Tokyo: Chapter 1 - The Planning and The Arrival

It was late at night - couldn't sleep as usual - so I'm at my laptop again. I took 2 weeks off to use up my remaining vacation, but I didn't go anywhere, just stayed at home. Two weeks at home doing nothing is too much for me. I just couldn't stand indoors anymore. I had to get out somewhere. Somewhere far away where I can relax and have fun by myself. Then it struck me. Why not fly somewhere for a fun week without telling anybody. It would be a secret getaway only God knows. OK let's see, where in the world should I go? A place where I can become a bachelor again, where the girls are waiting for me to have fun. Tokyo. Yes Tokyo. The thought of cute, young and giggling Harajuku girls crossed my mind. Hmm, what a great idea. Let's see how much is the airfare going to Tokyo.

Searched all the major travel sites. Finally settled at Expedia.com. The fare: $1500 for 5 nights including hotel in Shinjuku. Not bad. Since it was like 3am, I just couldn't think anymore except clicking m mouse away. Suddenly I ended up $1500 in credit card payment. The hotel: Shinjuku New City Hotel gets only 2.5 stars rating, but that's the cheapest hotel around. Plus it's located in Shinjuku, well-known for it's skyscrapers and entertainment district. The next day I realized 5 nights is not enough since it takes 2 days to arrive Tokyo, soI called Expedia again to add one more night to the trip. Costs me extra $100 for the ticket change fee and $30 for agent fee.

Getting visa to Japan is really easy. The only problem is the parking in downtown. It was a close shave for me since the embassy closes at 4pm, but I arrived at 4:03pm due to heavy downtown traffic. I had to park close by, which costs me $8 just to rush to the embassy. I got in the door at 4:03pm out of my breath and I was greeted by the security guy saying the office had just closed. Damn, it's only 3 minutes late man. Luckily this guy behind the counter saw me. I had to plead to hand over my already-filled application form and my passport. He was nice. Checked the documents and told me to come back tomorrow to pick up the passport. Phew, lucky me. As scheduled, I went again the next day to pick up my passport. No big deal. This time parking was only 50 cents (metered) on the streetside.

Early Sunday morning took a cab to the airport. The flight was at 11am. Arrived Tokyo on Monday at 3pm. The flight took 13 hours. I was restless after 6 hours. Couldn't sit anymore. Couldn't sleep. The Vietnames guy sitting next to me had taken up the middle seat as well to leep comfortably. He was not the friendly type I noticed. I can tell the way he ordered his drinks
like shouting to a hawker. Sounded rude to me, but what the heck. The JAL flight attendants are so cute, petite and friendly, typical of all Asian airlines. I particularly like this Japanese girl. She is the face of Japan. So exotic and Japonnaise. Oh I just can't forget that face. She helped me find the attractions in Tokyo by marking the spots on the map. We did it at the back of the airplane, standing in between the lavatories. I could see closely the smooth fair skin on her face. I introduced myself and asked if she could be tourist guide in Tokyo. She politely brushed off the idea by saying she has to rest for 3 days, after all the long flights she did. OK I understand. No problem girl, maybe some other time.

At Narita airport, rented a cellphone since my Blackberry Curve is no use out of USA. The AT&T guy said I have to upgrade to Blackberry Bold if I want to use it overseas. Great, but I'm eligible to upgrade yet. Not till August. Cell rental costs 750 yen per day (about $8) with NTT Docomo. I just have to insert my SIM card to maintain my cell number. As long as I can get calls from my company or my wife, I'm fine with it. I brought $1000 cash since I didn't want to use the credit card. Reason: most merchants don't accept CC, ridiculous foreign fee charges, CC skimming?. Exchanged the cash and got about 88000 yen. Hmm. seems like a lot but let's see how it goes.
Bought the express train ticket to Shinjuku together with a cashcard called SUICA. The package deal costs me 3110 yen, quite a saving when bought together. The card can be used for fares around Tokyo Metro. It can be used to buy drinks from vending machines too. Cool Japanese technology. The train ride took 2 hours but I didn't feel bored since there are interesting things to see out of the window. Small homes scattered along the way. A lot of small cars too roaming around the streets. Once in a while I could see acres of rice fields. Winter in Japan is not so bad. No snow. Just cool weather.

Finally I arrived at the Shinjuku train station around 6pm. I was shocked. The station is so busy with people walking in every direction. Fast and furious. Nobody slows down, nobody talks to anybody. Wow, this is Tokyo. Everybody has their own agenda, serious faces with black suits carrying suitcases. Cute ladies with exquisite fashion-laced wintercoats with nice and silky leather boots. Seems like I was the only foreigner there, with a huge luggage trying to find the shuttle bus stop to my hotel. Tried to ask for directions from 3 different people. Each gave me different directions, adding more confusion to this exhausted jetlagged tourist. Finally I found a young lady who happens to be a tour director with some tourist bus, willing to help me. She said she'll walk with me to the spot where the shuttle bus is. I didn't realize it was quite a walk, but she walked really fast and with ease. And she waited for the bus with me. We chatted and introduced ourselves. She's so nice, poltite and helpful. Later I realized that all Japanese women I met are very friendly and polite and always giggling, but the men are the opposite. They are more serious, quiet and not quite friendly. Just like in the Samurai movies.

to be continued...Chapter 2 - The City Tour