door phone

They are planning to upgrade our door phones...some apartments in our building already have theirs.

In Japan, when someone comes to your door, they press the door bell and you can answer the “phone” from inside your house/apartment

This is so that you talk to them through the “phone” and don't have to go to open the door directly. 

(The “phone” is only to talk to people ringing the door bell)

We usually ignore whoever rings the door bell, since most times it is sales related.

Unless, we are expecting something to be delivered.

The other day, the building renovators came to check out our door phones, took measurements and such, they'll be back in May/June to replace them with "visual" door "phones"

The "phone" inside the apartment will be replaced with a screen so that when someone rings the door bell, you can just look at the screen and the door bell outside will have a camera attached to it.

Not looking forward to this because it is supposed to take 6 to 8 hours! how I going go bathroom?! how I going take my afternoon nap?! 1st world problems…

this and that

Was sad to see part of the Minoo (the area in Osaka that we used to live in) mountains burning the other morning on the news, glad they got the fire under control before it got close to homes

I dunno about you, but I think that crows are evil.

There was one the other day that was sitting on this house's fence (above the blue net) and using its beak to pick up the potted pansies that were attached to the fence and dropping the pots...

When I saw it do it, our eyes met...and it laughed out loud...eep!

Glad the owners of the plants put them back up on their fence, but what a p.i.t.a. to clean up

the 8th was Hanamatsuri, or the Buddha's birthday.

The shrine on the grounds of Inokashira Park had a little pavilion decorated with flowers where you could pour sweet tea over the Buddha.

One lady asked me to pour tea over so she could take a photo of my doing it, she said, “because I cannot take a photo of myself doing it”...I should have suggested me taking a photo of her pouring the tea

Freesia explosion...

This reddish freesia was the last one to bloom and was the most fragrant.

This is apparently an art wall near the JR Krawasaki station, that Satoshi sent one day.

Will need to check it out for myself...

The 3 japanese citrus jam that I bought in Kamakura was a marmalade...so delicious with the scone from Kibiya

so teeny

The other day, I was walking in our shopping arcade and came upon these people waiting for someone/something...

Turned out it was a parade for our local basketball team

took screen shots from the video I shot...

Tokyo People (I think he is waiting for a taxi)

Double type of sakura in bloom : yaezakura

Thankful my cousin, her colleagues and her students were safe after that mass shooting on their campus this past Thursday.

Have a safe week

nezu shrine & surrounding areas

Thursday, the weather dude talked about the Nezu Shrine's azaleas on his morning weather report.

We've visited them back in 2019, AND I was already planning to go, now because of his broadcast that same morning, everyone and their uncle decided to go too....

On my way to the shrine, I stopped into Ichijoji to look at their peonies 

And their hanachozu (bowls or troughs filled with flowers)

Huge! pine! a couple of doors down the street from Ichijoji

Nezu shrine...the admission went up from 200 to 500 yen to see the azaleas...still worth it

Outside the shrine Hirata Seisakusho was selling their cat charms...it looks like stone, but is actually wood.

I bought one that looked like my furry niece...1200 yen (tax included)

(while eating dinner, I noticed the back of the charm)...so pretty!

Now what to put the charm on…

Up the street is Du Pain et Des Gateaux Les Inities, a tiny bakery that I've had on my "to try" list

Everything is behind a glass, so you need to "communicate" with the staff working...love this kind of bakery!

I purchased their tuna sandwich with olives and semi dried tomato...550 yen (tax included)

And a viennoise lemon butter cream with hazelnuts...370 yen (tax included)

Both were delicious, loved the amount of tuna in the sandwich and the amount of nuts in the lemon one, the lemon flavor was kinda weak though.

Will be back here when I am in the area.

Tokyo People: would not want the guy with the net's job...blocking the flying rocks while the weed wacker guy works...

Summer is here!

Du Pain et Des Gateaux Les Inities

2-32-5 Nezu

Bunkyo, Tokyo

Closed: Mondays

Hours: 10:30-18:00

craft chocolate works

From Flour & Water, I walked to Craft Chocolate Works, which I've had on my "to try" list for some time now.
 

I purchased their blood orangette and cacao nib financier...2750 yen (tax included) for both

The blood orangette was delicious, they candy the blood orange peel and then dip it into chocolate

The cacao nib financier was delicious too, not too sweet and lots of nibs on top

Walking to the shop, this area reminded me of some areas in Minoo that I used to walk through

Found some wisteria too.

Setagaya Park was huge!

