Today I’m posting from Tokyo and I feel very happy because I will stay at least until August in Japan. Later I will tell you about my return from Korea… Now I will write about some things that happened in February, my first days in Tokyo!!!!
The arrival was a bit of a rush and very tiring as well. The journey from Costa Rica was heavy and when I finally arrived at Narita Airport I had to take a bus and 2 trains to get to my host family’s house. Murano-San was waiting for me at the airport and he took my very first picture in Japan with an ICYE Japan sign :)
The next days I was adapting to the new circumstances, even the way they use toilets here is a bit different and if you don’t know which button to press you could really make a disaster! Also I had to learn how to use one of the most confusing and crowded train systems in the world!
My host family was incredibly nice!!! Always helping me in anything they could and I felt great the first days with Murano-San’s family!
Thanks to ICYE I could met a lot of nice people here. We visited very nice sightseeing spots that you don’t want to miss in Tokyo. Special thanks to Akemi Kasai, she helped me a lot in my first days in Japan. Here are some photos with people I met in ICYE and when I had my first sushi in Shibuya…
On the first week I also visited the dreamed place of almost every gamer, anime otaku, geek, etc… Akihabara!!!! I had nice ramen that day and took this video as soon as I got out the station…
Akihabara is really impressive, eventually you can see some cosplayers and there are a lot of stores with anime goods, videogames, collectibles, maid cafes, electronic stuff, etc!!! On weekends the main avenue is closed for cars and a lot of people comes here, is very nice to have a walk in this avenue on a sunny Saturday or Sunday!
Another must here is Shibuya!! Haruka was with me on my second or third visit to the place and I took this video on one of the world’s most famous streets!! I have to thank Haruka a lot, she guided me all the way!! We took a look around, drunk some coffee at Starbuck’s and just stayed there watching the landscape, people, etc!! Impressive Shibuya!!!
Another places I visited with the exchanges (Sabina and Jan) and some other friends from ICYE where Asakusa and some gardens near Tokyo Dome, this was part of the sightseeing cultural program. Sadly we couldn't ride the rollercoaster (closed because of a fatal accident) but I had a great time!
We also went to an international festival near Odawara Castle and to the castle as well… Very impressive, the weather was very cold because it was mid winter but the landscape here was great, here some shots and a video…
After spending 22 days in Tokyo and participating in cultural activities from ICYE, meeting people, getting used to the train system and walking a lot for sightseeing, I took a plane for Hokkaido where I started my volunteer program and from
this post you can see what’s been going on this excellent months, it was worth the long wait!!! :D
Lastly, here are some pictures from my neighborhood in Tokyo and 2 videos: one from my room’s window and the other showing the way to the nearest train station…
Now I have to sleep because is like 1 AM and I’m tired!
I hope you are having an excellent time!!! :)
