fuchu city local forest museum

We've been to Fuchu City Local Forest Museum to see ume, higanbana and now for hydrangea.

This was my lunch view yesterday, I bought musubi (konbu & ume) from the convenience store and sat under a tree inside the park.

So thankful there was somewhere to sit and with shade! it was blazing

The little ones (and big ones) keeping cool

Opposite to the ume orchards, Annabelle, a white hydrangea variety covers a hillside, so beautiful!

lots of other hydrangea varieties all around taking me to different parts of the park

it was nice to see but like I said, it was blazing!

luckily I brought my secret weapon , though it was fully melted by the time I was about to go home.

There were lotus flowers outside of the park on the way back to the station.

I'm glad I got to check the hydrangea out here….13231 steps

(no can) think outside the box

In Japan, they often wrap items for you for free, this is cool so you can give them to friends right away, like if you were just about to meet up with friends, you run in to buy something and they'll wrap it for you.

The other day, I bought items to be given away as two different presents.

The lady said, I'll "label" it so you'll know what is what.

When she said that, I should have reconfirmed with her but thought she would stick a different color ribbon on each, but when she gave it back to me, she actually stuck a different colored post it on each.

If she was gonna stick a post it, I would've appreciated her writing the different animals that I had purchased instead of just the color.

thanks for today

Last Friday, friend H, messaged me that she and her husband were in Japan and if I'd have time to meet up

So, yesterday that's what we did.

Haneda Terminal 3 is now decorated with fresh hydrangea, so pretty.

 

we met up at Kyoto Saryo Suisen inside of Haneda Airport Garden, this was the same shop we met up at back in 2022, but a different location (that time was at Yokohama).

It was nice catching up and chatting with H

H gifted us this cheesecake from Le Tao

Thank you H, I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip and appreciate you contacting me to meet up.

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We've been wanting to try Spajio's wagyu hitsumabushi after seeing it on tv.

Order, pay and remove your shoes before being seated upstairs

you can listen to jazz while you wait

 

I ordered the kuroge wagyu hitsumabushi without miso soup...1400 yen (tax included)

This comes with beef tendon soup, and a little yakiniku sauce, you can also eat the beef with wasabi and salt.

Add the beef tendon soup and eat with the rice and beef...delicious

Satoshi ordered the Poseidon...2200 yen (tax included) his meal had ikura (salmon roe), uni (sea urchin), negitoro (minced fatty tuna) and a raw egg on top of the kuroge wagyu

be careful going down the steep steps

we stumbled on a Sailor Moon manhole cover

and a 1969 camaro (I think)

Tokyo Tower as we crossed Japan National Route 1

Keio University Campus

So pretty

most universities in Tokyo are high rise buildings, so it was nice to actually see “a campus”

the library

objet depicting Saigo Takamori and Katsu Kaishu's meeting before the attack on Edo Castle, JR Tamachi Station

monument of Saigo Takamori and Katsu Kaishu's meeting before the attack on Edo Castle near JR Tamachi Station

It was blazing and humid but we were happy to be able to try the wagyu hitsumabushi and see Keio University.

Spajio

2-24-13 Shiba

Minato, Tokyo

Hours: 11:30-14:30 (lunch), 17:00-21:00 (dinner)

*check their social media for days off

*cash only

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To "cheer myself" up after my experience in Kita Kamakura, I booked myself entrance to Hasedera in Kamakura

By booking online, you don't have to stand in line to pay for your entrance and you can "fast pass" your way in to see the ajisai (hydrangea)

It was crowded in the ajisai area, but not krazy like Kita Kamakura was.

It was also blazing and humid

There were so many different types of ajisai.

It was worth the extra admission (400 yen for entrance to the temple, 500 yen for the ajisai = 900 yen total)

Nearby was this bamboo vase hanging from a window outside of a Japanese inn (photos uploaded wonky)

It was nice to see all the jizoson (protectors of children and travellers) around the property too

I stopped in at Ebisuya, which has been in business for over 250 years

I purchased their mamemochi, kusamochi and a dorayaki...660 yen (tax included)

Satoshi enjoyed the mamemochi and kusamochi

The dorayaki was small but it was filled to the gills with sweet bean paste and the outer "pancake" was light and airy...would get this one again!

For "lunch" I went to Iwata Coffee Shop, which has been in business since 1945

Luckily I got there before 11:00 and only had to wait maybe 10 minutes or so for a table

I ordered their Hot cake set with iced coffee...1660 yen (tax included)

this had a super crisp crust and the inside was so airy

Worth the 20 to 30 minute wait to make and it comes out piping hot

I want to try their club house sandwich next time

Afterwards as I was looking for a bakery and I stumbled upon the Farmers Market.

They only had a couple of vendors selling veggies and flowers, the other side of the market are mortar and brick type of shops/cafes

I bought this golden beet and regular beet...400 yen (tax included)

After roasting, the golden beet was super yellow! glad we got to try these

Kibiya Bakery has been in business since 1948, and we've tried their breads before when they participated in a Bread Festival in Tokyo 

I purchased some "protein" since I didn't have any with "lunch"...curry dog 370 yen (tax included), nice snap from the weiner and lots of curry flavor mixed into the bread

It was a blazing day, but I'm glad I was able to check out more ajisai and explore a little of Kamakura without too much kraziness.

Ebisuya

2-14-26 Hase

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Thursdays

Hours: 9:00-17:30

Iwata Coffee Shop

1-5-7 Komachi

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Tuesdays

Hours: 9:00-18:00

Kamakura Farmers Market

1-13-10 Komachi

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Open daily 8:00-17:00

Kibiya Bakery

5-34 Onaricho

Kamakura, Kanagawa

Closed Wednesdays

Hours: 10:00-17:00

spice cafe

Finally got to check out Spice Cafe.

I've had their recipe book since 2016 and have tried making their crispy spice oil and their aaloo masala

This cafe has been in business since 2003 and has been on Michelin's Bib Gourmand list twice.

Just look for the house with the jungle around it...

This time of year there are lots of mosquitos

But I love how you step into another world

On this day, there were 8 different curries to choose from: rasam (south India moong dal (mung bean) curry), lamb keema, shrimp (sri lankan curry), sambal (vegetarian curry), garlic chicken, coconut, pork vindaloo and dry curry

You can order 1 (1300 yen (tax included) or 2 (1600 yen (tax included)

This also comes with a small dessert and coffee or tea afterwards.

I chose the lamb keema, it came with dal mash, aaloo masala (mashed potatoes), not sure what type of minced greens this was and some marinated cabbage.

A lot of what was served is in their recipe book.

You can also have more rice and sides if you wish.

The lamb keema was super flavorful, lots of spices and not spicy.

Loved the sides too.

The dessert was a caramel mousse, the caramel drizzle was a little bitter, but I loved this too.

And the iced coffee hit the spot

I'm glad I got to try this place, next time I will try to bring Satoshi so we can try more curries...I'll be back

Spice Cafe

1-6-10 Bunka

Sumida, Tokyo

Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 11:30-15:00 (lunch), 18:00-22:30 (dinner)

*cash only