I flew back to Tokyo today and it was quite an experience. First of all getting out of California was a chore. Japan recently changed it's requirements regarding covid testing which severely limited where you could get the correct test to get into the country. The sticking point is the collection method, a nasal swab vs. a nasopharyngeal swab. A nasal swab is like sticking your finger in your nose, you don't go in too far. A nasopharyngeal swab is a deep probe into your nose to the back of your throat. It's painful and annoying, but without that specific swab Japan will not let you in.
I found this out the hard way after I had taken my first test costing me $220 and the Dr. would not sign off on nasopharyngeal, only nasal. So I called about 10 other testing places and none of them would do the test with a 72hr turn around. Finally I called the airline, ANA, yesterday to reschedule my flight but they pointed me to a testing site at the entrance to LAX called Reliant. Reliant have been doing the test for Japanese the way the government wants it done and it only set me back another $175. So I was able to get on the plane! This is what it looked like, empty.
Breakfast was good though. Chorizo pasta with soba, a roll, fruit and yogurt. The chorizo was delicious.
When we landed we were put through a battery of tests & paperwork. Japan is the most bureaucratic country on Earth and they like it all done on paper. Even so, they are incredibly effect at it compared to the states.
First we had to show our negative test taken in the US. After that we went to get tested again, this time a saliva test in a vial. Nothing invasive. After this we were ushered into the tacking area. Here we have to put government sanctioned tracking app on our phones to track us for 14 days. We are required to give our location, submit our health condition and do a daily video call. After clearing another paperwork hurdle we then wait 45minutes for our test results. Mine was negative again and finally I was free to proceed through customs.
The restrictions have really turned the airport into a ghost town.
All of this stress made me hungry so I stopped at Tully's for a bit to eat and a coffee.
Tuna, mayo & cheese toast and a whipped, frothy, iced espresso. Both hit the spot.
After that I went to pick up my rental car. When you arrive in Japan you are not allowed to take any public transportation, from taxis, to trains, to busses. Someone either needs to pick you up or you can rent a car. While hopping on a train or bus are nice, I love driving around the city so the rental car works for me.
It was a gloomy day, with light showers which ruined the views, but I was happy to be back.
Tokyo Tower.
This is my favorite part of the drive. It's just past Shinjuku driving west. Tall buildings line the freeway and remind me of a video game type landscape.
No racing in my rental care though.
When I finally got back to my house I received an email from the Japanese Ministry of Health, someone on my flight had tested positive. Oh well, I have to quarantine for 14 days so nothing is gonna change. I'm just happy to be back with my family.
