DAY 4

TRANSPORTATION

     On Saturday morning our CEMS group agreed to meet in Hiyoshi station in order to go to the Tokyo central park to watch cherry blossoms (sakura). By the way this year is exceptional. Cherry blossoms started earlier than ever before. 

    To find our way from Huyoshi station (in Yokohama) to the center was not that easy in the beginning. The metro and rail systems are connected and are operated by 5 different transport companies. Additionally, there are different types of trains: metro, local trains, express trains and rapid express. The difference is that some of the trains don't stop on some stations, while others make all the stops. Different types of trains are marked with different colors. Additionally, in metro there are special women's wagons, where only women are permitted from 7:30-9:00 in the morning. 

    Some of the intersection stations are very complex with up to 5 levels. It is not so easy to find your way around, especially during the rush hour.

     Upon entering metro, you are supposed to purchase a ticket in a machine. YOu look at the map, pick your route and then pay an amount that covers that rout. If you traveled more or less, that you have paid, while exiting the metro you can adjust the price by paying additional fee or receiving part of your money back. Quite a convenient system.  But takes quite a while to understand though.

     The announcement are in Japanese and English as well as all the signs (and stations names) are in Japanese and English. 

     We were traveling at 10 in the morning of Saturday, the metro was not packed, but there were some people. Even though the weather outside was not that hot, the air in the wagon was really stuffed and heavy. Let's see what will happen in summer... 

SAKURA and CENTRAL PARK

     Japanese people love and enjoy watching sakura. THis Saturday morning half of the Tokyo has gathered in the central park to watch and take pictures of cherry blossoms. There were crowds of people wondering around. Ondrej, my residence mate and a CEMS colleague from Czech Republic has mentioned, that there was  the whole population of Prague here. Many people were sitting on the grass in big and small groups, chatting, playing cards, drinking beer and wine, some were even playing the guitar. The view was really spectacular and we were really lucky to have such a nice day. 

     We have expected to wonder around the park for a few hours and then to return back, however spent the whole day watching sakura and other sights in central Tokyo. We were quite a large group of people, bug had great fund together and managed to get around in those crowds quite well.

Photos by Borislav Slavov

TECH PRODUCTS

    From my previous experience, I knew that Japan is a tech country. But the wing with wifi has brought some doubts. HOwever a trip to a media supermarket has revealed those doubt away forever. The supermarket was 6 floors high. YOu can find anything you want there and the prices are very attractive. I have purchases great Phillips headphones for only 770 yen (less that 7 Euro) and they are of very high quality! Japan, that is why I am starting to love you! 

RESIDENCE ASSISTANCE FAMILY

     I have already mentioned the main guy in our residence who lives here and takes care of all the staff. His name is Kotani San. He speaks Japanese-English and is a extremely nice person. Very friendly and hospitable. Whenever he sees us, he invites us for a cup of tea in his special room. Last night he has invited us for the special tea ceremony: tea with sake. He, as a true Japanese, had a cup of sake without tea, but to be really hospitable, he has given us tea first and advice to put some sake there. He said we should put as much as we wanted, so we did. The tea has killed the sake taste completely, however I assume the effect was there.

     The funny thing about Kotani San, he always gives us tea, but never Japanese tea. The first day he was given some German tea in teabags, today Indian in teabags. I am looking forward to receiving some real Japanese tea from him. 

     This evening after a long day in the center me and Ondrej were quite tired, but decided to go down for some tea with Kotani San. Downstairs we mat his lovely family, his wife and daughter. They all speak English and are extremely nice. Kotani San's wife used to be a Japanese language teacher in elementary school, so we had great time drinking tea and practicing some Japanese there. All of them now live at the 2nd floor of the residence all the time and help Kotani San to take care of the residence. Yesterday 50 Japanese student moved in. We have 11 floors and around 30 rooms for floor, so quite a lot of people will eventually live here.