I was up before the sun on Saturday, August 29, 2015 - finally the day has arrived when I get to return to Tokyo. Who knows what I was thinking booking such an early flight (8.45am)!
I have luck on my side this morning - easy time getting a taxi; checked in within minutes then the airport express was waiting for me.
I'm half way through my breakfast when an announcement is made telling me my gate has changed (to the other side of the airport) - what a pain! We are supposed to be at the gate at 8.05am to board so I decide leave the leave just after 8am. No point rushing.
Finally at 8.30am, with so many people standing around, we are informed the flight has been delayed by 30 minutes - yes of course it has because why would a flight leave on time I ask?!
Cathay sends me a text two minutes before the original departure time to advise the flight is delayed 30 minutes - gee thanks for that, I wasn't aware. And don't you think you should have informed us earlier???
The new boarding time comes and goes, this is getting boring! Finally the long line starts moving and before I know it I'm next in line for the boarding pass check. The man in front of me is upgraded from premium economy (where I am) to business class. Lucky! Now my turn, and within seconds my boarding pass beeps - woo hoo "this means a seat change Miss Jordan", yes thanks I won't say no! Business class here I come!!! This is the second time I've flown to Tokyo with Cathay Pacific and the second time I've been upgraded to business class. Perhaps I need to fly this route more often.
3/4 of the way through the flight I decide it was time for a glass of bubbles; it seems like I'm on the only one drinking but hey ho! When in Rome and all that.
On landing into Tokyo the pilot announces it’s a rainy 21 degrees - ummm what?! That is like freezing! And I definitely haven't brought enough warm clothes.
In typical Japanese fashion getting through the airport is nice and easy; this is only my third visit but I remember fondly how efficient this wonderful country is. Carolyn had given me instructions on what station to meet her at so off I head, that is after being given a super colourful and extremely intertwined metro map. Thank goodness one side is in English!!
Carolyn is waiting for me at our arranged exit - so nice to see a friendly face! We have to switch lines, given she knows where she is going I'm following along behind while trying to take it all in.
We have a short time at her apartment (which is lovely and open) before wandering down the Main Street of Kagurazaka. In one part of the street there is French music playing, a pleasant sound but seems a little odd given we are in Japan and not France. We are going to a friend's of Carolyn's for a BBQ and have been asked to collect sweets (dessert), so off to buy sweets we go. Definitely not as easy as we had thought, we wander into a few stores before finding one that works. Next stop a supermarket for wine - not enough time for me to just look aimlessly.....I'll have to return. Time now for us to get on the train.
Getting to the friend's house is a fun exercise, Carolyn seems like me with directions and has been sent very explicate instructions. It means two(train) changes then either a walk or taxi. We are quite late, and given that we aren't the best with directions decide on the taxi route.
It's a fun evening with 7 of us, 5 being non-Japanese and I'm the only one that doesn't live here nor speaks Japanese.
Thankfully the journey home seems to go much quicker and easier than getting there. This may have to do with the red wine consumed.
Sunday (August 30) I wake early, always the way on holiday. We have a chilled couple of hours before heading off to Roppongi to meet some of Carolyn's friends for brunch.
From brunch we head to Shibuya - I utilize Carolyn's language skills to exchange my Japan rail voucher for an actual pass then reserve a seat on the train for Wednesday night. I know I could have done this myself, but having Carolyn makes it so much easier and quicker!!
Before heading off to a shopping mall it's time to take in the sights (and sounds) of Shibuya crossing. I could spend all day here just people watching. Tokyo is definitely a place where you wear whatever you want!
Mid-afternoon we head back to Carolyn's, we are both starting to fade a bit so I collect my suitcase then head back to the station....I'm feeling very local as I have a rubbish bin liner over my suitcase (as its pouring with rain). Thankfully I manage the endless stairs, get on the right metro and get to the hotel without too much effort.
Wow wow wow my view is amazing! Hoping it stops raining while I'm here as it will be even better then.
I have some time to chill after I've unpacked. More actually admiring my amazing view – I could easily spend the next three days just sitting here staring out the window.
It's pouring with rain again when I leave the hotel. Thankfully it's a short walk to the metro exit where it's then all underground to I enter the metro. Carolyn is waiting for me at the arranged exit. We head off to a wine bar for a pre-dinner glass of vino. It's an Italian / French place so my limited Japanese is lost and out comes my Italian. Whoops. And I can't even put the blame on the vino drunk as we are still waiting for our glass.
For dinner we head to a local (to Carolyn) Japanese place that she has been too before. We've walked by it a couple of times over the past 24+ hours - I was taken by the large sake bottles in the window. Doesn't take much to impress me!
On entering we remove our shoes and put them into a locker; we are then escorted to our table while all of the staff greet us. I'm definitely the only white person here. The menu is all in Japanese so it's over to Carolyn, that's until she asks if there is an English menu. The sake menu is pages and pages longer than the food, now comes the hard part of deciding which one to choose.
