Konnichiwa!
We searched for affordable vacation packages in the Fall and found a $500 round trip per person deal to Japan. After some research, we discovered a better offer for $700 with Singapore Airlines. We booked our flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). To get to the West Coast, we took an early flight from the East Coast to LAX, with a four-hour layover before boarding our flight to Japan. It was a bit risky, considering the potential for flight delays. However, we decided to take our chances with United Airlines due to the three-hour time difference, and everything went smoothly.
We had a fantastic experience with Singapore Airlines. We didn’t regret paying an additional $200 per person. Even though we didn’t sit in first class, it felt like we did. When we boarded the plane, all the flight attendants wore beautiful traditional outfits, which made a great first impression. Usually, we try to choose seats in three different rows to avoid the kids fighting over window seats. This time, Edward and Mika sat in the first row of our seating section. Initially, they were disappointed because they couldn’t see any TV screens in front of them. However, they were pleasantly surprised to find that the armrest had a remote control attached to it and served as their TV screen. Moments earlier, they had been complaining about switching seats, so you can imagine their excitement when they discovered this feature.
The televisions on the plane were unlike any others we had seen before. They had movies, podcasts, TV shows, and, best of all, music. The music selection was diverse, including K-pop, 80s-2021 pop music, and music from the United Kingdom. Mika mostly listened to the K-pop music. Everything was so lovely.
Since we’re all used to traveling, we looked forward to the amazing meals they would serve us. First, they served snacks that were not the usual crackers on other airlines. Instead, they included actual green peas, chickpeas, and some other stuff we were not used to, all of which were yummy and healthy. Our dinner consisted of different options: fresh berries, vegetables, rice cake, protein, pasta, and potatoes. Everything was served on a tray with metal utensils. They also gave us ice cream and a delicious pastry. Everything was delicious. Who needs first class anyway when coach offers such excellent service? We love Asian food. It is so different from food in other countries.
After eating, we fell asleep individually, as our flight would take around 11 to 12 hours before landing in Tokyo. The staff continued offering snacks and other small meals, and since we didn’t encounter much turbulence, the time went by faster than we had imagined.
Right before we landed, Hugh complained that he wasn’t feeling well. We removed his sweatshirt, thinking he was too hot, but then he started vomiting. The flight attendants quickly provided bags for him to vomit into, but it was too late – it went everywhere: on his clothes, the tray, the seat, and the floor. We took him to the bathroom, but he couldn’t stop. The staff became worried and offered to have him see a doctor as we prepared to land. As soon as we landed, he felt slightly better but seemed tired. We went through immigration, and we barely had to answer any questions. However, we had to place our index finger on a scanner to determine if we could enter Japan. A green checkmark appeared, and we were given the green light to enter. This process was not done for children under the age of 18. As we proceeded through the airport, getting ready for customs, an immigration officer stopped us. He had a thermometer and asked to check Hugh’s temperature. On the left was an office with a sign that said quarantine. We started freaking out, afraid they would put all of us in quarantine if he had a fever. We were only going to be in Japan for a week. Can you imagine us spending two weeks in quarantine? This would be beyond our one-week vacation, and our travel insurance was for a one-week trip. We were relieved to find out Hugh did not have a fever, and we could proceed through customs and exit.
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Hotel.
Usually, when we travel, we spend as little money as possible on transportation and food to have enough for sightseeing. After all, there are five of us traveling, and the costs add up. We checked Citymapper for directions from Haneda Airport to Hotel Mystays Premier Hamamatsucho in Tokyo. It sounded like a piece of cake, except it was already dark. Although our flight landed closer to 5:30 pm Tokyo time, it felt more like 9 pm. Add the fact that we had traveled from the East Coast to LAX, adding the layover and our 12-hour flight; we were exhausted. It was as if we had been up for 24 hours.
We took the train, and we couldn’t make sense of where we were. Add that to the fact that Hugh was not feeling well and needed to be carried. Other travelers noticed how worried we were, constantly looking at the metro map and questioning where we were. One man and an attendant suggested we take a taxi to our hotel since it was so late; otherwise, we would have had to take at least two to three trains to our destination, and we were too tired to think. We took a taxi to the hotel, which didn’t take too long. We love Japanese cars, but we were still impressed by the vehicles they drive in Japan. The upgrades are not like anything we had ever seen in the States. We could not even exit the car unless the driver got out and opened the door. We went up to the front desk, where the staff spoke English flawlessly. Mika couldn’t believe she was in Japan because she loved Asian culture. She described the experience as if she had just met one of her idols in person at a concert.
