Chasing Cherry Blossoms: A visual travel diary

The Arrival
The moment the cabin doors opened, I felt that quiet, organized energy Japan is famous for. The air carried that faint clean scent I’ve only ever read about. No airport I’d ever been to could compare to it. We all clamored off the plane at Haneda Airport. Everyone followed each other to Immigration. It was quite simple, but a little chaotic with the amount of bodies in the room and lack of air conditioning. Immigration was a challenge as visitjapanweb hadn’t cooperated on my phone, but what did I care?… I was officially in Japan. Always assume something might not go according to plan. Be flexible. Don’t panic.

I filled out my physical paper form that asked how many days I intended to be in Japan and what my first address was going to be after immigration. Then it was time to declare if I was bringing anything into the country. I was not. It was just as quick as the other. It was a week night at 9pm at night. I would show you, but you are not allowed to film at immigration. No matter… On the other side of all this, there Japan was waiting. There will be plenty of photos to be had. It’s a land where no filters are necessary, natural beauty reigns king.

First Impressions
Nothing prepares you for how immaculate everything is. The floors in the airport gleamed like they’d been polished for royalty. Vending machines stood in neat rows, offering drinks I’d never seen but desperately wanted to try. And the signs everywhere, in both Japanese and English made me feel like maybe I wouldn’t be too lost after all.

The Train Ride Into the City
Buying my Suica card was my first mini victory. I would be here for a total of 28 days. I bought my suica without needing assistance. This was not my first trip, but it was my longest trip. I managed to tap through without holding up the line (yes, I was proud). I was exhausted, but the train was right there. And cheaper than taking an airport taxi. The train was only about 600 yen to where I needed to go. A taxi will cost you triple that. The train ride into Tokyo was a slow reveal: suburban houses, flashes of temples, and then, suddenly, skyscrapers rising up like steel mountains. I stood there, clutching my luggage, watching the scenery like it was a movie I didn’t want to end.

“Shinjuku, Shinjuku” I heard over the train speakers. I looked down at my phone to confirm my directions. That was me. I got off the train, located the number of the exit I needed and effectively got off on the wrong one. Can it be fixed? Yes. Google maps works like a charm in Tokyo. Thank the google gods, and welcome to Japan. That was your initiation. Like 3 million people before you, you too got lost in the notoriously confusing Shinjuku Station.