[Travel report] To the southern island with a last-minute travel plan at the end of the year (first part)
Reporter O visited a tropical island during the year-end and New Year holidays from December 28, 2021 ~ January 3, 2022. The trip will be distributed irregularly in several installments as the second good travel report.
This time, I wrote about my travel preparations, the state of the airport, and what I thought each time.
Year-end last-minute travel plans to the South Island
On December 23 last year, the year-end and New Year holidays were canceled at short notice. It was unexpected, but it also meant that I had more time to spend on reporter O. I wanted to go on a trip asexually. Then, on that day, we decided where we were going and started preparing for the trip.
Winter in Tokyo
Reporter O is in Tokyo in the middle of winter. You can enjoy the cold when you spend time in a cold area on a trip or business trip. However, the winter in Tokyo is a mess every year.
In a word, I hate the disgusting cold chill chilled by concrete. On the other hand, I don't feel bad about the Tokyo Concrete Jungle in the middle of summer. The exhilaration of walking outdoors in a heat wave and then entering a room that has been cooled by a cooler. I don't think I'll be far away from that feeling of going back and forth between the sauna and the water bath.
On the other hand, in the middle of winter, when you enter a heated room from the extremely cold outdoors, you don't feel refreshed or comfortable, but you have a strong feeling of being saved. I'm getting too off the rails, so I'll stop here.
Free Stock Photos (photo by すしぱく)
To an island as far away as possible... Two southern islands that came to mind
The moment I decided to embark on a trip, two "southern islands" came to mind. In order, it is "Okinawa main island". Or is it "Ishigaki Island" or "Miyakojima"? I have visited the main island of Okinawa many times. I still can't go enough, and I want to move there.
This time, instead of these islands, what came to mind were "Ogasawara" and "Iriomote Island". However, these two southern islands were not planned or gathered information before. One thing I can say is that "even though I have never thought about it specifically, it is a tropical island that I want to go to someday." Due to various factors, it is not a southern island where you can go a little or gently.
As a reaction to the Corona disaster, Japan has a remote natural environment, and I wanted to travel to an island as far away as possible. The photo is an image of a stereo island that came to reporter O's mind at that time. I've never been there, and I've hardly looked into it. It was accumulated before you knew it. It's certainly the main image, but it may or may not be the case in each person's journey.
Which way are you going?
If there are two candidates, it is a problem to be half and half. Isn't it more difficult to choose one out of two than one out of three? This time, I immediately decided on Iriomote Island. The ferry from Tokyo Takeshiba, which I use to go to Ogasawara, departs only once a week. If so, I will return from Ogasawara once a week. What day in December is week 1 at the end of the year? I didn't even look it up, and in a sense, I was automatically assigned to Iriomote Island.
Ogasawara encouraged me to go to Iriomote Island, not to the main island of Okinawa or any other island. I owe Ogasawara. At that time, I thought, "I have to go to Ogasawara someday," and I became a candidate for a specific travel destination.
Emergency Travel Arrangements
I decided to go to Iriomote Island at the last minute at the end of the year on 12/23. However, even if you decide to go to Iriomote Island, you don't know if you can really go. My feelings for Iriomote Island are increasing.
From here, you'll need to arrange flights, accommodation, and car rentals. Is it Indian that is not a confidence that "if I am called to Iriomote Island, I can go"? I ended up having a thrilling time with my feelings.
Flight Arrangements
The first thing is to arrange a flight. If you can't get this, nothing will start.
While comparing the flight date and time and available seats, I was able to arrange LCC Peach (departing Narita 8:50 a.m. → arriving at Ishigaki Island 12:50 p.m.) on the outbound flight, and ANA (departing Ishigaki Island at 17:30 p.m. → Haneda 20:05) on the return flight. There were only a few seats left on both flights. If I had been delayed in moving, whether it was a few minutes or a few hours, the trip to Iriomote would not have happened.
