Travelling Lady

I arrived in Tokyo several days ago. I am here visiting my daughter. I have visited once before but last time I was based in rural Japan.

Because my daughter was working I navigated the Narita Express (the fast train from the airport into Tokyo) on my own. It was quite an experience with a few mishaps along the way but I made it to Shibuya station. Once there I had to find the Hachiko exit. This exit has a statue of a dog called Hachiko who waited faithfully for his master at the station every work day. Even after his master died he maintained a daily watch at the station for his master who never came again. The true story has been made into an  emotionally moving movie.

I found the sign saying Hachiko exit but true to my geographically challenged self I could not find where exactly I should go and instead found myself on a train platform. It was then I started engaging the locals with a combination of sign language and the email from my daughter I clutched that had a written description of the Starbucks we were meeting at. Three encounters later I was on my way.

I could not work out how to use my ticket to exit the station through the automatic gates. Eventually an elderly gentleman and i had a conversation whereby he spoke in Japanese and waved his ticket and I used body language and mind messages to shadow him closely as he exited the barrier. Bear in mind that I was dragging a large and unwieldy suitcase behind me. I made it through still clutching my ticket and no doubt have made the list of wanted criminals in Japan.

My adventure was not over as I then had to cross what is known as "The Crossing" to find my way to one of the busiest Starbucks in the world. Of course I made it and my mission now is to learn one new word of Japanese a day.

I shall keep you posted and will add some photographs soon.