After much research, I booked Hotel Monterey Hanzomon for our nights in Tokyo. We stayed there for two nights, left our luggage there while we went to Hakone for one night, and then returned for another two nights. Hotel Monterey Hanzomon ended up being a good choice for our family.
The hotel is located directly across the street from Hanzomon metro station. This is definitely a plus and made it easy to take public transportation. While we did end up having to take a lot of transfers, I liked that Hanzomon was a less-busy station. The neighborhood, which is just west of the Imperial Palace felt quiet and safe.
The men working in the hotel lobby spoke English and were all polite and helpful. We wanted to drop off our luggage in the morning before check-in, and it was not a problem.
We knew the rooms would be small, so the size was not a surprise. The rooms for four adults have four twin beds squeezed together. This actually worked out for us since the kids were able to have their own bed. We did not spend that much time in the room, so it did not feel too cramped.
Hotel Monterey Hanzomon Amenities
Hotel Monterey Hanzomon provided 8 free water bottles that were refreshed with housekeeping. k is very picky about her water, so this was an unexpected perk! There was also a small coffee machine so D could make his morning cup.
The bathroom was also small, but nice. Fancy toilet and plenty of amenities! I never got used to the continuously warm toilet seat.
In the evening, there was also a small stand in the lobby that offered free facial masks and skincare kits.
Hotel Monterey Hanzomon Final Thoughts
I am not sure how full the hotel was, but I never heard any noise from other guests during our entire stay. If you are looking for a quiet hotel that is close to a metro station and not too far from Shibuya and Shinjuku, consider Hotel Monterey Hanzomon.
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This was our third attempt to go to DisneySea, so I was determined to make the most of our one day in the park. (The first attempt occurred when we went to Japan in 2011. It was a month after the major earthquake/tsunami, so both Disney parks were closed. The second attempt was in 2020. We had reservations, and then Covid hit.) This time around, I watched countless Youtube videos and read numerous blogs in order to maximize our day at DisneySea. Hopefully reading about our experience will help others!
Lining Up For DisneySea
One benefit for Americans visiting the Disney Parks on the first day of a Japan trip is that it will probably be easier to wake up earlier due to jet lag. I usually have to drag n out of bed on vacation, but he naturally woke up early too. We were on the monorail by 6:45 a.m. and we were not alone. (I believe the monorail starts operating at 6:30 a.m.)
We arrived at DisneySea just after 7 a.m., and there were already significant lines.
However, most were sitting on small mats while waiting (my people!). I had read about this, so I knew to bring our own mat. I really like this mat from Amazon that is just big enough for all four of us. We used it last year in Europe as well. It folds up into a small little drawstring bag that is easy to carry around. Honestly, the ground was so clean, it would not have been a big deal to sit down without a mat. Tip: Line up in the line farthest to the left when you are facing the park entrance. Note that everyone in these lines already have their tickets. You must purchase your tickets online before arriving at the park.
Before we left the Hilton, we stopped in at the Lawson’s in the lobby to pick up our breakfast.
Four salmon onigiri, blueberry yogurt drink, melonpan bread with salty butter, milk baguette, tuna and egg salad sandos and a bottle of cold green tea. It was kind of fun to have a breakfast picnic! It is a good idea to eat breakfast before you enter the park since you will want to hit the ground running.
40th Anniversary Priority Pass Pointers
Be sure to take advantage of the free 40th Anniversary Priority Passes while at DisneySea. To do this, make sure you download the Tokyo Disney app, sign in and add your tickets before arriving at the park. (We bought out park tickets through Klook.com). Link everyone’s ticket in your party into one group to make it easier to make reservations later on. After you pass the turnstiles and scan your ticket, go to the app and try to book your first priority pass.
I chose to book priority passes for Indiana Jones, which were available for around 10:30 a.m. Simultaneously, I had n try for an entry request for a show called Big Band Beat on his own phone. Meanwhile, I put D in charge of navigating us towards our first ride, Soaring: Fantastic Flight.
Tip: There are no paper maps available in the park. I found it helpful to print out a map at home beforehand. It was nice to have a lay of the land without being on our phones, which we needed for so many other tasks.
We chose not to purchase any Premier Access passes, but that is another option that you may access once you are in the parks. Also, the park does not really have wifi, so make sure you are able to use your phone without it. Also bring a portable charger so your phone will not run out of battery. We visited DisneySea two days before Fantasy Springs opened, so I am sure the new attractions add another layer of complexity.
