Dear Mr Nagata,
You have been faster than me to email. I wanted to write to express our gratitude to you for your time , sharing your experience and knowledge . This really added more enjoyment to our time in Kyoto. You have taken the very best care with us .
I also understand now why you looked shocked that I had booked the Sword and Samurai museum. I thought it would be a fun activity for the boys at the end of the day, that it would just add to our learning . On arrival at the ‘museum’ , we fully understood your reaction . I hope we can politely say , it did not look like the website images . I now appreciate I had booked a very ‘touristic’ activity , that was maybe not ideal .
We very very much appreciate you giving up your vacation to help us. I hope Mrs Nagata doesn’t mind too much ! I do feel quite guilty to make you work on your holiday and on such an incredibly hot day. I don’t know how you manage to do it . You could have stayed in the car, but you were with us every step explaining and giving the history . We learned so much from you. We now understand how much more we can learn.
We enjoyed everything, we all agreed on our number 1 highlight , and that was the Shoden-ji Temple. To be alone , in the peace and quiet . It is a beautiful temple and garden and the landscape around just wonderful. This will be a very special and unique memory you have gifted us.
I really enjoyed visiting the ceramics shop and meeting your friend Robert . I was surprised by how much the boys and Franck enjoyed that as well . I wish I had time to do a tour with you on my own , and do an art based tour. Hopefully one day I will return . Your knowledge and love of art is very evident.
You have shown us great kindness, ensured we knew how to remain respectful. I’m still horrified I stepped onto the wrong platform with my shoe, thank you for noticing so quickly and correcting me. Your patience was endless, I must have exhausted you with all my questions but you did not show it at all. You are, as your nickname states, a Nobel man.
I must now add another gratitude, we have just discovered the water bottle of one of the boys that you have returned. That is extremely kind of you .
We can’t thank you enough. On a day with 40 degrees heat, we would not have seen a fraction of Kyoto without you. And we would never have discovered many of the places you took us. I hope you can enjoy some time in the shade today.
Sincerely, I thank you on behalf of us all
** **** * *** * ***
永田様、
今日はお疲れ様でした。
お暑い中、家族を労りながらガイドをして頂き、心よりお礼申し上げます。きっと心に残る京都観光になったこととでしょう。
オランダに帰られた時にお会いして京都の話を聞くのが今から楽しみです。
永田さんには、事前からいろいろ細やかな準備やお心遣いをありがとうございました。
また、本日はお休みを返上して頂き申し訳ありませんでした。極暑ゆえおつかれもたまる頃とお察しいたしますので、どうぞくれぐれもご自愛下さいませ。
私たちが京都に行く時にはまた是非よろしくお願いします。その日までどうぞお元気で。
まずは、お礼まで。
** **** * *** * ***
Thank you very much for having used me for your tour and the gratuity.
I hope you enjoyed my guide.
You and your family are very knowledgeable and polite.
I also enjoyed our tour a lot.
I found a black water bottle in my car when I am cleaning my car.
I will take it to your hotel and will ask a staff to keep it.
Thank you for your kind understanding.
Please give my best regards to your family.
Best Regards,
Nobuaki Nagata
Tour course： Ryoanji-Temple, Kinkakuji-Temple, Shodenji-Temple, Robert Yellin Pottery Gallery, Nijo Castle, Gion
