We enjoyed the last leisurely breakfast we would enjoy at the Asakusa View Hotel Annex. I grown very accustomed to the neat, orderliness of the breakfast buffet. I would certainly miss the fantastic cuisine.
With breakfast out of the way, we needed to head to the Asakusa station, to pick up the JR Rail for the Haneda airport. Since had a healthy amount of time before the flight, we made a quick run down the street to pick up a few items from a small but specialized grocery store. Since we weren't carrying our luggage, we used the hotels luggage drop off. In a coat room adjacent to the registration in the lobby, they had a series of cabinet lockers and shelf-stands with metal keys and metel cable locks attached. Basically, you picked a lock, wrap the steel cable through your luggage, and put the key into a lock. You then had a multi-digit tumbler you could use to set a personal code. Once you put in your code, and tugged on the key, it would come out and the digital counter would reset to zero. Basically, you just locked your luggage with your own personal pin. I must admit, this was pure genius.
Returning with our luggage, we set off for the train station. The streets are largely full of people, which made for an interesting journey. The train station also presented am interesting challenge - stairs. A common problem in Japan is that elevators are often not near main entrances. We had to carry bags down many steps and even a floor or two to reach the platform. But once we did, we were set! We had only one train to take to the airport, and quickly found a space to sit. For nearly an hour, passengers crowded on and off at each stop.
We soon reached the station stop for Haneda airport, and left the train at the domestic terminal stop. The terminal was massive and spacious, reminding me of the rail station in Milan, with huge ceilings that towered over us. We found the baggage drop, and the three of us combined our skills to figure out how to print the bag drop tags, put them on a conveyer and allow the system to scan and recognize the luggage. With our bags inside, we took some time to roam and examine the terminal. Unlike terminals in the US, there are a huge variety of shops - even a six-story mall - outside of the security gate. We shopped through fancy retailers and luxury baggage stores, marveling at how the Japanese had seemingly invested a tool or trinket for everything.
Pressing onward, we headed through security and into the terminal. Oddly enough, the airport terminal became the loudest place we'd been all trip! The constant barrage of overhead announcements and boarding calls from the gates was a stark contrast to the quiet streets we'd grown accustomed to. One interesting sight - a self-driving robot wheelchair. Need a wheelchair? It comes to you!
Before long, our flight began to board. Settling into our seats, it was only a moment before we took off. Barely an hour later, we began to descend and I could see thick clouds below. Just outside baggage claim, an enormous Doraemon statue - the blue, earless cat robot began as a Manga in 1969 and became Japan's "anime ambassador" years ago.
With baggage in hand, we returned to the trains and began the journey to our AirBnB. The last train took us close, but a 10-minute walk remained. At the destination, the lock mystified us, but once again relying on our teamwork, we successfully entered the code to gain access!
The neatly-furnished space was clearly a corporate short-stay apartment of some kind. The spacious seating areas and clean rooms welcomed us.
Returning to street, we headed towards the central portion of Sapporo. These streets were considerably quieter than even Asakusa, as only handfuls of people were walking dogs or carrying grocery bags. However, once we neared the train station, the streets livened up. Corner after corner, we passed restaurant shops and stores. After a bit of shopping, we set our sights on our lodgings. Tomorrow would come all-too-soon, so a good rest was clearly necessary.
No comments:
Post a Comment