A few years ago, during a perfectly innocent fishing trip to Hawaii, I applied for a Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard.
Somehow, this resulted in 70,000 points.
Those points have been burning a hole in my pocket ever since—quietly judging me every time I checked my balance.
Until now.
I officially booked a trip to Tokyo, Japan, departing February 1st, 2026—paid entirely with points. Turns out, the long game does pay off.
Especially when it ends in Tokyo.
That’s right—$11.20 to get from Phoenix to Tokyo using points. 
Eleven dollars.
And twenty cents.
I haven’t finalized my return flight yet—because commitment is overrated and flexibility feels very on-brand. Plus, Korea is just around the corner and on the bucket list.
The plan is to stay two and a half months, since my Airbnb is locked in until April 15th.
If you’re curious how a fishing trip turned into a trans-Pacific flight for the price of a vending machine snack, you can read more about the Hawaiian Airlines credit card on my blog by clicking:
HERE.⬅️⬅️
You can read my long-winded Kona fishing blog.
No refunds. Never getting that time back by clicking
Why Japan Tops the Travel Charts
Japan is often ranked the number one travel destination because it’s a magical mix of tradition, technology, and sheer wow factor. You can go from serene ancient temples and cherry blossom gardens to bustling neon-lit cities and bullet trains in a matter of minutes.
Add to that world-class food, from Michelin-starred sushi to street-side takoyaki, ultra-clean streets, incredibly polite locals, and a culture that balances the ultra-modern with centuries-old customs—and it’s easy to see why travelers can’t get enough.
Plus, every season brings something spectacular: spring for cherry blossoms, autumn for fiery leaves, winter for skiing, and summer for festivals that make your Instagram explode. Japan isn’t just a trip—it’s a full-on sensory adventure.