I'm back in Britain! It's so strange to be back! But of course it's lovely. I arrived at Heathrow yesterday and my family picked me up. It was such a nice reunion. We went to a restaurant and had a British roast dinner, which was amazing. It was exactly what I'd been craving - oven cooked food! And despite what the world may say, traditional British food is amazing.
Pretty much everything went smoothly for my last day, except for the beginning and the end. I got up at 5am to leave in time for my 6.30am bus from Kichijoji, which is 10 minutes by train. Wynne, Katy and Hime-chan came with me, and Rob got up to wave me off from the guesthouse. But when we got to the station, we found that there was a 55 minute delay on trains going into Tokyo! It said "Accident", but it's common knowledge that that usually means suicide.
So I had to get a taxi to Kichijoji station, and had a quick but sad goodbye to the girls. It really didn't hit me that I was leaving them. It took about 15 minutes to get to Kichijoji, but cost Y3,000 (£20) so I was very unimpressed!
I met Rei, the leader of Soul Run who had come to wave me off, at the station. He waited until my bus was out of sight to stop waving, which was really nice of him. It hit me then how much I'm going to miss everyone.
It took about an hour and 40 minutes to get to Narita Airport, and there I paid the rebooking charge for my flight. It was very easy to do, I just went to the JAL Ticketing Counter and showed them my e-ticket, and then paid the Y15,000 for it. After that I could check straight in at the check-in counter, and that went smoothly as well. Even though I had two pieces of hand baggage, and my suitcase was 3.5kg overweight, the woman who checked me in didn't say anything about it, and just chatted to me about my time in Japan and about ICU. I was really grateful, she must have known I'd have more luggage than the average passenger, having been in Japan for nearly a year. Even though I sent stuff home with my brother when he visited I still had a lot of things to bring back.
Then the flight went fine, until we were coming into land at Heathrow, and were about to touch down when the plane pulled up suddenly and started to circle the airport! They announced that there had been a plane on the runway that hadn't moved yet, so that could have been nasty! But we landed safely 10 minutes later.
Then immigration and baggage claim went very smoothly, and I was reunited with my family at arrivals. It was so nice!
We drove to a nearby pub and had our roast dinner, and then drove back to Birmingham. Everything was exactly as I remember it, and it was a very nice feeling when my house came into view.
It's weird being back, because everything is the same, and everything feels the same. Seeing my local area isn't special now, because I've come and gone so many times it just feels normal. Which is good - I suppose that means I'm growing up!
I haven't really reflected back on my time in Japan yet, I'm too tired! But it's already nostalgic, and I miss my friends and just being in Japan. I have lovely memories of that trip to Japan, and I know that it was one of the best times in my life so far. Let's hope that there are many more in the future!
Showing posts with label limousine bus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label limousine bus. Show all posts
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
My Brother's Visit: Airport Chaos!
This morning Dom and I went to Narita Airport. He had reached the end of his 9 day stay here. It was very sad on the Limousine Bus from Kichijoji, but we knew it was only 12 weeks until I'm back in the UK. I can't believe I have such a short time left in Japan!
It was a very scenic route to the airport. We passed Tokyo Tower...
... and went over Rainbow Bridge.
And then, after getting up at 5am for the 2 hour bus trip, and paying Y3,000 (£20) each to get there, we find all flights to the UK, and most of Western Europe cancelled.
This wasn't the biggest surprise. We knew there was a risk of delays and cancellations because of the news the previous day. But we'd checked online before we left and there wasn't a problem at 6am. Somewhere en route they'd cancelled all the flights!
The cancellations were due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption, which happened two days ago. I knew about it, but didn't quite believe that we'd actually be affected by it so badly.
We were three hours early for the flight, so we started to queue up at the check-in desk and waited until they opened. We were only a few people from the front as we were there so early.
TBS News were interviewing people in the line, but Dom and I weren't asked to say anything, but I think I may have been in the background of one interview.
It was a very scenic route to the airport. We passed Tokyo Tower...
... and went over Rainbow Bridge.
And then, after getting up at 5am for the 2 hour bus trip, and paying Y3,000 (£20) each to get there, we find all flights to the UK, and most of Western Europe cancelled.
This wasn't the biggest surprise. We knew there was a risk of delays and cancellations because of the news the previous day. But we'd checked online before we left and there wasn't a problem at 6am. Somewhere en route they'd cancelled all the flights!
The cancellations were due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption, which happened two days ago. I knew about it, but didn't quite believe that we'd actually be affected by it so badly.
