Tokyo - Day 1

Because there are too many parts to the Tokyo trip, I am going to split them up here based on day (and maybe location).

Getting to Tokyo from Akita was... interesting to say the least. Around 7:30-ish on November 8th, a Thursday night, Heather and I got onto the bus to Wada Station (the train station) to go to Tokyo. First we had to go from AIU to Wada Station, Wada Station to Akita Station, Akita Station to Akita Station parking lot, then get onto the night bus (more about that) to arrive at Shinjuku, Shinjuku Station to Musashi Sakai Station, Musashi Sakai Station to ICU (International Christian University - the college Grace is studying at) bus, ICU bus to ICU, ICU to Grace's apartment. It was a long and confusing trip, it is was fun and worth it.

Heather and I sitting in the bus going from AIU to Wada Station

The INFAMOUS night bus

Don't be fooled by the looks of the chairs; they look comfy, but regardless of how well of a sleeper you are, night buses can over power that. Take it from me. The chairs are like the cake. IT'S A LIE!!!

A very sleepy Kelly before the bus started moving

At Shinjuku station, we ran into Petr (our friend from the Czech Republic). He also arrived on night bus, but not the same one as us.

Heather waiting at ICU... the following pictures are all from ICU

After we arrived to ICU, we waited for Grace to come pick us up. It was really nice seeing her once again and being able to hang out with her. For those of you who don't know, Grace was my roommate at my home college last year (2011-2012). Both of us decided to study abroad in Japan but at separate schools, so I miss her terribly. This was a nice reunion for us. ♥ When she took us back to her place, she had to run bike to her class as quickly as she can because she was showing us around the apartment first. She cooked rice for us in advanced, knowing we'd be hungry. She was a wonderful hostess! ♥ Heather and I had to register for classes back at UC while we were there. Once we registered for classes, we hung out for a bit then went out with Grace to HARD OFF, which is a used items store. On the way there, we saw some famous apartment buildings which I actually learned about in my class the semester prior to coming here! It was crazy because I recognized them instantly!

These buildings are called Reversible Destiny by an architecture named Shusaku Arakawa.

View of the Mikata sky from HARD OFF
After going to HARD OFF, we went to a Family Restaurant and had yummy foods and all you can drink soda. I, of course, love the Melon Soda here, so that was my choice of soda. But the all you can drink wasn't just for soda, it applied to juice and teas and iced teas as well, but I don't drink any of that. I did try the orange juice, but it was so watered down! It was like 10% orange juice 90% water. So gross!

After the Family Restaurant, we went back to Grace's apartment to chill out a bit before calling it a night and falling asleep on the futons she laid out.


TO BE CONTINUED...