keepsakes
Taking a rickshaw might seem like a gimmicky thing, but it's a bit of fun and a way to get another view into what makes Japan unique. It didn't take long before a driver was available to take me back to the station, and with the rain starting to fall he put extra effort into making me snug: wrapped in a blanket and with a hand warmer too!
Rickshaw drivers 車夫 are transporters, maintainers of culture, local guides and entertainers in equal measure, and take pride in delivering a good experience.
The rain and the wind picked up fast, whipping up the surface of the river and sending people scurrying with umbrellas. The driver, undeterred, whisked me through the streets, stopping to snap a few photos of me along the way – the true tourist package. A few heavy bursts of rain later and the bad weather swept past, then subsided almost completely as we neared the station.