Japan in winter…yes, again

[Lat34]

If you can show me a better view during take off, then please let me know.

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I’m impressed!!!

 

[zig]

If you can show me a better view during take off, then please let me know.

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Wow! Fantastic photos.

 

[Justinf]

As i wrote in an early post, the short haul SQ product on the A350 is perfectly fine without being mind blowing.
We started with an appetiser of prawns which was nice. Paired that with a sav Blanc.



I had preordered the main meal with Book the Cook and it was the cheese crusted lamb chops.
without a word of exaggeration, this was one of the best airline meals I have ever had.
Everything was right.
The lamb was tender with just the right amount of fat to give it flavour. It was delicious.



after that I couldn’t fit dessert or cheese in so I managed about an hour’s sleep. Woke up with two hours still remaining.


service from the crew was first class.
Flight time from wheels up to wheels down was 6 hours 58 minutes.

 

[Justinf]

Only had an hour in between flights so it was a quick sky train trip between terminal 2 to 3.









Not too sure this bulkhead seat was any different from 15k coming over?

 

[Justinf]

I chose the lobster with Book the Cook and it was very nice.




After that I managed to get a coupe of hours of decent sleep.
The footwell was much less of a problem than when flying to Singapore.

 

[Justinf]

Breakfast was a strange choice of chicken rice or chicken rice.
It was OK without being outstanding.
We were only about an hour away from home soil.

 

[Justinf]

Flight time wheels up to wheels down was 6 hours and 48 minutes.


Managed about two hours of sleep, but those 7 hour flights are a bugger for me to try and get a good sleep.
i keep waking up wondering how long to go.
no aerobridge so everyone had to be bussed to the terminal.
home now and already experiencing post-holiday blues.
over the next day or two I’ll go over some of the highlights and lowlights of the trip.
like best meal, worst meal, best hotel, best experience etc.
thanks if you have read this far.

 

[bPeteb]

Excellent and fun report as always Justin

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thanks for taking us along @Justinf & I enjoyed all those beers with you!

 

[drron]

You are definitely a legend especially when it comes to a Japanese TR.

 

[rbjhan]

Location mainly. Close to the Shinkansen and the price was good too.
It’s very decent.
I don’t need much when it comes to accommodation.
a bed, private bathroom and climate control and I’m perfectly happy.

I thought I'm quite happy with basic business hotels but damn you put me to shame
APA or Super I can't deal with, need Dormy Inns!

 

[VPS]

Another great TR - thanks for entertaining us

 

[snabbu]

Wonderful report as always Jason, it's too long between your trips.

 

[Justinf]

I thought I'm quite happy with basic business hotels but damn you put me to shame
APA or Super I can't deal with, need Dormy Inns!

Bed, no shared bathroom, climate control.
those criteria are met then I am happy.

 

[Justinf]

BEST MEAL
This gyoza curry in a tucked away place in Sapporo. It was immense. I have food dreams about it still.
really didn’t need the hotplate on at all. In fact I had to turn it off.


Runner-up was the cheese crusted lamb chops on SQ633 from Tokyo Haneda to Singapore.
described as roasted herb and cheese crusted lamb chops served with basil jus, grilled vegetables and sautéed potato.
never would have i expected airline food to be this good. The pic looks run of the mill, the result was anything but. Truly outstanding.

 

[Justinf]

Decided to check out the Memorial Ship Hakkoda-maru today.
Description: Well-known site spotlighting ferry history & culture exhibits in a former working ship.
It connected Aomori with Hakodate.
It cost ¥5100.

And here is some plagiarism from Japan-guide.com
Pics are my own.

Until the opening of the Seikan Tunnel in 1988, ferries were the primary means of travel between Honshu and Hokkaido, and Aomori served as the hub for travelers to transfer between train and ferry. With the opening of the railway tunnel, the ferries lost much of their importance, although car ferries continue to connect Aomori with Hakodatetoday. One of the former ferries, the Hakkodamaru (八甲田丸, Hakkōdamaru) now serves as a memorial to the bygone era.
After completing its final voyage in 1988, the Hakkodamaru retired to Aomori Port where it remains permanently moored as a museum ship.

Honestly it felt like a wartime ship.

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To be honest it was a bit boring. There were some cool parts but mostly I was in and out within 30 minutes.View attachment 369659

Sorry, original post said entry was ¥5100. Which is more than $50.
it was ¥510, so around $5.
edit posts disappear after a while?

 

[Justinf]

WORST MEAL
Shouldn’t be too many surprises here, but the omelette rice with rissole and gravy at Haneda and having to fork out ¥2800 for it.
the guy next to me sat down and ordered the same thing and I almost begged him not to, but he might have thought it was ok.



Dishonourable mention goes to the fatty, almost inedible fried chicken stuff at Aomori.


thank god there were toilets nearby.
this stuff hits you pretty quickly.

 

[drron]

I thought I'm quite happy with basic business hotels but damn you put me to shame
APA or Super I can't deal with, need Dormy Inns!

Well with Mrsdrron it is higher end hotels for us but in July we are staying virtually the month in Hokkaido. now we are staying at Hokkaido's 3 Crowne Plazas and a Hilton but much smaller places as well. It does include a Dormy Inn and a Mystays. But 3 of the overnights are in quite small towns - Rausu, Rumoi and Esashi. In Rausu we are there for a whale watching cruise. It has a population of 5400 but in the area of 389 sq Kms. I thought I would have a problem booking there as it doesn't show up on any booking site. But a 12 room Inn/guest house which does have an English version of it's website which says no one there speaks English. So I emailed them (in English of course) and it was as easy as to book.
The accommodation is called Shiroteko and I am looking forward to it.

 

[rbjhan]

Bed, no shared bathroom, climate control.
those criteria are met then I am happy.

Yeah I want a public bath, and rooms larger than 10m2...

 

[RB]

Thanks for another fun, excellent report. I think it makes for more enjoyable holidays when you bounce back quickly from challenges (as you do)