long flight, jet lag...just some questions

[Goldiegirl]

Hi, I am going to Japan in 2 weeks. I am really excited and very nervous. First, although I am not afraid of flying per se, the idea of being locked up in a plane for 15 hours is a little overwhelming. What do you do on long flights? Is it better to sleep, or will that make adjusting to the new time more difficult? That's the other concern, I feel out of sync for a few days when we turn our clocks behind an hour (or ahead in spring)....Does anyone here do anything special to help prevent/overcome jet lag? Any tips to make the trip go smoothly would be great. Oh, if anyone knows of a vegetarian restaurant in Tokyo that would be much appreciated too! (near Shinjuku) Thanks!

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I don't like that flight much, either! When I was younger, I never seemed to have any trouble with jet-lag when I went to Japan, but it was bad when I went to the U.S. The last time I made the trip, I wasn't really in the U.S. long enough to know whether I had jet lag or not, but when I got back here, it was horrible.

I have heard that part of the cause of jet-lag is dehydration, kind of the same principle as how hangovers work. I don't know whether this is true or not, but I figure it can't hurt to drink plenty of water and juice on the plane. The other thing that I do personally is try to sleep on the plane as much as possible. On my last trip, I forgot to bring it, but I find that if you use that kind of pillow that wraps around your neck, it makes things much, much more comfortable than just using the pillows provided on the airplane.

I wish I could help you out with your restaurant, but I am not a vegetarian myself, so I have never had to look. Sorry! If you're lucky, Nagashima-san will visit this thread, as he seems to have a link or two for just about everything!!

 

[shiroma]

Does anyone here do anything special to help prevent/overcome jet lag? Any tips to make the trip go smoothly would be great.

The ideal would be, arrival in the evening which means late afternoon departure considering the fifteen-hour flight.
Uncomfy coach seat "nap" overnight then reaching a nice real bed at the destination where it is already night, then things fully productive next morning.

 

[xerxes99]

you can nap on the flight, but when you land, don't sleep untill at least 10 or 11. I do that and I'm fine after a day or 2

 

[ArmandV]

The first time I went to Japan I was already working nights, so the time difference did not affect me at all. Besides drinking a lot of water, I would also take vitamin C several days before the trip and during to add protection against viruses you may get on the plane. Also, bring some antiseptic wipes for your hands.

While I did manage to catnap on later flights to Japan, it is still hard to completely fight off jetlag. One trip back home I slept from after dinner to just before breakfast was served (about 2 hours before landing) and I still had jetlag the next day. But at least it was minimalized.

 

[Pachipro]

My solution for jet lag is to not sleep the night before the flight and stay up as long as possible and nap a little on the plane. Arriving in Japan during the late afternoon/early evening is great because as soon as dinner is done I am ready for sleep and awake the next day refreshed and don't suffer from jet lag. I think staying up longer than 24 hrs somehow resets the body clock. I don't know, but it works for me.

I also heard that taking melatonin during the evening of your arrival and a few nights afterward will help in resetting the body clock by making you sleepy. I hear that pilots and flight crew take it on overseas flights.

What to do on the 15 hr flight? Reading a good book helps pass the time along with crossword puzzles. The movies are usually good on the plane. You can listen to ALL the music on your IPod for once and nap. It's really not as bad as it sounds.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Thanks everyone. I get into Narita around 5:30pm, so that should be good. I can get to the hotel, go out to dinner and then go to sleep. I think I am going to try the vitamin c and melatonin...It can't hurt to try and then I can see if it really works. Oh, the pillow that wraps around your neck...I forgot about those, that I will have to get too!

 

[MeAndroo]

Depending on your airline, you'll have a variety of things to do on a long international flight. JAL had those personal TV screens the last time I went. Games, movies, and some random other diversions are available the whole trip and let you choose which and when (unlike pre-scheduled movies). I like to read on planes, but it's very easy to kill a whole novel in 15 hours. I'm usually a good portion done just waiting at the gate.

My tactic for staving off jet lag is just to go to sleep at your destination at a normal hour, say 10 pm. I rarely sleep on planes, so this is easy for me. Getting into Narita at 5:30 should put you at Shinjuku around 730 or so, depending on how you plan on getting in from the airport. That train ride is usually where I struggle to stay awake, but I'm pumped to be in a different country so I'm able to tough it out.

For vegetarians, I think noodles are an easy way to go. Soba dishes usually don't come with meat, and I don't think anything is prepared with animal products. Depending on the kind of broth you get, ramen is another option. There's a variety of pizza and pasta places that would likely have non-meat options as well.

