Guest 2012
March
A group of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore stays with us every year and we have a wonderful time with them every time : )
Min yann and Johnny were in the first group stayed with us in 2005. After that, they came to Japan few time individually and stayed at Andon every time!
It was also Min yann’s fourth time visit Japan and her birthday during their stay. We were very happy to celebrate her birthday at Andon!
We can’t wait for their next stay and also seeing lovely students from Singapore this year!
Ryoko & Yuka
February
“Mr. and Mrs. Milligan”
Mr. and Mrs. Milligan from Australia stayed with us for two days in February. I really enjoyed talking with them from our first meeting.
They were very interested in Japanese antique things and already had some antiques such as Japanese tea shelf at their home in Australia.
Mrs.Faye got to like our large antique shelf in a lounge very much. It’s one of the owner’s favorite,too. They had some green tea in front of the shelf after taking a Jacuzzi and talked about antiques every evening.
I recommended them some places to find Japanese antiques, however, two dayswere bit too short and they said “We will back next year,,!”
They had also a special experience in Kanazawa before coming to Andon. Theystayed at an old, traditional Ryokan there and they had the bean-scatteringceremony on the 3rd of Feb : )
I really missed them the last day and they gave me a doll of an Australian bird, Kookaburra. I’ll be waiting for your next stay with him,,!
Thank you very much for, Faye-san and Robert-san : )
Ryoko
This is a lovely family from Hawaii.
Terry and his wife Stephanie, Nate and Veronica.
This is their first visit except Terry because he lived in Kyoto once, so he speaks some Japanease.
And this time he took his family to Kyoto Tokyo and Nagano!!
This is the last night in Tokyo, before go out for dinner at a Sushi restaurant : )
And they are going to go to Nagano after Tokyo for skiing and also to take nice onsen(hot springs).
It must be colder than here so I hope they don’t chatch cold there...and
I hope they will have a wonderful time for the rest of the day in Japan.
Yuka
January
“Meli and Oli”
Melissa and Oliver from Munich stayed with us for few days in January. They came to Japan for Oliver’s conference and he made a speech of science at Tokyo University. They had free time for few days after his job and chose us to stay!
They had very different personality each other. Melissa was very creative person and she made amazing designed jewels for her business. Oliver was calm and intellectual as his occupation, and had great humor. However, they had also many similarities, especially, taste of food and sake,,! Both of they loved nice sake and their favorite was Nigori-sake(unfiltered sake) which was my favorite,too!
Melissa was good at cooking and she tried to find many ingredients of Japanese food such as wasabi, picked plum, dried bonito and so on. I got find approachable for her straightaway because I was also very interested in food and cooking.
I gave them some recommendations of shops and restaurants during their stay. They also gave me their recommendations of a brand of sake and a local supermarket in Asakusa before their leaving.
I totally enjoyed talking with them all the time. I felt strongly that “food has no national boundaries!”
It was a great meeting you,Meli and Oli. Hope to see you again soon!
Ryoko
"This is Marlene and Cornelius from Germany.”
But he lives in Kyoto at the moment for his study and speakes Japanease fluently! He visited Tokyo from Kyoto.
And she came over from Germany. They arrived at Andon together!
They joined tea ceremony. They are very polite and they seem used to living in Japan so I thought they will do a tea ceremony easily.
When they finished the tea ceremony they said “it was hard to sit up straight” but they did very well : )
He loves Japanease books but try not to buy many books otherwaise have to carry them when he back home.
She enjoyed kitchen tool street in Asakusa and also Ghibli museum.
They also visited Ginza area and Kamakura too.
I heared that in their country it’s colder than Japan and this year is freezing than usual.
I hope she will fine in Germany and he will have wonderful experiences in Kyoto.
Thank you so much for your long stay : )
Yuka
Guest 2011
December
“Greck and Sanford”
Welcome back, Greck! Glad to meet you, Sanford! Our repeater guest, Greck stayed at Andon again with his friend,Sanford for 10 days.
They both had super cool hair styles as you see this photo!