The waiter brings the massive sake bottle to the table (if only we were having the full bottle....I would be saying bye bye to Monday though!), he gave us time to look at the bottle before pouring then left the bottle there for a few minutes.
The food is all absolutely delicious!
I've been in Japan 29 hours and now is the first time I've had to flush my own toilet, I mean please. What is the world coming too?! On a positive note, I had to put on bathroom slippers....but that opens up more questions on why we have to do that…..
I manage to get myself back to the hotel without too many issues....seems like I'm now a local :)
Monday morning comes around way too quickly - I enjoy my view (even though it's "rainy") before deciding to wake up properly. A great way to start the day.
The walk to the office is nice and easy; it's something I definitely miss - walking to the office. I even manage to stop off and pick up some breakfast. Woo hoo go me!
My colleague Kyoko takes me out for lunch, we head down to the basement of the building. In most cities food/restaurants in the basements aren't very good - that all changes when you are in Japan!
7pm and it's time to head out. Carolyn, Kyoko and I head to a building close by to our office building (by taking the metro one stop). After going up at least 5 escalators we come to a floor we decide looks good - the fun begins now deciding where to eat. I leave it to the girls, the only things I say is it must be Japanese and it must have sake. They choose well.
We are on a shared table that is divided off by the menus; the girls order an array of food (all small plates that we can share). The music takes me back to the 80’s, but of David Bowie with Michael Jackson thrown in for some fun! I’m taught how to pronounce water (me zoo) and Kyoko (key yoko).
We go our separate ways after dinner, I'm told by the two of them (who by the way are worse than me with directions) that I can walk through the Tokyo (Japan Rail) station to the hotel.....umm ok, perhaps that's right but definitely not the way I went! After exiting and looking around I decide to head back down and start again. Wow this place is massive! Finally I locate the metro line I'd taken yesterday so I head off to the one exit I know - result I can see the hotel!!
Thankfully the rain seems to have cleared a bit so the night view from my room is amazing! Shame I'm here for just one more night.
Tuesday (1 September) night I meet another friend after work for dinner. It's in the same building as last night which makes it nice and easy for me to get too. We had decided on a restaurant so I head off in search of that.....hmm not so easy when it's all in Japanese. In the end I head to the entrance and message my friend to come and collect me.
We sit at the counter, a great spot for watching the sushi markers (I'm sure there is a proper name for them!). I could spend hours here. The sushi is delicious!! Definitely a great choice.
The rain has stopped by the time we leave. I head back to my room and chill, enjoying the amazing view. Even though it's now raining the view is clearer than other days.
Wednesday (2 September) I wake well before my alarm, my last day in Tokyo. It's 6.15am and night is slowly turning into day. It's a great sight Unfortunately I'm also seeing clear skies being taken over by big, fast moving black clouds. Fingers crossed it won't be wet for the rest of my stay in Japan.
I take one last look at my amazing view before going to check-out, leaving my suitcase with the bell lady. Time to head to the office.
Carolyn, Kyoko (key yoko) and I head for lunch just before midday - it's so not me to go so early but it gets busy here. Plus I'm actually hungry as my breakfast wasn't exactly filling. We join a very long line for a Tonkatsu restaurant, within minutes of joining the line a lady comes by to take our reservation (number of people) as well as our order (I have to leave it to the girls as the menu is told to us in Japanese). Thankfully the line moves quickly and we were in before we knew it. Clearly this is a very popular place. The Tonkatsu doesn't disappoint - well worth going early for!
I leave work at 4.30pm, got outside and realized my iPhone was still charging upstairs - whoops! Straight back up to collect it and take two I'm off. My train doesn't leave to 5.33pm (and I know it won't be a minute earlier nor a minute later) but I need to go back to the hotel, which is next to Tokyo station to collect my bag, then find my way to the JR train. And given I’m a Jordan I don’t like to be late!
For the first time since I've been in Tokyo it's clear blue skies and no rain, typical when I need to increase the speed! It's a quick 8 minute walk to the hotel - exchanging umbrella for bag then I'm off to Tokyo Station. I've made good time, not really surprising given who I am...., so decide to reserve a seat for my return journey on Sunday. Now I'm all set.
When I had exchanged my Japan rail voucher for the pass I'd been told I need to have it stamped prior to my first journey. I was thinking it might be a process but alas no - it takes all of 10 seconds to add the date stamp before I'm let off into the world of the tracks. I'm hoping there will be some food options on the platform. Of course I've got time before my train but I'd much rather this than racing. I stop off at the first convenience store to collect some dinner - salmon rice ball, egg sandwiches and a one cup sake. I have too many things to hold onto to increase the sake purchase, fingers crossed there is a way to buy more on the train.
It's hard to believe my 4.5 days in Tokyo has come to an end. As I've worked 3 of the days the time really has flown by. It's been wonderful to be back and I know I'll return again one day soon. For now it's time to head West to Takayama (via Naogya).
