First time to Japan
I have always been wanted to visit Japan and finally for the first time, I did. On March 2017, I went to Japan with my friend and his family(wife and child of 3 years old). We took All Nippon Airways(ANA) Airplane departing from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Narita Airport. The flight was pleasant without any flaw but one thing, the food. Because I am a non-meat eater, I had a vegetarian meal during the flight. ANA has several choices of vegetarian meals and I opted for the oriental meal version. The meal was not really that bad but it was not filling and some of the foods are cold. Next time, I should bring my own food. Aside from the food, everything is okay. The stewardesses are all beautiful. The seat is comfortable with a small pillow and blanket prepared. I can also watch movies(headphone is available but I used my own earphone) and play simple games using the device attached behind every seat in front of you.
What I like about taking an airplane is a view of clouds and sky, it always fascinates me. As I chose to seat beside the window I could see many views. I also chose the left side seat because it supposed to give you a view of Mount Fuji from the airplane. But I couldn't see because there are too many clouds blocking the view or it could be that it was just impossible to see with my airplane route. But I managed to see Mount Fuji later on when I took Shinkansen.
After about 7 hours of flight, we arrived at Narita Airport and took the airport bus to the airport building where we need to pass the immigration. Our itinerary was quite strict because even though we arrived at Narita, we decided to go to Osaka first. We have to be at Japan Rail East Travel Center Office to exchange our JR Pass voucher to get the JR Pass. For those who doesn't know, JR Pass is some kind of pass that let us enter JR Station and use JR train as much as we want as long as it is valid. You can find about JR Pass on the internet, the information is everywhere and it is a necessary to get JR Pass if you change places a lot when travelling in Japan. Back to the story, even though we need to be hurried, we then got delayed because my friend, who apparently is a mononym(a person with a single name) was brought by the immigration officer to their office due to the name that he bear (which is a very common name) is on the list of people who may not enter Japan(probably). My friend himself is not a bad guy. So we waited a bit and after a while, he passed the checking process and we proceed to the JR East Travel Center Office(still inside Narita airport building).
At JR East Travel Center Office, there was a queue of foreigners who also need to exchange their JR Pass vouchers. I did not expect this, so we got delayed more. But the officers inside were very fast at servicing us so we could get our JR Pass. They also speak English, although I can't vouch for their level of proficiency. But at least when it is related to JR Pass, we could communicate easily. We were explained on how to use JR Pass and there is also a picture explanation complete with English text. Aside from getting JR Pass we also bought Suica card and reserve seat for Narita Express and Shinkansen to Osaka. Suica card is an IC Card that can be used conveniently as an electronic payment when using Japan trains. Buying a ticket in the ticket machine or counter can be a hassle especially if the officer in the ticket counter cannot speak English(the ticket machine has an English mode, but usually there are queues). We used Suica card for Non-JR trains and for when our JR Pass validity is over.
We then used the JR Pass immediately and board the Narita Express. Before we board it, I hurriedly bought 3 salmon onigiris(I counted the baby too but I should not) for my friends and one pack of nuts(because there was no more umeboshi onigiri which I can eat). The Narita Express facility is very good, the seat is nice and there is a luggage storage in every train car where you can store your big luggage and locked it with a number code. After arriving at Shinagawa station, we hurriedly try to switch to Shinkansen. During the switch, since it was our first time switching train in Japan, I was a bit confused as to where we should go to get into the right platform where our shinkansen is. The Shinagawa station is quite big and there were a lot of people walking around. I always heard how busy is the train station in Japan that you cannot stop even a moment while inside. I was even budged by an old man trying to make his way and he didn't even say sorry(maybe it is normal in Japan). After asking the train station staff on where to go to the right platform, then we were able to board the Shinkansen.
As it was already night, we couldn't see Mount Fuji. If you ever want to view Mount Fuji from Tokyo to Osaka, you should choose the right side of seats and for the opposite direction, choose the left side of seats. Inside the shinkansen, there is a food cart that moving from one car to another car, you can buy bentos, drinks, and snacks, the price is a little bit expensive from what I thought it would be. Unfortunately, there was no vegetarian bento and I could only buy Pocari Sweat and snack. As we were in a rush when switching train, we couldn't buy bento inside the station. It took about 4 and a half hours for us to arrived at Osaka station(We switched train to non-shinkansen train in Shin-Osaka station but it only took about 4 minutes from Shin-Osaka station to Osaka station).
