Around The World In 80 Waves

Fabian and I spent two hours route marching to the Shinjuku area from the ninja restaurant in Akasaka. We had thought this would be a leisurely half hour stroll, but it was miles and because it is so humid here we were practically delirious with thirst by the time we arrived.

I would hate to think of paying for the electricity bill for around here because everything is illuminated. However I have finally found an area which is at least lively.

We take a stroll through the streets lined with girly bars, brushing off all the attempts to get us into one before we stop at a normal bar and are inhaling a couple of beers.

A quick glance in the guide book whilst there tells us about Golden Gai, which is an area of drinking dens run by the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). It sounds like it will be worth checking out, so we do.

All of the establishments there would be full to bursting with just half a dozen people in them. Some are friendly and other not so much so. We got told we would have to pay 3,000 yen just to get into one because we didn’t speak Japanese.

We found a fantastic place where the locals were all singing Karaoke at the bar. It didn’t take much to talk me in to it and you see me here ruining California Girls by The Beach Boys.

Our route march across the city had cost us our drinking time here and because Japanese trains are ruthless in their efficiency we soon had to make tracks.

However that was not before Fabian had taken his turn on the microphone singing Winds of Change by The Scorpions, with myself and members of the Yakuza on backing harmonies and whistling.

The trains are very cheap but taxis are incredibly expensive so we didn’t want to get stung and had no energy left to walk after our earlier march in the heat. Leaving the Yakuza begging for more we literally had to run to ensure we caught the last train back across town. 

We laughed all the way back, not least at the number of Tokyo residents who manage to do a bit more than nod off on the train home.