We arrived in Japan at about 6:15am yesterday. With little sleep, and 5:30am breakfast, the day drags on and on. In the late morning it felt like it was mid afternoon.

We had to wait until the afternoon to check in, so after our bags were brought inside (this place is fancy ;) we sat down for a while here at the hotel before heading out to explore a bit of Shinjuku. It was very humid yesterday; we could feel it even walking through the tunnel from the plane to the airport. Sweat droplets were falling down my back while we were waiting at customs.

The attention to aesthetics in Japan has been immediately apparent again. The shops, stalls and food places make sure everything's perfect. The Japanese ladies around the place look classy and elegant.

There are people whose job is to operate a department store lift. They ask which floor you want, press the buttons, politely announce each floor at which the doors open, thank you for using the lift...

In the Keio food court near Shinjuku station, I saw a customer drop a coin while putting change away, and the cashier lady rushed out from behind her counter to pick it up for them.

There are thousands of JETs here at the hotel. There are signs at the lifts apologising for the delays at certain times of the day. I pity the other hotel guests :(

Because we're in a hotel at the moment (until Wednesday) I feel like I'm on a short holiday and as though I'll be home in a little while. My brain thinks things like, "What should I bring home to show people?" But I have a year to think about that...

Only 30 minutes till our 'Opening Ceremony' begins. There could be a delay on the lifts, so I'll make my way over soon...