Before I get into this post too far, I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has followed me along on my journey. It has been a journey of self‑discovery and healing that challenges me and continues to surprise me in ways that I could never have fathomed before. I’ve seen myself in every soul that I’ve encountered. Some encounters have been jarring, others soothing, and others still a reflection of who I really am. Sometimes I’ve liked the reflection. Other times, I have not. The end result has always been growth, recognition, and understanding. As they say, when you know better, you do better, so that’s what I strive for. Again, thank you.

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Now, on with the post!

A Series of Simple Steps

After going through customs and out into the wilds of Narita International Airport, I had some things I needed to do before I could catch my next flight. The first was picking up my home internet modem. Sakura Mobile made it very easy to get my plan, rent my equipment, and then pick it up from one of a few different locations. Next was figuring out the best way to get from Narita to Haneda using one of the shuttle buses. Fortunately, my flight from Tokyo to Sapporo wasn’t for another four hours, so I had time.

As it goes, this should all have been fairly simple. I walk to the appropriate pick‑up location, enter my code, receive my modem, and instructions. Simplicity itself! Sakura Mobile even sent me a map. I figured this would take about ten minutes, and then I’d buy my bus ticket and be on my way to Haneda, which is about a 45‑minute trek across town—on paper. It would also give me a chance to have a real meal before my flight. International airline food is respectable, but it’s still nothing compared to a real bowl of ramen from a chef who’s been making the same bowl of noodles for the last 50 years.

What I discovered instead was that the pick‑up location was hidden in plain sight. It was one of those situations I’ve come to recognize in Japan where something is obvious once you see it, but until then remains entirely invisible—at least to Western eyes. That is probably how ninjas were so successful in their heyday.

I probably walked five miles back and forth across the airport and wasted two hours looking for the spot. Eventually, I realized I had to admit defeat and walked up to a Japan Post Office employee for help, only to learn that I had arrived at the correct place and that they simply needed to retrieve the package for me. I glanced down at the banner along the counter, and sure enough, this was the spot. Now that I’ve seen it, I genuinely don’t understand how I kept missing it. As I would later discover, this wouldn’t be the last moment like this on my return to Japan.

A Polite Negotiation

Still, with the modem finally in hand and enough time to get a bus ticket, cross town, and check in at Haneda, minus dinner, things seemed back on track. Buying the bus ticket was easy. Boarding the bus was easy. The problem arose somewhere between Narita and Haneda: I lost the ticket stub required to retrieve my luggage from under the bus. Still, the arrival itself was painless, and after a short conversation with the driver, I managed to convince him that the only suitcase waiting at the curb was indeed mine. I grabbed it and hurried into the airport.

Ten minutes later, I was through security and at my gate—just in time for the flight to be delayed several hours due to icy weather conditions in Sapporo. So much for arriving at New Chitose Airport and enjoying a quiet dinner. I scavenged for food and waited until the plane finally arrived. On a personal note, I enjoyed watching people calmly slurp noodles while waiting for their own flights. It felt good to be back in Japan.

A Calm Delay

The plane eventually arrived close to 10:00 p.m. Crossing the International Date Line and not having slept in two days was beginning to catch up with me. Fortunately, I had the good sense to apply lessons learned from my previous trip. I had reserved a hotel room at New Chitose Airport, deciding it would be far better to catch the train to Otaru the following morning rather than push on. The odds of accidentally leaving my bag on the train this time were much lower.

The flight to Sapporo was uneventful, and the pilot made up for lost time in the sky. Once again, high praise goes to Japan Airlines and their A350‑900 that flies between Haneda and Sapporo. It’s a fantastic aircraft, with a fantastic crew on a fantastic route. My inner airplane nerd still marvels at the plane and the route every time I fly it.

When the plane finally touched down in New Chitose, I was relieved that I didn’t have to go through customs and that my gate was literally next door to my hotel. I crossed the short distance, checked in, got to my room, and immediately crashed—grateful that I’d given myself this small gift when booking my return.

From the time I was released into the wild at Narita to the moment I collapsed onto my hotel bed in New Chitose, I could feel my central nervous system begin to regulate itself, and my shoulders relax. It felt good to be back here. I think most of my fellow Americans live in a state of perpetual shock that slowly fries their nervous systems without them realizing it. We exist in a constant state of fight or flight, conditioned not to trust strangers and to move through the world defensively. Everyone is a potential threat, and vigilance is treated like a virtue before we even get into secondary stressors like rent, groceries, and healthcare.

Asia in general, and Japan in particular, operates from a different assumption: that everyone has a role to play, and that people look out for one another—even those who are only here temporarily. Being reminded that I don’t have to be on guard all the time feels like a rare commodity at this point in world history.

As I finally drifted off to sleep, I thought about the next day and quietly ran through my list of errands. Winter had already offered me a small preview of what lay ahead. So far, it had been kind.