Suspicious Packages, lolis and my inability to follow the Yellow Line
Right. Second day in Japan almost over.
Last night I wandered off to Kabukicho which is really the most important sight in Tokyo. I saw a Yakuza guy, or some wannabe with weird hair and cheap patterned suit and shitload of jewellery leaning against the doorway of a strip club decorated with anime pictures and blinking lights. He looked very bored and not dangeruos at all. Apparently yakuza guys and Host boys are the only ones who dare to break the baffling smoking law they have here: you can smoke inside in restaurants, bars, cafes, even some shops, but not on the street because there might be asthmatic people walking around. Right, and asthmatic people don't eat or go out at all?
Also, I thought the host clubs were something fairly discreet and a little embarrassing, but holy shit those guys are everywhere! And they all really do looks exatcly the same, right down to their funny pointy leather shoes. But then again, how could host clubs be embarrassing when the soaplands and strip clubs are everywhere and they look and sound like toy shops. Insane. But I did get to laugh at a Western woman gettin angry at her husband oggling at the stripper pictures and then tugging him away with just a little too much force.
The original plan for today was to pack up and go to Ochanomizu University and hope to get a room. Thank god I didn't. Having never used Tokio Metro before, the idea of dragging 20+ kilos of stuff around in rush hour was not very inviting. Instead I payed for one more night and left my stuff here. I totally recommend this place to everyone, it's cute, clean, everything works and the staff is really friendly! I even felt brave enough to speak Japanese to them today.
I first walked to Ikebukuro, or tried to, but took one wrong turn thinking I'd find a short cut and ended up in Kita-Shinjuku. Which is like... totally in the wrong direction. I walked for about an hour before I realised I really only needed to find Meiji Dori and walk straight. After that it was easy. I had a quick lunch at Starbucks (I know... I'm sorry, but I was hungry!) and this Japanese girl sat at my table and thought I was Japanese as well. Lolwhut? We chatted for a while in strange English Japanese mix, me trying to practice my Japanese and she her English. The high point of the entire day was the unisex toilet at Starbucks were there was a sign on the wall asking customers to inform the staff of any Suspicious Packages they might see. Uhm...
Then I finally dared to decend into the depths of the Tokyo Metro and got help from a nice receptionist who left her desk to come and assist me with the all-too-confusing ticket machine where you only need to push one button. Right-o. Eventually I found the University and got a guest badge from a nice security guard who was disappointed when I told him that no, I am not from Jyväskylä. Then I had to tell him where Tampere was on the map of Finland and how far from Jyväskylä. Then he finally let me go and told me to follow the yellow line on the ground to the Student Affairs Building. I got there just fine, tried to organise everything mostly in English with the help of a guy who was working for the first day and had no clue of anything. I think it'll be fine though, everyone's really nice and I met another exchange student who was nice too and her Japanese was miles better than mine. Then I got out, followed the Yellow Line in the wrong direction and got lost at the campus. Good god. I am never going to survive a year here.
Then I went back to Ikebukuro and since it was still early I headed off to find the infamous Otome Road, the Mecca to yaoi fantards everywhere. Before I found it (it's cleverly hidden, as it is clearly more embarrassing than whore houses or host clubs) I found the sparkling, beeping, singing and dacing area of extravaganza that is Sunshine 60. Everywhere you look there girls in proper loli gear handing out brochures and whatthehellever, and the noise is just incredible. I would like to know how much money Japanese kids spend in Pachinko places in one year? Because they're everywhere and they're always full.
I also saw a girl carrying a huge Marimekko unikko bag. I wanted to shake her and tell her it's hideous.
I never actually got to Otome Road. By the time I found the huge K-books that marks the beginning I was getting really sick of all the Kuroshitsuji posters everywhere and felt too weary to even try and find the Swallowtail cafe. I will go back and take a picture of it, just not today. But I know some people who need to see Otome Road. I'm sure once you get past the embarrasment it can be quite a treasure chest.
Now I'm back at the hotel, having dee-liiishus curry&cheese cup noodles and green tea and getting ready for bed. I have to put some lotion on my nose. Stupid me, I should know better than to ever go out without sunscreen when I'm not in Finland.
