Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

Have you ever tried one of Japan's most popular dishes, Beef bowl at Yoshinoya?
The history of Yoshinoya is very old and now, you can have it outside of Japan,
such as USA, Singapore, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and so on.

There are so many branches in Japan (I don't know exactly how many they are)
but I just found the first one.
It was in Tsukiji, inside the famous Tsukiji Fish market.
I didn't know that it was the first one but now I understand why their motto is
"Fast, Cheap and Tasty".

If you have a chance to go to Tsukiji fish market, it is a good idea to have some fresh Sushi
but if you think it's above your budget, try beef bowl there:)

Tomo was back from Guam a few days ago.
She bought us some chocolates and softner!
That's what I wanted!
We do the laundry everyday but it's difficult (or expensive)
to get softener for dryer in Japan.

In Japan, we use liquid softener and put them to laundry machine.
While I was in San Diego, I always use downy because I loved that smell.
That one she got in Guam is not downy but smells simillar.

Now, more fluffy towels are available at the reception;)

What are you making today?

It looks too small to be a bed for you...

It's a new table for our common space!

Big enough and looks much stronger than the last one:)

Enjoy watching DVDs and playing Play station or some games with your friends♪

Sorry, but it's not a footrest:P

On 20th was Tsuyoshi's birthday!!
He turned to be 35 years old.
After Koji left, you became the oldest staff here.
You are our big reliable brother!

On 26th, today, is Naoto's birthday!!
He is now, 32 years old.
As he was working overnight, looked sleepy...
You are so kind to everyone, but not to me:P

Happy birthday from all of your lovely co-workers;)

I'm not sure whether you are checking this weblog
but thank you for your mail and some brochures of your lovely country(island).

I think you were the first guest from Guadeloupe and also it was my first time to know it.
When I checked your island on the internet, I found it's worth visiting.

Do you mean you can show me around if I visit there?;)

Harajuku is the trend-setting fashion and artistic center among many youngsters,
not only within Japan but also in a lot of neighboring countries. If you are interested
in exploring the area, come and join us!

Details are below↓↓
When : January 31st (Sat), 10:00?18:00
Admission: ￥1,050 (For Okonomiyaki buffet & 1 drink in Sakura-tei)
Location - Meet at Harajuku Station
- Visit DESIGN FESTA GALLERY (art gallery)
- Lunch at SAKURA-TEI (Okonomiyaki; Japanese pan-fried pizza)
- Shopping at ORIENTAL BAZZAR
- Visit MEIJI SHRINE(Meiji Jinju)
- Explore YOYOGI PARK(Yoyogi Koen)
Access: By JR Yamanote line:
Please get off at "Harajuku" station (Takeshita exit)

Note: If you would like to join the tour,
please reserve by email (event@sakura-house.com) or call us at 03-5330- 5250
Or ask us at Sakura hostel asakusa:)

Meet at here↑↑Harajuku station★

There are many kinds of museums in Tokyo.
Which one have you been so far?
Sword museum?
Parasite museum?

What about Bag museum?
It is located 20mins on foot from sakura hostel
and you can see rare bags from all over the world.
Also, you can learn the history of bags in Japan.
It might be very interesting:)
I didn't know about this museum, so I'll take a look after work in the near future♪
Would you like to go with me?

New American history has just started today!!
Here in Japan, many people watched his first speech as a president on TV.

Do you happen to know we have Obama city in Japan?↓↓

It's in Fukui prefecture, an hour by plane from Tokyo.
Obama city became famous during the presidential election campaign last year.
Some people living there made a support group called
"Group that Supports Barack Obama Voluntarily" and became the news.
You might have heard about it.

I think(hope), President Obama will come to visit Obama city throughout his presidency☆

Guam!!
It's her winter vacation now and I think she is leaving today...right?
Unfortunately, she doesn't have a camera with her...
but she'll let you know how her trip is.

I hope she would have a great time and be relaxed♪
Don't worry about us, I'll watch Naoto not to goof off:P
I'm waiting for your souvenir!

Hmmm...where should I go on my winter vacation next month.

As we've informed, tourists were not allowed to watch the morning tuna auctions
to ensure a smooth and accident free course of business
during the busiest time of the year at Tsukiji Fish Market,

Finaly, they started tuna auction to be open to public from 19th.
Please be aware of these following things before watching the auctions.
?You can't take photos using strobe light.
?You can't touch tunas.
?Follow guards' directions there.
If you have a consciousness of being representative of your country, it's easy:)

Please enjoy our kitchen of Tokyo♪

Last week when I had a dinner with her.