Here's a link for vegatarianism in Japan

Tokyo Vegetarian Guide: vegietokyo.com

Have fun!

 

[Damicci]

Take Sleeping pills. Although I tried took 20mg of ambien I think it's called. Barely did anything. But Handheld Game system, IPOD Video Player, Laptop, Books, Or try to chat up some convo with person next to you, if they are Japanese good chance to practice.

 

[Goldiegirl]

GREAT link MeAndroo. Thank-you. I was kind of worried about the vegetarian issue. I've tried Ambien sleeping pills as well, and they really didn't work. Benadryl knocks me out so I thought I would bring that along, even for the plane trip, I was thinking it would make me sleep and perhaps ease some of my anxiety. Oh, I am flying United, has anyone flown with them...are they a good airline? I've always flown on American.

 

[ArmandV]

GREAT link MeAndroo. Thank-you. I was kind of worried about the vegetarian issue. I've tried Ambien sleeping pills as well, and they really didn't work. Benadryl knocks me out so I thought I would bring that along, even for the plane trip, I was thinking it would make me sleep and perhaps ease some of my anxiety. Oh, I am flying United, has anyone flown with them...are they a good airline? I've always flown on American.

I've flown twice to Japan via United and liked their service very much. They are my favorite airline of the U.S. domestics. The only airline that had better service (and food) than United was Singapore Air.

 

[Ben W Bell]

I'm going to Japan in less than two weeks now. I've found with jet lag that going west isn't a problem, just a very long day, but going east is a real killer due to your body perceiving very short days. So when I go to Japan it will be bad for me (flying east), but coming back won't be so bad (going west). So going to Japan from the US shouldn't be too bad as you're going west, but will still be a very long day.

 

[tigermilk]

Been to Japan some 14-15 times now and have never had jet-lag going there and perhaps once or twice on the way home. At home I go to bed between 9-10 PM and wake up at 5 AM. I exercise quite a bit. I don't drink alcohol or much caffeine. That's for starters. On the plane, stay away from alcohol and caffeine. Take those catnaps when you can. I usually doze for 30-45 minutes a time 4-5 times a flight. Without fail I tend to fall asleep once the doors are closed and wake up just after takeoff. Wierd how it always happens.

When I arrive, if I am going to Tokyo I usually crash for 20-30 minutes on the Narita Express. Otherwise it's a nap on the longer bus ride to Tsukuba. When I get to the hotel I make sure to stay up until at least 8 PM. Since I'm used to waking up early I don't mind getting up at 4 AM the next day (or even 3 AM). Since I am active at home, if I bring my bike I go for a ride. Otherwise I'll run. Exercise helps fight jet lag as well. I always have meetings the first morning I'm there. I'm always perky, though after lunch gets challenging. But hey, even here the post lunch crash happens to me.

Going back is more of a challenge. Nothing is worse than a late afternoon flight from Tokyo that puts me home mid-afternoon. I just have to stay up a little longer. I take a 1 hour maximum nap in the afternoon, suffer, maybe go for a ride, and then go to bed between 8-9 PM. The next couple of mornings I typically wake up between 330-430 AM but I am fully rested.

So bottom line - catnaps, no alcohol, no caffeine, exercise.

Be sure to call the airline to confirm your vegetarian meal. I've had them forget mine a few times. What to do on the plane? Depends on the airline. When I flew United a few times I hated it. This was Houston-->San Francisco-->Tokyo. Service was not spectacular, movies were washed out, sound quality poor, and it was a common monitor. I much prefer the 777s of Continental and American with the individual entertainment systems.

For strict vegetarian I can't help out too much. I'm pesco-vegetarian and never have issues. There's always fish to eat. Otherwise, just about any restaurant will be fine. In my opinion the best tempura is vegetable tempura. The Japanese sweet potato should still be in season. I hate the sweet potatoes in the US but can't get enough of the ones there. Soba is vegetarian too (water, flour, soba sauce). One of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo is Maisui near Shimbashi Station. Great atmosphere and very good food. Best potato pancake I've ever eaten. Look for maisui and shinbashi on google and you'll find a link. If you get in a real pinch, you could always go to someplace like TGI Fridays (there's one across the street and up the hill from the Shinagawa Prince) for a salad. Just don't tell anyone you went to Japan to eat at Fridays. In reality, there are plenty of Japanese foods made without meat or fish.

