One of our most highly anticipated company visits, today we spent the day at Lotte Co. LTD, specifically visiting the Lotte Home Shopping Network HQ, the Lotte Confectionary factory, and one of many Lotte hypermarkets. We had the honor of being hosted by Chairman Dong-Bin Shin, Chairman of Lotte and CBS alumnus, class of 1981.
Trip student organizers with Mr. Shin
Mr. Shin joined us for tours of 2 (out of 60+) Lotte business units, which culminated with a presentation on the current state of the conglomerate from the Chairman and Q&A.
Tasting Ice Cream at the Lotte Candy Factory
Our visit made the digital front page of the news, which can be found here.
Photo Credit: Yonhap News
What an amazing opportunity. Thank you to Mr. Shin for generously hosting us this week in Korea and today at Lotte Co.
More posts about our trip to Korea can be found on the Chazen blog
Home to 2000 temples and shrines, Japan’s former Imperial capital, Kyoto, should be a priority on any trip to Japan. We took the shinaksen bullet train from Hakone, which cut down the trip from 4-5 hours to 2.
It was interesting to see all of the domestic tourists in Kyoto dressed up in traditional Japanese clothing, an apparently popular local vacation activity.
Shinkasen bullet train
Visit:
Kiyumizu-dera Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – the most visited site in Kyoto
The 1300 Gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine – the inspiration for the 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Calude “The Gates” exhibit in Central Park, NYC
Kinkaku-ji Temple (The Golden Pavillion) (UNESCO World Heritage Site) whose top 2 floors are covered in gold leaf
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Temple
1300 Gates at Fushimi Inari Temple
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavillion
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavillion Temple
Eat at:
Nishiki Market for everything – this one covered street in Kyoto is the best places to taste bits and bites of Japan from the dozens and dozens of merchants selling everything from mochi-wrapped strawberries and tofu donuts to live loach fish and octopus tentacles. The market was one of our top Kyoto highlights
Gogyo (just off of Nishiki Market) for well-priced ramen (vegetarians beware – get something in Nishiki Market instead)
Kikunoi – one of Kyoto’s top rated restaurants — but make reservations in advance! (We didn’t get to go)
Mochi at the market…yum!
Nishiki Market Stall
Win & Ari at Nishiki Market
Shop at: Kyoto Handicrafts market for high-quality and reasonably priced souvenirs of all types (lacquer, kimonos, katanas, tea sets, etc.)
For the second leg of of our Japan trip, we traveled an hour outside of Tokyo to Hakone, a resort town known for its onsenhot springs and views of nearby Mt. Fuji.
Mt. Fuji in the background
Unexpected and wonderful:
Transportation: Upon arriving at the Hakone train station, visitors check luggage with a transportation service that shuttles guests’ bags to their hotels. No shlepping for us! This enabled us to freely ride the many modes of transportation that comprise the Hakone sightseeing loop including: train, cable car funicular, bus, ropeway, and pirate ship (around Ashi lake).
Onsen Tamago: eggs that have been hard-boiled in the volcanic hot springs, yum!
Open Air Museum: Our fault: we expected this amazing space to be boring. Nope! It had dynamic, interactive exhibits including a maze and climbing structures. We got weird in the best way.
Ropeway to the pirate ship
Onsen Tamago
Giant Sculptures at the Open air Museum
Stained Glass climbing tower at the Open air museum
Open Air museum
Sculptures at the Open Air museum
View of Lake Ashi from the pirate ship
Lake Ashi
Staying at a Traditional Ryokan near Mt. Fuji
The most memorable part of Hakone was our traditional Japanese guest house (ryokan), with serene onsen hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji. Furnished with tatami woven mat floors and traditional futon beds, the traditional Japanese rooms each presented picture-perfect views of Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest volcano. Ryokan guests wear traditional yukata robes (cotton kimonos) and enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner, consisting of several, small, elaborately displayed dishes including:
Kaiseki Menu
Our beautiful kaiseki dinner
Where to stay & eat: We loved the inexpensive Fujimien Ryokan. The ryokan reopened after some renovations in 2015. Availability seems limited. For a similar traditional ryokan and onsen experience, check out Yoshimatsu (traditional) or Centurion Hakone Bettei (luxury).
