Surprise Trip to Japan in November

[RS18U]

A complete surprise.  My employer is sending me and the person I am training to replace me when I retire in a couple of months to Japan in November.  Tokyo -> Miyazaki -> Nagoya/Hamamatsu -> Odate/Akita -> Tokyo.  In 5 days.  Plane and train.  I will be spending some time both before and after this to explore on my own.  Flights to Tokyo were easy, but coming back mid week provided to be challenging.  ANA premium economy was about $400 cheaper than regular economy, go figure 🤔  Looking forward to getting to The Railway Museum, Ginzatenshodo Honten, Hobby Center Kato and what ever I can see in my off days.  My guide has a place in Nikko so may go there too, he says maybe on the SPACIA X.

[cteno4]

Congrats to the trip and your retirement!

 

cheers

 

jeff

[N-Osoi]

1 hour ago, RS18U said:

ANA premium economy was about $400 cheaper than regular economy

Awesome! ANA Premium economy is great! It also gives you access to the airport lounges. Have fun!

[Kamome]

Great opportunity. I whole-heartedly recommend Nikko. Beautiful scenery and hopefully with the Autumn colours if you time it right. Toshogu shrine if you don't mind steps.

Its just a nice scenic place to visit and bonus if you can ride the Spacia X on the Tobu-Nikko line.

 

I've always found that part of Tochigi has a habit of very changeable weather. On 4 visits to Nikko, think it's rained on 3  at some point.

Edited October 8 by Kamome

[Tony Galiani]

Not sure if this is something you would be interested in but Tobu Railway used to offer a package for Nikko.  Rail to/from Tokyo, local buses around Nikko, access to Kegon Falls, the ropeway and a lake cruise.  We did that in 2019 and enjoyed it quite a bit.

Cheers,

Tony

[Kingmeow]

That sounds awesome!  Visiting Japan on someone else's dime!  😄

 

From the places you listed:

 

Nagoya

• Be sure to check our SCMagLev train museum.  Sign up for the train simulator.  I've heard it's so popular it's a lottery system for the day's open slots.
• Joshin Super Kids Land since you are not going to be in Osaka for their big store.  I don't think there's one in Tokyo so check out the one in Nagoya.  It's on my list when I'm there in the next few weeks.  And within walking distance from this is Hobby Land Pochi, Popondetta and Mandarake.  Both Popondetta and Mandarake have good selections of used trains.

Tokyo

• Tons of non-train related things to do so you will be overwhelmed.  But for N-Scale, check out Popondetta (5 floors!) if you haven't in Nagoya, Yodobashi, Model Imon, etc. in addition to Kato Hobby Center which is already on your list.

[chadbag]

1 minute ago, Kingmeow said:

But for N-Scale, check out Popondetta (5 floors!)

I've not been there in Tokyo.  I'll have to check it out (not the OP).

thanks

[Kingmeow]

1 hour ago, chadbag said:

I've not been there in Tokyo.  I'll have to check it out (not the OP).

thanks

 

It's in Akihabara off a busy road (forgot name).  Highly recommended!  🙂

 

 

[Tony Galiani]

IIRC, the entrance to Popondetta is a bit tricky.  The first time I went in to the street level shop and thought that was all there was to it.  I think the access to the other floors is outside adjacent to the ground level store or around the corner.

Tony

[Kingmeow]

10 minutes ago, Tony Galiani said:

IIRC, the entrance to Popondetta is a bit tricky.  The first time I went in to the street level shop and thought that was all there was to it.  I think the access to the other floors is outside adjacent to the ground level store or around the corner.

Tony

 

Correct!  The entrance is adjacent as if you were going to another business (not around the corner).  Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of the overall shop.

[N-Osoi]

https://youtu.be/KtSLSSWzttU?si=_JUPRNDqhchJBL54

 this video shows the entrance as you walk in, within the first minute of the video.

[Kingmeow]

[RS18U]

21 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Congrats to the trip and your retirement!

 

cheers

 

jeff

Thanks Jeff.  I've been working in this business since I was 12 1/2 years old, and my dad since before WW II so I am ready.  More than ready!

[RS18U]

20 hours ago, N-Osoi said:

gives you access to the airport lounges

I did not know that, thanks!  Although I don't think they have a lounge at YVR 😞

[RS18U]

18 hours ago, Kamome said:

On 4 visits to Nikko, think it's rained on 3  at some point.

