Flying to Tokyo for bird watching

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

Aladdin's adventure on board Thai Airways flight TG 676

Tuesday 9 ^th of July 2024 and my taxi will come to pick me up at 5 o'clock for transportation to Suvarnabhumi International and Thai Airways flight TG 676. I will arrive to Narita International in the afternoon and I will go straight to Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka.

I choose hotel to be close to the Imperial Palace and parks so I have planned to visit a few eBird hotspots tomorrow:
新宿区--新宿御苑 (Shinjuku Ward--Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden)
中央区--浜離宮恩賜庭園 (Chuo Ward--Hamarikyu Gardens)
千代田区--赤坂御用地 (Chiyoda Ward--Akasaka Parkla nd)

The Imperial Palace have several hotspots and I might visit if I have the time. My Guide will pick me up on Thursday morning and we will drive to Mount Fuji to have a look for birds.

This is the same Guide I had last time I was in Japan, JAPAN-BIRDING. And like last time, my Guide had made an itinerary minute by minute. Excellent! Links to everything in the itinerary so it will be easy with the trains and everything.

Thursday 11 July 2024
6:00 - Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka - Pick up by guide
Drive to forest roads of Mt.Fuji
08:00 - Forest roads of Mt.Fuji - Birding - 4hrs, 20km
12:30 - Drive to Lake Yamanaka
13:00 - Walk to Obora Spring - 30min, 2km walk
13:30 - Obora Spring - Birding - 2hrs, 3km
15:30 - Walk to car park - 30min, 2km walk
16:00 - Drive to Hotel Seikei near Lake Yamanaka
19:03 - Sunset

Friday 12 July 2024
04:39 - Sunrise
05:00 - Hotel Seikei Check-out
Drive to Kita-fuji Military Base 30min, 10km
05:30 - Kita-fuji Military Base Birding - 1.5hrs, 10km
07:00 - Drive to Mizugatsuka Park - 1.5hr, 40km
08:30 - Mizugatsuka Park - Birding - 1hr, 2km
09:30 - Drive to Nishiusuzuka - 10min, 6km
Nishiusuzuka Birding - 1 hr, 1km
10:30 - Drive to Juriki - 30min, 20km
11:00 - Juriki area Birding - 2hrs, 2km
13:30 - Drive to Mishima Station - 1hr, 30km
15:24 - Mishima Station Bullet train to Shinagawa Station
16:11 - Shinagawa Station
16:24 - Shinagawa Station Narita Express to Narita Airport
17:29 - Narita Airport
18:00 - Narita Airport Hotel shuttle bus to Narita Tobu Hotel Airport
18:58 - Sunset
Waking up 2 minutes before my alarm was set to go off at 4 o'clock. I had a can of tuna with a MAX before having my shower. I was at the entrance at 5 o'clock and the taxi was waiting for me and we were soon on our way towards Suvarnabhumi International.

On our way to Suvarnabhumi International

On our way to Suvarnabhumi International

We made it to Suvarnabhumi International in about 30 minutes and I went straight for the security check. I asked the driver to stop at gate #3 but the security is closed to gate #4 so I made a mental note of this.

I had checked-in on internet and carry on only so I could go straight to the security. It was a quick affair and the immigration was done in a minute.

When I passed the check-in area there had been a lot of people so I was kind of surprised when I discovered that the security and immigration was next to empty.

And there was not many people at the departure hall as well. I went to buy some souvenirs for my Japanese Birding Guide and then I went to look for a drug store so I could buy some paracetamols. Can come in handy when trekking around looking for birds.

Not many people at Suvarnabhumi International

Having all my stuff and I walk back to the departure gate D3. Thai Airways flight TG 676 for Tokyo will depart from gate D3. I had bought a bottle of water in the drugstore so my plan was to enjoy myself waiting for departure at the gate.

Gate D3 is just next to Thai Airways lounge so I decided to go in there instead. Sitting in my chair enjoying my bought water and I felt a wee bit stupid. Everything is for free in the lounge.

My souvenirs are on the table in front of me and my carry on is next to my chair.
- Where theis my camera?

I started to sweat and I was really worried, I do not want to come to Japan without my camera. And I am for sure not wanting to lose the 10 000 US $ equipment.

They had not seen any camera in the TAX FREE and I was walking back towards security, maybe I forgot the camera in the security. No, I had taken the camera as they had put all my stuff in a plastic back before going through the X-ray.

