Day 1 – Travel and tourism

N.B. This was written shortly after I returned and will be rewritten as and when I get time.

Went through passport control and customs then met up with the tour leader, James as well as another group member, Lisa. James got our JR Rail Passes there then gave us instructions for getting to the hotel in Tokyo. Essentially it’s an hour and half train journey from Narita airport to Tokyo and James had to meet others at the airport so didn’t have time to take us to the hotel personally.

Dropped my bag off at the hotel (no check-in until 4pm) then went with Lisa to Senso-ji which is a temple just round the corner from the hotel.

By this time there was a fine rain or mist around and after 14+ hours of travelling it was nice just to wander in the peacefulness and soak in some of the ambience. The story behind the temple involves 2 fisherman finding a statue of the goddess Kanon while fishing; figuring it was uber holy they built a temple up around it which became Senso-ji. The figure is not on display as it’s considered too holy for us common people to view.

After a spot of lunch (menu pointing is the only way to go) Lisa and I split up and I went off to Tokyo Tower, which – as nice and touristy as it was – didn’t really hit home in the rain and mist.

By now the subway was becoming quite familiar: it was quick, efficient, clean, easy to navigate and generally quite awesome. There is of course the concept of a “Gaijin Raidus”, whereby if other passengers can possibly help it, the seats either side and in front of you will not be filled. When you’re the only westerner in a 10+ carriage train I can kind of understand it.

Now able to check into the hotel, I came upon the glory of the Japanese toilet:

Having been awake for 28+ hours and being faced with this, it was a case of “I just want to use this thing not drive it.” So you can heat the toilet seat (apparently very useful in winter-time up in the mountains) and get front and back water streams (of which you can control the water pressure). Without putting too fine a point on it, these things have impeccable aim.

Now 5pm, I couldn’t be bothered going to scavenge for food so I went to bed and slept on and off until the next day.

Places visited:

• Senso-ji
• Tokyo Tower