ankintan

Lately the trend for Japanese travelling has been called "ankintan" (photo from 2024, Niigata)

"An" is the chinese character for "yasui" (cheap)

"kin" is the chinese character for "chikai" (nearby)

"tan" is the chinese character for "mijika" (short)

Choices for this Golden Week were Korea, Thailand and Vietnam

Others stayed in Japan and travelled to areas nearby to where they lived, maybe not needing to get on a train or in their car

Anyway with the exchange rate so bad for the Japanese these days, not many went abroad

The stories of how expensive things were for the ones that went abroad was quite alarming

Hopefully the yen will balance out so more Japanese can travel abroad soon.

grill suzukou

Went to check out Grill Suzukou which has been in business since 1964.

They are only open on weekdays and since Friday was a holiday, it was probably the only chance Satoshi would get to try this place.

And since it was a holiday, we were lucky that they were open

Their dinner starts at 17:00 and we arrived a little after 17:30

We ended up waiting for about 30 minutes for a table then another 20 minutes or so for our food

I'd say they could seat maybe 20 people max?!

Anyway, I ordered their beef stew...melt in your mouth!

Demi-glace sauce based this was so delicious!

Satoshi had their ebi fry (fried shrimp)

He enjoyed this too.

Not sure when we'll be able to come back since they aren't open on weekends, glad we got to try this place.

Grill Suzukou

5-16-8 Kamata

Ota, Tokyo

Closed Saturdays, Sundays

Hours: 11:30-13:30 (lunch), 17:00-20:30 (dinner)

*cash only

takase

There is a bakery with a restaurant on the 3rd floor and coffee shop on the 2nd floor called Takase.

Their building is located in front of the JR Ikebukuro station and has been in business since 1920

While researching this, I learned they also have a coffee lounge on the 9th floor of their building as well as an annex with a coffee shop in it as well.

I actually wanted to check out the restaurant but since we were too early, we just picked up some of their baked goods.

It's a good thing I snapped this photo, because after it was in Satoshi's bag, they did not look like this...960 yen (tax included)

I had their teriyaki chicken and anpan...Satoshi had their mega sandwich and curry pan.

Everything was delicious, I'll be back.

Takase

1-1-4 Higashi Ikebukuro

Toshima, Tokyo

Bakery: 9:00-21:00

Coffee Shop: 9:00-20:00

Restaurant: 11:00-16:00 (lunch), 17:00-21:00 (dinner)

Coffee Lounge (9th floor): 11:00-19:30 (+300 yen per person on weekends and holidays)

Annex coffee salon: 8:00-19:00

kura

Satoshi wanted to check out Ikebukuro for guests he will be taking around soon.

After checking out this and that, we stopped in to Kura.

I've been wanting to check it out for some time and had it marked on my "to try" list.

Bummer they allow smoking.

Iced coffee for me, hot coffee for Satoshi and we shared this purin (caramel flan)...2400 yen (tax included)

Super expensive but the coffee was so good!

I'm sure we'd be back if they didn't allow smoking.

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

Kura

1-39-1 Nishiikebukuro

Toshima, Tokyo

Hours: 9:30am-5:30am Mondays-Saturdays, 9:30am-23:00 Sundays

this and that

Tokyo People: you gotta protect your navi in the rain
 

Burger King's Ugly Cheese Whopper

It really was ugly and it didn't even look like the picture.

It's a holiday today, have a safe weekend.

seijo ishii

When we lived in Osaka, Seijo Ishii wasn't in too many areas.

I used to love checking out the import items, mostly the chocolates and snacks there.

Since moving to Tokyo, I realized that Seijo Ishii is everywhere! and they sell bento as well as pre-made foods and desserts

Satoshi didn't need dinner last night so I bought this "instant" japchae with kuroge wagyu, just zap for a little over 6 minutes….719 yen plus tax

peppery and lots of noodles!

would definitely get this one again and will check out Seijo Ishii whenever I need to buy dinner.
 

this and that

Tokyo People : interesting brand name (pervert norm)

(smoking) Tokyo People : please stay in there : sad that they gotta make a place for people to smoke

loved the rounded windows on this building
 

guess who dropped something behind the washer?!

I did once before but "someone" else did recently...

I attached a clear plastic sheet to the washer to be a "catcher"

He hasn't noticed it, will see how long it takes him to

Summer is here in April!

made a batch of watermelon feta salad

And a batch of tomato suzuke, this time I didn't peel the tomatoes, still ono

And this flower that supposedly means that rainy season is coming, is already blooming...eep