[2nd day Japan] Heartwarming Welcome From Japan

This is a story about the 2nd day I was in Japan, Dec 4th 2014.

There were so many new things I found there, from super-complicated rail system, beautiful creek, Japanese Park to warm coffee shop. The second day was actually the first day that I really felt Japan. As I can say, I only spent my first day in Haneda airport.

I didn't sleep at all at Haneda airport. If I calculated the times, I hadn't slept for almost 2 days! My last time for sleeping was in Portland, US. Eventhough I didn't feel sleepy at all, my body was so tired. Eventhough I want to take a rest, part of me always said,"Hey! Don't waste your time here by sleeping!". OMG! I really regretted that I didn't sleep on my 12 hours flight from California to Tokyo! Do you want to know why? Read this, the story about my first day in Japan. 

Jane recomendation route to go to
Tama Station from Haneda. 

My plan was to meet Jane, my Indonesian friend who lives in Tokyo. She is a first year student of UTFS (University Tokyo of Foreign Student).  She is my junior at Lawalata-IPB in Bogor. We agreed to meet at Tama Station - Asahi Cho, just around 10 minutes walking from her apartment inside the campus. She already  told me about the route for me to get there. I need to change the train and transit for several times. And it was really confusing.

Japanese Rail System

It was 5.17, the first monorail from Haneda to Tokyo. Actually, there are other option for public transportation from the airport, by bus or taxi. But, train is cheaper and it feels just like Japan, isn't it? That's why I chose it.   I saw the gate was opened. At 5:00 I went to ticket machine to purchase the ticket. The ticket machine was really a new thing for me. There's a button with for English instruction but I still had problem with it. I didn't know at all how to purchase it! Luckily, I met a young boy who was also buying ticket. He helped me to buy my first ticket train. It was 700 Yen from Haneda to Tokyo Station.

I need to purchase another ticket from Tokyo Station to use another rail company: JR Lines. It is the biggest and the most expensive company in Japan. It also runs the Shinkansen, the famous bullet train. I was looking for ticket machine when I saw a middle-aged woman, looked like a traveller, then I asked her about the ticket machine. Lucky! She speaks English. I forget her name, but I still remember she is from Thailand. She was really kind! She helped me to find the ticket machine, bought it, and even accompanied me to the next transit. It was helpful because I have 2 big luggages with me. She also helped me to carry one of those bag.

JR Line ticket machine

The Thailand lady told me that it was her second/third time visited Japan. She told me that Japanese were very kind and helpful. "It is always confusing at first but you will used to it. Japanese are kind. Ask them anything and they will help you.", she said. Then, I arrived at the Kanda station, time to say goodbye to the Thailand lady. See you next time! (Actually, I already noted her email address but it doesn't work. T_T).

It took 40 minutes from Kanda station to the next stop, Musashi-Sakai Station.  Rush hour hadn't started yet but it was already full of people. After arrived at Musashi-Sakai,  the next line was the last line. I tried to find the ticket machine for the local train 'Seibu Tamagawa line'. It was not easy to find it. I asked a japanese woman about it and of course with Eigo (English). I bet that she understood what I meant but it was difficult for her to say it. She pointed a direction outside the JRLine gate and said 'sumimasen' - sorry for several times. I got it! Then I bought a ticket for Tama Station. It was ¥350. I waited for about 5 minutes the train came. Tama Station is the 4th station from Musashi Sakai.

Phone box and Convenient Store are the best thing for traveler. 

Finally I arrived at Tama Station. I called Jane from a phone box near the station. I don't have cellphone to contact her and my smartphone was off, so the best option was to call her by public phone. In every station, you can find public phone with minimum charge of ¥100. It was helpful for me while I was there. While I was waiting, I saw a group of kids, high school students, and salarimen/women (worker) who were in hurry went to the train station. Rush hour! Jane picked me up then. OMG! I was really happy to see her. It had been almost 1 year since the last time I saw her. And we're ready go to Jane's apartment. I bought some frozen food from Familymart or just call it Famima, beside the station.

I had breakfast in Jane's room. We took a lot of times to chat. I really enjoyed chat with her. That time, she was busy with the exam in TUFS. I think, she studied too hard. Ha ha.. She is very diligent. Instant coffee that I bought from Famima prevented me to sleep. I almost forgot that I hadn't slept for almost 2 days. I didn't feel jet lag at all! I took my time in Jane's room for several hours, relaxed and did nothing but laid around on bed.

