As Thomas returns to work, the first week flies by. He has given me as much explanation as possible, so that I should now be able to confidently travel alone in Tokyo, the big city.
This week I met the person who supports us with the administrative hassle surrounding our emigration and integration in Japan. Without her help it would have been truly impossible. Together we went out one morning to apply for a SIM card, arrange my registration at the town hall and she showed me the way in the local supermarkets.
Hot weather in Tokyo
During my arrival week it remained warm as ever. The oppressive heat and high humidity make the environment between the skyscrapers even warmer. Our apartment is just a 5-minute walk from the metro station, depending on the traffic lights. Everyone here adheres to the rules, patiently waiting for the green light. Sometimes you are lucky and can move quickly when a green wave follows. I have to remind myself to stay disciplined and with my Dutch impatience that is not always easy.
Taking the subway for the first time
Okay, on to the subway! I’m trying to remember what Thomas explained to me. Our metro station has two entrances. Through one entrance you can use different train lines, while the other entrance is intended for the green Yamanote line. This line actually follows a circular route, meaning that if you fall asleep, you just have to wait until you get back to the point where you should have gotten off. So getting lost on this line is almost impossible. Of course I immediately walk to the wrong entrance and due to the emotions of jet lag and all the new experiences, I quickly feel lost in the crowd of people. It was also rush hour, which further enhanced the hectic atmosphere in the underground maze of railway lines. I considered several options. Should I call Thomas for help? However, I felt it was unnecessary to disturb him at work. Would I ask someone nearby for help? Yet the Japanese do not offer help on their own, because they consider it rude. Finally, I decided to take a moment to orient myself and learn to survive in this hectic environment. To add some drama to the story, I’m exaggerating a bit here.
Finally I found the right entrance, bought a ticket and took the metro to the next station, just to try it out. The fact that I sweated profusely, took a considerable amount of time to get a ticket from the machine, with a line of people behind me who would probably be late for work because of my procrastination, and had to overcome my fear of crowded subways. rather undiscussed here. From Ebisu I followed a route described in my travel guide.
Are you curious about my other experiences in Tokyo? Then read the next post!
