For the domestic flights I chose ANA. On earlier Japan trips I have used JL and the Yokoso fare, but they are a bit complicated to book. This time I wanted to explore Ana a bit more, and was thrilled to find their "Experience Japan" fare. It is similar priced to the Yokoso, but you can book it yourself without the use of a TA!
Domestic segments are short and don't earn that much. Like I said before, I wasn't in need of more points for my oneWorld renewal, so everything pointed in the *A direction.
7. HND-TOY NH317 B737 JA-80AN
Cabin and Seat: Economy, 12H
Priority boarding works generally extremely well in Japan and naturally with ANA too. They first invite their own Diamonds, then top tier members of ANA and other star alliance programs, and so on. Boarding is very clearly announced and sign posted and nobody tries to cut the line.
On this flight there are no Diamonds and as soon as they switch signs to Gold-boarding, I'm first at the gate. Perhaps they mistake me for a Diamond, because I get a personal gate agent to take care of me, escorting me down the jet bridge and doing a small chat. In japanese of course, and again my confidence is greater than my proficiency. She is initially thrilled by me looking like I can keep up with the chat, but she soon asks if I prefer to speak English. I do, and we soon find out that her confidence-proficiency-ratio is similar to mine. But the jet bridge is short and it is lovely company.
ANA domestic Y on such a short flight is quite no-thrills, but they are at least able to serve some drinks. I get a glass of apple juice a few minutes before the cabin has to be prepared for landing. I remember me thinking I do miss the Consommé JL serves on domestic flights.
Toyama is on the west coast, pretty much opposite Tokyo. It is a small town, with a small airport. But a little known fact is that it actually is an international airport, connecting to Taiwan, China and Korea.
Anyway, last time I was here I did all the local sights but it was the wrong season to do the alpine route and see the (great) wall of snow. Now, this being in mid June, one would think it was an even worse time, but news sites reports the wall to still be impressive 11 metres high (was 19 metres at season opening in april).
Time was short so I was forced to do a rush trip to the top of Tateyama (立山 - the mountain that stands up), turn around and head back the same way I came. Sky was all grey and it started raining and kept raining for the duration of the day, so it was actually a good thing being forced into the rush version. Now I've seen the snow wall, and I can return and do the whole alpine route (one full day of alpine travel) in another season.
The cable car, built in 1954, that pulls you up the mountain side at a steep angle.
Snow wall, melting before my eyes
It is quite strange to walk around in a snow landscape in the end of june, while people back home are celebrating the height of summer.
8. TOY-HND NH320 B737 JA-74AN
Cabin and Seat: Economy, 18C
Before I know it, it is time to return. The airport bus only runs approx. once per hour and there is no lounge at TOY. So inevitable a boring wait. The TOY-TYO flight was very similar to the outbound, and nothing more to be said.
Segment results:
BIS: 262
TP: 176 (to *A)
AP: 176 (to *A)
ANA business lounge Haneda
and
9. HND-KIX NH97 B772 JA-8199
Cabin and Seat: Economy, 21G
I am connecting to KIX the same evening, because my return home starts the next morning. Not that early (09.30) and initially I thought I would be able to connect to KIX in the morning. But that proved to be impossible. Neither any Shinkansen nor any domestic flights arrive early enough to allow for a morning connection at KIX. Something for me to remember.
I had 2 hours to spend at ANA lounge at HND but that was a bit too long, because it is also no-thrills. It is a nice lounge, but food is limited to rice crackers. The only fun thing is the draft-beer-with-perfect-foam machine, but even that gets old quickly.
So these 2 hours felt a bit long, before finally going to the gate waiting to board a 100% full B777, flying to KIX. And man, were there many Diamonds! I've never seen so many elites board ahead of me!
Still, nothing to eat and squeezed into the back of a 777 while realising this is my last night in Japan makes my mood fall rapidly.
Segment results:
BIS: 431
TP: 280
AP: 280