So we made it - onto Phase Two of the Gooba Gap Year, as Johnny declared. It was quite intimidating to be met with such a rush of japan - really slapped us in the face - but it was almost too easy getting to the hostel! I guess I was expecting something to go wrong, but we arrived without a hiccup! We are staying at the Sumidagawa Youth Hostel in Asakusabashi - and it is such a cute littleplace! NOt half as nice as the hostel we stayed in last time, but decidedly more japanese, I think. We exchanged our shoes for slippers upon entering the building, and checked into our dorms. Mine is a tiny little room that they have somehow managed to squeeze three beds into. The doors don't lock, but we are each given a locker outside of the room. The girls' bathroom is overwhelmingly pink, in that glorious , kitsch style so　loved by the Japanese! When we checked in, we were each given a little present since it is the hostels 5 year anniversary - how sweet is that! John and I picked up something to eat at a nearby convenience store (after a lot of scratching our heads - we&re already lost in translation - or lack thereof!) and ate in the common room. We amused ourselves watching Japanese TV,which is basically normal TV on drugs! Its crazy - I love it!!!