My First Day in Japan

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

I remember my first day in Japan when we finally arrived after a thirteen-hour flight at Narita airport. At that moment, we did not really realize how far Narita airport was from Tokyo and how long it would take us to arrange everything we needed (wifi, JR cards, passport control, etc.). More than two hours later and totally overtired, we could take the bus to Tokyo. A headache was kicking in and we still had a long way to overcome before our heads could finally hit the pillow. Later on, realizing that there was no pillow at all, only a very thin futon in a two-by-two tatami room. To save up some money (Tokyo is quite expensive) we parted with our comfort and the chance of normal sleep, by booking one of the cheapest hostels near Asakusa.

In the evening we went for a walk in the neighborhood to see the new environment surrounding us. I felt out of place in this fast and crowded city. My mood was dim and we had not yet discovered the beautiful place of Asakusa. We wandered around, visited the 7-Eleven for the first time, and then returned to our tiny room.

The next morning, when I woke up, there was light in my mind again. Thank God… I felt like myself and the jetlag was gone. That was when I discovered for the first time how jetlag can manipulate your view of the surroundings and your mood. Outside, we walked the same route as last night, but everything seemed different and unfamiliar. As if I never walked there before. Japan was magical again and I could not wait to start our adventure!

This was my first time experiencing jetlag, hopefully, I will be able to teleport next time to this amazing country.