Izakaya and more from Asakusa!

Izakaya is the Japanese word for going out to eat and drink with friends after work or on the weekend. It's a very common social practice and many eating establishments are tailored to it with certain foods that are particularly common.

Some other random thoughts:

• Tokyo is YOUNG and HIP with LOTS of nightlife. It seems like everyone here is 20 years old--tons of energy...

• You don’t say bless you when someone sneezes in Japan. This is the first place I’ve been that doesn’t say something after someone sneezes. I remember thinking it was odd when I first learned about “bless you” as a kid, and finally I have come across a culture that agrees :)

• Lolita fashion and Kawaii (cute) culture

• There’s an interesting fashion obsession (at least among some young people) to look doll-like/childish/twin called Lolita (yes, I believe it comes from Nabokov, though I don’t think most Japanese realize that)

• Everyone takes Daily baths!!!

• Possibly my favorite thing I’ve learned about Japanese culture is that, in addition to a shower, almost everyone takes an evening/night time bath EVERY day. I LOVE this!!! Because I love baths ^_^

• There are cartoon drawings all over the place here, for example, the fabric on bus seats is a cartoon print! Many signs in subways, etc have cute cartoons on them too. My mom probably loved this!

Soba noodles with tempura (fried squid, vegetable, and tofu). The fried tofu was unbelievably delicious!

Enjoying "Izakaya" in Asakusa District. Those are entire fish with many eggs inside of them and you eat the entire thing, bones and all! (I did it!).

My new Japanese friend Naho, who showed me around Asakusa and ordered the Izakaya food!

Asakusa's house (he was a famous sculptor and the neighborhood is named after him)