Contrasts...

Japan is home to ancient traditions like sumo, geisha, kimono, shinto, shrines and temples. Which is all fine and dandy, but, fortunately for me it also has its fair share of weirdness such as the giant beer building in Asakusa:

(Doesn't it look delicious?!

Taken while on the Tobu train crossing over the bridge.)

Look at the frothy head...is your mouth watering yet?!

The top floor of the building has a bar with one of the best views of the Tokyo skyline - the coolest part is that you can say you had a drink in giant beer froth!

One of the weirdest things in Tokyo is the Golden Poo:

I think you can work out which item above is affectionately known as the Golden Poo...and perhaps even why it's called that. I've heard that the designer intended it to represent the frothy head on a glass of beer. Now I don't know what kind of beer he drank; but I've never had one that even remotely resembled this interpretation! Personally, I think that the beer building is a far more accurate representation of a frothy head.

What's your tipple of pleasure?

"Please refrain..."

Some important rules to follow if you wish to take the newly constructed Water Bus "HIMIKO" from Asakusa:



Because the embarkation number of people is limited, please understand it beforehand.

Please refrain from a carry-on of food and drink to inboard.

Please refrain from the embarkation of a pet to inboard.

For adult one person, infant one person from 1 year old becomes embarkation charges no charge.

The embarkation to the boat becomes a first-come-first-served basis.

When it is crowded, there is the situation that cannot be carried on the boat which you want to board.

Please ask our staff about waiting time of transfer from Hinode Pier.

On the occasion of the "HIMIKO" embarkation, the extra premium ticket is necessary from child of 1 year old.

I hope that's all crystal clear now!

Here comes....Hanabi!

Natsu - summer - is well and truly here...
...and that means just one thing:



Fire Flowers! (Or Hanabi)

Tomorrow night is the annual Sumida-gawa Hanabi Taikai (The Sumida River Fireworks Display). About 20 000 fireworks will explode in a spectacular fashion over the Sumida River...and a couple of hundred thousand spectactors will be celebrating on the riverbank. Most of them will be wearing yukatas and 99.98% will be drinking beer and chowing down on excellent festival food like takoyaki and yakitori...I can hardly wait!

So, if you are in Tokyo...head on down to the Asakusa area by 7:10pm, and be ready to be gobsmacked...

(Photo taken by me at one of last summer's hanabi taikai)