not sure dogs can brought with you.
• If I would investigate all this and all would tell me to be fine with a dog´s accompany and on-site they wouldn´t. Having told you before it wouldn´t be a problem then it would turn out to be my problem to find a solution. So I could never say, yes no problem. It would always stay your risk not to join the group at a certain point any more and find your own way back to were we came from or going next.
• We are having a three-day Reiki workshop, a zazen workshop and a calligraphy workshop and I am not sure all travel mates are happy about the idea to have a dog with us during that times. As travel organizer I have to make my best that all can feel most comfortable at all time. I would have to ask the other participants if they would feel good with it and what if even one does not?
• We are a lot of people who travel together. You might not be the only one having a dog at home. Telling you it would be okay to bring your dog I would have to tell the same to all other dog keepers. More people bringing their dogs could make all the mentions points not even easier.
• another and most convincing argument for my not accepting answer is that sadly I had to give away my own dog because of my heavy dog allergy. Half a year ago I begun a hyposensitisation that takes three to five years to cure that and allow me to have another dog again one day as I love them so much. On the way to and back from Usui sensei´s birth town we would be in a closed bus for hours. During the three different workshops we would be in closed rooms for days. With my allergical reaction on eyes, throat and respiration I could not stay with you any longer.
• so please understand that this is not about pet keepers discrimination. I have been working fifteen years for the pet supplying industry and loved it. For mentioned travel organizational reasons, comfortability of all travel mates and my personal health issues it is regrettably not possibly. I am so sorry!

Question: What will the total price will be about?

Answer: The journey price is 2,940 Euro and the retreat price is 550 Euro. The costs for train, taxi, bus and cablecar rides could be around 300 Euros, the shared bus costs to Taniai I guess around 50 Euro depending on the group size. If you like a Shinto blessing ceremony that would be around 30 Euros. The price for the zazen and the calligraphy workshop I honestly don´t know yet but will be well affordable. You have to add costs on your site like the flight ticket, costs for travel insurances, costs for meals and personal expenses.

Question: Are international bank transferral costs on my behalf?

Answer: I am sorry that with Holistika being located in Germany, booking from outside Europe result in international bank transferral costs. These vary from every country and every bank. The Holistika prices are not considering this, means the fair price calculation is based on the expectation to receive even from persons from foreign countries the same incoming amount as from local people. Just 25 Euros less, which wouldn´t look much at first view but finally mean 25 Euros less for the deposit payment, 25 Euros less for the final payment, and sum up with 20 travellers to 1,000 Euros already. Equivalent to 2,000 Euro with 50 less and 4,000 Euros with 100 Euros less for bank costs in every payment. This is why all customers from outside Europa are kindly asked to cover ALL international bank transferral cost. So don´t just pay the amounts of the deposit or the final payment but check the transfer costs with your bank and make sure that this amount can be received by Holistika. As written 'under Additionals costs & what is not included' at least for the deposit payment PayPal has turned out to be an alternative.

Question: Do you know if PayPal might be the cheaper alternative?

Answer: The International bank transfer costs that you have to add on your payment amount are depening from bank to bank and country to country so that you have to check. In case you want to pay with PayPal there are fix percentages that Holistika adds on your payment amount.

If you are located in Germany this is 2,49% PayPal fee, so national bank transfer without charge is better for you. If you are located in an EU member country this is 2,49% PayPal fee + your borderpassing PayPal fee (+1,8% or +2,0% or +3,0%) depending on the group to that your country belongs, see list below. As international bank transfer within the EU member countries is free of charge, that is better for you. If you are located in a non EU member country, this is 2,49% PayPal fee + your borderpassing PayPal fee (+2,0% or +3,3%) depending on the group to that your country belongs, see list below. So if 4,49% or 5,79% PayPal are lower than the international bank transfer costs from your bank, you have to check please.

PayPal Country List:

Country group North Europe (2,49%+1,8%): Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Åland), Iceland, Norway, Sweden.

Country group Europe I (2,49%+2,0%): Belgium, Germany, Estonia, France (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique, Réunion), Gibraltar, Greece, Great Britain (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man), Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Vatican City, Cyprus.

Country group North America (2,49%+3,0%): Canada, United States of America.

Country group Europe II (2,49%+3,0%): Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kosovo, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Serbia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary.

Country group Latin Ameria (2,49%+3,3%): Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, Honduras, Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Dutch Antilles, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Country group APAC (2,49%+3,3%): Australia, Bangladesh, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Federated States of Micronesia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Kingdom of Bhutan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of China (Taiwan), Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam, People's Republic of China.

