This trip was organized through "Inside Japan Tours", semi custom package that did the usual trip that it seems every tourist does. Still, good way to learn the ropes for a first trip!
Woke up bright and early at the wonderful hour of 3am. Or was it 3:30? I don't even know. All i know is that I showered, had some breakfast and my mother took me off to the airport. Leaving the house by 4 so I could catch my United flight at 7am. The drive was uneventful, I had planned on buying us both coffee when she was dropping me off, but sadly it was only curbside drop off where we went. So, off I went! Security and baggage check was smooth and easy. The first leg of my trip was Denver to LAX. Don't recall the people who sat beside me much on that one, but I'm sure I had company. I've gotten better at not talking the ear off of people around me when I travel.
Landing in LAX was easy, but I was going from the domestic side to the international of the United terminal. I didn't know that would be quite such a walk! My small roller luggage was on me this time, unlike the return trip which I'll get to later. So I wasn't too sore hauling it up and down the U hallway. While loitering there I grabbed a snack, got some coffee, travel pillow, and changed over $500 into Yen. The exchange rate at the place was terrible! It was only ¥104, later on I was getting ¥100 for 84cents. There were lots of young children on my flight over, and room for me to upgrade myself into Economy Plus. Which I did.
The lady next to me wasn't pleased that her empty row now had me in it, but we didn't really talk and neither of us bothered eachother. She was a cruise travel agent on her way to Singapore and back for the airline miles. Movies I watched... Mad Max: Fury Road, Pitch Perfect 2, Tomorrowland and tried to watch Jupiter Ascending but...couldn't... watched an hour of Wild, which I'd finish on my return leg. Dream liners are pretty awesome.
My first impressions of Japan was "smells like dirt, it's raining, very very green! Unique trees, and kinda makes me think of Scotland." Though the city doesn't smell so earthy, smells more like car pollution. There was always a haze, even on clear days... The biggest difference from here and Scotland was that it's WARM! (note: I've been to Scotland 4 times, usually visiting my travel companion of the trip; Emma)
Landed and got through customs smoothly enough (I had to go through twice since I didn't fill out my customs forum right), avoided the Japanese squat toilet, exited and saw my ride (Green Tomato was the company) holding a sign with my name on it. The woman was gabbing on her phone so I snuck up and loitered behind her until I was noticed (totally not creepy) and got checked in. The ride was smooth, I was the 2nd out of 3 parties to get dropped off at my hotel.
For our Tokyo leg we stayed at Ibis Tokyo Shinjuku. They had the rest of my tour package waiting for me at the front desk which was nice. checked in and the room was tiny! My traveling companion and I took up all the room with our suitcases. But I did enjoy their buffet breakfast, I was able to go in my pajamas and not feel terrible. Eating rice for breakfast was interesting. Their apple juice is stronger and more apply than American stuff. ANYWAY!
The hotel was up an escalator, our room keys were fancy, just run them over the censors for the elevator and room entry. Emma had arrived early on her flight, and send me a message of "i'll text you when I'm on the shuttle" around 4pm.
Long story short, she had some hiccups. I went outside to wait for her around 6, since it took about two hours to get here from the airport. Wandered around in the rain for a half hour before heading up to the room to check her status, finally getting the "Emma luck, involves a break down. I'm on my way now" message at 6:30, having missed the "i need the travel agency number" and a few panicked messages. Oops... got my phone connected to the wifi and took a nap until she messaged me saying she was in the area. Heading back down to wait again.
Luggage was lost, panic had happened, but she made it!
We didn't end up having dinner, so we went to bed fairly early. Tomorrow we had a busy day planned!
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