Got to Takaido at 9:34pm.

Originally, I was intending to ride the NEX through to Kichijoji, and then change for an all-stops train to Takaido on the Inokashira line. But with people waiting for me, I decided to double check that… and realised that Shibuya was a far more viable change point.

So I hopped off at Shibuya Station, which I’m sure that anyone that knows anything about Tokyo will recall, is a ridiculously busy station. Dragging my suitcase through that crowd was a real pain.

#Travelers note: When coming to a big city like Tokyo, and depending on the structure and available time in your itinerary, you might want to use a luggage forwarding service. They can be as low as ¥2000 and will send the bags to a hotel or other address of your choice. Saves you lugging it through crowded stations, up stairs, etc.

I saw the direct local train to Takaido, but it was so full and already practically leaving so I gave it a miss. Went with the practically empty express train, which naturally, became ridiculously crowded in no time. Standing in the corner with a suitcase, with people squashed up against me on all sides… that’s how you know you’re in Japan. Got off at Eifukucho, and changed for that original local train (the express service I was on caught up with it – Japanese trains do that a lot). Got to Takaido and wandered out of the station.

When I walked into Mister Donut next to the station, my friends were waiting for me. They look at me, smile and nonchalantly say something around the lines of “Hey”.

What happened to the whole “omg LONG TIME NO SEE, so GOOD to have you here!!”? So I asked them and they said that I come here so much that it just feels like we’re just meeting up as locals. Fair enough!

I grabbed these two donuts and an iced cafe au lait from Mister Donuts. ¥494 (¥100 per donut and ¥294 for the cafe au lait).

Then it came time to part ways with Yumiko, and Kana and I went to her house.

So, for these first few nights, I’m staying at a guest room at my friend Kana’s apartment complex. I know I can’t recommend this to you as travelers, but it helped out my costs a lot. Each night here set me back ¥2500. At the end of this trip I’ll spend another 3 nights in Tokyo, so please check those days if you want an idea of what cheaper hotels are like here.

Now, here’s the room Kana showed me to. Anyone out there think it isn’t worth ¥2500 for the night?

So we unpacked the futon, and had a laugh trying to figure out which covers go where; Kana apologising profusely as the linen was very stiff. “This might ruin your night’s sleep! I’m so sorry, ne!”

I’m so grateful for the help, so I insist that it’s fine. She heads back to her apartment and I start to wonder where my data sim card was delivered to? (Yes, until this point, if I was using Internet it was via roaming T_T)

I headed over to the concierge and asked him, only to be told that “oh, there isn’t a Riku (Toshihisa) Miyake living here permanently, so we thought it was a mistake and sent it back”. I practically had a heart attack. I’m going to have to figure that out tomorrow…

#Travelers note: Data SIM plans such as the b-mobile Platinum Package, are really great value.. if they get delivered without a hitch. Note that they arrive via courier and sometimes if there is no one there to accept the goods, they will be taken back to the local courier office. If you’re sending it to a hotel, ensure your name matches exactly so they will know that it really is for you.

By the way, ever encountered toilet slippers before? Basically, the toilet is seen as a place where you don’t want to get your bare feet dirty, so you must wear these slippers. Furthermore, it is a cardinal sin to wear them OUTSIDE of the toilet. Keep that in mind!