We were three hours early for the flight, so we started to queue up at the check-in desk and waited until they opened. We were only a few people from the front as we were there so early.
TBS News were interviewing people in the line, but Dom and I weren't asked to say anything, but I think I may have been in the background of one interview.
They opened the desks on time, but we still had to wait for about an hour until we got any information. They were taking people who had been cancelled on yesterday, but were sending anyone who hadn't missed a flight yet away, saying that all the nearby hotels were full and people should return to their previous accommodation. Bit of a tall order! But I suppose their hands were tied.
We were advised to change our bookings online or on the phone, and try to get another flight for when the airports re-open.
As the morning went on, the lines got huge as more and more people found their flights had been cancelled. But every was very well behaved and well-humoured, except for one Japanese woman who kept huffing and puffing next to us in the line. I expected the British people to be causing trouble!
Dom and I had a sandwich in a cafe, and then got on the train and braved the two and a half hour train journey home. We were both exhausted, and were not expecting to have to do that at all! I rang our Mum and let her know what was happening, but then couldn't get through on the phone to Virgin Atlantic's Tokyo office until the evening. I changed Dom's flight to Monday 26th April, which was the earliest available flight. I can't believe it! He's doubled his stay in Japan! And he'll miss some school, but I suppose he has the best excuse there is - stuck on the other side of the world because of a volcanic eruption! I find it so ironic that he came to Japan, one of the most volcanic countries in the world, and then can't go home because of volcanic ash over Britain!
Well, I suppose Dom will get a much better idea of Tokyo life - he's going to be here for a while!
It's now 22nd April, and the airports are all open again, after a week of total closure. What a huge mess! We really are at the mercy of nature... But fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for his flight home on Monday. Adding his visit with my family in 2008, he's now been in Japan for over a month in his life! Madness!
I think we were quite lucky to get a flight as early as the 26th, because I rang back a few days after the initial cancellation and they told me that apart from Dom's secured seat on the 26th, the earliest available flight was the 2nd May! I'm so glad I was persistant in ringing them all day.
It's been lovely having Dom in Japan for so much longer than we first expected, but I think he's quite looking forward to going home. I have to leave him alone for so many hours every day while I go to lessons he must be bored stiff!
Now I just hope that the volcano doesn't decide to let another burst of ash out as a little surprise for Europe again!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Japanese Re-Entry Permit
Because I'm leaving Japan but returning on the same visa, I need a re-entry permit (再入国許可, sainyuukoku kyoka) otherwise the visa would automatically be cancelled when I leave the country and when I come back it would only be on a tourist visa. This is true for student visas and working holiday visas, and probably work visas as well.
In order to get the re-entry permit, I had to go to my closest Regional Immigration Bureau (入国管理局, nyuukoku kanrikyoku), which thankfully wasn't too far away, in Tachikawa (立川). Last year I went to the other one in Tokyo, which was in the middle of nowhere in Shinagawa. Every area in Japan will have one of these Immigration Bureaus, but unfortunately if you live outside of the major cities, you may have to travel quite far to get to one. It's lucky that Tokyo has two!
To apply for a re-entry permit you need:
- an application form (available at the Immigration Bureau)
- passport with your Japanese visa inside
- Alien Card (外国人登録証明書, gaikokujin tourokushoumeisho, or just gaikokujin tourokusho)
- a special stamp (available at convenience stores)
- fee (Y3,000 for single re-entry, or Y6,000 for multiple)
So this morning I spoke to Wynne, an American girl who's in my class at ICU, and also lives in the same guesthouse as I do, because she went through the re-entry permit process a few weeks ago.
I went to my local city office (市役所, shiyakusho) to get a map and then took the train to Tachikawa. Following the instuctions on the map they gave me, I took the bus from stand #12 of the North exit of Tachikawa station bound for (北町, Kita-machi) and went to the 多摩車検場前 (Tama Shakenjou-mae) stop. The automatic announcements for this stop were in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, so obviously a lot of foreigners go there!
In order to get the re-entry permit you have to buy a special type of stamp from a convenience store. I found this very strange, but never mind, who am I to argue with the Japanese immigration laws! All the nearby shops seemed to sell the stamps, so I just went into one and asked for a 再入国許可のスタンプ (sainyuukoku kyoka no sutampu). I don't know if that was the correct way to ask in Japanese but they understood and asked if I wanted one for Y3,000 or Y6,000. The Y3,000 ones are for a single re-entry, which means you can leave Japan and come back once and continue using the same visa. The Y6,000 is for multiple re-entry, so you can leave and come back as many times as you want. This is the one I went for, because it's the same price as two singles, and I intend to go to China next year, and then if I go anywhere else I can do it without paying any extra money.
