Arrival in Japan

After an easy check-in and a swift trip through passport control, we were ready to board our flight to Tokyo.

Security here works slightly differently… there’s the usual airport security at the entrance, but also another check at each individual gate.

There were quite a few families travelling and several I suspect had just come from Disney cruises. All the children near us were clearly exhausted… most of them were asleep before the plane had even taken off 😂

We were flying with Air Japan on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which turned out to be a very comfortable plane.

It even had fast charging ports and those clever electronic windows that dim automatically rather than using traditional shutters… very futuristic.

> Arrival in Tokyo

We actually landed early… which meant joining a very long queue for passport control 😂

Eventually through, we sorted out travel cards and some cash before heading for the train.

Our first Japanese train experience was the Keisei Skyliner, a sleek high-speed train heading into the city.

As we sped along, the scenery outside the window shifted between clusters of classic Japanese houses and stretches of rice paddies… the kind of landscape that looked like it had come straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.

> Shibuya

We dropped our bags briefly at Nippori station before catching another train into Shibuya for a couple of iconic Tokyo moments.

First up was the famous Shibuya Crossing.

And yes… it really is as chaotic as it looks 😂

Hundreds of people stream across from every direction, and the moment the crossing clears the crowds immediately start gathering again, ready for the next surge.

> Robots (Almost)

Alex had another treat planned… lunch at Pepper Parlor, where robots help serve customers.

Sadly they weren’t accepting walk-ins, and the booking system didn’t seem to cooperate.

Clearly fate had other plans.

Which actually turned out to be a good thing…

> Sakura Snacks

Instead we stopped at the Starbucks Shibuya Tsutaya, which overlooks the famous crossing.

From the window we could watch the constant flow of people below while enjoying some seasonal treats.

I tried a Sakura Saku Yo Latte along with a sakura and matcha doughnut… sweet, subtle and very delicious.

> Lunch

Lunch turned out to be excellent.

We found a small spot called Ramen and Yakimeshi Restaurant, where I ordered a bowl of egg ramen with extra kimchi.

Ordering was done via a QR code, where you can customise everything like broth type, noodle firmness and extra toppings

I chose a rich black soy broth, which was absolutely perfect… deep, savoury and incredibly satisfying.

> The Giant Cat

On the train back towards central Tokyo we made a quick stop to see another famous attraction…

The giant 3D cat billboard at Shinjuku.

Basically a cat popping out of a giant screen above a building.

It was so adorable.

I could easily have stood there for ages watching the adverts just to catch the few moments when the cat appears 😂

> Our Home in Tokyo

Eventually it was time to collect our bags back in Nippori before heading to the suburb of Edogawa, where our Airbnb awaited.

The house, called The Green House, is a traditional Japanese-style home.

There’s a lowered entrance area where you remove your shoes before stepping up into the living space.

Inside are:
• a kitchen and dining area
• a cosy lounge with a heated table and blanket
• beds laid out on the floor
• a separate toilet (with heated seat — why is this not standard in the UK?) with lots of mysterious buttons everywhere

My personal favourite feature was the sink built into the toilet cistern… when you flush, fresh water runs through the sink so you can wash your hands before filling the tank.

Simple. Logical. Water-saving.

Why don’t we do this everywhere?

> Dinner

After such a long day of travelling we decided to keep dinner simple and stopped by the local 7-Eleven.

Convenience store food in Japan is on another level 🍱

If I lived here, I suspect this could easily become a regular dinner option.Read more