It wasn't my first choice, but I was really happy when I received the reservation acceptance email. If you get excited and can't get an appointment in the end, how much damage will you be emotionally damaged? I was able to get a seat on the plane, and the distance between Reporter O and Iriomote Island was definitely closer.
Gathering information about the island and planning a trip
The next step is to arrange accommodation. Accommodation also depends on how you plan to move around the island. To do that, you need local information. At that point, the information that reporter O has about Iriomote Island is not information. It is almost "Iriomote Island" = "jungle" and "mangroves".
It can be confusing if you suddenly start researching on information sites or contact local facilities at the end of the day. In such a case, I will contact the local tourism association. Today's travelers try to find out everything on their smartphones. In addition, the final decision may be based on online word-of-mouth or reviews. Even so, we recommend that you interview the tourism association once. It is useful for gathering information and for editing. As a result, you will be able to spend less time on your smartphone while traveling, and you will have more time to look forward and see the local scenery.
Year-end last-minute travel planning scores
After arranging the flight, I interviewed the Taketomi Town Tourism Association several times to gather information. Google Aerial Photography and Official Site With that in mind, we have made arrangements for a rental car and accommodation, assuming a plan of movement and action on the island. At the same time, I created a travel schedule in Excel. Google Aerial Photos is useful for travel planning, isn't it? I just try not to land on the ground with Street View.
Arrangements on the island took more time and effort than airplanes, such as the year-end and New Year holidays, regular island hours, and the Corona disaster system, and were completed at the last minute and lucky. I will explain this area often in the report after landing on Iriomote Island. After all, the travel plan at the time of the trip is about 70 points. However, I was able to bring my trip to Iriomote Island to reality, and I feel a sense of accomplishment of 100 points. Even if you score 70 points at that time, it is up to you whether or not you will make your journey 100 points after that.
Iriomote Island, Taketomi Town, Taketomi Island, and Taketomi Town Hall
What was a little surprising was that Iriomote Island belongs to "Taketomi Town". In addition, many islands in the Yaeyama Islands, including the southernmost point of Japan, "Hateruma Island", are Taketomi Town. Yonaguni Island, the westernmost point of Japan, is Yonaguni Town.
Iriomote Island has a circumference of 130 km and is the second largest island in the Okinawa Islands after the main island of Okinawa. When I think of Taketomi, I think of "Taketomi Island". Taketomi Island is a small island with a circumference of about 5 km. Currently, the Taketomi Town Hall is not located on Taketomi Island, but is located near the Ishigaki Island Remote Island Terminal, where the ferry to the Yaeyama Islands departs and arrives. So the address is Ishigaki City, not Taketomi Town. Are you curious as to why the addresses of many of the islands in the Yaeyama Islands are marked with Taketomi? To find out, go back to 1500, when the brewery (now the government office) was located on Taketomi Island.
I'm sorry for presenting the topic, but this is the end of the explanation from reporter O. If you're interested, check it out. By the way, I myself briefly talked to the town history section of the Taketomi Town Board of Education. However, what is now bureaucratic was called a brewery at that time. Now, the brewery refers to a sake factory. I forgot to ask about the relationship.
Speaking of which, ANA This Week's Toku Travel Mile
When I was preparing for the trip, I had to decide whether it was A or B in a short period of time. I wonder if he usually had such a quick decision (laughs). Multiplication of fewer options and less time made it so.
Speaking of which, the first travel report (Noto edition) is planned by ANA " This Week's Tok Travel Miles I decided where to go. The conditions such as the mentality and timing are different, but the decision of the last trip destination is the same.
It seems that the travel plan that is decided in such a flutter is based on the experience of the public relations work of the tourism administration that reporter O was involved in.
Morning of departure
Arrangements, shopping, work payment. In the blink of an eye, the morning of departure came. On the outbound journey, we will head to Narita Airport to use LCC. Even during the Corona disaster, I went to Haneda Airport several times. However, Narita Airport has a different feeling than just being in a long time.
