A Long Walk

[aquamarine]

So I'm now here in Japan, have been for ten days, and have been on the train quite a bit but still don't quite know my way around (First five days were spend living in Shibuya, and past 5 days in Yokohama at a gaijin house so I've been flipping around quite a bit.

So a couple days ago, I decided to go for a walk, I nice LONG walk. I've been to Shibuya, heck, I know my way around there pretty good and it's only a half hour train ride away so what's stopping me from walking it? Oh... about 14 hours worth of walking, that's what.

I ended up walking from Tama Plaza in Yokohama to Futako Tamagawa before finally asking one of the passers-by just how far it is to Shibuya. "On fut?" Yes... on foot. "Waruking???" he asks with a perplexed look on his face "Yes... hai..." He proceeds to count on his fingers and draws imaginary numbers in the air "Five aars warook" Five hours?? ..... Where's the closest station?

What a day
http://www.pozland.com/japan/part10/

[Big Booger]

They're Playing Your Song

[Steve Bildermann]

have been for ten days

I know my way around there pretty good

In Japan those two sentences are mutually exclusive.

[Socratesabroad]

Hey, I feel for ya!

I used to live near Futakotamagawa. Any way, right before I moved abroad in Feb, I went to a mtn bike store in Shibuya to get a cardboard shipping box that I had to have to bring my bike with me (they gave it to me for free, so I couldn't rightly complain). Anyway, a few nights before I'm scheduled to leave I hop the train(s) from my place, get there, and get this long, thin, somewhat heavy box, and then I realize - how the fark am I going to get home?

Tried a cab - wouldn't you know the box was too long to fit inside. So, like you, I ended up hoofing it from Shibuya home to Futakotamagawa. Hours of joy...

[Boo]

5 hours from futakotamagawa to shibuya? some thing sounds a little odd there. I did this trip several times after I first arrived and the longest it took me was 3 hours and this was a really slow pace. My best time was 1 hour 15 minutes.

[Taro Toporific]

some thing sounds a little odd there the longest it took me was 3 hours and this was a really slow pace. My best time was 1 hour 15 minutes.

Hmmm, let me see....
35C heat + 2m long bike box + a couple "shortcuts" + poor Japanese skills = 5 hours from Futakotamagawa to Shibuya

Along the same road, Rt 246, it's taken me all night ...more than 5 hours to walk home after the last train BUT ONLY when it's a crisp cool night moonlight night made it worthwhile.

[Socratesabroad]

5 hours from futakotamagawa to shibuya? some thing sounds a little odd there. I did this trip several times after I first arrived and the longest it took me was 3 hours and this was a really slow pace. My best time was 1 hour 15 minutes.

No questioning your ability here, but an hour? I've had many a night's ride home from Shibuya via Japan's lovely taxi system - and the trip invariably took 45 min to an hour...

FWIW, walking from Kyodo to Kitami takes about 45 min to an hour (when I was too cheap for a taxi)...