ginza

Yesterday I went to check out Yuki Saito's photo exhibit which was held at the Sony Store in Ginza.

Over the years I’ve watched him pitch for his high school team to win Koshien, for his university (Waseda) team and for the Nippon Ham Fighters. 

Nowadays he is a sports commentator and seems like a quiet soul.

The exhibit was called "On the Mound" and featured various photos that he took at different baseball fields, it wasn't a large exhibit and was free, I'm glad I got to check it out.

On the way up to the exhibit you needed to pass through Nissan Crossing...where they had some vintage cars displayed.

My photos uploaded wonky...lunch from Jean Francois, in Ginza Six

Tuna Tapenade and Carrot Bread...both were hard.as.rock.

Dunno that I would go back to this bakery again...

It was blazing...and humid

Every store had their a/c on high, you could feel the cool air inviting you in as you passed by.

One of the other cars displayed at Nissan Crossing.

Bought some chocolates from Venchi.

Have been wanting to check out their store since we moved to Tokyo.

Grab a bag, pick out what you want, they weigh it and then you pay.

8 pieces cost me 2021 yen (tax included)...thankful the lady working behind the counter gave me an ice pack so the chocolates wouldn't melt.

I want to go back for their gelato.

For dinner I bought some items from Ginza Bairin.

I've been Ginza Bairin so many times in Hawaii and never put together that their main shop is in Ginza, duh?!

It’s a popular place, there were at least 20 of us standing in line before the opening time and many still waiting when I went to pick up my takeout order.

Anyway, I bought the katsu sandwich for myself and the largest bento for Satoshi.

Even if the breading looked like it was going to fall off, the pork seemed like a thicker cut than the one I've had in the Hawaii version & was super tender...1000 yen (tax included)

Satoshi's bento had 4 pieces of filet katsu, 1 meatball and 1 fried shrimp....2600 yen (tax included)

He said he enjoyed this.

Hope to bring Satoshi here one day.

Even if it was a super blazing day (and super humid), I was glad to be out and about.

Venchi

4-3-2 Ginza

Chuo, Tokyo

Phone: 03.5579.5930

Open daily 10:00-21:00

Ginza Bairin

7-8-1 Ginza

Chuo, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3571.0350

Open daily 11:30-20:00

shine muscat

It's shine muscat season...

The thing that irked Satoshi was that the guy that he has ordered from in the past just sent an email to him on Friday telling him that he sent us a box and that we should deposit 4500 yen into his account without confirming whether Satoshi was going to order or not.

And then somehow we had missed the delivery guy's message on Saturday, so we were surprised when the delivery guy came by to redeliver it on Sunday.

It wasn't refrigerated, so I think it got a little "cooked" in the truck because there were many orbs that were not on the stems 

Either that or the quality is not too good this year

Satoshi contacted the guy and he said “if you don’t want it just send it back” WT?!

At least they were still sweet, even if this whole incident left a “bad taste” in our mouth.

finally

Finally trying Don Quijote's (Donki's) taberu ra-yu (what everyone else calls chili crisp)

It isn't too spicy, even though it looks super spicy

Was kind of leery since the bottle is so big

We tried it on cold tofu.

Love!

Want to try it on gyoza next.

12687

Yesterday we went to Hiyoshi, where Keio Senior High School is located.

They recently won the Koshien baseball tournament and it apparently had been 107 years since the last time they won this tournament. 

Congratulations!

Lunch was at Cafe Issui, a tiny shop run by an elderly couple.

I chose the spicy chicken curry, this had a nice kick and the chicken was fall off the bone tender.

Satoshi chose the veggie curry, he enjoyed this but said the rice was not cooked properly...I thought the rice was fine.

We shared this mango shaved ice.

The ice was shaved finely and was better than the shave ice we had the previous day.

We loved the mango puree on the shave ice too, super refreshing.

If we get a chance to come back, I want to try their taco rice.

After lunch we checked out the Keio University and High School Campuses which are next to each other.

I spotted these congratulatory flowers in the lobby of the High School.

The video in the background is of their ice hockey team...

It was a beautiful campus with lots of trees.

Objet at Tokyu Hiyoshi station...Kokujizo (apparently means empty self portrait) made by Kenji Misawa in 1995 is a popular meeting spot (dude didn’t move out of my shot, you can still see his shoe and him in the reflection)

We also checked out Hiyoshi Shrine.