After buying the stamp, I asked the shop assistant where the Immigration Bureau was and she pointed me in the right direction. Once I was on that road it was clearly signed and only took about two minutes. It was quite a small building, with a foyer and a room to the right with a waiting area, a desk with three clerks serving people, and some tables with files of forms.
I took a form for re-entry permits and started to fill it in, when I realised that I should have taken a slip of paper from the ticket machine to lessen my waiting time. It took me a while to find the machine, but I knew there must be one because there was a screen with numbers being called. It turned out to be on the main desk, so I took one and I was 128, the number being served was 97. I finished filling out the form and sat down.
Two hours later I was served. I didn't mind the wait, because I know how frustrating bureaucracy can be, so I was patient.
The clerk asked to see my application form, passport, Alien Card and then asked me to affix the stamp to the form and sign it.
He then stuck a label in my passport, stapled a form into it and that was it. A whole two minutes! So it was quite an easy process, it just took a long time. I have to fill in the first section of the form stapled into my passport for when I leave Japan, and then the second section for when I return.
After getting the permit, I then walked back to the bus stop and waited for the bus back to Tachikawa station. Then a guy from Bangladesh started talking to me, because he said he recognised me from ICU! He was a graduate student and he had been in the Immigration Bureau getting a re-entry permit because he was returning home the same day as me! Our flights are 10 minutes apart and he's also getting a Limousine bus from Kichijoji on the same morning as me! We might be on the same bus, but I think I might be on the one before him. It was such a coincidence! Who knows, I might bump into him on Thursday!
When I got back I rang the Limousine bus company and officially reserved my ticket. It was my first phone conversation entirely in Japanese, and it was very scary! But I muddled through and, if I understood everything correctly, I have to go to Musashi Sakai before 2pm tomorrow and pick up the ticket. So I'll combine a trip to Higashi Koganei to pay my next month's rent tomorrow morning with picking it up.
And then on Wednesday I can check-in online in the morning, and then I'll cycle into ICU to use their printers and print my boarding pass. I'll also see if they have sorted out my work permit application so I can pick that up. Then in the afternoon I'll pack, and then get up at 5am on Thursday and fly back home!
It's all incredible! I really can't believe it's happening! I think the next post I write will be from Birmingham, probably when I wake up in my own bed, in my own room, in my own country! Wow, it's going to be amazing...
In order to get the re-entry permit, I had to go to my closest Regional Immigration Bureau (入国管理局, nyuukoku kanrikyoku), which thankfully wasn't too far away, in Tachikawa (立川). Last year I went to the other one in Tokyo, which was in the middle of nowhere in Shinagawa. Every area in Japan will have one of these Immigration Bureaus, but unfortunately if you live outside of the major cities, you may have to travel quite far to get to one. It's lucky that Tokyo has two!
To apply for a re-entry permit you need:
- an application form (available at the Immigration Bureau)
- passport with your Japanese visa inside
- Alien Card (外国人登録証明書, gaikokujin tourokushoumeisho, or just gaikokujin tourokusho)
- a special stamp (available at convenience stores)
- fee (Y3,000 for single re-entry, or Y6,000 for multiple)
So this morning I spoke to Wynne, an American girl who's in my class at ICU, and also lives in the same guesthouse as I do, because she went through the re-entry permit process a few weeks ago.
I went to my local city office (市役所, shiyakusho) to get a map and then took the train to Tachikawa. Following the instuctions on the map they gave me, I took the bus from stand #12 of the North exit of Tachikawa station bound for (北町, Kita-machi) and went to the 多摩車検場前 (Tama Shakenjou-mae) stop. The automatic announcements for this stop were in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, so obviously a lot of foreigners go there!
In order to get the re-entry permit you have to buy a special type of stamp from a convenience store. I found this very strange, but never mind, who am I to argue with the Japanese immigration laws! All the nearby shops seemed to sell the stamps, so I just went into one and asked for a 再入国許可のスタンプ (sainyuukoku kyoka no sutampu). I don't know if that was the correct way to ask in Japanese but they understood and asked if I wanted one for Y3,000 or Y6,000. The Y3,000 ones are for a single re-entry, which means you can leave Japan and come back once and continue using the same visa. The Y6,000 is for multiple re-entry, so you can leave and come back as many times as you want. This is the one I went for, because it's the same price as two singles, and I intend to go to China next year, and then if I go anywhere else I can do it without paying any extra money.
