April 15 & 16, 2026

Wednesday & Thursday, April 15th and 16th, 2026

Sonoma > San Francisco > Tokyo, Japan

This two-day transfer actually begins on Monday or Tuesday with packing and repacking for the trip. We have preordered a Blacklane car and driver to take us to the airport. We are on an airline we haven’t taken before, All Nippon Airways or ANA. ANA was founded in 1952, so it is as old as we are, as a Japanese Helicopter and Airplane Transports. It was renamed in 1957 when it merged with Far East Airlines, becoming All Nippon Airways. ANA pioneered domestic jets service, expanded into international routes in 1986, and joined the Star Alliance (United to us) in 1999. ANA is Japan’s largest 5-star airlines.

By the time we went to bed on Tuesday night, we were all packed and ready to go. Just needed to add the refrigerated items to the carryon cooler case. The normal leaving day routine in the morning; taking out the garbage, unplug all the appliances (except the refrigerator), turning off the heat, checking the windows and doors. Opening the gate for the driver and carrying the luggage up to the driveway. All of this was done before 07:45. Fortunately, the driver from Blacklane was also well prepared this morning and showed up at 07:45.

We were in the car and on the way to the airport by 07:50. There wasn’t much traffic on the way, we did slow down at the normal pinch points in Marin but nothing really out of the ordinary. We managed to get to the airport and walk into the international terminal before it had gone 09:30. That put us at the check-in counter nearly a full three hours prior to departure. Of course, the first thing we learned was that the flight was delayed. Only by twenty-minutes, but a delay is a delay.

There was no line for identification check or security screening. We walked right through and headed to the United Polaris lounge just on the left as you pass through security screening. This is a very nice lounge, but chronically out of things. Today it was glasses and cups. They did have a nice breakfast buffet, and Mary was able to get a Mimosa from the bar. I managed to time it perfectly and was standing at the beverage bar when the server brought a new set of glasses.

We relaxed and hung out in the lounge, enjoyed our breakfast before heading down to the gate nearly two-hours later. Our plane had still not arrived, and they had pushed out the departure time by forty-minutes. It is an auspicious start to this cruise.

Boarding actually began shortly after noon. The boarding process, guided by facial recognition went quickly. The configuration of business class is a little different than on American carriers. Each seat is basically its own small enclosed cubical. The seat itself is wide enough for two people. It is a little low, that is the height of the seat is closer to the deck than on American or European carriers.

Once we got going, they served “lunch”. There were a number of choices, one from the “international” menu and one from the Japanese menu. Obviously, the “international”: menu is more the traditional American carrier fare. The Japanese menu was weighted toward traditional Japanese dishes. The food was actually much better than expected.

The next ten-plus-hours were spent watching Forest Gump and the Sound of Music, combined with a little napping. There was a little eating and drinking. This time the honey packets were remembered, but they kept delivering half full cups of hot water. We finally approached Tokyo. We then spend another hour circling the airport because there was some issue at the airport. We ended up landing an hour and a half late. Then we sat another half hour waiting for a gate.

A ten-hour-twelve-minute flight turned into twelve-hour-twelve-minute flight, but they don’t count the time waiting for a gate. We finally deplaned just after it had gone 17:00; a full two hours after the scheduled landing time. Immigration and security checks were quick, and the bags were waiting on the baggage carousel.

Exiting the baggage collection area we expected to be treated by staff from Regent. Low and behold, there was someone with a Regent sign. They told us they were waiting for other passengers from other flights. When we inquired how long a wait it might be they said two to three hours. We explained that wouldn’t work for us. First, there was no place to sit and wait; not that we were interested in sitting anymore.

Second, they couldn’t give us an estimated time other than two to three hours. They kept saying it depended on how long it took people to get their bags and get through immigration. Hey, we just stepped off a ten plus hour flight, not counting the delays. It was after 18:00 and we just wanted to get to the hotel, which we come to find out is an hour-and-a-half away.

Finally, they get us into the next available van, but it has to stop at the next terminal to pick someone else up. In any case they assured us we would be on our way shortly. Hopefully, we would get to the hotel by 20:00. We loaded into the van with four other people and headed to the “other” terminal. Fortunately, the people we waiting at the crub for the van. They were loaded quickly and we took off for the hotel. It was dark and we were very tired. We both actually nodded off on the way to the hotel.

We are staying at the Tokyo Hilton in the Nishi-Shinjuku district of downtown Tokyo. It was really all too confusing and we were way to tired to care. Mary went and checked us in while I gathered the bags. Actually, a nice young woman with a luggage cart gathered the bags, then we headed inside. Mary already had a room keycard so we headed directly to the room. Just down the hall at 911, Mike and Maddie are in 904.

We got to our room just before it went 20:00. We didn’t even connect with Mike and Maddie on our arrival. It was thought they were probably sleeping. We managed to unpack just enough for the night. I took a relatively short bath, more to full the void and avoid going to bed too early. Unfortunately, we were both in bed well before 21:00. At least one of us was asleep within minutes.

A sixteen-hour time difference, we left Wednesday at noon (Pacific Standard Time) and arrived at the hotel Thursday evening at 20:00 (Tokyo Time). Somewhere in there Thursday got lost. Of course, when we left California on Wednesday, it was about 04:00 on Thursday morning in Tokyo.

The night passed slowly. Lots of up and downs. Managed to stay in bed until about 05:00 Friday morning. It is going to take some time to adjust to the new time situation.

Buonanotte e Ciao,

Enrico e Maria