I'll break the Japan trip up into 5 sections: (1) Flying PER-KIX, (2) Exploring Osaka, (3) Exploring Kyoto, (4) Exploring Tokyo, (5) Flying NRT-PER
We checked in at the 'international connections' counter although in retrospect, the premium 'service' counter should also have been able to process us. Check-in was relatively quick, and we were issued express pass (depature) cards, 'just in case'. Luggage was tagged to KIX, and we received boarding passes for all three flights (including the JQ flight on QF paper).
- Perth Domestic Qantas Business Lounge
Having been here once before during breakfast, I was looking forward to trying out their day time offerings. Unfortunately, it didn't meet our expectations. Although the lounge was quiet, it was very dark, and the pizza was cold. It took about 40 minutes for fresh pizza to be made, as the chef was apparently on a break. However once the fresh pizza left the oven, a long line formed at the counter as most of the lounge was waiting. The new pizza was delicious (zucchini and mozzarella). The other options was a beef curry (with minimal beef), and the usual salad/sandwich soup mix.
- QF568, PER-SYD, 23:05 - 06:15 (+1)
Boarding commenced on schedule, at 10:45pm. The priority line was well-enforced. We took our seats in the middle, 5D and 5F, and were offered drinks, which included some type of 'wine cordial'. The menu for the flight is
here. My partner and I shared one serving of everything from supper and breakfast. The mini-quiches (not pictured) were delivered off a tray onto a napkin. The Moroccan soup was delicious, but the za'atar flatbread was amazingly seasoned and went well with the soup. The cafe breakfast was fairly ordinary, and service was polite but impersonal.
The bed was comfy, although leather is not the best material to sleep on. No mattress pads or amenity kits were offered for the red-eye. With a flight time of just over 3 hours, I didn't manage more than 90 minutes of rest and was exhausted for most of the next day.
- Sydney Domestic Qantas Business Lounge
This was my 2nd visit to this lounge, both during breakfast. Following my mum's advice to eat as much fruit as I could before Japan (because it was apparently more expensive there), I loaded up on fresh watermelon and carrot juices, as well as muesli and fruit salad. The view outside was amazing. I also took a shower to freshen up, although there was a 15 min wait for the three cubicles.
- QF924, SYD-CNS, 08:10 - 10:10
Once again this flight left on time. The business cabin was full, despite the seat map being 6/12 the day prior. No menu was offered, however breakfast consisted of fruit salad, or poached eggs with kale and feta. My partner and I chose one each for variety. The poached eggs were delicious, with the crispy kale and feta providing great texture and taste. The fruit salad was a perfectly adequate fruit salad. The CSM for this flight (didn't note his name unfortunately) was great, and provided commentary as we descended into Cairns.
- Cairns Domestic Qantas Club Lounge
Ordinarily, we wouldn't have access to this lounge as we didn't have Business Max fares on JQ. However the lounge angel let us in to freshen up before our flight to Osaka. Also, our 4 friends were in that lounge, having flown PER-CNS direct on JQ the night before, and gained access with QC passes during their 6 hr stopover. I didn't have high expectations for this lounge, but it really surprised me. It was very spacious and airy, allowing lots of natural light in. The view outside of the hills was gorgeous. We weren't there long enough to take pictures unfortunately.
- JQ15, CNS-KIX, 13:00 - 19:25
Our group of 6 walked over to the international terminal. My partner and I were lucky because we had checked in for this flight at Perth, with our luggage tagged to KIX. Our friends weren't so lucky; they had to retrieve/store their bags in CNS, and check-in for their international flight. We were hoping for a short line. Our hopes were promptly dashed upon entering the terminal.
It seemed 99% of the flight would be filled by a Japanese school group. However ground staff at CNS were efficient, and we waited about 30 minutes for our friends to check in. They were previously unable to select seats in the Economy cabin (probably due to the large group booking), so they were randomly distributed during OLCI. However, the counter staff was able to seat them together in one of the exit rows, for free.
I considered using my Express passes to skip the security/immigration lines, however it did not seem to be available at CNS. Resigned to waiting, it took just under 20 min to clear the outbound formalities. Airside, we saw a large female Japanese school group, whom appeared to be the main passengers on the JQ25 flight to Narita.
The actual flight itself was on time. Business class passengers were called up first, although there wasn't any official priority boarding. We were seated in the bulkhead seats 1A and 1C, which had plenty of legroom (although no better than a standard exit row seat). The seat itself was basically identical to the 737 seat on QF924. Service was friendly and attentive, and we were offered a PDB of water, juice, or sparkling. The full menu can be viewed
here (typo on the menu says Tokyo instead of Osaka).
Food was good considering it was Jetstar. I chose the lamb loin, my partner chose the chicken karaage. Both were delicious, although the lamb was a little tough. Dessert followed with a cheese plate and raspberry tart. The snack of chicken croquette was also satisfying, but the chocolate brownie was served pre-packaged.
I finally was able to catch some sleep, and woke up refreshed enough to start our adventures in Osaka!
. In Japan, I travelled with 5 of my fellow uni classmates (we're in our early 20's), and the NZ trip will be with my family, with my parents taking an earlier side-trip PER-DPS (JQ), DPS-KUL-MEL (D7 AirAsiaX premium class), and joining me in Auckland MEL-AKL in EK First. 
