Love this thread so far -- although my first experience in Japan wasn't so "romantic" lol as those so far -- In the late 1990's I was sent to Japan to fix a long line of ex-pat leaders mistakes at our division on Tokyo - I landed after a 14 hour flight and was immediately overwhelmed by the heat an humidity (It was July lol) - I still remember my initial amazement at the precision of the trains (NEX) - and my clumsy attempts at the "ATM" to purchase a green car ticket (didn't realize that was an uppity decision then lol).

My new home was in Shinagawa and I would be working in Omori. My first night in my new apartment was lonely -- and then we had a major earthquake (not really - but I didn't know that then) - and then I began to understand why all pictures are hung from wires that are attached to a metal strip at the ceiling lol... On my first day at work I received the best advice in my life about living in Japan -- if its late and you don't know where you are just follow the people -- they always go to the local train station - and damn if that isn't so true even today!

I immediately fell in love with Japanese culture and people. When I was younger I was a semi pro baseball player -- so I spent my weekends at the local Shinagawa baseball field watching the high school teams play -- wow Japanese baseball was so much more serious and advanced than America. But it was sitting in the stands that changed me -- that's where I met the owner of the local grocery store, the owner of the local izakaya and the local sushi place -- and then I met my wife and it changed my life forever...

It's the day to day things I remember the most -- taking a train at 10pm and seeing a 10 year old heading home with no fear or worries. Or sitting at a deserted intersection watching everyone wait for the sign to cross even though there wasn't a car for miles -- or the absolute terror of being in Shinagawa station when the last trains come in -- you would think Godzilla was chasing everyone! I remember the first time I "climbed" Takao to watch the sunset -- and then drank my way down -- or my first trip to the local temple -- or my first run on Sumida-gawa -- all like it was yesterday!

Ok back on track -- True story -- the local grocery store set up a "Gaijin end-cap" for me -- basically they watched me wander around the store (cluelessly) and they would take the items I would always purchase and they consolidated it to one place -- all just to make it easier for me (for those of you not living in Japan the Ramen aisle alone is intimidating). Back then there was no English on anything -- today it is much easier of course but I think the lack of English made me have to work more -- and that was in a way good.... Every day in my first year they helped me learn one more word of Japanese and seemed to truly take pleasure as I learned -- and to this day we remain in touch....

I'll never forget those days and the people that took the time to help out a helpless gaijin -- and it's why I love Japan and am proud to live there and always will be!