Nigel and Wacker...

  Tokyo, Japan
Sunday, January 13, 2008

The advantage of spending December at home was that I got to go and watch the snooker in Telford for a few days, and see my friend Donna who coincidentally lives there. I also had a stroke of luck when I got sat next to Agnes, a lovely German girl who had a spare ticket to the sold out final, so I duely obliged and watched the Rocket thrash Stephen Maguire to take the trophy!

4. Fuji-san.

Thankfully I was able to return to Japan as planned on New Year's Day, despite only getting the all clear from the doctor's (for other reasons) on the previous day! It was such a relief because my brother and his mate had booked to fly out in early January, and my friend Ali was due to spend my final two weeks in February with me. After such traumas, it's with great delight to report that the proceeding two months went absolutely swimmingly...

5. Nigel at Meiji-jingu.

On my first trip to Japan, I'd tried (and failed) to see the elusive Fuji-san on numerous occasions, each time being greeted by a wall of thick cloud. So one of my main priorities for this trip was to spend a few days in the area, particularly as winter offers the best chance of a clear sighting, and in my opinion it looks a lot more attractive when covered in snow. So I booked myself into K's House in Kawaguchiko for three nights, and I ended up having stunning weather for the duration...

9. Wacker and Nigel.

I was able to get some picture postcard views of Fuji-san as it towered over the lake, and there was a breathtaking viewing platform at the top of a cable car run. It was a really therapeutic time, not least because tourists were few and far between, and the hostel was virtually empty (I had a four bed dormitory to myself throughout). There was even a superb onsen next door complete with rotemburo (outdoor bath), and few things beat having a hot soak while snow flakes gently fall around you...

Suitably relaxed, I returned to the slightly more chaotic environment that is Tokyo, ready to spend an action packed few days with my brother Nigel and his friend Neil (or Wacker as he is known). They had never been to Asia before, so I was excited to see how they would react in a culture so vastly different to our own...

z11. Wacker in Shinjuku.

I went to meet them at the airport and they seemed a bit weary, but as we only had five days together, there wasn't any time for sleep! So after getting settled in the family room at the hostel, we went for a stroll to Senso-ji, the impressive temple complex in Asakusa. They were getting hungry at this point though, so we went and got some udon noodles and I showed Nigel the right technique for using chopsticks, and he picked it up immediately - much to his delight!

z13. Darts technique!

In the evening, we went down to Shibuya as I wanted them to see the famous crossing, where the vast number of people and bright lights combine to give you a classic snapshot of Tokyo life. Any doubts about where they were went out of the window, and they seemed impressed, taking photos and video clips. Wacker was very much into his photography, much to our Nigel's amusement, and had even started taking pictures in Wetherspoon's on the way to the airport...in England!

I'd got talking to a few people at the hostel and they'd come with us, including Adrian, an Australian guy who seemed to like Wacker...and our Nigel's leather jacket! It was all good fun though, and we then went to a darts bar for a few hours, which is a surprisingly popular pastime amongst the Japanese. Again Wacker was the butt of the jokes with his questionable throwing technique (see video clip), but it was a nice relaxed way to spend their first evening, and after a good night's sleep, any jetlag they might have had was a thing of the past...

z14. In Roppongi.

I knew that our Nigel and Wacker were basically in Tokyo for the nightlife, but I wanted them to do a bit of cultural sightseeing as well, and so we went to have a look at Meiji-jingu the next afternoon, one of Japan's most famous shrines. The walk to and from it is also very pleasant, with the huge torii gates set in the forests of Yoyogi-koen.

z26. Neil Tennant!

We had a mooch around Harajuku next, with Nigel and Wacker seeking out Bathing Ape and Stussy bargains down Takeshita-dori. There were a few interesting characters around, but I said that we'd return on the Sunday as that is the best day to observe the local's eccentricities. In the meantime, we had a stroll around the vast Shinjuku area, before returning to the hostel for a chill out before the evening's entertainment...

z27. Richard Ashcroft!

I knew that our Nigel would love a bit of karaoke action as he is a regular user of Sing Star back home, but I was less sure about Wacker. I needn't have worried, as when we went that night, accompanied by an American lad and an Australian girl, we couldn't get the mic off him as he gave us renditions of Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys songs! I've heard many people express doubts about singing at a karaoke, but as soon as you get in the booth and see the song list, it's impossible to resist!

We went into Roppongi after a few hours of singing and drinking, even though I'd sounded out warnings about what to expect there. Sure enough, the place we found was full of American tourists and Japanese slappers, but the drinks were cheap so I had no complaints. This travelling lark was clearly getting a bit much for Wacker though, as he could barely keep his eyes open inside the nightclub!

z20. Motley crew!

The next night we went to an altogether different club in Shibuya, which barely had any other foreigner inside. It's fair to say that I preferred it here, and we stayed until about 4am before parking ourselves in a McDonald's until the subway started up again. Nigel was surprised at just how many people were asleep in McDonald's, but I explained that the Japanese people will grab some shut eye at every opportunity! When Wacker had a quick snooze on the subway back to Asakusa, our Nigel and me quietly made our way onto the next carriage, and the sheer panic on Wacker's face when he woke up was a joy to behold! All good banter...

In between these fun and games, we went into Ginza for a look in the Sony building, and had a distant look at the Imperial Palace. We also went to a great sushi train restaurant near Senso-ji, and witnessed just how much the Japanese love their food. Our Nigel was no longer a fan of sushi after getting sick in the past after one such meal, but Wacker and me had a fair few plates and it was a good experience for them.

z29. Acquiesce yeah!

Their last day was on the Sunday, so naturally we returned to Harajuku and I was delighted that the Rockabilly Club were out in full force. This is definitely one of my favourite sights in Japan, as all the businessmen lose their suits and inhibitions, and don leather jackets and quiffs! Whilst obviously bizarre, it is brilliant to see them enjoying themselves so much, particularly in a country which more often than not frowns upon people who are somehow 'different.'

z28. Plenty of pitchers.

Nigel and Wacker's final night in Tokyo was once again spent at the karaoke - they were hooked! The fact that you can pay a set amount and get unlimited drinks is definitely a bonus - it's just a case of picking up the phone in your booth and telling the barman what you would like. Within seconds, your drinks arrive! When our Nigel in particular is around, there's no danger that you won't get your money's worth!

So that concluded their short trip, but I feel that they got a reasonable glimpse of life in Japan, and an indication as to why I love it so much. I'm sure that they'll return again in the not-too-distant future as they'll no doubt suffer from karaoke withdrawal symptoms eventually!