The day started way earlier than it should have – my alarm was set for 6.00am in Tokyo – just enough time to wash, dress, check out, grab my bags and get over to Shinjuku station for the 7am Super Azusa bound for Matsumoto. But my body clock had other ideas and decided I was getting up at 5am whether I liked it or not – no amount of trying could get me back off to sleep. So up it was, and I was grateful for the instant white coffees that I shoved in my bag in case of caffeine-deprivation emergencies, because green tea just wasn't going to cut it.
While I was drinking it, I watched the ominous clouds over the office buildings of Shinjuku and sure enough, within minutes the heavens opened and stair-rods of rain descended on the immediate area. It hadn't eased up when I went down to the lobby to check out, and while the receptionist offered to order me a taxi to make the short trip to the station, it wasn't her lucky day as all lines were engaged to the seven companies she tried.
Fortunately, this is where living in the North of England becomes an advantage, because after waiting for 5 minutes until a slight lull in the downpour I just womanned up and set off with bags in tow, calmly resigned to getting wet. And get wet I did, not that it bothered me particularly because by my standards it was quite pleasantly warm despite the gusting wind that whipped around the Southern Terrace complex outside the station. Sure I was soaked at the end of the 3-4 minute walk, but actually I felt a lot better for the experience as it banished any trace of lingering tiredness.
The train was already in the station, and a helpful guard (who tried but did not quite manage to avoid looking at me in a “what is this crazy foreigner soaked to the skin” way) pointed me to the correct platform, so I ended up being 20 minutes early. I had allowed extra time for getting lost in Shinjuku station, you see – but this time I didn't need it. It did come in handy for allowing me time to dry off naturally, before boarding the train though, which was nice.
It also allowed time for a very alarmed looking lady to rush over to me and offer to give me her umbrella, clearly under the misapprehension that I had been caught unawares, and between my lack of Japanese and her lack of English it took a fair bit of comedic pantomime to explain to her that I couldn't manage both bags and a brolly, to which she laughed and conceded that “eh, that's life”. It was a fun little exchange and I did thank her profusely for the offer (I even risked a bow) and then we parted ways and I hopped on the train ready for the real start of my Japan travels.
More photos from the latter part of the brief Tokyo stay:
- Shinjuku from my window before the rain set in
- Vending machines are everywhere
- Super Azusa at the station
Today's song: Porcupine Tree - Trains
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