As we checked out of the Oak Hostel we realized that although it was the 5th in Japan, it was still Independence Day in Murica. With the mass amounts of McDonalds in the Ueno area, we celebrated in the most American way we could possible. Zac and I both ordered our first Big Mac's ever. We both intend on keeping it the only Big Macs we ever consume.
It was pretty alright. Definitely gave you that sweet feeling of regret that any Micky D's gives you.
With the taste of freedom, fat, and salt entrenched in our stomachs, it was time to head to our final resting place for our final five days in Tokyo! Zac and I found this place on AirBnB located in Akahibara, which was luckily only a mile walk away from Oak Hostel.
We got a little lost, but we pretty much have gotten turned around a few times anywhere we've gone so far. I think getting lost is part of the journey. Anyways, once we finally arrived to Rikki's place Rikki stumbled out to greet us and to warned that everyone in the house was incredibly hungover from the previous night.
One of the first things Rikki showed Zac and I was his airsoft M4 gun. I wanted to take photos of it outside, but Rikki insisted he didn't want to go to jail...
First stumbled down Emily from the upstairs bedroom and collapsed on the floor in front of us. Enter Alina who dragged Emily who introduced the pair as English teachers from Nagano visiting Tokyo for the weekend. After Alina realized Emily was RIP'd from the night before, she invited us to go to the "Final Fantasy Cafe" with her where we got our first taste of Akahibara: Electric Street.
Lots of anime themed arcades, shops, and cafes line the main street of Akahibara.
The front of what I believe was a "Maid Cafe". Girls dressed as maids stand out front coercing passers with flyers to come in. Each girl had a sign around their neck that says "NO PHOTOS". Taking photographs of the wrong thing can get you in a lot of trouble here and I'm not trying to get deported. Yet.
Sex sells a lot more in Japan than in Portland and with the amount of strip clubs we have, that's saying something.
We finally got to the Final Fantasy Cafe, which only served fruity-ass candy drinks, but was odd in a weird/fun way. Alina, Zac and I ate quickly and soon returned back to Rikki's.
When we got back Rikki wanted to invite us out to a kind of "locals only event" that we weren't fully understanding what it actually was when Rikki explained. It was only when Rikki showed us videos of a girl in skimpy latex repeatedly kick a man wearing a ski mask in the balls that we realized he was saying "FETISH", of course we agreed to go, as long as our genitals remained in tact.
The group of us first went to drop of Alina and Emily at Akahibara station, but first went through some of the anime stores that lined the electric street:
Plenty of cosplay wigs to choose from if you're into that kind of thing.
Once we dropped Alina and Emily off at the station we then headed to Harajuku, world famous for its Takeshita Street and center of Kawaii fashion.
Rikki, Zac and I briskly made our way through the crowds and winded through the streets of Harajuku in fears that the fetish fest might be over. As time went on Rikki feared that we may have missed out. We were all sweaty and tired and worried that one of us may miss out on getting physically abused by skimpy Japanese sadists.
Then Rikki had a bright idea that turned out to be better than any BDSM could over: an Onsen! Onsen means Japanese for hot spring, in which there are many all over Tokyo.
There is a law in Japan that all Onsens must be the same price: 480 yen (around 4 bucks).
The three of us stripped naked (SORRY NO PICS), showered off and entered the Onsen. There is a side for males and another side for females. Rikki mentioned how there has been a recent influx of perverts using selfie-sticks to take pics of the female side, leading to many arrests in the Onsens as of late.
Luckily, no arrests were made at the Onsen, but the water was unbearable hot. But frequently jumping in and out of the hot water into a shower of cold water prevented the feeling of heat stroke. After having enough of the insanely hot water, we dried off, put on our boxer-briefs, and enjoyed Coca-Cola in small glass bottles on small benches on the outside of small doors with a koi pond in front of us. It was the best Coke I've ever had.
After the Onsen, Rikki bought us beers where we said "KUN-PAI" and smoked some a menthol cigarettes as we made our way back to the metro to head back home.
You can find 80 cent beer anywhere you go in Japan.
On our way back through the dark streets of Harajuku we actually did stumble upon the end of the fetish fest, but it was already over, and I didn't bother to take photos.
We went back through Takeshita street and browsed through some of the shops. There are so many random clothing shops with English lettering on them that everyone's outfits is unique in their own way. We also visited the 100 yen store, and right now the yen is weak, so it was like a 75 cent store for Zac and I.
At this point we were all tired and got back on the metro to head home. The metro's here are efficient as fuck and the means of transportation for the vast majority of the city. I took a few photos, but Rikki warned that the police sometimes board the trains to make sure that perverts aren't snapping up-skirts, so out of respect, I wasn't getting too shutter happy.
All Japanese cellphones, even of silent, will make the shutter sound if you take a picture. This measure is the prevent people from taking up-skirts of the women on the trains or anywhere in public. Even my Snapchat runs differently in Japan. Anytime I take a photo or shoot a video, a loud noise is made.
On our way home, Rikki brought us in front of his favorite karaoke bar. Maybe we'll hit that place up in the next few days.
I write this as I drink a Budweiser in the final stoppage time of the women's World Cup final. USA, USA, USA. Zac and I are heading out again. I update this blog every morning/afternoon here in Japan. L8tr m8s.