Tag Archives: ANA

Japan 2026 – Day 1

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Started off the journey from SFO. Flew Premium Economy to HND which is a 11.5hr flight. I think the only complaint is that the seats do make my knees hurt if sitting in them for a while (they’re too high for my height). Otherwise don’t think there’s too much extra benefit to Business class. 

When I landed in HND, immigration was simple (need to fill in your details on the Japan visit website in advance to make it easy). HOWEVER, I did have to pick up my checked in bag and re-drop it off at the domestic connection (even though in SFO they said I would not). Also had to re-enter security (taking out electronics and liquids).

While waiting for the connecting flight, there was a lounge, but only serves “soft drinks” (ie juice and coffee). But outside of the lounge was an ANA store that sold Suntory Highballs in a can, and you can drink it in the airport. Totally capitalized on that.

The flight to OKA was 2.5hrs. Spent most of it playing Pokemon ZA (they didn’t serve any alcohol! Only soft drinks).

After landing at OKA, took the airport shuttle to Avis (originally though it was connected to the terminal, but good thing I looked on Google Maps. And Gemini helped navigate how to get to the shuttle quickly. Also I was cutting it close since the plane landed at 7pm, and rental car spot closed at 8pm).

Arriving at Avis, they required and International Drivers Licence (which I had), and gave me a 10 minute lesson on the roads here. They also emphasized what to do in an accident situation (see pictures). Also language barrier was tricky when they were explains if CDW was covered).

Fortunately roads were not busy first time truly driving on the other side of the road. Biggest issue was that wired CarPlay would disconnect (eventually switched to wireless the next day). Also next time, gonna ask about getting a car with ETC so I can go through the toll roads without having to stop and get a ticket (which you pay at the end of the toll road).

Then checked into the hotel, ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort. Biggest obstacle (aside from parking the car since it was dark and parking frontwards was difficult due to estimation, so parked reversed) was the language barrier (again). But we got through it, and my IHG Diamond status proved useful (they upgraded my floor to a higher one and I got late checkout).

Ended the day with getting some supplies at the hotel convenience store. Got a KitKat (which tastes so much chocolatier and darker than Canada’s or US), pringles (the chips are slightly smaller then US), and Okinawa Rice Whisky (not gonna lie, it’s just ok. Wish it had more flavor / sweeter). Oh, and also room service (with Japanese fried chicken).

Japan Day 5 and 6 – Tokyo

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Had a late start to day 5 (which was technically my last full day in Japan), but we still did a lot, and lots of walking!

We started by getting food at this ramen place called Izobachi (note that the one we went to was only found in Apple Maps, not Google. Also, this place was at a food court in a mall where one of the Google offices is at):

https://food.johnmatienzo.com/2022/11/27/izobachi-misoramen/

We then went to a Starbucks in the same food court (one thing we did notice is that not only are there a lot of 7 elevens, but Starbucks is super plentiful).

Another interesting thing compared to the previous time I was in Japan is that they are cracking down on smoking (in the sense that there are now designated smoking sections. This used to not be the case).

Afterwards, we headed to Yoyogi park. We stopped by what seemed to be a Spanish food festival, and got an interesting sweet Belgian beer (pictured below).

From Yoyogi park we walked to Harajuku. We stopped by Uni Qlo, and IKEA, but didn’t by anything. We also walked through the street called Takeshita Atreet, where apparently they are famous for having people (usually girls) dress into cos play (honestly, the street was really packed, and there was a lot of shops, but only went in McDonald’s to use the waste basket and restroom).

As an aside, another thing to note about Japan is that they really don’t have a lot of garbage bins except for in restrooms, and occasionally near a vending machine outside).

Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel by walking. Along the way we did stop by a mall and Park that seems slightly similar to the Saleforce park, which was called Miyashita Park.

We then took a 3 hour rest back in the hotel (around 6:30pm) to prepare for a long night out.

So we made moves at 10:30pm. We met Ben G. near a dog statue at Shibuya station (see below). The history behind it is that the dog apparently always waited for his owner at the station every day he would come back from work. Also, we were trying to find food for dinner. Unfortunately most sit down places at 11pm were closing (and sit down speak easys) were closed by then, so I had to make due with eating things from a Lawsons while walking to the nightclub Womb. What I ate: chickatsu (basically a fried chicken patty), these chicken balls (one was with cheese, and another was with lemon), and a salmon onigiri).

The DJ we saw at Womb, we Hernan Cattaneo. He’s mainly progressive house without vocals. He was really good. Womb has 3 floors. Main and top floors were the best (top floor was playa house music). The last song was at 4am. After we got food at this Ramen place called Ichiran:

https://food.johnmatienzo.com/2022/11/27/ichiran/

The next day (basically 5 hours after the Ramen place) I was flying out to SF at 5pm. I checked out of the hotel at 1pm (it’s only 1000 yen per extra hour after 11am). Then we went to a conveyor belt sushi place 2 minute walk away from our hotel:

https://food.johnmatienzo.com/2022/11/27/kaisen-misakikou-shibuya-higashiguchi-shop/

Then took an Uber black (yea, it wasn’t a taxi… probably Uber cars only exist if going to and from the airport) to the airport at HND. It took about 30 minutes.

At the airport, used priority pass to get into the ANA lounge. Gotta say, one of the best lounges in terms of types of food, and they have a shower (see last picture below)! I also shopped at the duty free for Japanese Whisky. Unfortunately couldn’t find the one I wanted (wanted the Hibiki blended). Got a Suntory whisky.