Japanese Massage

The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto

Robert and I traveled to Japan in September. As a frequent world traveler, I strongly recommend it! The people were wonderful, the architecture fascinating, and of course the food sublime.

In Japan you get REAL Zi Su Yi (Perilla leaf) – a plant traditionally known for helping with food poisoning – instead of fake plastic “grass” with your sushi! It’s minty and delicious.

We had two massages, both in our hotel rooms. The first was an older gentleman who delivered some excellent shiatsu, which I haven’t had since acupuncture school in about 2002. It was really lovely. Shiatsu is essentially acupressure along the meridians, the channels where energy flows.

The second session was with a young lady who, unfortunately, mistook force for technique. She bruised my upper back and hamstrings. After that experience (and remembering Thailand), I decided not to go for acupuncture. As much as I wanted to try it, I only wanted treatment from someone truly skilled, and I wasn’t sure how to find that, since Yelp isn’t really a thing in Japan.

We enjoyed a tea ceremony with traditional garb in Kyoto.

This is the blessing and curse of having truly wonderful practitioners here: I am not willing to settle for mediocre! Of course I’m sure there were plenty of incredible acupuncturists in Japan. I just didn’t have a way to find them.

Our first night in Tokyo, in a local izakaya (the local equivalent of a British pub). Our new friend is Katsu. He had no English, but we understood each other perfectly.