A British vacation (but I'm also going to Japan)

[rbjhan]

So we grab our suitcases and took a taxi to Hamamatsucho Station to take the Monorail.
Yeah probably could taxi the whole way but remember we were stuck in a gigantic traffic jam coming out of Haneda one week ago....didn't want to risk it....

Got to Haneda T2 at 8.30pm-ish.
**This was just outside the hotel, domestic check in area. International was at the opposite end of the building and one level up.


Since mother was not quick in getting ready, I wanted to be as close to the terminal as possible.
Well Excel Hotel Tokyu was literally inside the termianl! Can't beat the location.

Again we were assigned rooms on different floors and had to ask staff to change them for us!
I hate the hotels trying to push the kiosk check in with a passion

Anyways here is my room


There are like a million different room types in this hotel!
Looking at their website right now and I still can't tell which one was this
I think it might be the Superior Single?
Anyways I found the room to be quite nice and spacious.


Bathroom


This was taken the next morning.


Look closly, I guess we can call it "runway view"?

 

[rbjhan]

Most of the shops and restaurants in Haneda close around 8 or 9pm, so we were a bit late.
But not to worry, I had already found a solution.
Izumi Tenku no Yu!

We took the terminal transfer bus to T3 which was the main international terminal.
Follow the signs to Haneda Airport Garden (a bit like Jewel in Changi, it's a shopping centre attached to airport, doesn't have the Vortex though!)

This super sento is actually on Level 12 of Hotel Villa Fontaine.
Entrance fee was 4800Yen for non hotel guests.



Onsen pictures are from their website.


岩盤浴 Hot stone bath
I LOVE this! Generally it's heated to around 40-50 degrees, so you can stay a fair bit longer than sauna.


We also had あかすり treatment and it was great.

Had dinner in their restaurant as well.


Left just after midnight.
**There's an extra 4000 Yen surcharge if you stay past 1am.

 

[rbjhan]

Ah yesterday I forgot to add a little sidenote:
The (mostly) domestic terminals T1 & 2 in Haneda close down at midnight. If you stay in a hotel inside the terminals, try not to come back after that time! Otherwise it's quite hard to find the entrance, don't ask me how I know

 

[rbjhan]

For the 8.35am departure, I decided we could leave hotel at 7am.
Plenty of time! Yes that's the reason to pay for the slightly more expensive Excel Hotel.

I read somewhere last week the ANA Lounge at T2 was designed by Kengo Kuma (or his firm), that can't be true, right??!!!
Because when someone mentioned Kengo Kuma I have this in mind....

Anyways, there was one thing I liked here, the lockers!
As a mostly solo travller(although not this trip) , can't tell you how much I appreciate the lockers....


The breakfast offerings were meh...I had a ramen.


At least that early in the morning it was not crowded. When I came back and rant about this lounge to my friends, one of them was like "try imagine this place packed to the rafters!"

 

[rbjhan]

Boarding started on time, this time we were one of the first to board!
Yeah nah I still don't like the seat.


Memu was exactly the same as the one to LHR 3 weeks ago! bah

Amuse


The cold dishes were alright


I especially liked the crab (surprise surprise )


Sukiyaki, meh


Okay looks like I didn't take pics of dessert....

 

[rbjhan]

Later I ordered a sandwich from the anytime menu.
And this thing came


I was like, ???
Ah but I turn the plate around before hitting the call button

Okay this was a sandwich, but yeah, do not recommend!

Meal before landing


I thought JAL catering was bad, ha ha jokes on me.

 

[rbjhan]

Landed at SYD, damn the curfew! Yeah I'm so not going to book NH889 again....

Booked the IBIS as everyone said it was within walking distance to Virgin terminal...Well, not according to mother! I probably should had anticipated this after she complained about the walk to Hamamatsucho Station from.....kerbside where the taxi drop us off.....The Horror

So next morning we uber to terminal instead.

And finally back home!

That's it for this TR (I thought this was never going to be finished). Thanks for reading!

 

[VPS]

Landed at SYD, damn the curfew! Yeah I'm so not going to book NH889 again....

Booked the IBIS as everyone said it was within walking distance to Virgin terminal...Well, not according to mother! I probably should had anticipated this after she complained about the walk to Hamamatsucho Station from.....kerbside where the taxi drop us off.....The Horror

So next morning we uber to terminal instead.

And finally back home!

That's it for this TR (I thought this was never going to be finished). Thanks for reading!

Thanks so much for another amazing TR and so much detail and so many excellent photos.

I think some of your UK photos of places I have been were excellent.

When is the next trip?

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks so much for another amazing TR and so much detail and so many excellent photos.

I think some of your UK photos of places I have been were excellent.

When is the next trip?

April 26. I'm flying CX to Fukuoka return.
Plan is to cycle the Shimanami Kaido.

Then some time in Yamaguchi Prefecture (running away from everyone else) before going to onsen towns in Kyushu (Saga Prefecture).