Visitor tip: Buy the Hakone “free-pass;” The pass includes the roundtrip train fare from Tokyo and unlimited access on all of the modes of transportation within Hakone. Very worthwhile.
Our whirlwind tour through Japan began with 36 hours in Tokyo. Though Japan as a country is steeped in tradition, Tokyo is a city of the future. We arrived on the cusp of spring, with the lesser-known plum blossoms heralding the anticipated arrival of cherry blossom season at the end of the month. Our group of 4 – 2 CBS friends, my brother Ari, and me met up with friends old and new – college friends, business school friends, and friends of friends, creating the illusion of familiarity in a foreign place.
Meeting up with CBS friends for Yakitori
We packed in as many sites & bites as was possible. Highlights include
Imperial Palace where we meandered only through the manicured gardens, given that the Palace itself is only open 2 days per year
Plum blossoms in the Imperial Palace Gardens
Walking around outside the Imperial Palace Gardens
Tsujita Ramen restaurant (@ Kanda Station), where one orders through a vending machine, receives a meal ticket, and is then served an incredible meal at a counter that surrounds the kitchen – YUM
Ordering our ramen from the vending machine to get out meal ticket…
Waiting to be seated at the ramen counter…
Waiting for our ramen at the counter…
Asakusa Cat Café one of 39 cat cafes in Tokyo, this is the only one that has rescues cats. There space is filled with cat beds, houses, climbers, and toys for people to come and interact with the cat, and the modest entrance fee/beverage fees help subsidize the cost of sheltering the cats until they can be adopted. Oddly, about half the cats were the size of small dogs.
Asakusa Nekko/Cat Cafe
Sensoji Temple
Nakamise Shopping Street filled with gifts and goods and sweet shops
Senso-ji Shrine
Lantern outside of the Senso-ji Shrine
Harajuku & the Meiji Jingu Shrine – somehow, in the bustling neighborhood of Harajuku, there is a wooded area that contains the Meji Shrine. Though we arrived just before closing, we were able to walk through the magnificent structure.
Ari at the Meiji Jingu Shrine
Shibuya Crossing – one of the busiest intersections in the world, something like Times Square…if Times Square was orderly and everyone crossed at once. The streets went from car-filled and devoid of people, to a sea of humanity intersecting at the change of the light.
Shibuya Crossing
Tsukiji Fish Market – we woke up at 4:10 AM to arrive at this world-famous fish market where the 400+ lb tunas are auctioned off each morning. Despite our early arrival, we were not amongst the limited 120 people allowed in for the viewing – I can only imagine what time everyone else arrived. The silver lining is that we were the first to arrive at Daiwa Zushi where we had the best omakase sushi, served fresh piece by piece, sitting at a counter with the sushi chef. By 6 am, we had the breakfast of our lives and, stuffed with fish, departed Tokyo for the next leg of our trip.
New Obsession: The 5-per-block cold and hot vending machines. Yum.
5 AM at the Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo
Our amazing sushi chef at Daiwa Zushi
Tuskiji fish market sushi breakfast at 5:30 AM
First bites of the omakase Sushi
Big thanks to Saul, Rene, Darren, Wright, Kei, Troo, Paul, Win, Michael, Russell, Ethan, and Ari for all of the recommendations!
This upcoming trip to Asia includes a week in South Korea as part of Columbia Business School’s Chazen International Study Tour.
I opened up our travel information packed and found the following dress code for our day trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)/Joint Security Area (JSA) at the border with North Korea…
“Dress code: No jeans, no leather pants…no slippers…”
It’s that time again. In 3 days I’m leaving for 16 day trip to Japan (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto), Hong Kong, and South Korea.
Not having ever been to this part of the world, I started Googling what I should pack and came across this amazing list from Lonely Planet on “The 5 Things You Didn’t Think to Pack for Japan.” Love!
Is there anything that’s missing from this list? Anything specific to Hong Kong or S. Korea that should go into my suitcase? Let me know what you think!
