Two Days in Tokyo

Two Days in Tokyo

via Japan and Singapore Airlines First Class

March 2024

Off to Tokyo

Today I’m off on the tail end of an abbreviated RTW trip that is down to 48 hours in Tokyo. I’m back on Japan Airlines First Class from San Francisco to Tokyo as JAL released award seats in the final week. Starting off with the usual United positioning flight, today to San Francisco.

Denver DEN to San Francisco SFO

United UA 1314

757-200 Lie Flat

7:55am - 9:48am

March 20, 2023

The usual annoying United Group 1 boarding although not a problem today as only First turns lefts from door 2L.

Nice cleaning job United. The plane has only been on the ground for 10 hours. LOL.

The breakfast shakshouka was pretty tasty.

By all means, talk on your phone in the air.

Lounge Hopping at SFO

Lounge Hopping at SFO

With four hours to my JAL flight, I decided to get some exercise and sample the One World Lounges at SFO. First stop is over to Terminal 3 and the new (for me) American AAdmirals Club.

Wow, about a mile deep into Terminal 3, finally the stupid Admirals Club. Why on earth did they move from convenient Terminal 2??

Typical AA decor and furnishings.

With a "quite room"

And the usual pAAthetic breakfast offerings, when they remember to restock.

Next stop is a definite upgrade, the Cathay Pacific Lounge

Nice food selection.

Yummy Thai curry noodle bowl.

And the last stop, the BA Lounge.

The main part is pretty depressing.

But at the back of the lounge is the excellent BA First Dining.

And an oasis of calm.

Nice salad to start.

And a deliciouls burgbh

Great selection of gins to sample.

Japan Airlines First Class to Tokyo

Japan Airlines First Class to Tokyo

San Francisco SFO to Tokyo HND

Japan Airlines JAL 1

777-300

1:55pm-5:40pm +1

March 20, 2024

Departed 7/8

Cost: 80,000 AA miles and $5.60

JAL periodically releases First Class award seats within 7-10 days of travel on select routes. SFO is the most recent route and I was fortunate to grab one a few days before my planned departure.

Dated but still pleasant cabin.

Since I booked last minute, only inside seats were available.

But I lucked out with the an empty seat 1G next to me.

Today's menu...

The good champagne only in the air.

Showtime: JAL First style.

Today I opted for the western menu not realizing that it included full servings of everything on the menu.

Veal starter was meh.

Swordfish ragout was quite good.

The Chiliean Sea Bass was fabulous.

As I needed anything else, prime tenderloin filet.

Just a tad rare. LOL.

Nap time as our FA made a bed for me next door in unoccupied 1G.

And a bite prior to landing.

Ridiculous Haneda immigration mob scene. 70 minutes to reach an agent.

My Instagram video of my day from Denver to Tokyo.

Evening in Ginza Tokyo

Dinner at Michelin Star Mutsukari - Ginza

With a late Tokyo arrival, I decided to have dinner at a restaurant close to my hotel, the Hyatt Centric Ginza. Nearby Mutsukari was just awarded a Michelin star and was a delightful experience... once I found it. LOL. Chic understated Japanese decor with a very welcoming staff and impeccable service. The food was not only wonderful but imaginative in its presentation. The main 6th floor dining room has an open concept kitchen and it was enjoyable to watching the dishes being prepared

Very nice ktichen counter seating to watch all of the action.

Wines by the glass selections were basic swill.

Icefish and asparagus tempura. Very nice.

Grilled Firefly squid... not so much.

White sesame seed tofu.

Delicious sashimi dish.

The highlight of the evening was Mutsukari Burger... conger eel.

Veggies.

Grilled Koshin pork.

Instagram video of my evening at Mutsukari

Hyatt Centric Tokyo Ginza

Hyatt Centric Ginza

The Centric is definitely a casual Hyatt property but perfectly located in the heart of the Ginza.

Breakfast the next morning.

Day in Tokyo

My Day in Tokyo

This morning I’m off to explore Tokyo starting off with a brisk walk from the Hyatt Centric Ginza hotel to the Imperial Palace Gardens. Beautiful clear blue sky morning but chilly and not good sakura viewing as the cherry blossoms decided that they want no part of the continuing cold Tokyo temps. It was fun to ride the Tokyo subway... after I figured out how to buy a ticket and use the kiosks. LOL. Fabulous lunch as Bifteck Kawamura. Then over to Shibuya and my first experience with the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Cool to see it from above.

At the least the museum was open.

Off to the Tokyo Metro.

Finally figured it out. LOL.

A short but pleasant walk to Roppongi.

And a wonderful wagyu lunch.

Heavenly.

Trying to walk off lunch.

Struck out on the Shibuya Sky as it was sold out.

But the poor man's Sky still get a good view of the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

Heading back to the hotel.

Instagram video of my day in Tokyo.

Searching for Cherry Blossoms

Searching for Sakura

I totally slept thru dinner last night so I was starving this morning. But so excited to find the Tokyo outpost of my beloved Buvette just a 7 minute walk from my hotel. So yummy. Then it was off in search of cherry blossoms with my local guide Steven. We struck out at a couple locations including Ueno Park but did find some success at beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Then back to the hotel and a quick lunch at nearby Tenichi Tempura, before heading to Narita and my 6:30pm Singapore Airlines flight to LAX.

What a treat!

Just like Paris,

So yummy!

With persistent chilly Toyko spring weather, I was really 7-10 days too early for peak blossoms.

Ueno Park is ready, just not the cherry blossoms.

The best and nicest venue was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Then back on the Metro to Ginza.

And a quick but pleasant tempura lunch Ten-ichi, a block from the Hyatt.

Instagram video of today in Tokyo

Singapore First Class to LAX

Singapore First Class Tokyo Narita to Los Angeles

After lunch and checking out of the Hyatt, my Blacklane driver was waiting for today's 52 minute drive to Narita.

Always welcoming SQ First Class check in.

Twenty minutes later, the lame ANA First Class Lounge.

And lame serve yourself food offerings.

Seriously? First Class?

Always fun to push the Shower button and see how long the wait would be.

The best part of this lounge.

Dude decides to sample one of everything stinky and then plop himself down right beside me. Uh, no thanks. Adios doofus.

May as well just sit at the gate...

... while everyone queues.

Tokyo Narita to Los Angeles LAX

Singapore SQ12

777-300ER (77W)

6:15pm-12:15pm

March 23, 2024

Departed 4/4

Price: 187,000 SQ KrisFlyer miles

Another wonderful Singapore First Class flight tonight from Narita to LAX. Exceptional inflight service as always from consistently outstanding SQ cabin crews. The signature SQ satay was as good as ever and the kaiseki Japanese meal was fabulous. Amazingly I got nearly 6 hours of sleep waking up an hour from landing but just enough time to enjoy another Book The Cook Chicken Rice dish.