For years I’ve been wanting to visit Japan, and this November is finally the time. I’ll be going on a long trip, visiting many of the go-to first-timer destinations. In this post I’ll discuss the itinerary, including the locations I will be visiting and, of course, the flights I booked, and how I booked them.

1. Where I’m visiting
   1. Arriving in Japan and week 1
   2. Week 2: Kyoto and Osaka
   3. Week 3: Hiroshima and back to Tokyo
   4. Trip’s conclusion: Takaragawa Onsen and Tokyo shopping
2. I’m flying JAL’s A350-1000 new business class to Tokyo!
3. The return leg is on JAL’s B787-9 business class
4. The final Boston-New York segment
5. How I accrued points for these redemptions
6. Summary

Want to get a headstart on funding your next trip with JAL to Japan? I recommend getting the Alaska Airlines credit card. Currently there is a 50,000 point welcome bonus after completing spending requirements. Apply here!

Where I’m visiting

This being my first time in Japan, I haven’t seen any of the go-to’s yet. That means Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, as well as the likes of Hiroshima. And so I’m going to all these places, and more.

Arriving in Japan and week 1

I’ll be flying from New York-JFK on JAL’s new A350-1000 to Tokyo-Haneda, on flight JL3 leaving at 12:35am, arriving early the next day. My mother, with whom I’m undertaking this trip, flies in from Amsterdam via Frankfurt on ANA flight NH204. I was quite adamant that she should fly a Japanese airline, even in economy. It truly is above and beyond what any European airline can offer, in my opinion. We’ll then stay in Tokyo for two nights in Asakusa before taking the train to my first stop: Takayama. Located in what’s sometimes referred to as the “Japanese Alps”, this small town is known for a well-preserved old town as well as some Onsen. I’m excited, because I’ll be staying at the traditional Ryokan Asunaro.

We will stay one night here, after which we will continue by train to Kanazawa, on the west coast of Honshu island. This city is also know for its beautiful old neighborhoods, including a street with traditional Samurai houses and Ninja museum, and a Geisha quarter. One of Japan’s biggest and most well-known Japanese gardens is also in Kanazawa.

Week 2: Kyoto and Osaka

After two nights to trip heads for Kyoto, where we will stay five nights, and one day will be spent in Nara. I’m looking forward to seeing all the beautiful old streets and neighborhoods and marveling in the traditional Japanese culture! I hope to do a tea ceremony, visit some of most famous shrines, and have walks in some of the beautiful parks and paths, such as the philosopher’s path. Next stop is Osaka, where we’ll stay two nights, and I expect us to gain 10 pounds. I’ve heard much of the amazing street food in Donburi street, but will also visit the Osaka castle and I hope to see a traditional Japanese puppet show.

Week 3: Hiroshima and back to Tokyo

After Osaka we leave for Hiroshima. On the way there we will stop at Himeji to see Himeji castle, one of the largest castles on Japan. Then, In Hiroshima we will of course visit the peace park and see the famous monument to the drop of the nuclear bomb in the second world war. We will also go on a day trip to Miyajima island, where the famous Itsukushima shrine is a tourist highlight.

After this it’s time to had back to Tokyo. We will stay here for four nights to see the sights of Tokyo, though we will stay in famous Shinjuku. We will visit the Tokyo palace, wander around Tsukiji fish market, shop in Shibuya, go on a day trip to Nikko, as well as have a meet-up with my husband and his family as they are ending their trip. And whatever else we may feel like doing. And of course we will eat. We. Will. Eat.

Trip’s conclusion: Takaragawa Onsen and Tokyo shopping

My mother will then head back home, but I will stay a few more days. I’ll undertake a trip to Gunma prefecture a little northwest of Tokyo, where I’ll stay the night at the Takaragawa Onsen’s Ryokan. Consistently in the top 10 of best Onsen in Japan, I’m looking forward to try the different pools in a beautiful, natural setting.

I’ll stay one night and then head to Tokyo for a few more nights before heading back to the US. I have no set plans for what to do, but may visit Yokohama Chinatown, Kamakura and do a bunch more shopping before flying back. My flight back is on JL67 to Boston from Tokyo-Narita departing at 6:30pm, where I will stay the night and then fly to New York on Delta flight DL2611.

I’m flying JAL’s A350-1000 new business class to Tokyo!

The flight JFK-HND I redeemed about a year in advance. Alaska at the time charged 80,000 points plus $18.10 in fees. That first flight that I booked was suboptimal, as it was operated through Seattle: first an Alaska flight to Seattle, then a 2hr connection to transfer to a Japan Airlines Boeing 787-8.

I kept checking back, until finally I found a direct JFK-HND flight, which was operated by JAL’s Boeing 777-300ER. I booked that one for about the same price: 80,000 miles plus $18.50 in fees. I didn’t realize it then, but this was quite lucky. Since then I’ve seen these direct flight to or from JFK open up only twice, and never on the dates I would have been able to travel.

By the time I had booked this flight I had already started reading that JAL was going to receive their first A350-1000, which would feature their new and improved cabin, including all-new first, business, premium economy and economy class cabins. And while the first of these planes was put on the flight to New York, it was not my frequency (JL3-4), rather the other one (JL5-6). So, I thought I had missed the boat. But fortunately, by May it became clear that newly delivered A350-1000 planes would also start flying to New York, and that’s when I received an update that my seat had changed! Initially in a bit of a panic, I went to check on my seat assignment and I had realized that the seat map had changed from 2-3-2 to 1-2-1: as such, I was on the A350. A little later this was confirmed when the plane type was changed on the booking screen.

