Minshuku

Received an email from the minshuku owner, telling me that C&C departed toady and some of his thoughts.

He said he was sorry to get a bit upset with the troubles about the advance payment. He explained that he had a bad experience with a guest who did not settle payment before hand and even had problem collecting it afterward.

Running a small minshuku business in country area, the payment problem experience must have troubled them very much. After offering all the service and food and hot-spring facilities, they do not earn much from each guest. Although our payment also got a bit delayed, he has been very helpful all the way long -- updating what was happening to the mail at Japan side, helping me to plan the package better, and even sent over C&C's pic & reported their departure. If he was a bit less helpful, he might have rejected my booking or asked me to resend the money by TT. Then C&C's stay would have been messed up by me.

He also mentioned that C&C have given him very good and new experience as it is the first time to have foreigner guests. For some reasons, sometimes Chinese are not very welcomed in Japan. But C&C have changed his impression about Chinese people and he enjoyed the encounter with them.

I think C&C also enjoyed the stay :)

For me, making the arrangements, overcoming the troubles, the email exchange with the minshuku, and knowing that the whole thing has facilitated a happy cultural exchange experience... may be I am the one who gained the most???