Japanacation Vol 1: What is this thing?!

Jet lag gets to even the best of us;  it's been known to knock me out like Gentle Ben in hibernation season. One of the worst things that can happen to a jet lagged traveler is disorientation - especially when that disorientation occurs in a completely foreign and unfamiliar place.

Imagine this, for example:

After waking up at 6 am to make your flight, you've just spent the last 17 hours flying from the east coast of Canada/US to Tokyo/Narita - your body feels like it's midnight, the local time says it's 5 pm. Drunk with exhaustion, you pass through customs and immigration, make your way to the train, and nod off the the hour ride to Tokyo.

You are briskly awoken to a soft melodic chime followed by an unfamiliar voice over the loudspeaker: "Mamonaku ichiban sen ni, Tokyo yuki ga mairimasu."  states the voice in a cheerful disposition. You've arrived at Tokyo Station.

Feeling more tired than you were before your brief catnap, you stumble through the station and decide to consult your mapping application for navigation to your hotel. You're really starting to feel out of it at this point and just want to go to sleep.

At last, you've arrived to your hotel. After some brief pleasantries and a few forms later, the clerk at the front desk hands you a room key with a comically large keychain attached to it. You chuckle to yourself and head to the elevator feeling excited, but tired.

You make your way to your room ready to sleep more soundly than Snow White after an all night rave. As you open the door, you notice your room is pitch black save for the warm glow of a small light on the wall...

(The power of TEPCO compels you!)

...You feel around feverishly, stumbling in the dark; you can feel what seems like a small squarish opening next to a switch - but what is it? In a stroke of genius, you decide to insert the totem pole of a keychain you were given in to said square and press the switch. Et voila! You now have light (and hopefully air conditioning)!

(Let there be light!)

So what exactly is this contraption? Well, actually it's an ingenious power saving system found in most, if not all non-western hotel chains in Japan (I can't vouch for the by-the hour love hotels! More on that in another article). While this power saving switch is a great and praiseworthy idea, it does have one major downfall in some hotels (and no, it's not the aforementioned fumbling around in the dark): in some hotels it terminates ALL power. Yes, ALL power including the A/C and any hope you had of charging your iPhone or other batteries when you are conveniently absent from your room.

If you are fortunate, some hotels simply disable the power to the lights if you remove the keychain from the switch, others  realize the colossal inconvenience of not being able to charge your electronics by supplying a stand in fob that you can use in place of your keychain. This also is particularly helpful when trying to respect local etiquette as you are expected to return your key to the concierge prior to venturing out for the day.

(The "stand-in" for the room key/key chain to enable power)

Now there are obviously several ways to bypass these systems (especially if you have a keycard switch instead of the keychain kind), but it would be disrespectful and it might buy you a one-way ticket to eviction land. Consequently if your hotel is kind enough to provide you a courtesy fob, it goes without saying to be a good steward and only leave powered what you absolutely need.

In keeping with emPOWERing tips, stay tuned for our next post about power, plugs, and other electrifying information. 

Do you have any unique tips and tricks you'd like to share? Feel free to comment below!