Japan ‘23 Day 0: A very long and wonderful travel day
Despite traveling for almost 24 hours straight, it was a great day.
3 hours of waiting at the airport in Boston, and then another 3 hours in Montreal but I secretly love being at airports, so it wasn’t bad. I have been taking online Japanese classes through the Japan Society of NY. Through those classes, I’ve had a chance to chat with some of my fellow students. Turns out that one of them was on the same flight from Montreal to Tokyo so we made a plan to meet at the airport. It was great to actually meet in person and share the excitement with someone.
Then, on the 12 hour flight from Montreal to Japan, I sat next to a Japanese mother and daughter, probably similar in age to my mom and me. The mother heard me say something in Japanese and started a conversation with me. We spoke mostly in Japanese. The daughter is an artist. Near the end of our flight she gave me her business card and a postcard that she had designed. It was just a lovely interaction and perhaps an opportunity to make a new friend.
From the airport, I took the express train to Tokyo Station, then wandered around the station for an hour trying to find a kiosk to buy Shinkansen tickets. Go figure, you have to exit through the turnstiles to get to the ticket booths. I finally realized it after I had made a full loop around the VERY LARGE station. Then I wandered aimlessly until I found my hotel.
I had lots planned for my first night. I was going to walk to Ginza and go to a club. However, I realized after I got to my hotel that I was just not going to be able to rally. Instead I stepped out and got a beer at nearby Suntory Malts restaurant. While there I had another lovely conversation with a Japanese businessman, half in Japanese and half in English. We talked about travel and anime. Before he left he showed me that his seemingly normal tie was actual a Demon Slayer tie, with a picture of Zenitsu on the skinny end!
Hit Family Mart on the way home and got some mochi ice cream and now I am going to crash hard.
Tomorrow: shinkansen to Osaka.
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