SFO777

Off to Tokyo

Today I’m off on the tail end of an abbreviated RTW trip (originally DEN-LAX-DFW-LHR-AUH-CAI-DOH-SYD-SIN-NRT-LAX-DEN ) that is now down to 48 hours in Tokyo. And I’m back on Japan Airlines First Class from San Francisco to Tokyo as JAL released award seats in the final week. Starting off with the usual United positioning flight, today to San Francisco.

Denver DEN to San Francisco SFO
United UA 1314
757-200 Lie Flat
7:55am - 9:48am
March 20, 2023





The usual annoying United Group 1 boarding although not a problem today as only First turns lefts from door 2L.









Nice cleaning job United. The plane has only been on the ground for 10 hours. LOL.









The breakfast shakshouka was pretty tasty.



By all means, talk on your phone in the air.

SFO777

Lounge Hopping at SFO

With four hours to my JAL flight, I decided to get some exercise and sample the One World Lounges at SFO. First stop is over to Terminal 3 and the new (for me) American AAdmirals Club.





Wow, about a mile deep into Terminal 3, finally the stupid Admirals Club. Why on earth did they move from convenient Terminal 2??



Typical AA decor and furnishings.



With a "quiet room"



And the usual pAAthetic breakfast offerings, when they remember to restock.





Next stop is a definite upgrade, the Cathay Pacific Lounge









Nice food selection.







Yummy Thai curry noodle bowl.

SFO777

British Airways Lounge at SFO

And the last stop, the BA Lounge.





The main part is pretty depressing.











But at the back of the lounge is the excellent BA First Dining.



And an oasis of calm.











Nice salad to start.



And a deliciouls burgbh





Great selection of gins to sample.

SFO777

Japan Airlines First Class to Tokyo

San Francisco SFO to Tokyo HND
Japan Airlines JAL 1
777-300
1:55pm-5:40pm +1
March 20, 2024
Departed 7/8
Cost: 80,000 AA miles and $5.60

JAL periodically releases First Class award seats within 7-10 days of travel on select routes. SFO is the most recent route and I was fortunate to grab one a few days before my planned departure.



Dated but still pleasant cabin.



Since I booked last minute, only inside seats were available.



But I lucked out with the an empty seat 1G next to me.



Today's menu...





The good champagne only in the air.





Showtime: JAL First style.



Today I opted for the western menu not realizing that it included full servings of everything on the menu.



Veal starter was meh.





Swordfish ragout was quite good.



The Chilean Sea Bass was fabulous.



As if I needed anything else, prime tenderloin filet.



Just a tad rare. LOL.





Nap time as our FA made a bed for me next door in unoccupied 1G.



And a bite prior to landing.



Ridiculous Haneda immigration mob scene. 70 minutes to reach an agent.

SFO777

Dinner at Michelin Star Mutsukari - Ginza

With a late Tokyo arrival, I decided to have dinner at a restaurant close to my hotel, the Hyatt Centric Ginza. Nearby Mutsukari was just awarded a Michelin star and was a delightful experience... once I found it. LOL. Chic understated Japanese decor with a very welcoming staff and impeccable service. The food was not only wonderful but imaginative in its presentation. The main 6th floor dining room has an open concept kitchen and it was enjoyable to watching the dishes being prepared





Very nice kitchen counter seating to watch all of the action.




Wines by the glass selections were basic swill.





Icefish and asparagus tempura. Very nice.



Grilled Firefly squid... not so much.



White sesame seed tofu.







Delicious sashimi dish.



The highlight of the evening was Mutsukari Burger... conger eel.



Veggies.



Grilled Koshin pork.

SFO777

Hyatt Centric Ginza

The Centric is definitely a casual Hyatt property but perfectly located in the heart of the Ginza.













Breakfast the next morning.











.

SKT-DK

Wow - another adventure! Will be following along!

That HND immigration queue is ridiculous!

SFO777

Thanks very much SKT-DK. That immigration queue was crazy. I've applied for the Japan Trusted Traveler Program but it's now 6 weeks and I'm still waiting for preliminary approval.

tom tulpe

And not a single black latex glove in sight. "Clean hands, not dirty gloves" is a concept I like very much, personally.

SFO777

Totally agree!

SFO777

My Day in Tokyo

This morning I’m off to explore Tokyo starting off with a brisk walk from the Hyatt Centric Ginza hotel to the Imperial Palace Gardens. Beautiful clear blue sky morning but chilly and not good sakura viewing as the cherry blossoms decided that they want no part of the continuing cold Tokyo temps. It was fun to ride the Tokyo subway... after I figured out how to buy a ticket and use the kiosks. LOL. Fabulous lunch as Bifteck Kawamura. Then over to Shibuya and my first experience with the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Cool to see it from above.













At the least the museum was open.











Off to the Tokyo Metro.



Finally figured it out. LOL.















A short but pleasant walk to Roppongi.

SFO777

And a wonderful wagyu lunch.



















Heavenly.







Trying to walk off lunch.











Struck out on the Shibuya Sky as it was sold out.





But the poor man's Sky still get a good view of the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.



Heading back to the hotel.

zip10001

Great report as always!
Can I ask how you manage to get so many 'Hall Passes' from Mrs SFO777?

(asking for those who cannot travel overseas without taking their partner along.)

JapesUK

Great report!

Amazed to see Angels Envy in the SFO BA lounge, that would definitely be my happy place.

theshaun

Off to a great start. UA leaves you a goldfish cracker in case you get peckish and JAL serves you sauce in a tinfoil ramekin because first class.