36 ♡ TOKYO [4] Asakusa / Akihabara & Takadanobaba AREA

Since we were on a roll and were left with not too much time, we managed to squeeze another 3 things into one day. We started off in Asakusa, definitely a place you'll have to see when it comes to culture. Also, Nakamise-dori is great for buying souvenirs, but obviously you'll pay a little more rather than any other place in Tokyo. If you walk down Nakamise there's a big shrine, and you could see they were already planning and decorating for the Sakura festival! I managed to make loads of pictures, which I might put in a seperate post, for now these will have to do, please enjoy them (Click on them for a bigger size)

We moved back trough Nakamise-dori after we had walked trough the garden and temple. Loads of children were running around with a paper, stopping foreigners and we had no idea what was going on, until we got stopped ourselves. The teacher explained they were having English class, and they asked us a few (standard) questions. How we were doing and if we liked Japanese food. Their introducion must have been the cutest ever! After that we signed their map and we recieved a little gift from them.

I thought it was a clever plan to walk to Akihabara from Asakusa, as I remembered how I had done that back in 2009. But..considering the weather was much better at that time, and basically because I had more time back then, I forgot how long it actually took to get there. So after my little screw up, we finally arrived at Ueno station ( B| I AM SO SORRY) and we decided to take the train to Akihabara. We had decided to go to a maid cafe, but here comes SCREW UP 2. We head into a building, took the elevator but I hadn't actually read the signs and stopped at the 2nd floor. The doors open and we were faced with a wall. ( B| SORRRRYYYY) so we head back downstairs, with only a bit of time left. For some reason it didn't feel like the Akihabara I had been to in 2009, perhaps because of the terrible windy weather and small amount of time we had. Hopefully next time will be better! We went to an arcade and tried our luck on the UFO catchers once again, the people there being all so willing enough to help us win the things we had our eyes on! A set of purikura, before we had to go back to Asakusa and get ready for our live later that day, which took place in Takadanobaba AREA.

Imke didn't feel well and decided not to tag along, so it was just me and Ali. We decided on a twin coordination that day, luckily Ali let me borrow some of her stuff so we looked basically the same. Head out to Takadanobaba and it was a goddamn miracle we found our way there so easily and right in time before bands started to play.

3月12日2012 @ 高田馬場AREA
ジグラット / コドモドラゴン / Ｎ＠Ｈ-ノア- / LANDZ /
EAT YOU ALIVE / ヴェルテクス-Vertex- / BIOSPHIA

I was excited to see Ｎ＠Ｈ-ノア- again! I can't believe how much energy Rai has! I was also curious to see コドモドラゴン ever since Ali had told me about them. I really enjoyed all of the bands that played, except for EAT YOU ALIVE. I don't know why, but their set seemed a little 'boring' to me. BIOSPHIA on the other hand pulled me off my feet, just like ヴェルテクス-Vertex- I really recomment seeing those if you have the chance, as well as コドモドラゴン
The crowd was really nice as well. Ali met this girl, who'm she had known (I had no idea obviously hahaha) and she gave us chocolates, swapped places with us when Ali's band played. The last band that played were LANDZ, and we decided to stand in the back. Basically, we went all out together and became careless of those around us, until we noticed how a couple of girls next to us joined us all of a sudden. SUCCESSSS!! It was an amazing live not to say the least!

Quickly after the live we head out to go to Shinjuku, decided on purikura instead of waiting out in the cold. Most amazing thing was when someone accidently marched into our booth :'DD

You can't really tell but I looked sideways all 'WTH IS GOING ON' when she walked in haha! I'll upload better scans of my purikura in a later post. You can vaguely see our outfits. MarpleQ shirts (Which are more like a dress THANK GOD) and loads of glitter in our hair because we felt like it. I feel sorry for the people at the hostel hahaha (NOT!!)

After that we head back since it was cold. Once in Shibuya we nearly stumbled over this guy who was seated in the corner and literally had thrown up ALL over himself, and his friends making fun of him obviously. Once in Asakusa we RAN over the blue bridge, now also knowns as 'BRIDGE OF DOOM'. Which...Actually was pretty funny because we probably looked like a bunch of chicken on the run. Imke was still awake luckily, but we couldn't stay up too late, as the day after was going to be busy but also fun!

NEXT ---- DISNEYLAND !!

35 ♡ TOKYO [3] Shibuya & Harajuku

Today would be a shopping day mostly, so we head out to Shibuya first! Ofcourse we kept in mind it'd be busy. It was March 11, exactly a year after the terrible earthquake and devistating tsunami. Busses and lanterns held flags that said 'THANK YOU JAPAN' or 'Action for Nippon' and there were many companies trying to raise money for the victims of the tsunami.

