The subway system in Tokyo is massive but is very easy to use, in my opinion. There are actually 2 grids and I am only using the JR one which is quite comprehensive and gets me to wherever I need to go. All the stations and trains have very clear Japanese and English signage. They also allocate an alphabet and number to each station so it is even easier to use than the London one. Other cities could learn a few lessons from the Japanese! So for example, if you we're at Trafalgar Square on the Piccadilly line, it could be called P5. Leicester square would be P6, etc. This is used to figure out how many stops to the next station, direction of travel, and is so useful in remembering which line a station is on. A station with many lines would have many numbers. They also have signs within each station telling you exactly how many meters it is from where you are to the line you want to transfer to. Most stations have these signs every 5 meters. When you want to leave the station is where it starts becoming difficult.

Every station has multiple exits like the London stations. Figuring out which is the right one is difficult. There are area maps but once you are on the street, it becomes even more difficult. There are signs with English street names only in the main areas. The Japanese alphabet has absolutely no resemblance to the western alphabet so I cannot read it at all. I therefore battle to figure out where I am and what direction I am heading in. Not everyone speaks English so getting directions from strangers is a challenge. I used one of the stations a little further from my hotel and was trying to get back using a map. I was about a minute away from the hotel but had no idea how to get to it. It was starting to rain too. I asked a lady in a store and showed her the map with my hotel highlighted on it. We couldn't figure out where we were, she couldn't speak English either. Eventually I saw her looking in a directory and realized she was looking for a phone number or address. I showed her the hotel card with address and number. From the address, she was able to point directions to me and I got to the hotel. It's like being in London, and the only language and alphabet you understand is Hindi or Arabic! You are screwed!

Most of the stores have Japanese signage only so you can never be sure what they are selling, etc. This makes food a massive problem. Food is also quite expensive here. I am eating a big breakfast in the hotel and then snacking on chips and stuff I brought from SA and USA. I try my luck at night at places where there is English signage, but they put ham in my pasta arrabiata one night so it is a gamble.

To get over my direction challenges, I eventually got detailed area maps from the tourist office in Tokyo Station. I now use the compass on my iPhone to figure direction and count the number of blocks I have walked etc. Most areas are not in nice grid layouts so this also can be difficult but I am managing much better now. I also know the area around my hotel a little better so I am more comfortable.

I have no phone service here. I have no idea why MTN has no roaming arrangements here, but I cannot receive or make calls or sms's. Fortunately, I have wifi in my room now. I didn't have wifi in my room for the first night as all the routers were being used. They have network points in each room instead of wifi.
I must mention that Japanese people are really nice and helpful. A guy riding past on a bicycle saw me trying to take a self picture. He stopped without me asking and took the picture for me. On the hop on off bus, an old Japanese lady made me put the seatbelt on, gave me a sweet and her daughter got me a hand fan to deal with the heat! An old couple saw me looking at a map trying to figure out where to go. In broken English, they gave me directions and walked with me a little. They are very quiet, well mannered people. They are also very intelligent and seemingly a very wealthy nation too. People dress well, cars are reasonably new and late model. It is not unusual to see S class mercs or other premium vehicles on the road.