Quick trip to Japan via 787 non-stop from Boston
Dec 5th, 2012 | 06:37 AM
#62
Joined: May 2004
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Dec 6th, 2012 | 06:53 PM
#64
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Back home in Arlington, and none too soon. I was getting bored with everyone being polite, and trying, against my nature, to respond in kind.
I already miss many of the foods, especially the bread. Oh, goodness, the bread. If you think that white bread has to suck, you need to stop in Japan. Several types of white bread that are dense, full of flavor, and with great texture. The Hyatt in Kyoto serves a chicken sandwich with tarragon mayo, avocado, and bacon that by itself is worth the trip to Japan, in large part due to the bread.
It's certainly not just the traditional Japanese foods that make eating in Japan a pleasure. The Japanese are excellent at borrowing other cuisines and turning out good stuff. Curry might be the best example: it's a staple everywhere, and the curries can be wonderful. An exception to this might be hamburgers: I've had only a few, but none have been good. And many places insist on cooking them well-done. (Why bother?)
Return trip was as easy as a long trip could be. The Keisei Skyliner is terrific: comfortable and a lot quicker than the Narita Express. Bigest problem with the Keisei is that it goes only from Ueno & Nippori, which are ok parts of town but not exactly glitzy. And I will admit that some parts of Ueno Park are among the only places in Tokyo that seemed to me to be just slightly dodgy. The non-stop from Tokyo to Boston takes 90 minutes less than the BOS-NRT flight, and it's REALLY nice to have just a cab ride home instead of dealing with a connecting flight.
-- 30 --
I already miss many of the foods, especially the bread. Oh, goodness, the bread. If you think that white bread has to suck, you need to stop in Japan. Several types of white bread that are dense, full of flavor, and with great texture. The Hyatt in Kyoto serves a chicken sandwich with tarragon mayo, avocado, and bacon that by itself is worth the trip to Japan, in large part due to the bread.
It's certainly not just the traditional Japanese foods that make eating in Japan a pleasure. The Japanese are excellent at borrowing other cuisines and turning out good stuff. Curry might be the best example: it's a staple everywhere, and the curries can be wonderful. An exception to this might be hamburgers: I've had only a few, but none have been good. And many places insist on cooking them well-done. (Why bother?)
Return trip was as easy as a long trip could be. The Keisei Skyliner is terrific: comfortable and a lot quicker than the Narita Express. Bigest problem with the Keisei is that it goes only from Ueno & Nippori, which are ok parts of town but not exactly glitzy. And I will admit that some parts of Ueno Park are among the only places in Tokyo that seemed to me to be just slightly dodgy. The non-stop from Tokyo to Boston takes 90 minutes less than the BOS-NRT flight, and it's REALLY nice to have just a cab ride home instead of dealing with a connecting flight.
-- 30 --
Dec 7th, 2012 | 07:11 AM
#67
Joined: Sep 2012
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Welcome home, Don. I'm glad you had a nice trip. I know exactly what you mean about the food in Japan. Among the things I miss the most about Japan are the bakeries and sweet shops. There is just so much variety and so many great things to sample. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back.
Dec 7th, 2012 | 09:35 AM
#69
Joined: Oct 2011
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Don-
Great report...I've been following it daily. A couple of questions for you as I am planning my first trip to Japan for Nov. 2013.
1. In general, how did you find the fall colors to be, traveling in late November? At peak? Slighly past peak?
2. Did you make it to Miyajima. I see you referencing it on your day in Hiroshima, but don't see any detailed report on it.
MB
Great report...I've been following it daily. A couple of questions for you as I am planning my first trip to Japan for Nov. 2013.
1. In general, how did you find the fall colors to be, traveling in late November? At peak? Slighly past peak?
2. Did you make it to Miyajima. I see you referencing it on your day in Hiroshima, but don't see any detailed report on it.
MB
Dec 7th, 2012 | 12:34 PM
#71
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Answers:
MinnBeef: The fall colors were beautiful, though it's difficult for me to say whether or not they were at peak. At some parks, I'd find deep reds and yellow alongside trees that were still green. In other locations, things had turned brown. My frame of reference is New England, and the Japanese fall colors seemed in many ways to be different in nature from what I've known at home. As I mentioned earlier, there seems to be a broader spectrum of colors, which I suspect is due in part to many more species. Also, keep in mind that I was at sea level most of the time; higher elevations would likely have a different schedule. In short, though, the time I went was excellent for fall colors, for this year at least.
I did get to Miyajima, but it was an overall meh day for me. The day was cloudy/drizzly, I wasn't feeling very energetic to begin with, so it was more of a pro forma ticking the I've-been-there box.
kmnrnn: It was in the 40s and low 50s, occasionally with some wind. Which is actually not any problem as long as you've got the right clothing. I was expecting slightly higher temps, but it worked out just fine as soon as I got myself a knit hat and a pair of gloves. It amazed me that I was virtually the only person who was wearing headgear; then again, very few Japanese men lose their hair so they had protection that I lacked.
