Blog #1 - Flying to Japan

Flying to Japan turned out to be far more than just getting from one place to another, it became its own adventure. The journey surprised me in the best ways. Here is the re-cap!

Booking my Flight

When booking my flight, I went with one of the cheapest options I could find while considering our suggested arrival date, luggage, location, etc. The dormitory suggested that we arrive at least 1 day before our assigned check in date and time, for me it was March 28th at 3:00pm. With all things considered I determined my best option would be to fly with Asian Airlines on March 26th 11:00am HST, as it was the cheapest, had the most luggage allowance, and arrived one day before the required time. This flight included an overnight layover in Korea with a transfer of Airports from Incheon to Gimpo.

Flying With Asiana Airline

Asiana Airlines was one of the best Airlines I have ever flown on in terms of Food!! I never went hungry as they gave us several meals, non-stop snacks, and several dinks. It was some of the best Airplane meals I have ever had! I chose the Seafood option for no extra cost!

Layover in Korea

I have one regret. Not doing more research on navigating Incheon Airport! It was so big and confusing! My biggest struggle was finding the Airport limousine and bus area; My GPS was not very accurate and confused me greatly on where to find it. It took me a long while but, in the end, I was able to find it. I struggled with buying a ticket with the machine but luckily the man next to me helped me out even though there was a huge language barrier. In the end I was able to make it to my hotel in time!

The Hotel I stayed at was extremely nice, had amazing amenities, and was in a great location, but only costed me $60. For the location alone I expected to find a hotel for a much higher price! After arriving at the hotel, I ate dinner at a local Korean food stall, then relaxed at a coffee shop nearby. It was so cold outside I had to wear all four of the jackets I had brought and was struggling to exist.

During my time in Korea, I only had time to explore the streets near my hotel, regardless I still had so much fun. South Korea was extremely beautiful at night with all the lights, colors, and smells, everything was so exciting. My overall first impression of Korea was that it is an extremely beautiful and I truly enjoyed my time there.

Last Flight: From Korea to Japan

I had a very easy time going from my hotel to Gimpo Airport, I did learn from this experience that the earliest you should show up to the airport is two hours as the check-in counter opens then. My flight from Korea to Japan was just as fun as the first time around I was a bit disappointed to learn I chose the wrong side of the plane and was unable to see mount fuji.

Immigration

Going through Immigration was a bit nerve racking and kind of stressful but, overall, was not too difficult. I do regret not getting a work visa just in case especially as it was extremely easy to get. I do suggest that when going to Japan that you go through and complete the Visit Japan Website and prepare everything ahead of time to make the prosses smoother and go by faster.

First night in Japan

Finally, I had my first night in Japan. I was able to get a Suica and find my way to my Air BnB fairly easily. When I arrived, my host was the sweetest person ever! She gave me a different, but better room than I initially booked and worked really hard to give a great experience. She provided free snacks, drinks, and ice cream and in the morning, she made me a traditional Japanese breakfast. She woke up extra early, to help me find a route to my dorm before I woke up with many options. In the end she had her son escort and help me get most of the way to my dorm. Before parting she gave me an adorable bunny snack set and insisted I contact her if I need any help or had any issues. My host and her family were so incredibly kind, and I would love to stay there again!

Conclusion

"The best part of an adventure is the Journey" and I whole heartedly agree with this statement. It may have been a bit difficult, and took extra time, but on the way, I had amazing experiences, saw beautiful sights, and met wonderful people.