Day 1 - Arrival at Narita Airport, Tour of Apt

I arrived at Narita airport around 3 PM, half an hour later than scheduled due to strong winds in the Pacific. The captain apologized several times for the delay.

Koko (as my boyfriend will be called on this blog) came to pick me up at the airport, but it really wasn't necessary. Narita airport is either really small or really well-organized, because baggage claim was only a short walk to the escalator down from customs. Compare that to the mazes you have to walk through to get to your luggage and out of the airport in so many other places, including JFK, Ft. Lauderdale, Frankfurt, etc.

Twenty feet from baggage claim was the counter for the "limousine bus" (coach bus with picture windows), which we took to go home. Just beyond that was the exit to go out and to the appropriate bus stop (there were several next to each other). The most difficult part after de-planing was the few minutes I spent lugging my baggage from the carousel onto the free luggage cart and trying to get everything to fit on that little cart.

At the bus stop, the bus's employee put my luggage the stowage compartment after tagging each piece and giving me a receipt for them. When I collected my luggage at my stop, I had to show them my receipt. A great system that ensures: a) people end up with the right luggage and b) no one steals your stuff. I wish the US coach buses would implement this policy.

Front of the bus (they drive on the left here)
A little weird, getting on/off the left side.

Elevated highways (just like in Speed Racer!)

Somewhere between Narita Airport
and downtown Tokyo

The "Wing" building...looks like a mall,
but may be a hotel

A view of the hallway from our apt door

Apt entrance (not sure what the handle at

left is for, but someone had hung an umbrella

on theirs...so maybe an umbrella holder)

On left wall: shoe closet, sliding door to bathroom,
storage room. On right wall: mirror, 2 closets,
washer/dryer, kitchenette,
and appliance alcove

Koko behind the sliding door that separates
the bathroom/closets from rest of the apt
(not sure what purpose this serves)

Top of shoe closet

Bottom of shoe closet. Note the provided

fire extinguisher and wooden shoe inserts.

Bathroom with separate shower room

At left, unpictured: toilet, counter and cabinet

Cabinet and counter in bathroom

Toilet with heated seat and dual-flush

Inside the shower room

Left: Plastic non-slip pad for use when
bathing kids. Right: Keypad for temp control
and timer

Two closets, side-by-side. Each is
about 1.5' wide. I could fit into that
space on the bottom left

Combo washer/dryer

Top half of storage closet, with a
contraption of plastic clothes pins for
hang-drying laundry in the bathroom

Bottom half of storage closet,
where our empty suitcases will live

Koko looks like a giant in our kitchen
There's no oven. =(

Two-burner induction cooktop
(there's a difference between the two,
but I can't figure out what it is yet)

Cabinet w/ fluorescent lamp and
range hood/vent with too many buttons

Came with the apt =)

Who doesn't like pots and pans,
esp. when it's free to use?
(maybe need to get another pan,
though, because this one is scratched)

Top: Dish detergent, some strange metal
containers with holes. Bottom: Cooking
and eating utensils, plus a corkscrew
and tea ball infuser!

More pantry space and a microwave

The rice cooker that we need to learn
how to use and an electric kettle

Our tiny fridge, with my rolling
luggage (carry-on size) for scale
Behind the luggage is a pantry

And voila! The tiny pantry (top half), with
groceries that Koko had bought:
organic rice, red/adzuki beans, mixed nuts,
soy sauce, and olive oil

Bottom half of pantry: an onion, bulb of garlic,
small bag of woodear mushrooms.
Koko's so Asian!

Combo desk/drawer with an apparently
blank slate

But no, it's a tabletop extender with
hidden cabinet! Gotta love smart design!

View of living room from TV

Bedroom's sliding doors at left

Bedroom and closet

One page of the 1-1/2" thick guide
to our apt

Left side of balcony with a sign that
probably says "Do Not Climb"

View from balcony