JAPAN

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to work in Japan for six weeks. Now I did do all my research up front BUT for some reason I had it in my head it would be warm..Ha! snow, snow and more snow it was freezing !

Anyway I landed at Tokyo airport, followed my directions onto the right platform to catch one of the many, many trains that support Japan’s economy 

Well the platform was empty except for a solitary train guard. He was very smart and upright with his finely pressed suit and white gloves. ‘Excuse me ?’ I said, nervously and pointed to my piece of paper, that had the name of my destination printed on it with my finger.

The guard nodded several times in quick succession and placed me with military effect onto the very edge of the platform, where there was a yellow line painted. ‘Here ?’ I asked . The guard nodded several times again, but this time placed  a whistle into his mouth and blew. I stood frozen to the spot and did not move.

A train almost immediately pulled up at the platform and its doors opened. The was no one on it. I looked around for the guard, but he had disappeared.   After a few  minutes, it seem to me, the right move would be to get on this train. So I lugged my suitcase up and onto the train and sat down.The carriages were quite long, with seats on ether side and adorning the roof were banners hung one after another. Above the doors were TV screens showing some kind of advertising, but the station was so so quiet. Was this the right train ? Where had the guard gone, should I stay on the train ?

I just spotted the guard coming down the platform, when the doors when ‘shush’ and a jolly tune was played over a loud-speaker. Then off the train went, ah well,  I’m going somewhere, even if it’s not when I need to be.

When I arrived at my destination station, it was really cold with piles of snow littering the streets.  had with me, my notes and walking directions to my hotel, except, several flights of stairs later, I realised there were two entrances to the hotel and I was at the wrong one, of course. So with my suitcase, which was becoming heavier and heavier, I eventually found the right entrance, checked in, but discovered the restaurant was shut and I was very hungry.

I took my case up to my room, it was basic and picked up some yen and trotted off to find something to eat.

Next to reception was a vending machine, all in Japanese, all very complicated. You had to buy a voucher, then put the code into the machine, to get out a rather dried and unusual piece of bread and meat er….sandwich??

Back in my room, a bit of TV..mmm NO English channels..WHAT !

Time to check out the bathroom..very small bath, but deep, but the toilet – that was something else ! warm seats, and a picture of a water fountain and a bottom..O..K..then another picture of a fountain, with a face…mmm guess that’s the Japanese being discrete.

warm toilet seat..ahh bliss

I decided to investigate my surroundings and went for a walk ..now which way to go ? I remembered some mile stones, so I wouldn’t get lost, walked around the block to get my bearings..Ok

I took a photo of  some interesting and very colourful stairs leading up to a cafe ? Club ? near my hotel…mmm I’ll let you guess what it was, by the photo…

A few really cheeky window displays in shops, a few nice houses, quite nice AND a bike, where it shouldn’t be..can you spot it ?

Yes Japan is an interesting place…..

more to follow..