Giant Golden Poops in Asakusa.

After getting back from Hakone we only have one night before we have planned to catch a highway bus to Takayama in the Japanese Alps.

We check in to Khaosan Guesthouse (original, There are three in Tokyo) in Asakusa, which is really nice. Free internet, soft beds, four room dorm, big TV with some DVDs. Perfect to just sit and relax a bit.

We have a look around a local market and temple. The temple is stunning and the crowds are pretty stunning too, I quiz a Japanese woman who is giving a tour about Japans slightly confusing religious beliefs and she seems as confused as i am.

Shinto shrines have Buddist iconography, Buddist Temples have Spirit guardians, both have a lot of incence and everyone practices both anyway!

I go off to book the bus for the next day which takes a long time traveling and trying to explain what I want with a mix of my broken Japanese and the ticket office mans broken English. This has really helped my survival in Japan. Most people know a small amount of English so a bit of Japanese goes a long way!

By the time I get back to the hostel Lauren has watched the whole of the Matrix but I feel very relaxed after my wondering around the underground stations of Tokyo so we decide to go for a drink in the Asahi office building which is 5 minutes away from the hostel.

I`ll put a picture in eventually but the Asahi building is in Asakusa right next to this giant statue of what is suposed to be a flame. It looks kind of like a giant golden poop and is unmissable.
The offices have a cafe on the 23rd floor where you can enjoy a coffee (in Laurens case) or one of Asahi`s very tasty beers (for me) while enjoying a great view of Tokyo. I had been recomended Asahi Black by Gibbs, so I had that. I want more.