Japanese in-flight meals & fringe activities by Japan Airlines x Japan Rail Cafe

Following the likes of Singapore Airlines’ launch of the SIA@Home experience, as well as Restaurant A380, Japan Airlines has teamed up with Japan Rail Cafe to bring a selection of carefully-curated in-flight meals in the very cafe itself.

Land meets air travel, one can say, in this one-month-only collaboration. From now until 31 January 2021, diners can reminisce their fondest memories of Japan—of which, a large majority of time is spent in transit on their famous high speed Shinkansens as well as on intra-country flights. Frequent travellers to the Land of the Rising Sun will be familiar with the signature bento sets that seem to be available wherever you look.

Bento sets available

Catch the truly-Japanese dish right here in Singapore for old time’s sake, with a selection of two flavours—Salmon Miso Yaki (S$25) and Chicken Takiawase Tamago (S$23).

The Salmon Miso Yaki is a grilled miso-marinated salmon fillet served with shiitake mushrooms, carrot, snow peas, and shredded tamago atop Japanese rice while the Chicken Takiawase Tamago presents chicken thigh with shiitake mushrooms, green beans, red peppers, and shredded tamago, also over fluffy Japanese rice.

Each bento set comes with zaru udon (chilled udon noodles) served with wasabi and soba dipping sauce on the side, kobachi (a side dish of spinach, corn, and shimeji mushrooms in a savoury broth), and the JAL Signature Earl Grey Chiffon Cake.

A choice of hot or iced coffee or tea is also included in the set, albeit non-refillable, and additional non-alcoholic drinks are available at a S$2 discount, should you decide to hit booze hour.

The meals are prepared by a team at SATS, so you know that you’ll definitely be getting the authentic in-flight meal experience. Typically, JAL’s menu is changed twice a year—once during spring and summer, and again for fall and winter. However, this round’s menu currently being served at Japan Rail Cafe is a collection of favourites from past Singapore-Japan menus, based on customer feedback.

Fringe activities

In addition to satisfying your appetite, satiate your shopping and crafting needs with exclusive JAL merchandise as well as art demonstrations respectively.

19 unique items will be available for purchase—including adorable plane-shaped chopsticks holders (S$17 each), tote bags (S$19 each), baggage tags (S$7 each), and even the B787-8 and B777-2oo plane model in 1/600 scale (S$34). The last-mentioned listing comes with much excitement to an aviation-enthusiast like myself, especially seeing how the Dreamliner (or, Boeing 787), holds one of the top spots of my favourite plane models.

Japan Airlines’ Singapore-based cabin crew will also be at Japan Rail Cafe every weekend during the promotion’s run starting 9 January, from 12pm to 6pm to teach interested learners how fold origami cranes and to wrap gifts with furoshiki—a Japanese cloth traditionally used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods.

Finally, diners who order the in-flight meal are entitled to attractive airfare discounts of up to 28%, valid for travel until 31 March 2022.