Thursday, June 11, 2026

Spring Japan Travel Notes: Korean Air & United Airlines Meal Experience

 

Cherry Blossom in 2026

My husband and I visited Japan in late March this year. This time, we flew to Fukuoka from Los Angeles with Korean Air. We had a layover in Seoul and spent some time shopping at Incheon Airport. I remembered my Korean friend once telling me that the seaweed sold at the airport is much higher quality than what you usually find in supermarkets — so we bought some. She was right; it was incredibly good.

Anyway, my husband and I ended up loving Korean Air. Even though we were in economy class, their service felt thoughtful and comfortable. They provided disposable slippers for all passengers, and the bathrooms had toothbrushes, Korean skin lotion, and toner. I usually don’t enjoy airplane bathrooms, but somehow I did this time. The Korean Air cabin attendants were also very kind, which made the whole experience even nicer.

Korean Air In-Flight Meal (Los Angeles → Seoul)

       We also really enjoyed the in‑flight meal on Korean Air. During our flight from Los Angeles to Seoul, we chose the bibimbap, and it was fun mixing all the ingredients with the rice and adding the gochujang. It turned out to be pretty good and surprisingly satisfying.


Korean Air In-Flight Meal (Los Angeles → Seoul)

     


Korean Air In-Flight Meal (Seoul → Fukuoka)

       Flying from Seoul to Fukuoka took less than an hour, but even on such a short flight they still served a light meal — a Paris Baguette sandwich and chips — which tasted much better than I expected. I also didn’t realize that the Paris Baguette we often see in Southern California is actually a Korean chain. The sandwiches were so good, and the chips were surprisingly delicious too. AI says they’re a Korean non‑fried potato chip made by Nongshim. I want to look for them at a Korean grocery store someday.


      On our way back to Los Angeles from Japan, we flew with United Airlines. This time, we were able to use the United Airlines Lounge at Narita Airport. I’ll write more about the lounge next time.   

United Airlines In-Flight Meal (Narita → Los Angeles)

      I usually love flight meals departing from Japan because they often include more Japanese‑style dishes. Our first meal was a kind of yakitori bento, which felt comforting and familiar. The second meal was chicken omelet rice with demi‑glace sauce — simple but satisfying in that cozy, Japanese‑airline way.

United Airlines In-Flight Meal (Narita → Los Angeles)



     Overall, we truly enjoyed our flights on this trip. I usually don’t expect too much from in‑flight meals, but each one turned out better than I imagined. It was a nice way to wrap up our journey.



        These are also my entries you might like.
Top 15 Popular Posts from Best Japanese Beauty Products

5 Most Popular Japanese Sunscreens Can Be Purchased at Drugstores in Japan

16 Best Japanese Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan - Drugstore, Discount Store, Daiso and Amazon Japan

3 Best Japanese Sunscreens with SPF50+ PA++++

3 Best Japanese Sunscreens Won Beauty Award This Year

Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens   

3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year

3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup  


7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame  

Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products   

Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap

5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesyou-sui

The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan

4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil

10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan 



     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
 

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Thursday, June 4, 2026

How We Turned a 10‑Hour Transit in Oahu into a Perfect Mini‑Adventure

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Japan last summer, and for this trip, we flew with Hawaiian Airlines. Normally, we fly directly to Tokyo before heading to our hometown, Fukuoka, but this time the most affordable option was a round‑trip between Los Angeles and Fukuoka with a connection in Honolulu.

On our return from Fukuoka to Los Angeles, we had a 10‑hour transit in Honolulu — longer than we usually prefer, but perfect for enjoying a little time on Oahu. Today, I’m going to share how we spent those 10 hours during our layover. 

    We landed on Oahu around 10 a.m. Because we were on a transit flight, we had to pick up our suitcases first, but we were able to check them in again right away before leaving the airport. Thanks to that, we could walk out without carrying any heavy luggage, which made everything so much easier and let us move around freely during the layover.

Rental Car Shuttle Bus

Car Rental

     We took the shuttle bus to the Budget rental car office around 12:20 p.m. We had booked our car in advance, so the process was already simple, but it became even smoother because my husband had joined Budget’s Fastbreak program beforehand. We were able to pick up the car at 12:30 p.m. with almost no waiting at all.

Before he joined Fastbreak, we used to wait for more than an hour at the counter, and they often tried to sell extra insurance. The Fastbreak program completely changed that experience. If you plan to use Budget, I really recommend signing up — it saves so much time during a layover. 


