Japan - Getting There

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Pre-trip busy-ness on the day before our flight to Japan. 

Steve called to say that someone was interested in buying the RV. We did a video conference. Maybe it will be sold while we are away.

We went to get boarding passes and couldn't. We had to update passport information at American Airlines, then we got boarding passes. We were a but stressed about it but it all worked out.

We realized that our flight had a 6 am arrival in LA and that we wouldn't be able to check in until 3 pm. Bobbi spent an hour getting an early check-in only to discover it wasn't an early check-in, it was only a reservation at a hotel the agent was pushing.

Tim did some work for the union in the afternoon. 

Keith dropped by.

Roy dropped by.

Busy day.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Arose at 4:40 am. Arrived at airport at 6:45 am. The flight was delayed 30 minutes. The flight was not full. No one next to us in the exit row. Tim has a new carry-on bag that fits under the seat perfectly. Tim started the Truman book on the flight. The flight went quickly.

Landed at LAX on time. Took a shuttle to the Uber lot, then Uber to hotel. We had to wait until 1 pm (or pay $100 for early check-in). This is when we learned that the early check-in was not early at all. 

Judy and Dave from Minneapolis were in the same situation. We chatted in the lobby. They were on a train excursion. They just finished a 43 hour leg with a sleeper berth.

Walked to Santa Monica Pier. 

Saw the start/end of route 66.

Talked to Larry and Randi from the pier. We learned that Randi knew some Japanese and had spent some time there in high school.

We ate Tacos at Albright's on the pier. Walked towards Venice Beach but turned back. Maybe tomorrow.

Friday, September 12, 2025

Stayed on Miami time. To bed at 9:30 and up at 5:30.

Walked a mile and a half to Schoop's restaurant. We each had 2 pancakes and 2 eggs. Good food. Next to gelato shop and vegan sushi and Thai restaurant.

Walked to Venice Beach. Reminds us of South Beach and Key West. Took bus home. One bus never arrived so we walked through an alley to another stop. We used out TAP app on phone. Saw a Waymo as we waited for the bus.

Did some yoga and took a short nap. Bought over-priced Gatorade from the convenient store in the hotel. 

Took the bus to Whole Foods for lunch. Tim lost Bobbi's water bottle. We went back to look for it. No luck. We bought M&M's in consolation. We took the bus home. While waiting for the bus, we saw a Waymo.

Saturday - Sunday, September 13 - 14, 2025

Up at 5:30.

Uber to airport at 7 am.

The flight was delayed for 45 minutes.

Time for breakfast at grab-n-go place in airport. We had a burrito wrap. Talked with Larry and Randi again. Talked to Roy. Bought extra food for flight. A Japanese family sat next to us at the long table. Lot's of inquisitive glances.

Problem with plane. Eventually, we could see mechanics working on one engine.

More delays. We had to change gates. I guess it was easier to disrupt a late flight than to disrupt a flight that could be on-time. It took us 15 minutes to walk through the terminal to the new gate, going up and down several escalators of stairs. No plane at the new gate.

We finally left after a delay of 2:15. We did not have a connecting flight and were staying at the airport in Japan, so it didn't matter how late we left.

Bobbi was confident we had a different plane. We learned upon landing that it was the same plane that had been repaired. I would rather be on this flight with this plane than the same plane that had arrived in Miami with a problem.

We had upgraded to exit row. Good choice. We were in the seats near the big door in the middle of the plane, next to the bathrooms. The crew jump-seat was across from Tim. Plenty of space.

We had a food service right away. Plenty of movie choices for our 10 hour flight. Only watched one movie all the way through, Amateur. Dark cabin. Dozed a little. Another food service before we landed.

Landed on Sunday. The sun never set and we lost a day. 

Our trip leader is Remi. She gave us excellent advise before the trip about customs and Japan mass transit. We were well prepared. We used a QR code to get through customs quickly. Bobbi could not take fingerprints, so we had a small delay for that.

We walked five minutes in the terminal to the hotel

Check-in is automated, with attendants to help. The rooms in Japan are small (and the floor is crooked). 

Tim looked for Gatorade. No luck. Walked around small portion of airport that had fast-food restaurants. Changed $20 to yen at kiosk by front desk. Tim went out again for water. Went further through the terminal to a store that sold lots of trinkets and convenience items. Saw an outdoor observation deck that smelled like jet fuel. The first floor of the terminal is the ticketing area that is open to the roof. The second floor can view the entire ticketing area. The second floor has restaurants and stores and vending machines. The second floor wall looks like a castle wall. The third floor has even more restaurants and shops.