First Impressions and Shinjuku Station

Friendly advice:  Don’t fail to write down your first impressions as soon as possible.” the kind professor Basil Hall Chamberlain tells Lafcadio Hearn soon after his arrival in 1870’s Japan.

“... they are evanescent you know; they will never come to you again, once they have faded out; and yet all of the strange sensations you may receive in this country you will feel none so charming as these.”

Lafcadio writes: “I neglected the friendly advice, in spite of all resolves to obey it... with so so much to see and hear and feel in the sun-steeped ways of the wonderful Japanese city...  the first charm of Japan is intangible and volatile as a perfume.”  It began for me with my first kuruma-ride out of the European quarter of Yokohama into the Japanese town...

Toby Manzanares writes: 

https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/sensoji-temple

Of the 51 busiest train stations in the world– all but 6 are in Japan. 

Click HERE for the full article.n 

Photo credit: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) on Wikipedia  

**Shinjuku Station, Tokyo. On an average day 3,500,000 people pass through its doors... Shinjuku, the world's busiest train station and a fascinating experience to navigate. The APA Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower*** has been our affordable Tokyo base camp and a very short walk from Shinjuku Station. It is centered in one of the many vibrant parts of the city.

**  From our list of points of interest.
***From our list of personal recommendations.

TIP #2 JAPAN RAIL PASS: economical, convenient way of traveling throughout Japan.

• Tip #2. A Japan Rail Pass cannot be purchased in Japan.  Only available before your departure. 

Click HERE for valuable information

• Excellent for travel to multiple and distant Japanese destinations [Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Hiroshima, Asuka, Nagano, etc.].  Click HERE to purchase https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/jr-pass  

• Japan's iconic bullet trains are included on JR Passes 
• A Japan rail pass has a hidden advantage in purchasing a that makes it a greater value for first time travelers. The pass is presented to the JR attendant at each entry point which is big advantage for travelers not expert at navigating through large, busy, complicated train stations. (*See an example below.) Ask and the attendant tells you which track to go to and sets you off in the right direction. If you buy a ticket from machine, having that ticket in hand doesn’t tell you which way to go to get to the train.
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• Important Note to Reader:  We receive no compensation from any company mentioned in this blog. We share the links because we're happy with the results.

Later when you get off the train, go to the attendant at the next JR sign and that person will tell you which way to go to get to the next train or to where ever it is you’re going. It didn't take long to realize that with a JR Pass in hand, I got lost less often. 

In Japan, getting lost became for me a heart warming part of the journey. Its people are quite generous with their time and in a short time I grew more comfortable asking for assistance. Don’t be surprised if someone stops where they’re going to walk you to where you need to go even if it takes them way out of their way. Once, an 80 year old man got off his train with me to point me in the right direction. I went on my way with the feeling … “This is the way life ought to be.”

*Shinjuku Station, Japan. With an average of 3.5 million passing through its doors every day, Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, is the world's busiest train station in terms of passenger throughput.