     This time, we wanted to enjoy driving around Oahu, so we chose to rent a standard convertible instead of an affordable compact car. It’s simply more fun to drive with the top down, especially on an island. We were assigned a Ford Mustang, and it was actually our first time trying one.



      Usually, convertible cars have smaller trunk space, but since we weren’t carrying any heavy luggage, it wasn’t a problem for us at all.







Hawaiian Poke

      We decided to have lunch at Ono Seafood, a famous spot for poke. We had really enjoyed their poke on a previous visit, so we wanted to come back again this time. We arrived around 1:20 p.m., and because it’s such a popular place, especially during lunchtime, finding a parking space was quite challenging.



          We ordered a poke bowl with #1 Shoyu Ahi and #8 Wasabi Ahi for $17.80. Both were incredibly fresh and flavorful — just as good as we remembered. It really hit the spot.

#1 Shoyu Ahi and #8 Wasabi Ahi for $17.80



Finding Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles

      After lunch, we grabbed coffee at Starbucks and headed toward Papa‘iloa Beach to look for wild sea turtles. We had seen a sea turtle once in the San Gabriel River in Long Beach, California, but seeing wild sea turtles in Hawaii had been on our bucket list for a long time. During our last trip to Oahu, we couldn’t find any, but this time it was August — a season when sea turtles are often spotted — so we were hopeful.


    We arrived at the beach around 3 p.m., and sure enough, there were many sea turtles. They were calmly eating seaweed close to the shore — maybe around twenty of them — and it felt almost unreal to see so many in one place. 

     It felt so good to finally experience something we had been hoping to see for so long.






Kahuku Shrimp

     Then we suddenly had a strong craving for Kahuku shrimp, so we decided to stop by Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. We arrived around 4:50 p.m. We had enjoyed their shrimp before, so we were excited to try it again.

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

     We ordered the Shrimp Scampi for $17.50. It came with a dozen jumbo shrimp in a rich garlic‑lemon‑butter sauce and two scoops of white rice. The shrimp were garlicky, a little olive‑oily, fresh, and absolutely delicious.

Shrimp Scampi for $17.50






Driving to Airport

      Then we stopped by Kualoa Regional Park at 5:50 p.m. Up to this point, my husband had been driving around the island, but from here I took the wheel for a while.

       The view of the island while driving was beautiful — the lush green mountains rising around us. I especially love the mountains here; they reminded me of the hikes we enjoyed in Oahu on our previous trips.

      We filled up the gas and arrived at the airport rental car drop‑off around 7 p.m. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 8:43 p.m. Since it was a domestic flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles, the timing worked out fine, but ideally we should have given ourselves a little more buffer.



      Overall, our 10‑hour transit turned into a surprisingly rich little adventure. We circled the island in a Ford Mustang, tasted fresh poke and buttery Giovanni’s shrimp, and seeing the sea turtles up close became one of the most memorable moments of the day. Even though it was a short visit, we felt like we experienced a small slice of Oahu — the beaches, the mountains, the food, and the relaxed island atmosphere. Since accommodations in Hawaii are so expensive, making the most of a long transit can be a great option, as long as you’re not too tired. If you plan to do the same, I recommend resting well on the flight before arriving in Oahu so you can enjoy every hour of your mini‑trip.



       These are also my entries you might like.

What I Ate in Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii Haul - 9 Products I Purchased at Costco, ABC Stores, Lawson and Whole Foods

Hawaii Haul - What I Purchased at Starbucks in Hawaii

What Do They Sell at Costco on the Big Island, Hawaii? - 12 Kinds of Unique Products!

Costco Haul - the Big Island, Hawaii

KTA Super Stores - Traveling the Big Island, Hawaii

Hotel Room Tour and Review - Sunshine City Prince Hotel - Ikebukuro, Tokyo

My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at Zoff

Driving A Rental Car in Japan, 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan

6 Facts about Kokyo Gaien Jogging Course

How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at JINS

6 Japanese Products Loved by Foreign Tourists in Japan

Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens  

3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year

3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup  


7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame 

Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products  

Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap

5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesyou-sui

The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan

4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil

10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan



     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
 

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.




Thursday, May 28, 2026

6 Practical Japanese Items I Picked Up in Japan


     Last summer, my husband and I visited Japan, and as always, I ended up bringing home a few of my favorite everyday items. Some of them are long‑time staples that I always pick up when I’m there, and this time I also discovered a couple of new favorites. Today, I’d love to share the six products I purchased in Japan and why I keep going back to them.


