jet lag : The Art of Non-Conformity

Travel

Traveler 1, Jet Lag 0 (For Once)

You, traveler, know very well what jet lag is like. For a period of several years, you were essentially jet-lagged two weeks every month. “Jet lag is my favorite drug,” you said, repeating the great line by Jacques Cousteau.

But you knew then, just as all travelers come to know, that real jet lag is a bitch. Contrary to the suggestions of well-meaning people who took a trip once and thus claim to know all about the world, jet lag is unpredictable. When it arrives, there’s no magic bullet to stop it from claiming your days and nights for as long as it wants.

Onwards: Notes from Haneda Airport

When visiting Japan I usually fly into Narita airport, located at least 90 minutes from most of Tokyo. It’s a long bus ride, especially after stepping off a ten-hour flight from the U.S. or Europe. But whenever possible, I prefer to leave Japan from Haneda airport, more centrally located and more “local” all around.