Last night I wandered off to Kabukicho which is really the most important sight in Tokyo. I saw a Yakuza guy, or some wannabe with weird hair and cheap patterned suit and shitload of jewellery leaning against the doorway of a strip club decorated with anime pictures and blinking lights. He looked very bored and not dangeruos at all. Apparently yakuza guys and Host boys are the only ones who dare to break the baffling smoking law they have here: you can smoke inside in restaurants, bars, cafes, even some shops, but not on the street because there might be asthmatic people walking around. Right, and asthmatic people don't eat or go out at all?
Also, I thought the host clubs were something fairly discreet and a little embarrassing, but holy shit those guys are everywhere! And they all really do looks exatcly the same, right down to their funny pointy leather shoes. But then again, how could host clubs be embarrassing when the soaplands and strip clubs are everywhere and they look and sound like toy shops. Insane. But I did get to laugh at a Western woman gettin angry at her husband oggling at the stripper pictures and then tugging him away with just a little too much force.
The original plan for today was to pack up and go to Ochanomizu University and hope to get a room. Thank god I didn't. Having never used Tokio Metro before, the idea of dragging 20+ kilos of stuff around in rush hour was not very inviting. Instead I payed for one more night and left my stuff here. I totally recommend this place to everyone, it's cute, clean, everything works and the staff is really friendly! I even felt brave enough to speak Japanese to them today.
I first walked to Ikebukuro, or tried to, but took one wrong turn thinking I'd find a short cut and ended up in Kita-Shinjuku. Which is like... totally in the wrong direction. I walked for about an hour before I realised I really only needed to find Meiji Dori and walk straight. After that it was easy. I had a quick lunch at Starbucks (I know... I'm sorry, but I was hungry!) and this Japanese girl sat at my table and thought I was Japanese as well. Lolwhut? We chatted for a while in strange English Japanese mix, me trying to practice my Japanese and she her English. The high point of the entire day was the unisex toilet at Starbucks were there was a sign on the wall asking customers to inform the staff of any Suspicious Packages they might see. Uhm...
Then I finally dared to decend into the depths of the Tokyo Metro and got help from a nice receptionist who left her desk to come and assist me with the all-too-confusing ticket machine where you only need to push one button. Right-o. Eventually I found the University and got a guest badge from a nice security guard who was disappointed when I told him that no, I am not from Jyväskylä. Then I had to tell him where Tampere was on the map of Finland and how far from Jyväskylä. Then he finally let me go and told me to follow the yellow line on the ground to the Student Affairs Building. I got there just fine, tried to organise everything mostly in English with the help of a guy who was working for the first day and had no clue of anything. I think it'll be fine though, everyone's really nice and I met another exchange student who was nice too and her Japanese was miles better than mine. Then I got out, followed the Yellow Line in the wrong direction and got lost at the campus. Good god. I am never going to survive a year here.
Then I went back to Ikebukuro and since it was still early I headed off to find the infamous Otome Road, the Mecca to yaoi fantards everywhere. Before I found it (it's cleverly hidden, as it is clearly more embarrassing than whore houses or host clubs) I found the sparkling, beeping, singing and dacing area of extravaganza that is Sunshine 60. Everywhere you look there girls in proper loli gear handing out brochures and whatthehellever, and the noise is just incredible. I would like to know how much money Japanese kids spend in Pachinko places in one year? Because they're everywhere and they're always full.
I also saw a girl carrying a huge Marimekko unikko bag. I wanted to shake her and tell her it's hideous.
I never actually got to Otome Road. By the time I found the huge K-books that marks the beginning I was getting really sick of all the Kuroshitsuji posters everywhere and felt too weary to even try and find the Swallowtail cafe. I will go back and take a picture of it, just not today. But I know some people who need to see Otome Road. I'm sure once you get past the embarrasment it can be quite a treasure chest.
Now I'm back at the hotel, having dee-liiishus curry&cheese cup noodles and green tea and getting ready for bed. I have to put some lotion on my nose. Stupid me, I should know better than to ever go out without sunscreen when I'm not in Finland.