I booked a flight to Japan departing in three weeks. Until recently, I used to visit my parents in Japan with my children once every one or two years, staying for a few weeks. However, the pandemic completely disrupted the timing of my trips home. As a result, I hadn’t returned to Japan in five or six years. While I truly wanted to see my family there, I couldn’t bring myself to book a flight. The reason was simple—I had repeatedly read on social media about the requirement for a negative test result, and the hassle of the procedure made me hesitate.
The requirement to get tested within a specified timeframe before departure and to secure a negative result was, quite honestly, stressful. Traveling with children, I couldn’t stop worrying about the possibility of testing positive and losing the tickets altogether. That anxiety made me reluctant to even consider booking a flight. I kept thinking, “Let’s wait just a little longer,” and before I knew it, five or six years had passed.
However, as 2024 began, I started considering a trip to Japan with just my younger child, who had more flexibility in their schedule. My child also seemed excited about visiting Japan after such a long time, which encouraged me to take the plunge and start planning. Normally, I would book flights several months in advance, but since it was the off-peak season, I managed to find a ticket for a flight just a few weeks away—a bit pricey, but reasonable enough to feel okay about purchasing.
Airfare and Unexpected Extra Costs
The flight was scheduled for the end of January—considered an off-peak season. Even so, airfare seemed noticeably more expensive than it had been five or six years ago when I last travelled to Japan.
As usual, I used Expedia to purchase the tickets, which came to £1,800 for the two of us. Since my younger child now qualifies for an adult fare, this price was understandable to some extent. The flight was with KLM, and before booking, I made sure to check their website several times to confirm that a negative COVID-19 test result was not required. Without that assurance, I wouldn’t have gone through with the trip.
I also researched and purchased travel insurance online to cover us for the trip. However, since it had been so long since my last flight booking, I overlooked a few details. For instance, checked baggage now incurred an additional fee. I vaguely remembered that KLM used to include checked baggage, but not anymore.
On top of that, I had forgotten that seat reservations also came with extra costs. While I wasn’t concerned about reserving seats for the short flight from the UK to Amsterdam (I figured we could select seats together during online check-in), I felt it was worth paying extra for the long-haul flight to Japan. Sitting next to my child on a 12-hour flight would make it easier to chat and pass the time. These additional expenses added nearly £300 to the total cost.
Flying into Kansai International Airport (KIX)
This time, we planned a slightly unconventional itinerary, flying into Kansai International Airport (KIX) instead of Narita. The reason? My child wanted to visit Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka. Since we’d be in the Kansai region, I also wanted to spend at least a day in Kyoto. After researching various options, I decided we’d stay one night near USJ and visit Kyoto the following day.
Using Expedia, I searched for flights that would arrive in Osaka and depart from Narita (or Haneda). The platform’s ability to compare prices for different dates proved incredibly helpful, allowing me to select the most convenient and cost-effective option. For travelers, this feature is invaluable, as even slight adjustments to travel dates can yield significant savings.
Our departure airport had also changed since our recent move. While we used to fly out of Manchester Airport, this time we chose a different regional airport. Still, the most affordable option remained the same: flying from a UK regional airport, connecting at a European hub, and then heading to Japan. Flights departing from London might have been even cheaper, but the cost and time of travelling to London negated those savings.
Interestingly, flights arriving at KIX seemed slightly more affordable than those landing at Narita or Haneda, at least according to my searches on Expedia. For anyone planning a trip that begins in the Kansai region, this could be a useful consideration. However, for those intending to visit Tokyo as well, it’s essential to account for the additional cost of travelling from Osaka to the capital.
Here’s what our flight itinerary looks like:
End of January:
Outbound: Departing from a regional airport in the UK in the morning, a flight to Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.
Layover: About 1 hour 30 minutes stopover at Schiphol Airport.
Long-haul flight: Departure from Amsterdam at 13:00, arriving at Kansai International Airport at 9:35 (next day). The flight duration is approximately 12 hours 35 minutes.
Late February:
Long-haul flight: Departure from Narita at 11:30, with a flight time of 14 hours, arriving at Schiphol at 17:30.
Layover: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes stopover at Schiphol Airport.
Short flight: Departure from Schiphol at 20:15, arriving at a regional airport in the UK in the evening (1 hour 15 minute flight).
Here’s the plan for our first and second day:
One advantage of arriving in Osaka in the morning is the ability to dive straight into our plans.
1. From KIX to USJ: After landing at KIX, we’ll head to the hotel near USJ. The nearest station is Sakurajima, just a five-minute walk from the hotel. To get there:
- Take the Kansai Airport Rapid Service to Nishikujo Station.
- At Nishikujo, transfer to the JR Sakurajima Line and get off at Sakurajima Station.
This route can be a bit confusing, especially for first-time travellers, as the Kansai Airport Rapid Service transitions into the Osaka Loop Line. (I had researched this route in advance, but when it came time to actually board the train, I realized I needed to double-check everything)
2. Settling in and visiting USJ: After checking in and leaving our luggage at the hotel, we’ll take just the essentials and head to USJ. Sakurajima Station is only two minutes by train from Universal City Station, or a short walk.
One Day Trip to Kyoto
The following morning, we’ll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading to Kyoto. Our chosen route involves one transfer:
- From Sakurajima Station, take the JR Sakurajima Line to Osaka Station.
- Transfer to the JR Tokaido Line, which takes us directly to Kyoto Station.
This route takes about an hour with just one transfer, but depending on the timing of the trains, there could be two transfers instead. Since I wanted to minimize the number of transfers, I printed out the route I had researched in advance and made sure to follow the schedule carefully.
Once we arrive in Kyoto, the plan is to store our suitcases in one of the station lockers. I’ve already researched the locations of the lockers at Kyoto Station. After that, I’ll buy the Shinkansen tickets to head to my parents’ house. Since it’s the off-peak season at the end of January, I’m expecting to be able to secure seats for the Shinkansen even on the day of travel.
Since our time in Kyoto will be a one-day trip, I’ve planned out an itinerary to make sure we can efficiently visit the spots I want to see, as well as places that my child, who’s visiting Kyoto for the first time, will enjoy.
It’s deeply moving to be able to return to my hometown after being away for 5 or 6 years. Of course, I’m looking forward to reuniting with close family, but I’m also excited about the experiences waiting for us on the flight to Kansai International Airport, as well as the time we’ll spend exploring USJ and Kyoto. From booking the flights to fine-tuning the details of the itinerary, the planning has been a lot of work, but I find that I truly enjoy every step of the process—even the planning itself has been a wonderful part of this journey.
