The last time I was in Japan was over 20 years ago. How time flies. On the plane ride here, I thought back to how I experienced Japan as a 19-year-old. Quite a lot has changed since then.
Japan was my first international destination, and I was excited and anxious all at the same time. The early 2000s were still the early days of the internet, pre-YouTube and Facebook. I don’t remember doing any meaningful research other than the basics: I could find Japan on a map, and I knew that all the cool electronics and video games traced their origins here. I also remember people being concerned about my well-being because they imagined Japan was a country that was radically different than the US. Today, the amount of media you can consume before your trip is staggering. This time, I feel almost too prepared. I was able to set up an international data plan and transit cards from my couch in Seattle.
I remember landing in Hadena and making my way through immigration and customs with a military ID and my orders directing me to my duty station. I handed the ID to the officer with a “I was told this would work” look. Even with all the technology employed in today’s experience, it’s still a pain and confusing. Back then, I even had to figure out how to transfer to Tokyo’s domestic airport to continue to Okinawa.
In our first few hours of being in Tokyo, we visited a Konbini or convenience store. Just like in 2003, these stores are an integral part of life in Japan. They provide quality food, ATMs, and niche snacks. At the Lawson near our hotel, we nabbed a few snacks. Among them was the quintessential egg salad sandwich, which is a must when visiting Japan. My newly discovered favorite is mini pancakes with margarine and syrup. The syrup is almost jelly-like in consistency, and I’ve started to refer to it as syrup sludge.
Exhausted from jet lag fatigue, we collapsed into our hotel bed, ready to take on tomorrow.