Contrary to their hard hair styles, they had mild and very friendly personalities which fascinated Andon staff : )
On New Year’s Eve, we had a small sake party in a lounge and I had Toshikoshi-soba (backwheat noodles eaten on New Year’s Eve ) with Greck.
After closed Andon, I visited Sensoji-temple around midnight. The precincts of the temple was thronged with visitors, however, I happened to see Greck and Sanford there,,! What a coincidence!
There were many open-air stalls in there. Sanford had a pink choco-banana. It was extremely cute,,!
They attracted much attention by their cool hair styles even in a temple at midnight. Four Japanese young men came and asked Greck and Sanford to take pictures with them. They shook hands friendly and said “Happy New Year!” each other.
I heard that the same thing was happened to them at the Comic Market before day. I think it was because not only hair styles, but also their lovely characters.
I was really happy to spend a New Year with you, Greck and Sanford.
Wish you joy and happiness for 2012!
Ryoko
"This is Cameron and Marivic from Australia.”
They have stayed with us before for many times!
We are glad that they came back to Andon.
They are having dinner at the lounge, it looks very good, isn’t it : )
I checked that they got the baguette at Isetan(a nice department store) in Shinjyuku!
I’ll get that baguette too, I’m very fond of it.
That night was the last night before they leave to “Nozawa Onsen”.
It’s a famous place for onsen and skiing spot.
So of course they will enjoy snowbording and Onsen. It’s sounds very excited!
I hope that they had a good time in Nozawa Onsen.
Thank you very much! We hope to see you again : )
Yuka
November
“Sam and Jodie”
When they came to Andon, they had already traveled over 9 months since they quit their job in Australia in Feb.
They went on a pleasure trip around Australia for five months,first. And then moved to Hawaii to see Jodie’s parents and transferred to England and New Zealand.
Just only 10 days ago,they got the idea of going on a trip to Japan and got plane tickets,,!
They enjoyed traveling in Japan as they combined a package tour and individually trip well. One day morning, I was they were writing their diaries in a lounge. They had written them everyday during their longjourney.
It must become a treasure their own in the future.
Hope to see you someday again : )
Ryoko
“Congratulations!”
When I first met Chris in a lounge, he were making a plan of traveling in Tokyo very eagerly. Because his girlfriend, Liz was arriving next day and hewas going to propose to her,,!!
He said that he really want to show her many unique things in Tokyo which they can’t see in their country and he looked over well and made a plan for her : )
I recommended him and booked one restaurant in Ueno. The staff of the restaurant was also very excited when I made a reservation and told them about his propose. They made a lovely dessert plate for Chris and Liz : )
When they came down to a lounge next day, Liz had a beautiful engage ring onher finger and looked sooo happy!
Congratulations on your big day!
Best wishes for your future happiness!
Ryoko
"Lisa and David" from Adelaide, Australia.”
They visited so many places during stay in Japan.
In Tokyo they had about a week but rest of 6 days they visited Kyoto, Nara,Osaka, Hiroshima..... and met friends there.
They had home made Japanease food with Japanease family and tried "Natto".
They didn't like it very much but they said that enjoyed trying to eat something new.
Of course, they also had tasty Japanease food!!
When they came back to Andon he spoke in Japanease a little that he learned just few days ago.
Lisa tried "Maiko" clothes. She showed me a wonderful picture's book, as you can see she dressed beautifully.
I'm really happy that you had a good time in Japan.
Thank you and I'm glad to meet you, I hope to see you again!
I will try "vegemite" as you recommended, Lisa. I'm excited : )
Yuka
October
“Close friends”
Phillip had stayed at Andon before and came back again bringing two his friends,Marcus and Gary,along.
They met each other few years ago and became close friends. I saw the reason why during their stay with us for few days.
Phillip was kind and had great readership. He organised everything for their trip. As he stayed before,he explained about Andon such as facilities,smoking area,breakfast and so on for his friends. I wanted him to work here,,!
