Landing in Tokyo, Japan (April 1st, 2022)

The Wandering Begins Right Here in Japan! 

    

My official wandering within Japan began on April 1st, 2022 (and it was no joke let me tell ya something 😂). After a long 15 hour flight from my hometown of Chattanooga, TN, USA, I landed at Haneda Airport on the westside of Tokyo, Japan. It felt weird to walk within the terminal, moving along to each checkpoint, and communicating with the Japanese airport employees. Unfortunately with the Covid-19 procedures, VISA paperwork involved, and playing the life-draining waiting game, it temporarily put my gratitude and humbleness on hold until I got out of the airport and into the outside world (or what I've been waiting for a big part of my life) of Japan. 

Practicality in Japan

• When you are receiving your resident card, you have the option to apply for a work permit. 
• Depending which VISA you applied for: a typical exchange-student visa requires you to renew your visa every 6 months (unless you are planing to stay within Japan for more than one year).
• If you decide to work later or need to renew your VISA during your stay in Japan, you can visit a Tokyo Regional Immigrations Services Bureau within selected prefectures so you don't need to travel all the way back to Tokyo. Here is their website www.isa.go.jp/en/about/region/tokyo/

• For Ibaraki University Exchange Students: 310-0061 Mito Legal Affairs Joint Government Bldg. 1F, 1-1 Kitamicho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture

At the time, it was quite confusing having to navigate through this complex train system, but luckily for me a few kind 日本人 (Nihonjin => people of Japanese descent) and airport employees stepped in to assist me to reach my destination to 水戸駅 (mito eki => Mito Station) safely and on time. Being the dazed foreigner, I then felt reassured to know there are people in Japan who will go out of their way to assist you in a time of need so you can continue going about on your day. 

Complete JR East Route Map

(Shown above is the transit map for the Greater Tokyo Area and extended JR East railways.)

The jet-lag would have to wait to hit me hard the next day, because I was way too excited looking at all the surreal yet scenic city views of the Greater Tokyo Area while riding my first Japan Railways train. 

Practicality in Japan

• Best Public Transportation app: "NAVITIME" is my recommendation when needing a GPS for  public transits here in Japan. It's user-friendly and has been really accurate to the transit times, trip costs, and locations of either forms of public transportation. 

• Additionally, www.japantravel.navitime.com, shows helpful ideas for future trips and events you can attend during your stay in Japan. 

• Obtaining an IC card: when it's your first time traveling by でんしゃ (densha => electric train) at a JR (Japan Railways) station, you can purchase a rechargeable, pre-paid card called an "IC card". Depending on which prefecture you're living in, you can pick one up easily at a ticket machine. A new IC card costs ¥500 (which is refundable once you don't need it anymore) and can be used in multiple places, in and outside of the JR stations like convenience stores (but cannot be used for Shinkansen bullet trains unfortunately).

• For the Kantō Region area: Suica/PASMO are technically the same IC card, but supposedly PASMO is better suited for the Tokyo Metropolitan area.

• Linked below is a simple video (by JapanesePod101) on how to fully utilize an IC card,  Suica/PASMO Guided Video.

• Japanesepod101.com creates excellent and easy to follow content (on YouTube and ) covering a wide amount of aspects about the Japanese culture and language.

• For more information about IC cards, check out the official website at www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my first article. 

Until next time my Wanderers 。。。

じゃまた ✌

どうもありがとございます (dōmo arigatōgozaimasu => thank you so very much) (polite phrase)

じゃあまた（Jaa mata => see you later) (casual phrase amongst friends and family)