The stairs were killer since it was super humid...
 

They were set up to have some sort of festival...

It was nice to see all the congratulatory banners around the area and people taking pictures to capture the moment.

Not sure if we'll be back, but I'm glad we got to check this area out.

Cafe Issui

1-18-17 Hiyoshi Honcho, 2F

Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa

Closed Wednesdays

Open 11:00-18:00

17379

Yesterday it was blazing and super humid but we still got out and about after Satoshi went to the dentist to put his implants on...

I wanted to check out the Doraemon display at Roppongi Hills.

There were many Doraemon here and there.

and the bulk of them here in this courtyard.

MINI store...

Look up!

We also checked out the International House of Japan, which I had seen on a J-drama.

it was nice to see it up close

My photos uploaded wonky...we checked out Takeshiba Waters, an area with some eateries and theatre near the Takeshiba Ferry Terminal.

You can catch a boat to Asakusa and other areas of Tokyo.

Lunch was at Hisaya in Azabujuban.

This shop's main shop is in Kyoto and they sell roasted chestnuts all over Japan.

I chose the grilled saba (mackerel) sushi lunch...this was delicious.

The side dishes were cold so they were perfect for the humid day!

Satoshi had their Kyo Banzai, which had 4 different side dishes and chestnut rice.

He said it was delicious but that he'd be hungry later...

We also shared this mont blanc shave ice (photo above)

There was chestnut paste inside as well as fig puree.

Also you could pour some fig puree on the shave ice as you ate it.

This was delicious, but we wished the ice was more finely shaved.

They are building a bridge near JR Hamamatsucho station to go all the way to Takeshiba, it was fun watching the trains from there.

Lots of objet around Roppongi Hills.

International House of Japan.

Loved the old buildings/apartments in the Roppongi area.

It's been really gross. Hot & super humid.

Hope it is cooler where you are.

Hisaya

2-4-8 Azabujuban

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.6722.6629

this and that

I ordered this appetizer salad at Saint Marc and they wouldn't let me order a baguette/roll to eat with it.

I can understand that they could not give me the baguette/roll "free", but I was willing to pay and was still denied...boo!

Blue Poppy Bakery...pistachio pain suisse

The filling oozed out and was kind of a "limp" croissant...bummer.

Their oatmeal cookie was soft and chewy.

I went late in the day, so choices were slim, will try to go back earlier so I can try other things.

A rare day to see Mount Fuji.

Most days the heat and humidity brings in clouds and covers her up.

Dunno if I shared this before but this is my secret weapon these days.

A large ice pack.

Apparently if you are having/suffering from heatstroke, you should "cool" areas like under your arms and areas near your groin.

I usually wrap this with a small cloth bag and tuck it under my arm while I walk to the market.

It doesn’t get rid of the humidity or heat, but does help make things a little bearable.

After shopping, I use the ice pack to keep my foods cool while I walk back home.

I repotted the blood orange plant that I have on my lanai, hoping it will get big enough to produce fruit.

Tokyo People...spotted this grandpa in a teeny go cart type vehicle recently in Sangenchaya.

Last Thursday I went to make a mold for my crown, then over the weekend the cement the dentist patched "the hole" with came off, then on Monday they squeezed me in and luckily the crown was ready so they put it on (thank you!)

Tried the curry with stewed chicken at Coco Ichibanya.

I like how tender the chicken is, so I think this will be my new "go to".

Whenever we eat here, I almost always add cheese and also lessen the amount of rice.

What is your favorites at Coco Ichibanya?

Genmai Ohagi from Okita Seimai.

Tuesday night there was a little excitement in front of our building, not sure what happened but hope it wasn't serious.

Photos uploaded wonky...the purple rice and genmai ohagi that I purchased from Okita Seimai.

It's been so krazy hot here that I've not been masking, not even on the train...well, I did when we rode the Shinkansen to Kyoto, but for the most part I have not been masking.

I do carry one around with me just in case I am in a crowd.

Hope you all are doing well, have a safe weekend.

Blue Poppy Bakery

2-12-7 Tamagawa, NSE Building 1F

Setagaya, Tokyo

Phone: 03.5797.9560

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Hours: 10:00-18:00 (Wednesdays to Fridays), 9:00-17:00 (Saturdays & Sundays)