cherry blossom japan travel points

What if your dream trip to Japan during cherry blossom season didn’t cost $30,000… but under $300?
That’s exactly what I did.
By strategically opening the right credit cards, earning points across multiple programs, and booking at the right time, I was able to secure business class flights on Japan Airlines and hotel stays across Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo for a fraction of the price.
In this post, I break down exactly how I used 406,500 points across Alaska, Hyatt, and Marriott to create a nearly $30K trip—with real numbers, real strategy, and lessons learned along the way.
If you’ve ever wondered how people actually do this… this is your step-by-step example.