The Quick Version
- Flew business class Tokyo roundtrip by transferring 88,000 UR points to ANA Mileage Club
- Booked 4 nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo for 25,000 Hyatt points/night ($800+/night retail)
- Total retail value of the trip: $12,400 — paid roughly $1,800 out of pocket
- Biggest lesson: book ANA business class 355 days in advance — it sells out fast
Trip Planning Overview
We planned a 10-day trip to Japan covering Tokyo (5 nights), Kyoto (3 nights), and Osaka (2 nights) for two people in spring 2026. The goal was to maximise Chase Ultimate Rewards points accumulated over 18 months across the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred.
Total points going in: 310,000 Ultimate Rewards. Total points used: 268,000. Points remaining: 42,000.
Booking the Flights
For flights, we transferred 88,000 UR points per person to ANA Mileage Club to book ANA business class roundtrip from Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo Haneda (HND). Business class roundtrip on ANA costs 88,000 ANA miles — one of the best values in any program for this route.
The 355-Day Rule
ANA releases business class award space at exactly 355 days before departure. Set a calendar reminder and call ANA the moment the date opens — most seats are gone within hours for peak travel periods like cherry blossom season.
We paid roughly $220 per person in taxes and carrier fees — far below the $4,800–$6,200 retail cost of the same seats.
Booking the Hotels
Tokyo: 4 nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo (the Lost in Translation hotel) using World of Hyatt points. Category 8 property at 25,000 points/night. We paid 100,000 Hyatt points total — transferred from UR at 1:1 — for rooms retailing at $820–$900/night.
Tokyo: 1 night at a local boutique hotel paid cash (~$180).
Kyoto: 3 nights at Andaz Kyoto (Hyatt), Category 5 at 17,000 points/night. Transferred 51,000 UR → Hyatt.
Osaka: 2 nights paid cash at a great-value ryokan (~$280 total).
Spending on the Ground
Day-to-day spending in Japan was primarily on the Sapphire Preferred (2x on travel including transit) and cash/IC card for subway, trains, and smaller vendors. Japan is still heavily cash-based outside of major tourist areas.
Foreign Transaction Fee Reminder
The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fee — always use it over a debit card for international purchases where accepted.
Total Points Breakdown
| Booking | Points | Transfer Partner | Retail Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2x Business Class LAX→HND→LAX | 176,000 UR → ANA | ANA Mileage Club | ~$9,600 |
| 4 nights Park Hyatt Tokyo | 100,000 UR → Hyatt | World of Hyatt | ~$3,400 |
| 3 nights Andaz Kyoto | 51,000 UR → Hyatt | World of Hyatt | ~$1,500 |
| Total | 327,000 UR | — | ~$14,500 |
What We'd Do Differently
Book Kyoto 355 days out too — Andaz Kyoto is nearly as hard to get on points as peak ANA seats.
Add the Chase Sapphire Reserve before the trip. The $300 travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access (especially useful in HND), and 3x on dining would have added meaningful value over the 10 days.
Use Aeroplan instead of ANA for one of the passengers — Aeroplan prices the same ANA metal at 72,000 miles for business class, saving 16,000 points per ticket.
Overall Verdict
Chase Ultimate Rewards remains the most versatile rewards currency for Japan travel. The ANA + Hyatt combination is as strong as ever in 2026.