Kirsty McManus

The Rockstar in Japan

I hear the warning chime before I’ve reached the top of the escalator. Damn it. It took me forever to find this platform, and because it’s a long-distance trip, there won’t be another train to Hakuba for several hours. The rail system in Japan can be very confusing to those who can’t read or speak the language—especially in Shinjuku, which has the busiest station in the world. I don’t have the energy—or money—to try again later.