During the Corona disaster from the beginning of 2020, the media often reported on the state of Narita Airport. Pictures of uninhabited scenes and people lining up at immigration inspections. I wanted to see with my own eyes what the current situation is like at Narita Airport.
It's the end of the year and the period of relaxation of behavioral restrictions. I was worried about LCC check-in, so I decided to enter Narita Airport early, so I headed to Narita Airport Terminal 2 (7:05) at Busta Shinjuku (depart at 5:40). There were only about 4-5 passengers. I realized that there were not many people going to the airport, and I imagined that the airport would not be crowded.
Narita Airport nearly two years after the Corona disaster
The bus arrived at Narita Airport Terminal 2 before the scheduled time. When I checked it with the display on the electronic bulletin board (7:00), it was before the scheduled time. The bus stop is located along the international departure lobby on the 3rd floor. There are no people in the facility as well as near the bus stop. The only people I saw on the floor were the passengers of the bus and one cleaning staff.
At the end of the year, about two years after Corona, I don't know if it's because I'm still at work on December 28 or because the first flight departs at 9:40, but I saw a space for the first time where there were no people leaving the country.
The departure lobby looked the same as the media reported in the first year of Corona. However, the main difference is that there are no sound effects or narration. It was as if time had stopped, with only the sound of inorganic machinery. I objectively wondered if I was the only one in this.
Shall we take a short walk? However, I feel some pressure from this uninhabited space. I think that pressure is the very feeling that I don't need to walk.
Now, let's leave there and head to the Peach check-in counter in the lobby on the 1st floor. When I went downstairs, I drank coffee at Starbucks, which was open. After seeing the uninhabited space, I was a little relieved to see that there was a familiar Starbucks and that there was a staff there. Even before I drank my coffee.
Filming at Narita Airport
Currently, Narita Airport is filmed and released to the media. Limited by arrangement It has been. The main cause seems to be the shooting of Yotube videos. This site has obtained permission from the Narita Airport Public Relations Department.
Newborn Peach
The Peach check-in counter was the group's ANA counter in the arrival lobby on the 1st floor. Staff are wearing ANA shirts. Speaking of which, LCCs departing from and arriving at Narita Airport should have been concentrated in Terminal 3.
In November 2019, Vanilla Air (formerly AirAsia), a former ANA Group company based in Narita, and Peach, an Osaka-based company in the same ANA Group, merged to form the new Peach. All of them were originally part of the ANA Group, but I feel that the integration was the beginning of a collaboration between ANA itself and Peach.
Before that, I didn't have the impression that ANA, Vanilla, and Peach were the same group, and there was no benefit to users.
Integration of Peach and Vanilla Air and the birth of the new Peach
Peach entered service in 2011 with All Japan Airways (at the time) and funds in Hong Kong and Japan as shareholders. In 2017, ANA Holdings acquired a certain amount of shares from the fund and made Peach a consolidated subsidiary. Vanilla Air was the predecessor of AirAsia Japan, which launched in 2012 in partnership with All Japan Airways and AirAsia (Malaysia). In 2013, ANA Holdings dissolved the alliance by acquiring all of its shares, and launched a new LCC brand, Vanilla Air.
Then, in 2019, Peach and Vanilla merged to create the new Peach.
Strengthening Collaboration within the ANA Group
The transformation of the two companies into wholly owned subsidiaries and the integration of the two companies by ANA Haldigs is not only a reflection of the company's commitment to strengthening its management base, but also to providing services that are unique to ANA, which are different from LCCs, which have the subtleties of foreign capital.
Of course, the new Peach will use ANA's counter. Codeshare flights, ANA miles and Peach Point exchanges, and the provision of content that is not typical of conventional LCCs. On the other hand, soon after its inauguration, the Corona disaster hit. When the time is right, I think there will be more synergies.
