Niseko > Tokyo

This is the beginning of my travels from my ski instructor life in Niseko.

Part of me is sad to trade the mountains for  skyscrapers. However I chose to leave mini-Australia behind to immerse myself back into Japan. So stoked!

I am here for a couple days to go to the hospital to get medical check ups for a New Zealand visa and to see the Sakura.

However a last minute booking for cheap rooms in SAKURA SEASON is impossible!

I use AirBnB mostly because it’s cheaper and convenient. Marika, my host this time gave me a good deal of 5000¥ (£36) per night in Yotsuya, 25 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station.

Actually, when I first met her she told me I was lucky and got a free upgrade to one of her expensive apartments. This is it.

Just one catch.

“You can ride a bike ok?”

(I can’t) “Sure”

On Shinjuku’s main city roads at rush hour with my suitcase on my back and no helmet? On a tiny unstable Japanese bike? *sweats*

However I arrived, keeping my life for another day and the sweet apartment. Yoshi!

Ichiran Ramen 

Rated a 4.5 by 1120 people on Trip Advisor and claimed as “the best ramen in the world” by Forbes you can see why I decided to come here.

Customers will wait one hour and a half for these private booths big enough for you and your solitude whilst you slurp tasty tonkotsu ramen.

It is very cheap for the quality, starting with the basic noodle bowl with pork and onion for 890¥ (£6.45).

Ramen is usually enjoyed by Nihon-jin after a few drinks after work, much like a cheeky kebab to us Brits (but a million times better).

You can tell it’s a busy place from just looking at this crazy bathroom set-up. Which one would you choose?

On that note, a good first day in Tokyo. Oyasumi nasai!

Travellers Guide:

Train from Kutchan to New Chitose Airport (Domestic Terminal): 2630¥. 2hr 37min. Change at Otaru.

Flight from New Chitose Airport to Tokyo Narita Airport (Terminal 3): 8920¥. Peak day. Jetstar. 1hr 45min. 14kg Check-in baggage.

Tokyo Narita Shuttle Bus to Osaki Station: Willer Travel. 1000¥. Every hour.

Used a Passmo Card on the Tokyo subway and JR lines. Top up at the machines at every station with cash (or credit card).