1.  Cosme Brush Stand (干せるブラシスタンド)

Makeup Brush Drying Rack

110 yen at Daiso

Cosme Brush Stand (干せるブラシスタンド)

     I picked up this Cosme Brush Stand (干せるブラシスタンド) at Daiso — it was only 110 yen, such a good little find. It’s a simple makeup‑brush drying rack, but it has been surprisingly useful. Ever since I bought it, I’ve been using it every time I wash my makeup brushes. It hangs easily on my shower‑curtain pole, so the brushes can drip‑dry neatly without taking up any counter space.

Cosme Brush Stand (干せるブラシスタンド)



2. Treatment Comb (トリートメントコーム)

Wide-toothed comb for Hair Mask and Conditioner

110 yen at Seria

Treatment Comb (トリートメントコーム)

       I picked up this Treatment Comb (トリートメントコーム) at Seria for just 110 yen. It’s a wide‑toothed comb designed to help hair masks and conditioners work more effectively. I first learned about it from a Japanese hairstylist on YouTube, and I’m glad I followed the recommendation. It spreads conditioner evenly and helps it absorb better, so my hair feels smoother afterward. I like it so much that I even pack it when I travel.




3. Foot Scrubber Mat (3D 足洗いマット)

Foot Scrubber Mat

1980 yen on Amazon Japan

Foot Scrubber Mat (3D 足洗いマット)

      I also picked up this Foot Scrubber Mat (3D 足洗いマット) on Amazon Japan. It’s one of those small items that quietly improves your routine — the soft bristles massage and clean the soles of my feet, adding a nice, refreshing feeling to my shower.

Foot Scrubber Mat (3D 足洗いマット)



4. Lion Systema Toothbrush (ライオン システマ 超極細毛 歯ブラシ)

Toothbrush

168 yen at drugstore in Japan

Lion Systema Toothbrush (ライオン システマ 超極細毛 歯ブラシ)

     I also purchased this Lion Systema Toothbrush (ライオン システマ 超極細毛 歯ブラシ). Whenever I visit Japan, I always pick up a few manual toothbrushes, and Systema is one of my favorites. The bristles are extremely thin (超極細毛), so they can reach deep between the gums and teeth. If you’ve never tried a Systema toothbrush before, it’s definitely worth trying — you can really feel the difference compared to an ordinary toothbrush.

Lion Systema Toothbrush (ライオン システマ 超極細毛 歯ブラシ)




5. Dental Pro L-Shaped Interdental Brush (デンタルプロ L字型 歯間ブラシ)

Interdental Brushes 

Size 0 (SSSS), 0.6mm 

Size 1 (SSS), 0.7mm

10-interdental brushes for 278 yen at discount store in Japan

Dental Pro L-Shaped Interdental Brush (デンタルプロ L字型 歯間ブラシ)

       I also purchased this Dental Pro L‑Shaped Interdental Brush (デンタルプロ L字型 歯間ブラシ). Ever since I started using it, I honestly can’t live without it. My dental hygienist even told me that my oral hygiene looks very good, which made me appreciate this brush even more. Whenever I go to Japan, this is one of my must‑buy oral care items. I highly recommend trying it — it makes a noticeable difference.

Dental Pro L-Shaped Interdental Brush (デンタルプロ L字型 歯間ブラシ)


Dental Pro L-Shaped Interdental Brush (デンタルプロ L字型 歯間ブラシ)



6. Kao Clear Clean Next Dent Toothpaste (花王 クリアクリーン NEXT DENT 歯磨き粉)

Toothpaste

120g for 198 yen at drugstore in Japan

Kao Clear Clean Next Dent Toothpaste (花王 クリアクリーン NEXT DENT 歯磨き粉)

I also purchased this Kao Clear Clean Next Dent Toothpaste (花王 クリアクリーン NEXT DENT 歯磨き粉). When I lived in Japan, I used Clear Clean toothpaste from time to time, but it had been many years since I last used it. After trying it again for the first time in decades, I realized I still really love it. It leaves my mouth feeling very clean without being too strong.

Kao Clear Clean Next Dent Toothpaste (花王 クリアクリーン NEXT DENT 歯磨き粉)



        These are also my entries you might like.
Top 15 Popular Posts from Best Japanese Beauty Products

5 Most Popular Japanese Sunscreens Can Be Purchased at Drugstores in Japan

16 Best Japanese Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan - Drugstore, Discount Store, Daiso and Amazon Japan

3 Best Japanese Sunscreens with SPF50+ PA++++

3 Best Japanese Sunscreens Won Beauty Award This Year

Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens   

3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year

3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup  


7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame  

Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products   

Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap

5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesyou-sui

The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan

4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil

10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan 



     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
 

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.