Some journeys begin long before the flight takes off.

Ours started with family, emotions, exhaustion, excitement, and the dream of finally visiting Japan during the magical Cherry Blossom season.

Before our Japan adventure began, my wife and I travelled from Melbourne to Kolkata to accompany my mother-in-law back home after she had spent three wonderful months staying with us in Australia. It was a beautiful time together, and naturally we wanted to personally drop her back before beginning our own holiday.

But the moment we landed in Kolkata, reality hit us instantly.

The heat.

The humidity.

The blazing April weather.

After Melbourne’s cooler climate, Kolkata honestly felt like stepping inside a giant furnace. The roads shimmered in the heat, the air felt heavy, and within minutes we were sweating endlessly.

Yet none of that could reduce our excitement.

Because just a few days later, we would finally be flying to Japan — a destination we had dreamt about for years.

And soon, our adventure officially began.

Booking Our Flights to Japan

For our trip, we booked Singapore Airlines tickets through Expedia.

We specifically chose Haneda Airport in Tokyo because it is significantly closer to the city compared to Narita Airport, which saves both time and travel effort after a long international journey.

✈️ Flight Details

💰 Flight Cost

• 1001.80 AUD total for 2 passengers

Considering we were travelling during the peak Cherry Blossom season, we honestly felt this was a very reasonable price.

(You can convert the amount into your local currency for a better idea.)

Kolkata Airport Security & The Struggles of Carrying Camera Gear

If you travel light, airport security is usually simple.

But if you are a content creator carrying:

• Cameras
• Lenses
• Batteries
• Chargers
• Microphones
• Electronic accessories

…then security checks become an entire process of their own.

At Kolkata Airport, the security personnel carefully checked almost everything and repeatedly asked me to remove chargers, camera accessories, and multiple electronic items from my backpack.

Even though I always organize my equipment neatly inside separate travel pouches, they still wanted nearly everything taken out individually and placed onto trays.

Honestly, this is one area where I personally feel airports in countries like Australia are far more convenient, because there they usually ask you to remove only laptops while the remaining electronics can often stay inside the bag.

But after unpacking, scanning, repacking, reorganizing, and finally surviving the security process, something unexpected and beautiful happened.

Meeting Fellow Travellers & New Friends

While waiting near the departure area, two people approached us and started speaking about YouTube and travel content.

They mentioned how inspired they felt seeing creators document their journeys and told us they themselves were interested in starting a YouTube channel someday.

That simple conversation instantly created a connection.

And this is honestly one of the things we love most about travelling — sometimes complete strangers suddenly become part of your journey.

Their names were Deep Sarkar and his wife Joyeeta, and soon all four of us headed together to the Travel Companion Lounge at Kolkata Airport.

If you hold eligible credit cards, airport lounges in India can actually provide incredible value for a very affordable cost.

I initially tried using one of my international cards, but the process was slightly different. Our new friends kindly helped arrange the access, and before we knew it, we were all sitting comfortably inside the lounge enjoying dinner together.

And honestly?

That dinner turned out to be far better than rushing through airplane meals later.

It was such a relaxing and heartwarming start to our trip.

Soon afterwards, our paths separated — they were travelling to Bangkok while we prepared to board our flight to Japan.

But that small airport friendship remains a lovely memory even today and we are friends from that time.

Boarding Singapore Airlines SQ517

Our first flight from Kolkata to Singapore was operated on a Boeing 737-800.

Since the aircraft was relatively compact for an international route, passengers were requested to keep smaller cabin bags underneath the seat in front instead of using overhead storage.

The flight itself was smooth and comfortable overall.

The food was decent — not extraordinary — although honestly we were not particularly hungry after having such a satisfying dinner at the lounge earlier.

And slowly, somewhere above the clouds, our Japan dream started feeling real.

The Stressful Changi Airport Transit

Now came one of the most stressful parts of the journey.

Our flight from Kolkata landed in Singapore Changi Airport around 6:30 AM, while our next flight to Tokyo Haneda was scheduled for 7:40 AM.

That left us with a very tight connection window.

We were genuinely nervous because we still had to:

• Disembark
• Walk to the next gate
• Carry all cabin luggage
• Clear another security check
• Reach boarding on time

Adding to the stress, when we collected our boarding passes in Kolkata, it initially appeared that the arrival and departure gates were located in different terminal sections.

We mentally prepared ourselves for a long airport run.

But thankfully, luck was with us.

Both flights were actually operating within the same terminal, and the next gate was only a short walking distance away from where we arrived.

The moment we realized that, we felt enormous relief.

And soon we were seated at the gate, waiting to board our next flight — the one that would finally take us to Japan.

Flying Towards Tokyo 🇯🇵

The excitement during the Singapore to Tokyo flight was completely different.

This time, it truly felt like the adventure was beginning.

And thankfully, the food on this sector was noticeably better.

🍴 Meal Highlights

• Chicken Tomato Pasta
• Soba Noodles
• Udders Strawberry Ice Cream

That strawberry ice cream deserves a special mention because it was absolutely delicious.

Sometimes, while travelling, it’s the smallest things that stay in your memory forever.

First Impressions of Japan

When we landed at Haneda Airport around 3:00 PM, nearly 30 minutes ahead of schedule, we were unbelievably excited.

We had finally arrived in Japan.

And immediately, one thing stood out to us.

Everything was spotless.

The airport looked incredibly clean, organized, and efficient.

But what amazed us even more came later while travelling towards our hotel in Tokyo.

As we looked outside the taxi window, we kept noticing:

• Beautiful modern buildings
• Wide and clean roads
• Disciplined traffic
• Peaceful surroundings
• Perfectly maintained infrastructure

And this was Tokyo — one of the largest and most populated cities in the world.

