Japan Day 1 - Flight and Finding Sakura
two days in Japan so far…
The flight over went well. I normally fly well, but this time I neglected getting up to stretch and walk around. I think that resulted in me getting a bit of a headache, but nothing too nasty. Rose and I requested different seats before the flight, the flight was pretty booked, but our request was granted and we got the emergency exit . I’ve never sat in the emergency exit before, so I was a but nervous at first. However, I turned out really nice because I could stretch my legs and not get frustrated about someone putting their chair back on me.
Once off the flight we didn’t rush, but we were able to make it immigration before the majority of the crowd. Last time we were in Japan we were in immigration for easily an hour. After signing the back of the immigration card saying that we did not have any firearms or drugs, which I think its odd that we have to sign a back of a card saying we don’t have these things, we picked up our bags.
We had discussed how to handle ourselves once off the plane, planning out what we would do to ensure that things went well. First thing was to exchange some travelers checks. Next we need to pickup our JR rail passes from the JR pass office. We a few issues finding this office, but, while Rose sat and rested for a few moments, I asked information in my amazing … japanese and was directed downstairs. ….About my Japanese, despite years of lessons I can say every word I know in one sentence…. Anyway, we picked up the JR pass, which was down by the subway platforms, proceeded back up stairs. Up stairs we purchased very expensive limo bus tickets to Tokyo Station, the busiest station in the world, least Japan, and by expensive $60.00… We had 2 minutes to get to the bus so we rushed out the door to see a bus at the place we need it. I am carrying the luggage so Rose rushes ahead, but is unable to stop it, despite her best, and perhaps over enthusiastic, efforts.
The limo bus took us on the hiway that goes through the southern part of Tokyo and took about an hour of a very cramped trip to Tokyo station. Cramped because we only checked two of our bags to go under the bus well the other two went on our laps… These were our first sights of Japan and it was very beautiful trip despite other frustrations.
We got Tokyo station a little information from the bus limo ticket lady on how to get to the station for our hotel, but little else. We were very tired at this point and just wanted to drop off our heavy and big luggage, but our trip had just began. We found our trains pretty easily, having to lug around our bags up and down several long flights of stairs. Once at the station our Hotel was at, Sakura Hotel, we began walking down the street we thought was the direction of it. However, it turned out that we were walking the wrong way for several blocks. Fortunately, a very friendly business man came to our rescue and walked us all the way to our hotel, easily 20minutes from where we were last lost at.