Food on JAL was pretty good, certainly better than on any US airlines. Only thing I wasn't crazy about was the Wagyu beef on the flight home -- and I should have known better, as I prefer lean beef and Wagyu is known for its high fat content.
MinnBeef: The fall colors were beautiful, though it's difficult for me to say whether or not they were at peak. At some parks, I'd find deep reds and yellow alongside trees that were still green. In other locations, things had turned brown. My frame of reference is New England, and the Japanese fall colors seemed in many ways to be different in nature from what I've known at home. As I mentioned earlier, there seems to be a broader spectrum of colors, which I suspect is due in part to many more species. Also, keep in mind that I was at sea level most of the time; higher elevations would likely have a different schedule. In short, though, the time I went was excellent for fall colors, for this year at least.
I did get to Miyajima, but it was an overall meh day for me. The day was cloudy/drizzly, I wasn't feeling very energetic to begin with, so it was more of a pro forma ticking the I've-been-there box.
kmnrnn: It was in the 40s and low 50s, occasionally with some wind. Which is actually not any problem as long as you've got the right clothing. I was expecting slightly higher temps, but it worked out just fine as soon as I got myself a knit hat and a pair of gloves. It amazed me that I was virtually the only person who was wearing headgear; then again, very few Japanese men lose their hair so they had protection that I lacked.
Food on JAL was pretty good, certainly better than on any US airlines. Only thing I wasn't crazy about was the Wagyu beef on the flight home -- and I should have known better, as I prefer lean beef and Wagyu is known for its high fat content.
Dec 11th, 2012 | 10:12 AM
#74
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Sue_xx_yy,
The closest views of Fuuji-san are between Shin-Yokohama and Nagoya, roughly 30-45 mins after leaving (or arriving at) ShinYokohama. Sit on the right side (Row D in Green Car, probably Row E in Ordinary Car) if heading toward Kyoto/Osaka/Nagoya. If heading toward Tokyo, it's the same row designation, but obviously the right side.
Saw the Geishas while on the bike tour of Kyoto. They were on their way to the Kabuki theatre somewhere in Gion, and a small crowd of photographers were trying to keep up with them and snap their pictures.
There are always a small group of Maiko (apprentice Geishas) in the Shinbashi-dori in Kyoto, hanging out near the shrine.
The closest views of Fuuji-san are between Shin-Yokohama and Nagoya, roughly 30-45 mins after leaving (or arriving at) ShinYokohama. Sit on the right side (Row D in Green Car, probably Row E in Ordinary Car) if heading toward Kyoto/Osaka/Nagoya. If heading toward Tokyo, it's the same row designation, but obviously the right side.
Saw the Geishas while on the bike tour of Kyoto. They were on their way to the Kabuki theatre somewhere in Gion, and a small crowd of photographers were trying to keep up with them and snap their pictures.
There are always a small group of Maiko (apprentice Geishas) in the Shinbashi-dori in Kyoto, hanging out near the shrine.
Dec 11th, 2012 | 11:35 AM
#76
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,142
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Just caught up with the end of your report, thanks for taking us along and sharing your photos.
This probably sounds daft but it looks warmer in your photos than the temps quoted maybe your lens has a rose tinted glow.
My husband's trip was a resounding success business-wise but he saw nada. The good news is that he's been invited back in the spring and even better he (or better still I) get to choose the dates. I think I can fit in a trip in April to coincide with sakura and school break! Yay!
This probably sounds daft but it looks warmer in your photos than the temps quoted maybe your lens has a rose tinted glow.
My husband's trip was a resounding success business-wise but he saw nada. The good news is that he's been invited back in the spring and even better he (or better still I) get to choose the dates. I think I can fit in a trip in April to coincide with sakura and school break! Yay!
Dec 21st, 2012 | 07:27 PM
#78
Joined: Jan 2003
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we have our res on the dreamliner and look forward to the experience---back of the bus of course--row 16 which is almost the front of economy..
let me say here how easy it was to work with the FF desk at American for these Japan Air tickets. even though they are not my prefered airline, i find their staff the easiest to work with. 25M miles for one way Boston to Japan.
let me say here how easy it was to work with the FF desk at American for these Japan Air tickets. even though they are not my prefered airline, i find their staff the easiest to work with. 25M miles for one way Boston to Japan.
Dec 22nd, 2012 | 05:54 AM
#79
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AA is indeed relatively easy to deal with over the phone, and they are also one of the easiest airlines to build up miles. It was easy to get 80k miles this past summer: 2 credit cards, each offering 40,000 miles for spending $2000 within 3 months, plus an additional 10,000 miles for spending $3000 more within 12 months. More than enough to get me back from Hong Kong next year in 1st class on Cathay.
It is an aggravation to have to get the tickets a zillion months in advance, but that's the sad reality for those of us who prefer to fly around using easily-gotten miles rather than scarcer (for some, that is) dollars.
It is an aggravation to have to get the tickets a zillion months in advance, but that's the sad reality for those of us who prefer to fly around using easily-gotten miles rather than scarcer (for some, that is) dollars.