 

[Goldiegirl]

opps....I forgot to let the airline know that I need a vegetarian meal! Great reminder. I will eat some dairy products like cheese, but as for fish, beef, chicken etc...nope...never have...I will eat eggs on certain conditions, you know, baked in a cake , or they have to be extremely well done. I have a real texture issue. I am looking forward to trying some new food so I can change up my diet here. Thanks for all the hints.

 

[Patator]

My best advice would be to try to go to sleep as late as possible for the first night.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Thank-you...we land around 6pm so I figure by the time we get out of the airport and to the hotel it should be late already. Then we are going out to dinner so I think we won't be going to sleep until well after 10 or 11pm. I am getting so nervous right now I can't sleep!

 

[Niedy]

My advice... don't drink TOO much juice... whenever someone came with something to drink (which happened quite often) I downed a cup of orange or apple juice (as I don't like plain water much) and after sometime I felt really sick... after some turbulences (which got my stomach empty ^^; ) I felt better and only drank water from than on If you start feeling sick, tell a flight attendant... they have some flight sickness stuff with them (which I didn't know and never would have thought of)... other than that... usually the direction you're flying is not all to bad... I remember when I flew to New York there wasn't any problem, but when I came back I had a huge jet leg on the day of the flight and after landing I couldn't stay awake on my own even for a minute, but my mother wouldn't let me sleep until 8 in the evening (TORTURE!)... next day it was fine...

I had jetleg throughout the first week in japan, but it wasn't bad... I kinda only slept like 5 hours per day, but didn't feel tired... and I didn't get hungry... jet lag diet

the time'll go by faster than you think...

have fun

 

[SaRabbit]

Being a vegetarian semi-insomniac I'm so glad i caught this thread. We will arrive from London to Narita at 06.55 (after about 24 hours of travelling). I'm guessing the jet lag is going to be disgusting.

Unfortunately you can't get melatonin in this country. I'm wondering if you can buy it over the counter in Japan to help the return trip. (I'm also wondering if it's very stupid to attempt to buy and self-administer hormones in a very foreign country). I might have to resort to Actifed.

After reading the above advice, I think if we sleep for two or three hours as soon as we arrive we could stay up late on the first evening to stave off the jet lag. However, since we can't check in until 12.00 I think we might suffer. Still I guess it's all part of the experience. Eeek!

 

[craftsman]

We will arrive from London to Narita at 06.55 (after about 24 hours of travelling). I'm guessing the jet lag is going to be disgusting.

You could try changing the time on your watch. If you switch your watch to Japan time as soon as you get on the plane in the UK and do everything as if that were the real time, jet lag should in theory be minimal.

So presuming it's a lunchtime flight, you have to convince your body that it is in fact dinner time and even though you aren't sleepy after the meal, low lights and the occasional snooze should be enough. When you arrive in the early morning in Japan you can then make it to evening without passing out with exhaustion.

And within a day or so, your body should be time adjusted.

 

[ArmandV]

I was kind of worried about the vegetarian issue.

T.G.I. Friday's has a vegetarian menu. There's two of them that I know of: Roppongi and Ginza.

 

[Goldiegirl]

@ArmandV thank-you! It will be interesting to see what's out there to eat! Funny how when you travel to another country, what to eat can seem like a problem. It's something I usually don't worry about.

 

[ArmandV]

@ArmandV thank-you! It will be interesting to see what's out there to eat! Funny how when you travel to another country, what to eat can seem like a problem. It's something I usually don't worry about.

Well, there's always Denny's (yes, they have them there too).

 

[ghettocities]

The flight over there will be smooth but the flight back you will catch the jet stream, fly over the ocean, it'll only be 8 hours to get to land again but it will be 8 hours of really really bumpy flying over the pacific ocean.

Flying back a few days ago I swear we dropped like 500 feet and shot back up on four occasions.

 

[Davey]

15 hours is a long time, try to get some sleep, read magazines, watch movies, listen to music, and get a good rest before your enter the plain.

My longest flight was 34 hours in one day (Brisbane-Perth-Kuala lumpur- Amsterdam... and I needed to say goodbye to my girlfriend, now wife haha)

 

[Goldiegirl]

Bumpy flight over the ocean!!! YIKES! I am a slightly nervous flier. I do ok but ever since an emergency landing because of the plane being struck by lightning I have been anxious about flying.

I was wondering if anybody has stayed at either the Hyatt Century or Hotel East 21 Tokyo? That's where I'll be staying and just wondering about the locations and what anybody's personal experiences with those hotels...Thanks!