For a change, we’re travelling via Cairns airport this time. This seems silly, but at the same time I look forward to spending less contiguous time in the air. Cairns, with it’s modest population, manages to have an international airport, due in no small part to its rich natural tourist attractions.
There’s no good way to do this; we’ve packed and dressed for an arrival in Tokyo where the temperature will be in the single digits, but it’s probably over 30 degrees in Cairns. Getting off the domestic flight, we grab our stuff and walk across to the international terminal. It’s not as big a trek as it would be at Sydney airport, but it’s far from comfortable.
To our dismay there’s absolutely nothing to do at Cairns airport. Internet access is non-existent, and there’s not even any shops to browse. I guess it’s all business here (unlike Sydney, which is trying to push itself as a shopping destination of all things).
The weather in Tokyo is a bit rough and the landing is easily the most riveting part of the flight. Far be it from me to wish for misfortune, but there’s an exhilarating tension in the air as the plane is buffeted by crosswinds, wingtips shaking wildly. The din of the engines crescendos to a roar as it’s joined by the reverse thrust, then accompanied by rubber on tarmac.
Getting to Tokyo-proper is a bit of an exercise due to us not having active rail passes yet; we have to actually pay our way there, so we opt for the slower, cheaper routing to Jinbouchou.
Sakura Hotel is a nice change from Tokyo IH where we stayed last time. It’s less rigid and is open 24/7 – a nice bonus given the odd hours that we expect to be around. It’s not right above the train station and two stations away from Akiba, but we should be able to walk there anyway, at least according to the map. Sakura also has free wifi; massive win right there.