Marcus spoke perfect Japanese. I couldn’t believe that it was his first visit Japan! He was also soft and very polite person. When people explain Japanese, they sometimes use these words,carm and polite. I thought I needed to follow his sample!
Gary was a person of sunny and friendly. He was always smiling and it made others in a lounge feel happy every morning.
They had lovely charactors each and seemed to make great harmony. I think that partner is one of the most important thing when we travel : )
They were from Sydney and I used to live there. I really enjoyed talking about Sydney with them as well and got want to go back there,,!
Hope to see you again,Phillip,Marcus and Gary!
Ryoko
This is Tai and Lu from Canada!
Thank you very much for coming back : )
This is Tai’s 2nd stay at Andon and she brought her mother this time.
They visited west side of Japan too and told me about “Meiji-Mura”.
To get there, they took train and bus from Nagoya. Apparently it’s a huge Museum like a Disneyland!
It’s very interesting place, if someone in to architecture and have time they should go there.
You can see entrance of “Imperial Hotel” but no rooms, just one part of the hotel...I want to visit sometime!!
I should learn historical things too.
They stayed at Andon total for 8 nights though it was such a short time but I had a nice and enjoyable moment with them.
And thank you very much for the beautiful card and candies!
We are glad that you enjoyed your stay in Tokyo ; )
See you again
Yuka
September
"Kent and Claudia"
Kent and Claudia from Melbourne in Australia stayed in Japan for 11 days.
They enjoyed traveling both city and country side of Japan.
After spending few days in Tokyo,they moved to Naeba in Niigata for camping.It was unfortunately raining hard for the night,but it must have been unforgettable memory for their journey.Because,when I went to Fuji rock festival in Naeba few years ago,it was also raining and even more exciting,,!
They told me another story in Naeba as well.When they went to a Japanese restaurant in the morning,the restaurant didn't have any English menu so they just pointed some on the menu.Of course,they didn't know what they ordered,,.And,they were served sake in the morning,, : )
They didn't hesitate to try many new things.On their last evening in Tokyo, they happened to find a small sushi restaurant in a local neighborhood of Andon and they had a wonderful dinner : )
When they came back to Andon from their travel in Naeba and Kyoto,they gave me a cute doll of owl. It was soo cute and I really really liked it and asked her where she bought it.However,,it was made by herself! I should visit them in Melbourne to learn how to make the doll. Let's have some wonderful hot chocolate at "cocoblack" there then!
Thanks,Kent-san and Claudia-san. Hope to see you again.
Ryoko
This is "Laurent, Kristina and Elin".
Now, they are having exciting journey!!
Japan is one of distination. They are also going to travel Indonesia China aaaand more..... not only these,but also many other countris. I can say thay are traveling a round the world!
I thought they are just visiting several countries but when I asked them when they are going to go homethey answered “Next year” moreover it’ll be in August, so I was really surprised.
They must need so much energy aren’t they?? But it’s cool!!
Especially Elin, she will have extraordinary experienses and grow up during this jouney : )
I hope they’ll have wonderful memories and get home safely.
I wonder where they are now...
Take care and enjoy the journey ; )
Yuka
August
"Mr.Frederic and Rudiger "
It was great meeting you,Mr.Frederic and Rudiger from Germany and France!
They arrived at Tokyo in the middle of August and stayed with us for 1 week.
Mr.Rudiger wore a special cool T-shirt which he bought in Germany and was printed some unique message(?!) in Japanese on the front. He thought it’s a well-known Japanese brand and everybody knew here,,, but, actually nobody knew among our staff,,! However,it was really cool design and good quality.
We should visit Germany to get the T-shirt,,,!!
Mr. Frederic loved “Enka” which is a traditional-style Japanese popular songs! I actually do not know well because it’s a popular music with elderly persons like my grand parents,,! He was a big fan of Hibari Misora, Sayuri Ishikawa and so on. When he took a jucuzzi, he,of course, requested
Hibari Misora's songs in there : ) He also bought so many CD of Enka and brought back to France!
I totally enjoyed talking with them during their stay.