Even though we arrived very late at Osaka station, there were still many people moving around inside station. We then asked around on how to go to Umeda station and surprised that there was no elevator to go there(actually there is another route with elevator, we only know that route after about third day). As we brought baby inside stroller who was sleeping soundly, we had to go down stair while holding the baby stroller carefully. We then board the local train to Chibune station that needs to be paid using Suica card about 150 yen. At this station again, we missed the elevator and had to walk down stair with the stroller again. After that, we followed the instructions from our Airbnb host on how to go to the house where we rented. It was a long pleasant walk(about 10 minutes) from the station to the house as it is very straightforward without many confusions. We arrived at the house safely but it was already midnight. We were finally be able to rest.
What I like about taking an airplane is a view of clouds and sky, it always fascinates me. As I chose to seat beside the window I could see many views. I also chose the left side seat because it supposed to give you a view of Mount Fuji from the airplane. But I couldn't see because there are too many clouds blocking the view or it could be that it was just impossible to see with my airplane route. But I managed to see Mount Fuji later on when I took Shinkansen.
After about 7 hours of flight, we arrived at Narita Airport and took the airport bus to the airport building where we need to pass the immigration. Our itinerary was quite strict because even though we arrived at Narita, we decided to go to Osaka first. We have to be at Japan Rail East Travel Center Office to exchange our JR Pass voucher to get the JR Pass. For those who doesn't know, JR Pass is some kind of pass that let us enter JR Station and use JR train as much as we want as long as it is valid. You can find about JR Pass on the internet, the information is everywhere and it is a necessary to get JR Pass if you change places a lot when travelling in Japan. Back to the story, even though we need to be hurried, we then got delayed because my friend, who apparently is a mononym(a person with a single name) was brought by the immigration officer to their office due to the name that he bear (which is a very common name) is on the list of people who may not enter Japan(probably). My friend himself is not a bad guy. So we waited a bit and after a while, he passed the checking process and we proceed to the JR East Travel Center Office(still inside Narita airport building).
At JR East Travel Center Office, there was a queue of foreigners who also need to exchange their JR Pass vouchers. I did not expect this, so we got delayed more. But the officers inside were very fast at servicing us so we could get our JR Pass. They also speak English, although I can't vouch for their level of proficiency. But at least when it is related to JR Pass, we could communicate easily. We were explained on how to use JR Pass and there is also a picture explanation complete with English text. Aside from getting JR Pass we also bought Suica card and reserve seat for Narita Express and Shinkansen to Osaka. Suica card is an IC Card that can be used conveniently as an electronic payment when using Japan trains. Buying a ticket in the ticket machine or counter can be a hassle especially if the officer in the ticket counter cannot speak English(the ticket machine has an English mode, but usually there are queues). We used Suica card for Non-JR trains and for when our JR Pass validity is over.
We then used the JR Pass immediately and board the Narita Express. Before we board it, I hurriedly bought 3 salmon onigiris(I counted the baby too but I should not) for my friends and one pack of nuts(because there was no more umeboshi onigiri which I can eat). The Narita Express facility is very good, the seat is nice and there is a luggage storage in every train car where you can store your big luggage and locked it with a number code. After arriving at Shinagawa station, we hurriedly try to switch to Shinkansen. During the switch, since it was our first time switching train in Japan, I was a bit confused as to where we should go to get into the right platform where our shinkansen is. The Shinagawa station is quite big and there were a lot of people walking around. I always heard how busy is the train station in Japan that you cannot stop even a moment while inside. I was even budged by an old man trying to make his way and he didn't even say sorry(maybe it is normal in Japan). After asking the train station staff on where to go to the right platform, then we were able to board the Shinkansen.
