{"id":13455,"date":"2024-03-11T15:07:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T19:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.giltravel.com\/blog\/\/"},"modified":"2024-09-09T16:04:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T20:04:22","slug":"discovering-jewish-heritage-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.giltravel.com\/blog\/discovering-jewish-heritage-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering Jewish Heritage in Japan – An Untapped Luxury Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan isn\u2019t a country that most people associate with Jewish history and culture, but there are some important connections between Jews and the Japanese. Luxury <\/span>Jewish heritage tours in Japan <\/span>are the perfect way to explore one of the world\u2019s most beautiful, fascinating – and surprising – countries. Gil Travel is an expert at arranging <\/span>luxury customized travel<\/span> in Japan!<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last decade, Japan has really opened up to Western tourism. It\u2019s not that Japan didn\u2019t formerly welcome foreign tourists, but that the tourism industry has taken big steps forward in recent years and is a lot more organized and geared towards accommodating Westerners. Japan is basically four islands off the northeastern coast of Asia and is typically a 12 hour flight from both the US and Europe. Until recently, it was well off the usual tourist path.<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan was an important staging post and logistical base during the Vietnam War. Most Americans who made it to Japan were young servicemen, and there are still at least 50,000 Americans serving on US bases in Japan. Civilians who visited the country were particularly interested in Japanese culture and history or traditional martial arts<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan invested heavily in hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics (which were spectacularly derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic). In anticipation of the $20 billion games, Japan launched a major effort to make the country more tourist friendly. We started to see English signs and information boards in railway stations and a new emphasis on English language skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan is a high-trust society with fairly low crime rates and the Japanese economy is traditionally cash based. Most Japanese people are completely comfortable walking around with large amounts of cash, but there are now plenty of ATMs that accept US credit cards – as do many hotels and businesses. In 2024, Japan has the balance about right. You\u2019re immersed in a completely new culture as soon as you clear customs at Narita airport, but you will find a (highly advanced) Western infrastructure and helpful English speakers. Japan is an adventure!<\/span><\/p>\n

Luxury Travel in Japan<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Luxury<\/p>\n

One of the first things that you\u2019ll notice when you explore Japan is that the country is spotlessly clean! The people are well-dressed, polite and considerate and the towns and cities look prosperous, orderly and well-maintained. Japan has its share of problems and social pressures, but you\u2019re unlikely to see them as a tourist. Americans who are used to big city blights like violent crime, homelessness, drug abuse, anti-social behavior and trash on the sidewalks feel like they landed on a different planet as they explore Tokyo and Kyoto, or visit Japan\u2019s mountain villages and forests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Japanese are courteous to the point of formality and place a huge emphasis on providing high service standards. One example is uniformed cab drivers, complete with spotless white gloves, who exit the car to open the passenger door for you. When you buy a souvenir in a shop, or even quite basic consumer items, the sales assistant or store owner will take the time to carefully wrap your purchase, paying special attention to its presentation. The Japanese like luxury and take real pride in appearances and etiquette.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a nutshell, ordinary people in Japan can expect the old-fashioned service standards, personal attention, and respect that you\u2019ll usually only receive in a small number of exclusive luxury establishments in the US. <\/span>Luxury travel in Japan <\/span>is on a different level entirely and is also super-efficient. The Japanese pay attention to detail and it\u2019s extremely unusual for transport to ever be delayed or canceled. Gil Travel can create a <\/span>tailored itinerary<\/span><\/a> that showcases the very best of Japanese luxury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n