Today was my last day in Tokyo, tomorrow we fly to London! L and I were planning on going to the fish market and the beach but we slept in and it just didn't happen. Its so hot, too hot for the beach. We both don't have uch yen left so we are having a stingy day. Its really bizzare, Japan has a cash based currency- everything is paid for in cash so we haven't used our cards for a week. Its good because you keep track of your $ more easily. 

Anyway, I thought the best way to see a bit more of Tokyo without spending money would be to go for a walk. In the morning I went down by the Sumida river in Asakusabashi and followed it along until I got to Humacho park. I was surprised to see these little structures as I walked along the riverside. From a distance I assumed them to be stalls of some kind that were yet to be opened- they were covered in tarp.  On closer inspection Irealised they were little humpies housed by homeless people. 

For the first few days of our time in Tokyo L & I were surprised at the quality of the people we saw and that generally there were no bums, no dags, no homies, no ghetto bitches. It wasn't until yesterday at Ueno park that we really saw any bona fide bums. as my mum said to me at the airport "There are poor people everywhere, Adele". She sounded like a massive snob, but what she means is, no mater where you go there are down and outs, hobo's and homeless people. Some places are just better at hiding it. 

Here in Tokyo there are about 30, 000 homeless people- although the government estimates it at much less according to my lonely planet. Like most homeless people they seem to be displaces, pushed to the outside of society. there is quite a large population in Ueno park and in the park near the river where I was today.  Unlicke Adelaide bums (or as my mum would say "swampies') Tokyo bums aren't drunk & disorderly. On the most part they seem to keep their distance and they don't even smell. 

Down by the banks of the sumida the little shacks were quite well built, certainly more permanent that the backpack i am living out of. What bothers me, as an outsider, is that the government must find it difficult to aid these people if it hasn't/won't accurately account for all of them. I guess its not really my business or my place to judge. 

YEAH> 

Tokyo street art.