moon cafe & moon eyes

Lunch was about a 20 minute walk from Sankeien at Moon Cafe

I love the wide sidewalks and trees in this area!

 

Go around to the left side of the building to put your name on the waiting list 

You can choose between the counter, a booth or outside, we just told them whereever opened up first

While you wait you can check out the vintage cars 

And check out Moon Eyes, which is part museum, part knick knack shop and they also sell car parts too

It was blazing, so we were lucky to be seated inside

Satoshi had the small loco moco...he said this was close to the "real deal"...1430 yen (tax included)

1 scoop rice (under the patty & egg (look at that yolk!)) with brown gravy and mac salad

The reason we were eating here was because I saw their Honolulu Chow Mein on Matsuko's show ("Matsuko no Shiranai Sekai") which is similar to Fried Saimin...1540 yen (tax included)

I ordered this without rice or soup

A bit greasy, this had lots of spam, kamaboko & green onions...delicious! I love when the noodles are on the dry side

Kat had a lemonade with her lunch...495 yen (tax included)

Love the interior!

Satoshi had a cream soda....990 yen (tax included)

I showed Satoshi how to get a straw from the canister on the table

counter seating and condiments

the fortune cookie was junk...but the fortune had an important message...

Their butter mochi was similar to what we have in Hawaii, though I think this one was that butter mochi mix version not from scratch...770 yen (tax included)

The bathroom was something to see

Everything was a bit pricey...our total was 5225 yen (tax included) 

Still, I'm glad we got to try this place

If I'm ever in this area again, I'd like to try their mochiko chicken or their burgers

Moon Cafe & Moon Eyes

2-10 Honmokumiyabara

Naka, Yokohama, Kanagawa

Closed: Thursdays

Hours: 11:00-20:00 (weekdays), 10:30-20:00 (weekends)

keyless ignition

At the beginning of my stay in Hawaii, I got to use my Aunty’s car while she was away.

It was my first experience using a keyless ignition car and kinda felt like drivers ed all over when she explained how to use her car.

Appreciate her letting me use her car, I got to visit many places and do a lot.

Thank you Aunty!

parking meter

The other day while walking in Osaka, I noticed several cars parked on the street.

We don't have a car so I really don't know how street parking works here, but I think you purchase a ticket from this machine...

The tickets are printed with the time that it will expire.

Then stick the ticket on the inside of your window.

I'm not sure if the ticket already has the sticky thing on it so that it can be stuck on your window, or if you have to have your own "stickers".

Anyway, I thought it was neat that you don't need to feed individual meters.

I don't know about you but sometimes in the US, I get confused as to which meter is the one that I need to feed.

Do you have parking meters similar to the ones in Japan?

hawaii sights

Some vintage sights around Hawaii...I think this is a Chevy truck.

I actually see this one several times during the week.

We had a family day at our neighborhood recreation center and they had a mini car show of sorts...A 1933 Ford.

A 1931 Ford.

Not sure of the year of this one, but it is a Ford.

Cool hood ornament, yeah?!

Have you seen any classic cars where you live?

parking meters

Finally! they have a way to deal with paying for parking without coins.

I remember having to use only quarters once in Waikiki.

The best place for on street parking though is Hilo (in my opinion), 10 cents for like half an hour, I kid you not.

Apparently this is temporary, they're testing it out.

Oh and if you have a smartphone or cell, you can pay by phone too.

Nice!

couple of feet

It is amazing what you can see within a couple of feet.

Saw this Mini on a Used Car lot.

This one was on the same lot but closer to the entrance.

As we walked past the Used Car lot, this red Mini caught my eye, hidden in another parking lot.

And as I turned around, this Citroen 2CV was parked across the street.

Amazing catch all within a couple of feet.

hawaii sights

In Japan most of the cars you see are "newer" due to their laws and higher taxes for older models.

So, I love how many different types of cars you see around Hawaii.

Low-rider types.

Vintage types, like this station wagon.

A 1955 Red Cadillac in an auto body shop parking lot. (I know this because the license plate is a vanity one explaining it is a 1955 Cadillac.)

I think the bright yellow one next to it is something vintage also.

I think this is a Plymouth Valiant.

And a Triumph TR4.

Any interesting vehicles where you live?

parking

We don't own a car in Japan so I'm not too familiar with all the details but parking is definitely not free there. 

Not even in the parking lot of our apartment complex. 

I think they charge US$120/month or something ridiculous like that. 

When we lived in Hawaii the amount for the parking was included in our rent, but in Japan it is separate. 

In fact, when you go to a department store or to shop in Japan, you need to get your ticket validated or else pay out your nose! (I think with validation you get a small discount, maybe even free, but I don't know for sure) 

The parking structures in Japan are so tiny too because of lack of space. (definitely not big enough for most SUVs or the like) I must say though, with all this space in Hawaii, many drivers lack manners and park in-between two stalls (not leaving a stall for someone else to park in) or don't bother to straighten out and end up hugging the left or right side of the stall (coming way too close to their neighbor).

