Snow, Onsen and Crab!

[rbjhan]

Nishi Maizuru is kinda in the middle of nowhere
Luckily there's an express train going back to Kyoto in about 40 mins.
Ah, no shops, nothing in the station either!
Vending machine is your only friend

Anyways I got back to Kyoto Station a little past 6pm.
Went to a kissaten recommended by a friend.


Did a bunch of shopping then caught the 8pm Haruka to Hineno.


Transferred to a local train to the last stop, Rinkutown.

 

[rbjhan]

My flight the next day was SQ621, 4.50pm departure. It's not necessary to spend the night near KIX, really.
But I chose OMO Kansai Airport for several seasons.
One was to maximise the JR Pass, also get all the travel done.
Secondly it was much cheaper than hotels in Kyoto and Osaka.
Third I wanted to visit the outlets nearby.

The hotel is located right next to Rinkutown station, perfect location.
There's a Lawson at level 2 as well.


OMO is the budget hotels of Hoshino Group.
To cut costs they REALLY push you to use the self check in machines.


Ah but when I tried to check in, the machine was like "Who tf are you?!"
Called for help, showed him my email, he couldn't figure it out either....
So he dashed back to his computer, meanwhile I looked around the shop.


More TN! Must-control-myself!!


At the end he worked it out...guess what?
Because I used Jalan to book, for some reason their system registered the booking under my "Japanese Name" in Jalan - which was ofc my name in Katakana.
I don't even want to know how that happened honestly....this was not my first time using Jalan or IKYU and that certainly never was a problem before.

 

[rbjhan]

Finally got my room key!

Lots of rooms!


Mine was a double, reasonable size.


Controls at bed side


Bathroom


View


Public bath. Picture from Jalan.


It was a great deal at 6600 Yen.

 

[rbjhan]

Lots of hotels around Rinkutown station, and many shops and restaurants open late, some even 24H.
I went to one of those for a very late dinner.



Ah yes, Zosui 雑炊 is one of those thing I absolutely love

 

[rbjhan]

The next morning.

Obviously people staying here are taking flights...so OMO has this massive self serve storage room...


I actually quite liked it.


Went to the outlets, probably 10 mins walk from station...


KIX over that bridge...


Can you feel my desperation?


Akashiyaki, not to be confused with Takoyaki...


Time to head to KIX.

 

[rbjhan]

KIX was as crowded as I remembered....luckily I got a fast lane ticket.


SQ departs from the JAL end of KIX.
So we were directed to the Sakura lounge.


Rice dispenser!


You cannot visit Sakura lounge without trying their curry!

 

[rbjhan]

I don't like the narrow opening of the true window seats, so always pick one that's closer to the aisle.




SQ has been pushing this whole "seat belt sign always on" thing since last year's accident...
Honestly, I'm sick of it now.

The satay didn't appear until more than 1 hour after take off - because the first 50 mins or so no one was allowed to move!


Book the Cook not available from KIX.
The western menu was steak iirc, I'm not a fan of airline steaks so picked the Japanese dinner.
This showed up about 2 hours after take off.


Another 40 mins or so before the main.


This was a redemption ticket so I shall not complain too much.
However at this rate they are not going to see my real money that's for sure.
*I've booked ANA to London in Oct despite the SYD international transfer!

 

[rbjhan]

Landed at Changi on time, so I had 1.5 hours before next flight.
Great, I really wanted a shower.
Ooooh but why were we still taxiing, it's been like 15 mins at least....

Ha, turned out we were pushed to T2.


Need to take the skytrain to T3, my 1.5 hour lounge time quickly turned into 1 hour...

Guess what? Estimated one hour wait for the shower!

Damn the Silver Kris Lounge T3 has never not been a zoo when I visited...


Boarding time fast approaching....pager showed no sign of life.....I went to ask the attendant, she said I could use the next one available....Took the quickest shower of my life!

During the mad dash to the gate I also went the wrong way....

So for the 1st time ever, I was the last person to board........Thank god I picked 12K so the walk of shame was short!

 

[rbjhan]

More drama! 12K was already occupied!
Hmm the flight attendant's list showed my name...so this guy was a seat poacher....
He produced a boarding pass showing 12K, except it was not for this flight
His seat should be 14A, I agreed to take that one to save the time of moving his things. If it was in the larger cabin I probably would insist on him moving...

Not a fan of short overnight flights tbh...quickly asked for the bed to be made.


Thought I slept well, but my ring said 3 hours

Breakfast




That's it for this TR!
Thank you all for reading

Next trip will be in October, I'm taking mother to UK for a change!
Ah but we will stop in Tokyo on the way back, who am I kidding

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for putting in so much effort to cretae this TR. So many fantastic photos - and so much different meals.

 

[ShelleyB]

Thanks for the TR. Always enjoyable, always informative.

 

[rbjhan]

so much different meals.

It is a good or bad thing?

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks for the TR. Always enjoyable, always informative.

Thank you!
I love reading about your trips as well

 

[jukebox333]

Always value your TR's @rbjhan - both the photos, and the detail

(Finally!) My turn next week.

 

[rbjhan]

Always value your TR's @rbjhan - both the photos, and the detail

(Finally!) My turn next week.

So what's the plan?
A little early for Sakura in Kyoto methinks?

 

[jukebox333]

So what's the plan?
A little early for Sakura in Kyoto methinks?

By sheer ar$e, it looks like I will jag Tokyo *and* Kyoto at or near peak bloom

I've downloaded the Sakura-Navi app, and am almost ready to roll

Watched quite heavy snow at both Lake Shoji and Matsumoto this morning. That was not part of the plan, either... sadly, anything there wll be gone before the weekend.

 

[rbjhan]

Tokyo I like Meguro and Chidorigafuchi for sakura...

Kyoto, hmmm, good luck with the crowds
Some ideas for you
Tip: always go to the Tourist info office for latest sakura info.

Post in thread 'Chasing Cherry Blossoms Mar/Apr 2023'

Apr 21, 2023

My first destination was Okazaki Sakura Corridor.
I think the name is clear enough


This was the best sakura I saw in Kyoto city proper.


Sightseeing boats ofc!


Give the Japanese a body of water someone will run a boat tour on it....

Edit, this place was part of the Lake Biwa Canal built in Meiji Era to transport water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto

• rbjhan

• 

 

[rbjhan]

By sheer ar$e, it looks like I will jag Tokyo *and* Kyoto at or near peak bloom

I've downloaded the Sakura-Navi app, and am almost ready to roll

Watched quite heavy snow at both Lake Shoji and Matsumoto this morning. That was not part of the plan, either... sadly, anything there wll be gone before the weekend.

View attachment 436503

View attachment 436504

I was one day too early to see Matsumoto covered in snow, sigh....