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Yesterday it rained and was super cold, but we needed to go out so that Satoshi could see where the Australia Embassy is.

The trees in Azabujuban where the embassy is located were already starting to lose its petals...

Then he wanted to see where the Imperial Hotel was so we went to Hibiya

I think Frank Lloyd Wright designed this hotel.

I was intrigued by all the mosaics and tiling in the different stations as we made our way to Azabujuban and Hibiya

Lunch was at Curry Labo Tokyo...I chose the 15 vegetable curry with a ripened tomato curry roux...1700 yen (tax included) + 200 yen coffee

Large portion and lots of differently seasoned veggies...love!

I think they gave me Satoshi's curry choice though because this curry was demiglace sauce based and didn't have much tomato flavor...

Amao matcha cheesecake to share...1200 yen (tax included)

Super sweet strawberries top a very bitter matcha cheesecake.

The custard used to hold the strawberries on top of the cheesecake helped to balance everything out.

Satoshi's curry aigake (two curry) left spicy spinach and right matsusaka beef...1500 yen (tax included) + 200 yen coffee.

I'm pretty sure his matsusaka beef was what I was given because my curry had nice big pieces of beef...oops

I think next time we should share because their portions were quite large.

I wouldn't mind trying other curries on their menu (I think they had like 12 different choices), we’ll be back

Since we were already at Hibiya Park and the rain didn't seem like it was going to stop, we took in the cherry blossoms as we walked to the train station.

The cherry blossom season is definitely too quick this year.

Still, I hope to get out and see more areas.

Curry Labo Tokyo (UPDATE:2024 out of business)

1-2 Hibiyakoen

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Phone: 03.6205.4866

Open daily 10:00-19:00

*does not accept cash

If you are interested in seeing more photos/videos, please look here

this and that

I went past that senior day care nearby and they had a pretty origami sakura tree.

Hibiya Park's tulips that Satoshi saw on his last day of work.

There was also a professional airman drawing happy faces around Tokyo. (you need to look at the photo upside down)

Satoshi didn't explain when he sent this so I didn't know what it was until the news did a story about it.

I had bought some lilies from the cute flower shop in our neighborhood. 

So happy they all bloomed.

I had this raisin bread in Asakusa bookmarked and found out it was sold at another shop also.

So when I went to the Ueno area, I picked up a small cinnamon raisin.

Packed to the gills with raisins...love!

So glad we got to try this and will definitely buy more whenever we are nearby.

Near Okachimachi is Tonkatsu Isen that has been around for at least 80 years.

They are supposedly the ones who invented the tonkatsu sandwich.

Their katsu is super tender that one is supposedly able to cut it with chopsticks.

Bummer the owner (a woman) was so cold. 

Still I'm glad we got to try them, and we will be back to try other items on their menu when dining in is safe.

The sandwich set up above also had egg salad and crab cucumber.

One thing to note is that they urge you to eat this sandwich within two hours of their making it. (um, please note that on your website!)

Was my first time to check out the cherry blossoms at Ueno.

I don’t know if they do this every year, but they had it sectioned off for one way traffic, to avoid crowding.

Too bad by the time I went most of the blooms had fallen.

Another week....leading into another weekend.

Can’t believe it has been a year since my cousin passed due to this virus.

Japan’s numbers are spiking due to the variants.

Our vaccinations are still moving at a snail’s pace.

Have a safe weekend!

Coffee &  Budopan Maizuru

3-33-9 Yushima

Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3836.5406

Closed Sundays & Holidays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

Tonkatsu Isen

3-40-3 Yushima

Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Phone: 050.5456.1802

Closed Wednesdays

Hours: 11:30-21:00 

*cash only

sakura walk (zojoji, hibiya park, chidorigafuchi)

Last Wednesday, Satoshi had the day off, so we got out to check out the sakura (cherry blossoms)

We started off at Zojoji...

Then walked up to Heigoro...this tiny shop was featured on an New Years special drama of "Kodoku no Gurume".

This was totally out of my pandemic comfort zone and it was my first time since last year to eat in a restaurant with non-family members.

The "good" thing about this was that no one spoke, just ate.

Satoshi had their daily special which was beef cutlet.

It came with daikon oroshi (grated daikon) and ponzu (citrus soy).

All lunches come with miso soup and rice (not pictured large bowls of all-you-can-eat tsukemono (pickles)..had to stop "someone" from eating more tsukemono that he should be...ahem!

I chose the Wafu (Japanese style) steak...this was served with a garlic shoyu sauce.

The meat was cooked rare and it had lots of black pepper on it.

Bummer there was some gristle and you had to eat it with chopsticks.

I would have appreciated a knife and fork instead of trying to tear through some of the gristle-y meat.

After lunch we walked to Hibiya Park.

And then up the slight hill to Chidorigafuchi...we were amazed at how close these parks were to each other.

The last time we were here (2 years prior) it was overcast, so it was nice to see this area with the sun out.

Short video here

And then we walked across the street to the National Theatre to look at their sakura...short video here.

We walked back to Hibiya Park and walked the other half of the park...

Where we saw some nemophila...so pretty in the sunlight.

We also checked out Okano Eisen which has been around since 1912?!

We felt they were very cold and unhelpful, especially since it was our first time here.

Bummer that mostly everything was sold out too since it was near the end of the day...they are actually known for their mame daifuku...

I tried their kuri joyo manju (steamed manju filled with a whole kuri (chestnut))...Satoshi tried their "plain" joyo manju (steamed manju with kuri bits)

Not sure we'll be back, but still glad we got to try them.

We found a tiny pocket park nearby in the middle of the city to eat our manju.

Beautiful shakunage (rhododendron) blooming.

Before hopping back on the train to go home, Satoshi and I shared this mixed fruit juice from Fruit Ozawa.

It was a beautiful day, our legs were screaming from walking so much (26151 steps)...it was nice to check out the sakura.

Heigoro

1-11-14 Toranomon

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3500.5385

Closed Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays

Lunch: 11:00-14:00, Dinner 17:30-21:30

*cash only

Okano Eisen

3-8-24 Toranomon

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3433.5550

Closed Sundays and Holidays

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 9:00-17:00, Saturdays 9:00-12:00

*cash only

Fruit Ozawa

2-16-1 Shinbashi (inside New Shinbashi 1F)

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3501.3704

Closed Sundays & Holidays

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 8:00-20:00, Saturdays 9:00-18:00

*cash only

hibiya park

One place that Satoshi found near his workplace is Hibiya Park.

This park is large and a nice way to get away from the hustle of the city for a bit.

He said he eats his lunch here.

From his photos, I think this is Kumogata Pond.

I haven't explored this park (yet), but look forward to in the future.

Have a safe weekend everyone.