I realized anew today how much I love the shinkansen. Unfortunately I realized this while I was taking local trains. For 12 hours. Local trains, unlike the shinkansen, pause at every stop. You must change stations. And if you dont really know where you’re going, and you dont understand Japanese, this becomes difficult.
Announcement: “Kamayakurae” (me shaking self awake, removing headphone) (looking at directions i wrote down.) “Yamakurayae.” Is that what he said? I barely heard what he said. Is he going to make another announcement? (listening and waiting) (train slowing down)
Announcement: “Kamayakurae des.” (me looking at paper again.) Did I write it down wrong? What time is it? Where the eff am I? (standing up, moving to go look at map inside train, which is in Japanese)
(train stops) (I hesitate) (I dodge out of the train at the last minute, unable to decide)
(train leaves) (I open guidebook) (read).
me: SHIT.
