Part 1 Day 1 The Bus

Part 1 Day 1 The Bus Fuji-san from the bus stop.

The Bus seemed easiest way to make my way to Tokyo, although the pick up point for the bus is quite far, if we moved I would buy a car and parking is free if you take the highway bus in a lot that is very close to the stop. The trip on the bus to Tokyo was quite easy and uneventful, and put me in Shibuya in plenty of time

The trip back was much less fun. I missed 2 buses that could have gotten me home because I was in the wrong place. I ended up going back to Shinjuku to get on the bus. When I got to Shinjuku there was a bus leaving at 730 but it only had "juseki" or fold down center seats available. This is equivalent to riding on a milk carton on roller skates in the center isle. I chose to take the next bus at 2000. I had a 1/2 hour before the bus left so I used it to get a 1/4 Pounder from Mc Donalds, and beer from Family Mart. I sat down on a side street and chowed down.

At 2000 I caught the bus and was finally on my way home 2 hours later than planned. Wierd Tasting Beer

At 2130 I met Satomi at the interchange bus stop where I got on the bus almost 15 hours before. We went to a friends house to pick up my niece and then went home. Some where around 11 I got to sleep.

Tomorrow will be a tougher test, the train to and from Tokyo, wish me luck. Below is a breakdown of the day.

Cost 1,540 yen Distance:115.0 km Time 105 minutes

0555 Woke up
0620 Left house
0635 Got to bus stop
0655 got on the bus 1540 yen
0740 couldn't hold it and had to use the bus restroom
0755 Got onto Shutoko Expressway LOTS of traffic but it thinned out quickly
0813 got the train from ikijiri-ohashi to Shibuya, Monday on non-work week, still pretty crowded. I think I can walk this part on nice days, just need to check out how far it is.
0835 at the office no one here but me :(

Around 930 another 2 guys showed up and sat in the corner having a meeting. I had 2 Red Bulls and some bread and felt OK. I got to work and quickly finished 2 tasks that I thought would take much much longer. 

Around 12 I got some lunch and around 4 or 5 started feeling the effects of being up so early and the travelling. 

Having a hard time concentrating and a slight headache, but with only a hour left I just sucked it up. 

1810 leave the office
1824 got to the !#$? bus stop?
1830 no bus
1845 no bus
1850 decide to go to Shinjuku cause I must be in the wrong place
1920 get to Shinjuku try to buy a ticket but all the seats were taken
1925 get ticket on 2000 bus
1940 got a 1/4 pounder a beer and sat down outside a chowed
2000 on the bus, head hurts and feeling very tired
2020 found out where the Ikijiriohahshi stop is I was off the mark by about 100 meters FML
2130 Satomi picked me up at Tomie Gotemba
2200 Went to friends house for 1 beer
2240 Got home
2300 Got into bed

The great commutation experiment

The great commutation experiment

Pay cuts suck but they are better than loosing your job. Recent changes at work and home, if you do not know, number 3 is on the way, have forced us to rethink our financial situation. For reasons unknown to any rational thinking adult I am considering commuting to work (Tokyo) from home in Gotemba. It is a 2 hour trip one way.

If you ask Satomi she will tell you that "Lots of people do it." I have not seen lots of people doing it as a matter of fact when I asked how much my company would pay for commuting from Gotemba the HR women all looked at me like I was holding my own bloody head in my hands and making it speak through some sort of devilish sorcery. When the shock wore off they started laughing and saying we will pay for what ever the "cheapest cost is to commute". This will most likely be JR line from Gotemba to Matsuda then Odakyu to Shimokitazawa to Shibuya. 
Here is a break down of what that would look like. 

On board for 125 minutes (Traveling for 137 minutes)
One-way fare:1,470 yen Distance:105.0 km
Iwanami
06:22am
07:08am
[46min.] 35.1km 650yen
Matsuda/Shin-Matsuda
Odakyu Line
Express 07:16am
08:28am
[72min.] 66.9km 700yen
Shimokitazawa
Keio-Inokashira Line 08:32am
08:39am
[7min.] 3.0km 120yen
Shibuya

140 minutes starting at 620 AM sounds sadly unmanageable for me. 

The second option is to take Shinkansen and is probably what people think when think of traveling to work by train. 
I do not dispute the fact that it would be faster and probably more comfortable, but it is almost 3 x the cost. They have commuter passes for that but I am afraid that it would still be such a huge chunk of change each month that it would just be cheaper to live in Tokyo. 

