Tuesday was our final day in Japan.  We only had a short time in the morning, so we went over to Ropponggi, the international district in Tokyo.  It seemed like a very cool area, but we were only there long enough for my dad to look at his watch and tell us it was time to get back to the hotel.  We grabbed our bags, then had a quick yakitori lunch at the hotel.  After a quick cab ride, we were at Tokyo Station and ready to take the Narita Express to the airport.  My parents were flying out of a different terminal, so once we got checked in, it was time to say good-bye.  Security was a breeze.  There wasn’t a line because there were so many metal detectors.  I realized one of the things I’d miss most about Japan was its efficiency.  I wandered around the shops a little, trying to decide if I wanted any duty free.  I didn’t see any good tequila, and the scotch selection was limited, so I saved my money.  The plane ride back was short, under 9 hours.  When I arrived in San Francisco, I had no problem with customs, but immediately realized I wasn’t in Japan anymore.  Everything seemed loud.  I saw people yelling into cellphones (absent in Japan), kids running around screaming (didn’t see this either), and poor fashion choices (a guy weighing in at around 3 bills, wearing a bright neon orange t-shirt).  But, at least I was home.

Blogged with Flock