DisneySea Rides
We made a beeline for Soaring: Fantastic Flight, and a lot of others had the same idea. Even though we have been on Soaring in California and Florida, it is one of my favorite rides. The line was about an hour long even with our speed-walking. (I guess others must have had the 15-minute Happy Entry advantage from staying at a Disney hotel).
The queue was quite fancy and had a lot of details to admire.
The pre-show spiel was very cool and unique to DisneySea.
We then headed over to a roller coaster called Raging Spirits. My tip for this one is to take advantage of the Single Rider line. Just ask one of the ride attendants at the beginning where to go for Single Rider and they will tell you where to go. If you don’t mind sitting next to someone you don’t know, this will save you a significant amount of time. I felt comfortable with this option now that our kids are in high school!
Raging Spirits is not too fast, but it does go upside down. It is comparable to Thunder Mountain, (except for the inversion). It was interesting that the people in the roller coaster car I was in barely made a peep (i.e. no one was screaming their heads off).
When we were done with Raging Spirits, it was time for our Indiana Jones Priority Pass. Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull was similar to the one in California, but I found the ride to be smoother and not as jerky in Tokyo.
For our next Priority Pass, we opted for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which was not available until around 1:45 p.m. We ate lunch (more on that later) and then waited for Journey to the Center of the Earth. This ended up being our favorite ride of the day.
The line for this ride had so many twists and turns that it felt endless at times. This ride was interesting because it is unique to DisneySea. It definitely gets the blood pumping.
Next it was time for our 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Priority Pass. I’m not sure how much time the pass actually saved us, but it was nice to basically walk on after waiting so long for Journey.
k was not a fan of this ride and it was the first time that I heard her mention having claustrophobia. I used to love the submarine ride at Disneyland, so it felt nostalgic to me. However, I would not bother waiting in a long line for this one.
Since we had a reservation for Big Band Beat and I wanted to watch Believe Sea of Dreams, we could not fit in any more Priority Passes for the day. However, after watching Believe Sea of Dreams, we were able to do a few more rides, including Aquatopia and Nemo & Friends SeaRider.
Lots of spinning on Aquatopia!
Beware that Aquatopia might make you dizzy, but it is pretty tame. I read that for summer, there are now two lines: one where you stay dry and one where you get soaked. Make sure you are standing in line for the version you want to experience. D liked the Nemo ride. It is like a larger Star Tours with Nemo theming. Finally, we rode the DisneySea Electric Railway back to the front of the park at the end of the night.
DisneySea Food
Between lining up for rides, we were lining up for food.
I think this was the shortest line we saw for popcorn, maybe because it was still before lunchtime!
These Mickey-shaped popcorn tongs were my only souvenir purchase in the parks. While the character popcorn buckets are cute, I thought they would take up too much room in my luggage. I really liked the matcha white chocolate flavored popcorn. The flavor was subtle, and not too sweet.
The other popcorn flavor we tried was curry, on recommendation from k’s friend.
As you can see from the line, it is a popular flavor.
While I was standing in line, a worker came by and filled out an order form that I could present once I reached the window. Got to love Japanese efficiency!
Tip: I used the Suica card on my iphone to pay for ALL my food purchases at DisneySea. It was so easy to just hold my phone near the reader to pay. I was surprised to see how many Japanese were using cash to pay for their purchases.
If you enjoy Japanese curry, you will like the curry popcorn. The flavor was pronounced, but the popcorn still tasted nice and light.
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this dish. I guess they decided to switch from ramen to cold noodles for the summer season. The noodles themselves were fine, but there was a strange mayonnaise sauce on the shrimp and the cold scallops were not it. As you can see, we did eat most of it, but that is only because Lims do not waste food.
We had better luck with the snacks, including a Potato Churro from the Refreshment Station.
The churro was like a giant french fry, and it had a demi glace filling that n thought tasted like pizza.
I tried to have D and n buy a Gyoza Sausage Bun from Nautilus Galley, but the line was way too long.
At Yucatan Basecamp Grill, we tried the Mickey-shaped chicken nuggets, Green Alien Mochi, and Apple Tea Soda.
The nuggets tasted like regular chicken nuggets, but aren’t they so cute? I didn’t take a picture of the apple tea soda, which everyone enjoyed. As the name would imply, it tastes like apple cider mixed with iced tea. It is a fountain drink, and it is available at only certain restaurants in the park. If you see it on the menu, give it a try!
The alien mochi was cold and refreshing. I liked the strawberry, k liked the chocolate and D liked the custard (I think n liked all of them equally). We ordered two sets so that we could each try half of each flavor.
