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    Nordic Skies and Skis

    Did you do an Aurora tour? The week before we arrived (in Tromso), they'd apparently all been driving 3 hours to FInland to get better conditions. Makes for a long night, but meant they usually saw them. The tour guides were all in Whatsapp group chats reporting what they'd managed to find. On...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    A few quick photos from the rest of our stay at Tomamu. A local beer, and a nice view through some wine. Some ramen from one of the restaurants. As it turned out, ordering this fancy one wasn't the best idea. The standard simple ones were better. We saw this, but it wasn't open...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    The next morning we caught the bus from just outside HIroshima station (therefore also just outside the Sheraton) to Hiroshima airport. At this point I was slightly nervous due to my backpack being fairly close to the carry-on size limit, depending on which web site you look at. It turns out it...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    We only had one day in Hiroshima, so had an early start to get there from Kyoto. The weather wasn't looking good, but we had our fingers crossed hoping for the best. In Hiroshima we stayed at the Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel. It's located just a couple of minutes walk from the Shinkansen exit...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    It was our last day in Kyoto, with the others leaving to head back to Japan before flying out the next day. We were catching a train to Hiroshima the next day. We had some lunch at Kyoto station. Unfortunately I don't remember the restaurant. It had a great view looking over the train lines...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    There were a few hangovers after Kobe (fortunately I escape), so a quiet day followed. Mostly just a late visit to Nara, to see the deer at Nara Park, and have some Okonomiyaki. It's at least a 15 minute walk from Nara station (the JR one) to Nara Park. There are plenty of restaurants and shops...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    Another day begins in Kyoto, and this one's a mix of sightseeing, food and as you might have guessed, a few drinks. The weather wasn't great, but we decided to catch the bus to Kinkaku-ji Temple. It was our first bus, but it turns out they're pretty easy to use. Board at the back door, then...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    After that slight distraction and tea, we made it to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Lots of bamboo, but not as busy as I suspect it gets at more popular times. Then back to Kyoto, before heading to a kaiseki dinner we'd organised months earlier. Gion Matayoshi, a 2 Michelin Star...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    The next day, we decided to visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a short train ride from Kyoto station on the JR Sagano line. But first, some breakfast at the Porta mall out the front of Kyoto station. It seems I only have this photo taken as part of an Instagram story. This is Kineya Kyoto...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    Back with a continuation of the report.... Catching a rapid train to Kyoto from Osaka (again, this was conveniently accessed via an underground walkway from the Hilton Osaka), we arrived to meet up with a couple of Mrscwd's relatives (a sister and a cousin) for lunch, who'd just come from Tokyo...
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    Status Credit on EK flights?

    Why not? Not much need for a FF number in the booking being in F, so could just do retro claims for each flight. Anyone have experience doing that in this situation?
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    Fly to New Zealand and earn 25% more Status Credits (targeted?)

    I got an offer for 25% more points:
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    The view or two from my "office"

    Some early Cherry blossoms (and selfie sticks) are out in Ueno Park today
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    Indeed. I was surprised that the claim was the bartender told them to leave when he realised they were Korean. Suspect it was more complicated...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    On to Japan.... After almost 3 weeks in Northern Europe and the UK, it was time to begin almost 3 weeks in Japan. Taking us there was AY77 to KIX/Osaka, a Finnair A350 flight. I seem to have one photo from the flight, which is of breakfast, specifically the Japanese breakfast: Passing...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    With our final (successful) night in Tromso done, it was time for a quick hop to Helsinki. Our flight was a non-stop Finnair flight (AY946), which runs every Saturday (probably seasonally). The flight is operated by Widerøe, a regional carrier that typically does SAS' commuter and regional...
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    The view or two from my "office"

    In Tokyo today for the last part of our trip. Having sushi in Ginza.
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    I think it's pretty much futile. But a lot of accommodation includes meals, so that helps, as food's one of the more obvious expensive costs there. But also, cheaper restaurants are much worse value than more upmarket ones. If you don't drink alcohol, that will help too :)
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    On our third and final night in Tromso, we had booked a Northern Lights tour with another company, 'The Green Adventure'. Ultimately the tour was just us and another couple, also in their 30s, living in Singapore. It was their first night in Tromso. Tonight's drive was shorter than the first...
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    London, some Nordics, and Japan

    We had a wonderful time in Norway. I really liked the feel of the parts we visited. Everything's very efficient and reliable too, which I appreciate. The Norway in a Nutshell trip is well worth doing. We were aware that it's an expensive place, but were still constantly shocked at just how...
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