helianthus

Narita airport:

Entry to Japan (my virginal experience), it was Tokyo, the Narita airport. Not sure which city and airport you took to to Japan? The major and top-tiered route tourists, like us would take, for the duty free shopping, souvenir snacks buying and Shu Uemura products.

It was a 1 hour 30 minute bus ride from Narita airport to central Tokyo, but having rested an unearthly 5 hours on the previous flight (a 12am to 7am flight shrunk to 5 hours due to time zone difference), this was used for some shut eye before traveling in Tokyo. In between the wake and slumber, what I captured were few slogans: in Japan, solar energy is harnessed. You can see solar cells, and windmill by the river were no strange for this purpose. Japan proved what nation leaders said were wrong, you don't have to adopt the english language to be successful.



If my memory hadn't fail me, this is the first country I had seen where the locals are employed as construction workers. The first thing we did in this massive station was to get the pre-loaded Suica card, Japan's version of the EZ link card so that our 5 days of travel in Tokyo will be settled with the 5,000 yen bought. We also searched and enquired for the Rail-Go Service baggage storage and its charges, which we need on Day 4. It was a relief completing these tasks in Tokyo station, but, I still had to go back the JR East Travel Service Centre to buy the Tokunai JR one-day passes for days 11, 13 and 14 of August, 3 pieces in total, as I wasn't happy that our travels for these days (estimated) would surpass 750 yen and unlimited rides on the JR line would be very much appreciated. 

It was a surreal feeling having an early lunch at a heavily lacquered cafe, whilst customers which arrived later had to be turned away. The Kitchen street composed of popular restaurant establishments tucked away in a generic eating space. I was very impressed by the way the japanese keep their public areas clean.


Shibuya/Omotesando station/Aoyama: 

With luggages and bags in tow, we had to pinpoint where United Nations University, MUJI on our handy guide were, but managed to locate Pierre Hermé Paris Aoyama eventually. The La Porte Aoyama was a chic building set among the lush green road of Aoyama. Even if you entered into another alley unintentionally, which we did, its elegances were a surprise to the tired traveller. 

Air-conditioning in Pierre Hermé Bar Chocolat gave relief to us, and complimentary PH chocolates were served before the order was made. I chose the 70% dark. From July 24 to August 27 the Fetish Infiniment Citron would be on, would we choose the Fetish 2015 or evergreen items for the sake of the PH tag? In the end it was all Infiniment Citron. Millefeuille Infiniment Citron, caramelized pie, lemon shortbread, lemon-flavoured Chantily cream, lemon marmalade. The Emotion Infiniment Citron, lemon shortbread, lemon cream, lemon-flavoured Chantily cream, lemon jelly, fresh lemon, lemon confit, biscuit. Everything lemon.


Shinagawa station:

The most memorable moment happened on the ride to Nishitetsu Inn Kamata, when we had to take the JR Yamamote line to Shinagawa station and change for the JR line. I sensed a chill down my spine when I finally knew why we were led to Nishikamata, the Ota ward, and not Ginza, Shinjuku, or Asukasa Khaosan World elsewhere. We would not have caught the view on the JR line to a distant ward, washed in pastel and non-naturalistic colours, with shaft of light coming at every railing, just like what you had seen in an anime. 





Nishitetsu Inn Kamata:

Guess my ladybird bag and body bag were tired, and wanted a change to freshen up the tired fashion for the day. We were looking forward to Nishitetsu Inn Kamata, our respite, for some wifi, face cleansing, and curling up.

There was one thing I had to do before nightfall, if they say you have only one life to live, which is to go to Roppongi station and visit Sadaharu AOKI. At the core of the core of the core of the city, you had to be hit by Uniqlo, Japan's Dean & DeLuca, Jean-Paul Hévin in the face before meeting Sadaharu AOKI in Tokyo Midtown. All of Sadaharu AOKI's long cakes and entrements were available, however, the flagship store imposed a dine in rule of a beverage and a cake per pax, hence we opted for a take out, taking a fitted box and gel ice in a minimalistic white Sahaharu Aoki bag with us, for as long as we hadn't had dinner. 


Shinjuku/Shinjuku station:

To determine whether your getaway or place of desire is well known, obtain the information, first hand, from convenience stores in Japan. Initially, I took the lead, heading out from exit 8, turning away from Lumine 2, then towards Yamada Denki, Shinjuku Prince Hotel. Oh no, the government building was nowhere near Shinjuku Ward office, or anywhere on the Tokyo handy map. From the nearest convenience store, we found out we were at the west side of Shinjuku station. They would lug out a huge address book, and take care to read the kanji, as if a magic manual was saved for the distressed traveller at every convenience store. Moving from the west to east exit, Shinjuku station was so big it could be considered an underground university, no wonder it was the greatest station in Tokyo, or we were at the largest station on earth. Shinjuku Prince Hotel was oriented properly, and we struggled to search for a Uniqlo nearby. We decided to whack the Golden Gai which was right under our noses and at the tip of Shinjuku Prince Hotel, sifting through every menu at the red lantern lit district, and then again to reascertain the kanji name of each restaurant. Anyhow, we broke into Seibu Shinjuku and its station, and found Pepe. From Lawsons, the convenience store at Seibu-Shinjuku station, we learnt that Hajimeya was 2 traffic light junctions and a 7-11 away from where we were. The keeper of the store actually used his phone, sketched a map, filled in the names by the block letter in english, drew realistic traffic lights, just to direct us to our destination. The point is, Hajimeya was not heard of. There was no harm in taking a peek at Hajimeya, the place we would never get to go.

I succumbed day 1 to being a Western affair in Tokyo, western food for lunch, French tea, 2nd tea that was French, even the accomodation was western style, and settled for KFC as dinner, in which KFC in Japan resembled homemade burgers than poultry legs.



At the very least, we had cake in hand. The mini fridge in the inn kept the cakes intact after shower. These gems kept me up even though I was supposed to be sleeping at 5am the previous day.



The formula of a foreign land, enchanting setting, and Western bed did not help. I woke up to light seeping in from the window sill, having slept at 3am. 5am. Were my eyes playing a trick on me, time zone not adjusted for the clocks in the Japanese inn, result of Japan being ahead in time compared to other countries, or pale skies presumably seen at twilight in Japan. Removing the blinds, it revealed a handsome neighbourhood with a stillness in the air, but bright as day. The alarms were set at 8am, but 7, 730am I could stand no longer and got out of bed.