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Satoshi had to research for an upcoming tour, so we went to Shinjuku

The area he has to show his clients is Golden Gai.

It was our first time here
 

Lots of alleys

Ramen Nagi...super long line

And then we went to Kabukicho

To see the Godzilla head...apparently they used to let you go out onto the terrace to see Godzilla up close, but I have a feeling, there were just too many tourists, so they don't let you go out onto the terrace any more...

Beautiful arrangement in the lobby of the Hotel Gracery

Omoideyokocho, another area in Shinjuku with lots of bars

Dessert at Colombin, they apparently sold the first French sweets in Japan and have been around since 1924.

Hopefully Satoshi's tour goes well.

Colombin

Keio Shinjuku Department Store 8F

Hours: 11:00-22:00

*closed when Keio Department Store is

virtual hugs

If you’ve ever wondered why there aren’t many trash cans on train platforms or just around the city, especially in Tokyo, it’s because of this

One of the scariest homegrown terrorist acts in Japan

Today marks the 30th year since it happened 

Sending out virtual hugs to those who lost someone or were badly injured on that day

today

Cyclamen has started blooming.

I brought it inside, so we could enjoy the flowers.

It was krazy sunny yesterday and this morning we had thunder and then snow!

AND The weather dude says next week the temperature will go up 20 degrees?!

At least the sakura (cherry blossoms) will start blooming, but I'm definitely not ready for blazing and the "h" word (if you know you know)...

this and that

Friday, “watched” the Dodgers land at Haneda...on a flight tracker

Thought I might be able to see the plane from our window, but they came inward from the ocean to land at Haneda...instead of the "usual" down along the coast landings, so ended up only seeing it on the app & tv
 

For Pie Day, Ringo's apple custard hand pies...love this!

This one was from Keikyu Kawasaki (2026: no longer at this location)

White Day...box of chocolates from Satoshi

It's graduation season and we have a University in our area, so I saw all these graduates at our Starbucks.

Cyclamen is ready for its pretty season.

Loved the chocolate with fruits, marshmallows and butter on baguette from Comme'n, toasted the baguette was a little crisp and the chocolate with butter was so decadent

Dunno why my liquid eye line brush did this...sad!

A show that features different types of art recently talked about Horiuchi Seiichi, love his colorful artwork.

I borrowed these two books from the library, I cannot read a lot of Japanese, so I’m just enjoying the artwork

Surprised at the line to get into a supermarket the other day.

According to the chatter while waiting to get in, the market renovated and they were having their opening sale

They were controlling the amount of people they let in...

These were the things I bought.

a head of cabbage, 198 yen (tax included). 

The price of our cabbage is actually close to 400 yen (on the news one market was selling it at 1000 yen!), so I was happy to be able to buy a whole head for half that.

And broccoli for 128 yen (tax included)...the price of broccoli is actually two or three times that price

And eggs for 198 yen (tax included), we only have 10 in our cartons and this one was a mix of different sizes, but I was happy to find these at that price

Even if the lines were krazy in this shopping mall, I was happy to lug all these veggies home!

The day after "watching" the Dodgers land, this is what next door looks like...it looks like we may have lost our sunrise views...boo!

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The pedometer thingy on my phone is working now! whoo!

Friday, I went to check out the cafe that I had been wanting to and was first in line!

Before standing in line, I went through Kanda Myojin, the last time we were here was pre-pandemic (2018)

I learned that the Chicago Cubs had their team get together here the night before.

Even on a weekday, this shrine seemed less crowded than Yushima Tenmangu

This was the cafe that I had been wanting to visit again, Mijinco.

The last time I was here was in 2019, at the time I had one of their sandwiches and was intending to try their desserts the next time I was back.

I instead ended up having their hamburger sandwich...1250 yen (tax included)

All beef, no fillers...delicious!

Oh they now have wi-fi so you can order from your phone 

The iced coffee (or tea) comes with the meal...delicious!

On the way to the cafe, I spotted this early blooming sakura on a side street, so after lunch, I went to check it out.

So pretty

Afterwards, I walked all the way down to Tokyo station 

The weather warmed up for the past two days, I think the weather dude says we'll have another cold snap in the coming days.

It was nice to be out and about

thanks for today

Wednesday was forecast to rain after lunch but was drizzly from the morning. 

My aunty had thought to check out Meiji Shrine, but we decided to go to Ueno Park instead.

The kanhizakura, an early blooming variety, was starting to bloom.

the area with botan (peony) is closed until April but they had a few outside the area.

Really pretty

really gaudy orange lanterns have been put up and are waiting for the pretty season to begin

Gojoten Shrine, first time visiting this shrine in Ueno Park

early iris blooming

this ume would've been beautiful to see a week or two earlier

pretty camellia

And an early blooming sakura tree near the Keisei Ueno station

Even with all the walking, and stair climbing, my phone's pedometer says 0, boo!

Lunch was at Sarabeth's near JR Shinagawa station.

This was the best falafel I've had, crisp on the outside and light and “fluffy”on the inside and it was in their Buddha Bowl...quinoa, zucchini, eggplant, avocado, arugula, feta and pickled beets

Loved the middle eastern flavors, I would eat this again!

I'm glad I got to spend more time with family.

Thanks for today!

Sarabeth's

Atre Shinagawa 4F

Minato, Tokyo

Hours: 9:30-21:00

thanks for today

my pedometer app thingy that is on my phone didn't track my steps, so I only had 14! WT?!

Tuesday, I met up with my Aunty and her husband to take them to Yoyogi Park where we saw the early blooming sakura (kawazuzakura, I think)

only 10 trees here, but they were pretty, have brought V here in the past

And then to the Eastern Palace Gardens which you enter from the Otemon Gate.

You need to get your bags checked but it goes pretty quickly

They also had some other early blooming sakura varieties

Lunch was across the street under the Palace Hotel at Inataya

We were with the salarymen (office worker) crowd, so orders are taken quickly and food also comes out rather quickly

The coating on the outside was a little thicker than most tempura you see in Japan, it had been awhile since I’d had sweet potato tempura, so ono!

The food was good and prices reasonable..1580 yen (tax included)

After lunch, Aunty's husband went back to the hotel, because Aunty wanted to go to Nippori to buy fabric, the last time I was here was in 2018

And then we went across to Yanaka to have something sweet at Waguriya.

This shop has 17000 tsubo (13 acres) of chestnut trees in Kasama, Ibaraki!

This mont blanc was different because it was only chestnut purée nothing underneath! and the gateau chocolat was decadent and rich…delicious 2500 yen (tax included)

I was very disappointed and shocked with the two East Asian women sitting next to us though, photographing/videographing their desserts, smooshing it up with their spoons while photographing/videographing then not eating it at all! grr!

Tokyo People (maybe) in Yoyogi Park

not Tokyo People...snoring loudly while we took photos of the beautiful camellia tree next to him...look at the big Asahi beer next to him too!

I haven't seen that size beer for many years...

Tokyo furry one! real! at Yanaka

It was nice to spend time with family.

Thanks for today

Inataya

1-1-1 Palace Building B1

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:00-14:30 (lunch), 17:00-22:00 (dinner on Wednesdays only)

Waguriya

3-9-14 Yanaka

Taito, Tokyo

Closed Mondays

Hours: 11:00-17:30