最近一个工作日的下午,23岁的护士东国原千寻从神奈川县小田原的家出发,经过90分钟的行程来到东京,只为了在休假的时候享受一些独处的时间.
Her destination was R-za Dokushokan, a silent café on a narrow street near Koenji station, where she planned to drink tea, draw some illustrations in a sketchbook and savour the silence.
她的目的地是R-za Dokushokan,一家位于高圆寺车站附近一条狭窄的街道上的沉默咖啡馆.她打算在那儿喝喝茶,在速写簿上画画图,尽情享受宁静的氛围.
Speaking quietly at the entrance of the cafe, Miss Higashikokubaru said: "I heard about this place in magazines and via Twitter and I liked the idea of coming here.
在咖啡馆门口,东国原小姐低声说："我在杂志和推特上看到了这个地方,很想来这看看."
"I work as a nurse and it's always very busy. There are very few quiet places in Tokyo, it's a big busy city.
"我的工作是护士,总是很忙碌.东京是个繁忙的大都市,安静的地方很少."
"I just wanted to come and sit somewhere quietly on my own. I'm going to drink a cup of tea and maybe do some drawings. I like the idea of a quiet, calm atmosphere – they're difficult to find."
"我只想找个地方自己一个人安静地坐坐.我打算喝杯茶,也许会随手画点画.我喜欢这个安静平和的氛围的创意,这种气氛很难得."
Miss Higashikokubaru is one of more than 200 visitors who pass through the doors and sit in silence at the café every week, according to Taiki Watanabe, its 45-year-old owner.
45岁的店主渡边大辉说,每周有超过200位顾客到这家咖啡馆来静静地坐着,东国原小姐是其中之一.
Tucked away at the top of a small staircase, the first floor café, which opened seven years ago, is a serene haven of one-person seats, antique wooden tables, forest-like green plants and a wall of books complete with the soothing sound of flowing water from an aquarium.
这家位于二楼的咖啡馆藏在一个小楼梯的上面,七年前开张,对顾客来说它就像一个安宁的港湾：单人椅子、仿古木桌、浓密的绿植、一壁的书籍,水族箱传出轻缓的水流声.
"I used to work in another café before opening this place," said Mr Watanabe. "It was very different, busy and loud. I really liked the idea of opening my own calm and quiet space. Some silent time is very important for people living in cities."
渡边先生说："开这家店之前我曾在别的咖啡馆工作过.那里跟这儿很不一样,店里繁忙又吵闹.开一家属于自己的平和宁静的店,这个想法很令我心动.对在城市里生活的人来说,能拥有一些安静的时光很重要."
