gotanda

Friday, we wanted to make an appointment with Satoshi’s bank for the morning but they couldn't see us until 14:00-ish, so we decided to have lunch first then go to the appointment.

Unfortunately it was O-bon, so many businesses and eateries were closed.

Our first choice for lunch was closed so we went to check out Hot Spoon

Super tiny curry shop, they also have a shop in Shinjuku

I chose the simmered beef tendon curry with veggies

This was delicious! the beef and the veggies were super tender

I chose a less amount of their 10 grain rice and mild spiciness….1234 yen (tax included)

Satoshi chose the simmered katsu curry...he chose medium spicy and white rice...he said he enjoyed this…1254 yen (tax included)

Everything comes out bubbling hot hot hot!

I want to try their chicken curry next time

After lunch we walked over to Les Cacaos to have some ice cream.

I have tried their chocolates before but have been wanting to try their ice cream for some time now and finally got to 

I chose the double...with pistachio and 70% Tanzania chocolate…990 yen (tax included)

Both were so ono! lots of pistachios and the Tanzania had lots of cacao nibs! and was super chocolatey too

Satoshi chose the Cacao Pulpe...raspberries and cacao pulp in a vanilla based ice cream…600 yen (tax included)

This had a super refreshing taste

I’m glad I got to try their ice cream and would definitely go back to try their other flavors 

We also checked out Zoo, a pet shop as well as pet acting school.

They have several locations around Tokyo

Their animals are often seen in commercials, J-drama and movies.

Huge poodle, he was so chill!

It was a blazing day, we got our errand done...and had a great lunch at a new to us place...we'll be back!

Hot Spoon

1-14-8 Higashigotanda

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Open daily: 11:00-23:00

*cash or pay pay (electronic payment) only

the food

Yesterday, it rained all day, still I wanted to get some special foods for Satoshi's birthday...

So I went to Shinagawa station and bought some chirashizushi from Sakana Bacca, this was the mini, Satoshi's was larger

(We also had wilted kale and tomato salad that I threw together.)

And I also bought mont blanc, since that is the type of cake he wanted.

It was our first time trying these from Quatre, they used lots of waguri (Japanese chestnuts), inside was a meringue bottom, a little cake and lots of custard cream...delicious.

I also got Satoshi a "one cup" of sake.

Despite the rain, I'm glad we got to celebrate his birthday.

back to hebikubo shrine

This past Saturday, we went back to Hebikubo Shrine after Satoshi's dental appointment.

The line was long but not as krazy long as the week before.
 

Apparently there were a lot of snakes in this area before so the area was called Hebimura (snake village)

The area to wash your hands was decorated with all sorts of chrysanthemums

Floral display at the main temple

Snakes to "pet"…touch different parts of the snake’s body to take different sicknesses away on your body and to also protect different areas of your body from sickness

Near the waterfall, points if you can see the snake like rock.

Close up of it..looked real!

Satoshi usually cannot look at snakes, not even the ones on tv or in magazines!

We were glad that the line wasn't too krazy when we went and hope the Year of the Snake will be a good one.

tachiaigawa

Tachiaigawa was an area featured on a local television program.

Since we hadn't been to this area, we decided to check it out.

Right outside of the station is a shopping arcade, most shops were closed for the New Year holidays.

There was a plant shop that was open.

They sold unusual succulents as well as rare plants.

Tachiaigawa (Tachiai River)

Statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, an active advocate for democracy and adversary to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The Tosa Shimoyashiki (clan residence) is located nearby.

Bummer there was no actual objet/thing to indicate the area of the residence, just a "sign" on a fence.

Down the street, almost close to the next train station, Omorikaigan, is the Suzugamori Execution grounds which was used between 1651 to 1871.

Gruesome details of the different ways people were executed.

There was also a bridge called Namidabashi (literally tear bridge) where loved ones said “goodbye” to the prisoners before the were executed, I didn’t get a photo of the bridge 

At the Shinhamagawa Park is the Hamakawa Battery, a restored cannon.

The area was built in order to ward off the return of Commodore Perry in 1854 

We were glad to be able to check out this area of Tokyo

saison bakery & coffee

Went to check out Saison Bakery & Coffee.

The owner lived in California for awhile and when he came back to Japan, was disappointed that there weren’t any “breakfast” places

(Most places open at 10:00 or later, and serve “breakfast”)

Saison opens at 7:00!

Everything is a la carte, order from the QR code, nice that they have WiFi too

I ordered the avocado toast with poached egg, wish they toasted the bread but I still enjoyed this...1100 yen (tax included)

Their coffee is delicious and served in nice sized mugs..400 yen (tax included) each.

Satoshi ordered the breakfast burger, and also a fried egg not realizing his “burger” was an omelette...1300 yen (tax included)

On the way out, we picked up some baked items for breakfast the next day...

mentaiko (spicy pollack roe) on french bread

cinnamon roll, super flaky!

kouign amann, a little dry

curry pan, Satoshi said this was ono

We'll be back whenever we are in the area.

Saison Bakery & Coffee

2-8-3 Gotanda, AS Bldg 1F

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Open daily 7:00-19:00

gotanda jp building

Many moons ago, there was a huge hotel in Gotanda, the building was apparently old so they tore it down.

Earlier this year the Gotanda JP Building was finished and sits where the huge hotel used to be.

FYI: JP stands for Japan Post

It has a hotel on the upper floors, office space and and I just found out that there is a food court on the ground floor.

One of the vendors in the food court is Amameria Espresso, I tried their espresso tonic...690 yen (tax included)

This was delicious, but I wish it was served colder since it was quite humid on this day...

Still, it was nice to be able to sit and drink coffee in peace (no one chatting loudly or many people walking around).

One of the eateries in the food court is Kitade Tacos

We've tried them in the past and enjoyed their taco rice, so I picked some up for our dinner.

It moved around in the box, so it looked smooshed...wish they had put the sauce on the side instead of directly on the taco rice...

Satoshi wants to check out this area, so we'll be back.

Gotanda Dining

inside the Gotanda JP Building 1F

8-4-13 Nishigotanda

Shinagawa, Tokyo

*each vendor has their own business hours, so check before going

hisui lemon tea

Learned about Hisui lemon tea.

Apparently it is a Taiwanese drink and called hisui, which means jade in Japanese, because the jasmine tea they use is green like jade.

Jasmine tea is mixed with lemon and blended into a frozen drink.

By the time I got home, it was completely defrosted, I added ice

This was tasty and refreshing.

A little sweet but for the most part you can taste the jasmine tea.

They blend this after you order it...love!

Got this from Tokyo Doujiang Seikatsu, and would definitely get this again.

irifune

We stumbled on this Western style restaurant back in 2018, but hadn't been able to try them until the other day.
 

They just turned 100 years old!

loved how the interior was like sitting in someone's dining room

potato soup...(warm vichyssoise)

their beef stew was not what I envisioned, Irifune's version is tender beef topped with scrambled egg...still delicious

bread to mop up all the tomato-y sauce

Satoshi had the B lunch...rolled cabbage, cream croquette and fried shrimp

I wasn't able to get a photo, but there is a little table where you can help yourself to coffee or tea, before or after your meal.

3730 yen (tax included)...portions looked small but they were just right for us.

This side entrance is for guests with reservations. 

They have tatami rooms on the second floor and when the sakura (cherry blossoms) are in bloom, I imagine it must be beautiful to see

There are other items on the menu that we want to try, we'll be back.

Irifune

3-18-5 Minamioi

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Closed Sundays

Hours: 11:30-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-20:30 (dinner)