An Un-Japanese Tokyo
"On August 19th, flying over the East China Sea, I marveled at my first time leaving the country. Departing Pudong at two in the morning, as we approached Japan it felt like meeting the rising sun."
On August 19th, flying over the East China Sea, I marveled at my first time leaving the country. Departing Pudong at two in the morning, as we approached Japan it felt like meeting the rising sun. Looking down at Mount Fuji from the plane, I would never have guessed it would be the only time on this trip I would see Fuji clearly.
Arriving at Narita International Airport, I spent a long time wrestling with a Suica card. To use NFC Suica on an Android phone you need either a Japanese model or a Pixel. Near Shinjuku I found a tempura donburi restaurant—my first taste of Japanese prices.
What struck me most was the workers on the train from the airport into the city—utterly hollow-eyed.
Meiji Shrine was quiet and elegant; it was there that we saw a miko priestess. At Shimokitazawa station we saw no Beast House, but did find the area where Kessoku Band hangs out. That evening at a yakiniku restaurant in Shinjuku we had the most delicious grilled meat I have ever eaten—I could have swallowed my own tongue.
After dinner we went up Tokyo Tower and looked out over the magnificent nightscape of the world’s largest metropolitan area.
At last, I made it to Japan.