Japan Trip 2013 - Day 1

Day 1 of Japan Trip 2013

After a 10 hour flight with funny Japanese dub of Iron Man 3, it was time to get into the heart of Tokyo from Narita Airport.

Budget Tip!
There are a variety of options getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station, the main hub of it all:

• JR Pass if purchased previously
• Narita Express + Suica Card Package ($15 for a express train to Tokyo station along with １５００円 worth of train rides)
• Airport Limousine
• Keisei Bus

If you didn't opt for a JR Pass, then we totally recommend the Keisei bus! Only ９００円 per person to Tokyo Station from Narita Airport.  It was about an hour and 20 minute ride, but there was traffic so mileage may vary.

Also, get a Suica card (for SF Bay Area people: an advanced Clipper card that works as a quick pay card at various stores as well) to make our transiting by trains and buses easier.

Finally got situated at our place and decided to explore and find food. We just popped into this Smart Sushi place to stuff our faces mainly because we saw this:

We were pleasantly surprised by an English language option, but anyway: this is the near epitome of minimal human contact. We just ordered what we wanted on the screen and the platters just come right out in a little robotic tray. You press a button and it sends the sushi right back into the kitchen (Soups and drinks do get served by a waiter/waitress though). Like many places, prices are color coded on the plates. 

It was not grand sushi, but it's definitely worth it. Where else are we going to find salmon nigiri for only $1.20? One of the first of many places that proved to us that eating in Japan doesn't have to be expensive.