After buying the stamp, I asked the shop assistant where the Immigration Bureau was and she pointed me in the right direction. Once I was on that road it was clearly signed and only took about two minutes. It was quite a small building, with a foyer and a room to the right with a waiting area, a desk with three clerks serving people, and some tables with files of forms.
I took a form for re-entry permits and started to fill it in, when I realised that I should have taken a slip of paper from the ticket machine to lessen my waiting time. It took me a while to find the machine, but I knew there must be one because there was a screen with numbers being called. It turned out to be on the main desk, so I took one and I was 128, the number being served was 97. I finished filling out the form and sat down.
Two hours later I was served. I didn't mind the wait, because I know how frustrating bureaucracy can be, so I was patient.
The clerk asked to see my application form, passport, Alien Card and then asked me to affix the stamp to the form and sign it.
He then stuck a label in my passport, stapled a form into it and that was it. A whole two minutes! So it was quite an easy process, it just took a long time. I have to fill in the first section of the form stapled into my passport for when I leave Japan, and then the second section for when I return.
After getting the permit, I then walked back to the bus stop and waited for the bus back to Tachikawa station. Then a guy from Bangladesh started talking to me, because he said he recognised me from ICU! He was a graduate student and he had been in the Immigration Bureau getting a re-entry permit because he was returning home the same day as me! Our flights are 10 minutes apart and he's also getting a Limousine bus from Kichijoji on the same morning as me! We might be on the same bus, but I think I might be on the one before him. It was such a coincidence! Who knows, I might bump into him on Thursday!
When I got back I rang the Limousine bus company and officially reserved my ticket. It was my first phone conversation entirely in Japanese, and it was very scary! But I muddled through and, if I understood everything correctly, I have to go to Musashi Sakai before 2pm tomorrow and pick up the ticket. So I'll combine a trip to Higashi Koganei to pay my next month's rent tomorrow morning with picking it up.
And then on Wednesday I can check-in online in the morning, and then I'll cycle into ICU to use their printers and print my boarding pass. I'll also see if they have sorted out my work permit application so I can pick that up. Then in the afternoon I'll pack, and then get up at 5am on Thursday and fly back home!
It's all incredible! I really can't believe it's happening! I think the next post I write will be from Birmingham, probably when I wake up in my own bed, in my own room, in my own country! Wow, it's going to be amazing...
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I'm Back Home!
I'm actually back!
Very tired and a little confused, but definitely back in Britain!
I will write about my flight properly soon, but it went without a hitch. It was extremely sad to leave my guesthouse and my housemates, but I knew that it had to happen. I said goodbye to everyone, and everything, and really had to fight myself to stay as composed as possible. I was leaving my home of seven months.
My Chinese housemate, very kindly, came to Tokyo City Air Terminal on Thursday morning to wave me off. It was incredibly sad to say goodbye to him, because he was very kind. I waved until the bus rounded the corner and he was gone.
On the bus to the airport, which cost Y2,900, I was having real flashbacks to various times during my trip. I know it sounds like something you see in a film, with grainy black and white images representing memories, but the journey was actually filled with random images of people, places and emotions.
At the airport, I sent emails to some people from my phone, and told them I was safely ready to go, and thank you for everything.
I couldn't believe I was leaving Japan. The last few days there didn't feel real.
On the plane, I looked through the selection of music you can make your own playlist out of, and I found some songs that meant a lot to me while I was in Japan. I feel I must admit that Touch My Body, by Mariah Carey, was included, but I probably heard that song more than any other over the last seven months.
I only slept for about 90 minutes the night before I left, and had maybe 3 hours of broken, uncomfortable sleep on the plane.
But somehow I stayed awake and alert, probably from adrenaline, until 11pm at home. My mum, brother and cousin met me at Heathrow airport in London, and then we had lunch in a pub (so British) and drove up to Birmingham.
The over-riding feeling was a dream-like state that I found myself in. It felt like I was just in Britain for a little bit, and I'd be returning 'home' to Tokyo soon.
Once I got home, everything felt strange, lovely, but very strange. It didn't quite register that I was at home. My real home, in Birmingham.
I knew that, after a few days, Japan would feel like the dream, but for now, Japan is still my reality.
I can't find the words, and that's not because I lived in a non-English speaking country, to describe how absolutely amazing my trip to Japan was.
The way my personality, outlook, and life has changed as a result is more than I ever expected. I can't recommend doing something like this enough.
