Somehow being in Japan still feels like a dream to me…

In my mind now, I kept seeing this image of myself putting both my hands on top of my head and running around in circles shouting: “AHH! I’m in Japan!!”

やっと　日本へ　来て、とても　嬉しかったです！

Narita Airport’s Starbucks

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Awaiting to board the Narita Express Train to Shinjuku

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Narita Aiport -> Shinjuku -> Ikebukuro

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En Route to Shinjuku

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Shots of Old Buildings from the Train

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Lost in Direction

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Recycling Bin in Shinjuku Station

if there were more of such modern looking recycling bins in Singapore, maybe…

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My first experience with the Japan’s Railway system was even more orderly than I expected it to be. People will queue up into two straight lines behind the yellow line (like when we were lining up during our primary school days). When the train arrives, the two lines will shift to their respective sides - the left will shift left, the right will shift right AND they will wait for everyone to alight from the train before boarding the train.

After arriving at Shinjuku Station, we transferred to the Japan Rail (JR) Yamanote Line to Ikebukuro where we will be our first two nights before heading to Hokkaido…

AZ leading the way…

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The sky is the limit…

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In the end, both of us got lost and had to trouble this kind Japanese lady who lead us directly to the hotel, which was a small building cramped between two buildings.

Hotel New Star Ikebukuro

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And the Oterai (toilet)…

I am still fascinated with the number of functions they have for just a toilet bowl.

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After settling down into our hotel, we went back out onto the streets again to hunt for our first meal in Japan. And our first meal is…

AZ’s Katsu Don

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Hmm can’t recall what this set meal is called…

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Shiratama Cream Zenzai…

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Ikebukuro West

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Night life of Ikebukuro

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Cigerattes

Was quite surprised when we saw this…

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Streets lined up with Takushi..

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To sum up my first day, the subway system is not as complicated as many described it to be, food in Japan can be cheap and delicious and I simply love this place…