Tokyo Drift (and a Whole Lot of Humidity)
okay, where do i even start? this trip… wow. i’m elara, by the way, and i’m a touring cellist. been on the road for, like, six months now, and Tokyo was supposed to be a quick stopover before heading to Seoul. quick turned into… complicated.
first off, the numbers. 1863289 and 1392174500. no idea. probably some random code i saw scrawled on a vending machine. honestly, at this point, i’m not even questioning it. it’s just another layer of Tokyo weirdness.
this place is… intense. the energy is palpable, you know? like, you can feel the city breathing. i needed a place to practice, obviously. found this tiny little room above a ramen shop in Shinjuku. the acoustics were… questionable, to say the least. every slurp and clatter echoed through my scales. but hey, it was cheap. and the ramen downstairs was amazing. seriously, check out the reviews on Yelp - people are obsessed.
and the weather? i just checked and it’s… damp. really damp. 4.98 degrees Celsius, feels like 2.99. humidity’s at 55%. it’s basically a sauna outside. my cello case is perpetually misty. i’m pretty sure my rosin is going to melt. i’m not complaining too much, though. it’s a change from the desert heat i was dealing with in Arizona last month.
finding a decent stage has been… a challenge. i’m trying to get a gig at this little jazz club in Shibuya, “The Blue Note Echo.” someone told me that the owner, Mr. Tanaka, is a tough nut to crack, but he appreciates real talent. i’m hoping my Bach suites will impress him. i’ve been practicing like crazy, but the ramen is definitely cutting into my rehearsal time.
my neighbors are… interesting. mostly salarymen rushing to work, and these adorable little old ladies who seem to be permanently knitting. i saw one of them staring at me through my window the other day while i was practicing. i think she was judging my vibrato. i heard that if you get bored, Yokohama and Kamakura are just a short train ride away. i might have to check them out if i need a break from the city chaos.
getting around is… an experience. the trains are incredibly efficient, but packed like sardines. i’ve learned to master the art of the polite shove. and the vending machines! they sell everything. everything. hot coffee, cold coffee, corn soup, mystery snacks… it’s a wonderland. i’m seriously considering buying a lifetime supply of Pocari Sweat.
right now, i’m just trying to survive on instant noodles and caffeine. and hoping Mr. Tanaka likes Bach. i’m also trying to figure out what those numbers mean. maybe they’re the coordinates to a secret ramen shop? or a portal to another dimension? who knows. that’s Tokyo for you.
if you’re planning a trip, definitely check out the official tourism board website: https://www.japan.travel/en/. and for some more insider tips, this blog is pretty good: https://tokyocheapo.com/. also, don't forget to look at TripAdvisor for restaurant recommendations. you won't regret it.
okay, gotta go. practice calls. and maybe find a dehumidifier.
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