Literally. I knew I was not going to understand much, but being faced with it is a different thing…

I landed and it all went smooth through immigration and customs. My host Sugi had mailed me instructions for different ways to get into the city, as the airport is 60 km outside of Tokyo.

I took the bus, I was tired and din’t want to start navigating the train and subway system with my luggage right away.

There’s a bus that goes to the main hotel chains in Tokyo, and I’m in walking distance to the Westin, so that was the best option. It took two hours to get into the city and to my hotel, but it was already an interesting first impression.

I was at my place around 7.30. Sugi had deposited the keys and I let myself in. I’m in a more quiet area in Mita, in the Meguro district of Tokyo. I walked through a number of tiny quiet streets with lots of smaller houses.

All modern, but you can guess what old Tokyo might have looked like. Around me it’s mostly smaller houses, probably housing several families, but no big apartment blocks.

My place is more spacious than I had expected. One room with a futon, two cushions to sit on, a TV. Plus a kitchen in the entry and a small bathroom. This will do fine.

I went out for a little walk in the area in the evening, passing a number of restaurants, bars… I wasn’t really hungry, but a little noodle soup would do, I thought.

In the end, I just went into a supermarket and bought something to drink and a couple of rice triangles that looked vegetarian (they were). But I’ll have trouble identifying the vegetarian stuff here.

I was tired after the long trip, and the four hour time difference also played a part, so I was in bed at 10, and slept like a baby till 6.

In the morning it was raining, so I unpacked and then walked to Meguro station in search for a supermarket. People here are friendly, but busy. The women look elegant, chic, but tough, the men mostly wearing suits… even with a sometimes wild haircut.

Passing the local Subaru dealer, I witnessed a morning meeting of the staff, all standing in a big circle in the garage, suited and blue-collar employees all together, and probably wishing each other a good morning or lots of success for Subaru.

I got my Suica card for local transport and even managed to charge it (all on the automated vending machine) so I now can navigate the Tokyo train, bus and metro network. I also could pay my coffee with it – it’s also accepted in a lot of stores.

The supermarket I had spotted was still closed while I walked into it, causing some confusion, lots of smiles, bows and explanations. As I came back it was open so I got my first groceries shopping done: Rice, noodles, veggies, muesli, the usual stuff…

It will continue to rain, so I guess I will visit Tokyo’s Museum of Photography in the afternoon, it’s right around the corner.