Space Hostel, jazz in the common area
Coffee with Aussies during the morning of our first day
A travel hangover, a headache in the bottom bunk, covered in a comforter on a firm, warm bed
A cigarette in the stairwell, as an old woman hangs her laundry across the street
Taito-ku, just like any Tokyo neighborhood; and breakfast salvation after enough wandering
Suddenly, a cemetery; peaceful stones and bamboo fences, rotted flowers and slight paths; a cat guards a tomb we cannot read
A cafe, maybe unique, maybe utterly common, but entirely charming
Temples, temples everywhere, and Nika-san to guide us; we pray amidst incense
Flute playing and bare cherry trees in Ueno Park; more temples and chicken skewers with beer
A bathroom at all costs, lost in a random mall, then the Hibiya line north to Iriya
And here we are, back in Space with beer and light jazz. J and I’s feet are worn, but we are in excellent spirits. I’m just trying to get this all down before I forget; otherwise, taking the time to write something coherent and #deep would be too much.
Tokyo, I love you, and you’re rising me up.
Love,
E
Stuck in my head: “Death of a Bachelor” by Panic! At the Disco
Reading: “Walking the Kiso Road” by William Scott Wilson
Turning: Japanese, I really think so