Japan 2008 - Day 1: Destination Tokyo

So in the northern winter of 2008, I ventured over to Japan for 2 weeks in early February. The initial inspiration behind it was to see Rage Against the Machine playing in Osaka (whom I also saw about 2 weeks previous playing at Big Day Out). However, as I planned the trip out, I realised there was no point travelling all the way to Japan and focusing simply on a concert....so I started to plan out a bit more to see. The route map below shows the extent of my travel, including cities I visited along the way:


Eventually, the final plan entailed a five-day stay in Tokyo, a shinkansen trip to Osaka, seeing RATM, exploring Nara and Kyoto, and then coming back to Tokyo for the final two days. It all seemed to make pretty good sense, but I still couldn't help feel extremely nervous about the whole thing. In particular, not knowing a single word of Japanese (well, maybe a few), not having really experienced a true winter for over 18 years and travelling alone for the first time.

So I sucked it in, and just went for it.

My first memorable Japanese experience was almost literally as I stepped off the plane - or a short walk from it. If you've ever been to Narita International, you are probably well aware that the satellite terminal is only connected to the main terminal by a people-mover train thing. Whether they ever accounted for the amount of people wanting to get from one to the other properly, I'm not sure, but when myself and the rest of my JAL passenger friends got to the waiting area for the trains, it resembled what I would describe as the front mosh of a concert, except minus the sweat and music, but add in businessman and suitcases. Being as tall as I am too, it was quite funny looking over the sea of people waiting, and the foreigners around me had a good chuckle at it too...plenty of "and we haven't even go into Tokyo yet."

Eventually I made it through customs and all, and even managed to get myself a train ticket on the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori station, and then a short hop on a JR train to my final destination for the night at Minami-senju - a little neighbourhood about 5kms northwest of Tokyo station. Also must be noted I had become fully aware of the temperature by this stage and was freezing my ass off as I wandered through the deserted streets, listening to my suitcase clatter against the footpath as I dragged it towards my "hotel". "Hotel" because it was really a backpackers hostel, but also lived in by some blue-collar workers who obviously appreciated the extremely cheap prices of the place (2,700yen or about $30/night) and had no problem cooking their meals in the corridors and brushing their teeth for 30mins each night (that is not an exaggeration, this guy would actually brush his teeth for 30mins each night...needless to say, it pissed me off to no end). I chose the place because it had decent reviews and a unbelievable price, but it showed. The size of the room really didn't bother me though, I had expected it, and I knew I wouldn't be spending much time in it. You can see it below - probably no more than 2.5m x 2m.



I'll leave it there for the this first part of my journey. The first day alone was really an eye opener. Even though it was dark by the time I landed, you are immediately confronted by the amazing kindness and polite nature of Japanese people. And even amongst the darkness, the vastness of the Tokyo metropolis is evident.