Although I was sad to leave, I'd much rather be sad to leave because I enjoyed it, than be happy to go because it was a painful, trying seven months.
And sometimes it was difficult, looking back at it, and I did feel a bit homesick at times, but the memories and experiences I have now make up for it a thousand times.
I have to close that chapter of my life behind me now, and look forward to University in September, where I'll study English & Japanese, and after that, in September 2009, I will return to Japan as an exchange student to study for one year.
An exciting four years lie ahead of me!
And I can't wait.
Very tired and a little confused, but definitely back in Britain!
I will write about my flight properly soon, but it went without a hitch. It was extremely sad to leave my guesthouse and my housemates, but I knew that it had to happen. I said goodbye to everyone, and everything, and really had to fight myself to stay as composed as possible. I was leaving my home of seven months.
My Chinese housemate, very kindly, came to Tokyo City Air Terminal on Thursday morning to wave me off. It was incredibly sad to say goodbye to him, because he was very kind. I waved until the bus rounded the corner and he was gone.
On the bus to the airport, which cost Y2,900, I was having real flashbacks to various times during my trip. I know it sounds like something you see in a film, with grainy black and white images representing memories, but the journey was actually filled with random images of people, places and emotions.
At the airport, I sent emails to some people from my phone, and told them I was safely ready to go, and thank you for everything.
I couldn't believe I was leaving Japan. The last few days there didn't feel real.
On the plane, I looked through the selection of music you can make your own playlist out of, and I found some songs that meant a lot to me while I was in Japan. I feel I must admit that Touch My Body, by Mariah Carey, was included, but I probably heard that song more than any other over the last seven months.
I only slept for about 90 minutes the night before I left, and had maybe 3 hours of broken, uncomfortable sleep on the plane.
But somehow I stayed awake and alert, probably from adrenaline, until 11pm at home. My mum, brother and cousin met me at Heathrow airport in London, and then we had lunch in a pub (so British) and drove up to Birmingham.
The over-riding feeling was a dream-like state that I found myself in. It felt like I was just in Britain for a little bit, and I'd be returning 'home' to Tokyo soon.
Once I got home, everything felt strange, lovely, but very strange. It didn't quite register that I was at home. My real home, in Birmingham.
I knew that, after a few days, Japan would feel like the dream, but for now, Japan is still my reality.
I can't find the words, and that's not because I lived in a non-English speaking country, to describe how absolutely amazing my trip to Japan was.
The way my personality, outlook, and life has changed as a result is more than I ever expected. I can't recommend doing something like this enough.
Although I was sad to leave, I'd much rather be sad to leave because I enjoyed it, than be happy to go because it was a painful, trying seven months.
And sometimes it was difficult, looking back at it, and I did feel a bit homesick at times, but the memories and experiences I have now make up for it a thousand times.
I have to close that chapter of my life behind me now, and look forward to University in September, where I'll study English & Japanese, and after that, in September 2009, I will return to Japan as an exchange student to study for one year.
An exciting four years lie ahead of me!
And I can't wait.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
My Friend's Visit: Meeting at Narita
Back to Narita Airport again!
This morning I had to get up at 6am (the earliest I've had to get up so far in Japan) to go and meet my friend David at the airport.
I did consider taking the train, but in the end I decided it was too much hassle and took the Limousine Bus. Because I live very close to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (東京シティーエアーターミナル) it was a short walk there to buy my ticket for the 6.30 bus to Narita Airport.
It costs Y2,900 for an adult one way, so it's much more than the train. A normal train by JR Sobu line (総武線) or Keisei line (京成線) costs about Y1,000, and a limited express Narita Express N'EX from Tokyo station, or Keisei Skyliner from Ueno is around Y2,000.
But it was very easy and convenient for me.
I arrived at 7.35 and he came through customs at 7.50 so it worked very well. I was waiting for him when he came through the gate.
Of course he filled me in on all the news from my friends in Birmingham, and we took the bus back to my guesthouse.
He was very tired after the long trip, and I'm actually quite tired too as I only had four hours sleep!
We'll have a relaxed afternoon, but we might go for a walk around my local area, and then start proper sightseeing when we've recovered a bit tomorrow.
This morning I had to get up at 6am (the earliest I've had to get up so far in Japan) to go and meet my friend David at the airport.
I did consider taking the train, but in the end I decided it was too much hassle and took the Limousine Bus. Because I live very close to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (東京シティーエアーターミナル) it was a short walk there to buy my ticket for the 6.30 bus to Narita Airport.
