Akihabara and Asakusa

The capsule mall at Akihabara's Yodobashi camera.One of the large paintings on the ceiling of Sensouji Temple.

Outside of the temple.

A display at a senbei store on the nakamise street on the way to Sensouji Temple.

Visiting Akihabara and Asakusa in the same morning is a bit like culture shock. One moment you are surrounded by blinking lights and shiny electronics, and the next you are eating ningyoyaki and the smell of incense.

All night at a manga cafe in Kabukicho!

I had a hard time not laughing out loud at Tokyo orientation when one of the orientation volunteers cautioned us against going to Kabukicho, the night district of Tokyo. Of all the places in Tokyo, outside of Takadanobaba, I think I know my way around Kabukicho the best.

Why? Where do you think the majority of the drinking parties were held when I was at Waseda? Also the Okadaya (large craft store) as well as the large 24 hour Don Quixote is located quite close as well.

We ended up picking a pretty nice manga cafe called Gran Cyber Cafe in the Oriental Passage building, because they had a shower room, and free ice cream.

One of the two main gates for Kabukicho.

My tiny padded flat for the night, complete with computer.

Unlimited free drinks, from melon soda to hot corn soup.

The manga cafe was actually pretty comfortable. However, I don't think I actually slept very much. There was so much manga to read, and internet to surf. Not to mention the free movies on demand and video games to play. I definitely recommend checking into a manga cafe if you want to spend a night in Tokyo. We stayed from 8:30pm to -8am for just under 35$ a person including a shower.

If you are planning on staying on a Friday, Saturday, or holiday weekend, make sure to get there before 10pm to get a spot. There are different kinds of seats, from a literal office chair desk set up, to a bench booth for two, to the flat style cubicles that we stayed in. I recommend the flat style, because you can lay down full out and sleep. Amenities include pay as you use showers and massage chairs, complimentary blankets, slippers, drinks and ice cream. If you want to shower, bring your own shampoo and toiletries, as they are not provided, and toothpaste. I recommend going with some one who speaks Japanese, as the staff rarely speaks English, and you cannot make reservations for the manga cafe. If one cafe is full, don't despair, there are several cafes in the same block area in Kabukicho.

Tokyo Trip: Harajuku, Shibuya + Yamanashi: Hottarakashi, Kofu Castle

The Waseda Yosakoi team!!!!!
We happened to visit Meiji Jingu on the day of the annual Yosakoi competition. Feeling refreshed after a soak in the Hottarakashi Onsen in Yamanashi City. The onsen has one of the three best night views in all of Japan. I would have taken a photo inside, but I couldn't quite work up the courage to bring a camera into the onsen itself.

The strange obelisk at Kofu Castle.

The famous Shibuya crossing

We decided to grab a better view from the Starbucks that faces the crossing.
It's a interesting sight, watching several hundred people cross every couple minutes.
It was not even rush hour when we arrived at the station.

Yamanashi City Station

The front of the Yamanashi City station.

The main road that runs by my apartment building.

The front of my apartment building. The second floor is a cram school, and on the first floor there is a houtou restaurant, a clothing store, and an izakaya.

The view from my front door on the 6th floor.