We live in a town with more cows than people.
No, really—there are literally more cows than humans where we live in Hawaiʻi. So hopping on a commuter train in the middle of Tokyo, surrounded by millions of people, felt like stepping into another world.
And you know what? We crushed it.
This is the story of our first train ride in Japan—from the magical gates of Tokyo Disneyland to our next stop in the city: Shinagawa.
Luggage, Nerves, and a 10-Minute Walk
We left the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel around 8:45 AM, dragging six suitcases and a jet-lagged crew of five. But we were fueled by buffet breakfast and a surprising amount of confidence.
The walk to Maihama Station only took 10 minutes, and I was so proud of how prepared we were. I had bought Keao her very own Suica card, and we were figuring things out in real time.
We live on an island where the most complex transit decision is whether to turn left or right out of Costco. So standing in a massive train station, navigating signs in a foreign language—it was big.
Finding Our Groove (Thanks, Alyssa)
It became very clear that Alyssa was the MVP when it came to reading signs and understanding train logic. She led the way while the rest of us followed, trying not to look completely overwhelmed.
We boarded the train to Tokyo Station, and while I was holding my breath waiting for something to go wrong… nothing did. We transferred to the Yamanote Line, one of Tokyo’s busiest loops, and arrived in Shinagawa in no time.
Train Station Wins & Rookie Mistakes
We took bathroom breaks, admired the food vendors (all of us eyeing our next snack), and made our way toward the exit—or so we thought.
Google told us to use the Takanawa exit, but all the signs just said Main Exit, so we went with that. Turns out they’re the same thing (score!). The only hiccup? About 40 stairs to get to the street level.
Pat and Alyssa charged ahead like pros. I looked at the elevator, looked at our massive bags, and hesitated. But Pat came back, grabbed my suitcase, and we made it up together.
That moment? A victory. We didn’t miss a train. We didn’t cry. We didn’t lose a bag or a child. And we figured it out as a team.
Our First Tokyo City Hotel
The hotel was just a 5-minute walk from the station, and I was beyond grateful for that recommendation from my world traveling friend Mehana. We may not have been in Shibuya or Shinjuku, but Shinagawa gave us access to the whole city—without the chaos.
The girls were thrilled that the hotel had a 7-Eleven downstairs (yes, in Japan that’s a luxury), and I felt a huge wave of pride.
We were just a bunch of country people from a sleepy town on the Big Island, navigating the busiest train system in the world, in a foreign language—and we didn’t just survive… we thrived.
What I Learned That Day
1. Don’t underestimate your kids. Alyssa led. Keao handled her Suica card like a pro. Mele navigated like a city girl.
2. Don’t panic when you feel lost. Take a breath. Read a sign. Ask for help. You’ll figure it out.
3. It’s okay to be nervous. But don’t let it stop you from trying.
Final Thoughts
That train ride was short—but it was one of the biggest leaps we made on our Japan trip. It was the moment I realized: we can do this. We can be those travelers who figure things out. Who go from watching TikToks about Japan to actually living it.
From a town of cows to a city of neon lights and bullet trains—we were no longer visitors. We were explorers.
Want help planning your first Japan train ride with kids, luggage, and all? I’ve been there. Let me help you take the leap with confidence (and maybe a Suica card or two).
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