Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

Thank you for staying with us this year and
all of us are waiting for you the next year!!
Special thanks to...
You!! (who is just reading this weblog♪)
I really appreciate your comments and curiosity;)

How was your 2007?
Happy? Not good? Funny?
My 2007 was Yummy! ;p

What is your new year's resolution?

Ok, ok, don't blame us for Tokyo's not having 24hrs public transportation. On this special day, most JR lines and subways will run all night. They come less frequently than usual, but come every 20-30 minutes, not that bad.

This, I believe, is originally meant to serve those who go to shrines and temples to do the New Year's visits (hatsumode), but is also good for our guests who go nightclubbing for countdown parties on the New Year's Eve. You can come back to the hostel or jump from a party to another by subway, avoiding taking a taxi.

Sakura staff is not the only one who will work all night on the day...

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (Japanese website only)

The government office in west Shinjuku has observation rooms on the 45th floor (202m), which are open until 23:00 on most days.
This place is not as famouse as Tokyo Tower as an observation platform to view the whole panorama of Tokyo, but is usually most recommended by Sakura staff.

Reason 1: Admission free!!
Reason 2: It's even higher than the main observatory of Tokyo Tower.
Reason 3: Not that famous yet, which means that not so many tourists yet.

During the winter season when we have a clear sky, you might be able to see Mt. Fuji from there. And, of couse, the night view is something that you shouldn't miss while in Tokyo.

The photos I took with my camera were disappointing... So these are photos by somebody else.
Ah, I should go to Akihabara to buy a better camera...

On the 2nd of Jan, the Emperor and the Imperial Family receive the New Year greetings
of the public in the grounds of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo.
It is called Ippan-Sanga.
(http://events.skyteam.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=35867)

If you have no plan on that day, how about going there and have a look.
It's gonna be a good experience to you♪
Ippan-Sanga is only twice a year and the other one is 23rd of Dec.
which is on the emperor's birthday.

During new year's holidays, most of banks and post offices are closed or open irregularly.
So, please bring enough cash in order not to run out of it.

Don't worry, most of shops are open on those days;)

Christmas was over and new years is coming.
In Japan, we have many things to welcome it.
For example, we put this decoration(called Shimekazari) at the door.

"Shimekazari" is a twisted straw rope with fern leaves,
an orange and other items of good omen.
It is generally hung on doors during the New Year holidays
and served as a charm against evil spirits.
(http://haradakun.cool.ne.jp/nihonbunka/newyear_special.html)

Like this↓↓

When they made a reservation, I found they were coming from La Jolla.
Because I had lived very close to there, I told them about this.
Then, we exchanged some e-mails before they coming.

Finally, they had arrived at Sakura with lovely Teddy bear♪
It reminds me of San Diego★
Thank you sooo much.

Sampo-no tatsujin (「散歩の達人」）is one of the famous guide magazine in Japan.
It means the master of taking a walking.
It is published once in a month and features one city around Tokyo.

This time, our town, Asakusa was featured in this magazine and
one editor came to stay to introduce Sakura Hostel there.

I found my boss, Tomo on left corner!!
If you wanna see this, just let us know at the reception;)

We had a christmas party here!!
It started with a cool music played by cool guys
from Sakura House staff and their friends↓↓

♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪

Then, we played BINGO game!! They looked so seriously that I couldn't stop laughing:P

Why they looked so seriously?
Because winners have chances to pick one gift from here!

Pick a good one! If you are lucky, you will get Yukata☆

Thank you for joinning us! I also had a great time with you♪

He started training here and it's his fourth day today☆
His name is Tempei and he had lived in N.Y. for three and half years.
He has an experience in Japanese restaurant there
and told me that he saw Hidetoshi Nakata(famous football player!) while working.

He speaks English much better than me, so I'll try to learn from him covertly:)
I hope he'll like our hostel♪

Have you ever seen Kotatsu?
As you can see on this picture, it's a table with an electric heater underneath
and covered by a quilt.

I don't have it at my home but my grandparents have one:)
I always try to make my parents buy it but it didn't work...
If I have my own home, I definitely get Kotatsu first!!

Have you ever received New year's card (called nengajo in Japanese)?

You may have the similar customs in your culture.
In Japan, we exchange Nengajo at new year's.