At the Lost River Cookhouse, we tried the Spicy Smoked Chicken Leg. This was very tasty and juicy. I thought it was better than the smoked turkey leg that Disney is known for. Although it is smaller than the turkey leg, it is a lot less expensive. (Actually, we found all of the food prices to be quite reasonable, especially with the favorable exchange rate). Also, there is a surprising amount of meat. BTW, it is not that spicy, but they do sell small harissa sauce packets if you want the heat.
On a whim, I decided to also try the Sparkling Mango Tapioca Tea since I was standing in line for the chicken anyway. This was so refreshing! I only wish it came in a bigger size. (All the drinks at Tokyo Disney seemed quite small compared to American standards).
From Sultan’s Oasis, we tried the Long Naan (Meat Sauce). The naan had a nice chew, but the meat sauce was minimal. This would make a good snack if you just need something to tide you over.
For cool treats, we tried the Tiramisu Ice Cream Sandwich and the Sea Salt Ice Cream Monaka. These are available from a cart inside the Mermaid Lagoon, as well as other places throughout the park.
To me, the tiramisu ice cream sandwich did not taste very tiramisu-ish. The coffee flavor was pretty faint. However, D, the tiramisu aficionado of the family, thought it was satisfying
The Sea Salt Ice Cream Monaka has a cute sea-shell shaped cone stuffed with sea salt ice cream and a little dollop of raspberry jam.
I really enjoyed this one. The sea salt flavor was unique and the raspberry provided a nice contrast.
We ate dinner picnic-style, while reserving our viewing spot for Believe Sea of Dreams. This is the Seafood Pizza (Egg & Salmon Trout) from Zambini Brothers’ Ristorante. As you can see, this was an interesting combination of ingredients. While it is definitely not for everyone, I liked it. And how do they make that Mickey-shaped hard-boiled egg??
For tamer palates, there is the Long Pizza (Tomato & Basil). There is pesto, but my nut-allergic kids were able to eat it.
The Mickey-shaped churro–a classic Actually, it kind of reminded me of Duffy due to the color.
To cap off our food-filled day, we had the Mike’s Melon Bread from Mamma Biscotti’s Bakery. Usually, Asian melon bread throws people off because it does not taste like melon (it is only shaped like a melon). However, this version has a melon custard filling inside that tastes like cantaloupe. If you like cantaloupe, you have to give it a try!
Perhaps my favorite sweet of the entire day was this Coffee Tapioca Latte, also from Mamma Biscotti’s. Note that it was not listed on the menu board on the wall (only on the menu that was on the counter). I almost ordered a plain iced latte, and that would have been a tragic mistake. The coffee jelly and tapioca balls were nice and bouncy and the drink had just the right amount of sweetness.
Looking back, that was a lot of food! Our family does a lot of sharing, so we usually just order one of each thing to maximize the number of foods we can try. Although mobile order is available, I did not use it as it seemed like too much hassle. The only really long lines for food were for Vulcania and the curry popcorn. Oh, and I guess for the gyoza bun that we never got to try-next time!
DisneySea Shows
As I mentioned earlier, I had n enter the lottery for Big Band Beat: A Special Treat as soon as we entered the park in the morning. You are only allowed to enter the lottery for one showtime, so I had him pick the one in late afternoon. This ended up working out because by that time, we wanted to rest our feet. Also, winning the lottery means that you have an assigned seat, so you don’t have to worry about arriving early.
Photography is not allowed during the show, but as you can see, the Broadway Music Theatre is a nice venue. The show was in English, perhaps because it is located in the American Waterfront? The music featured various selections from the Big Band Era. The highlight was Mickey rocking it on the drums. The tap dancers also impressed. n fell asleep, which he tends to do whenever we watch shows at amusement parks.
The show I was really looking forward to was Believe! Sea of Dreams. Currently, it looks like the show starts at 8:15 p.m. When we went I think it was closer to 7:45. People start staking out their seats early though, we’re talking like 3 p.m.! We ended up setting out our trusty mat around 5:00 p.m. We had the kids sit on the mat while D and I went to go grab our dinner, which we ate picnic-style. When I was in the planning stage, I wondered whether it was worth it to pay for Premier Access for Believe! Sea of Dreams. After watching the show from non-reserved seats, I think paying for reserved seats is unnecessary.