109 as usual, was rather crowded but we were able to make our way trough. They were handing out free samples from Skin Food I believe it was called, as their shop opened that day.

After we had gone trough most of the shops, we decided on getting some food before Ali'd lead us to Harajuku (I've been lazy and always took the train in my earlier trips haha) The weather was nice and we had time so why not!

Ofcourse, it being a Sunday, Harajuku was PACKED with people which made it hard to get trough. I wasn't too bothered, as I randomly walked into stores anyway. We visit the 10th store, where I sort of hoped to find A's bracelet which unfortuatly was completely sold out. Just my luck, haha! I managed to snatch a Kiryuu one though!

Since most of the stores were closing down by now, we decided to eat something at Wolfgang Puck's, as I for some reason always end up there after a long day of shopping hahaha! Bring on the burgers and sandwiches! After we had sat around and made some purikura, we head back home. What I got, you'll probably see in the upcoming posts of my gets!

NEXT ------ ASAKUSA / AKIHABARA & TAKADANOBABA AREA

34 ♡ TOKYO [2] CALICO cafe / Mahou no Kuni no Alice & KINEMA

Today was going to be a busy day, so we got up early to meet our friend Ku who is currently living down in Aomori and decided to join us for a day. We met up at 9:30AM at Ueno station, and decided on breakfast at the Hardrock Cafe. I already ate something back at the hostel so I got a cappuchino, while Imke had an amazing American breakfast haha!

After that we decided to get going, our first stop would be Shinjuku's 'CALICO CAFE' (猫カフェ 新宿). Ku had already told me about this cafe, and I had been dying to go. What else is better than being surrounded by 40+ cats!? (Especially since I am not allowed to have one of my own..) We stopped for purikura and set off to the cafe.

Upon entering you will recieve a batch with a number, and you are requested to take your shoes off and desinfect your hands, ofcourse to keep all cats in a healthy condition. All your things can be put away in a locker, and you are free to enter.

After we had sat around for a bit and got settled with the cats, we decided to move to the floor below where Imke and Ku had already taken place and got attacked by cats, as they had bought a small box of chicken. So..I decided to get some too. I'm not lying when I say they literally attack you to get some. I had been sneaky though and kept it to myself, until the most adorable Persian came over. Not soon after I was surrounded by cats as well (Much to the annoyance of the woman next to me who tried to read a book, HAH)

Since we didn't have that much time, we left about an hour later to another cafe Ku had suggested, and because I knew Imke likes Alice in Wonderland. It was quite a hassle to find out where to go, but Ku and Imke did the trick and we finally found the cafe! (It's hidden so well too haha)

The staff there was insanely cute, and ofcourse everything was Alice themed. Since it was rather fully booked we only got a certain amount of time to finish our food, which was alright since we also had other plans. I had decided on a salad, pasta and a caterpillar cake. I'd recommend this restaurant if you like themed places, the food looks like a piece of art! I felt bad crushing my desert hahaha.

When we finished, we took the train to Uguisudani and head off to club Kinema (東京キネマ倶楽部) We had gotten tickets for Kisaki's 'BIRTHDAY EVENT' I'm not a huge fan of UCP bands, but there had been Diaura and Lycaon that I had wanted to see. I have no regrets going at all, the atmosphere was amazing and not too busy. There was a band called N@H-ノア- me and Ali had gotten excited over, and I think they really won our hearts. Lucky for us, we were going to see them again soon.

3月10日2012 @ 東京キネマ倶楽部
凛 / Black Gene For the Next Scene / DIAURA / Lycaon /
Megaromania / 怪奇!!動物アジテーター / N＠H-ノア- / SOMATIC GUARDIAN

SOMATIC GUARDIAN started off and it makes me sad they're disbanding, because their set was amazing! So much interaction with the audience! But it can't be helped, they even joked about it themselves. DIAURA and Lycaon were amazing, Yo-Ka is so violent hahaha! And so is Yuuki. At some point I couldn't move my head anymore but Yo-Ka ushered us to continue..LOL /headroll.

I wasn't too excited for Megaromania, and we left somewhere after Lin set off (It being Kisaki's birthday party, they were up last) Mainly because Ku had to leave back to the airport, and Ali had taken off earlier, I didn't feel like staying myself, considering the rush of people that had to go up with the elevator too haha!

Cruising back to Ueno (Which luckily wasn't too far) we said our goodbyes to Ku who had to go back to Aomori, and we set off back to Asakusa where we found Ali back home as well. All in all, it was such a lovely day, even if we had to squeeze so much together. But I guess that makes it all worth it too!

NEXT ------ Off day @ Shibuya & Harajuku