| | Japan never goes out of style | | by Brian Kelly | |  | I spent this past week in Japan — I hadn't been there since before the pandemic. This was my sixth trip, and I can tell you that Tokyo never gets old. The city is vibrant and alive — it's one of those cities I would recommend visiting year-round.
It's not too late to book travel for cherry blossom season this year — here is the anticipated schedule. I've seen the cherry blossoms previously, and it's an amazing experience. This time, I was treated to a snow storm, which was really beautiful to see while walking through the streets of Tokyo. Snow is not a regular occurrence in the city, so many places were shut down and some commuter trains even got stuck.
Hotel recommendations
There are a lot of points hotels in Tokyo — the Park Hyatt is the most iconic, but it is about to shut down for a (much needed) extensive renovation. I've stayed at the Andaz (Hyatt) and Prince Gallery (Marriott) and loved both and would highly recommend them. Check out TPG's guide to Tokyo hotels for more hotel inspiration.
This time, I stayed at The Peninsula Tokyo, which I felt was pretty dated. The service was great, but it's not the best hotel in Tokyo, in my opinion. Then I spent two nights at Aman Tokyo, which was absolutely spectacular. I recommend booking through a Virtuoso travel adviser or American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts for extra perks. The hotel is breathtaking — the lobby on the 33rd floor is stunning and not crowded. It was a very serene stay, and the views over Tokyo from my room were awe-inspiring.
Tokyo experiences
I've linked my Tokyo experiences in my Instagram highlights, but wanted to share a few recommendations for experiences that I enjoyed while in Tokyo.
Ginza Kagari for ramen was incredible. Once your number is called, you are able to order on a touchscreen and then go back outside to wait for a spot at the bar to eat — very efficient and delicious.
I loved the immersive art experience from the art collective teamLab. The new installation "Borderless" opens this week at the chic new Azabudai Mall.
If you are traveling with kids, you might want to check out the Micro Pig cafe. I took Dean and he loved it.
Japan Airlines first-class experience
The highlight of my trip over was getting to fly first class on the new Japan Airlines A350-1000, which is out of this world! The suite itself was massive, which was great, especially flying with Dean. He loved it so much that he stayed awake for nine hours of the 14-hour flight — which was not ideal — but he had tons of space to play.
The flight attendants were so nice and brought him toys. Japan Airlines' service is impeccable. I tried the Western menu leaving New York and the food was exquisite. Overall, Japan Airlines has really upped the game with its new A350-1000. You can see my full flight recap on my Instagram highlights.
It's not the best first-class service in the world, in my opinion. To rank first, you need to have ground service. The lounge experience at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is more of a business-class experience — you use the Soho Lounge, which is what I use when flying Finnair business class. There's no predeparture Champagne, which is a cheap move on the airline's part, and there's no VIP handling at Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) when you land. So, overall, it's not the top first-class experience, but it is truly the best way to fly between the U.S. and Japan, hands down.
What would Brian do?
Last week, I announced a new feature for my weekly newsletter where I will answer a reader's question to help them choose between two travel options. Krista wrote in with the following:
"I live in Chicago, and United is usually the airline I end up on. We have an Amex Business Platinum and a Chase Sapphire card, both offer lounge access, but not at O'Hare.
I travel mainly for pleasure, but some business and lots of flights to Europe. I can't decide if I should get a United credit card or what would be my best additional card to get me some priority when I fly United. Or should I switch airlines and move to Delta, which has a great lounge at ORD? Any advice??"
Hi, Krista — you do have lounge access at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express; if you fly Delta Air Lines, you can access the beautiful Delta lounge. As for United Airlines, I would recommend getting a United credit card because flying nonstop is usually the best, and Chicago is a hub. If you like lounge access, the United Club Infinite Card is great — I've had it for years, and United has renovated a lot of its lounges. There are four locations in O'Hare.
Even though the card has an annual fee on the high side at $525, the current sign-up bonus is 80,000 bonus miles (after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months), and I value that bonus at almost $1,200.
Those 80,000 miles could be used for a business-class award ticket to Europe. Plus, cardmembers get discounted award pricing when booking United flights, and you'll earn 4 miles per dollar on United purchases. In addition to United Club membership, which includes access to the airline's airport lounges as well as those of some of its Star Alliance partners, you'll get Premier Access for priority service at the airport, free checked bags, and even a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit worth up to $100 once every four years.
You can read the full card review here. Thanks for writing in.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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