Streets
An alley with a red lantern
Lost in Tokyo on my last night, and glad of it.
Freja Ås
I took a wrong turn looking for the station and ended up in an alley so narrow I could touch both walls. Bicycles, wires, one red paper lantern above a door.
Inside was a bar with six seats. The owner did not speak English and I do not speak Japanese. He poured me something warm and pointed at a bowl of noodles. I nodded.
Finding the station
He drew a map on a napkin. I still have it. It is the best souvenir I brought home, and the only thing that did not cost me anything.
