nippori, yanaka & sendagi

The past several months, Satoshi's been studying for a test, which I think is to get a license to be a travel guide...anyway, he took the test and is waiting for his results.

He now has time to go holo-holo (galavanting) with me...

Saturday, was blazing! with humidity it was even more miserable.

We first stopped at Ueno, where I showed him Shinobazu Pond, the flowers weren't plentiful, but the leaves still filled the pond.

He was impressed with the size of the pond.

A fifteen minute walk away was where I wanted to eat breakfast...Kayaba Coffee.

This 100-something year old machiya (traditional Japanese wooden house) was renovated into a cafe and has been in business since 1938.

Satoshi had their egg sandwich and a coffee.

I had their pizza toast and an iced coffee.

This place was pricey.

Satoshi wasn't impressed with their coffee.

Dunno if we'll be back, but I'm glad we got to try them.

Down the street from Kayaba Coffee is a statue of Chiyonofuji, a well-known sumo wrestler on the property of the Gyokurin Temple.

In the Yanaka Cemetery is the family grave of Tokunaga Yoshinobu (the last shogun).

I read there are also famous Japanese artists' graves in this cemetery too.

From the cemetery we stopped in at Habutae for some shave ice...totally needed, it was blazing 34C (91F) and with humidity felt like 43C (109F).

Totally gross and uncomfortable.

Rainbow shave ice really hit the spot.

Then we headed to Fabric Town in Nippori.

My aunty had mentioned that she bought some fabric there and wanted me to check out the prices for her.

One could majorly spend the whole day walking around all those fabric and notion shops.

On the west side of Nippori station, is Yanaka.

Yanaka Ginza is a cute little shopping arcade with lots of food and knick knack shops.

There are supposedly many cats roaming around but I think it was too blazing for any of them to out and about.

We stopped in at many of the shops and bought things to try...

Stick donuts that are supposed to resemble cat tails from Yanaka Shippoya.

Bun filled with chestnut and sweet bean paste and a croquette sandwich from Atom.

Scotch egg (hard boiled egg covered with hamburger then deep fried) and chicken and gobo (burdock) fritters from Ichifuji.

Sugar coated and shoyu senbei from Yanaka Senbei.

Lunch was at Risaku.

Satoshi had their daily lunch.

I wasn't too hungry so I had a musubi filled with ume and bonito flakes and another musubi topped with miso.

I had many many cups of cold tea and enjoyed listening to the Hawaiian music they played.

Down the street is Nezu Shrine.

We'll be back to see the azaleas.

We shared a chocolate & cream filled bread and a blueberry cream cheese bread with ice cold coffee milks at Ohirasei to escape the heat.

We did and ate a lot despite the miserable heat and humidity.

Still, we were glad to be out and about.

Kayaba Coffee
6-1-29 Yanaka
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3823.3545
Hours: 8:00-21:00 (Sundays 8:00-18:00)

Habutae
6-60-6 Higashinippori
Arakawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5850.3451
Hours: 11:00-18:00

Yanaka Senbei
7-18-8 Yanaka
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3821.6421
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: 9:30-18:30

Ichifuji
3-11-13 Yanaka
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3827.6582
Hours: 11:00-20:00

Yanaka Shippoya
3-11-12 Yanaka
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3822.9517
Hours: Mondays-Fridays 10:00-18:00, Saturdays-Sundays 10:00-19:00

Atom
3-11-4 Yanaka
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3823.2076
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Hours: 10:00-19:00

Risaku
2-31-6 Sendagi
Bunkyo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5834.7292
Closed Wednesdays
Hours: 8:00-20:00

Ohirasei
2-44-1 Sendagi
Bunkyo, Tokyo
Closed Mondays
Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 8:00-19:00, Saturdays-Sundays 8:00-18:00