Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

¡Bienvenidos a Sakura Hostel Asakusa!
Somos el único hostal que habla español en Tokio, Japón.
Ya tenemos nuestro website traducido al español.
http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/spanish/index.htm

Lo tradujo Jesús de Madrid, quien se quedó con nosotros en el hostal un mes el verano pasado. Muchisimas gracias a Jesús. Y, a Cris y Minori, ustedes nos ayudaron también.

Nos han visitado a nuestro albergue en Asakusa mucha gente de España, México, Perú, Bolivia y otros países de la america latina, en donde han viajado los personales del hostel, yo también. Cuando estaba viajando en España y México, me ayudaron mucha gente amable. "Mi casa es tu casa" es una expresión que aprendí de los amigos mexicanos y me gusta mucho. Muy bonita, creo.

Ahora, yo estoy aquí en nuestro hostal para ayudar a ustedes.

Now, let me introduce Mr. Egashira, one of our cleaning staff here.
He is very observant of small things.
I heard that he used to stay in the States and speaks English well.

By the way, we have some groups from last week and this week as well.
I like watching the lobby is crowded with guests especially in the morning.
It make cheerful.
I'm looking forward to seeing the next group coming tommorow...

What do you think is this?

Naoto and I had Okonomiyaki for a lunch today.
I don't know how to explain this food but Naoto calls it "Japanese Pizza".
According to the dictionary, it says like this.
"thin and flat pancake cooked on a hot plate with bits of meat, seafood and chopped cabbages".

This is very popular food in Japan and there are some different styles in each area.
If you go to okonomiyaki restaurant, you can choose
many different kinds of foodstuff from the menu.

Sometaro where we went today has a English menu and staffs are very helpful.
It worth trying it. Very cheap as well.
It is located about 10mins on foot.

He just arrived and is checking in now.
Actually, it is his second time to stay our hostel.
So, we said to him "Welcome Back!!".
We almost remember all of the guests' faces and we are very happy to say it.

It’s a costume procession which recalls Tokyo's history and culture from the Heian era to the Meiji era.
This parade leaves the square behind Sensoji Temple at 1:30pm, proceeds along the main street, and ends in Tawaramachi at 4pm.

On the same day, we are having an event, “Japanese traditional entertainment night Vol.2”.
6:00pm- Japanese Tea Ceremony
7:30pm- Noh performance (traditional dance-drama)
Why don’t you join us after seeing the parade?
It must be unforgettable day in Japan for you!!

This cute candle is made by Koji, one of our staff, for decolating Sakura Hostel.
Halloween is not so popular event in Japan yet but is getting familier thesedays.

Three years ago, when I was in San Diego, I wore cheerleader's costume
with my friends (some of them are boys!) and walked around downtown.
It was fun though it was really cold day.

Tokyo had a strong wind and cold rains today.
Because I'm not good at cold whether, I felt blue today.

I hope it will better tomorrow☆☆☆

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On arriving at theTsukiji Market station,I felt the smell of fish although just underground!
You can easily find Fish market when you will leave A1 exit.Just turn left and turn left again there is fish market.
And you can see a lot of shop in the left side after go through the front gate.
But most excited place is not there.
The auction area!
May be it's hard to find out where the auction is.
Also hard to wake up so early in the morning.

I worked at Tuna auction area several years ago.
And I brought some good Market map to our hostel.
If you want to go there it may help well.

These cute goods are presents from our guests who came from all over the world,
such as Australia, France, Mexico, Spain, etc...
They reminds us of their face whenever we see them.

Let's gonna be strong !!

Hello! I'm naoto
I'm crazy to watch fighting sports (Pride,K-1,boxing,karate....everything!)
In Japan we have a lots of martial arts karate, judo, kendo, aikido....etc
also I have been learning Brazilian ju-jutsu for 2years
You can watch the fight on the TV quite often
but If you would like to go to studium to see the game
or maybe you have a plan to learn martial arts in japan
I'll help you to get a ticket and look for your best DOJO !! (Academy & Gym)

Sakura Hostel Asakusa changes blankets seasonally.
Today, we replaced summer blankets with the winter ones which are thicker and warmer for our guests to be able to have a good sleep in the Tokyo's chilly winter.

Our blankets, pillows and fotons are frequently washed and dried in the sun so that nobody would have an unpleasant sleep, which is taken hard to avoid at some backpacker's hotel.

The price is cheap but the quality is not cheap. That's Sakura Hostel.

Do you know these food?
Tomoe and I had a lunch at Yoshikami, famous western food restaurant, today.
Tomoe orderd "omuraisu", an omlet containing fried rice and
I orderd "katsusando", sandwiches with a pork cutlet.

Because people were waiting outside, we needed to eat them a little bit quickly.
It was good though.
( I actually didn't hurry at all, Yuri eats slowly.... commented by Tomoe)

On the way back to work, we found an ice-cream cone shop...and ate it of course!
We enjoyed our lunch time today.
What is your lunch today?

