The Tokyo Airport Isn't in Tokyo

My connection to Tokyo did not leave on time. In fact, it left hours later than it should have. Precious hours I spent Snapchating my sorority Little and chatting up cute Marines. However, those extra hours were not so helpful in my attempt to make my connecting flight. I touched down at the Tokyo airport roughly 15 minutes before my next flight took off. So there, at the end of the deplaning area, were airport agents prepared with new flights and complimentary hotel stays.

That’s how I ended up at Hotel Nikko Narita. Which is directly next to the Tokyo airport. Which, ironically, is two hours from Tokyo. Even downtown Narita is 30 minutes from the Narita hotel. So what I was hoping to be a night in Tokyo ended up as a night in the Hotel Nikko Narita. But Japan has been kind of an amazing place for me in the fact that I’ve never felt less alone than when I’m wandering around in Japan. Last year I met a sorority sister. However, this year I met brothers; triplets in fact, joined on their trip by their half sister and her boyfriend. They too missed the flight to Jakarta. So we bussed over to the hotel where we got assigned to our respective rooms and then met up for our complimentary dinner.

We got acquainted fast and found out that they’re actually from a town right near where I used to live in Massachusetts. I kid you not, I was discussing mutual friends from middle school with near strangers in Japan. Before long we were following up our dinner at the hotel’s sky lounge, which played a strange array of smooth jazz over the leather booths and near-skyscraper view of the airport and surrounding city.

My newly acquainted friends at the hotel.

However, even nights in Tokyo must come to an end, and we departed back to our rooms. Which I feel is interesting enough it deserves its own commentary. Here’s a picture of my little room:

200% of the recommended nightly dose of bed.

But here’s the really cool part:

I know by now you probably just think I really enjoy photographing Japanese toilets (see last year's post), but look closer…

Yeah. My private toilet has adjustable butt warming capabilities.

But wait, there’s more! For the same price as Everything’sFreeDueToUnited, you get…

Actually drinkable water!

And look at the photo of the beds again.

That’s right. You can control all the lights in the room from the comfort of your bed. Best free hotel room ever. Plus I can get a break between my 14 hour and my 8 hour flights. And complimentary breakfast.