It’s now 2am and Scott and I are awake after only getting  6 hours of sleep.  Gotta wake up and have Onigiri which we picked up at a Lawson at Narita airport.

Combini, or Convenience Stores have all kinds of services.  You can learn about them in this episode of Being Japanology.  The snacks they have are just awesome, and yes they’re going to totally derail me from my diet.

A few things stand out from the rush of getting from Narita to Ebisu, for me.

• The work uniform!  Everyone is almost wearing the same thing.  A white button down shirt, dark trousers – typically black.  I knew to expect this, but still, seeing it in person is another thing.
• The crowds going through Tokyo Station is ordered chaos.  It’s quite neat to see how it all works.  And if you mess up, no one gives you attitude, or at least I didn’t notice it.
• Lining up to go up an escalator and standing/walking on the appropriate side just seems to work beautifully here.  I can only describe it as a very zen experience.  You wait your turn and chill out.  There’s no rush, everyone is going in the same direction, etc…  I like it!
• Every station stop on the Yamanote line plays a different tune when you arrive.  It’s awesome.
• Despite being in the country 3 hours, travelling on two modes of transit (N’EX and Yamanote – essentially airport express train and subway), I only picked up one StressPass on my Nintendo 3DS!  I’ll check Near on my PS Vita shortly.
• Onigiri is not that difficult to open, if you understand the instructions. *GRIN*  For the record, I did it correctly and it was tasty!
• Yes I am a foot taller than everyone on the Yamanote line that I saw, but it didn’t phase me as much as some people thought it would.  Maybe later today when we hit Akiba, Shinjuku or Shibuya it will.  *shrugs*

“It’s the Amazing Race Iain and Scott style! Our contestants must check in and fly to Narita on Air Canada’s 787-8, where they will be wined and dined to their hearts content. Finally they must make their way through Tokyo and check in to their hotel to get their next clue.”

18 years after starting to talk about it, we’re finally here!  Scott’s first time in 20+ years back in Japan!

Firstly, what a fantastic flight!  AC1 YYZ direct to NRT on a 787!  The engines are quiet, the service was amazing in Business Class.  What more could we have asked for?  A painless 13 hour flight, for sure!

Both Scott and I opted for the Japanese meal for both dinner and breakfast (noodles), and Dim Sum mid-flight.  Yes!  Several achievements were unlocked

• Octopus on board – Yes, I had octopus in my dinner
• Keiseki on a plane – The presentation, for airline food, was gorgeous
• Dim sum on a plane – Tasty!
• Slippers on a plan – Nice touch!

Once we arrived, we stopped briefly to pick up our wifi hot spot and we were soon on our way to Ebisu (aka Yebisu) via… N’Ex to Tokyo Station.

Rather than going to Shibuya, Scott decided to book us to Tokyo station, and then take the Yamanote line to Ebisu… In rush hour traffic.  Okay, we count that as an achievement.

• Taking Yamanote Line with baggage at rush hour

We won’t be doing that again!

Our first hotel is The Westin Tokyo, which we had changed from the Sheraton Miyako.

At this hotel, when you’re SPG Platinum, you don’t check in on the main lobby.  Oh no, you check in on the 17th floor at the club lounge.

All I can say is, wow.  The room is gorgeous.  We’re in a great area of Tokyo with a view of Tokyo Tower.

What’s up for the next leg of the race?  Stay tuned and you’ll see.  For now, here are some pictures: