Start of a fabled trip!
Yes, it the first image is a drab view of a grey morning outside the window of a Polaris Lounge at Terminal 6: LAX on purpose! I find it ironic the amount of time I spend at different Polaris lounges. It reminds me of the Tom Hanks movie, Terminal. A low key movie that both my wife and I enjoy and watched it together and separately many times. I hope this upcoming trip goes smoothly.
Alright! I am heading to Japan. I have always wanted to visit since I started playing Pokemon but never did. There are so many various levels of connections I feel with Japan that it’s crazy that I haven’t visited Japan yet, especially considering the amount of travel that I do.
So, I have turned on some appropriate music while i write this quick post. Average Americans are loud, yes, especially considering Japanese people people, and yes even at a airport lounge. They are especially loud when they travel in a group. Yes, I know it is a broad generalization, but it’s true. So I needed headphones to write this post. :)
With that said, as I have seated comfortably, let us talk about the general plan. I will try to do this Japan trip following the same model of the recent Switzerland trip. I am again traveling with a backpack only, but I have taken a laptop. Although I will try to write as much as I can from my phone. Similar to what I did during the last trip.
I will be mostly traveling by train once I get there. I have purchased a 14-day JR pass which covers most of the trains. At 11,000 Yen, it is neither cheap nor convenient like the Swiss Travel Pass, but it is what it is. The most inconvenient part is that you still must get tickets for individual train journeys. Unlike the STP in Switzerland where you get a QR code and never have to purchase another ticket again. The ticket collector just scans your QR code. So right off the bat, Japan is a bit behind. :)
I plan to travel up and down the country quite a bit. That means there will be a lot of long days on Shinkansen, the bullet train, as I used to know them. Yes, I have seen the movie, both the recent Brad Pit one and the legacy one. I like the recent one better. :)
With that I am going to wrap up this post. My LAX-NRT flight is in 20 minutes and I better get to my gate! Next post will be from the land of the rising Sun!
Hope you have a nice trip! I've also been to japan recently and I'll definitely need to go again. So much to see and I really like the japanese culture.
Don't know if you already know about this, but if you're traveling by train a lot I think you should definitely check out Eki Stamps.
They're beautiful stamps with unique designs that can be found at train stations. They often represent some aspect of local culture or landmarks.
On my trip a bought a notebook to collect them all in. Probably my favorite souvenir I brought from the trip.
Also a cool way to keep track of the different stops of a trip.
Yes. I have heard about Eki stamps.
I'm excited for you, and looking forward to your tales. I've always wanted to go, but can't really see myself affording it. It's not on Jamie's bucket list either, so I'd have to go on my own - fuck it, maybe I will.
I find myself using noise cancelling headphones all the time when I travel. It's the only way I can deal with the noise - the plane engines, the music, the people. It's the ultimate filter.
Japan is closer to you compared to me. So I say get on with it! We are only getting older. And no matter what Hindu mythology says, there is only one life. :)
I know, it's totally freaking me out. Money is an issue too. I know we have one life. But then when we're dead, we won't remember what we didn't do.
😇
Have a great trip, Japan is a place I really want to return to. Hope your try at learning the language went well and you manage to use some in conversation!
If I get there should be good. Still stuck at LAX:) Joys of traveling!
I hope you have a safe trip and an awesome time! I have never been to an airport lounge. I always have to sit with the plebians in general pop!
Started awesome. De-planed two times already! :)
That doesn't sound very awesome to me!
Look forward to seeing what you get up to in Japan. And don't forget to check out the famous bento boxes on the train
コンビニの弁当
lol
Bento boxes at convenience store :)
Nah, get the ones at the JR station or even on the train.
You landed already?
Haven't left LAX yet :) Flight delayed
Safe travels! I'll be looking forward to reading your impressions!
Flight delayed :)
It will be a really long day of travel for you.
Have fun in Japan! Are you a fan of sushi?
I love sushi
Sounds like a suitable weeb-adventure :)
Will see :)
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Not a generalization, but a deduction based on a vast majority of encounters. US Americans are incredibly loud. Even the Canadian expats here notice that, and they're no wind chimes, either.
Anyway, I wish you a great trip and hopefully the Duolingo part will come in handy, not like for the guy in the video you posted the other day :-D Will try to stay vigilant for the travel reports :-)
You have such a nice way of bringing us on the trip with you. I'm looking forward to (hoping for) daily updates.
My daughter went to Japan maybe 19, maybe 20 years ago. She and her husband were performers (dancers) and they took their daughter with them. She was a baby. That baby traveled all over the world:)
I'll try to find pictures. She was very good about sending me pictures as she traveled so I could share the experience.
Have a great time. I remember they were impressed with the people and the trains, especially.
楽しんでください！
Yes I agree