Chasing Cherry Blossoms, Old Friends & Uncle Jack

[Jacques Vert]

So after a three month "stopover", where we returned to home on a separate Y ticket, we are heading back to Tokyo in a week to pick up our 280k award tickets and continue on our way to Europe. Not looking forward to the flight to HND in Y, so we have applied for an upgrade to W. Expert Flyer is showing 0 in Y and 2 in W; fingers crossed.

When "splitting" these award tickets it is important to keep in mind that if you miss a flight, the rest of your ticket is cancelled, so I always allow a couple of days/nights between separate tickets in case a flight is delayed or cancelled.

On this occasion it will give us time to recover from the o/n flight (especially if we don't get the upgrade) and the opportunity to visit Mt Fuji (staying a night in Fujikawaguchiko).

We're both looking forward to the next stage of this trilogy.

JV

 

[Jacques Vert]

Not looking forward to the flight to HND in Y, so we have applied for an upgrade to W. Expert Flyer is showing 0 in Y and 2 in W; fingers crossed.

So a few of days out and expert flyer was showing the flight was fully booked in all classes. Someone must have cancelled because my upgrade to W came through about two days before the flight.

No such luck for +1 who was stuck in 68K.

This was my first flight in Premium Economy. Not a bad option IMO, as our budget doesn't allow for us to fly in J (other than on a classic award ticket, of course). Obviously the seat isn't as good as J but better than some short-hauls I've done, especially intra-europe. The soft product, thanks to a couple of wonderful crew members, especially Paul, was pretty close to J. Overall not so good for an overnight (as I didn't sleep as well in the PE seat) but would happily choose this option for a day flight.

We have flown the 747 once before (CX) but this was our first flight on a QF 744. Would have thought I would have been on one of these many years ago but glad to have the experience before they disappear.

 

[Jacques Vert]

We were both very tired, especially +1 after her night in Y, so after a bit of shopping we picked up a hire car from Tamachi station and headed to our hotel for the night (Hilton Odaiba). The weather was around 30 degrees so off to the air-conditioned lounge followed by a good night's sleep.

We had looked at taking the train to Fujikawaguchiko but a couple of challenges got in the way:

1. most of the hotels have a shuttle from the station but only to the hotel in the afternoon and to the station in the morning (fine if you are staying two nights or more but we didn't have that luxury);
2. the afternoon train back to Tokyo via Otsuki took about two hours to Shinjuku but the hotels around there were way over our budget; and to head to a hotel around Tokyo Bay (which were much better priced on the date we needed) would add another hour or more.

The rental car was about the same price as the train for two; but or course you have to add on petrol, parking and tolls which are offset by having your own transport in Kawaguchiko, and the flexibility.

Tolls can be expensive in Japan: total tolls from Odaiba to Fujikawaguchiko were 3,500yen.

By the way, we rent a Kei car when in Japan. Yes, one of those little square box things: they are cheaper to rent, easy to park, light on fuel and you get a discounted price on the tolls. They aren't the most powerful cars around but speed limits on the expressways are quite low: on this trip they varied from 50 to 80 Kmph:shock: (not that many Japanese stick to the limit), so not much point in hiring anything more powerful IMHO.

 

[Gem56]

Prior to leaving Tokyo a typhoon was expected to hit Tokyo at 6pm that same day and bad weather was expected enroute to Mt Fuji. We were very limited with time and this news didn't fit with our plans. The staff at the hotel recommended that we stay in Tokyo that night and head to Mt Fuji the next day. After doing a little searching on the weather stations we decided to take our chances and make our way to Mt Fuji anyway. We were so glad we did. A little light rain between Tokyo and Fuji and a little wind, but overall nothing to even talk about. Seems that we skirted around the bad spots.

When we flew from Chitose to Nagoya in May we viewed the top of Mt Fuji above the clouds.



As we didn't have time during that trip, nor was it the right time of year to be visiting Mt Fuji, we decided that would be on the agenda on our return. We caught the Kachi Kachi Yama Rope way (cable car) up from Kawaguchiko where viewing of Fuji Zan is apparently fabulous. Unfortunately there was so much cloud around there was no way of seeing the full thing. We waited for quite some time hoping that there just might be enough of a clearing to allow us a photo.