We found a spot at about the 38 minute mark on a clock if you are facing the Mediterranean Harbor from the entrance. The best reserved seats are at the 30 minute mark, front and center of the Harbor. Does that make sense? There are plenty for workers standing around that will tell you which sections are free and which sections are for sitting or for standing. We chose to be at the back of a sitting section because there was a little step that we could sit on to make us a little higher than the others who were sitting. It would also be ideal to be in the front of a standing section (you don’t have to stand until the show starts).
The light projections occur all around the waterfront, including on the buildings behind it.
These pictures do not do the show justice. The music and effects were spectacular, and it was worth the wait. If you like Fantasmic, I think you will like Believe! Even n stayed awake!
Mysterious Island looks so pretty at night.
People-Watching At Tokyo Disney Is Top-Notch
I was amazed at how many young Japanese people go all out in dressing up for their day at Disney. This is just one example of a couple that was right in front of us in line.
Many park-goers bring lots of stuffies (especially Duffy) and there are specific places throughout the park where you can prop them up on a stand for photo ops.
There was a couple on our shuttle with a woman dressed head to toe as Jessie from Toy Story that got off at the Toy Story Hotel. Many groups of girls also dress alike and everyone has some sort of head gear and/or plush keychain hanging off their bag. The mirror in the ladies’ restroom was packed full of women fixing their makeup and hair. Observing how everyone dresses up and expresses themselves provides unique insight into the Japanese psyche. It was also surprising to us that it seemed like the majority of park-goers were locals rather than tourists.
Take Time To Notice The Disney Details
It was the attention to detail that really makes DisneySea special.
For instance, k noticed that the popcorn box showed that there were two days until the opening of Fantasy Springs. This attention to detail is what really floored me at DisneySea. So they had different popcorn boxes printed up for each day to countdown Fantasy Springs? I wonder how many days the popcorn box countdown lasted?!
All of the theming was so amazing. Mermaid Lagoon really transported you Under the Sea. Tip: Head here to escape the heat.
Look at this whale-shaped gift shop!
I marveled at the women’s restroom stall having this special seat for a small child. I would think that the age window where it would be appropriate to put a child in this seat would be quite small. But if you happened to have a child that age, I am sure it would be appreciated! I know I definitely appreciated how immaculate all of the restrooms were.
Even the maintenance workers took time to create Disney magic.
Lovely landscaping. Look at that faux exposed brick.
Are we in Europe?
What kind of insect is this??
Wish we had time to ride the gondola.
Mediterranean Harbor
Back to America
Their Tower of Terror is stunning.
Guests at the MiraCosta hotel waved goodbye to the guests as they were leaving the park. Some hotel guests waved their cellphone flashlights in their darkened windows. This guest had their large Duffy waving to everyone, which was a little disconcerting.
DisneySea Final Thoughts
DisneySea lived up to my high expectations. The atmosphere is unlike any other theme park we have visited. I was kind of sad that we just missed the opening of Fantasy Springs, but our day was so full even without a whole other land to explore. We also weren’t able to ride Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage because it was closed for refurbishment. I guess this gives us an excuse to return. I would also like to visit Tokyo Disneyland one day to experience Beauty and the Beast and Winnie the Pooh. If you only have time to visit on park at Tokyo Disney Resort, I would say DisneySea wins. If you have a choice, try to visit on a weekday that is not a Japanese school holiday. Arrive well before the gates open, have a general game plan, wear comfortable walking shoes and have fun taking it all in!
After checking into our hotel, it was time to eat dinner. We hopped on the shuttle that stops right in front of the Hilton and rode a very short distance to the Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail.
Riding the Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail to Ikspiari
The Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail is very easy to navigate. As you can see, there are only four stops. Our hotel was at Bayside Station. To get to Ikspiari, we rode the monorail two stops to Resort Gateway Station. Unlike the Disney theme parks back home, the monorail is not free. I had wanted to buy physical monorail tickets because they come in cute, limited edition designs. However, when we went to the machine, our Suica card (loaded on our iphone) and credit cards would not work. It turns out, you can only use cash/coins (yen) in the machines. We ended up just scanning our Suica cards on our phones to pass through the monorail gates and the fare automatically deducted from our Suica account balance.
The Disney theming on the monorail is so on point!
What We Ate At Ikspiari
There are many restaurants to choose from in Ikspiari. We actually passed a really large group waiting to be seated at TGI Fridays, of all places (I believe they were Japanese). I did some research about the restaurants beforehand and I chose Tonkatsu Wako for our first dinner. I remembered eating at this restaurant (different location) during our last trip to Japan. How fitting that D and I ate at Wako for our very last meal in 2011 and now we were eating there with the kids for our very first meal. It is also interesting (as noted in my blog post), that the cost of a meal back then was around $15. With the current weak state of the yen, the same meal actually cost less than ten dollars thirteen years later!
