sakura walk (lazona kawasaki)

Satoshi often goes walking after lunch, he sent this photo of a weeping sakura tree that is currently at Lazona Kawasaki, a huge shopping mall.

So pretty.
 

sakura walk (misono shrine)

Went to Misono Shrine to check out the sakura for friend E.

She used to live nearby and moved back to the US last year.

She asked me to check out Misono Shrine's sakura, so I did...

along the way I saw this nanking cherry (prunus tomentosa)
 

The tree on the outer edge of the shrine was blooming

Spotted one of the many furry ones that live here

The tree near the shrine had just started blooming...hope to go back before the sakura starts to fall.

sakura walk (kamata)

Stopped to look at this sakura tree while coming back from grocery shopping & errands.

It's not the first time I've taken a picture of this, and is actually 2 trees planted next to each other.

Iceland poppies (I think)...so colorful!

Next week, rain is forecast all week, and the cherry blossoms are also supposed to be at full bloom, hope to check the sakura before they all start to fall
 

this and that

Tokyo People: thought this woman's coat was interesting looking
 

Kabukicho people

Kabukicho people: this guy's shoes looked super heavy and hard to walk in

nissan skyline wagon

tokyo furry people: charging their batteries

graduation tokyo people

Friend Val, sent me this card the other day, love it! 

Thank you!

Tokyo Uber eats people

Satoshi had a tour group on Monday, unfortunately the weather wasn't as beautiful as Sunday when he took this photo

If you remember, we visited Fujinomiya last February

Early blooming sakura in Fujinomiya.

Monday, the weather dude saw 5 blooms on the designated sakura tree at Yasukuni Shrine so they proclaimed that sakura season has started in Tokyo

More wildfires, Ehime, Okayama & Miyazaki. Hoping everyone can return to their everyday routines soon.

Summery temps over the past days AND it will cold snap (again) over the weekend

Got my 2nd shingles vaccine on Tuesday, wiped me out! the day after with body aches, at least it isn’t as “puffy” as the 1st time.

Have a safe weekend.

aloe

Remember the aloe I brought back from Shimoda

Well, it hasn't rooted...

So I tried putting it in some water

Barely touching because that is what a lot of people said online..
 

amazingly a day later, little nubs! 

I hope these turn into roots...crossing fingers...

next day, the nubs looked longer

went to the 100 yen shop to buy the right soil for succulents & cactus

When it comes to my plants, I am so frugal, I don't want to spend a lot of money on it if possible...and I didn't want to buy a big bag of soil, luckily the 100 yen shop had the right one

Take 2: hoping this time it will grow.

disappointing

Was leery about trying the Karauma hot chicken from KFC

 

Should've listened to my gut because it didn't taste "korean" at all

Would've been better if it had more korean nori, sesame oil or something similar in flavor...

Even the "hot" part didn't taste like kochujang...

wasted calories...boo

parla shot & crepe

Been looking for this shop every time I've been at Tokyo Station, finally stumbled upon it the other week and brought Satoshi with me to try.

They make each crepe to order, so be prepared to wait.
 

I ordered the bleu cheese and fig...1400 yen (tax included)

Loved this, it was more savory than sweet.

There was also bits of bleu cheese, semi dried fig pieces, candied pecans and not too sweet whipped cream

If you want to have a shot of whiskey with your crepe you can (additional cost depending on what you choose), we had coffee...450 yen (tax included) each

This shop is a stand and eat type…I'll be back.

Parla Shot & Crepe

Outside the ticket gates at JR Tokyo Station in Kurobei Yokocho B1

Hours: 10:00-21:30 (Mondays-Fridays), 10:00-20:30 (Saturdays & Sundays)

the tour

Satoshi's tour involved taking a couple to experience Golden Gai and have a drink at one of the bars there.

These bars are super teeny, so it was hard for them to find one, but in the end, he said they did get to experience one. 

The tour also involved walking around Kabukicho for the "atmosphere".

Satoshi brought them to see Godzilla, not sure why, but they still were not allowed outside to see it up close.

Another idea for the tour was for them to go to karaoke, but the couple was not interested in doing that, so Satoshi brought them to Omoideyokocho instead

They enjoyed this area more than Golden Gai

They gave Satoshi all sorts of souvenirs from Germany

He's received souvenirs from clients in the past, we think some tour agencies in Germany tells customers that Japan doesn't allow tips so they should give them souvenirs instead.

Though Satoshi also thinks that some tour agencies tell their customers to give tips, because he's received tips in the past too.

Anyway, it was Satoshi's first time to check out Golden Gai at night and he said he and the couple had a nice time.

the shohei ohtani collection

The Shohei Ohtani Collection was produced by New Balance (I think).

It was held in the same spot as the Hello Kitty exhibit I went to see last year.
 

All kinds of merchandise that Shohei used and also signed

His hand print...

inside the 50/50 room

The Decoy (Dekopin) shoes that he was wearing when he made 50/50...apparently these are going to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown after this exhibit

I'm glad it wasn't krazy crowded and that I was able to check this exhibit out.

kugutsuso

Been wanting to visit Kugutsuso for awhile now.

 

It is a cafe in the basement of a building...super steep steps!

Dark interior, like you are in a cave. 

Jazz music playing

I went before their lunch time, so I ordered their bread pudding, which comes with coffee...1300 yen (tax included)

Delicious! there are slivers of apple here and there and raisins

And their coffee was delicious too, nel drip (flannel filter) style.

Choose between “strong” or “soft”.  

Apparently “soft” is the more popular choice, I chose “strong”.

My coffee came in a teeny demi type of cup.

When I left there were people waiting for seats...I want to try their curry next time...I'll be back.

Kugutsuso

1-7-7 Kichijoji Honcho, Shimada Building B1

Musashino, Tokyo

Open daily 10:00-22:00

*cash only