 

[Gem56]

We finally abandoned that and went for a lovely boat ride on the Ensoleille on Kawaguchiko. You never know, we just might get a glimpse of Mt Fuji from the lake. Nope, that didn't happen but we had a lovely little trip on the lake anyway. It was cheaper to buy a combination ticket for the Kachi Kachi Yama and the Ensoleille (1300 Yen) than it was to purchase these individually. I think we saved approx. 500 Yen each. You can buy these at the wharf. The boat goes every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour. The Rope Way goes every 5 minutes. Also good to note - the commentary is in Japanese and English!

 

[Gem56]

There is a lovely little cheesecake shop run by 2 sisters just near the wharf where we stuck our noses in to purely have a look. The presentation is beautiful and extremely hard to resist. A serving of cheese cake comes with coffee. Absolutely YUMMO. On the wall is a great sign that I couldn't resist snapping and sharing.

 

[Gem56]

We finished the day with a drive around Lake Kawaguchi - very pretty.

 

[Gem56]

On our way back to our hotel it was sheer delight that we just happened to look in the right direction to find that Fuji Zan was not going to let us leave without showing herself to us. +1 suggested that we wait till we got back to our room when it would be fully unclouded (at the bottom) and we could then get a great shot. Yep, we could do that too, but let's not wait till then. It was only clear for about 5 mins. The next morning we realised that Fuji Zan had been moved during the night. It was not to be seen anywhere. How lucky were we!!

 

[Gem56]

The weather had certainly set in around Fuji but there were still 4 more lakes that we wanted to see. So, despite the rain, we headed off. JV talked earlier about catching a train to Fuji, which would have been good, however it would not be possible to see the other lakes without a car. So this turned out to be a good option. Very pretty area all around this vicinity.

 

[Fifa]

So a few of days out and expert flyer was showing the flight was fully booked in all classes. Someone must have cancelled because my upgrade to W came through about two days before the flight.

No such luck for +1 who was stuck in 68K.

Poor Gem56!
In our case it would be me in PE and Mr Fifa in 68K !!!

 

[Gem56]

Poor Gem56!
In our case it would be me in PE and Mr Fifa in 68K !!!

Well, in fairness, JV does all the planning and booking, so it is only right that he gets to PE upgrade!

 

[Gem56]

For all the roller coaster junkies, this one has to be at the top of the list for adrenaline rushes. That vertical drop would be far too much for me. This one is in Kawaguchiko.

 

[Jacques Vert]

After driving around the lakes we headed for Yokohama where we were booked into the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand.







The IC at Yokohama was quite nice, but no lounge access. At only 11,115yen for the night I wasn’t really expecting access to the lounge but you never know your luck. We indulged in a little SHO PING before heading to a Teppanyaki restaurant in the food hall under the Yokohama Landmark building. We sat next to three Japanese chaps, the older gentleman wanted to talk rugby and insisting on reminding me of the three tests against the All Blacks, before shouting us a carafe of Sake. +1 doesn’t like Sake so I slept well that night.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Next day off to Tokyo to hand back the rental car then JR to Nippori and the Keisei Skyliner to NRT T2. (Y200 to Nippori and Y2,470 for the Skyliner.) The “ordinary train” is cheaper but we were a little short on lounge time.

JL869 NRT-PEK: J class on a 738. Only 4 hours so not too bad. JL short haul international J was/is fine, but nothing to write home about. The seat and service was close to, but slightly short of, W on QF25 SYD-HND.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Arrived in PEK and must have got lucky: I’ve heard that PEK is usually a scrum, and quite slow. When we landed the terminal was basically deserted and despite only two immigration officers on duty we were through customs and immigration and at the airport Hilton shuttle bus stop in well under an hour from touch down.

So ends our trip report on cherry blossoms and all things Japan. Thanks to all the AFF community for tips and information which makes it possible for us to live the champagne life on a rough-red budget. And thanks for all the likes and comments; it’s encouraging to know that other members find the information useful.

 

[Jacques Vert]

As noted in post 1 of this thread, our one world award itinerary continues via Beijing to Provence, the Canal du Midi and beyond. We have decided to start a new thread for the second section of this trilogy of trip reports (so that those looking for information on the Canal don’t have to read through page after page on Japan).

The trilogy continues here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....nce-canal-du-midi-more-78421.html#post1514603

 

[Major]

That is one big trip. Carcassonne is fantastic