It costs Y2,900 for an adult one way, so it's much more than the train. A normal train by JR Sobu line (総武線) or Keisei line (京成線) costs about Y1,000, and a limited express Narita Express N'EX from Tokyo station, or Keisei Skyliner from Ueno is around Y2,000.
But it was very easy and convenient for me.
I arrived at 7.35 and he came through customs at 7.50 so it worked very well. I was waiting for him when he came through the gate.
Of course he filled me in on all the news from my friends in Birmingham, and we took the bus back to my guesthouse.
He was very tired after the long trip, and I'm actually quite tired too as I only had four hours sleep!
We'll have a relaxed afternoon, but we might go for a walk around my local area, and then start proper sightseeing when we've recovered a bit tomorrow.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
My First Day
So I was standing, with all my luggage, in the Arrivals Lounge of Narita Airport. I located the Limousine bus counter, which offers great services from and to Tokyo's two airports, Narita and Haneda (mainly domestic), from and to major stations, hotels and areas. The leaflet I had said that the counter was orange-coloured but it was white, with a bit of orange behind it. Very disappointing! The woman spoke English and I bought a 12.30 ticket to Shinjuku station for Y3,000 (£15). I asked for some small change, I'm sure that was rude but I needed it for the phone!
I found a green-coloured phone (green = international calls are okay) and followed the instructions (written in both English and Japanese) to call home. It was very long number but it worked. It ate my Y100 coins like a hungry child. I ended up spending Y500 (£2.50) on a call that lasted about a minute and a half or so. But it was great to get in touch and know that everything was okay at home (it was about 3am).
My bus left five minutes later so I left the airport and found the bus stop directly to the left of the front door. I joined the orderly queue people were making and made sure I had everything with me. The bus arrived and the screen on the side clearly proclaimed 'Shinjuku Park Hyatt', via Shinjuku station, and then a lot of other hotel names. Great! A man took my suitcase and put it into the bus. They do have restrictions on baggage, see the website in case they change but I was well within them. It was something like two bags, each measuring 120cm x 60cm x 50cm, weighing no more than 30kg each. So it's definitely a good option if you have lots of baggage.
With my luggage receipt in hand, and my rucksack, I found a window seat (it was quite empty, no one sat next to me and the back was basically free of people). As we left, I was struck by how... normal, Japan looked. It looked like a cross-breed between suburban UK and USA. The trees lining the road out of the airport were bare and scary-looking but I'm sure they'd look lovely in spring, summer or autumn.
I almost forgot that I was in Japan so when the top of a pagoda appeared over the trees in a nearby wood, I was taken completely off-guard. From this point on, to about three days later, when I finally ventured out of my room, everything felt completely surreal, like I was in a dream world. I couldn't be in Japan. I couldn't have just flown halfway round the world. It couldn't be 7th January. That's the day after I leave for Japan! So it's impossible that it's that date today.
Then the bus left the rural area and made its way into suburban Tokyo. Narita Airport is about 60km east of central Tokyo because there's more space out there. So even surburban Tokyo (places in Chiba prefecture like Myoden, Funabashi and Ichikawa) are quite far from the centre. There were nice Japanese-style houses, fields and then the more usual tower blocks and the start of the urban sprawl. I wondered why the houses didn't spread further out - surely they need the space? And if it's there, why not use it? I don't think Japan has the same greenfield or greenbelt laws that the UK does - again, Geography geek!
Before I knew it, we were driving over Rainbow Bridge and I could see Tokyo bay and signs to places like Ginza, Shinjuku and Nihonbashi. Am I actually here? It must just be a dream...
We passed Tokyo Disneyland, with its quintessential fairytale castle with lots of towers. Don't think I'll make it there, probably expensive. Besides, if you've seen one, it's probable you've seen them all. Might be fun though.
Then we passed a building saying 'Yokoso' (Welcome) and I knew we were in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. The very first tall buildings I saw over the river put central Birmingham to shame. I thought, is this Shinjuku already? I thought it was an 85 minutes trip? But they were just apartment buildings and tower blocks. Wow.
Sorry I don't have photos by the way. I didn't have a camera, I plan to buy one from Akihabara (discount electronics district) before I do any of the big sights.
Then came Tokyo Tower, and then, far too soon for my liking (I was very nervous), we were passing the Tokyo Park Hyatt's three-tiered skyscraper and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building next to it. Then we were in Shinjuku and outside the station. I collected my suitcase with my receipt and retrieved the map from my pocket. I had to go and check-in with Sakura House, pay my first month's rent and collect the keys. Using the map I'd printed off from their website, and my Tourist Map of Tokyo, I navigated my way up past the huge blocks that claimed to be buildings with people inside, and found the Sunkus building. I felt like a little Lego man staring up at a three-storey house with all the enormous structures around me. That scale may not be too far off reality actually. One of things that struck me, and still strikes me as I walk around, is how clean it is. There's hardly any litter, if there's any at all. I thought that was pretty amazing, considering the state of some of the streets in the UK.
