First impressions of Japan

Arrived late night into Narita airport on the 5th of June. Booked a couple of nights at the Shinagawa Prince hotel. Since we arrived late at night, we just booked the Airport Limousine Bus, which took us straight to our hotel. It cost 3,000 yen, and that included an all day metro pass to use the next day. Everything is really efficient in Japan. Baggage claim was a breeze, and the bus was exactly on schedule. The queue and organization was just a sneak peek of what was to come in Tokyo.

Since we arrived late night, the only thing open was McDonald's. Although I hate to admit it, I do enjoy trying the fast food chain in other countries. They always have something specific to the country. We had a Filet o Ebi (which is shrimp) and a Chicken Katsu (marinated fried chicken pattie). In the Philippines, they had an Adobo burger.

Hotel room was a little small, but big by Japanese standards. Toilets are suuper high tech, most complete with seat warmer, bidet, sanitizer, and sometimes music to mask any "sounds.". I did have an interesting incident though. Not knowing which button was to flush, I pressed the wrong button and sprayed myself in the face!! Ha. These high tech toilets are the western toilets and van be found all over the place, but squat toilets are still around in places like temples or parks.

In the morning, we stopped by a convenience stores. There is 7-11, amongst others, and have your usual items, but also an array of premade food that's is actually fresh and delicious. You can get fresh cold noodle sets/salads with soba/ramen/udon or rice balls with seaweed called "o nigiri" which translates to "hand food.". Packaging is always ingenious and is easy to open and/or comes with chopsticks, or "hashii."

Vending machines are everywhere and can contain evfy beverage imaginable from water and ice coffee to tea and vitamin drinks. Some even carry hot drinks, signified by a red label. Some vending machines sell other items like food and even toiletries, but you will mostly find beverages.

Japan is very clean. There is virtually no litter. Although, it is hard to find a trash or recycling bin, I think this somehow makes people not litter? Also, the recycling bins are extremely organized, separating everything.

For the most part, everything makes sense and is logical in Japan. Even though I don't speak Japanese, i can figure most things out...,,except for that first experience with the toilet:).