By: Hogga
I’ve travelled a decent amount in my day and I’m proud to say that not all of it has been bad ass or troublesome. Sure, there were instances in South America where I may have done some questionable things and maybe a even a few more in Southeast Asia (who doesn’t right?), but this girl has done her best to keep her nose out of trouble. Sometimes though, trouble pushes its way through the crowds and finds you. Guh….
Such as my very first ‘real’ trip, when I went to see my buddy in Japan.
If you had the chance to go to Japan, have a prime Tokyo hotel paid for free (okay maybe not so prime and maybe not a hotel, but a couch in a tiny apartment, but I’m not picky when it’s free!), you would hop at it too. I was heading to Australia anyways to see my bff and decided ‘Hey – Japan is kind of on the way – maybe I’ll go there too.’ Then there was the whole worrying about going to a place that not only doesn’t speak the same language as me but their letters are all screwy. What if I get in trouble and I can’t explain I’m just an innocent Canadian girl who wants to have a good time? Plus most of this worry didn’t come crashing down, until I got off the plane in Japan and was extremely confused about where to go.
Like I wasn’t nervous enough already, right? I travel halfway across the world to a place I was pretty sure didn’t really exist to meet up with someone who I HOPE will be there – and that all went perfectly fine. Hooray for Hogga! Sure, I was a little sweaty and grumpy but that happens during the best of times, so no big deal.
I meet my buddy after clearing customs and being fingerprinted and photographed like some sort of meth dealer and we head down towards the train to get to the city (just a warning for anyone looking to go to Tokyo – if you fly into Narita, it’s like 1.5 hours by train to downtown). We sit down on a bench and talk and laugh and yell at each other in the way friends do when all of a sudden from around a corner two official looking dudes stroll up to us. Turns out they are police and want to see our paperwork.
Buh? ME? Innocent Canadian girl?
They are super nice about it – almost apologetic – but it’s kinda like, I was not expecting this. Neither was my buddy, who informed me later that he had been there for 10 months and had heard rumours of being asked for ID but had never experienced it until now. Must be something shifty about me, right? (One of my eyes closes smaller than the other when I smile sometimes)
In Japan, like a lot of other countries you need to have a foreign registration card if you are there for longer than three months – I just got there but my buddy was working there so he needed it, which thankfully he did. It would be just my luck to do all of that and then have no place to stay. Well, and I guess I’d feel a little bad for my friend.
One thing I figured out based on that incident though is how much nicer the police are in Japan compared to other places, at least if you haven’t done anything wrong. Yes, Tokyo and I we’re going to get along jusssssst fine.
Trouble with the law aside, once we reached the city there was plenty to see and do. And I must admit we were excited about all the things to explore in Tokyo. If you’ve never been to a large city before, then Tokyo may be a tad overwhelming. There are some breathtakingly huge buildings like the Shiodome City Center and the Mitsubishi Corporation Headquarters. There is plenty to do in terms of exciting nightlife, and Ueno Park is a great place to just sit down and chill out for a bit.
21 Comments
Gee, Hogga, I’m all hyped up to read about some shenanigans, when you’ve encountered polite police officers.
I don’t think you’ve tried hard enough to go Godzilla vs. Mothra on Tokyo’s ass. So, like others, I shall wait patiently, and anticipate eagerly with childish glee the next phase of your Cana’jun gai’jin plan to show `em what time it is. 🙂
HAHA… you should read the one about the police in Lima then…
Awww…you got fingerprinted like some meth dealer.
Excuse me while I engage in some hero worship. 🙂
*bows*… just a normal day in the Hogga-life
…better just luck for every trip..
ici 4 dma a web developer
so glad it worked out for the best. the one time i encountered police on public transport i got fined for not having a proper ticket – DAMN! seems i’m shifty too. better luck next time lola.
Whaaa, where were you?
Nothing says welcome to traveling like dealing with foreign police!
or realizing that airports have shuttle trains. SCARY
I was in Japan for three weeks in March. Everyone is nice and the only crime is the US Navy people!Great country! Great people! Great food! Arigato!
It’s true! It’s my favorite place in Asia.
Glad no one got arrested! Your shifty eye comment made me laugh. That MUST have been why they stopped you. 😉
HAHA… I don’t think I look like a trouble maker, but it seems other do…
I miss Japan!! I remember my fiance’s story, he was driving super late at night, the police waved at him asking if he’s drunk. They are kinda suspicious but super nice. Not my type though 😛
Yeah really paranoid but so polite!
I read in our guidebook that it is required to always have your passport on you when you travel in Japan, but Tony and I broke that rule all the time. I hate to think what might have happened if we had been caught breaking this rule, because as I’m sure you know, the Japanese are sticklers for the rules!
My biggest surprise was that when clearing customs and immigration, no one said a single word to me at all. Like, not how long we were staying, why we were there, nada. Such a change from North America (and Canada, where I am always grilled even though I am a Canadian citizen! I’m pretty sure they have to let me back into the country on that basis, and yet they still persist in giving me the third degree EVERY time!).
hahaha Just finger print you and you’re on your way… but they will find you and fuck you up now because they have you in the system.
i’d much prefer the no talking than the b.s. you deal with coming back into your own country! seriously canadian immigration need one of those cleansing teas. and don’t get me started with the u.s. immigration!
oh…i overpacked for a week in your country? really?! you caught me. i’m running away from canada to the u.s….must be the free healthcare
UGH I know… I’ve always found Canadian customs to be worse for me than US customs.
I was finger printed somewhere recently too, I can’t remember what country – oh wait it was the US….
I lived in Japan for three years and was never once asked to show ID, but then again, both my eyes do the same thing when I smile…