It’s needless to say that I’m incredibly excited to experience this product. From the utmost privacy thanks to the tall walls and doors, to the top-notch service JAL is known for and the abundant food and on-demand character of the service, this is bound to be an amazing flight. And these new seats sport some amazing tech that I’m eager to tr, including loudspeakers built into the headrest, a large, 24″ entertainment screen and wireless charging for your phone.

Afterwards I’ll of course post my impressions, as well a a full review after I’m back from Japan.

The return leg is on JAL’s B787-9 business class

Initially, I booked the return flight HND-JFK as premium economy for 55,000 Alaska MileagePlan miles as well as ~$57,70 in fees because I could not find business class award redemptions to New York, and wanted to have at least something scheduled. I then broadened my search and started looking for flights to Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and Chicago. JAL foes not fly to all of these destination, but I reasoned another Alaska partner may show up.

After a few weeks, a business class flight to Boston on a Boeing 787-9 showed up. I bought additional points, and booked it for 80,000 points plus $57 in fees. Boston, of course, is not an ideal destination if you want to go to New York, but here’s my reasoning:

• Boston is as far east as you can go in the US, and would maximize the JAL business class experience in spite of not going to New York.
• I can then buy a cheap fare from Boston to New York with cash. This is called a positioning flight, and given how prolific of a market NYC-BOS is, finding a cheap fight really isn’t an issue.
• In my experience last minute is when business class awards may show up again, so I can always change the flight later.
• As such, I went ahead and booked a refundable hotel room at BOS and a refundable BOS-JFK flight with Delta Airlines, in hopes that I’d be able to change my JAL flight last-minute. We’ll see!

Now, this product is the previous generation JAL business class product featuring Apex seats, and on the 787 they are in a 2-2-2 configuration. That may seem cramped, but the product makes up for that by offering unrestricted space for your legs. Whereas staggered or herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration have your feet positioned under the console of the seat in front of you, here you have full unrestricted access through the length of your seat, offering increased comfort while in bed-mode. The soft product should be the same standard as on the A350, with the same delicious food and attentive service. So overall, I’m just as excited to experience the older product as I am for the newer one!

The final Boston-New York segment

My flight arrives in Boston in the late afternoon on Thanksgiving, and I thought there would be ample flights to New York until late in the evening. That was the case initially, but over the last 6 months, I saw that pool dry up. my Delta flight got cancelled and I was rebooked on an earlier flight, and finally that flight was cancelled too. So I refunded my money and booked a flight with American, which then also got cancelled. As it turns out, it is impossible to fly from Boston to New York on Thanksgiving after 5pm. I know this is an important day in the US, but to have absolutely no commercial flights between two major east coast cities is something I would have never imagined!

So, I booked a room (with cash) at the Hilton garden Inn at Boston Airport, and a refundable Delta flight the next morning at 6am (also with cash). I chose this hotel because Hilton was offering me silver status until December 2025 if I stayed a single night before December 31st, 2024, and that seemed too easy of a status acquisition opportunity to let pass.

As for the flight, I reasoned I was going to be jetlagged and likely to be awake at 3am, so why not haul my butt to the airport and get on my way to New York. While ‘only’ an economy flight, thanks to my SkyTeam Elite status I got a free preferred seat, as well as one piece of checked luggage. Had I not had status, the extra price for checking my luggage would have made first class the better value, however. Now I hope this flight won’t get cancelled!

How I accrued points for these redemptions

The flights were booked entirely using Alaska MileagePlan miles. The miles were accrued through four sources:

• I picked up the Alaska Airlines credit card, and received a 50,000 mile welcome bonus.
• Spending on the Alaska Airlines credit card. You get 3x miles for Alaska purchases, 2x miles on local transit, and 1x on everything else;
• Bonus mileage through the Alaska e-shopping and dining portals;
• Finally, purchasing miles with a 60% bonus to fill in the gaps.

A few months ago Alaska overhauled the award redemption prices, and these flights have actually become cheaper! Now JFK-HND would cost 75,000 points one-way, and you’d be flying JAL’s new business class product on the A350. An amazing deal! Also, as of right now the A350 is also flying through Dallas-Fort Worth DFW, so if you live closer to there, that may be the better option for you, and potentially easier to find availability on.

Want to get a headstart on funding your next trip with JAL to Japan? I recommend getting the Alaska Airlines credit card. Currently there is a 50,000 point welcome bonus after completing spending requirements. Apply here!

Summary

I’m very excited to say that I’ll be spending almost four weeks in Japan very soon! I’ll be undertaking this trip primarily with my mother. We have a packed itinerary that will bring us from Tokyo to Hiroshima with 5 intermediate stops and back. I’m certainly also excited to fly JAL business class there and back, experiencing both their new and old business class product on the A350 and Boeing 787. As the trip progresses I’ll be sure to post (short) impressions, and after I’m back I’ll be posting more detailed reviews.

Have you been to Japan already? Got any tips or recommendations? I’m all ears! Let me know what you loved to eat and do, in the comments!