Today’s adventure began with attempting to get from the Morgan’s home in Soubudai City to Haneda Airport. According to our research on trains, it was going to take about four transfers. First I had to get to the closest transfer station, then hop onto a different line’s express to Yokohama and finally, switch to the direct line to the airport.
Well, according to our notes, I was supposed to switch from Odakyu-sen to JR Sagami-sen. That required running between two stations with my luggage. However, when I arrive the map was only in kanji and I didn’t know how Yokohama was written. After purchasing the supposed proper ticket, I spent ten minutes on the platform realizing that I was in the wrong place. Thankfully, I knew enough Japanese to ask for a refund on my ticket.
In panic, I just stood before the map, trying to decipher things. At that exact time, I’m certain that many of you were praying over dinner, for I finally got to gumption to ask the older gentleman next to me which train went to Yokohama. Bad news, neither, for I was on the wrong line!
He walked me over to the proper train line, which was on the other side of the one on which I had arrived. There in front of the ticket booths, a lady overheard that I was going to Yokohama, and she gave me an extra ticket she had purchase. Profuse thanks were in order, then off I zipped to Yokohama on the express.
But that’s not all, because I needed to get to Haneda which should’ve been by express. I asked the attendants which train to take and proceeded to ride the local train. For those of you who don’t know, local trains stop at every stop. Every. Stop. Thankfully, the Morgans agreed that I should leave an hour early, just in case.
Finally I got on the right train and proceeded to attempt to check in. With an e-ticket. Which I couldn’t print.
Well, that’s all over now, and as I suspected, Raye found me. (Yay for pink shirts, orange backpacks, and red luggage with green terry-cloth ties!) Now, we’re on our way to Chitose, outside of Sapporo where we meet our Asian Access cohorts for the first time!
Excitement abounds!
