Travel Day 1: Japan Album Release Tour JINSEI 2024
Travel Day 1: Japan Album Release Tour 2024 As with most of my tours in Japan, this one began the same way—my driver, super fan, and dad drove me to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. After a brief goodby went straight to baggage drop-off.
I like to get through that process as quickly as possible and afterward, I treated myself to some great white wine at my usual spot in the airport before heading to the gate. My seat on the plane was conveniently at the emergency exit row—no row in front of me, just the added responsibility of helping in case of a crash. 😉 I’ll spare you the boring details of the 14-hour flight: bad food, average movies on tiny screens—it’s essentially a 14-hour twilight zone.
I landed at Narita Airport around 11:00 am, which is usually a smooth experience. This time, however, customs was a mess, taking over an hour. Thankfully, my suitcase was already waiting for me at baggage claim.
To my surprise, a dedicated fan was waiting for me, while chatting with a camera crew from a popular Tokyo TV show “Why did you come to Japan?” that interviews travelers arriving in Japan, and ofcourse I was a famous saxophonist from Amsterdam;) Their main question: “Why did you come to Japan?” This turned into a nearly 40-minute interview, with one of the three crew members translating on the spot. It was funny—hilarious even—but after about 20 minutes, I was ready to wrap it up. I made sure to talk about my tour and its 12 shows across Japan. After a quick selfie and goodbyes, I headed off to take care of my arrival essentials.First up: pocket Wi-Fi. Staying connected is key for me. Then, I reserved my seat on the Skyliner train to Tokyo, a fast and reliable ride that gets you to the heart of the city in just 45 minutes.
The start of my tour was in and around Tokyo. I would stay with one of my bandmembers, but close to the Yamanote Line. This loop line hits all the major tourist hotspots, making it super convenient to navigate Tokyo and connect with other train and metro lines. I usually prefer Ueno and Ueno Park. it has an older vibe and is easier to get around, plus the Skyliner stops there.
Although these trips to Japan are always like water—flowing naturally—I still like to prepare in advance. Before leaving, I use Google Maps to locate the nearest convenience stores, konbinis, nearby ramen shops, and how far the station is. These small preparations help me embrace the “water” way of travel, where flexibility is key. While my gigs are meticulously planned, the journey itself—the unexpected invites, wrong trains, and random conversations—feels like the ocean, ever-shifting. Accepting that flow makes the experience so much richer.