Look forward to seeing you again next year, Rudiger-san,Frederic-san!
Thank you very much : )
Ryoko
"Bettina"
Bettina is from Switzerland. She arrived in Tokyo alone but spent time in Tokyo with her Japanase friend and she also visited Kyoto for 2days.
She's very friendly and curious about Japanease culture!
She visited Ghibli museum. She and I both like "Totoro" among Ghibli films : )
What I really suprized was she enjoyed "Kabuki" very much. She said that "Actors are amazing".
It's very difficult to understand Kabuki even for Japanease but she looked really satisfied and it made me want to see Kabuki. I have to go there sometime!!
She also like Japanease food, of course she already knows Tempra but she had pumpkin tempra for the first time during this trip.
And she seems loved it so I really happy because it's my favorite one!!
I didn't tell her but I felt like I have met her before...
Thank you Bettina for the lovely present and I hope to see you again : )
Yuka
july
"Kasper and Katrine"
They visited Japan to attend a wedding ceremony of their Japanese friend and stayed at Andon for 12 nights in total : )
When they came back from the ceremony,they had a soo beautiful ceramic ware which was presented by a bride. They were very impressed with it and I grasped their good friendship through the beautiful gift.
After the wedding,they had their free time for few days, and made a plan in a lounge as they read some guide books of Japan. It looked very cheerful.
They decided to visit the Izu peninshula and tried to stay at a small local ryokan there,,! When they came back from Izu,they got sunburned and said they had a great time at the ryokan as well : )
Hope to see you again,Kasper and Katrine!
Ryoko
"Tisba"
His name is Baptiste and his nickname is Tisba,from France : )
It was his second visit Japan and also second time to stay at Andon!
He stays a long time term every time,so he knows about a local neighborhood around Andon very well.He really likes Tepui which is closest bar from Andon and there are some friends there : )
He had already many favorit places in Tokyo.However,it was his first experience to crimb Mt.Fuji this time!
He left andon in the afternoon and started to crimb in the evening,and saw beautiful sunrise on the mountain!
When he came back next day, he showed me so many nice photos and movies in a lounge. I was so excited with his explanations. He got a great sense of achievement and was very excited,too. Though he did not sleep at all forover 24 hours,,he looked so happy : )
We received beautiful roses when he left last time. This time as well! Hepresented lovely flowers to us the last night before his departure. That's very French style which I imagin! Thank you,Tisba! See you next year : )
Ryoko
"Vincent and Denise"
This is a nice couple from America Vincent and Denise.
They were traveling a lot of places before arrive in Tokyo for about 6 months,then Tokyo was the last place for their travel, stayed in Japan from the endof June to beginning of July.
They spent time leisurely at lounge at night, I really liked it.And the day before their flight to America they had a bottle of shampagne tocelebrate the journey! It’s a really heartwarming scene : )
We hope that the time at Andon is one of precious memories.
Yuka
Jun
"Wonderful group from California!!"
As a monthly guest of June,I would like to introduce wonderful students and a profeser of the Calfornia College of the Arts. They stayed with us about for 2 weeks.
The prefeser emeritus of the college,Mr.Doug Akagi used to live at Akaksaka in Tokyo 45 years ago and had been to Japan sevral times so his knowledge of Japan,especialy Tokyo was sometimes larger than me,,!
His students also study Japanese culture and spirits in great details such as "Wabi-sabi". They joined our tea ceremony and did very well. After the ceremony,they asked many sharp questions to a tea master.
During their stay,it was extremely hot in Tokyo every day.They enjoyed going sightseeing around Tokyo and were getting sunburned each day : )
Each student had a great individuality. One of them, Jen had a keen nose for finding nice restaurants,,! When they went to Ghibli museum in Mitaka, Jen found a wonderful sushi restaurant there by chance and had lunch all together. They said it was the best meal in their trip : )
At the final night,they had "Sayonara dinner" at an Awaodori restaurant in Ginza and really enjoyed the dinner and dancing,,!One of the students,Margarita won the 1st prize of Awaodori dancing there,,!
