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JUN 25 2021

JAL Card "Miles Trip": A mother-daughter weekend trip to Nara to get closer

In this cashless era, by using a JAL card with a credit function, you can enjoy a luxurious "mile trip" at a great price. Mile trip is a form of travel where you can get a reward ticket by using the miles you have accumulated in your daily life, and make your trip a little more luxurious with the money you save on the ticket price.

This time, we will be proposing a "Mother and Daughter Mile Trip to Nara on a Weekend to Close the Relationship" from among the various mile trips that can be enjoyed in various situations. We will introduce the appeal of the JAL Card and how to use it to your advantage by dividing it into three scenes: before, during, and after the trip.

画像1: JALカードの「マイル旅」:週末の奈良で、距離が縮まる母娘旅編

*Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, business days and business hours of each spot may be changed.

<During the trip> Mother and daughter's bond deepens. A two-day, one-night model trip to Nara

画像: 〈旅ナカ〉母娘の仲が深まる。1泊2日の奈良旅モデルコース

Your trip to the ancient capital of Nara begins. Of course, don't forget to bring your JAL card. You can earn miles by paying with your JAL card at stores in your destination.

What's more, if you use your JAL Card at a "JAL Card affiliated store," you can earn double the miles, so the more you use your JAL Card during your trip, the more you save. In this trip, we will introduce a model itinerary for shops and spots where you can make the most of your JAL Card.

Enjoy a luxurious lunch at "Koikiryori Ajimanso"

画像1: 「小粋料理 味 万惣」で楽しむ贅沢ランチ

I used my miles to go to Itami Airport. I took a limousine bus from the airport and arrived in front of JR Nara Station. I was hungry, so I decided to have lunch right away. Since this was a mother-daughter trip, I decided to have a slightly more luxurious lunch than usual and chose "Koiki Ryori Aji Manso."

At this restaurant, you can enjoy Japanese cuisine made with seasonal ingredients from all over Japan, which the owner purchases from the market every day.

画像2: 「小粋料理 味 万惣」で楽しむ贅沢ランチ

The lunch we had (6,000 yen including tax) was a satisfying meal consisting of 7 to 8 dishes including appetizers using seasonal vegetables, sashimi, meat dishes, rice, soup, and water.

The dishes for the day included "Crab and Warm Egg with Uza-Ku Fresh Ginger," fatty tuna, kenken bonito, conger eel, flatfish kobujime sashimi, and steamed abalone. Conger eel dishes are a specialty, and many customers visit specifically for them. The two looked at each other and exclaimed, "This is so delicious!" at the fluffy texture of the conger eel caught in the Seto Inland Sea.

The glass "Crab and On-Tama Uzak Fresh Ginger" (left) has sparkling vinegar jelly, making it look like a parfait. It uses rich red chicken onsen eggs, and the balance of sourness and sweetness of the onsen eggs is exquisite. It goes well with sake, and champagne is also recommended.

画像3: 「小粋料理 味 万惣」で楽しむ贅沢ランチ

Also, be sure to check out the tableware from famous artists collected by the owner and the paintings on the walls. Surrounded by precious paintings and other interior decorations, you can experience an extraordinary feeling. As they serve seasonal dishes, it's a restaurant you'll want to visit again and again each season.

画像4: 「小粋料理 味 万惣」で楽しむ贅沢ランチ

It felt refreshing to indulge in such a luxurious way just the two of us in the middle of the day. The delicious food, drinks, and the extraordinary atmosphere got us excited, and the conversation got lively.

After enjoying lunch, you can pay with your JAL Card, of course. As this is a JAL Card affiliated store, you can earn double miles.

Ajimanso, a stylish restaurant

addressSancrane 2nd floor, 2-26 Tsurumai Higashimachi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
phone0742-47-4966
business hoursLunch 11:30-13:30, Dinner 17:00-21:30
webhttps://kbrw000.gorp.jp/

Stay in the coveted suite at Hotel Nikko Nara

画像1: 「ホテル日航奈良」で憧れのスイートルームに宿泊

After filling up on lunch, we went to the Hotel Nikko Nara. Using the miles we had saved on the airfare, we chose a suite room, which is limited to one room.

