TOKYO - It's Tokyo Game Show time again, and I've landed in Japan.

　　In an effort to maybe give those who've never been to Japan an insight into it, we thought it would be a good idea for me (a first-timer here in the Land of the Rising Sun) to bring you a daily "diary" of some of the things I've observed. The Tokyo Game Show doesn't start until Friday (I arrived a little early to check out the gaming scene here in Japan), and you can be assured we'll have a full report on all the happenings.

　　To start off, while it's early morning back where you all are, I'm typing away on this here laptop with very little sleep, watching a Japanese news show. After enjoying a 12-hour plane ride from Chicago without sleep (and smooshed in the window seat), John Ricciardi of EGM, Wataru Maruyama of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine - who are also in Japan covering the show - and I finally touched down at Narita Airport.

　　Narita's not exactly in Tokyo, so it was a ride from there to the hotel, during rush hour. It's not necessary to know Japanese in Tokyo (although it certainly does help) - most of the important road signs are also written in English.

　　As the two hours from the airport to the hotel progressed, I got my first real glimpse of Japan - and boy, was I unprepared. Everything is superclean, from the other automobiles on the road, to the inside of the bus we were riding in. As the sun sets here, the billboards and signs begin to light up with the frenetic neon glow of Las Vegas. Familiar names flash by - Samsung, Konami, Toyota, etc.

　　One of the weirdest things I saw on the bus ride over is one guy who couldn't wait to get through the traffic to, ahem, relieve himself. There he was at the side of the road at a drainage ditch, doing his business... something that you could be jailed for in the US (ever see that episode of Seinfeld with the "peeing in the parking garage"? I knew you did).

　　While checking in, hotel bellboys quickly intercepted us before we hit the reception desk, ready to take our luggage up to our rooms. And, removing much of the confusion of travelling, you don't have to tip in Japan.

　　After getting acquainted with the room and watching some of Dr. Slump (an anime series from the creator of Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama), it was time to clean up, refresh, and go exploring a little bit in Shinjuku.

　　Man, you may have an idea of Japanese game stores, but let me tell you, there's only one word to describe the one I saw today: heaven! Unbelievably sweet. Saturn, PlayStation, and N64 games lined up all over the place by genres, new and used. Tomorrow a bunch of games are released, including Square's remix of Final Fantasy V and Konami's Mitsumete Knight. I have a distinct feeling my wallet will suddenly become lighter after tomorrow.

　　Dinner tonight was McDonald's, and let me tell you, McDonald's in Japan is very different from that in the US. Although the food is almost the same (well, it's better, actually), the whole attitude of employee to customer is amazingly honorable, and it makes you feel special when compared with the treatment you get in the US... yeah, you know what I'm talkin' about. Either way, the McDonald's we went to was actually two floors, with the second floor having additional seating. That's about all the McDonald's I'm going to be having this trip though. I didn't come this far to eat American food.

　　Tomorrow, it's Akihabara day and a journey to the Electric Town - Tokyo's electronic goods district and location of many game stores. I have been assured by my fellow travelers, seasoned Japan travelers, that the one store we went to today in Shinjuku is nothing like the stores in Akihabara.

　　I'm sure I'll have plenty to talk about tomorrow. Later!