Taking a Trans-Pacific cruise and arriving in Tokyo is a lot different than taking a flight.
Since leaving Alaska, ship time was adjusted back one hour every night (except the night that we skipped September 29th). That rolling the clock back every day ensured that we arrived in Tokyo Bay on Japan Standard Time. So there was no “jet lag.”
That’s quite a different experience than flying here. The jet lag is brutal, with the time change being 12-16 hours ahead, depending on what US time zone and time of year. So you want to be awake at night when you arrive.
Personally, I like that, to a certain extent. Tokyo is a great city to wander around in the late night/early morning hours. It’s safe and quite devoid of people. Some of my favorite photos that I have ever taken here were in that 2-5am window, right up until the city really wakes up.
Anyway, this time it was different. We were on schedule in a land that does not observe daylight saving time. With sunset between 5-5:30pm, it’s easy to be out after dark. Just at a time when there are people everywhere.
In no particular order, some random nighttime views of this first week —
The vending machines in our neighborhood are for emergencies only. We have three markets less than a five minute walk, as well as three convenience stores.
In the hierarchy of purchasing, from most expensive to cheapest, the vending machines are on top, then the konbini (convenience stores), then the markets. The latter two will be the subject of a post in the future.
Thanks for stopping by. More in a few days.
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