Passing through the stately and calming lobby, take the elevator to the suite on the 10th floor. The room is a spacious 78 square meters with a separate bedroom and living room, and you can see Mount Wakakusa from the window. The amenities are a nice bonus, a set from Mikimoto, famous for its pearls. You can immerse yourself in the ultimate luxury in this room, which has welcomed many distinguished guests from Japan and abroad.

画像2: 「ホテル日航奈良」で憧れのスイートルームに宿泊

This time I stayed at the hotel using the "J-SMART" plan, so I took advantage of the early check-in privilege *1 offered by the JAL Card CLUB-A Card and checked in at 1pm. I took a break in the room, which had a living space, a soft and spacious sofa, and a view of Nara from the window.
*1: Available to CLUB-A Card, CLUB-A Gold Card, and Platinum Members.

As they discussed where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do in Nara to plan their trip, they found that they had surprisingly similar interests. Combined with the relaxing atmosphere of the room, they laughed and said, "Just like father and son," as they excitedly reflected on their upcoming trip.

Hotel Nikko Nara

address8-1 Sanjo Honmachi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
phone0742-35-6812(宿泊予約)
webhttps://www.nikkonara.jp/

Enjoy shaved ice at the Lobby Lounge Fountain

画像1: 「ロビーラウンジ ファウンテン」でかき氷を堪能

After relaxing in your room, it's time for a cafe. Nara is known as the mecca for shaved ice, as it is the home of Himuro Shrine, which once donated ice to the Imperial Court.

You can also enjoy shaved ice at the Lobby Lounge Fountain at the Hotel Nikko Nara. The shaved ice here is topped with fluffy espuma. Shaved ice is a popular menu item that is available all year round, with flavors changing every two to three months.

画像2: 「ロビーラウンジ ファウンテン」でかき氷を堪能

The shaved ice on this day was Sakuramochi shaved ice and Hazelnut milk shaved ice (1,430 yen each, tax included). We selected different flavors for each. The shaved ice is strictly temperature controlled, resulting in a fluffy and mellow flavor. You can enjoy it until the last bite without getting a sharp headache.

The light pink sakura mochi ice is filled with an espuma reminiscent of salty sakura mochi. As you eat it, you'll find soft warabi mochi inside, which goes perfectly with the sweet and salty espuma.

画像3: 「ロビーラウンジ ファウンテン」でかき氷を堪能

The hazel milk ice cream tastes like a cake, with the rich hazelnuts and milk matching perfectly with the sweet and sour fruit on top.

"The texture of the ice is new!" "It's worth coming all the way to Nara to try this!" The two sweets lovers were very satisfied to be able to enjoy the shaved ice they had been looking for. Eating something sweet helped to ease the fatigue of traveling.

In addition, the Lobby Lounge Fountain also offers a 5% discount with the CLUB-A card's special benefits *2. I was very satisfied with the delicious food at a great price.
*2: Available to CLUB-A Card, CLUB-A Gold Card, and Platinum Members.

Now, let's go sightseeing.

Lobby Lounge Fountain

addressHotel Nikko Nara 3rd floor, 8-1 Sanjo Honmachi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
phone0742-35-6621(レストラン予約)
business hours13:00-18:00 *Currently operating on reduced hours as of June 2021
Closed DayThursday
webhttps://www.nikkonara.jp/restaurant/fountain/

Mother and daughter spend time together touring the Ukimido Pavilion in Nara Park

Photo 1: Mother and daughter spending time together touring the Ukimido Hall and other places in Nara Park

After taking a break at the Hotel Nikko Nara, hop on a bus to Nara Park. Take a stroll through the sights of the ancient city of Nara, including museums and souvenir shops.

First, head to Ukimido, a cypress-roofed hall that floats on the pond. Its beautiful reflection in the pond has made it a popular place for locals to relax. You can spend some time relaxing here while enjoying the nature of Nara.

