Ever imagined yourself stepping off the plane onto the Land of the Rising Sun for the first time? If you’ve not had the chance to experience it for yourself yet then you can do so vicariously with our competition winner Ashley in the video below. Warning: things get a little bit emotional!
Although Ashley has visited the country once before it was only for a few days, which means that there are many things she’s experiencing for the very first time, and this time round she was visiting completely free of charge, courtesy of our little website. It was great seeing her reactions to everything.
Ashley arrived at Narita Airport from the US safely on Tuesday night (JST). She was as impressed as she’d hoped to be by All Nippon Airlines’ (ANA) service and food, which was a relief after she’d built it all up! Also, how is she so chipper after just stepping off a long-haul flight?!
After getting her JR pass sorted we all took the airport bus to Tokyo Station, where Ashley got a bit overwhelmed about being in her dream country. There were a few tears, but she assures us they were of the happy variety.
Then it was onto the train, which presented the challenges of buying tickets and getting through ticket gates. The Japanese train network is a beautifully complex system that runs like greased lightning, but it can be overwhelmingly complicated for a first-time traveller. After living here for a while you get used to it, but it’s always nice to see a newcomer’s reaction to remind us of how awesomely impressive it really is.
On the way to the hotel we stopped by a convenience store for some snacks and Ashley took in the bright lights of Shinjuku at night. It was a whirlwind first few hours in Japan, and things are just getting started. Be sure to check out our other articles under the Japan Wish tag to follow Ashley along on her adventure!
Photos and video © RocketNews24
We say goodbye to our Japan Wish winner and look back on her time in Japan【Video】
Announcing the winner of the RocketNews24 Japan Wish competition!
Japan’s Hello Kitty Airport theming gets extension, avoids autumn end
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Are Japan’s room-temperature curry packets the boxed lunch heroes we’ve been looking for? [Taste test]
Studio Ghibli theme park announces new expansion saluting a previously off-limits anime
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Police ask Kumamoto residents to not get blackout drunk as much during earthquake relief efforts
Kumamoto earthquake may have created Japan’s newest hot spring inside flooded restaurant [Video]
Japanese convenience store food gets turned into hyper-realistic stationery you can peel open
Tokyo is getting a branch of famous Los Angeles hot dog chain Pink’s with Japan-exclusive items
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】