We received our room key and brought our suitcases up to our room. The room was small but cozy, with traditional blue and green robes for all five of us on the bed, slippers, and a shoe-cleaning area. The toilet seat was heated and had a bidet, which we later learned was common in Japan, even in the mall. The mirror had a particular spot that didn’t fog up during showers, and there was a small cup filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, body lotion, facial cream, disposable washcloths, and razors. We quickly fell in love with Japan. After settling in, we went out to find food in the area. Everything was spotless, tidy, and well-organized, and we couldn’t find any trash on the streets. Surprisingly, there were no public trash cans, so we ate junk food before bed, hoping to feel refreshed to explore the city the next day.
We woke up feeling great the following day, except Hugh had a cough and a low-grade fever. We walked to a local pharmacy, but all the medicines were in Japanese. Before long, someone told us we could download the Google Translate app. We then headed to a local restaurant serving breakfast and were pleasantly surprised by how healthy their meals were. We enjoyed hot chocolate, yogurt with granola, fruits, and honey while the kids ordered an egg sandwich with orange juice. As we looked for a place to sit by the window, a kind lady offered to give up her seat so we could all sit together. How nice of her! We could see the Tokyo Tower from the restaurant and decided to go check it out. It’s like a mini version of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Tokyo Tower
We walked down the street and asked for directions but found it. It looked beautiful and bright, and unlike the Eiffel Tower, it had no rust. We were greeted by a few young ladies in traditional uniforms as we entered the building. We bought our tickets and made our way to the elevator. You’ll have to check out our YouTube channel for the video. The tower provides a panoramic view of the city, including schools, water, bridges, and skyscrapers.
Once we finished visiting the Tokyo Tower, we took the train to the Hato Bus location. We didn’t get lost this time because we weren’t as tired as the night we arrived. The train station was designed to prevent rider accidents, with barriers and small gates that remained shut until the trains stopped. This safety measure wasn’t implemented at every station, but we noticed it at many stations.
The Hato Bus is a double-decker tour bus that provides hour-long tours around the city. As we began our first official day in Japan, we noticed that almost everyone could speak English, and some were fluent. The customer service was excellent, and we had no complaints. During our tour, we also observed that the streets of Japan were immaculate. We couldn’t find a single trash can or piece of trash on the streets. Everyone was expected to take their trash home, and surprisingly, everyone complied.
We also noticed that the bus was driving on the left side of the road, which was confusing since we’re used to driving on the right-hand side. This also caused some confusion when crossing the streets because the cars were on the opposite side compared to what we were used to. The speed limits were visible on the road, although most signs were in Japanese, leaving us feeling clueless.
As we approached a bridge, the bus driver warned us that the sensation would be like flying, and she wasn’t kidding. The view from the bridge made it seem like we were flying over water, especially for those sitting in the back of the bus. We passed a few traditional buildings, but most were modernized. It felt like a super clean Manhattan with updated buildings and fewer people walking around.
The food
We have always been fans of Japanese food. We used to refer to the hibachi restaurants at our local malls as Japanese food until we visited Japan. The sushi there was incredibly fresh and affordable. We were amazed at being able to purchase a platter with over 30 pieces of sushi for around $10. Instead of each person ordering their dish, we enjoyed sharing different dishes. We noticed that white rice was a staple in all the meals we tried, whether it was paired with vegetables, noodles, chicken, octopus balls, soups, or other new dishes. The small round bowls seemed intentionally designed to help prevent overeating.
Mount Fuji
While searching for tours online, we couldn’t help but notice that almost every tour mentioned Mount Fuji. Even though we were more interested in seeing traditional Japanese buildings, like the ones we had seen in movies, we figured Mount Fuji must be a place to visit since it was so popular online. We decided to take a private tour of Mount Fuji for around $500. Our driver picked us up the following morning in a comfortable minivan with features we had never seen before. There were clever ways to fold the chairs in different directions to allow someone to pass through and sit in the back. We wondered why they don’t sell those cars over here. Even the opening and closing of the doors were impressive. We stopped at a few shrines where the buildings looked just like the ones in the movies. Photography and videos weren’t allowed inside the shrines as they were places for people to pray and find peace. There was a sense of calm, and we could hear birds chirping. We could see Mount Fuji from a distance, but reaching there would take three hours. The driver would take us as close to it as possible as it sits on a snow-covered mountain.
