We are off on another adventure. Today we spent fifteen hours in flight and six more in airports. We lost a whole day by crossing the international date line. I am tired and also excited as we land in Japan.

I don’t speak the language and I can’t even read the alphabet (characters?). But I am finally in Japan. Entry is easy enough as I filled out the online forms before leaving Seattle which allowed me to bypass most of the lines. I scan my passport and nod at the border guard as he waves me through. I have arrived.

Armed with Google Translate and a voucher for a Japan Rail pass, we head for the train station office. After exchanging some currency, we finally find the office where we pick up train tickets that will work on almost any train. Just to be safe, we also purchase a Suica card that can be used on most everything else like local buses and subway lines.

The express train takes us from Narita airport to Shinjuku station (by some estimates the busiest rail station in the world). The train is quiet, comfortable and efficient. It still takes about 1.5 hours to reach the station. I am a bit overwhelmed. It is late. I am tired.

We have the address of the home we rented for our month in Japan. The address is in Japanese. I can’t read it. I do a have a pin on Google Maps so I see where to go. But I am honestly in no mood to navigate public transportation, dark streets, confusing walkways tonight. I see a taxi stand. Perhaps a driver will be more efficient. He will be able to read Japanese.

Within fifteen minutes, we are home. Our landlord has put out a sign for us at the gate. We try to tip the driver. He seems insulted. I guess we will need to read about tipping etiquette tomorrow.

Right now I just want to unpack, take a hot bath, and get some sleep. We have slippers at the door, a gentle reminder to leave our outside shoes on the brick entryway. I slip into the smallest pair and head into the house.

There is a large table for eating and working. These are the only chairs in the house. Living room seating is on the floor on traditional mats. My body can’t think about that right now. I have kink from the long flight.

There is a shower for washing and a deep tub for soaking. I need the soaking in the hottest water I can stand. But first, I look for the toilet. It is nestled in its own small room under the stairs. The seat is heated. It has a variety of water jets, also heated. It has a sound machine. It may be my new favorite thing. (I am not overstating this.)

We need to get settled. There are four beds. One is in the living room. It may have to be the couch. The rest are in separate large rooms up the steep stairs.

Our son picks a room. We pick a room. We leave the room with large windows looking into the entry way as our luggage and dressing room. This house will be a cozy nest. I am pleased.

The boys head out to find a snack and a few groceries for breakfast at the convenience store down the street. I step into the hot soaking bath and then head up to bed. We have done well. The house is just what we hoped for, a normal everyday home. We always want to live as local as possible, I have no idea how to use most things in the house, but there is plenty of time to learn. We are home. Home sweet Tokyo.