Non-Lacing Shoes
One of Japan’s best-known customs is removing shoes upon entering a home. But a lot of other places you might visit – ryokans, temples, museums, historical sites, even some restaurants – may require that you doff your footwear at the door, too. Make things easier for yourself – and save time – by forgoing those high lace-up boots for shoes that simply slip on and off, or else have Velcro fasteners.
Tissues
If you’re eating out casually in Japan – in cafes, getting takeaway, etc – you’ll notice that napkins often aren’t given out to customers. It’s a good idea to carry a travel packet of tissues with you for snack times (especially if you’re travelling with kids).
Washcloth
Public bathrooms in Japan usually don’t have paper towels, and there are some that don’t even have hand dryers (or else there’s only one, which might mean waiting). Keep a small towel or washcloth in your bag for drying your hands after you’ve washed them. (A cool, moist towel on your neck will also help keep you cool during Japan’s hot and humid summer.)
Hand Sanitiser
Similarly, some bathrooms you encounter may not even have soap, especially on shinkansen (bullet trains). A small bottle of hand sanitiser will come in handy, even for the non-germophobes.
Umbrella
Even if you’re visiting outside of ‘plum rain’ season (June and July), Japan’s island-weather system means it can rain almost any time of the year. Inexpensive umbrellas are available for purchase, of course, but they don’t fold up, and you may find that a compact travel umbrella is easier to carry when the sun comes out again
2. Moroccan Oil this tiny bottle (0.85 oz) contains near-magic oil that adds shine, luster, and protects hair from heat. Best of all, each bottle lasts forever. Or 8 months, whichever comes first. {$12 from Amazon}
3. One Solid Shampoo – just like the Lush brand, but with better packaging. This natural solid shampoo is perfect for longer trips and smells delish. Less liquid to pack! {$6 from Walgreens.com}
FACE
4. Somme Institute One Week Intro Kit this 5 minute 5-step regimen made my skin glow with results usually only seen after a day at the spa. I’m obsessed. The kit includes a cleanser, exfoliator, serum, A-bomb cell renewal accelerator, and a SPF 30 lotion. Plus, it’s an amazing value. {$28 + free shipping from Beauty.com}
5. Jane Iredale Dot the I Makeup Remover Swabs ever gone to sleep without taking off your eye makeup because it’s just somuch effort to get out all your products and do a full scrub? Then this product is your silver bullet. Pre-packed with makeup remover, these one-time swabs ensure you don’t wake up again with raccoon eyes while allowing for maximum laziness. And that’s less liquid to pack. {$23 from Beauty.com}
6. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF -if you know me, chances are you’ve heard me rave about this product – or – more likely, dust some on your face. Bye-bye oily residue from sunscreen on your face. This SPF 30+ dusts on, keeps your face dry from the mineral powder, and works as well as any other SPF 30+. Plus, less liquid to pack. {$23 from Amazon}
2 years ago, on my Around the World trip, I wrote this listdetailing my favorite travel things. And anyone who has ever traveled with me will tell you, I don’t board a plane without those items. Ear plugs, tiger balm, sleep sack, Kindle…each of the items on that list is a travel must* for me.
So if those are the items I need, here is a list of the items I simply love. For form, function, beauty and whimsy, here are the Top 5 items I love right now – which make perfect gifts for jetsetter Valentines:
ONE – pink and white striped laundry bag from Etsy; perfect size to fold up into your carry on and fill along the way {$22.50}
TWO – Cheeky travel pouch from Flight 001; I use for all of my plugs, adapters & cords – perfect for cosmetics, toiletries, jewelry, and of course – medication! {$16}
THREE – Passport holder + wallet from Tory Burch. Perfect size to hold my credit cards, cash, itinerary + passport all in one place; the color pops making it easy to find in my purse! This is my new favorite travel accessory. {$135}
FOUR – iPhone backup battery from J. Crew. Just what you need to give your iPhone a few more hours of life. I received one this year as a holiday gift from 2 of A’s nieces and it has been a lifesaver for traveling! {$39.50}
FIVE – tiny speaker with big sound available from Amazon; perfectly portable with great sound for listening to music with friends on trips – and a great value at {$16}
*aside from the Lush Shampoo which is reserved for backpacking trips)
I am constantly amazed by the accomplishments of my business school friends. Take my friend Tony, for example, who spent the two years before business school as a member of the Peace Corps in Guatemala. Wow. Lucky for us, he decided over Fall break in October that it was time to visit – and invited some friends to join him. It was one of the most active trips I’ve ever taken and it felt like we got to see and do everything: volcano climbing, waterfall hiking, horse riding, tortilla making, cave spelunking, river rafting, waterpool jumping, Mayan ruin exploring, plane chartering, and home cooking. Wow.