I stumbled upon Jakuzure River Green Way, a 3 kilometer (1.86 mile) walking route

I didn't walk any of it, I just wanted to see...

this huge wisteria that seemed to be dangling from a cherry (blossom) tree

Spotted more wisteria in front of someone's house

Blazing! but lots of walking and exploring

I’ll be back to the chocolate shop whenever I am nearby

Craft Chocolate Works

2-7-4 Ikejiri

Setagaya, Tokyo

Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 11:00-18:00

flour & water

Tried a new (to me) bakery, Flour & Water, it is about 5 minutes walking distance from the Tokyu Nakameguro Station.
 

I purchased their caesar salad burger and kalbi foccacia…total 908 yen (tax included)

I was surprised when I bit into it and there was this egg!

I loved the crispy edges on the egg, and I loved the bread too, it looked hard but it wasn't 

This also had caesar salad dressing, cheese, lettuce and bacon

The kalbi foccacia also had some egg salad as well as thinly sliced renkon (lotus root) for some crunch.

Loved how you could tell the meat had been grilled, so flavorful!

This shop is cashless.

I'm glad I tried this place and will be back whenever I am in the area.

Flour & Water

1-30-10 Aobadai

Meguro, Tokyo

Open daily: 9:00-23:00

*cashless payment only

I also checked out Meguro River, but the cherry blossoms were pau (finished) already.

heads up

This coming Saturday and Sunday, they will be doing work around the JR Tamachi station.

So there are closures on the Yamanote line and Keihin Tohoku lines between Osaki and Ueno.

Both days have different closures, so be sure to check the signs before hand.

nihonbashi

Saturday, after doing some errands, we went to Nihonbashi

But first, lunch at Toyo, this shop has been in business since 1966 and specializes in Western style foods

(I’ve passed by this place many times and was interested in checking it out)

Loved the retro style interior

I chose the daily special which was hayashi rice (hashed beef), Satoshi had their hamburger and ebi fry...his portion was way smaller!

The food comes out pretty quick, and is delicious, but nothing out of the ordinary, we also liked that it wasn't crowded, only thing is that it is cash only

From here we walked to Ibasen, makers of hand held fans that have been in business since 1590

So pretty to see

Minobe Betsuin, around the corner from where the Edo Denmacho Prison used to be located.

(Satoshi was a little disappointed with the diorama they had of the prison displayed in the community center)

Edoya, a shop that sells brushes that has been in business since 1718, unfortunately they are only open on weekdays

Nearby is Ichimasu Tagen, which sells kimono, gives advice on how to clean or repair kimono, exhibits all sorts of artifacts and sells all sorts of knick knacks too

They have been in business since 1816

I've been wanting to check out the Commisary, a food court in the Nihonbashi area, that apparently opened in 2020

There are five shops: beer, pizza, tacos, doughnuts and coffee

Since we had already eaten lunch, we just had some doughnuts and coffee

The people working at doughnut & coffeeare not too service oriented and not too friendly if you aren't a "regular"

The dinosaur and old fashioned chocolate doughnuts that we tried were just okay

I tried the iced espresso chai and Satoshi had an americano (because that was the only type of non-espresso type coffee drink that they sold)

Not sure about the other 3 shops, but the doughnut and coffee shops were cashless.

If I come back I want to try food from Pizza.

After sitting and having a quick snack, we walked around Nihonbashi

They were having a sake tasting event, so there were massive crowds lined up to try different sakes at different shops

Satoshi was interested in checking out Saruya, a tiny shop that makes toothpicks that has been in business since 1704

The toothpicks are made from kuromoji trees, there was a plant outside the shop

I wanted to check out Eitaro, candy and sweets makers since 1818

They make hard candies as well as Japanese wagashi type sweets (mochi & manju)

Satoshi wanted to see the Pokemon Center, it is located in the East Building of Takashimaya Nihonbashi, it was krazy

And we got a little lost looking for it.

The weather was nice, the wind was a bit chilly, but it was nice to be out and about exploring.

Toyo

1-2-10 Nihonbashi

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Mondays-Fridays), 11:00-20:00 (Saturdays

Ibasen

4-1 Nihonbashikobunacho

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

Edoya

2-16 Nihonbashiodenmacho

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed: Saturdays & Sundays

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Ichimasutagen

2-3-8 Nihonbashihoridomecho

Chuo, Tokyo

Hours: 10:00-18:30 (Mondays-Fridays) 10:00-17:30 (Saturdays & Sundays)

Commisary Nihonbashi

3-11-5 Nihonbashihoncho

Chuo, Tokyo

Hours: 11:00-22:00

*most shops are cashless

Saruya

1-12-5 Nihonbashimuromachi

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 10:00-17:00 (Mondays-Fridays), 12:00-17:00 (Sundays)