I made the long train ride into Tokyo today, my ultimate destination being Akihabara. Electric Town. Mecca.

I didn’t do much more than walk, shop, walk, take photos, shop, walk, and walk some more (until my feet screamed). At some point, a significant earthquake occurred in Chiba, shaking the very ground on which I strolled. Somehow, I didn’t feel a thing.

Unfortunately, the earthquake shut down all of the train lines in and around Tokyo, leaving me - and thousands of others - stuck in Akihabara. As I loitered in front of the station, contemplating my dilemma, I made the acquaintance of an Australian fellow who happened to live in Ichikawa, a few stops before me in Makuhari-Hongo. With no idea how long train service would be out, we opted to split a taxi in order to get home. The total fare was 13,000 yen ($117 USD), so it’s fortunate that we bumped into each other.

I’ll share some more stories and photos tomorrow, but for now, I need a hot shower and a good night’s rest.