Last Day in Japan

We’re leaving Sapporo today and flying to Tokyo for our final day in Japan before flying home. We have a morning flight so we need to start making our way to the airport. One of the cool things about Japanese hotels are the amenities. One of these things are the single use coffees that they have. It’s like a one stop instant coffee kit and both the Sister and I think its super cool!

Airdo Sapporo to Tokyo

After checking out of our hotel we make our way to the train which will take us to the airport. We were a little lax with our timing on getting to the airport because by the time we arrive, we’re about half an hour before take off! In most airports around the world this would be WAY too late to even check in. But thanks to Japanese efficiency, not only are we able to check in, check our bags and clear security. We’re also able to spend a bit of time at one of the stores in the airport to pick up some snacks for the flight!

Airdo is a low cost Japanese airline based out of Hokkaido. There is a heavy emphasis on scallops on this airline. So things like the headrest covers are pictures of scallop soup. As far as air travel goes, its an interesting distinction and does make you think “only in Japan”.

Even though the flight is only an hour and a half long, they still provide a drink service. While they serve normal drinks, one of the unique items is a hot scallop soup. The Sister and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to try it! Even the “glassware” is scallop themed! And though there aren’t real scallops in the soup, it’s a tasty alternative to regular drinks. In addition to the soup, the sister and I also pick up an ekiben meal at the airport to eat on the plane. Even though we aren’t riding a train, the idea of a prepackaged meal for travel is something I love and doing it on an airplane is no different. The combination of the ekiben and hot soup ensures we’re both very content by the time we start descending into Tokyo. In fact, the sister and I like the soup so much, we buy a box of the soup from the in-flight shopping to take home with us!

ANA Festa

Because we are landing in Haneda Terminal 2, I make sure to drop by the ANA Festa shop. This is a gift shop that is dedicated to the Japanese Airline, ANA. There are all manner of ANA goods for sale. One of the unique items on sale are the in-flight meals that they serve onboard a flight. AvGeeks can take home one of these frozen meals and have it at home! Unfortunately, we don’t really have the ability to store a frozen meal while travelling on the way home, so I begrudgingly have to forgo buying one.

Mesm Tokyo 

After picking up our luggage, we make our way from the airport to our hotel. For our last night in Japan I use one of my Marriott certificates to book at the Mesm Tokyo. This is an upscale hotel along the water with some wonderful views of Tokyo Bay. It’s a bit of a final night splurge before we head home from Japan. There are some unique elements to the room like having a piano and interesting amenities and art pieces. It’s really nice and comfortable and we take a bit of time to settle in before we decide to head out and explore the area.

Waters Takeshiba

At the ground floor of our hotel is a very cool open air space called Waters Takeshiba. It’s a very well developed park and common space along the water that is lined with different shops, cafes and restaurants. People are able to walk along the water and lounge around in many of the different seating areas. The Sister and I spend some time exploring the area a little and we really like it. Unlike the busier areas in Tokyo like Ginza, Shibuya or Shinjuku, this area feels calmer and more peaceful. In addition it feels like a majority of the people are locals simply enjoying their day. It’s a really nice departure from what I and probably many experience on their visits to Tokyo. 

Coffee Kan

After wandering around for a little bit, we pop into a small restaurant/coffee shop called Coffee Kan. It’s not anything fancy, but looks to be a common and popular spot amongst the locals. So the Sister and I pop in for a late “second” lunch. We order some pasta dishes and some sweet treats like grass jelly ice cream and a fluffy pancake. Everything tastes great and we really like how “normal” everything feels of just having a meal together in Japan. It felt super casual and very relaxing if that makes any sense!

Hama Rikyu Garden

After eating, we head out once again. This time to Hama Rikyu Graden. Upon entering, you realize that its this peaceful and serene “almost” escape from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. It’s surrounded by skyscrapers but within the Garden it’s calm. It’s a wonderful departure and makes walking around the grounds a joy to do. In the centre is a beautiful pond that offers these lovely reflections of the Tokyo skyline. In the middle of the pond is a teahouse, but by the time we get there they are no longer taking new customers. I would certainly re-visit and try to visit the tea house in the future. Having a beverage while taking in this lovely view and atmosphere must be surreal! 

