5/18 – The Beginnings

As the 14 hour flight came to a close, with the first Matrix movie, the first two Lord of the Rings movies, and a pittance of melatonin-induced sleep, I took my first step into the country who’s language I’ve spent 6 years learning! (Well, second, but this is the first time I’m truly on my own ;P)

Navigating my way past the 56-desk long immigration checkpoint, picking up my baggage, exchanging currencies, and picking up my pocket Wi-Fi, I encountered my first vending machine. A fresh-squeezed orange juice vending machine!

After enjoying a nice fresh cup, I headed off to the Keikyu line headed into Shinagawa, where I picked up my first ever IC card, a Pasmo!

Now, you may question my following few decisions:

• I wanted to spend the first two nights in a capsule hotel.
• I wanted to spend the third night in a manga/internet cafe.

The answer? Don’t really have one! I just thought it would be neat to try something off the beaten path for once and come through with some interesting stories to tell on the other side.

Also it was super cheap and I wanted to read some more of Jojo Part 8

The capsule hotel was charming, but a bit much to get used to. Little privacy there, and making a peep was frowned upon. Luckily, I don’t rely on alarms to wake up!

5/19 – Solamachi

I found myself feeling a little cramped from the capsule hotel, so I thought it would be a good idea to meet up with some of my classmates who also came early, over at the Skytree Town, Solamachi! A lovely collection of stores and cafes sitting right beneath the Tokyo Skytree. I definitely ate way too many sweets, but it was all so worth it.

Oh, did I mention the GHIBLI STORE AND THE POKECENTER IS THERE TOO?

YET NO GENGAR PLUSHIE ;w;

5/20 – The Calm Before the Storm

Since I was tired of hauling around my own luggage everywhere (the capsule hotel has you checking out everything at 10AM), I bit the bullet and booked the 24 hour stay in the manga cafe.

Funnily enough, if you run the numbers, a 24 hour stay going for 4400 yen, equivalent to 32 dollars a day, renting a space which provides free showers, free books, free cleaning, free drinks, and all-you-can-eat soft serve would run cheaper than summertime dorm rent at RIT.

Just food for thought!

Speaking of food, I had a veritable feast at the nearby Bamiyaan (Dan dan noodles, shumai, gyoza, and sesame balls), and ended up served by a cat-modeled server robot. The future is now!

Jet lag was hitting hard, and I ended up reading a good 5 volumes of JJBA before hitting the hay.

5/21 – Reunion & Reunion

Today was the day where two things came to pass: me meeting my host family once again, and the beginning of this two weeks of study abroad.

To begin, I checked out of the manga cafe, put 2/3 of my bags in a coin locker, and waited by Oimachi station to meet the family kind enough to take me in for a whole month four years prior.

The Inoue family!

And off we went to Asakusa to take part in the 2023 Sanja Matsuri: one of Tokyo’s largest festivals! With people packed practically shoulder to shoulder almost the entire day, the energy around was simply electric! Faces of all countries came to experience places like Nakamise Shopping Street, Kaminari-mon, and Sensō-ji. The tons of food stands were a big plus! I got some wagyu, shaved ice, yakisoba, and candied fruit!

We also went to Hanayashiki, one of the oldest amusement parks in Japan, started in 1853. Although its age range is definitely for the younger crowd, we still had a good time walking around and enjoying some of the more intense rides.

Heading back to the station, we encountered a bunch of people hauling a mikoshi on their shoulders, and a Shishimai traditional dance where performers mimic a lion’s movements to mimic good fortune.

After a very long and exciting day, we went back to pick up my belongings at the coin locker at Oimachi station, got a Taxi to the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, and bade farewell once again. May we meet again very soon!

Now, meeting up with the Study Abroad gang, we all gathered in the lobby at 6, and went to go get our tickets for the next day’s Shinkansen. (Was begging to get off my feet at this point, haha. Curse you Japan, for your lack of benches!)

Heading back to the food court, I grabbed some Katsu Omurice, chatted it up with a few others, and called it a day. Can’t wait to see what’s in store the next two weeks.