In October last year, Peach announced that she couldn't decide where to go on her own. Lottery At that time, I had the opportunity to talk with the Peach staff. I came to Peach on loan from the ANA headquarters. Peach comes up with ideas and realizes them at a different speed than ANA headquarters. I enjoy the stimulating work." Finally, I remembered that he had said, "I'm glad I joined ANA."
Peach Points Expire Soon
As an aside, the reporter O drew a travel lottery for the Hokkaido "Memanbetsu Flight". That summer, I visited Monbetsu, a little north of Memanbetsu, twice, so I thought it was fate. People like to see what happens to them in a narrative way. However, I have not yet been able to go to see the drift ice in winter. The other day, I contacted the Abashiri Tourism Association and only inquired, "How is the drift ice this year?"
It's a true story, but the day before the day I inquired (2/3), the drift ice was docked. I had seen the day of the discovery of drift ice off the coast of Abashiri (1/24) on Twitter in advance, so I guessed that the day of docking would be soon. It may be difficult to make it a fateful story.
It seems that the points of the travel lottery expire at the end of March (sweat). Even if there are travel lottery points, they are few. To get on the plane, you need to pay extra points or cash. For this reason, within the last year, ANA miles were exchanged for Peach points. The Peach Points for the exchange will also expire at the end of April (sweat). I don't know what will happen to the woman's farewell line.
Unexpected check-in counter queues
60 minutes before departure, there is a long line in front of check-in and baggage drop-off. For the first time in a long time, I saw a line that folded up. At that time, a middle-aged man was complaining to the airport staff about the queue. The neighbor is probably his wife. I was worried that I was embarrassed next to the man.
There are many passengers in the queue other than Ishigaki Island flights. LCCs have a high concentration of flight times. Facilities and time are shared between each flight and passengers, resulting in low fares, including possible delays and the possibility of damage to goods. Passengers pay for it equally. If you get on a flight that you don't like, or if you fly on time, you're probably getting more value than you paid for. If you choose LCC, I want you to entrust yourself to yourself at your own risk and without panicking.
On-site response capabilities of airport staff
If there are people in front of you, you will be a little worried about whether the departure time will be okay. That's what I think. Airport staff began to call passengers on Ishigaki Island flights. If you go with the flow, check-in and baggage check-in will be completed in no time. There was a line before the next security check, but the airport staff guided me well. I had passed through security check lightly. There was still 30 minutes until the departure time.
There is data that clearly shows the accuracy of Japan airlines and airports, and if we replace it with the staff involved. I'll link to a previous article.
Reporter O is involved in event management. Not only at airports, but also at commercial facilities and cafes, when there are wonderful staff, I sometimes wish they could help me with the next week's event. BtoC services in Japan are an excellent social infrastructure. It also boosts Japan's national strength and reputation. Before Corona, people who did not understand English or Chinese were dealing with a large number of inbound visitors, from airports to tourist spots.
reflection
As a result, I passed through the security checkpoint without any problems, but I was a little impatient. If you want to do well and not rush, you need to get in line early. Check-in time is as early as 90 minutes before departure, but before that, wait at the site and get in line, check in and pack your baggage early. Looking back on the morning of that day, reporter O thought that he had arrived at Narita Airport early by bus, but the time was not early. And the time schedule was miscalculated, such as looking at the international flight departure floor or drinking coffee at Starbucks.
There was a long line at the kiosk where we waited just before we boarded the plane. Passengers on multiple flights will be converged here at the end. After that, we didn't drink water for the 4-hour flight. If you tell people who have never flown an LCC, there is no drink service, but the in-flight sales are substantial. That is, until reporter O did not buy it on the plane.
One road to Ishigaki Island
After the security check, I was fiddling with my smartphone when I saw a middle-aged man at the check-in counter. This time, he was saying something to his wife. I'm sorry. I hope it fits.
Now, let's head to Ishigaki Airport. After landing on Ishigaki Island, I will spell it out in the next trip report.
Thank you for reading this far.
