introduction
Hello everyone and welcome back to my Japanese trip I did in early 2020 just before the sanitary crisis forced airlines to cease most of their flights.
Unlike my previous stay, I'm not starting from Tokyo the capital city, but on Hokkaidō island, under the snow. We will come back to the main island and its capital cities in the second part ; right now, we're heading to Kushiro airport (KUH).
By the way, this shall be an exclusive review because there aren't no review about this route already published on this website.
If some of you are interested for some facts or Japanese geography, you just need to open the window down below…
Despite the data mentionned earlier, and the fact we may consider this city a metropolis, the city of Kushiro is especially an industrial city, because of its important nautical activity and its industrial complex. In 1899, an imperial decree allowed an open port trading between Japan and the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
It's also in Kushiro that the last national coal mine shutted down in 2002.
Kushiro's airport officially opened in July 1961. And because of its size (only 3 jetbridges) and a very limited immigration capacity, the airport's main activity is focused on domestic flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND), Osaka Kansai (KIX) and both Sapporo's airports; Sapporo Okadama (OKD) and Sapporo New Chitose (CTS). Sometimes, it hosts charter flights coming from Taïwan, Hong Kong or even Republic of Korea.
Besides, it is quite an active airport: in 2015 ; it appears 37th of Japanese top 50 airports in passengers carried with a total of 685 379 travellers. (data from Wikipédia)
the airlines going to this airport are the "legacies" such as Japan Airlines (JL) and ANA (NH) and their low-costs subsidiaries (J-Air and ANA Wings), but also some low-cost airlines like Air Do (HD) or Peach airlines (MM).
our route
If you need a reminder, here's our route.
Enchainement de vols
- 1
- 2
- 3JAPAN AIRLINES 545 TOKYO HANEDA => KUSHIRO
- 4JAPAN AIRLINES (J-AIR) 2712 OZORA MEMANBETSU => SAPPORO NEW CHITOSE (+ JAPANESE TOURISTIC BONUS)
- 5
- 6AIR FRANCE 291 OSAKA KANSAI => PARIS ROISSY-CHARLES-DE-GAULLE
- 7AIR FRANCE 7708 PARIS ROISSY-CHARLES-DE-GAULLE => NICE CÔTE D'AZUR (+ JAPANESE TOURISTIC BONUS)
the online check-in (olci)
Although the booking number was in the name of AF, it was impossible to select the seat on this flight. Until the 23rd of January, one week before the flght departure. When I can finally see the remaining vacant seats, all window seats were taken except one, 39K. Not the best one because of lavatories right behind it and the fact it's located at the rear of the aircraft but I won't have to pay an extra.
Then a few days later, I saw window seats on the front that got vacant since. My seat become then 19K.
Despite the seat 18A was the most in the front, it's a trap : although it's located at the window, it's the only one of all the aircraft that don't have a window!! Japan Airlines and Seatguru's seatmaps on their websites are unanimous, unlike AF…
The transit in tokyo
Previously, I let you at the international terminal's exit, alognside Miraitowa and Someity, the Olympic and Paralympic Games's mascots.
Once the group is gathered, we're setting out to domestic 1 terminal, exclusive for Japan Airlines (domestic terminal 2 is dedicated to ANA).
Since Kushiro is located in Hokkaidō island, our flight's check-in desk is in North Wing.
The inside. There were still Christmas decorations back then…
Our flight's check-in area.
My Boarding Pass, looking more like a cash receipt than a real one. Today, we're boarding at gate 21. The airside is quite crowded.
Since we have time before boarding, let's make pictures of the aircrafts.
boarding
Our aircraft for Kushiro is JA-316J. At the same time, JAL's 4th A350 is on its way to its next destination. It wore a special anniversary livery.
Boarding started. Prioirties were perfectly respected. Passengers with an assistance, families travelling with young children and pregnant women were called before frequent travellers.
I'm boarding via a blind jetbridge. Fuselage and door moments.
We're passing by the Business class, in a 2-3 configuration. This configuration also counts Economy's first row before we get a 3-3 configuration.
My seat, 19K. It could have two windows instead of one.
the legroom is very satisfying.
The safety card.
The waste bag.
You can have Wi-Fi onboard, but I won't give it a try.
the PSU lamps.
Our neighbor is a Skymark Airlines 737-800 wearing a special livery "B.League", the Japanese's basketball league.
We're ready to leave. Because the Covid-19's pandemic was there, all flight attendants wore a mask.
We pushed back at 5.50 P.M. The JAL safety video started on the monitors. Those same screens showed advertisements for the rest of the flight.
A few photos of the outside during taxiing and take-off. I didn't take a lot during this flight because of the night.
during the flight
The inflight catering is a simple drink. And I chose a green tea.
Kanpai !!
Flight attendants passed again for a refuel but due to a stomachache, I declined the offer.
The arrival at Kushiro airport
The descent has started. Last moments inflight.
We landed full brakes at 7.25 P.M. Our aircraft was the only one of the entire airport.
Everybody inside is up…
…while everybody outside is getting to work.
Disembarkment via the Business Class, which I could test the legroom. In any case, the legroom is rather comfortable in this aircraft.
A last shot of our aircraft before it heads back to Tokyo Haneda (HND).
A few pictures of KUH airside before we went to the lower floor to reach the baggage claim.
The baggage claim isn't very big but it has two conveyor belts.
Although it's 7 P.M, all landside shops are closed.
The airport has a few local decorations…
… but the most important is this one inside that shows Japanese cranes, that are used to live in Tsurui village (鶴居村), Akan District in Kushiro subprefecture during winter. By the way, it's in this same village where my hotel is.
It is right beside this van this review has come to an end. I thank you for reading me and I hope you enjoyed it. If that's the case, don't forget to put like and a comment down below, I will be very happy. As for my part, I wish you all safe flights until this Japanese trip's next review. This one will also have tourisitc photos included.