Tokyo Highlights (March 30-31, 2016)Ready and excited for the greatest adventure of my life to date, I packed my backpack, boarded the plane, and travelled to Japan--solo. This is my first time to travel solo, yet alone travel solo abroad! First time to ride an airplane solo; explore a foreign country’s city solo; try weird foreign foods solo; and navigate an unfamiliar transportation system solo! So proud of myself! *Wink, wink!* Please see my previous blog post discussing all about my experiences as a first-time female solo traveler. The itinerary submitted for my Japan visa application is the actual itinerary I intended on using. But finding out short of two weeks before my flight that I’ll be traveling solo, I decided to relax my must-sees. Only go to places that I can, in my own phase. Day 1: March 30, 2016 (Tokyo) Narita Airport: I had an early flight, 1:05AM PST. My ETA at Narita T3 is at 6:30AM Japan time. I came straight from work, rest for a few, and went to the airport at around 9:30PM. Jetstar’s queue for check-in is such a disappointment! I wonder what their web check-in is for if customers still needs to line up. Meh. I allotted a five-hour time from the moment I stepped out of the plane to the time I get to my Hostel which is at Chiba. A bit far from the Tokyo Center, but nonetheless, Hotel Emblem Nishiarai has a very nice facility and super friendly and helpful staff. They have competitive prices and I would be staying again with them in the future. I highly recommend them! Coming out of the plane, I was embraced and/or smacked in the face by a really cold weather! I thought I came in prepared; but having summer as the current season here in my country, and drastically going to an 11°C is quite a chill—literally! I was shivering from the cold (and maybe nervousness that I was in a foreign land alone)! I love it! :D Going through the immigration and passport control process is uneventful. Just go with the flow! *Wink* I changed my PHP to JPY at two money changing booths since their max for each booth is only Php10, 000 per transaction. From Terminal 3, I rode the free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 so I can pick up my rented pocket Wi-Fi at the airport post office. Since the post office will open at 8:30AM JP time, I did a bit of exploring on the airport’s Terminal 2. I found a money changing machine and decided to try it! It was so amazing and high-tech! haha! I bought a sandwich from a small 7-11 nearby the money changer machine and ate my first meal in Japan. Boohoo! So fancy, a sandwich! Anyways, upon receiving my Wi-Fi I logged in and updated my family of my whereabouts. At the airport subway terminal I purchased my personalized Suica card worth JPY3000 (500 for the card, and 2500 load). Then, I bought a Limousine Bus Ticket at the airport and chose a drop-off at T-CAT as advised by my hostel. From there, I rode my first-ever subway experience in Japan! *Taps myself on the shoulder!* Emblem Hostel Nishiarai: I reached and got off the Nishiarai station, but got lost finding my hostel. Geez! I walked for a couple of hours! More than I’ve walked in my entire life! LOL Carrying an 8kilo backpack is no joke. I was about to cry! But I pulled myself together, sucked it up, and wore my big-girl panties on. I wanted this right? Finally at almost 1PM Japan time, I reached my hostel. So. Freaking. Tired. I found out later that I used the wrong stairs/exit. I decided to call it a day and just rest, I lost all the energy with all those walk. Again, So. Freaking. Tired. I slept and woke up at seven pm to eat my first diner in Japan—McDonald’s! LOL! And bought a few things in the grocery store (Aeon) beside my hostel. Day 2: March 31, 2016 (Tokyo) I woke up early the following day because I plan on visiting as much as I can. This is my only chance of exploring Tokyo since I’m about to leave for Osaka early morning the next day. I woke up at around 5am on my alarm clock (6am Japan time) and went out at around 7am Japan time after I had my breakfast which was offered free from the hostel (cereal and bread/coffee and juice--not bad, it is still better than nothing). At the top of my list for touristy destination? Of course, Hachiko Statue at Shibuya! The booklet/map I got from Suitengumae Station was very helpful during my whole day of exploring, plus of course, internet and Google! In one whole day I was able to visit the following: Hachiko Statue Shibuya Crossing Takeshita Street (Shopping!) Imperial Palace Ueno Park Sensoji Temple (rickshaw ride!) Tokyo Skytree I was so tired, I felt like my feet were about to fall off. Hence, I called it a day. And that’s a wrap for Tokyo! You may check my previous blog post for Japan travel tips: Female Solo Travel: Japan 2016 Part 2 - Kobe-Kyoto-Osaka Part 3 - Universal Studios Japan: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 4 - Homebound All the best, G
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About GAn RN-turned-copy-editor, dreamer and lover of all life, taking on the world, G-style. Archives
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