Since the first day they went out until late at night and next day went out early, I thought they got tired very much but when they leave here theylooked fine.
We were just impressed their energy and glad that they liked jacuzzi ; )
Mr.Doug said "this is a perfect group!". We totally agree with that : )
After the earthquake,they had to postpone their trip and finally came toJapan this time.
We are greatly obliged to your visiting.
Hope to see you again,
Jen,Erin,Jinny,Robin,Margarita,Denny,Stanley,Nick,Randy and Doug-sensei : )
Thank you very much!
Ryoko & Yuka
May
"Elinor Family"
Thank you for your stay at Andon again : )
This is Elinor family from USA! This is repeater guests at the Andon : )
We are very happy to see them and glad that they chose us again.
It was turn of seasons from late spring to rainy season, so we had cool,
rain and hot days so it seemed hard for them.
They joined us on the andon's 8th anniversary party!!
We had sushi, sandwiches,salad,beer,wine,sake and more.
2years ago, they were here on the 6th anniversary party too, it's wonderful : )
Thank you so much for a lovely ornament and having special moment with us!
I hope that your trip will be pleasant memories! Thank you very much!!
Yuka
“Olav and Albert”
I’d like to introduce Mr.Olav and Albert as a monthly guest in May.
They came from Gelderland,the Netherlands and traveled in Japan for 3 weeksas they were using JR rail pass.
They visited many places such as Hakone, Takayama,Hiroshima, Okayama,Kanazawa and so on.
They called their journey “Garden trip” because they were very interestedin gardening and chose places to go where had beautiful Japanese gardens andtemples.
They also loved coffee and jacuzzi in Andon. During their stay,they relaxedas they were wairing Yukata and having coffee after jacuzzi : )
Thank you for staying with us,Olav-san and Albert-san! Hope to see you again: )
Ryoko
April
“Matheiu and Manue”
Welcome back,Matheiu-san! Glad to see you,Manue-san!
Mr.Matheiu stayed with us in 2007 last time and came back to Andon with his girlfriend,Manue-san this time : )
This is also his secound time to be introduced as a monthly guest in Andon,,!
Matheiu knew about many places in Japan very well because he had already been to Japan few times so Manu had a wondeful private guide for her first journey to Japan : )
They enjoyed traveling the country side of Japan about for one month and came back to stay with us again for few days.
They had breakfast at their favorit seats in a lounge everyday and we all staff knew their favorit menu,cinnamon set and economy set with over easy egg,,!
Matheiu said that he had the same menu in 2007!
They left a present in our guest book for us. They created a cute message card in the book and it was lovely! Arigato-!
I can’t wait for their next stay and making an over easy egg and cinnamon toast for them again : )
Ryoko
I would like to introduce our guests from Canada! Marcus and Philip arereally nice, gentle and cool : )
They said that they like sushi and want to go to Tsukiji(the best place forsushi around here). It was middle of golden week (holiday week in Japan) but fortunately the fish market was open that day.
There are a lot of sushi restaurant but the place where they had fresh and good sushi is so popular then apparently they were on a line about 40 minutes… in Japan it happensoften.
I recommended it (Daiwa-sushi). I saw that restaurant on the TV little bit though I didn’t expect that popular... but they seemed had verytasty sushi so I felt relief.
They also visited lots of places each day. We are very happy to see them inthis situation recently in Japan ; )
Thank you so much!!
Yuka
March
“Kris-san”
He is from Belgium where is the highest-level of chocolate!
Actually his visit isn’t the first time!!!
He is very polite,kind and friendly then he speaks 5 languages, every time he enjoys conversation with other guests in a lounge.
This time he arrived at Andon 2 weeks later from the earthquake and made us happy and gave us a courage : )
He was planning the trip not only in Tokyo but also Kyoto, Mt. Fuji and Aso(in Kyusyu), Yakushima Korea and more !! so I think he had a great determination for this trip.
And he really loves Japan, he has been traveling many places in Japan and knows about Japan well, moreover he understands many Japanease.
