I only had my bike for a week before I had to walk to near end of the city in order to rescue it from the confiscation lot. Why don't I learn to follow my gut instincts!? I even went to the trouble of writing down my bike registration number "just in case." No Bike Parking signs galore, but it had been done before...5 hours in the restaurant, bike is still there; 4 hours at the cell phone shop, bike is still there (3 separate occasions), shopping, bike; coffee, bike; train ride to Shinkjuku, no bike! I followed the spoken rule, park your bike where there are other bikes. Others have gotten away with it, or have received warnings, but never confiscation or fines! Do it, just park it, don't walk around the corner a mere block to park your bike in the official parking lot. Do it, just see if you will be the one to get your bike confiscated. Test the system. Worse thing will be a warning right!?! (But copy that registration number just in case). Dag namit! When I approached the police box, he knew the color of the bike and the amount of time it had been left. It had been confiscated. 3,000 yen ($30) fine. He shows me the route to walk to the bike prison, a humbling hot sticky walk that took almost an hour. What about the bus that conveniently has a stop right in front of the prison?!?! Was I made to walk as part of my punishment!? The "I'm feeling stupid" mood quickly lifted when I gazed upon the number of imprisoned bikes. I am not alone. Although I vowed never to do something so stupid again, I'm sure I'll continue to have my moments. For now, I have my bike back at slightly higher cost of purchase.
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