Ever dreamed of visiting Japan? Credit card rewards can help get you there for a fraction of the price!
Using miles & points, I recently flew round-trip from Austin, Texas, to Japan for ~$110 in Business Class. The retail cost was ~$11,000! And for 3 weeks of lodging (including some fancy hotels), I spent ~$450!
Japan is a beautiful country, filled with a lot to see and do. You’ll find everything from high-rise skyscrapers to old temples and hot springs. I loved Tokyo’s energetic neighborhoods, shopping, and delicious restaurants. And Kyoto is a fantastic place to ride bicycles, and to explore the bamboo forest and monkey park.
Participating in a cooking class and meeting new friends was the highlight of Osaka. And a day trip to feed the deer in Nara was unforgettable! Plus, Okinawa is known for its beautiful beaches and scuba diving.
Wherever you go, you’re sure to have an amazing time!
In this part of the series, I’ll share more about the Japan Airlines lounge I visited in Osaka. And in future posts, I’ll wrap up the series and explain and how you can plan your own trip to Japan!
How to Fly to Japan for ~$100 Trip Report Index:
- Part 1 – Introduction & Planning
- Part 2 – These Are My Favorite Japanese Cities
- Part 3 – Airport Lounge Access Isn’t Just for Elite Travelers
- Part 4 – The Secret to Flying Cathay Pacific Business Class
- Part 5 – 3 Weeks of Lodging for Only ~$450!
- Part 6 – Getting Around Japan (Rail System, Metro, Bus, Etc.)
- Part 7 – Shipping and Storing Luggage in Japan
- Part 8 – Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge at Kansai International Airport
- Part 9 – Flights to USA – Japan Airlines Business Class
Flights
One-way Business Class flights to Japan cost 95,000 American Airlines miles and ~$5 in taxes and fees.
For an even better flight experience, try to find a seat on Cathay Pacific or Japan Air Lines!
If you need more American Airlines miles, consider cards like:
- Citi American Airlines Executive – 50,000 American Airlines miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Citi American Airlines Platinum Select – 60,000 American Airlines miles after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account (limited-time offer)
- Barclaycard American Airlines Aviator Red – 40,000 American Airlines bonus miles after your first purchase and payment of annual fee within the first 90 days of account opening
Getting to the Kansai International Airport
Our departing flight was leaving from Osaka, Japan. In Osaka, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Osaka, and they had a discounted airport limousine (that was actually a shuttle bus) service.
It cost ~$14 per person, was timely, and had plenty of room for everyone.
The bus was also clean and comfortable.
After arriving at the airport, we went to the check-in counter to receive our boarding passes.
We then made our way past security and through the airport.
We had to take a shuttle to get to our gate, so if you’re traveling through Kansai International Airport, allow plenty of time!
Japan Airlines’ Sakura Lounge at the Kansai International Airport
We found the Sakura Lounge, which was located near our gate.
The lounge was modern and well-stocked.
There was plenty of hot food, including minestrone and miso soup. And yummy Japanese dishes like noodles and savory pancakes and rice.
There was also a salad bar!
Plus, there were several different kinds of sake to try.
There was plenty of room to sit, too!
Bottom Line
Japan Airlines’ Sakura Lounge at Kansai International Airport in Osaka was a welcome getaway from the main airport. It had a good selection of hot food and sake to try, and there was plenty of available seating.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the next part of my Japan Trip Report, where I’ll share more about my return flights to the US on Japan Airlines!
Very misleading since even to get those credit card bonus miles you had to spend $5K and $3K and you still needed to earn another 70K or more from spending or flying to get a round trip ticket! That’s a lot more than $100 a change.
Feeding the deer in Nara is unforgettable alright but not in a good way. They get very aggressive. in that park. I was there last month and found it much better to watch others feed them.
@ fathiss- Yes, you are correct! They can get aggressive. I wouldn’t let my child feed a deer. I did see one deer start to get more aggressive which scared the child. If people do decide to feed them, I think it’s better to just leave a big pile for them on the ground, or maybe feed them all at once from your hand so you don’t carry the food smell anymore.