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Japan

Whether you view flying as the grin-and-bear-it portion of your journey, or you’re a longtime aviation aficionado, ANA will likely defy expectations. A SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline for 11 years straight, Japan’s largest carrier is the embodiment of the nation’s reputation for hospitality and attention to detail, down to the scent you inhale onboard, at check-in counters and in the lounges (specifics vary by location). Yes, there’s actually a bespoke blend—ANA Original Aroma—that imbues everything from hot towels to hand soaps with Japanese umbrella pine, Yoshino Japanese cedar and mint, among other comforting notes.

Economy serves up its own signature fare, starting with thoughtfully sourced foods such as "soft kale"—a salad green grown in compost that’s generated from the airline’s meal prep. And if you’re looking for a seat with impressive pitch, width and legroom, check out the Premium Economy section. But regardless of where you sit on the plane, where you land in Tokyo is worth noting: Haneda airport, unlike Narita, places you right in the city itself.

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The local hotel scene doesn’t want for grandeur either, as you’ll experience at the New York Bar on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo—a destination in its own right thanks largely to Sofia Coppola’s cult classic Lost in Translation, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Since then, several new hotels have been generating buzz, too: the Bulgari, the Janu Tokyo, Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, the hotels at Kabukicho Tower and the Tokyo Edition Ginza, to name just a few. While the hotels’ spas are major draws, the biggest local wellness lure is opening in March: a hot spring spa called Kakeinoyu set in a suburban botanical garden that affords stellar city views while you soak. Indeed, immersion of all kinds will take people to Tokyo this year, as March also heralds the debut of the Immersive Fort Tokyo. Billed as the world's first theme park dedicated exclusively to immersive theater, this sprawling entertainment complex will let you participate in everything from murder investigations with Sherlock Holmes to anime adventures with the Tokyo Revengers.

Just a few of the other classics you’ll want to be sure to take in: Senso-ji, a beautiful Buddhist temple at the end of a buzzing shopping street; the Imperial Palace and Gardens, majestic, historic and totally worth a tour; Harajuku, the eye-popping street fashion hot spot counterbalanced by the nearby serene Meji Shrine; Ryogoku Kokugikan, the sumo wrestling stadium of choice; the fish market zone—formerly one giant sprawl, now divided between Tsukiji and the nearby Toyosu markets, both good for spectating and eating; the astonishing museums (Yayoi Kusama, National Art Center, Mori Art Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Museum to name a few); and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, formerly royal and eternally gorgeous.

Landing at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, as you’ll do on the majority of ANA flights, you’ll be more or less 30 minutes and 20 kilometres from the heart of town. So you can dive right into your local adventures—particularly given the likelihood that you'll arrive well-rested, and maybe even revived (the herbs and woods in the ANA Original Aroma are highly effective on that front). Also acting as a stimulant: the city’s legendary energy, a flashing Neon life force all its own. (See: Shibuya Crossing, reportedly the world’s busiest intersection, where the towering, flashing video screens make Times Square look like child’s play.)

If it’s a different kind of plunge you’d like to take, consider one of Japan’s warm(er) weather getaways: Okinawa’s Naha. You can actually dive the gorgeous surrounding waters year-round, and seasonal sightings may include anything from manta rays to hammerheads. If you’d rather stay on the surface of the famously clear East China Sea, consider a glass-bottomed kayak or tour boat excursion—or go out on a whale-watching trip to search for migrating humpbacks. Of course, one of the coolest natural spectacles in the area takes place on dry land: Japan’s earliest cherry blossoms, which have been known to debut here in mid-January.

As for your onward journey, the possibilities are limitless, but here are a few thought starters: Kyoto and Nara, the UNESCO World Heritage-rich home to ancient temples and shrines (don’t miss the many-gated, mountainside Fushimi Inari), fascinating geisha lore, adorable urban deer, and—if you get your timing right—some of the nation’s most breathtaking spring cherry blossom and fall foliage displays. For a more off-the-beaten-path version of both phenomena, head to one of The New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2024: Yamaguchi, the so-called Kyoto of the West. And if you’re travelling in summer, don’t miss Yamaguchi’s centuries-old Gion Festival this July, when the costumed dancing in the streets promises to be extra spirited post-pandemic.

Between Japan's legendary train connectivity and ANA’s extensive domestic destination lineup, getting around is easy and efficient—especially because your Vancouver flight arrives to and departs from Haneda's Terminal 2, allowing for a seamless connection to a domestic ANA flight. Still, if you have a layover of any appreciable length, there are the Suite Lounges to consider (showers, hearty Japanese fare, quiet booths and more).

Senso-ji

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Imperial Palace

Sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan

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ANA Business Staggered

Head Chef of the ANA Catering Service

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Rare is the mode of transport that generates as much excitement as the destination itself. One notable exception? All Nippon Airways (better known as ANA), which connects Canada directly to Japan with a route that’s celebrating 10 years of renowned service in 2024: Vancouver to Tokyo’s Haneda airport. (You’ll find additional connectivity throughout Canada on ANA codeshare partner Air Canada—or catch an ANA flight from one of eight U.S. cities.) As for what awaits on the other side: That, too, has been generating major excitement. Japan has so many new offerings—to say nothing of the country’s classic draws—this year really is the time to go. Read on for how best to experience the flight, your time in Tokyo and your journey beyond the capital.

New York Bar | image courtesy of Park Hyatt Tokyo

Bulgari Hotel Tokyo | image courtesy of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts

Natadera Temple

As for the spaces on board, one great option is ANA Business Staggered, where, as the name suggests, the lie-flat seats are arrayed in a staggered design that grants everyone direct aisle access. (Read: You’ll never have to vault over the fully reclined, contentedly sleeping person next to you if you want to get up.) Worth sitting upright for: the Business Class meals resulting from ANA’s partnership with a coterie of A-List Japanese and international chefs, known collectively as THE CONNOISSEURS, some with Michelin stars, others with World’s Best awards.

Terminal 2 International Departure Lobby at Haneda, Tokyo International Airport | Image source: Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.

Another off-the-beaten-path spot worth exploring: Kagoshima Prefecture. If Yamaguchi is the Kyoto of the West, this is the Naples of the East, so named for the local bay (and balmy climate). Also like Naples, this is an island- and volcano-rich zone, with an active caldera on Mount Sakurajima and geothermic soaking options that range from traditional onsens to steamy sand baths on the beach (really).

Hammerhead sharks near Okinawa

ANA Suite Lounge

Kyoto (left); Yamaguchi (right)

fly well | welcome to tokyo | explore farther afield