We arrived at Narita airport 5.15 pm on Friday September 17, fourteen hours after leaving the US, As we were flying in, I noticed the green and yellow fields and my first thought was how much it looked like England, which surprised me as I was expecting to see skyscrapers everywhere. But the airport is an hour’s ride from the city.
I was struck by how unimposing the airport was – low buildings, with a tower. Once inside the picture changed, shiny floors, well lit halls and corridors. The plane was full but we were part of a handful of people who were not in transit, so when we arrived at immigration we went straight to an agent. He checked my passport and then I was fingerprinted by sticking my to index fingers in a little box and pressing down. No ink stains, all electronic. Then he pressed a button and my face flashed onto the screen. It was scary! I looked like I had spent 14 hours cooped up in a capsule with my flat hair and my round glasses. I actually squealed in fright, at which he gave a small smile. Every one in Japan smiles except the immigration officials! Our bags were waiting for us and we sailed through customs. We were actually in Japan and the first thing we saw was a Starbucks!
We found the ticket office and bought our tickets for the express train to Tokyo station. We had heard how quickly the trains leave the station so wanted to be sure to get to the correct platform. There were people everywhere to help and John was shown how to stand in front of the luggage cart on the escalator to prevent the suitcase falling on someone. Much to my surprise everyone took luggage carts on the escalators. The station was very busy as it connects to cities and towns all over Japan as well as hundreds of subway lines.
After a fifty minute ride we arrived in Tokyo. This station was even busier than Narita as it was Friday night. People rushing for trains and subways but once again the cleanliness and the low noise level struck me. Everyone moved very fluidly and there was not much noise.
We had booked into the Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi at Tokyo station. When we got off the train we were not sure where to go. You may be thinking, why not ask someone. But the problem is that although we have the Japanese names transliterated, most of the people only read Japanese which is written in symbols. Of course there were signs in English and one of the signs was Marunouchi Exit so that is where we went.
We found the way out into the bright city lights and muggy air and saw people swarming across the road at the largest, widest pedestrian crossing I have ever seen. John checked a map and said the hotel was around the corner. So pulling our luggage behind us we walked along the wide sidewalk past small café’s offering noodles, tempura, fish and other dishes. We turned the corner, walked under the train bridges and eventually on the next corner saw the name of our hotel discreetly written on a building called the Sepia Tower Conference Center. I groaned because there in front of us we saw a well-lit entrance to the Tokyo station! It was steps away from the hotel. Oh well you live and learn!
The elevator glided up to the 27 floor which was the hotel lobby. Quiet and coolly air-conditioned the hotel was a haven. Our room, looked out on the city lights. After enjoying the view, then a cool shower, we pushed a button and electric blinds darkened the room. We fell into bed and sleep and so ended our first hours in Japan.
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