As we round the other side of the park, the clouds clear and the sun starts to peak through as it sets. It offers us some spectacular views and I can’t help but reflect on what an amazing trip it’s been for the Sister and I. There are a lot of feelings of appreciation and blessedness as we stroll through these beautiful gardens!

Tsumugi

After leaving the gardens, we do a little more exploring around the Ginza area before heading back towards our hotel. On the way back we scope another cafe called Tsumugi where we decide to stop in to pick up a few sweet items. I order a parfait to compare it with the parfaits in Sapporo. The Sister orders a dish of different Japanese Desserts. And In a moment of weakness/craving I order a side of fries too! To say that the day has been full of eating is probably an understatement. But it’s our last day in Japan so we figure why not!

Tokyo Ferry Terminal

After Tsumugi, we return to our hotel to rest a little. We spend a little bit of time, doing some reorganizing and packing. After a few hours we head back out again for a proper dinner. Adjacent to our hotel is the Tokyo Ferry and Shipping Terminal. It’s a cool nautical themed area which we walk along enroute to our restaurant. I think it being the evening with everything alight gives a unique ambience as well. As we head towards dinner we also encounter some weird and interesting street art too. It again spurs those “only in Japan” type thoughts!

Hanamaru Udon

For our last meal in Japan, we decide to hit up Hanamaru Udon. It’s chain udon shop and one that both the Sister and I figure will be a good comfort meal. One of the great things about this place is you can add as much green onion garnish to the meal. I might have overdid it but I love these little extras that make the meal that much more enjoyable! 

Smoothie for the road!

On our way back to our hotel from dinner, we pass by a 7-11. We quickly pop in for a bit of last minute souvenir snack shopping and a smoothie! The last time, I opted for the more traditional strawberry and banana smoothie. This time, I get the pure banana one and while I can’t imagine it being a popular choice for most, I love it! I’m not sure how much demand there will be for it in the future, but I’m glad I get to try it in case it gets replaced with a more common flavour.

Once we get back to our hotel, we get a lovely view of the evening Tokyo Skyline from the hotel lobby! We take some time to admire it before heading up to our room, settling in and eventually calling it a night. 

Tokyo Mesm Breakfast

The next morning we head back down to the hotel restaurant to partake in the breakfast offering. There’s a crab omelette station along with some very tasty buffet offerings. There’s also a very expansive beverage selection and a beautiful view for the Sister and I to start our day. We spend a good part of our morning reminiscing about our trip and enjoying our last few bites and sights of Japan. After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and make our way to the train to head to the airport. 

Zip Air ZG22 back to Vancouver

To get home we are flying Zip Air. It’s a Japanese low cost airline that offers very affordable fares between North America and Japan. They’ve grown in popularity since they started these routes and the Sister and I are eager to check them out. While it’s a far cry from our fancy flights to get to Asia at the start of this trip, it’s actually a very comfortable way to get to and from Japan. As long as you know what to expect and plan accordingly, the flight checks all the boxes! Since there’s no complimentary meal service onboard, the Sister and I pick up some items from 7-11 prior to boarding. We also load up some media and shows on our phones since there isn’t any inflight entertainment. Beyond that the seats are pretty standard and the time goes my relatively quickly. If you’re looking for an affordable way to get across the Pacific, I would have no issues recommending Zip Air! 

Home!

After landing and disembarking the plane. The familiar sight of the dual totems in the immigration area signifies our return to Vancouver Canada. It’s bittersweet that such a great trip is coming to an end. But at the same time its always nice to be home. And with that another epic Sibling trip is in the books! I’m hoping that the Sister will be open to sharing her final thoughts about the trip and I will also do the same as always. So stay tuned for that!