Country group Other countries (2,49%+3,3%): All countries that can not be found in any other group.

Question: What might the price for meals not included in the journey price will be like?

Answer: Japan is more expensive than where you or I live but the menu cards have choices from cheap to expensive. Breakfast, as far as available in our hotels, is included in the travel price. Breakfast, if taken outside our hotels, is not included in the travel price. Dinner and in case we make stops for lunch or tea/coffee/cake is on everybody’s own costs. After the last journey I have realized to have had average costs of 6,000 Yen / 50 USD each day for meals for myself.

Question: Could you make sure that I always get vegan and gluten free diet?

Answer: Honestly and frankly I have to say that I can not guarantee vegan gluten free diets. Meals are not included. What restaurant we take depends on what is on the way and what the group attracts. As Frans is vegetarian you can be sure that we have a look for non-meat food but completely free of animalistic ingredients might be a challenge in Japan. Hope you can get along with that.

Question: Should I change money before and are there ATMs?

Answer: My personal experience is that the exchange in the country is the best rate. The first ATMs you find at the airport. In big cities ATMs are easy to find. Just consider that on the one hand you might have maximum limitations for each day depending on your bank, on the other site maximum limitations for each day depending on the local ATM like 20,000 Yen / 180 USD or even lower.

Question: Do you have own made or travellers made experiences that might be helpful to consider for myself?

Answer: Experiences are always individual but I would like to give some examples ...

• One traveller had problems with his camera battery, so it is good to have a second one and of course not to for get the camera charging equipment.

• Once a sd-card stopped working, so it is good to have a replacement sd-card.

• One lady had problems with her smartphone battery, so a power bank for charging on the way is good to have. Beside the smartphone charging cable anyway.

• In Japan they have 100 Volt, in Tokyo and Osaka 50 Hz, in Kyoto and Nagoya 60 Hz. So I recommend to have a least one travel adapter. Depending on your need maybe more or you take a small plug board to connect with you.

• It´s advantageous to remember to carry the insurances documents and make sure that the passport validity is at least six month longer than return date.

• Useful are sun cream, sun glasses, possibly sleeping mask and depending on your room mate earplugs.

• One time a lady had neither an alarm clock nor a smartphone for waking up and the group was not so glowing to wait for her every single day.

• Once a traveller lost his smartphone in a taxi and wished he would have had a sim card inside to call the driver with one of our group phones to come back.

• Frustrating for the whole group could be if one traveller had no Japan Rail Pass. You don´t get it in Japan and need to order before. In case of not having the whole group could not quickly enter a local train or Metro but would have to wait for one single person to buy it. That could be a challenge, first to find the ticket machine, then to understand how to run it and possibly wait in a line with dozens of Japanese people in front and others in hurry behind. I unfortunately couldn´t assist in that time as I have to make sure that he group takes the right train in the right direction from the right platform and have the right information where to change into what connection train.

• Depending on season and region there could be really annoying mosquitos / sand-flies. The foreign anti-insect cream in most cases is not helpful at all, so better to buy local products.

Question: After having send my booking form, could I already book my flights?

Answer: Please don´t book your flight before the minimum quantity of travelling persons is achieved and only after you have got your confirmation/invoice.

Question: Does an automatic sending confirmation of a booking form from your homepage mean we have a contract?

Answer: There often is a big misunderstanding. A contract as most know means two correlating declarations of intention, so called offer and acceptance. Some people think the advertisement for a trip for a example is the offer and sending the booking form is the acceptance so that this would mean to have a contract. From commercial and juridical view it is different. The advertisement is not an offer, it is the suggestion to the public to give an offer. The booking then is the offer. The acceptance, necessary for a valid contract, is the confirmation/invoice send by Holistika to the person that has send the booking form. The auto responder is just to confirm successful sending of the booking form.

Question: Are there certain things worth seeing in November compared to other months and what is the temperature like at that time?

Answer: November as month to travel is a historical development. Before doing this trips together with Frans and his retreats included I had an agreement with Doi Sensei to come with German Reiki students for training in October. Autum because at that time spanish groups came during spring time and Doi Sensei only wanted to have two international classes each year maximum due to his age. October because in November you don´t get accomodation at his place as most properly the local football team again reaches the final match taking place in November. So when Doi stopped teaching I moved to November as the leaf colours in October are not yet that indian summer like as on month later. Temperatures at the last trip have been around 15-20 degrees celsius and above. If you wonder what clothes to choose have a look at our trip pictures from 2019.