(Chinese Version)08-29-2025, Friday, San Jose
In early August in Beijing, while Facetime videoing with my daughter, she noticed me flexing my right arm and asked, “What’s wrong with your right arm?”
I said, “I think it got hurt carrying my suitcase up and down many times while I was transferring between train stations from Kyoto to Tokyo’s Narita Airport.”
The discomfort in my right arm has subsided considerably after my cousin treated me to a traditional Chinese medicine hot foment at Xiaotangshan Hospital before I left Beijing, and after my daughter treated me to a Thai massage in San Jose yesterday.
Today is Friday. After dinner, I’m still subconsciously flexing my right arm because it still hurts a bit.
On a happy Friday evening, I am sharing the sad story of my injured right arm, on my last day of Japan after my tour group which started in Tokyo. This injury was a result of when I was in a hurry to get from Kyoto to Tokyo’s Narita Airport. Looking back, it was a pretty exciting moment.
After arrived to Tokyo, I decided to stay in Kyoto one more day to explore this old city, so I had to leave Kyoto early in the morning to catch my flight to Beijing that takes off at Narita Airport at 3:15 PM. My plan for getting from Kyoto to Tokyo’s Narita Airport was to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo, transfer to the JR Yamanote Line (Green Line) to Ueno Station, and then walk to Keisei-Ueno Station to take the Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport.
Suica, a prepaid, rechargeable electronic smart card in Japan. In Tokyo, I used it for train fares, restaurants, and shopping, but not in Kyoto, because many shops didn’t accept Suica.
As Suica can’t be used to purchase Shinkansen tickets, I bought the earliest and fastest Shinkansen ticket from Kyoto to Tokyo, departing at 9:00 AM on the 28th (arriving at Tokyo Station at 11:15 PM, 17,400 yen), online using my credit card. Suica can pay the ticket from Tokyo Station to the JR Yamanote Line (Green Line) Ueno Station. Strangely enough, Suica only covers the basic fare (the ticket portion) of the Keisei Skyliner, not the seat reservation fee. Following the recommendation, I used my credit card and passport to buy a discounted one-way ticket from Keisei Ueno Station to Narita Airport for 2,310 yen, online.
My flight from Narita Airport to Beijing will take off at 3:15 PM, since international flights require passengers to arrive two hours in advance, I have to arrive at Narita Airport around 1:15 PM. After arriving at Tokyo Station at 11:15 PM via the Shinkansen, I needed to transfer twice to reach Keisei Ueno Station. The Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport would take almost an hour, as it departs at a fixed time slot. Therefore, I only had one hour to transfer between train stations.
As I knew I easily get lost even with directions, after pre-purchasing my train tickets, I hand-copied and reviewed the detailed instructions for each transfer station using ChatGPT and the internet a few times to ensure a smooth transfer and arrive at Narita Airport on time so that I could catch my 3:15 PM flight to Beijing.
Just after 8:00 AM on the 28th, the weather was already scorching. In the hot and humid morning, I pulled my suitcase and walked more than ten minutes from my hotel to the Kyoto Shinkansen train station, ready to catch the earliest and fastest Shinkansen train from Kyoto to Tokyo, which will arrive Tokyo at 11:15 AM. I checked in using the QR code I downloaded on my phone and carried my suitcase up the stairs to the elevated Shinkansen station. I felt a relief as my suitcase wasn’t heavy, but I didn’t know about the many steps I’d have to carry it up and down later. While standing on the very hot platform waiting for my train, I already felt a bit exhausted.
(The NOZOMI 80 Shinkansen train I took)
I arrived at Tokyo Station at 11:15 AM and discovered that the handwritten guide of using Suica to transfer from the Shinkansen train station to the JR Yamanote Line (Green Line) Ueno Station was incorrect, because I couldn’t use Suica to pay for the ticket and pass the gate. I looked at people rushing passing me, unsure what to ask. I pulled my suitcase to a staff member, showed him my handwritten JR Lines Ueno on the paper, and asked him which way to go. He pointed to a guarded window next to the automatic gate. I pointed at it and looked at him, and he nodded. I pulled my suitcase up to the guard, and she asked in English if I needed any help.
I quickly said, “I want to transfer to the JR Lines to Ueno, but my Suica could not pay for a ticket. What should I do?”
She said, “You need to show me your Shinkansen ticket.”
I said, “I don’t have a ticket. I bought it online.”
She asked, “Do you have a receipt for your online purchase?”
I said, “Yes,” and quickly pulled out the email receipt from my phone and showed it to her.
She said, “You should have an e-ticket too. Can you show it to me?”
I gave her the QR code ticket I had downloaded on my phone. After she checked the ticket and let me through the gate manually, I suddenly realized I was only exiting the train station but not buying a ticket to enter JR train station.
I walked along the green line with my suitcase, swiping my Suica successfully to enter the JR Lines.
The handwritten guide said the train to Ueno was on platforms four and five. I reached the entrance marked Platforms 4 and 5, carrying my suitcase and walked up the stairs to the platform. Being directionally challenged, I cautiously pointed to the name “Ueno” which was written on my handwritten guidebook to a fellow passenger. He peeked over, shook his head, and pointed to the platform across the way. I took a closer look at the names of destinations on the platform wall and realized I had reached the station for the train heading in the opposite direction. I hurriedly carried my suitcase down the stairs and up again to the right platform, catching the subway bound for Ueno.
After getting off at Ueno Station, I realized my handwritten guidebook for the Keisei Skyliner station also wasn’t working. I exited the station and stood under the blazing sun, unsure whether to turn left or right or go forward, as Google map had since given up. After a moment’s hesitation, I pointed to Keisei Ueno Station on my handwritten guidebook and asked a passing mother and daughter for directions. After understanding my question, the mother took out her cell phone, entered Keisei Ueno Station on the map, then pointed to the left said: “You can get there by following the yellow line on the ground.” I thanked the kind mother, pulled my suitcase and walked along the yellow line on the ground for a long time, took a elevator down to the lower ground, crossed a road with traffic lights, and finally arrived at Keisei Ueno Station.
(The yellow line on the ground leads to Keisei-Ueno Station)
(Keisei Ueno Station)
Inside the station, following oral instructions from a staff member, I lined up in front of the ticket counter, took out my passport and pulled out the QR code on my phone, ready to exchange for a one-way ticket to Narita Airport. I was lucky to get the ticket departing at noon, which allowed me to arrive at Narita before 1:00 PM and not miss my flight to Beijing at 3:15 PM.
(Keisei Skyliner train to Narita Airport)
(A scene on the way to Narita Airport: vast fields of rice)
(A corner of Narita Airport)
On July 28th, I left my hotel in Kyoto a little after 8:00 AM and arrived at Narita Airport just before 1:00 PM. After carrying my suitcase up and down many stairs while walking a long distance, in addition coupling with the heat and the stress, my right arm was injured.
After arriving in Beijing, I began to experience a constant pain from my right wrist up to my shoulder, which bothered me a lots.
A month has passed in a flash. After enjoying traditional Chinese hot foment therapy in Beijing and a Thai massage in San Jose, I still feel a slight pain in my right arm. I felt I am aging and time really has taken its toll!
Traveling sometime is about seeking hardship and yet finding joy in it. After planning and implementing a very short trip from Kyoto to Tokyo’s Narita Airport, I’ve learned that planning a tight schedule and a feasible plan requires a highly precise mind. A heartfelt tribute to all the travel experts out there!
Happy Friday!