When we were looking for the restaurant, I was flustered because I was not certain we were at Wako. I was expecting there to be some signage in English. However, D just walked right in before I had a chance to look it up on my phone. The waitress quickly seated us and brought out the tea. I tried asking the waitress if we were in Wako, but she just gave me a quizzical look. Even when I was looking at the menu, I was still confused. I had k look it up on Google translate, and she confirmed we were at the correct restaurant. I bet my kids will still remember this part of the story for years to come.
The tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) was as good as I remembered!
Notice the basket underneath the chair where I was sitting. Almost all the restaurants we went to had baskets where you can store your purse or bags-such a smart idea!
We shared this scrumptious Matcha Shiratama Mochi Parfait. This was just the first of many matcha treats that we had during our trip.
Shopping at Bon Voyage
Ikspiari has several stores, but we were tired and I wanted to get to bed early. If I had more time, I would have like to stop in at 3 Coins Plus and Daiso. There is also a Disney Store. We did however, walk over to Bon Voyage, which is a larger Disney Store at Maihama Station (right next to the Resort Gateway monorail station).
The Bon Voyage store was quite large and had a wide variety of merchandise. I bought a present for my Disney-loving friend, but that is all.
I just now noticed the hidden mickeys on the ceiling!
This might be a good place to do some souvenir shopping if you do not want to have to carry your purchases all day in the parks. Also, the shops in the parks were a lot more crowded.
It was drizzling a little when we left the store and walked back to the monorail station. This was the only rain we experienced during our trip. Since June is considered “rainy season” in Japan, I was expecting there to be a lot more. I guess we lucked out.
Ikspiari Final Thoughts
While Ikspiari can be compared to Downtown Disney, it is not officially connected to the Disney theme parks. In fact, you will not find much Disney theming at all. I probably would not carve out time in my itinerary just to visit Ikspiari, and it does not make sense to go here in the middle of the day while visiting one of the Disney parks. However, Ikspiari was the perfect place for us to find a nice dinner and walk around the night we first arrived to the Tokyo Disney Resort area.
Don’t Bother Pre-Registering Through The Visit Japan Website
Once we landed at Narita International, we went through the Customs line. It was long, but went fairly quickly. I had filled out our trip info on the Visit Japan website a couple of weeks prior. However, it was kind of a hassle trying to access the QR code since I was trying to also figure out my Airalo SIM card. Therefore, we had to fill out the paper cards while standing in line, which was kind of a pain. My tip is to just fill out the physical Customs card that the airline attendants hand out during the flight because you have a lot of time to complete it on the plane. I thought the online form would save time, but when I tried to show the QR code (which I eventually accessed) to the person at the counter, he was not interested and only wanted to see the paper form. Also, there was not a shorter line for those who registered online, so I do not see the point of doing this (at least for now).
Best Transportation Option From Narita Airport to Hilton Tokyo Bay
After retrieving our luggage, we headed to the bus counter with yellow signage to purchase tickets for the Airport Limousine. We tried to purchase tickets at the machine, but it rejected our credit card. After standing in a short line at the counter, we told the person that we wanted to go to Tokyo Disney Resort with Hilton Tokyo Bay as our stop. Thankfully, our credit card worked at the counter. The tickets were 2300 yen (<$15 each). The employee then directed us to go to stop 10, just outside the doors. I appreciated the clear signage and that there were markings on the ground to show where to stand while waiting. Japan is nothing if not efficient.
The name Airport Limousine may be misleading, because it is actually just a nice shuttle bus. They stored all of our luggage underneath the bus and we were on our way. Using the Airport Limousine is so convenient and easy if you are headed to the Tokyo Disney Resort Area. (It can also take you to various stops in Tokyo as well). I think it might be overwhelming if you have to navigate the subway system for the first time straight out of the airport while lugging all of your luggage. It is also much cheaper than private transportation. However, the key is to make sure that the Airport Limousine will be operating at the time you need it. For instance, it only runs until about 6 p.m. from Narita to Tokyo Disney. So check the online schedule beforehand to see if it will work for you.
Also, I chose not to buy the tickets online beforehand because I was not sure if our plane would be on time, or how long it would take to get through Customs. I did not want to feel stressed if we could not make a reserved bus time, so it was easier to just go to the counter and buy tickets for the next bus.
