Makuhari Beach

I don't know why, but I think sometimes people intend to go to beach.
Maybe because of sea breeze, sun shine, walking on the sand.... sound of waves...
Relaxed.
Spending time on the beach is priceless for me.

It's not Hawaii nor Bali, but Makuhari.
The city is known for Makuhari Messe(the international convention complex) and Chiba Marine Stadium(baseball team "Chiba Lotte Marines" home stadium) also has beach.
It's about 30 minutes from Tokyo to Kaihin Makuhari station by JR Keiyo line.

swimming is not allowed in makuhari  beach.
maybe you can enjoy jogging or bathing in the sun.

Odaiba Night View

Spending romantic night in Tokyo?
Maybe Odaiba is one of the beautiful spots with romantic night view.

Odaiba is a man made island in Tokyo Bay. Daiba means "fort", and you can see an old  bronze cannon in this historical island.

Now Odaiba attracts people as shopping and entertainment district.

DECKS Tokyo Beach shopping center.
2 min. from odaiba kaihin koen staiton by yurikamome line.
shopping, gourmet and entertainment place.

Machida Squirrel Park

Machida city is a suburb Tokyo, about 40 minutes from Shinjuku station by train(Odakyu line).

The city has nice residents area with new houses and apartments, many universities and schools, big park with green, so it seems be comfortable live in Machida.

And one another thing that make this city very unique place in Machida is Machida Squirrel Garden.

”リスはともだち　まちだ　リス園”
squirrel is our friend, machida squirrel park

Chiba Zoological Park

It's a small zoo in Chiba city, about 50 minutes from Tokyo by train.

The nearest station is "Dobutsukoen" station of Chiba Urban Monorail.

You can see many animals such as kangaroo, penguin, reindeer, elephant, giraffe... and much more.

But the most famous animal in this zoo is lesser panda. Lesser panda named "Futa"（風太） has family, and people come to the zoo to see them.

But, why they are so famous?

"stand up!" but this is not "futa".
one of his family.

Cute Things in Nikko

Let me introduce something cute that I found in Nikko!

☆HC Nikko Ice Bucks

Ice Bucks logo vending machine

HC Nikko Ice Bucks is the only professional hockey team in Japan.

The Bucks based on Tochigi Nikko Shimofuri Ice Arena.

I became curious, since Bucks's advertisement everywhere,

Even on a vending machine!

Nikko- 3(Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall)

Visiting old shrines and temples, enjoying local foods, hiking in marshland. 
Is there anything I've forgot?

Yes!
Don't forget to visit  a beautiful lake in mountains.
It's Lake Chuzenji.
And you can also find Kegon Waterfall near the lake. 
Though there are several waterfalls in Nikko, this Kegon waterfall is the most famous one.

lake chuzenji

Nikko- 2(Senjogahara Marshland Hiking)

One thing that I really wanted to do in Nikko is Hiking.
There are several hiking courses in Senjogahara Marshland that lie to the north of Lake Chuzenzi.

70 minutes by Tobu bus to the bus stop "Yutaki" where I started to walk.
The crowded bus left Tobu Nikko bus stop and headed to Yumoto Onsen.
It was beautiful view from bus windows... Irohazaka Winding Road, 1200m above the sea Lake Chuzenji... lushly green mountains.

My hiking plan is Senjogahara Marshland Nature Trail hiking. Start from Yutaki and head to Akanuma. After taking break start walking again to Ryuzunotaki bus stop.

a sign in nature trail

Nikko- 1(Toshogu Shrine)

Nikko.
About 2 hours from Tokyo by train.
A town in Tochigi Prefecture.
Toshogu Shrine. Other shrines and temples, beautiful Lake Chuzenzi, Kegon Waterfall, Senjogahara Marshland locate in Nikko National Park.

I thought Nikko is a perfect destination for Golden Week Trip!
Sightseeing traditional shrines and temples, lovely famous sleeping cat carving in Toshogu, hiking in marshland, fresh country air... Aren't they wonderful?

OK. Let's go to Nikko!

a lovely wooden bridge "shinkyo(sacred bridge)" was constructed in 1636.
this bridge stands at the entrance to shrines and temples.

Cats Paradise- Enoshima- Island

It was 10 months ago, since I visited Enoshima Island last time.
It was in June, rainy day.

This time in April, sunny day. Enoshima Railways is still lovely, and the island is lovely too.
There was a lot of people in this small island since we are in Golden Week in Japan.
(We have many holidays in early May. It called Golden Week).

Everywhere crowded, yes. But it is a good opportunity to go out!
So I headed to Enoshima Island for letting my friend know lovely Enoshima island.

beautiful Southern Coast near caves.
there is nothing but ocean.

YAMAHA GINZA

Only 5 minutes walk from famous Ginza Crossing, YAMAHA GINZA shop stands.
The largest instrument store, YAMAHA proudly has announced.
A variety of instruments... of course include piano. CDs, sheet music, concert salon, instruments repair service, music lessons.. must be heaven for music lovers.

