Wednesday October 16th - Day 36 - Arrival in Tokyo
Tuesday morning we were back at the Nice-Cote d'Azur Airport early - around 9 am - and had time to have a coffee before the ITA checking desk opened. We got through check-in and security and headed to the Infinity lounge again, where we had a good breakfast. Now to Rome on a quick 1-hour flight.
The flight from Nice to Rome left at 11:20am and it was on time. They offered us a nice salad and a slice of pizza en route - both of us enjoyed the salad but skipped the heavy-looking pizza. We got to Rome and Deb managed to get the VAT tax she paid in Ireland credited back to her card as we were leaving the EU. We then hit the ITA lounge and had a nice light lunch - they have a pizza production place right there so the pizza was fresh and delicious. Munroe had his aperol spritz - a drink he had been introduced to in another Rome airport lounge last summer - and pronounced it excellent!
Before long it was time to get to the gate and get aboard our 12-hour flight to Tokyo. We were delighted with the seats - 3D and 3H - though we were neighbors we seemed to be quite far apart!
The excellent service began before we left the ground, and we had a nice glass of prosecco as we settled in and explored all the storage spots, the menus (food and paired wine), and entertainment options. Nice noise-cancelling headsets that were comfortable and effective. 
As a whole, the flight was simply excellent. And to think that it was purchased by redeeming only 80,000 points for each seat! This is easily Munroe's best redemption deal to date! Deb went to sleep shortly after the meal was served - and slept right through until about an hour out of Tokyo's Haneda airport. The ability to lie flat and have such comfortable pillows and comforters makes a huge difference (though Munroe didn't fare quite so well in the sleep department). The food was exquisite - we each had a codfish salad starter, a carbonara first course, and a lovely veal preparation for the main. Munroe was stuffed and passed on dessert - Deb had the cheese plate with nuts and dried fruit then panna cotta - fabulous. Munroe did find room, though, for a giant scotch! They served a nice omelet-centered breakfast about an hour before landing. A really memorable and enjoyable flight.
We got into Haneda Wednesday morning around 11am and made it through immigration and customs without a hitch - and got there just before a huge influx of passengers joined the queue behind us.
Leaving the customs area and entering the terminal, we spotted a tourist information office and quickly had all the information we needed to get what we needed to be done. We got some cash from an ATM - apparently, Japan is a cash-heavy society still, and credit cards aren't accepted everywhere. Then we got a Suico card - a cash card that is helpful when using public transit, in 7-11 convenience stores (that is quite a thing here in Japan!), and even some restaurants. Munroe thought that one card would do for the two of us - that eventually proved to be incorrect. We asked again at the tourist information office about getting to the hotel and they recommended that we take the bus and showed us where to buy the tickets. The woman who sold us the tickets helped explain the process and we were on the 1:05 bus that had 4 stops.
We were at the last stop - the Hilton, which was about a 10-minute easy walk from our hotel - the Daiwa Roynet Sinjuku Premier. We had a warm welcome at reception and got squared away for our four nights here. The room is small by North American standards, but exceptionally well-equipped and VERY comfortable. The high-tech toilet is something else - but neither of us is confident enough in its functioning to try anything beyond the normal actions! Munroe had a shower to freshen up - Deb soaked in the nice deep bath.
Our hotel
The bewildering array of toilet functions!
Around 4pm we decided to walk the 20 minutes or so to visit the "Shinjuku Golden Gai" - an area of narrow alleys with tiny eating and drinking establishments. We settled on a spot and had dinner of spicy ramen noodle soup (that turned out not to be that spicy) and some pork rolls (essentially, a strip of pork rolled around a mushroom and served on a toothpick). Not quite what we'd hoped for but filling nonetheless. Note: Deb thought her ramen was from boxed spaghetti and canned pork broth. Not good!
Shinjuku - A Happening Spot - Note interesting blue cat outfit.
We hit the sack soon after we finished eating and walked back to the hotel - it was a nice warm evening and the crowds, neon lights, and general 'bustle' of the place were really amazing and interesting. The contrast from our serene perch above the Mediterranean in Serra di Ferro couldn't have been much more stark!
Our initial impressions of Tokyo, then, center heavily around the tremendous efficiency of the layout of the airport and the services it provides for entering passengers. It really is astonishing to come into a complex, culturally unfamiliar, and complicated society and to be so well cared for. The availability of assistance is extraordinary - everywhere when you want to get help you find it! And even the ordinary Japanese people will lend a hand if they see you stymied. Initial concerns about the accessibility (and warmth) of Japan and its people were put to rest before we even left the airport!