I had such a wonderful time staying with Mariko. Her home is simply beautiful, very peaceful and relaxing. Mariko is also a wonderful host, and provided me with everything I needed. She even took me to a free concert she was going to, which has been one of my favorite parts of my trip! The traffic in LA can be brutal, so you might have to factor that in if you're planning on seeing Hollywood (go early or go late), but I would highly recommend a stay with Mariko!