Road to new album recording, Japan. 2020, Day 3

This morning, I remained in and around the hotel, as I had plans for a dinner date that evening. Most of the day was spent exploring the local area in Asakusa, which is at the center of Tokyo’s shitamachi district. Asakusa offers a glimpse of Tokyo’s past, with its main attraction being the Sensoji Buddist temple, built in the 7th century but rebuilt after World War II.

One can easily explore Asakusa on foot, but taking a guided tour on a rickshaw, known as jinrikisha, can be a unique experience. Although I did not take the rickshaw ride, I spent my time walking around, visiting the temple, and trying out the local food.

During my walks, I also visited Sumida Park, a riverside park stretching along the Sumida River. The park is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring, and I was lucky enough to witness some trees already in bloom.

The Tokyo Skytree, a television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo, was visible throughout my exploration of Asakusa. It is located in the Sumida City Ward, not far from Asakusa. The weather was nice and sunny, and I spent most of the day at Sumida Park, surrounded by the beauty of blooming trees and birds picking on them.

At around 18:00, I took the Yamanote line to Shinjuku for my dinner date with a long-time friend. We had met during my first trip to Japan and spent some time together during a festival in South Korea. Our dinner was scheduled for 19:00, and I was looking forward to catching up with my friend.

Finding a place to smoke in Tokyo is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing year. While strolling around Shinjuku, I noticed some people smoking on the street and decided to join in. However, within a minute, a police officer approached me and informed me that it was not allowed, directing me to a designated smoking area.

Later that evening, I met up with a date and took a train to Chofu station where we visited the restaurant Tsuchi. The night was unforgettable with delicious food, a variety of sake, and great company. The chefs at the restaurant were very proud of their creations, taking the time to explain the ingredients they used.

After a wonderful evening, I took the train back to Ueno but missed my last train to Asakusa. I had to walk back to my hotel. The next day, I was set to perform a duo gig with my pianist Shunichi Yanagi in the Takadanobaba area.