We visited the Chureito Pagoda, located on top of a hill. We walked in circles for what felt like an eternity before reaching it. The landmark offers a panoramic view of the city. After enjoying the view and taking pictures, we all laughed at the fact that we had walked uphill for such a small building that we couldn’t even touch.
Next, we went to Lake Kawaguchiko, a large lake in the Mt. Fuji area. We stopped for lunch and ice cream. The area offered one of the best views of Mt. Fuji; many visitors, including us, were taking pictures pretending to touch the top of Mt. Fuji. Our driver recommended Oishi Park Cafe, which sold unique flavors. There were all sorts of flavors, and they were probably the creamiest and tastiest ice creams we’d ever had. We’ve had ice cream at Creamistry, where the ice cream is made in front of the buyer, and the taste is out of this world. The ice cream near Mt. Fuji was equally delicious but
in different ways. Oh, and we also found a shop where we bought small Japanese bowls, plates, and chopsticks for everyone in the house and as gifts.
DiverCity
A relative suggested that we visit DiverCity. The name fooled us because we thought it was more like a city, but no, it’s a mall. We took the metro there, and unfortunately, it rained pretty hard when we got there. It was cold and rainy. After leaving the metro, we followed the path to get to the mall. The Japanese thought of everything as the path was covered to shield us from the rain. There was a massive transformer outside the mall. The kids went crazy and wanted to take pictures with it. The food court was different from what we were used to. There was a station for free water. There were no trash cans and no cleaning staff. Everyone was expected to return the tray, including utensils and plates, to the restaurant it came from. Everyone was expected to clean the table for the next person. Surprisingly, the food court was super clean. No one left anything behind. No one felt the staff should be coming around to pick up their trays. You would not find a grain of rice on an empty table.
What a culture, uh! We were in love and wanted to move to Japan, but we only knew Konnichiwa and arigatō, with the wrong pronunciations. They mean hello and thank you. However, as we spent more time interacting with the locals, we realized it’s more polite to say arigatō gozaimasu. The mall had many shops, including H&M and Sketchers, and a game room for children that included video games, ping-pong, anime characters, and ice cream with cotton candy. To top it all off, we saw Hiroyuki Sato and Junichi Yamamoto performing outside the mall. It was almost like Mika’s dream came true, except it was our first hearing of them.
Imperial Palace
We visited the Imperial Palace, which offers two free tours a day. Tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis an hour before the tour. Due to it being our last day in Japan, we made sure to get in line early. We were too late on previous days, and all tickets had already been given out. The heavily guarded palace was surrounded by nature and the city, and we could see more traditional Japanese buildings. We even saw men on horses walking around the premises. The tours were divided into different languages, mostly outside on the grounds. Unfortunately, visitors were not allowed to visit the Emperor’s actual palace. However, we were still satisfied to have had the experience, even if it was nothing like visiting the inside of the White House.
After the tour, we returned to the hotel to retrieve our luggage and then took the train to the airport, which was surprisingly easy this time. We had McDonald’s burgers, pastries, and drinks – average Western food for lunch. Our 10-hour flight felt more like a couple of hours, with no turbulence, and Hugh did not get sick, although we did not let him eat any of the snacks as a precaution. We landed at LAX, where we planned to spend three days before heading back to the East Coast.
One of the first things that greeted us in LA was an overloaded trash can with trash all over the ground. It felt like a clear sign that we were back in America, but as they say, “There’s no place like home.”
The next few days, we included visiting friends in San Diego and Palm Springs. We finally got to ride on the Aerial Tramway, which turned out to be one of the most terrifying experiences of our lives. The floor constantly rotated to give everyone a panoramic view of the desert. As the tramway climbed for what felt like an eternity, we were surprised to find Mount San Jacinto State Park at the top of the mountain. It was time to head back to the East Coast for school and work, but we are planning our next trip to Osaka, Japan.
See you on our next vacation!