She just had her hair cut and looks very Kawaii (cute)♪

How do you think?
I think this length suits her.
Yaeko, one of our cleaning staff, said that young girls should keep their hair long.
I tried short hair once but it didn't suit me at all...:(

Also, this is her new one-piece suit☆
I'm wondering whether she shares it with me and Tomoe;)

Our night shift staff, Koji dropped by sakura hostel with some sweets yesterday.
He just came back from Las Vegas and he looked very well:)

Do you know that he loves motorbikes (and cats)?
We found his new and gorgeous motorbike in front of the hostel.

Because I was just leaving, I asked him to give me a ride.

At first, I was so scared and asked him just to the nearest station.
BUT I found that it was very fun :)
Then, we went to Jimbocho Sakura Hotel which is located about 20mins from here♪
Though it was very cold, I did enjoy it.

It's so sad that he quit b here but we can hang out anytime;)

Enrique(the left), from Mexico, just left for his country now.
To be surprised, he speaks Japanese very fluentry
(almost perfect!)without going to Japanese lunguage school.

He sometimes went for a drink with us.
Before leaving, he said "I don't want go back" many many times:)

We hope he'll come back again and I'm sure that
when Tomo goes to Mexico the next time, she'll visit him.

Hello! I'm Yoshihiro K.
I came from Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro to study the work in the hotel.
This hostel is remembered that I was backpaker before.
So my feeling becomes very pleasant.(^o^)/

I 've worked at hostel of Kyoto and Osaka and Hokkaido before.
Please ask me about it for sightseeing if you have a question.
See you! Thank you.

How well do you know about Asakusa town?
Our guests always go to Shibuya, Odaiba, Roppongi and so on
but there are many many fun (weird?)places to go around our hostel.

Now, therefore, we have a special campaign now underway↓↓

The title is "Take photos & Get free internet and more!"

The rules are:
1. Find these locations and objects (They are all in Asakusa).
2. Take photo with your digital camera. You should appear in the photo like I do.
3. Show us the photo you took.

Prizes are...
One photo: 1 hour free internet.
Three photos: Free one breakfast.
Ten photos: Special BIG prize!(secret at this moment)

We are waiting for your entry:)

Yuta, who was working with us since last June left last week..
He is a university student and doing job hunting now.
As we are in the midst of a terrible recession,
it is hard to find a job for students this year:(

How about your country?

I hope he can get a good job what he wants☆

What do you think it is?
I found it by chance at 100yen shop when I was shopping
with Tomo and one of our guest from Spain.
Actually, there was 300yen section and it was there.

I'm not a impulse buyer but my heart was captured with it;)

This is salt-and-pepper shakers.

This is the top 10 countries most visited from in December 2008!!
What do you think?

Though it's in bad economic times right now,
we are happy to see our guests still come from all over the world.

If you gave up to visit Japan because of the appreciation of the yen,
I hope you would try again in near future☆
It's time to Japanese go travel instead:)

As you can see, they have a cold right now.
Fortunately, it's not a flu but they are suffering from runny and stuffy noses:(

Once one staff catch a cold, then the other get the next.
I hope it won't be my turn....I already got twice this winter.

What is this line for??

This photo was taken after 11:00PM on January 2nd.

This is a line of people of "hatsumode" (the New Year's visit to shrines/temples) waiting to pray at the Sensoji Temple.

For the first three days of each year, we see this long line of people in front of Sensoji Temple.
During the daytime, the line is more than 200m up until Kaminarimon Gate.

Hatsumode is still such an important custom for Japanese people even in this modern time. Why don't you join the line and try the custom with these people?

Let me know you our's here.

Tomo:To be careful not to talk so much at the office and
to become a much better swimmer.
If you stop talking, I'm sure that you'll be getting stressful...

Yuri: Get a driver's licence by March.
Then I can take you wherever you want if you have enough courage;)

Jack: To have a baby boy☆
What kind of name will you give him?

Ebi: Be positive.
Please cheer me up when I feel down.

Yuta: Not to wake up late.
Get a BIG BIG alarm clock!!

A happy new year!

This is a greeting post for all of you★
Yes, I'm working today as usual!!

Tomoe put on kimono today.
So beautiful:)
I'm also wearing my favorite one-piece♪
I wish I could wear it by myself...I'll try the next year;)

I do wish 2009 will be a great year for all of you☆★☆