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I’ve been working at InsideJapan Tours’ Nagoya office (west Japan) for the last month. As enjoyable as that is, I’ve been eagerly waiting to get back to Tokyo to start my next tour leading stint.
I hadn’t been to Tokyo for a number of weeks so I was keen to visit some old friends and haunts. And, of course, curious to see with my own eyes in what state I would find the city. Friends and colleagues tell me that life carries on as usual. But reports coming from my family in England gave me reason to be a little concerned. Would there be any of that Tokyo magic to share with my tour group?
I was starving as I emerged from the subway near the Asakusa area of north Tokyo and so I kept a look out for a nice place to eat as I made my way to my hotel to drop off my luggage. To be honest, I was a little concerned with how many restaurants were closed. Things have changed I thought: best to head to the main drag to find some life.
In no time at all I discovered the bustling and exciting Asakusa I had been expecting. Many Japanese (and quite a few foreign) tourist were continuing their pub crawls or looking for a karaoke joint. Then I realised that it was 11 o’clock on a Monday evening. No wonder the backstreets were quiet. I too, it seems, was convinced by the hype; looking for a depressed Japanese population where it didn’t exist.
My tour group are now having a wonderful time. We have been charmed by the beautiful cheery blossom in Ueno Park. And also by the locals who have been so welcoming. Offering us seats at their picnics and expressing their pleasure that we’ve come to enjoy the blossom with them. One woman on my tour said she felt tears well up in her eyes: so touched was she by the warm hospitality of a people who are overcoming a great tragedy.
