3:00 pm — Disembarkating

Minami-Senju Station (南千住駅)

Long story short, I’m in Japan.

The plane landed just in time, my backpack was one of the last to be dropped on the line, yet all that took less than half an hour. Passport control went without a hitch, no documents other than passport and short questionnaire (completed on board) asked, in less than a minute. Customs control went fast also.

Note: In Narita International Airport luggage claim goes BEFORE passport control and according to announcements transit passengers are required to claim their luggage before proceeding to the next flight.

People are cheerful and benevolent and thus language barrier is more fun than frustrating. Even the people who don’t understand you are trying to explain to you using gestures where to go to get help. Thus I went in circles around train ticket office searching an ATM to get some cash to buy a ticket.

After that I got to Minami-Senju station and checked into the accommodation. Nice place, photo of the window view attached.

Right now the rain seems to stop and I’m going out to search for food and some hiking stuff. Thanks to the host for the directions.

View from the accommodation window over low residential rooftops and TV antennas under an overcast Tokyo sky

4:30 pm — Railway

Minami-Senju Station (南千住駅)

I’ve heard a lot of scary stories about Tokyo metro/railway. So far it was quite easy. The trick is: don’t try to figure out how it works, just ask and then there are enough signs and announcements in English/Romanji to keep you on track. At least to the next person to ask…

Train station ticket machines with route map

11:00 pm — Wrapping the day

Minami-Senju Station (南千住駅)

It was a tough day. The neighborhood is great, it is quiet, cozy and there are a lot of food points and marts around here. Also the home improvement store my host recommended turned out to be an amazing spot. It’s a three floors shop that sells literally everything from aquarium fish, kabutomushi (google it) and a variety of different vitaminized food for kabutomushi to a selection of tens of different hammers and hundreds of different saws. I was able to buy almost everything I lacked and a few items extra.

おやすみなさい

Narrow residential lane in the Minami-Senju neighborhood, wet pavement under a gray sky