I am embarking on another trip to Asia, this time I’ll be starting in Fukuoka! I’ll meet up with a few friends in Beppu and Osaka before heading to Taiwan to connect with more friends! However, due to a favourable rewards redemption, my way there will be a bit roundabout. I’ll be flying to Singapore, have a short layover, fly to Taipei for another short layover before finally arriving in Fukuoka. So it’s going to be a long “day” of flying!
“New” Plaza Premium Lounge
After getting dropped off at the airport, my first stop is the Plaza Premium Lounge. This is an updated lounge in YVR’s International departures terminal and one that I haven’t had a chance to visit until now. It’s suppose to be a new flagship lounge and since its in my home airport, I want to check it out. It’s nicely appointed and has some good food options including a custom Hot Dog stand. There are some nice views of the tarmac so that you can also do some plane spotting as well. All in all, its a nice lounge to spend time if you have an outbound international flight! Normally I’d partake in the food options. However, due to my redemption, I also have access to Air Canada’s Signature Suite Lounge. So I want to save my stomach for that!
Air Canada Signature Suite
After leaving the Plaza Premium, I make my way to the Maple Leaf Lounge which has the Air Canada Signature Suite above it. This is a more exclusive part of Air Canada’s lounge system and something I’ve only experienced once so far. There’s an elevated food and drink offering which I availed myself of. I intended to have dinner here so to start I had the Hamachi Sashimi and for my main I had the dry aged sirloin steak. Along with the tasty food, it has great views of the tarmac so its a bit of an Av geek’s dream to dine and nerd out at the same time!
16 Hours to Singapore
After enjoying my dinner, its soon time to board my flight to Singapore. This is one of the longer flights in Air Canada’s network clocking in at roughly 16 hours. So I’m thankful to have a relatively comfortable home for the flight. They serve two full meals and have ample snacks throughout the flight. So there isn’t any shortage of food. Upon boarding I try to get a nap in right away before getting my first meal. Then more sleeping before my final meal. As far long flights go, it goes pretty smoothly! Though by the end of it I was ready to get up and walk a few laps!
Layover in Singapore
After landing in Singapore I have a few hours to kill before boarding my next flight. It’s sadly not enough leave the airport and explore Singapore so I spend most of my time in the SilverKris Lounge. I take a shower which is great after a long flight and get to the food in time for breakfast! I love that they have congee in the lounge which is a huge comfort food for me. I happily enjoy breakfast along with a very tasty coffee with a view before heading off for my next flight.
Singapore to Taipei
I have two more flights today, the first of which is a Singapore to Taipei flight. I make my way to the gate and board, excited for my Singapore Airlines flight. They’re one of my favourite airlines and I’m always happy to fly with them. Aboard they serve more breakfast and I opt for a combination of dim sum. It’s a four hour flight and after breakfast I lie down a little to rest my eyes a bit. Before I know it, we descending to Taipei.
Layover in Taipei
I have a shorter two hours layover in Taipei. I head straight to the Eva Air Lounge. I’m not hungry at all at this point, but I do make sure to get some self made bubble tea in the lounge! After a brief rest, I head to my gate for my last flight to Fukuoka!
Taipei to Fukuoka
I have one more two hour flight until I finally land in Fukuoka. I board and again settle into my seat for the quick hop over to Japan! Once in the air they serve another meal (I’m pretty sure I’m overfed at this point!) which is actually pretty tasty and serves as a nice early dinner prior to Landing in Fukuoka.
Fukuoka
Soon its time to touch down in Fukuoka and I’m glad for that meal because there is a surprisingly long wait to clear immigration and customs at the airport. I didn’t realize that the Fukuoka is a very short hop from China and Korea so there are a lot of international flights landing with lots of tourists entering frequently. It takes me about an hour and a half to get through the check points but eventually I enter Japan and am in Fukuoka! I pick up my luggage and make my way to my hotel which takes another hour.
Taiho Ramen
After settling into my hotel and unpacking a little, I head out into the Fukuoka night! Its getting later in the evening, but I can’t have my first night in Japan not include some Japanese food! I head to Taiho Ramen which serves up Fukuoka ramen! I order a bowl for myself and enjoy the satisfying first tastes of Japan!
After devouring the Ramen, I stop by a local 711 and pick up a few new snacks for me to try. On the docket tonight, Banana Ice Cream bar!
And with that my very long day to get to Japan comes to an end! I wash up and settle in for much needed rest! I’ll spend the next few days exploring Fukuoka and all it has to offer!