On board for 84 minutes (Traveling for 107 minutes)
One-way fare:4,910 yen Distance:141.5 km
Iwanami
Gotemba Line 05/04/2010
06:48am
07:07am
[19min.] 14.9km 2520yen
Numazu
Tokaido Line(JR Tokai) 07:10am
07:16am
[6min.] 5.5km
Mishima
Kodama No.704 07:22am
08:09am
[47min.] 113.9km Reserved 2390yen
Shinagawa
Yamanote Line 08:23am
08:35am
[12min.] 7.2km
Shibuya

Finally the bus. There is a highway bus between Gotemba and Shinjuku. The second last stop is 1.7 Kilometers from my office. I initially thought I could walk from Ikijiriohashi but now think that in the winter cold or summer heat or spring and fall rains..... I will just take the train.  

The bus departs 0655 and gets to Ikijiriohashi at 810, a quick trip on the train, although it will be a very crowded train it will get me to the office around 830. The cost is 1540 yen and you always get a seat, unfortunately the biggest problem with the bus is if the bus is late they do not give out "inconvenience tickets" which tell your employer you were late due to the bus/train/plane ect, and when your company is very aggressive about docking pay for lateness it could get expensive. 

For this experiment I will try to check for my own sanity, how difficult it would be to go to work in Tokyo from Gotemba. For day 1 I will try the bus, then the regular commuter line, then finally the Shinkansen to see which is fastest, easiest and cheapest. I think in order to stay under budget and still make it back every night it will take some usage of a combination of the bus and other routes. Stay tuned the next couple of days to see what the results and side effects are.
Erin's picture

Eric's Soccer Game

Erics team traveled by bus to play against another team. Anna and I went along to show our support.
Eric played goalie most of the game and did a great job even though they still lost. All the other teams seem really well drilled and understand why they are out there. Erics team, seems to be lacking some of that and it is a little sad to watch. 

While watching the game I turned into my Dad again without even noticing. Yelling and screaming at Eric, trying to help him and provide some direction. It was pretty embarrassing to listen to the video tape that we all watched together the following weekend. My voice can be heard constantly throughout the video. 

Eric's skill at goal keeper is improving every time he plays and I get really excited watching him. Guess it is a natural "Hughes Dad" thing.
Erin's picture

Mt Takao

POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZEN COMPLAINT REPORT

Complainants Name Erin Hughes

Object of complainants claim(s); Wife and Son

Name(s) of Witness(s) Anna P. Hughes (Daughter)

Statement of Incident :

Complainant states that he woke at 7 AM and planned to climb MT. Takao that day. Complainant stated that he was the greeted by screaming, yelling and crying. When he went to investigate he found that the 2 objects of the complainants claims were locked in a heated verbal battle about the status of a video game and its ability to fly. While neither claims were witnessed by the complainant this did not stop the tirade of screams and tears. Finally with little time left to make the departure point for the climbing of MT. Takao, the complainant claims he calmed the situation and got everyone in the car.

After being dropped off at the departure point for the MT Takao trip the complainant claims that the disposition of Object 2 (Son) returned to normal, and only reported one small incident during the MT Takao adventure where he needed to raise his voice to object 2, when Object 2, ran along side a accelerating train screaming and waving like a fool to say good-bye to a departing friend.

Upon returning from MT Takao complainant engaged in beer drinking and flirting with mothers of other children who had been on the trip at a local park. When the children could not agree on who was the best monster to chase them, the complainant foolishly stepped up to offer his services as the village monster and proceeded to chase said urchins around the small park, like a mad fool, till in the final minutes of said contest when he claims he finally snagged the last child.

After departing the park the complainant and object 2 on the way home decided to cut through Tateno Koen. Upon entering the park complainant and object 2 observed a father and son team facing off against some rival school children from Sekimachi in a ballet contest, that closely resembled a soccer match. Complainant and Object 2 entered the battle on the side of the Father and son team (of course) and within minutes the score was evened (of course). With dinner time drawing close and the complainants legs growing weary it was declared a sudden death game. Minutes later a pass from the complainant to the other child netted a goal that sealed the game(of course).

Upon arriving home complainant found one very happy wittiness, who was happy to go for a walk to the local Coup to help the complainant buy some beer, but before their escape was complete complainant states that object 2 and object 1 began arguing about homework, Bay Blade and other pointless crap. Complainant stated that he tried to interview and mediate the situation, but was unsuccessful. Complainant then stated that he spent the next 2 hours in misery over listening to the 2 Objects go back and forth during dinner, desert, and bath time over such pointless items as home work , a missing Bay Blade post card that Object 2 lost but claims Object 1 thew away in the trash, and why explanations from both sides as to “why I/he cant be a good boy” and “why the complainant should talk to object 2 on behalf of object 1 and visa verse. “

Complainant states he wants a divorce from BOTH Objects till they learn to figure out their personal problems with out a referee. Complainant states he never wheres a black and white striped shirt and typically does not carry a whistle. Complainant then stated Objects 1 and 2 need to learn to listen to each other and try to communicate before complainant goes insane.

This concludes today's report. Have a nice day.