Sakura House's main office was on the second floor so I took the lift up and entered the boiling hot room. I was dehydrated from the flight and then the bus journey, and Japanese buildings are apparently over-heated in winter and over-cooled in summer. The Japanese actually have a word for the sickness caused by fluctuating temperatures between outside and inside - natsubate. Apparently it's healthy to have a difference of 5C at the most, otherwise your body gets confused about what it's meant to be doing.
As I hadn't slept, I signed everything they shoved under my nose, trying to read it but my vision blurring. I got a copy of it so I know it's legitimate. I gave them my debit card to take the Y80,000 (around £400) first month's rent. I don't know how they got the money without me entering my PIN but I've Internet banked and know how much left my account. They gave me a receipt too.
Thankfully they had a water cooler so I helped myself to liberal amounts of that.
Next it was time to make my way back across the city the way I had come to actually get into my room and SLEEEEEP!
So I took the subway Toei Oedo line (the maroon one that goes in a big circle. I think it serves a similar purpose underground to the JR Yamanote train line (green or black and white on maps), linking major stations in the central area) from Shinjuku Nishiguchi. Thankfully, it wasn't crowded at all and I could sit down with my bags. I changed once at Kiyosumi-shirakawa for the Hanzomon line (purple) and got off at my nearest station. It wasn't expensive. Although sometimes the machine swallows your ticket when you change lines if the money on it has been used up on the previous journey so that's annoying. But I'll do a full post on subways and hopefully have pictures up and running.
I left the station via the exit labelled on the map Sakura House gave me (mine is a tiny station, not even on some subway maps and it's 300 metres long and has 9 separate exits!) and followed the route. It only took me two minutes, even with my suitcase constantly knocking my right shoe off. Then I saw the parking sign I had taken note of from the picture on the website and went in. There's parking space at the front of the building, under the shelter, and washing machines and tumble-dryers (I'm gonna have to figure them out soon!) and a lift and stairs up to the rooms at the back.
I took the lift because the stairs were steep and narrow, and my bags were heavy. I went up to my floor and opened the front door to the living room. I took my shoes off and left them in the shoe rack and stepped up into the room (how Japanese!). The living room/ kitchen looked nice, all cramped in but what could I expect? I found my room down the corridor and opened it.
My first thought was "Where's the bed?" but then I realised that I really needed some sleep as it was to the left, whereas most of the other things were to the right. I put my bags down, locked the door behind me and lay on the bed.
I woke up the next evening.
I found a green-coloured phone (green = international calls are okay) and followed the instructions (written in both English and Japanese) to call home. It was very long number but it worked. It ate my Y100 coins like a hungry child. I ended up spending Y500 (£2.50) on a call that lasted about a minute and a half or so. But it was great to get in touch and know that everything was okay at home (it was about 3am).
My bus left five minutes later so I left the airport and found the bus stop directly to the left of the front door. I joined the orderly queue people were making and made sure I had everything with me. The bus arrived and the screen on the side clearly proclaimed 'Shinjuku Park Hyatt', via Shinjuku station, and then a lot of other hotel names. Great! A man took my suitcase and put it into the bus. They do have restrictions on baggage, see the website in case they change but I was well within them. It was something like two bags, each measuring 120cm x 60cm x 50cm, weighing no more than 30kg each. So it's definitely a good option if you have lots of baggage.
With my luggage receipt in hand, and my rucksack, I found a window seat (it was quite empty, no one sat next to me and the back was basically free of people). As we left, I was struck by how... normal, Japan looked. It looked like a cross-breed between suburban UK and USA. The trees lining the road out of the airport were bare and scary-looking but I'm sure they'd look lovely in spring, summer or autumn.
I almost forgot that I was in Japan so when the top of a pagoda appeared over the trees in a nearby wood, I was taken completely off-guard. From this point on, to about three days later, when I finally ventured out of my room, everything felt completely surreal, like I was in a dream world. I couldn't be in Japan. I couldn't have just flown halfway round the world. It couldn't be 7th January. That's the day after I leave for Japan! So it's impossible that it's that date today.