Still smiling after the long flight. The bus ride took a little over an hour.
Hilton Tokyo Bay
Here you can see the Hilton Tokyo Bay from the monorail station. It looks quite non-descript compared to the Toy Story Hotel right next door.
The Hilton lobby did have some Disney touches. Hilton Tokyo Bay is a Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotel. It is conveniently located right across the street from the Bayside Monorail Station. However, staying at this hotel does not grant you early entry into the parks.
Hilton Tokyo Bay Beds
We were surprised at how spacious our Deluxe Ocean View room was. I liked that the bed set-up had a twin, a king and another twin. This allowed our kids to each have their own bed. One warning is that the mattresses were very firm. I personally prefer a firmer mattress, but even I thought these mattresses were too hard!
I liked the sleek headboard that allowed us all to easily charge our devices. (Japan uses the same electrical outlets as the U.S.)
The ocean view was quite impressive. It almost felt like we were on a cruise.
D ran along this path just outside the hotel in the mornings and reported that there were several other runners as well.
Tokyo Hilton Bay Amenities
There was an impressive array of slippers to choose from.
Here is D modelling the pajamas provided by the hotel. I tried it on, but it felt too heavy for me to feel comfortable.
The bathroom had plenty of toothbrushes/toothpaste, combs, razors, etc. n tried a bidet for the first time, so that was exciting. There is a water bottle refill station located on each floor. We also found the Lawson’s convenience store in the lobby very convenient for breakfast (more on that later).
Hilton Tokyo Bay Final Thoughts
While it would have been nice to stay in a Disney Hotel that offers “Happy Entry” (15 minutes before official opening), I was happy with our stay at the Hilton. The staff was friendly, and the room was spacious, clean and quiet. It offered easy access to DisneySea and was simple to access from Narita. Final Verdict: Definitely Recommend!
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We are back from our family trip to Tokyo, and I have a lot to share. The last time D and I went to Japan was in 2011. At that time, we had our 2 and 4 year old kids stay home with my parents. It was exciting to be able to experience Tokyo this time around with our 15 and 17 year old teenagers!
The first time we went to Japan we flew Singapore Airlines. This time we chose Zipair, which is the budget-friendly subsidiary of JAL. When I first heard about Zipair, I was skeptical about the minimal amenities (no free water?) However, when I saw the dramatically lower prices, I had to do further investigation to see if the cost-savings might be worth it.
Zipair Baggage Limits
We opted for the Zipair Value Package, which I would recommend. The Value Package allows prior seat selection, carry-on baggage of 7 kg, check-in baggage of 30 kg, and an inflight meal. Because I was nervous about the baggage weight limitations, I bought this handheld luggage scale from Amazon. It turns out I really had nothing to worry about, as all of our luggage was way under the limit. However, I am glad that we had the scale for peace of mind. As a bonus, n and D have since used the hand scale to weigh their backpacks before they go backpacking with Boy Scouts. I believe this was the first time an airline weighed our carry-ons. At LAX, they weighed each carry-on separately, and at Narita, they weighed all of our carry-ons together.
Zipair Food
We chose our meals when we booked our tickets. All four of us chose the Hayashi Beef with Tumeric Rice on the way there. For our return flight, the kids and I had Gyudon (beef bowl) and D had Butter Chicken Curry. I also paid 250 yen per meal to have our meals delivered towards the end of the flight instead of the beginning. I figured that we could bring our own food for the first half of the flight and that we would be hungry by the end.
The meals come with a small bottle of water.
This is the Hayashi Beef, which admittedly does not look too appetizing. However, it was actually quite tasty and appreciated.
Even though we all brought disposable water bottles that we filled right before boarding, we needed to order more drinks to avoid dehydration. The on-board ordering process was quite easy through your phone/credit card, and the prices were reasonable. However, be sure to not wait too long to order, as I noticed that many items were sold out.
I thought this baby food offering was interesting. If this is not something your baby would eat, you are probably better off bringing your own food!
Zipair: Is it Worth the Cost-Savings?
For our kids, the biggest down-side of Zipair was the lack of in-flight entertainment. There are no screens on the seats, so no endless movie-watching. (However, the seats themselves were fine and comparable to other airlines). Zipair advertises free Wi-Fi, but we found it very spotty. Zipair has a limited selection of movies (around 10?) that you can watch through their website on your own device. Of course, you can always download movies beforehand if you have the room.