As it was already night, we couldn't see Mount Fuji. If you ever want to view Mount Fuji from Tokyo to Osaka, you should choose the right side of seats and for the opposite direction, choose the left side of seats. Inside the shinkansen, there is a food cart that moving from one car to another car, you can buy bentos, drinks, and snacks, the price is a little bit expensive from what I thought it would be. Unfortunately, there was no vegetarian bento and I could only buy Pocari Sweat and snack. As we were in a rush when switching train, we couldn't buy bento inside the station. It took about 4 and a half hours for us to arrived at Osaka station(We switched train to non-shinkansen train in Shin-Osaka station but it only took about 4 minutes from Shin-Osaka station to Osaka station).
Even though we arrived very late at Osaka station, there were still many people moving around inside station. We then asked around on how to go to Umeda station and surprised that there was no elevator to go there(actually there is another route with elevator, we only know that route after about third day). As we brought baby inside stroller who was sleeping soundly, we had to go down stair while holding the baby stroller carefully. We then board the local train to Chibune station that needs to be paid using Suica card about 150 yen. At this station again, we missed the elevator and had to walk down stair with the stroller again. After that, we followed the instructions from our Airbnb host on how to go to the house where we rented. It was a long pleasant walk(about 10 minutes) from the station to the house as it is very straightforward without many confusions. We arrived at the house safely but it was already midnight. We were finally be able to rest.
Aku sudah lama sekali ingin mengunjungi Jepang dan akhirnya untuk pertama kalinya aku mengunjungi Jepang. Pada bulan Maret 2017, Aku mengunjungi Jepang dengan temanku dan keluarganya(istri dan anak berumur 3 tahun). Kami naik pesawat All Nippon Airways(ANA) berangkat dari bandara Soekarno-Hatta menuju bandara Narita. Penerbangannya sempurna kecuali satu hal, makanannya. Karena aku tidak makan daging, maka aku dapat makanan vegetarian selama penerbangan. ANA punya beberapa pilihan makanan vegetarian dan aku memilih menu oriental. Makanannya sebenarnya biasa aja, tetapi tidak mengeyangkan dan sebagian makanannya dingin. Lain kali, aku akan bawa makanan sendiri. Selain makanan, sisanya semua OK. Pramugarinya semua sangat cantik. Kursinya juga nyaman dan sudah disediakan bantal kecil dan selimut. Aku juga bisa nonton film(disediakan juga headphone tapi aku bawa earphone sendiri) dan bermain game sederhana menggunakan alat yang terpasang di setiap belakang kursi di depan kita.
Yang aku suka dari naik pesawat adalah melihat pemandangan awan dan langit yang begitu mempesonakan. Karena aku duduk di dekat jendela, aku bisa melihat banyak pemandangan tersebut. Aku juga memilih kursi di sebelah kiri karena seharusnya gunung Fuji dapat terlihat dari pesawat. Tapi ternyata aku tidak mendapatkan kesempatan untuk melihatnya karena terlalu banyak awan menutupi atau mungkin saja memang rute pesawatku tidak mungkin bisa melihatnya. Tapi aku dapat melihat gunung Fuji di shinkansen nanti.
Setelah 7 jam penerbangan, kami tiba di bandara Narita dan naik bus bandara menuju ke dalam gedung bandara dan menuju ke bagian imigrasi. Jadwal perjalanan kami begitu ketat karena walaupun kami sampai di bandara Narita, kami memutuskan untuk pergi ke Osaka terlebih dahulu. Kami harus berada di kantor Japan Rail East Travel Center untuk menukarkan JR Pass voucher ke JR Pass yang sebenarnya. Untuk yang tidak tahu, JR Pass adalah sebuah dokumen yang digunakan untuk dapat memasuki stasiun JR dan menggunakan kereta JR sebanyak yang kita mau selama masih berlaku. Informasi mengenai JR Pass dapat ditemukan di internet dan membeli JR Pass adalah wajib jika kamu banyak berpindah tempat selama di Jepang. Kembali ke cerita, walaupun kita terburu-buru, namun perjalanan kita tertunda karena temanku yang namanya cuma satu suku kata dicegat dan dibawa ke kantor imigrasi terpisah karena namanya (yang cukup pasaran) terdapat dalam daftar nama orang yang tidak boleh masuk ke Jepang(sepertinya). Jadi kami menunggu dan tidak lama temanku itu pun diperbolehkan masuk dan kita lanjut menuju ke kantor JR East Travel Center(kantornya masih di dalam gedung bandara).
