Japan Trip - March 29/30, 2012 - First Day

Japan Trip - March 29/30,2012 - First Day

Departure – too early AM, Thursday March 29 - Dulles International

As mom and I tried to get our brains to operate early that Thursday morning, the sky was still black and stars were still sparkling. Our departing flight to San Francisco was scheduled to leave Dulles at 6:02am. Thanks to my loving thoughtful husband we had home brewed Kierig coffee in disposable cups, which he acquired from work, available to kick-start our bodies and minds.  Glad mom called a few days early to check on the opening time for the airline check-in desk (per advice from Kana) otherwise we would have appeared even more blurry-eyed, if at all possible, at the requested 3-hours prior to departure for international flights which would have put us in line at 3am - completely alone, not even crickets would have been up.  Since the desk opens at 4am we were able to snag an extra wink or two (ha). The cab driver was friendly and on time for the 3:30am scheduled pick-up time. His large suburban-like vehicle rode smooth along the quiet roads of Rt 7 and Rt 28 which in only a few short hours would be in traffic-paralysis. We were almost alone, joined only by a few other non-sleepers on the parkways.  Check-in was somewhat smooth, except that I decided on the self-check in kiosk that I was only going to check one bag when in fact I had brought two bags to check.  So, I had to repeat the process to check my second small duffle, which of course was easier the second time.  Isn’t everything?

The early flight time didn’t detract travelers as the plane appeared almost full. The almost 6 hour flight was essentially uneventful, which is a good thing when flying over 20,000 miles in the air. The fun began when we got to the San Francisco airport.  I decided, in my infinite wisdom and lack of sleep, that we had to pick up our bags at the baggage claim area in order to check-in with customs for our impending international flight. This of course was completely false and unnecessary considering our bags were checked all the way through to our destination, Osaka. The best part is that now we had removed ourselves from the ‘cleared’ area of the airport and had to relive and rejoice in the security checkpoint experience again.  At least one of us had the sense to say “hey let’s pick up lunch now (prior to our escape into the ‘outside’) before we get to the gate so we can have something to eat when we get there’. That part of the plane worked marvelously. The rest was almost an abysmal failure, although I will say the unnecessary second security screening experience did a few things for us. One, we were forced to stand and move slowly in the line of lemurs as opposed to sitting motionless at the terminal gate. Two, mom’s bag was pulled aside for a private, personal inspection which we somehow eluded at Dulles, leading to the unwrapping of a gift for Kana’s parents – so at least she lost a little weight in her carry-on bag (a 12x12 inch square of wrapping paper can become burdensome and heavy, right?).

Finally, we got to our international flight terminal in plenty of time. Thankfully mom always looks for the positive in everything and was able to help me release the personal guilty and battery I was subjecting to myself for our lost time and dual security check. Oh well. Move on.

Boarding the B777 was quite interesting. Basically the further back in the plane, the smaller the seats. If this exemplifies the statement you get what you pay for then I’m really curious how many folks in the first section had to take out a home equity loan for those lovely chair beds in the first section. Our tickets were not cheap, and yet we are in the respective airline cattle car.

James in hotel lobby.

Finally, finally, finally after an 11 hour flight we landed in Osaka, Japan! Exhausted we found our way through the disembarking line, then to the baggage carousel, and finally through the customs line.  Outside the sliding doors stood James - waiting and smiling! Soooo great to see him! Kana and her mom were there too - this is our first time meeting her mom. We left the airport to catch the next train out to Namba, a district in Osaka. 

Friday evening's dinner

After checking into our hotel we freshened up a bit, and then met James, Kana, her mom, and their entire posse of friends who came into town for the wedding event.

We walked to CHIBO for dinner and enjoyed a traditional flare called okodomiyaki - it was delicious.

Making Okonomiyaki - it was delicious!

After we finished stuffing ourselves and enjoying a Saporro, the food coma set in.  We slowing migrated back to the hotel.  Along the way we saw some street bands playing - very entertaining.

Street band near hotel

Tomorrow will be another adventure!

Cheers and good night!