MUCHAS GRACIAS to Tony and the 3 Graces for an incredible trip and amazing hospitality!
Below is most of the pre-trip itinerary that Tony wrote for us, italics are mine.
October 16 – everyone arrives and will take shuttles from the airport to Antigua. We will be staying in a big and beautiful house right outside of the city and I will be shuttling people from the drop-off point out to the house. We can do the sunset hike of Volcan Pacaya. This is a beautiful, active volcano that you can hike up and roast marshmallows over flowing lava. A very unique, albeit terrifying, experience.
View from Pacaya Volcano
Everyone hiked up the Volcano…and I rode a horse
Volcano s’mores! Photo Credit: Ira Panova
Roasting marshmallows on the Volcano!
October 17 – we will be leaving early and heading to the rustic, beautiful village of Chilasco. This is where I lived for 2+ years while I was living down there. During the day we will be hiking to El Salto de Chilasco, Central America’s tallest waterfall. This was the main attraction of the community tourism project I was working on down there. It is a beautiful 6 km hike through sub-tropical jungle/cloud forrest. After the hike we have more cool stuff planned. As it turns out, a good friend of mine is graduating from middle school that day (he is 42 with a passion for learning and he went back to school after only getting to 5th grade as a child). We will be having a celebration with his family and my friends from the village, I have sent money for them to purchase food and we will help them prepare it. Anyone that wants will have the opportunity to learn to tortillar (make tortillas). We will sleep in the village. More fun will be had.
We thought it was going to be a light hike…
…but we were wrong…
…we were so very wrong!
School made from recycled garbage
Learning to make tortillas
October 18 – we will make the “scarily adventurous” trip up and over the mountain to Semuc Champey. For those who read the NYT article, this is the place they called “as close to Eden as you can get on earth. No electricity, no cell service, hopefully water, plenty of beauty. This is my favorite place on the planet. Here you will have the option to go spelunking by candle light, swing into the raging Cahabon river on huge rope swings, jump off tall bridges, climb mountains swim in gorgeous freshwater pools, and just soak up some nature. Get excited about this. Probability of fun: highly likely.
Pretending to be scared before the hike…little did we know!
Before the candle went out…
Swing!
The pools at Semuc Champey
The entire group!
October 19 – we will be getting up early again to leave, because we have a little bit of a drive ahead of us. The plan is to head up to Tikal, an enormous Mayan Ruin site in the middle of the jungle. This place is unreal. For those of you that are nerds (Braxton, I’m talking to you) in Starwars IV: A New Hope, the filming of Yavin 4 (one of the three habitable moons orbiting Yavin where the Alliance made their base while trying to restore the republic and eventually launched an attack on the Death Star from) was done at Tikal.
Ruins
Nothing like a little sacrifice!
October 20 – Lunch in Flores, really awesome town close by. Then, CBS chartered plane back to Antigua!
Flores
Our chartered flight – fancy!
October 21 – Day exploring Antigua, including the Jade Factory and shopping at Tony’s friend Siggy’s amazing store Casa de los Gigantes which sells handicrafts from Guatemala artisans – I wanted to buy everything!. That night we have some activities planned. First we will be having what I call “The Feast”. This is one of my best and favorite ideas ever andI will explain more on Thursday, but for now I need everyone to submit an idea for a unique dish that they can prepare.
Antigua, Guatemala
Beautiful Antigua
Jade Mask
Chicken bus!
Preparing for the feast
Feasting
Our menu and guide for the feast!
October 22 – everyone leaves and sleeps for about a week straight.
Text Credit: Tony Brindisi; Photo Credit: Ira Panova, Tony Brindisi, me