Di JR East Travel Center Office, terlihat antrian orang asing yang juga datang untuk menukarkan JR Pass voucher mereka. Aku tidak menyangka akan adanya hal ini, sehingga kita pun jadi sedikit terlambat. Tetapi petugas di dalamnya melayani sangat cepat sehingga kami pun mendapatkan JR Pass kami. Mereka juga dapat berbicara bahasa Inggris, walaupun aku tidak tahu seberapa tinggi tingkat kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka. Tetapi untuk semua urusan terkait JR Pass, komunikasinya sangat lancar. Kami dijelaskan cara menggunakan JR Pass dan di sana juga terdapat penjelasan melalui gambar komplit dengan tulisan bahasa Inggris. Selain menukarkan JR Pass, kami juga membeli kartu Suica dan memesan tempat duduk kereta untuk Narita Express dan Shinkansen menuju Osaka. Kartu Suica adalah kartu IC yang dapat digunakan sebagai alat pembayaran elektronik untuk menggunakan kereta di Jepang. Tiket kereta dapat dibeli di mesin tiket atau konter tiket namun kadang-kadang bisa repot apalagi jika petugasnya tidak bisa berbahasa Inggris(mesin tiket-nya sih ada mode bahasa Inggris, tapi biasanya ada antrian). Kartu Suica kami gunakan untuk menaiki kereta non-JR dan ketika JR Pass kami sudah tidak berlaku lagi.
Kami lalu menggunakan JR Pass dan naik kereta Narita Express. Sebelum menaikinya, aku pergi beli 3 onigiri isi salmon(bayi-nya aku hitung juga, padahal seharusnya tidak usah) untuk temanku dan keluarganya sedangkan aku beli satu bungkus kacang(karena onigiri isi umeboshi yang bisa kumakan sudah habis). Fasilitas di Narita Express sangat bagus, kursinya juga nyaman dan ada tempat penyimpanan koper besar di setiap gerbong dan bisa dikunci dengan menggunakan kode nomor. Setelah sampai di stasiun Shinagawa, kami buru-buru untuk pindah ke Shinkansen. Pada saat perpindahan itu, karena waktu itu adalah kali pertamanya kami berganti kereta di Jepang, aku sedikit bingung dengan arah dan tidak tahu harus ke mana supaya bisa naik Shinkansen kami. Stasiun Shinagawa cukup besar dan ada banyak orang berlalu-lalang. Aku selalu mendengar bahwa stasiun kereta di Jepang sangatlah ramai dan saat sedang berada di dalam, tidak disarankan untuk berhenti berjalan. Aku bahkan disenggol oleh seorang bapak tua yang sedang berjalan dan bapak tua itu tidak bilang maaf(mungkin normal kali yah di Jepang). Setelah menanyakan kepada petugas stasiun di mana seharusnya kami pergi, baru kami bisa menuju dan menaiki Shinkansen.
Karena waktu itu sudah malam, kami tidak bisa melihat Gunung Fuji. Jika ingin melihatnya kalau dari Tokyo ke Osaka, pilihlah kursi di sebelah kanan dan sebaliknya jika dari Osaka ke Tokyo, pilih kursi sebelah kiri. Di dalam shinkansen kita bisa membeli makanan, minuman, dan cemilan ketika troli makanan yang didorong oleh petugas kereta lewat, harganya sedikit lebih mahal daripada yang kuperkirakan. Sayangnya tidak ada bento vegetarian dan aku hanya bisa membeli Pocari Sweat dan cemilan. Karena saat perpindahan kereta kami buru-buru, jadi kami tidak sempat membeli bento di dalam stasiun. Sekitar 4,5 jam berlalu, akhirnya kami pun sampai di stasiun Osaka(sebenarnya ada perpindahan kereta lagi dari stasiun Shin-Osaka ke stasiun Osaka, tapi perjalanan di keretanya hanya sekitar 4 menit).
