Japan 日本 or Bust - Day 1 - Travel from Dallas to Hiroshima

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April 20th 2017

Published: April 20th 2017

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KayKo

First Official Selfie with my Kayko Sign

(I wrote this on the plane ride from Tokyo to Hiroshima)

Disclaimer: It has been a long trip but I am currently in the air and on the way to hiroshima. I also am writing on my tablet because my laptop died. So forgive any typos! My handwriting is not great so it is hard for the tablet to recognize what I am saying.

And it begins! I left Dallas at 0800 central time, and continued to time travel from there! Flight to LA was smooth as silk. Good. I get anxious on turbulent flughts. I envy those who find turbelence soothing. Got to LAX in time for lunch. Lucky for me, LA is not short on vegetariarian and vegan options. We boarded for tokyo about 50 min before takeoff. I got there just in time for my boarding. I failed to remember how early boarding is for such a big airplane. And then off I went...across the Pacific. Flight wasn't overcrowded so I was able to move to a seat with no person in the middle. Needed that, because I still felt incredibly cramped. Legs were not feeling awesome – darn circulation. Standing and stretching helped though. Us

Made it!

poor economy folks, living a hard life. But United had great services. Movie selection was on point. Food was good...although the 8 hour lull between dinner and breakfast was too long of a wait. Glad I had snacks. I popped 4 zzzquil before I was able to sleep. But it was not comfortable for me. My neck pillow is too thick, so it cranes my neck forward. #firstworldproblems. We jumped forward 14 hours from where I started. And there Kayko was. In Tokyo. Lost, nervous, excited. The process wasn't bad. Went through immigration and baggage claim. Checked my luggage on a now domestic Japanese flight, and went through security again (all baggage made it!). Japanese airport workers are SO much more friendly than American ones. I am grateful to japan for providing english translations to all their signs and announcements. My conversational Japanese has seriously degraded the last 8 years. I can now only pick up every other word. And after a few seconds of translating in my head, I can only infer. I cannot believe how perishable language skills are. Guess it is time to invest in rosetta stone. Hung around the gate for an hour. Set up all

Glad to be here!!!!

the travel notices on my cards (bc I forgot like an idiot). Most Americans stayed in Tokyo, or were connecting to another international flight. The majority of those left were US marines going to Okinawa. The bus to take us to our plane to Hiroshima was very sparse. Definitely have room to stretch out on this 1.5 hour trip. Once I get to Hiroshima, I will link up with the broski, and take a bus, a train, and a taxi to Iwakuni (4 modes of travel!). 30 hours of traveling total. I am looking and feeling haggard for sure! But I am so excited for the next week of adventures! I do not have an itinerary. I am just here to explore, and see some things that may not normally be seen by the average American tourist. I just wish the novio could have been able to make it. See you on the next entry! Check out my pics (either here or on IG). I have my Japan or Bust sign with me everywhere, and it will serve as a tiny visual diary along the way! First entry is just an excited Kayko, ready to go!