No worries, I live on the wet (west) coast of Canada so am used to the rain.  And Nikko looks great from what I have seen.

[maihama eki]

10 minutes ago, RS18U said:

I did not know that, thanks!  Although I don't think they have a lounge at YVR 😞

 

ANA premium economy gets access to the Plaza Premium lounge at YVR. I don't know anything about that lounge, but you aren't losing anything to have a look at it.

 

If you are Star Alliance Gold, you also get access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge.

 

https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/guide/lounge/international/yvr/

 

Edited October 9 by maihama eki

[RS18U]

12 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

That sounds awesome!  Visiting Japan on someone else's dime!  😄

 

From the places you listed:

 

Nagoya

• Be sure to check our SCMagLev train museum.  Sign up for the train simulator.  I've heard it's so popular it's a lottery system for the day's open slots.
• Joshin Super Kids Land since you are not going to be in Osaka for their big store.  I don't think there's one in Tokyo so check out the one in Nagoya.  It's on my list when I'm there in the next few weeks.  And within walking distance from this is Hobby Land Pochi, Popondetta and Mandarake.  Both Popondetta and Mandarake have good selections of used trains.

Tokyo

• Tons of non-train related things to do so you will be overwhelmed.  But for N-Scale, check out Popondetta (5 floors!) if you haven't in Nagoya, Yodobashi, Model Imon, etc. in addition to Kato Hobby Center which is already on your list.

Thanks for the suggestions!  Unfortunately due to my work travel plans there will be little, if any, extra time in Nagoya to take in extra sites.  But I will add these into our next trip.

[RS18U]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful ideas and tips.  I am also using this trip to help set up a future trip with my wife since she can't come on this one, so am really interested in Nikko.

 

We are going into the forests and looking at forestry practices as my employer purchases logs from Japan and we need to ensure that the practices are in line with our values, and legal obligations under such things as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and the US Lacey Act.  Its an interesting and challenging aspect of my work and I am grateful to see how Japan manages their forest.  I am not expecting any issues, and I get to ride some trains!

 

Will

[kuro68000]

20 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

 

It's in Akihabara off a busy road (forgot name).  Highly recommended!  🙂

 

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4TWPGD1YEiZ4xCsX9

 

It's not too hard to find. It's opposite a school, but if you see the park then you went too far and it's on the opposite side.

 

There's also a fairly new place right behind it, which sells used trains: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vz2ZKu8qPFxtP65b6

 

I haven't been to the new place so please report if you go!  It's on my map of railfan POIs (see my signature).

[MeTheSwede]

Before going to Japan this year I had this idea that maybe it would be a fun challenge to visit every model train store in Akihabara in one day. After spending a couple of hours at Popondetta I realised that visiting every store would probably require that I do not enter them. 😆 

 

Eventually I ended up paying three visits to Akihabara, each time visiting a single different store for model trains.

[Kingmeow]

3 hours ago, kuro68000 said:

There's also a fairly new place right behind it, which sells used trains: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vz2ZKu8qPFxtP65b6

 

I haven't been to the new place so please report if you go!  It's on my map of railfan POIs (see my signature).

 

NOTED!  Will report back if I make it there on this trip.

[cteno4]

14 hours ago, RS18U said:

Thanks Jeff.  I've been working in this business since I was 12 1/2 years old, and my dad since before WW II so I am ready.  More than ready!

Wow! Yes, it’s time to retire and play with trains now. It’s great your work will get you back for a nice trip at the end of your career like this. My first trip to Japan in grad school back in the early 80s was to present at a meeting so it was a real treat so young to get a free trip to Japan, a place I thought I wouldn’t get to until much later in life. But it gave me the Japanese train bug big time and pushed the us one away.

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

4 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

 

NOTED!  Will report back if I make it there on this trip.

 

That reminds me, there is a guy or gal who posts reviews of Akihabara restaurants, with photos, on Twitter: 

Akihabara has become kind of a culinary powerhouse in the last few years, despite the pandemic. Lots of independent places with great food.

[Kingmeow]

The whole country has great food!  😃

[RS18U]

On 10/7/2024 at 10:10 PM, N-Osoi said:

Awesome! ANA Premium economy is great! It also gives you access to the airport lounges. Have fun!

My co-worker just booked his flights, on Air Canada.  $4,900 CDN for premium economy vs my $2,900, although he flying on different days and not spending any extra time in Japan.