Walaupun kami sampai sangat malam di stasiun Osaka, tetapi masih banyak orang di dalam stasiun. Kami pun bertanya kepada petugas di sana bagaimana menuju ke stasiun Umeda dan ternyata tidak ada lift menuju ke stasiun tersebut(sebenarnya ada sih, tetapi kita baru tahu setelah sekitar hari ke-3). Karena kami membawa anak kecil yang sedang tidur dalam kereta bayi, maka kami harus menggotong kereta bayi sambil turun tangga dengan hati-hati. Kami lalu naik kereta lokal menuju stasiun Chibune dengan sebelumnya membayar tiket masuk seharga 150 yen menggunakan kartu Suica. Di stasiun Chibune ini pun, kami tidak sadar bahwa ada lift sehingga kami gotong lagi kereta bayi melalui tangga. Setelah itu, kami mengikuti arahan dari tuan rumah airbnb menuju rumahnya yang kami sewa. Perjalanannya panjang(sekitar 10 menit) dari stasiun menuju rumahnya namun tidak sulit dan menyenangkan. Kami sampai di rumah sudah tengah malam dan akhirnya bisa beristirahat
Yang aku suka dari naik pesawat adalah melihat pemandangan awan dan langit yang begitu mempesonakan. Karena aku duduk di dekat jendela, aku bisa melihat banyak pemandangan tersebut. Aku juga memilih kursi di sebelah kiri karena seharusnya gunung Fuji dapat terlihat dari pesawat. Tapi ternyata aku tidak mendapatkan kesempatan untuk melihatnya karena terlalu banyak awan menutupi atau mungkin saja memang rute pesawatku tidak mungkin bisa melihatnya. Tapi aku dapat melihat gunung Fuji di shinkansen nanti.
Setelah 7 jam penerbangan, kami tiba di bandara Narita dan naik bus bandara menuju ke dalam gedung bandara dan menuju ke bagian imigrasi. Jadwal perjalanan kami begitu ketat karena walaupun kami sampai di bandara Narita, kami memutuskan untuk pergi ke Osaka terlebih dahulu. Kami harus berada di kantor Japan Rail East Travel Center untuk menukarkan JR Pass voucher ke JR Pass yang sebenarnya. Untuk yang tidak tahu, JR Pass adalah sebuah dokumen yang digunakan untuk dapat memasuki stasiun JR dan menggunakan kereta JR sebanyak yang kita mau selama masih berlaku. Informasi mengenai JR Pass dapat ditemukan di internet dan membeli JR Pass adalah wajib jika kamu banyak berpindah tempat selama di Jepang. Kembali ke cerita, walaupun kita terburu-buru, namun perjalanan kita tertunda karena temanku yang namanya cuma satu suku kata dicegat dan dibawa ke kantor imigrasi terpisah karena namanya (yang cukup pasaran) terdapat dalam daftar nama orang yang tidak boleh masuk ke Jepang(sepertinya). Jadi kami menunggu dan tidak lama temanku itu pun diperbolehkan masuk dan kita lanjut menuju ke kantor JR East Travel Center(kantornya masih di dalam gedung bandara).
Di JR East Travel Center Office, terlihat antrian orang asing yang juga datang untuk menukarkan JR Pass voucher mereka. Aku tidak menyangka akan adanya hal ini, sehingga kita pun jadi sedikit terlambat. Tetapi petugas di dalamnya melayani sangat cepat sehingga kami pun mendapatkan JR Pass kami. Mereka juga dapat berbicara bahasa Inggris, walaupun aku tidak tahu seberapa tinggi tingkat kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka. Tetapi untuk semua urusan terkait JR Pass, komunikasinya sangat lancar. Kami dijelaskan cara menggunakan JR Pass dan di sana juga terdapat penjelasan melalui gambar komplit dengan tulisan bahasa Inggris. Selain menukarkan JR Pass, kami juga membeli kartu Suica dan memesan tempat duduk kereta untuk Narita Express dan Shinkansen menuju Osaka. Kartu Suica adalah kartu IC yang dapat digunakan sebagai alat pembayaran elektronik untuk menggunakan kereta di Jepang. Tiket kereta dapat dibeli di mesin tiket atau konter tiket namun kadang-kadang bisa repot apalagi jika petugasnya tidak bisa berbahasa Inggris(mesin tiket-nya sih ada mode bahasa Inggris, tapi biasanya ada antrian). Kartu Suica kami gunakan untuk menaiki kereta non-JR dan ketika JR Pass kami sudah tidak berlaku lagi.
