2019 Harbin and Sapporo Snow Festival

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Often when we travel we just walk around so these are just some building pics and not what we expected in China.

 

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So that is Harbin done time to get back to flying. I had read a lot of bad reports of Harbin airport however these were on the international terminal. We were domestic with MU HRB-PEK, this is a new terminal/ building that was only opened last year.

MU F lounge was basic, however there was a choice of 2 cup noodles and no booze in site.

 

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The MU flight HRB-PEK after push back I caught a glimpse of this car on the taxi way but was a bit slow getting the camera, the sign on the top said 'follow me', maybe the pilots get lost.

We were on an afternoon flight with the lunch service. I was actually surprised as the service and food was better than expected.

On arrival another bus to transport us to the terminal

 

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We stayed at the Hilton Beijing Airport overnight as the JL fight was at 8am. The airport Hilton is excellent, good size rooms and the lounge was also excellent.

 

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With an early start the bus ride between the Hilton and PEK was painless as was check in and the train to T3 (we have done this before). On this occasion we used our Priority Pass cards to go to the Air China lounge rather than the BGS Lounge that JL use.

For those have not been there these last couple of pics are of the BGS F lounge available to *OW WP when flying JL out of PEK.

IMO the BGS F lounge is on par with Air China's J lounge.

 

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Time to head to Japan. I must say it has been a long time since I have been on a 767 but I did know that JL still run these bad boys. There is still apart of me that still likes the short wide bodies. Forgot to take a seat pic, I went the Japanese option MrsM went for the western option.

 

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Next part or the trip although I am getting further behind in my reporting and will suggest that it due to the fact we are now in Japan. We have been here a few times and after being to the major places we now spend time on side day trips but we will come to that later for this Sapporo trip. Back to what some may have not experienced, if you have please do not take my comment as rude.

JL Domestic F security check, I assume OW Emeralds can also use, we were in F so I did pay attention.

Lounge entry, F to the right J to the left.

These are pics from F lounge however I did also take a look in the J lounge and the furniture and seating is the same in both, the only difference I noticed was a couple of extra beer selections in F a slight difference in the whisky. I did not eat so can not comment on the food.

F lounge

J Lounge

My seat for the next hour or so and the food service.


The flight was not without a few issues, the original plane was broken so JL needed to find a new one, so we were delayed about 50 minutes. Without asking JL staff just handed over around vouchers to the value of AU75.00, MrsM and MissM went to the shops and spent the vouchers plus a bit more justifying the overspend as 'not letting the vouchers going to waste ' I just went back to the lounge.

Landing was also delayed as the runway needed deicing. Just part of travel travel to colder climates and no need to get excitable and start post posting things that start with 'Worst flight ever', X airline destroyed/ ruined our holiday

 

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Arrived at CTS catch train to Sapporo and headed out to the Susukino ice sculptures. Again many pics taken and just a selection based on posting limits.

 

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The following morning we headed to Odori Park, the festival is spread over 12 blocks. Each block has a theme, the main sculptures are huge and although efforts are made to blow away the fresh snow somehow I think they are fighting an up hill battle as the snow was falling quicker than it could be blown away.



and a snowboard/ ski jump park

 

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There were also smaller sculptures and teams carving new ones.


Along the way there are multiple eating outlets that were of good quality, aged miso ramen washed down with some warm sake.

 

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After going to the festival we took a quick trip to the Sapporo Beer Museum.



Old marketing images



At the hotel there was also a music festival going on in the lobby restaurant.



Waiting in ramen ally at Susukino. I forgot to take a photo of the food as by the time we got in I was hungry and just ate then realised after the fact that there was no photo.

 

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By now we are snow festival ‘done’. So took a side trip to Otaru and Yoichi to visit the Nikka whisky distillery.


The tasting Club room, a lot of whisky



Free Tasting



I could not help myself and was compelled to purchase a few distillery available only bottles. That is MrsM liqueur allowance taken care of.

 

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Otaru

 

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Yakitori dinner. We ended go to two, the first and after getting in I realized it was a specialist eel and eel only, I really enjoy BBQ eel however knowing what MrsM and MissM will eat I was sure this was not the place for them. MrsM who initially did not want to leave as she had already waited to get in and not wanting to offend the wait staff, however after a quick explanation on what was on offer it was time to leave. I think wise was a wise decision as I would have had to put up with for the next 12 months or until we go to Japan again ‘You were the one who took us to the eel place and there was nothing for use to eat’.

Second go was more successful, MrsM could not really come to realization that some restaurants still allow smoking inside and after the initial ‘I cannot understand anything on the menu’ I just ordered and everything is back to normal.

Chicken on a stick and a few other items on a stick keep to them happy.



The following morning breakfast in the Nijo markets, grilled scallops

 

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CTS – F class check in area. CTS itself is quite a large but it is both the domestic and international terminals under one roof.

Trip back to Tokyo, as this was the first domestic trip I have booked within Japan (we normally use the rail) I was informed by the girls that JL business was ‘not the best’ I later learnt that JL domestic ‘J Class’ is not business class just a bigger Y seat, I am sure I will hear about this for a while.


I am off to F class.

 

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Last minute change to the Tokyo accommodation now at the Conrad rather than the Hilton. Booked the cheapest room possible then to this.



By the time we arrived the lounge service had finished and with girls reminding me that they needed dinner ‘as not all’ traveled in F so off to the lobby bar for a salad and a couple of drinks.



The Hibiki 21, the sticker shock is yet to arrive.

 

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We only had a couple of days in Tokyo and one of the places that MissM wanted to see was the Noodle Cup Museum, so out for the day and then came back to the hotel lounge, so many first world problems.


This was a new experience, jelly fish. The taste and texture was very different to what I thought it would be, it was firm.

 

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Final day and despite my efforts to keep MrsM and MissM out of the shops I failed dismally going to both Shinjuku and Ginza with the CC getting a bit of a beating.

JL F Lounge, I was not sure if we would be given access as the lounges are being renovated and I had read reports that OW passengers were being redirected to the other OW lounges in the terminal. Access was not an issue and MrsM and MissM had a great time.

 

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The final leg, we had pre-selected meals, however changed to the Japanese option on board as it was not available for pre selection. The starter box was good, the main was ok, let's just say that JL was better.



The End.

 

[futaris]

Great trip report, and thanks for posting it.