Goodbye Seoul; Hello Tokyo, WTRD 16, September 19, 2017

Good Bye South Korea

The sky is misty grey as we leave the city of Seoul towards the airport at 8:30 am in our private transfer.

We check in at 9:30,  go through security (had to take out electronic devices, but not baggie of liquids and gels), process out through immigration, catch the train to our terminal, arrive at the gate at 11:00, relax for one hour, board the plane at 12:05.

Hello Japan

We land at Narita airport outside Tokyo,

collect our one checked bag, process through immigration receiving a 90 day visa, and are out the door by 3:15.

We've done our homework and have excellent directions to our Airbnb in Shinjuku from our host. We purchase our train tickets for the Keisei Skyliner Train (about $24.00 each) and first transfer on the JR train system.  We would buy either another transfer or get a taxi from the second stop depending on the rush hour crush.  We've seen photos of the packed subways in Tokyo and are not sure with our luggage how we might manage this.

All Aboard!

Boarding our train at 3:38, we enjoy a smooth high speed ride to Tokyo.

All along the railroad right away, wherever possible there are solar panels. (good idea).

We arrive at our transfer station, find our second train on the JR line, an oh my the crush begins.  It isn't too bad getting on here.  There are no seats and room by the door, but standing by the door with our luggage seems like a good thing to do. We count stops as we head to stop six. It is 5:00 pm, rush hour.   By stop 4, we are solidly packed into the vestibule, by 5 we are crushed in, and we wonder how we are going to get out! When we arrive at our stop, the left door opens, and phew the people in front of this door are actually getting out, and we exit a little awkwardly, but make it out just fine.

Not so sure now whether we want to buy a transfer ticket to the next station only two stops away or take a taxi.  We stop at an information desk and inquire about a taxi.  The woman at the desk spoke passable English and recommended that we take the subway and that the next train should not be so packed.  We follow her advice and directions to ticket booth and train platform.  We stood in front of the self-serve kiosk trying to figure out what we needed to pay and where we wanted to go.  A kind woman saw us, wanted to see our map.  Russ pointed to the station we want to go to.  Within 30 seconds, she punched in the right buttons, we paid our $7.00 for two tickets, said thank you in in Japanese, and we were on our way to the track.  As suggested, this train was not full at all.  Stop one, stop two, and we were exiting the train in Shinjuku.

Quick Walk and We Are In!

Our walking directions from the train that we exited to our Airbnb were spot on.  We had a few blocks to walk.  The first things that caught our eyes were a Big Boy Diner (like the one that used to be in Danville, but with a Japanese Big Boy), and a service station with pumps extending down from the roof.

No self-serve here unless you are a giant.

We find our little apartment easily,

door key is in the combination lock mailbox.  The apartment is tiny, tidy, functional, and will serve us well.

The toilet and shower room are separate.

Like a boat shower, the whole room gets wet.  

We've seen the Japanese electronic washlette toilets before, but this one was unusual.  When flushed, the fresh water that goes into the tank automatically drops from a tank top faucet and handmwashing basin into the tank. The water in the tank is grey water and then is used to flush.

Such a clever idea!

Russ and I get settled, visit a convenience store for breakfast supplies, and upon recommendation from a Canadian woman in the convenience store try a restaurant just down the street.  We return to our apartment, take showers, and fall into bed.

All is Well With the Worrall Travel Rs in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.