Unfortunately, the number of people who write it is getting decreasing
because they prefer e-mail or text e-mail now.
It's much easier for us, including me;)

I haven't sent new year's cards for 4 years but this year, I'll send some again!
I think receiving cards instead of e-mails on new year's day make people much happier♪
Original post card have a lottery number on it☆

Battledore fair is starting tomorrow!!
Do you know Hagoita?
Simply to say, it's Japanese style of badminton.
We play it especially on new year's holidays.
The winner can scribble on the loser's face ;)
Sounds funny, right?

Those hagoita which you can see on these pictures above and below are
not for playing but for praying☆
Everytime I hear the news that they start to sell Hagoita,
I can feel that the end of the year is coming right across the corner.

I like this one↓↓

These are free gifts for our guests (Asakusa, Jinbocho, Ikebukuro and Hatagaya)
&Sakura House tenants.

Winners have chances to pick one from here;)
Even though you are the first prize, you may pick “So-so” gift,
or if you are the last place, you still have a chance to get “Fantastic” one♪

I am the only person who knows what's inside:P
You should check my face when you pick☆

Look at this super cool menu board↓↓

It's Tomoe's good job;)
She was working for this for a month through a trial and error process.

And it's me!! My recommendation is matcha green tea♪

Tomo is here! Her favorite drink is Apple tea;)

Tomoe wants you to try some spirits☆

WELCOME BACK!!

Hi, Daniel:) How have you been??
He is the first long-stay traveler here and spent about a month last summer.

Usually, our staff remember our guest's faces...maybe;)
Let us say "Okaeri", means welcome back or good to see you again!

Don't you think this flyer is cool??
Terry made this!

I tried to make one but my skill is poor and I gave up...
Anyway, I hope many many people can enjoy our party and have a great time♪
I just bought some nice gifts for the winners of Bingo game;)
It's gonna be you, maybe!

One of the busiest season is coming just around the corner.
Christmas, new year's eve and new year's day.
You may have many chances to drink with your friends♪
BUT, please DO NOT drink too much because you may be in trouble...
such as losing your wallet and passport, throwing up and acute alcohol poisoning...

Let's enjoy the year-end and New Year holidays with moderate intake of alcohol!!

From 6 to 11am, you can have a breakfast at our rounge.
Before taking, we ask our guests to pay for it and then, we'll give a breakfast ticket.
We want to use those tickets again and again,
so we'd like you to return it after finish eating.

Though it looks cute, please don't take it to the home;)

Our breakfast is toasts, instant soup, coffee and tea☆
You can have them as much as you can!!

As you know, we have many many guests from all over the world.
For example, fighters, writers, photographers and so on.

Last week, we had an artist who plays bass in his band.

Do you happen to know him?
Sanchez gave us his CD before he left.
We sometimes play it here♪
I like it!!

Have you ever tasted Japanese green tea?
It's called Matcha in Japanese and very bitter especially for the first time.

I had learned tea ceremony when I was in high school, so I can make it for you anytime:)
Matcha is very good for your health because it is rich in vitamin C.
Though matcha itself is bitter, you can enjoy with something sweets♪

I know someone who really liked it and bought matcha powder after drinking:)

I know that there are two types of people, one is who loves christmas
and the other is who hates it.
Me is the first one, so everytime I hear the christmas music in the town,
I feel kind of peace.
Christmas illuminations make me happy:)

Even though most of Japanese are not christian, we still celebrate it somehow.
The main reason is just a commercial.
We eat special foods such as chicken and cakes.
We decorate our houses and christmas trees.

We're gonna have a christmas party here on 21st of Dec★
You should come and play Bingo game and enjoy the cool band music♪
If you are lucky, you can get some really nice gifts:)

Check this site and know how Japan's christmas season is↓↓
http://gojapan.about.com/od/christmasinjapan/tp/tokyochristmas.htm

Are you a big fun of football?
Or you love playing foot ball?

Then you may know we have a big football game, called Toyota Cup here in Japan.
It starts from the 7th of this month and choose the world club championship.

Actually, I don't know much about football but
still can feel that it's a very exciting game★
Which team do you think gonna be a champion?

If you are a keen reader of this weblog,
you may noticed that our web page have changed.
If you have stayed here before, you may find yourself on it!

I like this new version very much.
Thank you Aoyama san:)

How do you like it?
My favorite picture is this one↓↓