October 17. 2004 09:00

To Tokyo

The cold of autumn makes me feel alive. Ever since it got cool here I've felt more like home than ever. It also has to do with my parents coming, I think, but when I reflect it I find myself comfortable walking in the cold morning or night air. The night bus to Tokyo felt like any bus trip in Finland. I'm making this place a home, and I'm very happy about it.

I took plenty of time so I wouldn't miss the bus even if I got lost. I was supposed to get a map of Tokyo at the tourist info, but I realized it's of course closed at 10 in the evening, when I got to Kyoto Station. That left me with even more time, so I walked around the station a bit and ended up walking straight to the bus stop. I had thought it to be harder to find, but there I walked straight into it without even trying. I went to check in and didn't feel the need to wander off anymore, so I bought a CC Lemon Vitamin drink and some fruit toffee for the journey, then settled by one of the pillars at Kintetsu Line station where there were lots of other people waiting for their night buses. I didn't expect there to be this many people, but then again, Kyoto is a large city (and it is Saturday night), so I imagine that many people might like a cheap ride to Tokyo.

I sat there and watched a man wash the windows of the station, looking rather passionate about his job. He did it with a "sense of skill" around him and checked the window thoroughly for any remaining dirt. Then I started thinking, I'd be just like that if it was me. Most of the people in Finland would hate a job like washing windows, and I wouldn't like it much either, but I know I'd be thorough with i if I were doing it. It's just not in me to do things like that half-way. Even though it is a "shitty" job, one should do it with respect.

Having the image of Tokyo as a busy metropolitan, it was a bit strange to walk through it on an early Sunday morning when there were just a handful of people around. I arrived at Tokyo Station at 7.30 on Sunday morning and first went to find a map. I thought Tokyo Station would have a tourist information, but it was actually a lot smaller than I expected (smaller than Kyoto Station) and apparently there was no tourist info around, at least according to the police I asked. They were pretty clueless for their position, couldn't tell me where to find a map. They were eager to copy theirs for me, though, but kept asking me where I wanted to go when I just wanted a general map of the area. At least they were able to show where Royal Park Hotel was, so they weren't completely useless.

Luckily, being a bit more experienced in finding tourist maps than the police, I soon realized any hotel would have them. So I went to the nearest hotel, and true, they had 3 different kind. I located Royal Park Hotel on the map and started walking. Mum and Dad said the hotel was near Tokyo Station but I wouldn't call this exactly "near". It's not too far to walk, but it did take me a while. Well, no matter, I have plenty of time. Mum and Dad have just arrived at the airport around now and it'll take a couple more hours for them to get here.

Right now I'm sitting at the fountain behind Royal Park Hotel and relaxing a little. I didn't exactly have a good night's sleep, so I could go in and take a nap in the room, but I'm not sure if they have it ready yet. Instead I thought I'd enjoy a little fresh air. I ate the toast I had with me for breakfast and am now wondering about the peculiar behaviour of the fountain. There are some "sprinklers" that seems to function randomly, most of the time not sprouting any water. Then sometimes, every half an hour or so, they sprout a few arcs of water and then become still again. A moment ago I noticed they also have tiny carp in the fountain. They're only 20 cm long or so and swim tightly in a group.

Akihabara isn't too far from here, only a couple of stops by subway. I wonder if my parents would want to come look for an electronic dictionary with me. And near Akihabara we could get a subway to Shinjuku and Harajuku and check out the shops and the youth. But I'm not sure if my parents are into that. I'll have to see what they say when they come. But I'm certainly coming back to Tokyo with some school friends to shop and check out guys and clothes ^_^