Though we’ve talked about it many times, we’ve have not been back to Japan since we first met seven years ago. Since then, much has changed including airfares and travel references. As we planned our last minute to Japan, we relied a lot on our past experiences as well as some new tools.
Finding the best deal
As with most of our travel, the first place we went to check out rates for flights was kayak.com. We usually go there to get a ballpark figure of what price range we should look at and then go directly to the airline website to see if there is more flexibility with schedule. After a quick search we found that Japan Airlines had the best rate for our route. We found a direct flight that was about $300 less than the nearest competitor. The best part was that it was a flight directly to Haneda Airport.
Getting around
Recently, JAL has started international flights into Haneda Airport which is great because it is much closer to the center of Tokyo. A typical trip from Narita to central Tokyo takes about an hour whereas from Haneda, you can get there in about half the time. We were thrilled to be able to find a flight on such a great airline but with the convenience, there are a few things to consider:
From what I’ve heard, in order to be able to fly into Haneda the departure/arrival times have to be at times when there are no flights to/from Narita. For us this translated into later departure times. This worked out great for us because we were able to work a full day before we left the States and our flight out of Japan was at midnight, giving us another full day.
Given the proximity of Haneda to the City Center, the primary mode of transportation is by rail. From Narita there are a lot of airport limousine (buses) options but this was difficult for us to find, especially given our late arrival time. I even solicited the help of a co-worker from Japan but since we had a lot of luggage and were expected to be in the office early the next morning. we decided book a taxi. For two of us, we spent just over $100 (*exchange rate = 75 yen to 1 USD). A slightly cheaper option could be pack an extra change of clothes in your carry on, send your luggage to your hotel from the airport and then take the train. This is what we did on the way back and it cost about $50 to send our luggage (this included a one week storage fee) and about $10 for the train. The best advice of all would be to travel light and take the train. Traveling light in Japan has a lot of benefits which we will discuss in a future post.
The Japan Rail Pass
The other thing we made sure to do since we were tacking a week of vacation onto the end of our business travel was to get a Japan Rail Pass. If you are going to travel any distance in Japan where there is a JR Line, this is the way to go since trains can be expensive and this pass allows you to take unlimited rides on any JR train, bus and ferry with just a few exceptions. Usually with a round-trip journey from Tokyo to the Kansai area (ie. Osaka, Kyoto) you can get your moneys worth.
Since we booked our trip just over a week before our departure, I bought our passes from a Japanese travel agent, JTB so I could pick up the passes. I did not want to chance not being able to receive the passes in time. The nice thing about the pass is that it is not activated until you take it to one of the designated exchange centers and may be exchanged within three months of the purchase date.
Since I was only a few months old, we have gone on an annual camping trip with some of my parents’ ski club friends. It started out as traditional camping complete with tents, outdoor cooking, smores and snipes but as we grew up it gradually evolved into golf and condos. This year, we met the group, affectionately know as the Over the Hill Gang down in Pismo Beach.
Unfortunately, we were only able to make it down there for a night, but we made the most of our time there. We met my brother and future sister in law and a couple others in San Luis Obispo to have lunch at the famous Firestone Grill. I forgot how delicious their tri-tip sandwich is and ribs were equally good. After filling our bellies and strolling down Bubblegum Alley, we headed down to Pismo to do some ATV-ing.
ATV-ing was quite an experience for a couple reasons. For me it was my first time going so it was a mix of fear and exhilaration. For the first 45 minutes or so I was really hesitant but after finding a few straightaways to race up and down I finally gained my confidence and was brave enough to take on a few hills. Just before we headed back we decided to go our separate ways and to meet back at a marker a few minutes later. Four of us stayed pretty close together but my brother and fiancee decided to go out on their own. As the time came to an end, we saw my brother’s fiancee waving to us near our meeting spot. She kept waving as we got near and we kept waving back to assure her that we saw her. It was only as we got closer that we saw that my brother was sitting in a dune buggy holding his head. It turns out that he flipped over his ATV and knocked his head and ribs on his way over. Fortunately after a couple hours in the emergency room, he was okay with only a super glued gash in his head and some bruised ribs. Not exactly the way we planned to end the day but at least it wasn’t more serious.
When we got back to the condo, it was dinner time. Another group of people spent the day fishing so they prepared fish tacos with some of their catch. They also brought several other kinds of meats complete with all the fixings, including La Vic’s orange sauce. One thing you can always count on at these events is good food.
After dinner we had a casual baby shower for the ladies to help welcome one of the next generation of the group. It’s really fun to see the group growing. This year we had one of the biggest turnouts in recent history so it was really great to see everyone and we can’t wait for next year.
The first time I visited Angelique’s cubicle, I knew that we would get along. The Jordan Knight pin on her wall foretold of a friendship to come. A couple weeks ago, Ian and I were thrilled to be present to witness Angelique and Ron’s nuptials at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful setting both at the mission and at the reception site, Villa Montalvo. The food catered by Le Papillon only added to the elegant experience. The night was full of fun memories a perfect celebration of the newly wedded couple. Congratulations Angelique and Ron. We wish you a long, happy life together!
It started out with a brunch at our favorite place to commemorate special occasions, Astaria with the Nakasuji and Blohowiak families. It was a delicious and perfect way to start off an action packed day. Then it was off to the airport to welcome Gina home from India and to witness the proposal. The families hid at the cafe in the terminal while Riki and his photography and videography crew of Will, Joel and Ian perched nearby. Gina walked out, we heard the claps and the cheers of the crowds so we cautiously crept from our hiding place. By the time we arrived, it was clear that it was a yes and hugs were shared all around.
After a brief rest and some freshening up, it was time to celebrate at Fresca with more friends and family.
Congratulations Riki and Gina! We are so happy for you and so glad that we were able to share the day with you.
It all started with the Creme Brulee Cart (@cremebruleecart). Though we still have yet to try it, it was the catalyst for our now growing food cart obsession. So when we heard about the SF Street Food Fest in the Mission last Saturday, we had to check it out.
The festival had a nice mix of established restaurants and food carts (a.k.a. taco trucks) selling a wide variety of foods representing a wide variety of cuisines spreading across the globe. The beautiful weather and the great vibe at the festival made it easy for us to spend several hours eating, people watching and soaking up the sun.
Some of our favorite street foods include: Roli Roti for their porchetta sandwich (we waited for 50 minutes at the festival and it was worth it), Curry Up Now for their deconstructed samosa (Ian recommends ordering online), Hapa SF for their sisig tacos, and Seoul on Wheels for their Korean tacos.
Next festival: this weekend at the Eat Real Fest in Oakland. Hopefully this time we can get to the Creme Brulee Cart before it sells out!
