Joseph Japan

Tickets and bookings

Everything booked, and everything still to book. Times are New York time.

Item	When	Details	Who	Status
Flights, ANA NH159 and NH110	Sun night Nov 1, Nov 19	Code D79KKA. Joseph and Joey fly. Aaliyah's seat cancelled, taxes refunded	Joseph	booked
All four stays	Nov 3 to 19	Kameido, Tanimachi 4-chome (new), Tofukuji, Koiwa (new)	Joseph	booked
JDM car meet, GaijinTuned	Thu Nov 5, 7:30 PM	Klook, rebooked for two. Confirm the meeting address on the ticket	Laura	booked
Bullet train, Nozomi 33	Tue Nov 10, 12:30 PM	Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, Klook, Car 8, seats 2-C and 2-D	Laura	booked
Sumo show, Hirakuza	Fri Nov 13, 5:00 PM	Premium seats with bento and a drink, 2 people. Use the email Hirakuza sends, not the Klook QR	Laura	booked
Kendo and Samurai Experience	Mon Nov 16, 2:00 PM	GetYourGuide GYGFWVY3L2LV, 2 adults, English guide. Studio NIN, Shugakuin. Be there by 1:50 PM	Joseph	booked
Bullet train, Nozomi 252	Tue Nov 17, 12:30 PM	Kyoto to Tokyo 2:45 PM, Klook, Car 8, seats 4-C and 4-D	Laura	booked
Shigetsu temple lunch	Now, if not done	Mon Nov 16, 11 AM, for two. Call 075-882-9725	Cesar	to book
Hiro yakiniku, Pontocho	Now, if not done	Sun Nov 15, 7:30 PM, for two	Cesar	to book
K36 rooftop	Now, if not done	Sun Nov 15, about 4:45 PM. Call 075-541-3636	Cesar	to call
Pokemon Cafe Osaka	Opened Oct 8	Thu Nov 12. Optional; check the site for cancellations	Cesar	optional
Shimakaze to Ise	Any time now	Wed Nov 11 day trip, about $135 for two. On sale now. Only if Joseph wants it	Cesar	decide
Aoniyoshi, Nara to Kyoto	Sun Nov 15, 9:53 AM	Reservation A02246, Train 209, Car 3, seats 3A and 3B (twin), ¥1,460 for two. Show the e-ticket from the Kintetsu site, not a screenshot. Rapid express to Nara first, on Suica	Joseph	booked
Matsusakagyu M	Mid October	Fri Nov 13 after sumo. Optional splurge	Cesar	optional
The Kintan Steak	End of October	Sat Nov 7, 6:30 PM, TableCheck	Cesar	to book
Wagyu Yakiniku KIM	End of October	Wed Nov 18, farewell dinner	Cesar	to book
Airport van, Nov 3	By Oct 27	Tokyo MK or RydAgent, about $110 to $135. Give flight NH159. Ask the host about an early bag drop or adding Nov 2 first	Cesar	to book
Kyoto guest registration	About Nov 8	Passport photos, form from the host	Joseph	to do
Wagyu Idaten, Monsen	No booking	Walk up: Idaten tickets at 10:30 AM, Monsen opens 7 PM	walk up	just turn up
Go-karts, Shibuya	Fri Nov 6	Cancelled Oct 27 (Joey has no license, so no permit). Klook kept about $2. Friday evening is open.	Done	cancelled
LuggAgent, Osaka flat to Kyoto house	Sun Nov 15	4 bags, door-code pickup 9:00 to 9:30 AM, delivered by 9 PM. $155. Book by Oct 30 with the Kyoto house address.	Joseph	to book
Yamato, Kameido to the Osaka flat	Mon Nov 9	Drop at a Yamato office; delivered Tue Nov 10, 4 to 6 PM. About $112 (¥17,520) cash.	Joseph, in Japan	in Japan
Yamato airport delivery, Kyoto to Haneda T3	Tue Nov 17	Yamato office by Kyoto Station before the train. About $128 (¥20,160) cash. Pick up at T3 on Nov 19 from 8:35 AM.	Joseph, in Japan	in Japan

From here to the airport

Everything with a date on it, in order. Japan sells a lot of tickets exactly on the minute, so a few of these are alarm-clock jobs. Times are New York time unless they say otherwise.

Tokyo 7→Osaka 5→Kyoto 2→Tokyo 2

Done so far

Booked

Flights, all four stays, Universal

Universal was bought Sept 26 for three: Studio Pass plus Express Pass 8 for Sat Nov 14, $684 (¥107,400). It can't be refunded, so one set is now spare.

Done

Rebooked for two, October

Car meet, go-karts, both bullet trains, sumo

Laura cancelled the three-person bookings and rebooked them for Joseph and Joey, same days.

Laura

Booked Oct 17

Aoniyoshi, Sun Nov 15, Kintetsu-Nara 9:53 AM to Kyoto 10:29 AM

Reservation A02246, Train 209, Car 3, seats 3A and 3B (twin), ¥1,460 for two. The Osaka end was sold out, so they ride a rapid express to Nara first.

Joseph

Confirmed Oct 17

Kendo and Samurai Experience, Mon Nov 16, 2 to 4 PM

GetYourGuide GYGFWVY3L2LV, 2 adults, English guide, Studio NIN in Shugakuin. Be there by 1:50 PM; late means no refund.

Joseph

Now, if not done yet

Kyoto meals, for two

Shigetsu temple lunch for Mon Nov 16 (call 075-882-9725), Hiro yakiniku in Pontocho for Sun Nov 15, and call K36 rooftop (075-541-3636) about Sun Nov 15 around 4:45 PM.

Cesar

Mid October

Matsusakagyu M, only if they want the splurge after sumo

A5 yakiniku by Hozenji Yokocho, about $64 (¥10,000) a head. Books out 2 to 4 weeks ahead.

Cesar

End of October

Reserve the two Tokyo dinners, table for two

The Kintan Steak for Sat Nov 7 (TableCheck) and the farewell dinner on Wed Nov 18, Yakiniku Ichiba by Koiwa Station (online booking only, cash only).

Cesar

By Tue Oct 27

Ask the Kameido host about an early bag drop, then book the Nov 3 van

Van from Haneda with flight NH159, about $110 to $135. See Rides and bags.

Cesar

Week of Oct 26

Phones and paperwork

Set up the T-Mobile international plan and Suica in Apple Wallet, fill in Visit Japan Web and screenshot the QR codes, download the apps, tell the bank. Full list under Before you go.

Joseph

About Sun Nov 8

Kyoto house guest registration

The host sends a form 7 days out. Upload passport photos for both of you. Japanese law requires it.

Joseph

By Fri Oct 30

Book LuggAgent for Nov 15

Osaka flat to the Kyoto house, 4 bags, pickup by door code 9:00 to 9:30 AM. $155 online. Needs the Kyoto house address from the Airbnb app.

Joseph

Mon Nov 9, afternoon

Suitcases to the Yamato office

Near Kameido. They reach the Osaka flat Tuesday 4 to 6 PM. About $112 cash.

Joseph and Joey

Tue Nov 17, 11:10 AM

Suitcases to Haneda

Yamato office by Kyoto Station, before the 12:30 train. About $128 cash. They wait at Terminal 3.

Joseph and Joey

Mon Nov 2, 12:55 AM

Wheels up

ANA NH159 out of JFK Terminal 7, Sunday night. Power banks in the carry-on, not in the overhead bin.

Joseph and Joey