I was really worried and I was for sure not happy. I went through everything I had done after the security. And I had put my camera in the chair next to me in the lounge.

I hurried back to the lounge and yes, the camera was in the chair next to the chair I had used and I was now very very happy.

Gate D3

Our plane is waiting for us

Leaving the lounge going to the gate and I sit down to wait and after a while I could board. I was surprised, not so many passengers. I was happy, and they had told me that the seat next to me would be empty.

Not exactly looking forward to the flight, but having my two own seats would for sure make it more pleasant.

The last two rows are two seats only and I am in the last row. I had pre-booked the aisle seat, but as I was alone in my row I took the window seat.

Boarding of flight TG 676

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Our Hero

Departure delayed by 30 minutes, no surprise, seems like they never manage to depart in time. I was getting hungry and I could not wait to be airborne so we could get breakfast.

Pulling out from the jet bridge and we taxi to the runway and we were soon taking off and I could see Samut Prakan under us before turning towards east and Japan.

I started a move and I was soon having my breakfast. And the breakfast was surprisingly good. I had a few cups of tea with my breakfast and I was satisfied when I finished my breakfast.

The breakfast was OK

Sleeping for an hour or so and I continued the movie when I woke up again. The movie was about some killer coming to Thailand and it was not a good movie, but I managed to kill almost 2 hours.

Two more cups of tea and the last two hours was spent stare in the the back of the chair in front of me. Time did not pass very quickly and I was very happy when we finally approached Tokyo.

Gloom and grey for long as I could see when we came in over Tokyo Bay. I had expected sunshine and summer in Japan.

Gloom and grey when approaching Narita Airport

Gloom and grey when approaching Narita Airport

Narita Airport

Narita Airport

Time to get off the plane

It was nice to come of the flight and coming in to the terminal and I was reminded of why I had never liked the Narita Airport. It was trotting for a kilometre before reaching immigration.

Immigration was quite quick and then I had to pass custom and it was a wee bit confusing. There was QR code, e-form and paper form and of course, I ended up in the wrong queue and I had to go back to the paper form line.

Finally, I was out and I bought a bus ticket to town and then I went to look for an ATM. Only one ATM at the airport.
- No, there is one on the 4th floor as well, the lady in the information informed me.

I went to the MINI STOP to look for a MAX and like when I was here a couple of months ago, no MAX and I bought a bottle of water and a pineapple drink.

Bus stop

Bus stop

The Narita Airport Limousine Bus is the best with the airport. There are busses serving the hotels in Tokyo and it is cheap and convenient.

It was another 40 minutes before my bus would depart and I was enjoying my pineapple drink watching the bus coming and going. I spoke with a family from USA and they said it was very hot.

I found a thermometer and it showed 32,5° C and I was surprised. My friend was planned to join me, but he had to work and he cancelled his ticket as they changed his work in the last minute.

He had been worried coming here, he told me it was 21° C and he had to bring winter clothing. So, I was surprised to find out it was 32° C and it was really hot.

Getting on the bust at 17:25 and we were soon on our way to Tokyo.

On the way to Tokyo

On the way to Tokyo

We reached Akasaka after an hour or so and we were driving around Akasaka dropping of passengers at the different hotels. My station was not even showing on the screen and I realised that it would take long to reach my hotel.

After 90 minutes on the bus and I was getting hungry. We were close to the Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka so I got off the bus and I took a taxi to my hotel.

Took about 10 minutes to reach my hotel and there were a lot of restaurants and pubs in the area. So I was happy, I will soon find a place to eat.

Checking-in to Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka and I was happy with the room. There was a frisge and a kettle and earl grey tea on the room. So I had brought my own Earl Grey tea bags all for nothing.

My room

My room

I went out to look for a restaurant and I ended up at some restaurant and the food was a disappointment, it was good, but I wanted to eat Japanese food and they had some western fusion styled food.

OK, but not what I had wanted to eat, but I was really hungry. from there I went to Family Mart to buy milk and something for breakfast. Hotel start breakfast at 7 and I have planned to be out looking for birds by then.

The street outside my hotel

The street outside my hotel

Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka

I was in bed at 10 o'clock, 20:00 Thai time with my alarm set to go off at 4 o'clock tomorrow morning. I have brought my tea cup with me so I will have a cup of tea before going out to look for birds tomorrow.

You just need to click HERE to find out if I see any birs.

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