This is a long one – my apologies in advance.

I found myself rushing out of the house in the morning of Friday 13th June (BLACK FRIDAY). I love travelling but I hate the part at the airport where you’re convinced you’ve forgotten something. I had that feeling …

I got onto the plane without issues, in fact my travel partner Fay and I were early. We just sat around and talked about what we’d do when we reached Japan. I called around to try to use up some credit as 3 don’t allow us to use our allocated cap overseas. Finally we boarded, and then started the 10 hours of uneasiness. You see, while most people shut their windows and sleep on the plane, I am unable to do that. No matter how low I made the chair go, I wouldn’t feel comfortable and thus wouldn’t be able to sleep. So I basically sat around for 10 hours – played Sudoku, played the crappy iPod games, wrote out a tentative itinerary, etc. Finally at 8:40, i.e. 10 minutes late (thank you once again, Jetstar) we ‘disembarked’ (the word used by the airport) at Kansai International Airport.

What’s the first thing one does after 10 hours of sitting still on a plane? Go into a smoking room and light up. After my well-deserved smoke break, Fay and I proceeded to Nankai Line where we had issues finding Osaka Station. When I asked the station information officer how to get there, he bluntly pointed out (in a nice way?) that Osaka Station is on the JR Line. Obviously my memory does not serve me well. I love how the Japanese train system is comprised of 50 million different lines. Sydney just doesn’t compare-…

After buying a ticket for Â¥1160, we got onto a ‘Rapid’ train service after a 20 minute wait; it was already evening of course, and the trains had quietened down. We lugged our suitcases (may I add that mine is almost double the size of the average Japanese suitcase) and then we stood in a corner. Hereafter starts the waiting game – since all the seats were taken, we were waiting for a 2 seater so we could sit down. As Fay pointed out, it wasn’t really essential we sit down again – remember the 10 hour plane ride? (I do…)

Finally, an hour or so later we arrived at Osaka Station. The first thing Fay did after we exited the station and checked our maps, was make a beeline for the vending machine. She bought the classic orange-flavored Fanta, except it had bits in it – orange/lemon flavored jelly (think Easy Way or Gumballs). I just got a Coke, as I was struggling to stay awake but couldn’t sleep either. We found the bus stop going to Tokyo (with a little help from an old man who saw us standing still with our maps looking completely lost – mind you he was a staff member of a competitor of the company we chose to use) and I stood around outside waiting for the bus to be ready.

One of the drivers was standing outside smoking – he peered over at us with what I believe he thought was absolute subtlety, and finally as we weren’t 100% sure as to whether we’d found the right bus, Fay went over to check the Guest List. She came back a moment later –

Fay: Riku your name isn’t there.
Riku: WHAT as if its not!
Fay: You have a look.

Needless to say my name was in the list, just it was spelled out in Japanese characters – came out as Torekashi. Riku Torekashi… hehehe. We boarded the bus, row #5, with me at the window seat again. This was the beginning of another 8 hours of misery … I put the chair as far back as it would go, but everytime I would lie back on it, if I lifted my head again my neck would hurt. I just decided not to sleep. The bus departed almost 15 minutes late, with the typical “O-matase shimashita [Sorry for making you wait]”. We were on our way to Tokyo!

Our first break was at around 1:40am or so, which I thought was unnecessary as we’d only been driving for an hour or so. I got off to buy some drinks as by this time, my mouth was so dry I thought it might seal itself shut. I bought a Calpis Water and a Gatorade Rehydration Drink (as did I mention earlier – I was lacking in fluids). Â¥150+Â¥150=Â¥300, or AU$3. Who said that the cost of living in Japan was expensive.

I drank half of each bottle and proceeded to try to sleep… unsuccessfully. The rest of the busride was uneventful – except at one point I had my eyes closed for a long time, and when I decided to open them, Mt. Fuji was in plain view to the left of the bus. It was beautiful so I woke Fay up.

We arrived at Shinjuku Station at around 7:14am, 46 minutes earlier than what was promised on the bus itinerary. Fay let her friend know to come early, and I messaged Yumiko to tell her I had arrived early.

Yumiko: Okay okay, I’ll come now!

Fay’s friend came and took her away, and only 10 minutes later Yumiko arrived. We were going to go to a McDonalds so I could charge my laptop, but the local ones were 2+ storeys and I had a 30kg suitcase to worry about (I had inserted my cabin baggage into my checked baggage for convenience). We ended up going to a Doutor store in Shinjuku (NB: Japanese café franchise, incidentally Yumiko works at one). I got an Italian style toasted sandwich and large iced coffee for Â¥660. We sat around and chatted for a while, before Yumiko had to go to work and I made my way down to the real estate who were renting me an apartment. Being the Asian that I am, I decided to walk down to Nishi-Shinjuku instead of taking the train – to save Â¥160 or $1.60. It was around 10:05am when I reached Yoshizumi Homes, and I dealt with someone different to who I dealt with online – the guy I deal with each time seems to never be around when I come in 🙁

Anyway, still being a complete miser, I walked the 25 minutes with my 30kg suitcase down to Nakano-Sakaue Station, which is the closest station to my apartment. Surprisingly, I didn’t get lost at all this time – I think I’ve become accustomed to Japan. On the way, I spotted many many foreigners – there must be some sort of hostel or English teaching facility in the area. Nishi-Shinjuku (the place I lived in last time, with June, Janet and Jason) has changed also, even though I was last in Japan only 4 months ago, Nishi-Shinjuku was starting to undergo transformation. It reminded me of the way that Australia’s roads are always undergoing roadwork. It was a chore to drag my massive suitcase through the ins and outs, as they had blocked off pedestrian access in certain parts.

Finally, I arrived at my apartment. I stood at the entrance and stared at the Japanese instructions printed on the intercom. How on earth do people who don’t speak Japanese work these things!? I found myself wondering. It had no indication of how to get in using my Auto-Lock password (a 4 digit pin used to get into the apartment complex). I kept entering it and nothing was happening. There happened to be a fairly old couple doing their gardening across the road, so I beckoned for help. After some fussing, we figured out that there was a secret button sequence in place. I felt so stupid…

I dragged my suitcase up the stairs (I can’t wait to leave here; then I’ll get to drag it down the stairs – note my sarcasm) and got to my room. I opened the door…

I don’t know why I didn’t expect this, but the room was tiny. I opted for a 2nd storey room with a loft for sleeping; the entire apartment is approximately the size of my room in Sydney. But of course, by this time I was so knackered and dying to take a shower/bath/dip in the ocean that I threw off my clothes and showered. And it felt excellent 😀

After changing and dumping my clothes in the washing machine, I tried to get up the loft. I found myself worrying that the ladder might break with my weight. I suppose they made this place for Japanese people – and I found out soon enough that I was right, there is absolutely no way for me to get into the loft without contorting my body. I almost always hit my head. I just couldn’t be bothered mucking around with it, so I threw the futon mattress down to the ground and set it up there. I put my suitcase up onto the loft – seeing as it takes up 1/3 of the room below – and proceeded to sleep.

Well, at least, I was supposed to sleep straight away but got caught up in a Japanese game show … I think this one had the famous boy band ARASHI? After it finished I turned off the TV (before further distractions began) and slept. I woke up at 5:30pm (although I set my alarm for 3:30 – interestingly, I had turned off all 4 alarms I set without remembering it) and from 5:30pm onwards I’ve been looking for a digital camera. It’s a bit late now, but I’m going to jog up to Shinjuku and check out Sakuraya (NB: Big electronics franchise). I’m also really hungry…

Anyway I’m in Japan! WOOT.