The biggest downside for me was knowing that Zipair does not offer any refunds or rescheduling. I guess this is what traveler’s insurance is for? (We haven’t bought traveler’s insurance before, so I’m not familiar with how it works).
In the end, the lack of flexibility was worth the hundreds, if not thousands in cost-savings (which is easy for us to say when we made both flights). The service on Zipair was prompt and efficient. Both of our flights were on-time (we actually arrived early in Tokyo). Flying with a lesser-known airline can feel risky. However, after talking to D’s brother about his Zipair experience, we were willing to try it out. We also saw a couple of other families we knew on our flight to Narita, which was oddly comforting. If you are on the fence about trying Zipair, I would recommend it!
Disclosure: Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
The timing of the April 26th release of Unsung Hero in movie theaters makes it the perfect movie to watch in celebration of Mother’s Day. Unsung Hero tells the story of a family who made it in America against all odds thanks to their faith and determination. I thought this movie would center around the early days of the Christian music duo FOR KING+COUNTRY, but it actually starts way before that chapter of this family’s life. My family saw a FOR KING+COUNTRY concert not too long ago, and it was quite amazing. (I would highly recommend seeing them in concert if you ever have the chance).
Joel Smallbone plays the role of his father, David Smallbone, a music producer who risks it all to move his six children and his pregnant wife from Australia to the United States. I remember seeing Joel Smallbone recently in Journey to Bethlehem, and I can tell that his future in acting is bright (hopefully he continues with his music career as well).
I had no idea that Rebecca St. James grew up as part of the Smallbone family. Unsung Hero largely centers around her rocky start in the music industry. I remember liking her music back in the day (ah, the ’90s)!
However, the title Unsung Hero deservedly goes to the matriarch of the Smallbone family, Helen (played by Daisy Betts). Her strength in holding her family together through their darkest days is inspiring and uplifting. Unsung Hero is a movie that will inspire families everywhere.
Buy Tickets Today to See Unsung Hero
Buy tickets today to see Unsung Hero in theaters starting April 26th!
Unsung Hero Amazon Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
KÜHL Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants are the answer if you have ever had a difficult time deciding whether to wear shorts or pants when spending time in the outdoors. These pants allow you to wear pants during a cooler morning and change to shorts when it starts to heat up.
The high quality of KÜHL pants is evident in both the construction and material. As you can see, the seams are built to last.
The KÜHL Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants are made with a special Duralux fabric that is quick-drying and water-resistant. This material also has some stretch which my son found to be quite comfortable.
These are the perfect pants for my son to wear to all of his Boy Scout events.
The side pockets provide a convenient place to carry a phone. The snaps make the pockets extremely secure.
It is very easy to convert the pants from pants to shorts. The hidden zipper design is quite clever.
These pants even have snaps on the bottom so that you do not have to take off your shoes to take the pant legs off.
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
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My favorite type of games are those that make you think. Below are three different games from Winning Moves that will challenge your brain in different and fun ways.
Yahtzee Words is a version of Yahtzee that uses letters and words instead of numbers. If you are a fan of Boggle and Scrabble like me, then Yahtzee Words will have a similar appeal. This game is designed for two or more players, ages 8+.
As a kid, I had a jigsaw puzzle of the United States map that I did on repeat. The colorful gameboard in Game of States reminds me of that puzzle and brings back fond memories. Playing Game of States is a great way to learn about all fifty states, including capitals, and STEM facts. The business component is also an excellent way to teach kids about money math skills. Game of States is for 2-4 players, ages 8+.
Scattergories Stackagories is a fast-paced version of the classic Scattergories game. Players try to name things that belong in the category card that start with one of the nine letters on the table. When they say the word out loud, they put their color marker on top of the letter. If there is already a marker, they stack it on top. When the timer is up, points are awarded to the color that is on top according to how many markers are underneath.
All of the components for Scattergories Stackagories fit nicely into this compact box. This game is designed for 2-4 players, ages 8+.
Where To Purchase Winning Moves Games
Winning Moves games and toys, including Yahtzee Words, Game of States and Yahtzee Words, are available on their website, Amazon and other retailers near you.
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Scattergories Stackagories, Yahtzee Words and Game of States. (Open to U.S. continental residents only).
Disclosure: I received a sample box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The brief sakura (cherry blossom) season in Japan is a prime example of the concept of appreciating fleeting beauty. If cherry blossom trees bloomed year-round, they would not be nearly as cherished. Our family went to Washington D.C. a couple of years ago, and I remember being so excited that we caught some cherry blossom trees in the beginning of their bloom when I had thought we were going to be too early. They really are magnificent flowering trees, and I can see why cherry blossoms are cause for celebration each year.
