Buzzed Search

After school today, one of my classmates suggested a bunch of us go drink. Well, that sounded like a great idea (for those of you who know me, that's not sarcasm. For those of you who really know me, you know I'd never be sarcastic about wanting to drink more). So we stopped in the local con-bini and picked up some cheap, delicious beverages.

After that, we went to an izakaya, where we got yummy food (including takoyaki!) and more delicious beverages. It was a little expensive, as izakayas tend to be, but it was still fun. I have grown a tendency to not eat breakfast or lunch, so I was feeling the alcohol. That's when we decided to get going.

Everyone else went to the train, but I had a mission: a store called Yellow Submarine. Now, if I were in America, I could imagine having trouble finding that store. But I was in Japan, in Tokyo. And kind of buzzed, at least. I figured I had a one in ten chance of finding the store. Also, I didn't really know where the place was, just approximately where it should be according to google maps, which is kind of crappy in Japan.

So I set off. I headed into the heart of Shinjuku, since the place was supposed to be just east of the train station. There were tons of signs, but after carefully evaluating all of the yellow ones, I determined it wasn't any of them. I hit up a small lottery shop to ask them if they heard of it, and boy is "ielo-sabumarin" annoying to say in Japanese. He had no idea what it was, nor did some other guy running a nearby cart. I wandered into a big store in Shinjuku station where the information people knew what was going on. They gave me a map with a mark drawn on it for where to go, and then explained it in some Japanese I couldn't understand.

Ok, so next step, to follow the map. Pretty soon the map diverged from reality. As soon as I stepped outside, the streets didn't match. But that's OK, I figured it out based on store names anyway. I made my way to the west side of the station (that's where they said the store was). But there was no store. I found the closest DVD-ery and asked them about it. They took out another map (I think this is a running thing in Japan) and pointed out where it was; they said go straight, then make the first two rights.

At about this time I realized I really had to go to the bathroom. This tends to happen when you've been drinking, and if not, this tends to happen to Webers who've been drinking. I started moving a lot faster with the hope that if I didn't reach my goal, at least I'd find the restrooms soon. I turned the corner like I was told, and the store was right there. For a second I thought I should be annoyed because I was told I had to turn one more time, but I'll take my wins where I can get them. I went in, and was summarily told that they didn't have what I wanted. Oh well.

Time to head back. I went back to the train station, aiming for a bathroom and to get as far east as possible; that's where Shinjuku Sanchoume station is (which is on the line I use). After getting mediocre directions from a couple more store clerks, I found my way to the bathroom.

I then determined which exit I needed to get out from (there are probably around 50 exits to the train station). I needed A3. There were signs to C1-16, B1-16, and A6-18. Why no A1-5? According to the exit map, A1-5 should be in the same way as A6-7, but farther. So I went with my gut, and low and behold exits that were not on the original sign started appearing. I followed the corridor all the way down to the right exit, but it did not lead outside. It went into some other building. After getting in there, I followed the signs which led me...back the way I came. At this point, I was annoyed of going back and forth and I was starting to sober up, so I just got out another exit and walked home.

The end.