LaLaport Toyosu is one of the Tokyo's biggest shopping mall, newly built in the Tokyo bay area this October.
I went there yesterday to see how it is. It was still full of people so that it told me it'd been open only for 2 weeks.

Though it has a close resemblance to American shopping malls, it is unique in that it has an "ukiyoe" museum and a work experience studio for kids. Their ocean-front garden is quite huge and comfortable and must be good for a sunny day walk.

The access from our place to this mall deserves special mention. The Tokyo Water Cruise now takes you from Asakusa down to Toyosu and shows you a variety of Tokyo scenes on the Sumida river. The photo on the right is the Toyosu port where cruisers arrive.

Look at these pictures!
One of my guest tried to shave his beared and trim mustache
at the barber before attending wedding party today.

Though he looked scared before being shaved, he was getting relaxed as you can see from his face.
He was so satisfied with the workmanship and went to wedding party now.

This barbershop is at one minute walk from our hostel and the barber is very friendly.
Only qualified person can shave and trim their beard, so their skill is great.
If you will stay here for a long term, it will be a great experience for you to try it.

Yes...Finally I am showing up here.
The participating in Japanese festival is one of my interests.
Oeshiki is a Buddhist festival commemorating the anniversary of Saint Nichiren's death. It is celebrated at many places in Japan, however, the one held in Ikegami Honmonji is the most prestigious as Saint Nichiren passed away at this temple. The event has been handed down through generations for 720 years along with the long-standing history and tradition.
Highlight is the parade of “mando” which takes place in the night of October 12. About 3,000 people will carry sacred lanterns decorated with artificial cherry blossoms along the route of 2 kilometers. Some 350,000 prayers and spectators visit the site till midnight every year.
I played a drum in this parade.It was soooo exciting.
I'm really looking forward to next year's one.
Ciao!!

Yes! YOKOHAMA is the great place for day trip
from Tokyo. Not just China town.
Akarenga & Land mark tower and some more places
are also check it out!

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Have some yamcha?

China town is located in Yokohama, one of the most exiciting city in Japan.
I often go to there to eat chinese foods and for shopping.
If you have enough time to spend, why don't you go there.
You can feel not only chinese atomosphere but american one as well
because there is the US navy close to there.
It's worth visiting for sure☆

Hi. I have one thing to tell you our guests who stayed here before.
Some people told us that the tv was placed too high to watch it.
Now, look at this picture! We finally replaced it and looks much confortable than before♪
So if you come back here again, you can enjoy tv with confortable sofa.
Thank you for your advice anyway. (Someone from Spain...)

This is the one of my favorite type of NOZOMI.
It,ll take you to the Kyoto about 2H.
Try this blue pencil train!
It will disappear pretty soon,instead of type700.

Chao Chao~!
from 6bed dorm・・・
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　　　　　∧∧･ω･）／(＿＿＿_／~
　　　∧∧･ω･）／(＿＿＿_／~
　　（　 ･ω･）／(＿＿＿_／~
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／　└-(＿＿＿_／~

There is no place to visit any more in Tokyo?
How about going to this amusement park which is located in front of our hostel?

Hanayashiki, the name of this amusement park, was build in 1853.
It means this is the oldest amusement park in Japan.
You may have kind of good old days memory if you go there.

As you can see from this picture, we have some guide books
which you can take a look anytime.
Actually, we have much more pamphlets of the other accommodations around Japan as well.
If you have no idea where should go today, you can take a look these books,
check on the internet or ask us.

Her name is Yaeko, the leader of our clean staff.
She is the specialist of cleaning and even though she doesn't speak English,
she can communicate with foreigners very well.
How? I don't know but she speaks to our guests in Japanese and they reply in English.
It means they are understanding each other somehow...right?

I guess because she has been working in a hotel for a long time, she got this skill by herself.

Our guests from Mexico had a small concert at our lounge tonight.
They are professional guitar players.
Their songs were sometimes powerful, sometimes so sweet.

They brought back to me the wonderful time I spent in Mexico.

Thank you guys, I enjoyed it from the front desk.

Tonight, at 9:00PM, we'll have a movie night.
My neighbor Totoro, by Hayao Miyazaki, with English subtitles.

I've seen this movie so many times in my life, but still I see it.
I believe many of you guys agree with me.

Come join us at our first floor lounge to see one of the most loved movies of Hayao Miyazaki.

Hello! I'm Hiro, working at Sakura Hostel since its opening.
Last weekend Sakura Hostel and Sakura House held one day trip to Kamakura ,one of ancient cities in Japan.
23 people from foreign countries joined the trip
we are planning the next trip now, and hope you will join us.

Unfortunately, it was rainy day.
People were watching DVD sitting on the comfortable sofa.