Yet despite its enormous population, the city felt calm, organized, and unbelievably clean.

That first drive through Tokyo honestly felt surreal.

Immigration at Haneda Airport — Important Tip for Travellers

If you are planning a Japan trip, here is one recommendation we strongly suggest:

✅ Complete Immigration Online Before Arrival

Japan offers an online immigration process through the official Japan Web system.

You can:

• Generate QR codes before arrival
• Scan them at airport kiosks
• Scan your passport
• Complete immigration much faster

Otherwise, you may need to manually fill paper forms and stand in extremely long queues, especially during peak tourist seasons.

After using the kiosk, we proceeded to the immigration counter where the officers checked our passports and attached the visa approval sticker.

⚠️ Important Note

Visa requirements vary depending on nationality.

We travelled using Indian passports, but please always verify the latest visa rules applicable to your own passport before travelling to Japan.

The Mini Heart Attack at Baggage Claim 😅

After immigration, we headed towards baggage collection.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Nearly 15–20 minutes passed, but our suitcases never appeared.

At this point, tension slowly started building.

Nearby, an airport official was already speaking to some other passengers whose luggage had apparently arrived on different flights.

Hearing that instantly made us nervous.

“What if our luggage is missing too?”

Thankfully, after checking our baggage tags, the official guided us towards a nearby sorted luggage area.

And there they were.

Our bags.

Safe and waiting for us.

That relief after international travel is impossible to describe.

Buying Our Welcome Suica Cards

After exiting customs, we approached the airport helpdesk to ask about travelling to our hotel:

📍 Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, Shinagawa

The airport staff were extremely polite and helpful.

One gentleman even handed us a Tokyo travel guide and recommended purchasing something that became absolutely essential during our trip:

🚆 Welcome Suica Card

The Welcome Suica is a prepaid IC card specially designed for tourists visiting Japan.

It can be used for:

• Trains
• Buses
• Convenience stores
• Vending machines
• Various payments

Since we were staying for 8 Nights and 9 Days, the staff recommended initially recharging:

• 3000 JPY per person

We purchased two cards directly from the airport kiosks, and honestly, they made travelling around Japan incredibly convenient.

Taxi to Our Hotel in Shinagawa

Although Japan’s train system is world-famous and highly efficient, we decided to take a taxi because we were carrying multiple heavy suitcases after the long journey.

🚕 Taxi Fare

• Haneda Airport → Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa
• Cost: 6100 JPY

Taxi fares in Japan are definitely expensive compared to public transport, but the experience itself was excellent.

The drivers were:

• Extremely professional
• Well dressed in suits
• Polite and disciplined

The taxi interiors were spotless and even featured large digital screens showing news and advertisements.

For payments, Japan supports:

• Cash
• International cards
• Forex cards

I personally used my Wise Card, where I had already loaded approximately 1000 AUD worth of Japanese Yen before travelling.

And honestly, Wise worked wonderfully throughout Japan because:

• Payments happened directly in Yen
• Exchange rates were excellent
• No unnecessary international transaction fees

Our Stay at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa 🏨

Initially there was slight confusion because multiple hotels nearby had similar names, but eventually we reached safely.

And honestly?

The hotel was beautiful.

🏨 Hotel Details

Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa – Shinagawa, Tokyo

Room Booked

• Superior Corner King Room (Non-Smoking)

💰 Cost

• 1169 AUD for 4 Nights
• (Cherry Blossom season pricing)

Before visiting Japan, we had repeatedly heard that Tokyo hotel rooms are extremely small.

But surprisingly, our room felt:

• Spacious
• Cozy
• Comfortable

And then came the famous Japanese bathroom experience.

The toilet itself featured:

• Heated seats
• Adjustable bidet settings
• Water pressure controls
• Multiple spray patterns

For first-time visitors, even Japanese bathrooms feel futuristic.

Why We Absolutely Loved Having a 7 Eleven Inside the Hotel

One of the best parts of staying at the hotel was having a 7 Eleven convenience store inside the property itself.

And trust me — Japanese convenience stores are legendary.

From there we bought:

• Snacks
• Sandwiches
• Drinks
• Rice bowls
• Essentials

We also withdrew cash there.

Important Japan Cash Withdrawal Tips 💴

For travellers visiting Japan:

✅ Best Places to Withdraw Cash

• 7 Eleven
• FamilyMart
• Lawson
• Japan Post

❌ Avoid

• Airport currency exchange counters
• Large bank ATMs with poor conversion rates

Example

When we withdrew:

• 10,000 JPY
• Service fee charged: 110 JPY

Which was perfectly reasonable.

Foods & Drinks You MUST Try from 7 Eleven Japan 🍓🥪🥤

One thing we absolutely loved in Japan was the food and drinks from 7 Eleven. Japanese convenience stores are honestly on another level altogether. If you visit Japan, definitely try the famous Japanese Egg Sandwich and the Strawberry Sandwich — both tasted incredibly fresh and unique. We also became huge fans of the refreshing Yuzu drink, especially after long walks and travelling around the city. Along with that, the bottled cold coffee from Japanese convenience stores was surprisingly good and quickly became part of our daily routine during the trip.

That night after reaching Tokyo, we picked up:

• Chicken rice bowls
• Egg sandwiches
• Strawberry sandwiches
• Yuzu drinks
• Cold coffee

from 7 Eleven and it costed us 3092 JPY, had dinner peacefully in our room, and finally went to sleep completely exhausted — because the next morning, our Mt. Fuji adventure was waiting for us. 🗻 If you would like to read about our Mt. Fuji trip please visit https://bonginoz.com/?p=452

Our detailed video for this entire experience is present in Bengali language in our YouTube channel which you can see below