Arriving in Japan
April 7th 2008 11:29
At the Arrivals Hall I rushed down the corridor to try and get to the hotel and squeeze in a quick trip into the city. Careening around the corner I ran head first into a large crowd of people standing at various sets of closed doors. I imagine a man at the Departure Hall talking into his walkie-talkie saying something along the lines of “Woshi naaah hi arrrigato sushi haaa”, roughly translated as “OK Flight JL874 just took off – send in another 400!” I guess they have to control the population somehow hey?
Actually it was something far less interesting – the doors opened onto the arriving shuttle which would take us to the Immigration and Exit Hall,s where we were herded like cattle through the stalls, signs announcing ‘FROM HERE ONLY 45 MINUTES” in a sickeningly cheerful font. As we reached the sign ‘FROM HERE ONLY 15 MINUTES” a customs official came bouncing around the corner like Tigger on Speed. ‘Come, come! This one open. No passengers, no passengers!’ and pointed around the corner. With the prospect of spending a few minutes less as part of the cattle group I joined a stream of others to go around the corner… down a passage, turn left, turn right, slapping and sweating and huffing and puffing with my luggage and coat, only to arrive back in pretty much the same position I had been in the previous line!
Now that I am here I am kicking myself for not having booked a longer stay. Although I was planning a quick trip into Tokyo I didn’t think I would be quite so tired and with a round trip taking about 3 hours or so and the possibility of missing the last train back out and being stranded overnight I decided to chicken out.
The hotel is rather luxurious with chandeliers dangling from the ceiling and everything gleaming and sparkly clean. In front of the restaurant is a glassed off room looking over the painstakingly raked . The tiny dunes of the curved gravel resemble an untouched beach of soft peaks and fine powdered sand. Everywhere cherry trees are in bloom, lining the streets with their delicate branches.
Having decided to skip the ‘Fluffy Stewed Cow Muscle’ and not keen on chicken with the possibility of Bird Flu still hanging around I dodged and dived around the menu looking for something to eat. Finally having decided the waiter was immediately at my side, flipping his digital pad open and tapping in a few codes to take my order. Getting caught overnight in foreign cities, contracting strange diseases and generally being in on edge are not quite on my agenda this time around – and it feels strangely odd not pushing the boundaries I must admit!
Actually it was something far less interesting – the doors opened onto the arriving shuttle which would take us to the Immigration and Exit Hall,s where we were herded like cattle through the stalls, signs announcing ‘FROM HERE ONLY 45 MINUTES” in a sickeningly cheerful font. As we reached the sign ‘FROM HERE ONLY 15 MINUTES” a customs official came bouncing around the corner like Tigger on Speed. ‘Come, come! This one open. No passengers, no passengers!’ and pointed around the corner. With the prospect of spending a few minutes less as part of the cattle group I joined a stream of others to go around the corner… down a passage, turn left, turn right, slapping and sweating and huffing and puffing with my luggage and coat, only to arrive back in pretty much the same position I had been in the previous line!
Now that I am here I am kicking myself for not having booked a longer stay. Although I was planning a quick trip into Tokyo I didn’t think I would be quite so tired and with a round trip taking about 3 hours or so and the possibility of missing the last train back out and being stranded overnight I decided to chicken out.
The hotel is rather luxurious with chandeliers dangling from the ceiling and everything gleaming and sparkly clean. In front of the restaurant is a glassed off room looking over the painstakingly raked . The tiny dunes of the curved gravel resemble an untouched beach of soft peaks and fine powdered sand. Everywhere cherry trees are in bloom, lining the streets with their delicate branches.
Having decided to skip the ‘Fluffy Stewed Cow Muscle’ and not keen on chicken with the possibility of Bird Flu still hanging around I dodged and dived around the menu looking for something to eat. Finally having decided the waiter was immediately at my side, flipping his digital pad open and tapping in a few codes to take my order. Getting caught overnight in foreign cities, contracting strange diseases and generally being in on edge are not quite on my agenda this time around – and it feels strangely odd not pushing the boundaries I must admit!
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Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Did you by any chance stay at the Nikko Narita Hotel?
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Yup that`s the very hotel I stayed at - it was great - I loved the chandeliers. Hopefully next time a longer visit!
Ash
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
LOL well i have been rather well behaved this time around - probably something to do with getting older and hopefully a little wiser????
Ash
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Bwahahaha, great mental image here.
I haven;t been to Japan yet, it never appealed, but you are the third person this week to mention it to me... must be time?
Hugs
Lilla ...
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Yeah he was a funny bloke, although we weren`t impressed when we had to wait again
Japan looks amazing. When I flew in yesterday (or was it the day before???) it looked completey different to two months ago. I would LOVE to return, I also never realised a lot of what is actually there and it looks surprisingly packed with interesting places
Hopefully you will get there!
Ash