Image 2: Mother and daughter spending time together touring the Ukimido Hall and other places in Nara Park

Speaking of Nara Park, interacting with the deer is one of the fun things to do. Enjoy feeding them deer crackers and taking photos. Strolling through Nara Park with my mother and daughter reminded me of the times we used to go to the zoo together. Watching the two of them having fun so innocently was also a moment when I realized that "parent and child are really parent and child, no matter how old we are."

Ukimido

addressTakabatakecho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture

Experience the ancient capital at a French dinner at "La Terrasse"

Photo 1: Enjoy a French dinner at "La Terrasse" and experience the atmosphere of the ancient capital

After a long walk, I was getting hungry. I headed to the long-awaited restaurant for dinner. Located in the forest of Nara Park, French cuisine restaurant La Terrasse serves French courses using ingredients from Nara Prefecture.

The dinner course (16,000 yen including tax) is a full course meal made with an abundance of carefully selected ingredients, including traditional Nara and Yamato vegetables, foie gras, fresh seasonal fish, and Japanese black beef. The delicately flavored and beautifully presented dishes are created by Chef Takada, executive chef of French cuisine La Terrasse.

Photo 2: Enjoy a French dinner at "La Terrasse" and experience the atmosphere of the ancient capital

The appetizer is "Hairy Crab and Fruit Tomato." This cold dish uses fruit tomatoes from Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, avocado, and hairy crab, accented with the aroma of basil. Decorated with edible flowers, it is a visual treat as well.

Photo 3: Enjoy a French dinner at "La Terrasse" and experience the atmosphere of the ancient capital

The main dish is a steak of Japanese black beef. The tender meat is seasoned with a spicy chilli pepper and a rich hazelnut sauce. It goes perfectly with the accompanying watercress salad.

Photo 4: Enjoy a French dinner at "La Terrasse" and experience the atmosphere of the ancient capital

If you have dinner a little earlier, you can enjoy the view of greenery from the window. We recommend enjoying it with a wide selection of wines. Now that we're both adults, we feel comfortable in the luxurious and relaxing space.

In this atmosphere, the two of them drink and get more talkative than usual. They ask for advice like, "This is what I'm doing at work now..." or "I'm not sure what to do in the future. What was your mother doing?" They also talk about serious topics, such as stories about their mother's past that they rarely have a chance to hear. They enjoyed their meal while talking about topics that they couldn't talk about in front of their father.

Photo 5: Enjoy a French dinner at "La Terrasse" and experience the atmosphere of the ancient capital

"La Terrasse French Restaurant" is also a JAL Card affiliated store. You can earn double miles here, so use your JAL Card to pay.

French cuisine La Terrasse

addressNara Prefecture, Nara City, Kasugano-cho 98-1 The Hilltop Terrace
phone0742-27-0556
business hoursDinner: 18:00-19:30 last order (As of June 2021, closing time is 17:30-20:00)
webhttps://laterrasse.jp/nara/

After dinner, return to the hotel and relax in your luxurious room, enjoying some mother-daughter fun.

<Before the trip> Make great travel arrangements using JAL Card programs and benefits

The JAL Card can help you take this charming mother-daughter trip to Nara at a great price. It is a JAL Mileage Bank card with a credit function that makes it easy to accumulate miles. If you have a JAL Card, you can exchange your accumulated miles for reward tickets and receive various benefits. This time, we prepared a trip to Nara for mother and daughter at a great price by taking advantage of the benefits that only a JAL Card can offer.

Three great points to get when using your JAL Card

(1) Earn miles efficiently with the "CLUB-A Card" family membership card
(2) The "Family Program" allows family members to pool their miles and exchange them for award tickets
(3) When you book a hotel with the "J-SMART" plan, you'll receive miles and special benefits.

(1) Earn miles efficiently with the "CLUB-A Card" family membership card

Image: (1) "CLUB-A Card" Family Member Card Efficiently Earn Miles

We especially recommend the "CLUB-A Card" to those who love to travel. This card allows you to earn more miles when you fly than with a regular JAL card *4, making it the perfect card for those who fly frequently.
*4: For example, the regular card (annual fee 2,200 yen, family membership 1,100 yen, tax included) offers a sign-up boarding bonus of 1,000 miles, while the CLUB-A card offers a sign-up boarding bonus of 5,000 miles.

