Home to Tokyo and Home to Vancouver
This week I made a quick trip back "home" to Tokyo. I call it a home because I spent 23 years in Japan, met my wife Yoshiko there and had a lifetime of memories. I need to return to Japan at least one a year to maintain my residency visa there.
I arrived Tuesday evening, flying into the downtown airport, Haneda (Tokyo International Airport) and within the hour I was at the hotel in Shibuya. I stayed at a hotel since we are renting our condo but the hotel was in walking distance. I dropped off my luggage at the hotel and immediately set out for a stroll around my old neighborhood. What a flood of memories. It was like I never left it.
The weather for the next two days was perfect. Warm, dry and clear. Just the right recipe for exploring the city. And at all hours of the day and night since Tokyo never sleeps. I visited many favorite districts, shops and restaurants. I walked the other two neighbors where Yoshiko and I lived. I also included a stop at the college where I studied Japanese and Asian culture.
Unfortunately, the final day was rainy and unseasonably cold. I had to check out of the hotel by 11:00 AM although my flight did not depart until 10:00 that evening. I borrowed an umbrella and set out for more walks. The best stop was at the Hotel Chinzan-so, formerly the Four Seasons Hotel. This hotel brought me to Japan, it is where I lived and worked for more than two years, and where I met my wife. I walked through the property and noticed it hasn't changed much in the last 26 years. Of course I stopped at the restaurant where Yoshiko and I met. Then I found a comfortable chair in the lobby to relax and read a book.
I arrived at the airport that evening with wet clothing and used the ANA Lounge to change into dry clothes. Then a large glass of champagne before my flight.
About thirty minutes before landing I glanced out the aircraft window and saw wonderful Canadian scenery welcoming me home. I love Tokyo but I love coming home to where my life is now.
