Arriving in Tokyo with a smile on 28.4.2019

11 hours of flight or as I say, 3.5 movies. A star is born, Mr. Holmes, Justice League, and a quick glimpse into the new season of Luther. Behind me on the plane was a Japanese-German family who I found very likable. They were just as excited as I was, and the children were restless but calmed down with Bibi Blocksberg audio plays. The food on the plane was very good. Nuremberger sausages, scrambled eggs, spinach, noodles, and interestingly light buns. I was even able to sleep for a few hours, so I wasn't too exhausted from the seven-hour time difference.

And then, we landed. All of a sudden. We flew right next to Mt. Fuji and then the plane touched down very gently. It was a strange feeling, suddenly the vacation was here. I had been looking forward to this moment for a long time, preparing for it, and now I'm finally going to Japan. I was a bit scared before my first moments in Japan, if I'm honest. Especially because my Japanese is not very good, I can't communicate as well as I would like: where is the internet, where can I reserve my further shinkansen rides, is there enough money on my Suica card, which is needed everywhere. Now I can say that everything that is said about the Japanese, especially their friendliness, I can confirm. Friendly, accommodating, nice, and above all, it is very quiet in the subway. You can hear your neighbor breathe, and if someone coughs 20 meters away in the back of the car, you can hear that. I was honestly so fascinated by looking at the Japanese people that I forgot to get off at my stop. I just kept going from Akihabara to Ueno Park. When I realized that I was 2 stops too far, I just got off and made the typical tourist mistake of walking through the gate without stamping my card so that it could be charged. No one stopped me. In which language should they have stopped me anyway? I wouldn't have understood Japanese. But the Japanese only speak English reluctantly, hence my mistake. Now I have arrived at the motel, booked breakfast, will change clothes, rest for a bit, and call home. Then I urgently need something to eat, as it has been too long since breakfast. Then I will explore the city and book all the shinkansen connections for the whole trip.

Tomorrow, first, I will visit the Studio Ghibli Museum and then go to the following onsen https://www.japanistry.com/yumori-no-sato/