After much deliberation and discussion, it appears that I’ll be going to Japan this coming April.

Reiko and I had originally planned on going to Ontario this coming spring in order to meet my family.  Unfortunately, it appears that plane tickets during Golden Week are about as rare as a $2 bill in America.  A full three months in advance, the planes are almost booked solid and the fares are double the price from a week before.

Shame, really.  I was looking forward to seeing Niagara Falls with my Reiko.

But one of the positive notes about this turn of events will be my return to Japan.  I have two options available, and I’m still partially considering which one to go with.  I can either fly with Air Canada, from Vancouver to Osaka directly and take the Shinkasen to Nagoya, and then catch the Mietetsu line up to Gifu Station.  Or I can take NWA from Vancouver to Seattle, where I’ll have a 4 hour layover before flying to Narita, and finally flying to Nagoya … where I’ll then catch the Mietetsu line up to Gifu Station.

The Air Canada option would cost $1240 + $80 for the trains.  The NWA option would cost $1016 plus about $20 for the train.  My last experience with Air Canada was top notch (even excluding the Business Class upgrade).  My last experience with NWA was painful because of the repeated cabin pressure changes.  That said, I would probably bring some NyQuil gel caps with me (can’t bring a bottle of liquid, yet) so that I’m knocked out before we even leave American air space.

That is probably the best option.

Reiko and I are trying to set aside as much money as possible for our wedding, as well as our future together.  I shouldn’t be spending the extra $300 just to avoid being uncomfortable and staying out of the US.

So I guess it’s decided.  I’ll be flying NWA into the US, and then off to Japan.  Now I just need to figure out what clothes I should bring.  I’m in desperate need of new spring-wear.