The Beginning
Mrs. L is eighty-five years old. She is from Shanghai and taught Japanese literature at Fudan University in her younger years. She has visited Kyoto many times. Since retiring, she hasn't traveled much, but every autumn during the leaf season, she would brew a pot of hojicha on her balcony and show her grandchildren the photos she took in Kyoto.
In November 2025, her son, Mr. L, made a decision: he would take the whole family to Kyoto to let his mother see the autumn leaves one more time. It was the sixtieth anniversary of his parents' marriage. Mr. L contacted his travel advisor and said something very simply put: "I want to make sure my mother is comfortable, with as little hassle as possible."
The Challenge
The request sounded straightforward, but arranging it was anything but simple.
Nine people in total: Mrs. L, her son and daughter-in-law, her daughter and son-in-law, and three grandchildren, spanning ages from six to eighty-five. The elderly member needed a smooth and comfortable flight experience, the children needed safety seats and in-flight care, and the middle generation wanted this trip to be more than just accompanying the grandmother — they wanted their own experiences too.
The timing was mid-November, exactly the two-week peak of Kyoto's autumn foliage. During this period, hotel rooms in Kyoto were nearly impossible to find, ground traffic was heavy, and popular sites were crowded with visitors. Mr. L's requirements were clear: no queuing for the elderly, no fussing for the children, and no one should feel exhausted.
The Arrangement
The iFlyPlus travel advisor spent a week crafting the overall plan after receiving the request.
The Outbound Flight
The aircraft selected was a Dassault Falcon 2000LXS in a nine-passenger configuration. The cabin layout was designed around the three generations' needs: Mrs. L's seat was by the window, fully reclinable, and close to the lavatory; the children's area was equipped with child safety seats and in-flight toys; the middle row featured a mobile work desk for Mr. L to handle any urgent matters.
Departing from Shanghai Pudong Airport FBO, the flight took approximately two hours and forty minutes, landing at Kansai International Airport FBO near Kyoto. The entire boarding process took less than twenty minutes — for an eighty-five-year-old, this was far easier than waiting through security checks, queuing, and walking down jet bridges at Hongqiao.
The Accommodation
The family stayed at a温泉 ryokan in Arashiyama. iFlyPlus's hotel partnership network covered Kyoto's boutique inns, and this time they secured a standalone courtyard room with a private open-air bath. The ryokan had no elevator, but ground-floor rooms were arranged in advance so Mrs. L wouldn't need to climb any stairs.
The ryokan's owner, knowing it was a family anniversary trip, specifically invited a local wagashi artisan to teach the children how to make Japanese sweets in the courtyard. The adults sat nearby, drinking tea and chatting. Mrs. L sat under the eaves, watching, and said this was the finest anniversary gift she had received in sixty years.
The Itinerary
The pace of the itinerary was designed entirely around Mrs. L's physical condition.
In the morning, they visited Kiyomizu-dera, arriving at 6 AM — two hours before the tourist crowds. The entire Ninenzaka street was empty, fallen leaves covering the stone path. Mrs. L walked slowly, resting when needed. Her granddaughter held her arm, taking photos along the way.
In the afternoon, they went to Tenryu-ji's bamboo grove in a small electric vehicle arranged by the ryokan. The bamboo path was flanked by autumn leaves on both sides, sunlight filtered through the canopy casting dappled patterns on the stone path. Mr. L said his mother didn't speak a word during that stretch — she just looked. He later realized that silence itself was a response.
On the last day, the family visited Rurikoin, one of Kyoto's most intimate autumn leaf viewing spots, requiring an uphill walk from the mountain base. The iFlyPlus ground team had coordinated a private access route in advance, and the family rode in a private vehicle to the mid-mountain point, then walked ten minutes to the temple. It happened to rain lightly that day, and the leaves, wet from the rain, deepened in color — like an oil painting.
The Return
On the return flight, the three children were already asleep in their seats. The adults drank tea, looking through the week's photos. Mrs. L leaned against the window, holding a maple leaf she had picked up at Tenryu-ji, its veins visible in the light.
She said one sentence, quietly enough but everyone nearby heard it: "I've been to many places in my life, but Kyoto is still the best."
The plane touched down at Shanghai Pudong just as dusk was settling. The ground team's private car was already waiting on the tarmac. From Kansai Airport FBO to landing in Shanghai, the entire journey took less than three hours.
Perhaps You've Also Had Such a Moment
Perhaps you've been searching for a travel partner you can trust — no need to compare prices endlessly, no worry about hidden traps. Just one call and receive a tailored configuration. Every iFlyPlus advisor has accompanied clients through late-night emergency departures, seamless connections in foreign lands, and composed family gatherings. We understand deeply: what you need isn't just an aircraft, but certainty.
Afterword
Two weeks after the trip, Mr. L sent the advisor a box of wagashi, accompanied by a handwritten card in Mrs. L's own handwriting: "Thank you for letting me see Kyoto's leaves again."
The advisor placed the card in a folder. She said that after being in this business for a while, there are those moments when you clearly know — you are not just arranging a trip, but participating in a family's memory.
Good Fortune · Good Friends · Beautiful Life. For the L family, that year's autumn leaves were redder than ever before.
爱飞嘉成就您的生活方式。