Why don't you try to play beautiful pianos in YAMAHA GINZA?

lovely shop miniatures made by paper welcome you.

Showa Kinen Park

Only 30 minutes from Shinjuku by JR Chuo Line(Ohme Limited Express), you can find a 163 hectares-huge park.

Showa Kinen Park that was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa's reign locates in Tachikawa-city.

I went to the park on Saturday to watch Sakura.. because I thought this was last chance on season.
A low pressure area was coming to Tokyo, it was remarkably low, so Sakura would lost their pretty petals after storm passed.

cloudy sky, very windy, but still beautiful view with sakura

Shy SAKURA Blossoms

Happy Easter!
I wish everyone had a happy holiday today..

So, spring has come here in Tokyo, but there is a little problem.
Cherry blossoms that people expect every year are slightly different this time.
They have really quickly bloomed while people haven't prepared Hanami yet!

sakura trees at the park near my apartment

Light Up Moment

Today I was NOT a Happy Angel.

Too tired to avoid negative words, too exhausted to love myself.
I don't know why. Maybe it can be happen sometimes for everyone. Maybe not.
The thing is, I fell into deep self-pity.

It seemed like everything didn't work well, the world didn't love me anymore...

I took this picture in omotesando-street near harajuku.
lovely night walk at saturday night.

GYOZA（餃子）- Japanese Style Jiaozi

When I was kid, I always used to help my mum to make gyoza, especially in a part of wrapping filling with dough. Because my mum made this China-oriented gyoza about 70 pieces for family, so she needed any help to prepare dinner. (She counted 10 pieces for each member of family).

A pack of dough which was bought in supermarket. Filling which consists ground meat(pork), garlic, ginger and leek was made by my mum. I wrapped filling with dough, and then my mum fried in a large chinese pan.

keirin(guilin) gyoza
gyoza 480yen, rice 200yen

COCYUTEN: Find a fine tea in Kamakura

鎌倉　壺中天: COCYUTEN is a unique tea shop locates in Yuigahama, Kamakura. Their speciality is Taiwanese tea, but also Chinese tea, herb tea, cat gifts, miniature tea cup and cupboard are available!

Because they love so much about tea, cat and miniature! So do I..

do you love tea, cat or miniature?
enjoy shopping!

When A Boy Meets A Girl... My Favorite CM

Do you remember when you were kid?

This is TOKYO ELECTRON' TV commercial. A small story but so heartwarming. Two adorable kids, a boy who lives in Miyagi, and a girl from a city, they meet in a classroom, at school in Miyagi.
The girl have just moved from a city because her father has transferred to a new factory in this small town.

The girl is so cute, isn't she? Because this situation is so common when we were kids, I guess you might remember someone.

Fly to England-7 (Lovely Show Windows)

What I have regretted is not going to sweets shop and also toy shop in England. I just passed these shops while I was so interested in what I saw in their pretty show windows.

It was November, expecting Christmas. People started to decorate whole town for Christmas.
It was so lovely, and colourful sweets in showcases tempted me to enter the store.

chocolatier in princess arcade, London.
my mum bought 10 boxes chocolate!!
because she read about this shop in a guide book and
she cherished to come.

Passions to Make A Room Lovely: malto@Koenji

Only 9 minutes from huge Shinjuku station by JR Train, that's Koenji.
Koenji is known for secondhand or vintage clothes stores, especially alongside of "Look Shopping Street". It is a small street but make me so excited, since I can find European vintage clothes, used books, kimono, hat stores and cozy small cafes and much more.

And here it is, "malto" which offers you lovely interior goods and antique.

woody entrance over an uniquely white alpaca smile.

Skating: Winter Treat

Tokyo doesn't have Central Park nor Rockefeller Center.
But Tokyo still has Akasaka Sacas and Roppongi Midtown.
Do you know what I mean?

Yes, Ice Skating Rink! Wow!

Skating in freshly cold outside air.. with your friend(if you want)...
under the night sky.. watching millions of stars(if you want!)...
Isn't it amazing?

Ractis Rink in Akasaka Sacas,
lovely snowmen waiting for your visit.

A Snowed Town

Always be impressed and excited to see it like kids, that's snow for me.
Because we usually don't have much snow in winter. Mostly sunny and dry in Tokyo.

white snow decorated a town.

TAIMEIKEN: Nostalgic Dinner Time

TAIMEIKEN is one of well-known "Yosyoku（洋食）" restaurants in Tokyo.
But what is "Yosyoku", then?

If I try to explain it, Yosyoku is a kind of western-oriented dishes such as "omelette rice"(omelette wrapped rice), "curry rice", "hayashi rice"(hashed beef with rice), "pork cutlets", "hamburger(steak)", "gratin" and so on.

shrimp gratin, 1,680yen.

A Winter Day in the Park

Welcome to a new year, 2013!
New year holidays were over, I started to work on last friday.
It seemed like a rehabilitation for back to daily life, because after only a day work, I had work-free-weekend.

Well, I feel  really cold this winter in Tokyo. The outside temperature is around 6℃ now.

there was a frost in the park.