Kami lalu menggunakan JR Pass dan naik kereta Narita Express. Sebelum menaikinya, aku pergi beli 3 onigiri isi salmon(bayi-nya aku hitung juga, padahal seharusnya tidak usah) untuk temanku dan keluarganya sedangkan aku beli satu bungkus kacang(karena onigiri isi umeboshi yang bisa kumakan sudah habis). Fasilitas di Narita Express sangat bagus, kursinya juga nyaman dan ada tempat penyimpanan koper besar di setiap gerbong dan bisa dikunci dengan menggunakan kode nomor. Setelah sampai di stasiun Shinagawa, kami buru-buru untuk pindah ke Shinkansen. Pada saat perpindahan itu, karena waktu itu adalah kali pertamanya kami berganti kereta di Jepang, aku sedikit bingung dengan arah dan tidak tahu harus ke mana supaya bisa naik Shinkansen kami. Stasiun Shinagawa cukup besar dan ada banyak orang berlalu-lalang. Aku selalu mendengar bahwa stasiun kereta di Jepang sangatlah ramai dan saat sedang berada di dalam, tidak disarankan untuk berhenti berjalan. Aku bahkan disenggol oleh seorang bapak tua yang sedang berjalan dan bapak tua itu tidak bilang maaf(mungkin normal kali yah di Jepang). Setelah menanyakan kepada petugas stasiun di mana seharusnya kami pergi, baru kami bisa menuju dan menaiki Shinkansen.
Karena waktu itu sudah malam, kami tidak bisa melihat Gunung Fuji. Jika ingin melihatnya kalau dari Tokyo ke Osaka, pilihlah kursi di sebelah kanan dan sebaliknya jika dari Osaka ke Tokyo, pilih kursi sebelah kiri. Di dalam shinkansen kita bisa membeli makanan, minuman, dan cemilan ketika troli makanan yang didorong oleh petugas kereta lewat, harganya sedikit lebih mahal daripada yang kuperkirakan. Sayangnya tidak ada bento vegetarian dan aku hanya bisa membeli Pocari Sweat dan cemilan. Karena saat perpindahan kereta kami buru-buru, jadi kami tidak sempat membeli bento di dalam stasiun. Sekitar 4,5 jam berlalu, akhirnya kami pun sampai di stasiun Osaka(sebenarnya ada perpindahan kereta lagi dari stasiun Shin-Osaka ke stasiun Osaka, tapi perjalanan di keretanya hanya sekitar 4 menit).
Walaupun kami sampai sangat malam di stasiun Osaka, tetapi masih banyak orang di dalam stasiun. Kami pun bertanya kepada petugas di sana bagaimana menuju ke stasiun Umeda dan ternyata tidak ada lift menuju ke stasiun tersebut(sebenarnya ada sih, tetapi kita baru tahu setelah sekitar hari ke-3). Karena kami membawa anak kecil yang sedang tidur dalam kereta bayi, maka kami harus menggotong kereta bayi sambil turun tangga dengan hati-hati. Kami lalu naik kereta lokal menuju stasiun Chibune dengan sebelumnya membayar tiket masuk seharga 150 yen menggunakan kartu Suica. Di stasiun Chibune ini pun, kami tidak sadar bahwa ada lift sehingga kami gotong lagi kereta bayi melalui tangga. Setelah itu, kami mengikuti arahan dari tuan rumah airbnb menuju rumahnya yang kami sewa. Perjalanannya panjang(sekitar 10 menit) dari stasiun menuju rumahnya namun tidak sulit dan menyenangkan. Kami sampai di rumah sudah tengah malam dan akhirnya bisa beristirahat
Komentar
Posting Komentar