At last, I've arrived in Japan. This is my first time I'm out of my country. Japan, here I come ... I can feel smells of sakura, ultramodern cities anda also warm welcoming.

It was a cold day for me, I came on 11 April 2000, it was a spring time and temperature was about 10 degrees at night and 18 degrees in daytime. I come here as a foreign exchange student for 6 months at University of Electro-Communication, Chofu, Tokyo.

When I put my first step to Shinjuku, two officer from UEC pick me up by taxi. After little brief, I went to Mitaka City Hall for alien registration. In the afternoon, my host-family came and took me home. I live in Mitaka, near the border between Chofu and Mitaka, and next to my home-stay I can see Nogawa river. There is also Nogawa park which I can reach within 10 minutes by bike.

My Host Family
At first time when UEC asked my accomodation, home-stay is my first choice. I am eager to know Japanese culture especially typical Japanese family and also I could learn Japanese language faster. I live with Sato family (Osamu, Chizuko and Daisuke), they were just married for 5 years, and this year Daisuke will be 4 years old. My host-father is a freelance photographer and my host-mother is working at National Aerospace Laboratory. These pictures below was taken when we visited Jindai Botanical Garden (May 2000). You can also see Daisuke at right-below(taken by Osamu Sato).

Shopping and Eating Out
Japanese people with their "too polite" tradition makes me surprise. When you entering restaurant or buy something in shop, every people (workers) will welcoming you even they're far away from you. Most shop close about 8 p.m., though some stay open later. Some convenient stores like Seven Eleven, am-pm, open for 24 hours. But, you can buy almost everything from vending machines - drinks, beer, cigarettes, or magazines.
It is easy to find all kinds of food from all over the world. Some restaurants serve a variety of food, but most specialize in particular kind. If you cannot read the menu, just point to one of the plastic models, and waitress can understand. You can also find standing up restaurant around stations. There is no chair and you have to eat in standing position.

Transportation
Major cities in Japan have modern, convenient and highly developed public transportation such as local train or subway. But much initial confusion arises from the fact that Tokyo is serviced by a combination of JR, private inner-city subway lines and private suburban lines. This sometimes means you have to switch between trains system. And also, sometimes they don't have destination written in alphabet, so you have better to know destination characters in Japanese before setting out. Tickets are sold by ticket machine, and you have to put your ticket in the slot at automatic ticket gate, then the gate will open and you can take the ticket again.
Once you have become familiar with trains, maybe you want try buses or taxi. But off course, will cost you more. I have try buses 2 times and once with taxi when I just arrived to Tokyo.
Driving in Japan isn't convenient at all. The roads are very narrow and parking is difficult and expensive. But bikes are very popular, they're cheap, easy, and also can be an exercise for you.

Travelling
Some places I've ever visit in Japan are :