We are lucky to have free parking in most places here in Hawaii, I think we should try to park nicely so that everyone can be happy.

vroom!

What would the possibility be of seeing a Lamborghini in Japan?

Sure, Mercedes, BMWs and other luxurious cars can be seen almost daily, but a Lamborghini? Sightings would be slim, I would think.

So, you could understand what a commotion 3 of them together made.

Sitting inside of Starbucks the other day, you could hear the revving of their engines (to get attention I assumed) as they made their way down the street. One guy even drove his Lamborghini with the door up in the air.

They apparently decided to stop into Starbucks but couldn't find enough parking for their 3 cars (ahem...actually the whole street is no parking!)

They then stopped all traffic in both directions and made illegal u-turns to park across the street from Starbucks.

One foreigner on a bicycle passing by almost fell off taking a double take.

No cops came to give them tickets nor tow them away. In fact, I've never seen a tow truck here in Osaka.

They ended up staying for over an hour, their cars untouched but very ogled.

on my walks

The weather has turned from nippy to very humid and warm. Expecting some rain here and there.

Thought I'd share some of the sights along one of my walking routes (have several depending on how I feel)...I love checking out the different plant that people have....like this house always has beautiful flowers blooming. The owners put out different plants out on their wall with the seasons. (Azaleas now, hydrangea in summer).

If you notice on the top floor, she has orchids growing too.

I am amazed at all the different types of flowers/plants. I don't know a lot of their names, but like taking in all the colors and textures.

There were all these irises in front this particular home.

Spotted Hello Kitty in front of this house.

(Actually this house usually has beautiful tulips in Spring but this year I guess the owner planted pansies and violas instead, still pretty.)

There is a woman who has a HUGE garden along my walking route.

Fruit trees, flowers, veggies....kind of like a secret garden, yeah?

(To have a garden this big is premium because land is so expensive in Japan.)

Not sure what type of flowers these are but I thought they were beautiful. Loved the vibrant pink.

Spotted this yellow and black mini wagon on one of my walks.

(There was someone standing across the way from it, so I took this picture while walking past it, which is why it isn't centered at all.)

Every time I pass by this house, this car is semi-covered, with just a towel over the hood.

On this particular day, it was not covered at all. I think it is a Toyota Celica, though I am not too sure. I asked Satoshi what he thought it was but he said he didn't know.

What interesting things do you see on your walks?

p.s. the 2nd photo is of blue daisies.

odds & ends

It is the end of the month, and I'm cleaning out some photos.

Kaldi's "canned" coffee....a little too sweet for me.

They also have a boxed tea, I didn't buy it because they didn't sell it in singles but I have a feeling that one might have been sweetened too.

Cioccolato Andrea Pansa (Amalfi, Italy).

A souvenir from one of Satoshi's co-workers (thank you!) Delicious dried fruit dipped in dark chocolate.

Bodegas Norton Extra Brut, an Argentina sparkling wine. Very very dry but delicious, loved that it came with a straw too.

Muji's Baci di Dama.

Tiny cookies stuck together with chocolate.

I think in Italian they mean "kiss of a lady" or something like that. These were very tasty.

As I took this photo of a Mini, a woman (in the background) came running after me to find out what I was doing.

I thought maybe it was her mini, but it wasn't. She lives in the condo complex where the Mini was parked and wondered what I was doing.

We ended up having a nice chat on the way to the train station, though I think we scared the "beep" out of each other.

I made some "kahlua milk" with some of my homemade coffee liqueur, a little sugar & milk. I also added some ice.

The liqueur was quite strong but delicious.

Spring soba at Irifune.

This soba was topped with bamboo shoots (which are in season now), some chicken & wakame (kelp). Very light and delicious.

The Ippudo near our place has discontinued my favorite ramen, Karaka-men.

So I was pleasantly surprised that they teamed up with Nissin and came up with an instant version.

I tried it one rainy day for lunch, it was really spicy and tasted just like the one I've had at Ippudo.

Some sakura (cherry blossoms) on our walk in Ikeda.

Some sakura (cherry blossoms) on our walk in Hotarugaike.

I thought I had seen all kinds of instruments travelling on the trains....this big bass drum tops it.

I bought the Easytone shoes by Reebok.

They aren't for playing sports in, but if you do a lot of walking they are worth it.

For me, I think they work especially going up and down hills or stairs.

Ciao Wine's Prosecco and Rosato sparkling wines.

I liked the one cup servings. They are dry and a little fruity.

We had a delicious April and are in the midst of Golden Week here though Satoshi unfortunately has to work here and there.

Have a nice weekend!