Day 1, 5am England

Started the day by 5am to catch my first plane at Southampton. Luckily, I had no problems finding the long stay car park and had plenty of time to sit and have a coffee. The airport is very small, so it wasn’t busy.

Smooth flight from Southampton to Paris – Orly. Found my bags and hopped on the shuttle bus to Paris – Charles de Gualle. I was feeling very pleased with myself as I had imagined it was going to be much harder than it really was. I had imagined travelling on my own would be difficult but so far, it had been a breeze.
I took this chance to write some messages to friends while I was still in Europe. When I arrived at CDG, I rang my Mother to let her know I made it safely and on time for my flight to Japan.

Quickly grabbed lunch and then waited in the lobby for my flight. I clearly saw lots of Japanese people waiting for the same flight as me, which I knew was a good sign I wasn’t lost.

11 hours it was going to take, but by this point, I was so relieved that I had made, that I was starting to get excited about my trip!

The time flew by. It was my first long flight, so I was surprised how comfortable everything was.
We had little touch screens on the back of the seats. The was an option to check the progress of our journey, so I was often looking at that. We had gone as high as 39,000 feet.
Of course the were movies too. No flight would complete without watching the first Die Hard.

Day 1, 8:15am Japan
I had a few hours sleep on the plane. At this point, I had been travelling form almost 19 hours but the day was only getting started.

From Narita Airport, Japan. I breezed through customs, hired a mobile phone and hopped onto the train heading for Tokyo.

I was just awe struck as I stares at the scenery outside of the train windows. Everything was so different. The roads, cars, buildings, trees, fields… All seemed completely strange compared to home – but the again, everything I saw was so realistically close to things I had seen in anime.

Tokyo. The big city. I had pulled into Shinjuku. One of the biggest train stations. Thankfully most signs have both Japanese and English written on them. So I easily found my way out.
Now, I was stuck. I had forgotten to print a map to the accommodation and my iPhone was now useless… So I gathered some courage to ask where to get a Taxi.
The Taxi dropped me outside the door. Nice and simple.
I checked in and was given useful advice at the reception.
Now I just to brave the subway/train system to meet my friend at Kichijoji…
I’m lost. Did not take me long. Was so confused… Blankly staring at a map figuring how to get to the next station.
Finally I manage to change at Shinjuku after asking at the help desk.
It’s almost 2pm and Mark and his wife Kyoko gladly meet me at Kichijoji for lunch. They decide to take me to one of their favourite noodle bars :)
I was so happy! Everything looked just the way it should and the staff cheerfully greeted you as you entered, shouting ‘Saimasen!’ (meaning ‘Welcome’).

After filling our bellys with very tasty noodles. Kyoko headed back for work but Mark showed me around town and told me about the Japan lifestyle.
We went to shops, walked down high streets and pointed out landmarks. We took the path down to the park.
A massive park that existed in the middle of the city that was quiet and had a big pond in the middle of it.
We decided to cut through to the other side by walking through the local Zoo.
After walking around there for a bit, we visited a karaoke bar to get the Japanese experience.
After an hour of some manly singing. We walked the streets once more before Mark kindly showed me back to the station.

7.05pm I had arrived back at my hostel. Totally exhausted from the days excitement but I hadn’t called it quits yet.
Quick shower and I was back out again. This time, I was going to Shibuya.
Shibuya is living centre for young modern people. Full of big names and well dressed people – and also famous for the the enormous zebra crossing that is often featured on tv. Hundreds of people that cross when the man turns green.
I stared at the buildings and electronic signs before wondering back to station for the end of the night.