Then the bus left the rural area and made its way into suburban Tokyo. Narita Airport is about 60km east of central Tokyo because there's more space out there. So even surburban Tokyo (places in Chiba prefecture like Myoden, Funabashi and Ichikawa) are quite far from the centre. There were nice Japanese-style houses, fields and then the more usual tower blocks and the start of the urban sprawl. I wondered why the houses didn't spread further out - surely they need the space? And if it's there, why not use it? I don't think Japan has the same greenfield or greenbelt laws that the UK does - again, Geography geek!
Before I knew it, we were driving over Rainbow Bridge and I could see Tokyo bay and signs to places like Ginza, Shinjuku and Nihonbashi. Am I actually here? It must just be a dream...
We passed Tokyo Disneyland, with its quintessential fairytale castle with lots of towers. Don't think I'll make it there, probably expensive. Besides, if you've seen one, it's probable you've seen them all. Might be fun though.
Then we passed a building saying 'Yokoso' (Welcome) and I knew we were in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. The very first tall buildings I saw over the river put central Birmingham to shame. I thought, is this Shinjuku already? I thought it was an 85 minutes trip? But they were just apartment buildings and tower blocks. Wow.
Sorry I don't have photos by the way. I didn't have a camera, I plan to buy one from Akihabara (discount electronics district) before I do any of the big sights.
Then came Tokyo Tower, and then, far too soon for my liking (I was very nervous), we were passing the Tokyo Park Hyatt's three-tiered skyscraper and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building next to it. Then we were in Shinjuku and outside the station. I collected my suitcase with my receipt and retrieved the map from my pocket. I had to go and check-in with Sakura House, pay my first month's rent and collect the keys. Using the map I'd printed off from their website, and my Tourist Map of Tokyo, I navigated my way up past the huge blocks that claimed to be buildings with people inside, and found the Sunkus building. I felt like a little Lego man staring up at a three-storey house with all the enormous structures around me. That scale may not be too far off reality actually. One of things that struck me, and still strikes me as I walk around, is how clean it is. There's hardly any litter, if there's any at all. I thought that was pretty amazing, considering the state of some of the streets in the UK.
Sakura House's main office was on the second floor so I took the lift up and entered the boiling hot room. I was dehydrated from the flight and then the bus journey, and Japanese buildings are apparently over-heated in winter and over-cooled in summer. The Japanese actually have a word for the sickness caused by fluctuating temperatures between outside and inside - natsubate. Apparently it's healthy to have a difference of 5C at the most, otherwise your body gets confused about what it's meant to be doing.
As I hadn't slept, I signed everything they shoved under my nose, trying to read it but my vision blurring. I got a copy of it so I know it's legitimate. I gave them my debit card to take the Y80,000 (around £400) first month's rent. I don't know how they got the money without me entering my PIN but I've Internet banked and know how much left my account. They gave me a receipt too.
Thankfully they had a water cooler so I helped myself to liberal amounts of that.
Next it was time to make my way back across the city the way I had come to actually get into my room and SLEEEEEP!
So I took the subway Toei Oedo line (the maroon one that goes in a big circle. I think it serves a similar purpose underground to the JR Yamanote train line (green or black and white on maps), linking major stations in the central area) from Shinjuku Nishiguchi. Thankfully, it wasn't crowded at all and I could sit down with my bags. I changed once at Kiyosumi-shirakawa for the Hanzomon line (purple) and got off at my nearest station. It wasn't expensive. Although sometimes the machine swallows your ticket when you change lines if the money on it has been used up on the previous journey so that's annoying. But I'll do a full post on subways and hopefully have pictures up and running.
I left the station via the exit labelled on the map Sakura House gave me (mine is a tiny station, not even on some subway maps and it's 300 metres long and has 9 separate exits!) and followed the route. It only took me two minutes, even with my suitcase constantly knocking my right shoe off. Then I saw the parking sign I had taken note of from the picture on the website and went in. There's parking space at the front of the building, under the shelter, and washing machines and tumble-dryers (I'm gonna have to figure them out soon!) and a lift and stairs up to the rooms at the back.
I took the lift because the stairs were steep and narrow, and my bags were heavy. I went up to my floor and opened the front door to the living room. I took my shoes off and left them in the shoe rack and stepped up into the room (how Japanese!). The living room/ kitchen looked nice, all cramped in but what could I expect? I found my room down the corridor and opened it.
My first thought was "Where's the bed?" but then I realised that I really needed some sleep as it was to the left, whereas most of the other things were to the right. I put my bags down, locked the door behind me and lay on the bed.
I woke up the next evening.
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