It’s 2025 which means Celebration Japan is on the horizon. It’s been in the planning stages for so long that it still feels a little surreal that we’re just over three months away from the big event and the trip of a lifetime. With that in mind, today we kick off a new weekly series focusing on some of the planning you may have missed or need to put on your list of things to do. I must stress – I’m a novice planning this trip, so these findings are purely what I’ve picked up on the way.
With that said, let’s dive in.
Parking at the Airport
If you’re reading this then I’m assuming you might be heading to Japan and if you are, then you’ll most likely have your flights already booked. We booked ours last summer and got a good deal. The flights are something that keep nudging up in price the longer you leave it.
So, there are many ways to get to the airport and may I recommend the National Express Coaches. They’re more reliable than the trains, they take a bit longer, but they’re a lot cheaper and will take you to the exact terminal that you need. I’ve done this myself a few times and as I write this, my aunt and uncle who live in Greece, are doing this exact same thing in a few days, travelling down to Gatwick as they head home after Christmas.
If you’re driving yourself then you’ll need to park. We’re flying from Gatwick and I need to park the car – for 2 weeks. Yikes. However, last September when we sat down to figure this trip out, we looked at a few options. It’s become trendy these days to park on someone’s drive. I’ve done this a few times, but only for a night or two. For example, last May when I was touring my show in Brighton, I parked on someone’s drive that was a 45-minute walk away from where I was staying. Why? Brighton has parking charges that will make your eyes bleed, and I needed to turn a profit on my shows. This was fine for a night or two but when it comes to two weeks, I want something more secure. I’ve paid to park my car at Gatwick airport through the OFFICIAL booking website as it was only £4 more expensive than Joe Blogg’s drive. Plus, you’re paying for peace of mind (For transparency the cost was £98.00 for 2 weeks).
Connecting Airports
Depending on where you are travelling in from across the world you’ll likely find yourself on a connecting flight to Tokyo. I am stopping over in Shanghai for a few hours, while others I know are laying over in Dubai. It’s worth checking ahead of time if there’s anything in your layover country that might be a big no-no for hand luggage. For example, if you’re stopping over in Dubai then it’s illegal to have a controlled drug such as codeine in your hand luggage. If my old man were going, then this would be a big problem as he’s on a lot of prescribed medication for various health issues. Things that you might take for granted or forget about could be a no-no. Certain types of batteries, for example, you cannot carry in Shanghai. Go over everything with a fine tooth comb. It may be that if you take certain medications then you need to pay your local GP for a signed certificate to say they’re authorised by NHS. Again, my old man does this when he goes on his summer holidays every year.
It’s also worth checking out your connecting airport to see if it’s worth hiring a lounge or, as is the case in Shanghai, a sleeping pod. They’re not overly expensive, and if your layover is 6 hours then it might be worth it for some quiet time. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to this trip. We are, after all, travelling halfway around the world and we’ll be travelling for a long time.
Which brings me to…
Flying Top Tip
I learned this trick off a lovely lady from New Orleans when I was travelling across the US for 6 months. I was hopping between states doing shows and it was a whirlwind. In all that time, when it wasn’t the years but the miles, I learned this.
Take a fresh pair of socks. Trust me.
Pack them in your hand luggage and change them when you land. You will feel like a new person and your feet and mind will thank you for it. Your feet do all the heavy-lifting most days, and even when you’re sat down for 18 hours straight then your feet can get sweaty and irritable, and a fresh pair of socks will feel like Heaven. If you do nothing else I suggest on the trip, please do this. You may have gone mad after your flight, but your feet certainly won’t be barking.
Aldo, if you can afford to go to Japan then you can afford some earplugs. Not for swimming but for a good night’s sleep. I’m someone who needs absolute silence when I go to sleep and when I’m travelling a good pair of earplugs can do the trick. You may be in a hotel that’s right next to a construction site, or perhaps your neighbours are night owls who have no regard for the fact that you need to get up for a Star Wars Celebration event in a few hours.
Fresh socks and earplugs. Remember those, you will.
Join us next week as we look at one of the most overlooked but invaluable travel hacks to help your trip to Japan.
