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May 24

Ferry to Tokyo

In the morning I was joined by a few bikers (again: motorcycle), but the cyclist I met the day before wasn't to be found. We all bought tickets for the ride, and were informed that this particular ferry didn't have a restaurant, but instead we were given a food card worth 4 points, which we could use at the various vending machines in the dining hall.

We boarded and setup, and I ended up befriending the 2 bikers: Tanaka and Fukuzawa. Tanaka was actually from Kagawa, Kyushuu, and heading to visit friends in Tokyo. Fukuzawa was on his way home after a week speeding around Kyushuu and Shikoku. We hung out in the public room on the top deck, which has a 270 degree view of the sea, and watched the sunset.

It is on this ferry that I ran into my first Sushi Vending Machine. It costs 2 points on the food card, but well worth it. A frozen tray pops out, you microwave it for 3 minutes, which leaves the rice hot, but the sushi at room temperature. I was even able to convince Fukuzawa to try it. Even the Japanese weren't usually used to seeing such a contraption. We hung out in the dining hall until late, eating snacks and drinking.

We arrived into Tokyo at 5 a.m. Fortunately the port is just 2 kilometers from Kyoko's dorm on Odaiba - unbelievably convenient for me. I rode the 5 minutes there, woke Kyoko up, and then crashed on her floor.