Tokyo Touchdown

Hitting the ground after 21 hours awake can be slightly jarring when you arrive in the world’s biggest megacity

Following a rather routine flight from Singapore, having transited from Auckland, I arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport this morning. The immigration and customs procedures were completed swiftly, and my luggage was collected without delay. However, I did spend a sweaty couple of hours procuring my 7-day Japan Rail Pass which comes into effect on Saturday, as well as trying to get cash. Though it has an image as a technologically super-advanced country, and lives up to this in many ways, it is also still very dependent of cash to make things work.

I experienced quite the unpleasant surprise upon realising the hefty fees associated with foreign currency exchange here. Consequently, I received a poor deal on my cash conversion. As such, I aim to minimise cash spending during my stay as 15% of my cash budget just evaporated.

Afterwards, I travelled via “private” railway to Asakusa where I checked in at a local ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Despite it being early in the day and sweltering hot due to high humidity levels around low thirties Celsius degrees; Asakusa was teeming with tourists

Senso-ji shrine in Asakusa today

I then met with an old colleague who had also helped to organise the Young Core Leaders of Society Program that I took part in, back in 2006. We reminisced about our past shared experience, challenges for youth in this post-pandemic world in Japan and NZ, while discussing potential collaborative opportunities for future projects over the coming years - I left feeling excited and energised.

Myself and Atsuko at the Center for Youth Exchange this afternoon

This is what I came for.

Being here is always thrillingly unpredictable; each visit brings its unique opportunities. Tomorrow morning's agenda includes breakfast with the Director General of the National Institute of Mental Health whom I worked alongside during my stint as Japan Society Promotion Science Fellow back in 2009.

Well, I just had to have ramen for lunch didn’t I?

For now though, dinner awaits me with Hisako – an old friend who promises delicious food before I retire for some much-needed rest after nearly twenty-one sleepless hours spent travelling yesterday.

The good news, is that there is a bath.