Some of you may realise that the HKG-HND was the last flight in my RTW ticket that started back in August with the first flight being from Tokyo to KL. At the start of this report I also logged my experience getting to Tokyo to start this RTW and I intend to do likewise and report the return trip on QR back to BRU and finally home to London.
But first a little detour courtesy of the 3rd Japan DO.
After the usual Westin breakfast at the restaurant downstairs, with an interesting addition to the menu, I went back up to re-pack and sort out what trains I needed to catch back to Haneda.
Interesting Breakfast Option
What a great tool hyperdia is and since Japanese trains mostly work like clockwork it is easy to plan your journey.
I checked out of the hotel and walked back down to Ebisu station to re-trace my steps to Haneda airport. Once there I made my way up to the JAL dedicated First desks of the domestic terminal. These are located in a room off behind the main check-in counters. The agent tagged my bag through and gave me my BP. She then directed me through to a dedicated F security check. After security I went up a set of escalators and the lounge was there. Now this is a proper first experience.
However the buzz of such a wonderful experience to the lounge quickly dissipated when I got into main lounge area. Well it has some nice seating and some pretty art, but some rice snacks, rice onigiri, coffee, tea, juice and two different beer machines were the extent of the offerings inside.
I grabbed some iced tea and snacks and surfed for a while.
JAL F Lounge HND
JAL F Lounge HND
JAL F Lounge HND
JAL F Lounge HND
JAL F Lounge HND
At noon I decided it was time to try out the beer machine and grabbed a Premium Malts brew.
Beer & Rice Snacks JAL F Lounge HND
Closer to the time of my flight I went down into the terminal proper to wander. There were some food and beverage outlets and a small Mitsukoshi store near my gate.
The displays at the gate stated that boarding would start 20 minutes before my flight. As this time approached they started pre-boards of the elderly and those with children. This was respected by all other passengers who waited back from the gates until the call was made for First, Business and Elites to board.
I made my way down to the aircraft and was greeted by the lead flight attendant.
Flight JL 0319 HND-FUK Seat 1K (First)
Aircraft: B777
Departure time: 13:20
A crew member was at my side almost immediately to take my jacket. At the seat were some noise cancelling headphones, a blanket, the menu, slippers and in the pocket and small portable charging device for phones etc.
The seats were big and of chunky white leather and arranged 2-2-2 with 2 rows at the side and 3 rows in the centre.
JAL Domestic F Seat
JAL Domestic F Seat
One of the crew dropped by with some English language newspapers for me if I wanted. She then returned and pointed out that the menu was in Japanese only but that the main was prawn tempura. She asked if I wanted to dine and I said yes. She also said they had champagne, sochu, beer, saki and red wine and other soft drinks. I said I would start with champagne of course.
Menu
There were no drinks on the ground and I was astounded to see that they had managed to load a full 777 in just on twenty minutes. The leading crew member came over and introduced herself and thanked me for flying JAL.
We pushed back at 13:23 and the leading attendant made an announcement that the flight time would be 1 hour and 25 minutes and apologised for the tardy departure. We taxied out for a long time and took off at 13:38 out over Tokyo bay.
View Tokyo Bay
After the belts signs were off the crew came out with a hot towel and then went straight into the meal service. The meals were delivered all on the tray with the preferred beverage.
There was as small bowl of soba, some scallop dish, the fish and shrimp tempura, miso soup, a packet of rice and a dessert of two macaroons.
Meal Tray
Nice Meal Time View
Macaroons
The champagne was the dreaded BA monopole but poured from a full size bottle that seemed to take the edge of the battery acid effect. So much so that I actually took more when offered.
The crew were in the cabin constantly and making sure people had enough to drink.
The meal was quite nice for a 1:25 hour flight and quite substantial. After the meal the crew offered tea or coffee or more alcoholic beverages and another hot towel was handed out.
We touched down at 15:03 and I walked out into the terminal and awaited my bags. It took a while before they were delivered but mine was amongst the first dozen or so.
I decided to stump up for a taxi on to get me to the hotel and was able to secure one straight away.
Now some of you may know Hilton have recently started allowing people to check-in online and select a room. When I did this the day before it only showed smoking rooms available for me despite a confirmed non-smoking room on my booking. Early this day I checked again and it showed the room assigned to me as non-smoking on the check-in page. This seemed odd as I was certain that it was the same room that was showing as a smoking room the day before.
At the hotel I checked in and was escorted by the bellhop to my room. As soon as she opened the door I said is this a smoking room? She confirmed it was and I said I have a confirmed booking for a non-smoking room. She asked me to wait inside where I noticed there was no ashtray. Is that the Hilton Sea Hawk Fukuoka’s definition of a non-smoking room? A smoking room without an ashtray?
I was called in the room a while later and told the only non-smoking room I could have was on a low floor was that OK? I said it would have to do as I can’t stay in a smoking room. Oh and this wonderful hotel couldn’t offer a late check out for Diamonds as well.
The rest of my stay in Fukuoka was mainly for the FUK DO where we had drinks that night followed by a visit to a beer joint. The next day there was an unofficial excursion to Dazaifu. There was torrential rain the whole time I was in this area that doesn’t particularly make pleasant sight seeing.
I spent some time wandering around the Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine
Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine
Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine
Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine
Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine
Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine
I had to take a picture of the local Starbucks store.
Dazaifu Starbucks
Dazaifu Gardens
Dazaifu Gardens
Dazaifu Gardens
Dazaifu Gardens
Dazaifu Gardens
To escape the rain I went to the Kyushu National Museum where there is a nice arrangement of artefacts showing the history of the region. The building was quite impressive but unfortunately I wasn’t able to take any photos inside the exhibition hall.
Kyushu National Museum
Kyushu National Museum
After I had enough of the rain I caught the train back to Fukuoka and the hotel to dry out. My shoes were saturated along with most items in my backpack including my passport.
The main DO dinner was that evening and I was able to navigate my way there using google maps on my iPhone, what a godsend that piece off kit is.
The do dinner was fun and full of tasty morsels and as usual with Japanese meals, odd looking things to eat.
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
DO Dinner Feast
After a great night it was off to the hotel and some sleep before an early start for our day trip to Nagasaki.