gaienmae & azabujuban

Wednesday, Satoshi had the day off, so we went to check out the ginkgo trees near Gaienmae.

The tops are kind of dried out, but the lower part of the trees are turning yellow.

We had lunch at Shake Shack because "someone" was starving and didn't want to look for somewhere else to eat.

He had the single shack burger while I tried the shack-cago dog...this dog was disappointing...

They cut the sausage lengthwise to cook it and the bun fell apart...messy eats.

Then we walked to the National Art Center of Tokyo.

We didn't go inside but I'm sure Satoshi will when there is an exhibit he is interested in is there.

Taiyaki from Naniwaya Sohonten in Azabujuban.

They are one of the oldest in Tokyo...in business since 1909?!

The outside has a little chew but it is filled to the tail with chunky sweet bean paste.

We thought the weather was forecast for rain but it turned out to be a great day out and about.

National Art Center of Tokyo
7-22 Roppongi
Minato, Tokyo
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: 10:00-17:30

Naniwaya Sohonten
1-8-14 Azabujuban
Minato, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3583.4975
Closed Tuesdays and every 3rd Wednesday
Hours: 10:00-19:00

patisserie asako iwayanagi

I saw this shop from the train and looked it up online.

Finally got to check it out the other day.

Patisserie Asako Iwayanagi is a tiny shop serving parfaits and other treats.

Next door is a shop that she recently opened called Patisserie Ayako Iwayanagi Plus.

This shop serves crepes as well as baked treats.

I tried the berawecka, an Alsatian fruit cake filled with lots of dried fruit.

And her sel chocolat noir....dark chocolate with salt and a crispy shortbread cookie in the middle.

I know both would be great with coffee but I had them with red wine...so good!

I hope to give her baked treats as gifts in the future.

I'll be back.

Patisserie Asako Iwayanagi
4-4-5 Todoroki
Setagaya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6432.3878
Closed Mondays
Hours: 10:00-19:00

flickr

I started using Flickr at almost the same time I started this blog.

At the time, "someone" was stealing my photos and I wanted a way to keep track of the photos...linking the photos on my blog back to Flickr was a good way.

Back then, I had what Flickr called a "Pro account" (paying a set amount a year for more storage than the free account), but then (maybe a couple years back?!) Flickr changed everyone to free 1 terrabyte storage so I cancelled my pro account and went to a free one, cause a terrabyte (for free) is huge!

Then sometime this year, Flickr was bought out by Smugmug, which "said" they would honor everyone's accounts...until the other day when I received an email.

From January 2019, they will only allow free accounts a total of 1000 photos/videos...you know how many photos/videos I have stored on Flickr?! 20,000 plus-something!

But, I am not willing to pay for storage, which is why I do not use iCloud too.

Most all of my photos are backed up either on disc or on my external hard drive (pre-historic methods are my speed).

So...all my blog posts from 2005 to November 6, 2018, will almost certainly be affected...which means that they probably will not have any photos attached to them after January 2019.

I think Blogger is using Google Photo now, so I have started using that for posts after November 6, 2018.

I am not sure what will happen to the earlier posts and will wait and see after Flickr downsizes my photos to the 1000.

I am bummed because I've used Flickr for so long but also realize things cost $$...in the end though, I am too cheap to put any money into this teeny blog.

Just wanted to give you a heads up and hope you understand.

Thanks for listening.

Have a nice weekend.

yokohama

Ever since we visited Kyu-Furukawa Garden and was disappointed with their roses, I looked online to see where else we might be able to see roses.

I soon came up with Yokohama English Garden.

From Yokohama station, they have a free shuttle bus to take you out to the garden.

The garden is located on the grounds of a housing park (a park where they show you model homes for purchase).

The admission for the garden varies on the time of year, the most expensive admission is during Spring.

We were definitely spoiled with Aramaki Rose Park, but were glad to be able to experience this garden.

Lunch was at Bura Bura, an abura soba shop.

Nothing fancy, but we enjoyed this, especially the ground shrimp added lots of flavor.

Afterwards, coffee and sweets (cheesecake & marron (chestnut) cake) at Drop Coffee.

Surprisingly Yokohama is quite close to where we live.

We may not go back to that garden, but we'll definitely be back to explore.

Yokohama English Garden
6-1 Nishihiranuma-cho, TVK E-com Park
Yokohama, Kanagawa
Phone: 045.326.3670
Hours: 10:00-18:00

Bura Bura
2-12-11 Minami-saiwai
Yokohama, Kanagawa
Phone: 045.620.7142

Drop Coffee
1-5-1 Minami-saiwai (Joinus 2F)
Yokohama, Kanagawa
Phone: 045.620.8909

kokubunji

Saturday the weather was beautiful...we headed to west Tokyo in an area called Kokubunji.

This is where the last of the 9 metropolitan gardens is, Tonogayato Garden.

From the outside it looks teeny, but inside it was quite huge.

Too bad the leaves haven't started changing just yet.

Apparently this area is where the pencil rocket was tested back in 1955.

We went one station over to Nishi-Kokubunji and had lunch at Osteria.

We shared this pizza topped with arugula.

And this spaghetti topped with lots of tiny scallops.

This place is popular, so try to get there early, or make reservations.

It was nice to follow the Otaka path which was lined with trees and streams.

This area has many farms so I was happy to come across some fresh, local, large leaf kale.

It was nice to be out and about though we are also anxious to see the leaves change.

Tonogayato Garden
2-16 Minami-cho
Kokubunji. Tokyo
Phone: 042.324.7991

Osteria
2-6-21 Nishikoigakubo
Kokubunji, Tokyo
Phone: 042.321.4177
Closed Sundays
Hours: 11:30-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-23:00

humongous

They installed a huge crane the other day.

Guess they will start on the upper floors for that condo.

We're still hoping we won't lose our view of Mount Fuji.

store fronts

Been fascinated with the old store fronts that are here and there around our neighborhood, as well as in other neighborhoods.

Some are still in business while others are not.

Like this green grocer.

Fish shop.

This one looks like a home and I think it partly is, but it is also a masonry shop.

This shop is leaning, kind of scarily...weird thing is that it is a building contractor's shop.

Japanese sweet shop.

Oden stand.

Candy shop.

Wire/metal shop.

Somewhere near Yushima.

The stained glass door for this glass shop was impressive.

I like the retro look and that they don't have all that over-sensory neon.