Furthermore, if you are a family member, we recommend that you apply for a "Family Membership Card" to accumulate miles more efficiently. This card is attached to the main membership card and can be applied for by the spouse, parents, and children aged 18 or older (excluding high school students for cards other than the JAL Diners Club Card) who share the same household as the main member. The annual fee is less than half that of the main membership (11,000 yen for main members, 3,850 yen for family members, tax included), but the same services as the main member (some exclusions apply), such as flight bonus miles and card-related insurance, are applied.

CLUB-A Card

Family Membership Card

(2) The "Family Program" allows family members to pool their miles and exchange them for award tickets

If you have family members who use JAL Cards, we recommend you register for the "JAL Card Family Program." There is no registration fee, and this is a service exclusive to JAL Card members that allows you to combine the miles accumulated by each family member when redeeming rewards. If you have miles for each family member, you will be much closer to redeeming mileage rewards.

For this trip to Nara, I used a round trip flight from Tokyo (Haneda) to Osaka (Itami). I used the 24,000 miles I had earned through my family membership card and family program to redeem award tickets for two people.

Image: *As of June 2021

*As of June 2021

JAL Card Family Program

JAL Group Domestic Award Ticket Application

phone0570-025-022(JMB会員専用国内線予約)、03-5460-0311(東京)
webhttps://www.jal.co.jp/jp/ja/jalmile/use/jal/dom/application.html#entry

(3) When you book a hotel with the "J-SMART" plan, you'll receive miles and special benefits.

If you are planning on staying at a hotel, why not use your JAL Card to make a reservation? If you are a "CLUB-A Card" member, you can enjoy special benefits at Nikko Hotels International hotels.

If you make a reservation for the Hotel Nikko Nara using the J-SMART plan, you can earn 200 to 2,000 miles per night. You can also enjoy early check-in, late check-out, and discounts at hotel restaurants. Make your hotel reservations smart with J-SMART, which is full of great deals.

Since I was able to get a good deal on my flight using miles, I opted for a luxurious suite room at the hotel. Making good deals before the trip and then enjoying luxury during the trip is the best part of using miles to travel.

J-SMART

Hotel Nikko & JAL City Discounts and Benefits

<Tabiato> In this age where cashless payments are the norm, JAL Cards are a great way to spend your money even when making everyday purchases!

In this age of increasing cashless transactions, you can accumulate miles by using your JAL Card for everyday payments.

We recommend using your JAL Card for all your regular payments, such as electricity and water bills!

Image: We recommend using your JAL Card for all your regular payments, such as electricity and water bills!

When paying with a JAL Card, you usually earn 1 mile for every 200 yen you spend. By using your JAL Card not only for shopping but also for paying utility bills such as electricity, water, and communication fees, you can earn miles more efficiently.

Get great deals on online shopping with your JAL Card

Image: Get great deals on online shopping with your JAL Card

Use your JAL Card to pay for online shopping. As shown in the figure above, you can earn miles even more efficiently by joining the "JAL Card Shopping Mile Premium" plan for an additional 3,300 yen (tax included) on top of the annual fee, or by using your JAL Card for online shopping at JAL Card affiliated stores.

Let's simulate a mileage trip

Even if you can earn a lot of miles by shopping, you may wonder if you can actually earn enough to exchange them for airline tickets. In that case, try using a simulation site that lets you input your monthly expenses and find out how many miles you can earn.

For JAL Group domestic flights, the following number of miles can be exchanged for an award ticket.

 

JAL Group Domestic Flights
Mileage required for reward tickets
(As of June 2021)
Round trip (2 sectors): from 12,000 miles
One way (1 sector): from 6,000 miles

The more you use the JAL Card, the more you save. There are plenty of opportunities to collect miles even when you're not flying, so have fun collecting miles with your family while thinking about where you want to go next.

Related article

The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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