The Fab and the Filipinious: Tokyo Drift [Ni]

Day Two: Arrival (approx 3pm JST - Japan Standard Time)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Narita Airport, Japan to Tokyo, Japan

Getting off that flight, going through customs is a breeze because I'm not sick and I'm not trying to smuggle any guns/narcotics, but altogether it does take an hour. We land on time and I'm finally ready to head to Tokyo (about an hr or so from the airport) by 3pm JST. I get my ticket, exchange some USD for Yen and off I go...

So, I'm sitting on the Narita Express (NEX) en route to Tokyo Station to meet MW (my friend who lives in Tokyo) and... maybe it's because I'm still suffering from airplane delirium and haven't seen the Earth for 13 hrs but I can't help but feel as if I'm upside down. I guess my equilibrium is all off because back home is on the other side of the world and it's 2am ET over there - so technically... I am upside down???? LOL. Listen to me, well anyway, I'm just SUPER excited I'm IN JAPAN!!!! and not just the airport anymore either. =)

As the train passes through the underground tunnel and the sun starts to pour into the 7th car of the NEX, my heart starts to race. I recognize the unmistakable sloping rooftops of Japanese architecture (which is, of course, extremely influenced by the Chinese architecture of the Tang Dynasty) and an automatic squeal of glee escapes my lips.... how embarrassing - I might as well get a tattoo of the word "TOURIST" in big bold letters across my forehead. But it doesn't matter, I'm not here to impress anyone but myself... and barely 2 hrs in Japan and I'm already ecstatic.

My Tokyo Dwelling:
MW's apartment is REALLY cute!!!

• It's a one bedroom apartment in the West Tower of the Ark Towers in Roppongi.
• There's a balcony, bathrom and living/dining/kitchen area.
• The bathroom is one of those high-end bathrooms with the heated toilet seats complete with cooch/booty washers & dryers right in the toilet! (yeah that's my terminology for douche LOL).
• The shower/bathtub combo is especially interesting to me. Apparently, the bathing areas are traditionally huge where 1/2 of it is the shower area and 1/2 is the tub - you're supposed to get clean in the shower, and then soak for however long in the tub. MW and I assume it's this way since the traditional Japanese hotels (ryokan) have the bath water coming from natural hot spring sources which are said to have medicinal/healing powers.
  

Japan Facts/Things I Learned so far:

• Japan Rail - JR = Amtrak This is one way that people get around from city to city in Japan. Foreigners can buy 7, 14 or 21 day unlimited tickets which have to be purchased OUTSIDE of Japan for which they can exchange for a real ticket at any exchange counter within Japan
• Suica Card = Metro Card This is cooler than a metro card because you can use it to buy stuff from the vending machines in the stations too (there are other companies that issue this type of card as well... also unlike NY where there is only the MTA issued Metro Card)
• Narita Express = Super Shuttle or any other company that offers shuttle services from the airport to the city I used this to take me straight from Narita airport to Tokyo Station. This is also serviced by JR.
• Tokyo Station reminded me a lot of the train station in Paris - colorful signs everywhere in a language I don't understand. Tons of people cris crossing through the center trying to get to all the different rail lines
• Elevator etiquette is the same i.e. everyone stops talking and faces forward once they step inside
• LEFT = RIGHT - that is drive on the left side of the road, escalator "slow lane" is on the left... it is really weird to get used to and I'm afraid I may lose my life every time I cross the street out here.
• The JPMC Tokyo office is a 2 minute walk from Tokyo station
• People in Tokyo don't walk as fast as people in NY - even with my 40lb luggage rolling behind me, I practically ran over the people walking in front of me
• Some people wear face masks - I guess they're really nervous about spreading germs and/or really sensitive to springtime allergies
• You don't have to tip in Japan =)

Other traditions I've learned:

1. Always take your shoes off when entering someone's home. You're even supposed to have separate slippers for the bathroom and not wear them outside the bathroom! - so better make sure you always have nice socks/tights LOL.
2. People don't shake hands - they bow. Well, most westerners already know this...
3. You have to be 20 yrs old to buy cigarettes and alcohol
4. They never say "No" - it is too assertive so they'll say "um...." instead (chotto) - the long pause is supposed to imply "don't count on it buddy"
5. They're SUPER apologetic. Sumimasen!! means sorry, and even a slight arm graze on the subway will cause someone to bow furiously muttering SUMIMASEN! several times.
6. They are VERY clean and particular about garbage. You must clean up after yourself! - trash cans are catergorized by "burnable" and "non-burnable". I can imagine how horrified a Japanese person is when coming to the US! - esp NYC... gross!!!