Fuji Mt from Jane's room. 

At 14:00, I asked Jane to go for sightseeing around Asahi Cho. There were 2 places I wanted to see that afternoon, which are Nogawa Creek and Osawa Ryokuchi Park. I borrowed Jane's Iphone. I need the maps application for my direction. Nogawa Creek is one of the nearest creeks and the park just next to it.  I walked around 25 minutes until arrived at the bridge beyond a creek, Nogawa Creek. I was so happy back then, the first water flow I met in Japan! Wow! Seems like I really fell in love with the river. 

Nogawa Creek is one of the river that flows into Tama river and will end in Tokyo Bay. Tama River is one of the class 1 rivers in Japan which means that it is very important. The water was clear and looked fresh. Next to the creek there is a park with many trees. It was almost winter but the leaves still looked yellow in many parts. It was so beautiful. It made my heart warm for a while. I saw a bird, I didn't know exactly what it was, maybe It was a kind of stork or heron. It played with water flow. To see a bird play in the creek like that is an unusual view for me. I was so happy for some reasons. :)

Nogawa Creek and Osawa Ryoukuchi Park

A bird in Nogawa Creek.

Next to the creek, there's a park called Osawa Ryoukuchi Park. The park was just like what I've imagined so far for a Japanese park. Although it was not that huge but the atmosphere was really peaceful. I heard the sound of the birds, water and the wind flow. I didn't take much time in the park because it was getting cold. I didn't need a cost to visit this park. It was free. :)

Osawa Ryoukuchi Park 

A boy statue in Osawa Ryoukuchi Park

A long the way home, I observed many things like the style of the houses, gardens, road, shops, the people passed by, traffic, etc. Everything was a new thing for me and I was very excited to see them. Somehow, it is difficult to describe all of them one by one. Instead of it, I would like to describe them with the photos but unfortunately, I didn't take lots of photos. :( 

Pedestrian beyond Nogawa Creek

I stopped by at 7-11 convenient store to buy some snacks. I was still shy to speak Japanese so I talked with English. The guy of 7-11 understood me quite well. "Sank you", he said. It is a sounds like Thank You for Japanese. I used to hear it a lot in drama!

Coffee Shop is just the best thing in the evening!

I felt I need to go to a nice place and enjoy  a cup of hot coffee as a special gift to my self, just to relax and enjoy the time. After take a walk for more than half an hour, I decided to find a coffee shop nearby. I found a coffee shop named Kettle Coffee Shop and Restaurant near Tama Station. Without hesitation, I entered that warm room filled with the smell of coffee. I loved it!

World is just so nice to me. I feel like I was still in Wonderland, a dream land that I thought was over. But then, I realized that everywhere is a dreamland. You just need a little more imagination to see the magic in everyplace.

A cup of Amerikano - an American coffee, a small warm place, a rack of manga, oversea's souvenirs, a small pack of mix nuts, they were just perfect that evening. The owner, a couple husband and wife were very lovely. They're look so cute together. With strangers I never met before, I felt very comfortable. We chat about cliche things: about life and love. Ha ha...  With Japanese and English, we had a very nice chat. I felt like I was not stranger there. You know what, it was so familiar for me. That situation was not strange or awkward. It's 'Dorama Effect'! :D

That day was the birthday of the wife and they gave special treat for the guest, a small cup of 'Sake'. If you visit Japan and you do not try Sake, then I would like to say that you waste your chance. No offense. Ha ha ha... The birthday sake was so good. It was so sweet. "Amai", they said. I like sweet sake though. 

There was also a lady there. The owner introduced me to her and the four of us had a nice chat. The owner gave me gifts, a beautiful calendar and a set of new year chopsticks. Ureshii. I was so happy! I really enjoyed the time in the shop. I really wanted to visit it again next time.

New Year chopstick I received from Kettle Coffee shop

It was almost 19:30 when I went back to Jane's apartment. She was still studying with her friend. I had dinner, took a bath, made plan for the next day, and went to sleep. The second day in Japan was awesome. I learn  a lot of new things and met new people. I found a part of my self that I didn't know before. It might be cold outside but in my heart, everything was so warm inside. 

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