We got many sweets from him, he was like a chocolate salesman when he showed them!
As soon as we had the souvenirs, we opened some of them and ate ♪ Each one is so delicious!!
Of course, we really loved them very much ; )
I’m really happy that he didn’t miss beautiful Sakura(cherry blossoms) : )
Yuka
"Paul-san"
He is absolutely one of our unforgettable guests stayed in Andon.
He arrived here from Tahiti on the 10th of March and he was very friendly from the first meeting.
The following day, the 11th of March, he went to Yoyogi to have a look at a school in advance which he applied for a Japanese class.
The big earthquake occurred just then. I was working in Andon at that moment so I didn’t know how things were in the center of Tokyo. He explained it to me later.Many high-rise buildings were shaking widely, all transportations were stopped, so many people lined up to take a taxi and to use a public phone,,.There was no help for it.
I was also really busy and confused here in Andon. When Paul finally reached back to Andon, it was around 1 AM,,.
He stayed with us another few nights and left for Nagoya. All guests were leaving back for their countries as well,,,.
Few days later,when we were feeling down, Paul came back to Tokyo and stayed with us again,,! I was so happy to see him again I could have wept.
He was only one guest in Andon for few days and stayed for 13 days,,!
He went to Japanese school and studyed very hard every day.We sometimes helped his homework in a lounge and also really enjoyed talking with him everyday : )
His cheerful and sincere personality gave us courage and always made us feel carm and happy.
We all miss you, Pauls-san! I hope to see you again in the future!
Arigatougozaimashita! : )
Ryoko
February
This is Cathy and Piaget from Switzerland!
They arrived in Tokyo separately and joined at Andon.
They traveled Japan for about 2 weeks since the end of February.
They visited Kansai area(West side of Japan) apart from Tokyo.
For the 2nd stay just before they leave Japan, they supposed come back at Andon in the 15th of March,
but as many people know, we had the earthquake on the 11th of March so they had to change their schedule.
When it happened they were not in Tokyo and apparently they were in a train and didn’t feel the earthquake much.
And fortunately, they already had plane thickets then they could leave Japan smoothly.
I was glad that they are ok and they hadn’t much confusion but I think they felt scared.
But I hope that they will come back to Japan sometime : )
Yuka
February
"Good friend ship : )"
I'd like to introduce two gentlemen, Mr.Hayden and Luke from Australia.
It was Hayden's first visit Japan and his son, Luke's first time traveling abroad!
They stayed at Andon for four nights and traveled to other cities such as Nikko and Nagano where their friend lived.
After the long trip, they came back and stayed with us again, and I felt Luke looked more manly,,!?
Luke also liked Ueno area very much because of a nice game shop there. That's so cute : )
They are parent and child, but also looked like friends.
I hope their parent-child ties and friend ship became deeper still through this journey.
And hope to see them again in the futuer!
Thank you,Hayden-san, Luke-kun : )
Ryoko
I would like to introduce nice honeymoon couple from Germany.Their name is Thomas and Anna Onken.
They got marrie on June last year. They are traveling in Japan for three weeks. It is their first time to visiting Japan. They were joined tea ceremoney in Andon and enjoyed it very much!
They said to want to make tea by themselves in thir country when they back home. Tea master and me were happy feeling when we heard from them about it.
They were really friendly and like Japan and Japanese culture very much! They were still going to travel in Naoshima Island, Hiroshima and some places after Tokyo so hope to enjoyable time at there!!!!
Thank you very much for stay in the Andon and made good memories in here!
Kayo
January
I would like to introduce very cute family from Finland! They are Janatan, Anna and Vera Jarbel family!
Vera chan is only 9 month years old. Her skin is very white and has cute and beautiful blue eyes.
Janatan-san and Anna-san were very friendly. They came back and stayed in the Andon again after their Kyoto traveling.
We were very happy to see them and happy to chatting their good traveling story.
We are looking forward to seeing with you again!!
Thank you very much for stay and had a good time in the Andon.
Kayo