Sakuraco is a subscription box that captures the beauty of sakura through Japanese snacks.
First, can we take a moment to appreciate how pretty this box is? Just looking at the outside of the box made me excited to see what was inside.
Look at all that pink! The variety of sakura goodness inside the March Sakuraco box is so much fun.
Each Sakuraco box comes with a booklet that explains what each snack is. The March edition also has beautiful photographs and descriptions of the different cherry blossom viewing locations throughout Japan. In addition, the booklet has short articles that tell the stories behind some of the artisan makers of the products that are included. The following are some of the highlights of the March Sakuraco box I received.
Sakura Candy
Look at the delightful detail of this Sakura candy. As the name implies, cherry blossom is a floral and fruity flavor that is not commonly found outside of Japan.
Anko Castella Cake
While this little cake is not sakura-flavored, the pink packaging makes it fit right in. I am a fan of red bean paste in Japanese sweets, so this was a treat!
A Lovely Assortment of Sakura Snacks
The Sakuraco box included this beautiful postcard, along with an assortment of these individually wrapped snacks. I have not tried all of them yet, but the ones that I have tasted have all been fresh and delightful.
Sakura Shiruko Biscuits
These biscuits have an interesting flavor profile. The booklet describes them as biscuit dough enriched with sakura powder and a touch of ume juice with a layer of sweet adzuki paste.
Neko Sakura Dish
I know that I overuse the word “cute” in describing products from Japan, but that is the word to describe this little dish. This bonus non-food item made the Sakuraco box feel uniquely special to me. According to the booklet, the design of this dish is a collaboration between Sakuraco, merry laugh and Bloom. I will continue to use this dish for years to come, and inspire me to recall the fleeting delights of sakura.
Disclosure: I received a sample box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I am in the midst of planning a trip to Japan with my family this summer, and I can’t wait! Although we will miss the cherry blossom season, the March Tokyo Treat Sakura Snacktastic box is full of Japanese treats that put us in a Japanese springtime mood.
As you can see, each Tokyo Treat box comes packed a fabulous assortment of unique Japanese snacks. I particularly liked the variety, which included candies, potato chips, cookies, a mini can of soda and package of ramen!
The full color booklet is such a fun read. It contains a detailed description of each snack, including common allergens. This is especially helpful since most of the packaging is in Japanese. The booklet also contains interesting facts and cultural references that both kids and adults would appreciate. Below are some of the snacks that stood out in the March 2024 Tokyo Treat box.
KitKat Matcha Latte
This bag of Matcha Latte KitKats definitely caught my attention. I love that the packaging features cheerful cherry blossoms and cute matcha latte art.
I was impressed/surprised that the package included ten KitKat bars! These would be perfect little surprise to share with friends.
My family and I have been into matcha lattes/green tea anything recently, so these KitKats were an instant hit. The matcha flavor + creaminess + crispy wafer are the perfect combination.
Pai no Mi Mini Pies Pear Tart
I am not sure what association squirrels have with pears, but they are a cute addition to the packaging of these mini pies. The crust is airy and delicate, and the filling is lightly sweet.
Again, I like how there is enough product to share with others. These morsels would be delicious accompanied by a hot cup of tea.
Mitsuya Cider
I have never heard of Mitsuya Soda, but according to the can it has been around since 1884? It has a sweet carbonated flavor, but I cannot describe it any more than that. The mini can is just too cute. I am sure my son is looking forward to all of the vending machine drinks when we go to Japan!
Pure Potato Honey Butter & Rock Salt
For those with a more salty tooth, these potato chips will satisfy your cravings. These chips have a natural potato taste that is missing in many of the chips we have here. The honey butter flavor is not overpowering. I can imagine bringing these chips on a picnic.
Sakura Mini Cookies
Again, the sakura packaging for these mini cookies is so adorable. In addition, I find it fascinating how Japanese seem to fully embrace the triangle (think onigiri). Throw these cookies in the picnic basket as well!
How To Subscribe To Tokyo Treat
Tokyo Treat offers monthly, three month, six month, and twelve month plans. According to the Tokyo Treat website, each box contains 15-20 full-size snacks, and their boxes are the biggest Japanese snack boxes on the planet (2.86 pounds). Treat yourself or someone you know to a subscription today. Tokyo Treat is a fun way to bring a taste of Japan into your own home!
