New Years In Japan 2019

As I usually do, I went to Japan to bring in the new year. This year would end very similar to years in the past, yet the new year would be something unlike any year I’ve experienced.

Arriving at Tokyo Haneda on December 30th, 2019 to an empty airport was more a case of timing than a foreshoweder of the year to come. However, looking back, this was the least busy I’ve ever seen HND upon arrival.

I rely on my UNLIMITED 2G data speeds worldwide for all my transit and information needs while abroad. This year was different. I had spent too much time abroad in T-mobiles eyes over the past year, so they had cut me off from all data abroad. So much for unlimited, right?

Due to this unfortunate and rather frustrating reality, I did something I had never done before. Most often a Wi-Fi Hotspot would be picked up in Ahkihabara, as became the tradition every time I went to Japan. This year I played tourist to the fullest and picked up the Wi-Fi Hotspot at the Airport.

I had been warned that there would be a long queue at the pickup location, although I ended up waiting only about two minutes.

Alas, after only 20 minutes in Japan, I had a connection wherever the road took me.

These days I never go to Japan alone. The destination is so popular that there are always friends who want to tag along. A Wi-Fi hotspot is essential for group communication, transit info, and just general connection to the world.

We went to our Tokyo accommodation and settled in for the night as the next day was the last day of 2019.

December 31st, 2019 had arrived. Just like the year before, I found myself in one of the most convenient nations on earth. The day consisted of exploring Tokyo with the first timers and there was a constant discussion about what to do for new years.

As always, I suggested going to Sensō-ji, a Buddhist Temple in Asakusa. The newcomers were more interested in a party type thing, so we looked for one using our hotspot. As the day turned into night, our feet became tired from lots of walking. The chill of December in Tokyo was running down my spine in full force, as I wasn’t packed for the cold- I never am.

As Midnight got closer and closer, one of the newcomers went off to find herself a party.

Then there was three.

The three of us wanted a place to at least bring in the new year, and by now we were too far from Asakusa to reach the temple before midnight. As midnight neared in, we found a Hub. Hub is a chain of British style pub that is fairly popular throughout Japan. We descended down the stairs into B1. As we entered smoke filled the room and I felt glad to be back in a country that knows a little bit about freedom.

We got ourselves a table and some drinks and soon the countdown was here. As we counted down, the thoughts of the year went through my head.

10…
This was my third time in Japan this year.

9…
Europe this summer was amazing

8…
Working in Iwate was amazing

7…

I’m here with some of the people that make me happiest in life
6…

So grateful for all my friends and family that are in my life
5…

Drink
4…

Smoke
3…

Smoke
2…

Shit, the year is really over
1…

Hope the next one is dope
0…

The room erupted into shouts and people were popping off little party streamers and whistling.

Adjacent tables begin mingling as if all had been long time friends. We get into the usual “Happy New Year” greetings to everyone you see, and before we knew it we were back upstairs on the street, with 2019 behind us and 2020 ahead of us. None of us knew what 2020 had in store for us, but even if we did, we wouldn’t have cared that night, or believed it.