back to hachiju

We went back to Hachiju the other day for lunch since the shop was featured on a New Years program.

After showing our point card, I chose their ajitama as my free topping.

The owner "heated" up the egg when he scooped up the noodles from the pot, but the egg could've been a tad warmer...

Still this was a good bowl of ramen.

Previously I said the soup was porky, apparently they use beef…oops!

Satoshi had their moyashi (bean sprout) ramen and he chose menma (seasoned bamboo shoots) as his free topping.

We found out they also have an okonomiyaki shop in Shibuya, so we want to try, since moving to Tokyo we haven’t found okonomiyaki that we like

foodie saturday

Saturday, we went to see "The Solitary Gourmet" (Kodoku no Gurume) movie.

It was mostly food and mostly fun.
 

Since the movie ended at about "our lunch time", we went to look for something to eat.

Spice Factory inside of the JR Shinagawa Station, seemed like a great place, not a long line...

Buy your ticket at the door...I chose Spicy Chicken Curry...1000 yen (tax included)

And a spice egg...170 yen (tax included)

The curry was spicy, there were all sorts of Japanese side dishes, even sweetened pieces of apple...

Do not get the spice egg, it was cold.cold.cold!

Satoshi tried the Keema Curry...1000 yen (tax included)

He said enjoyed this

After lunch we tried to visit Hebikubo Shrine, since it is the Year of the Snake...but the line "snaked" around several blocks...and at the very end of the line we were told it would take 3 hours!

Since it was kinda fahreezing...we decided to walk to Hatanodai instead 

cool looking book store along the way

for banana and chocolate parfaits with coffee at Caferia

And then picked up dinner (german potato, and demi glace hamburg) from Frou Frou

It was a nice day, lots of food and some walking...

akihabara

Back at the beginning of December, social media/blog friend Lily wrote to say she would be in Tokyo at the beginning of January with her daughter 

After several message exchanges, we were lucky to be able to meet up last Thursday

While her daughter did her own thing, Lily and I got some of her errands done, like buying an adapter for electricity and a USB-C thingy

Since she hadn't slept too well on the flight over and wasn't too sure what she wanted to have for lunch, I figured we should stay around the Akihabara station area (where she was staying).

We went up to the top floor of Yodobashi Camera and Lily chose lunch at Pom no ki, an omurice shop.

Tablet ordering and self serve water, cutlery pick up and self serve miso soup.

We chatted while we waited for our meals.

I had a beef stew omurice while Lily had a chicken katsu omurice.

It was interesting learning about Finland (where she lives) and Brazil (where she grew up)

After lunch we went to look for a currency exchange kiosk.

so much sensory overload inside of Yodobashi Camera, like these huge Lego statues…

that took over 30 hours to make!

We also had coffee and more conversation at Marufuku Coffee.

Lily was so kind to give us so many things...thank you!

Even a handmade snake for the Year of the Snake!

These Karl Fazer chocolates are super creamy, delicious!

Thank you for making time to meet up Lily! 

It was so nice to meet you IRL (in real life)

I hope you enjoyed your first trip to Japan and enjoy the rest of your trip.

this and that

My friend J in Sendai sent us this box of frozen mochi filled with different creams (zunda, milk, matcha and hojicha) and zunda shakes.

Zunda is mashed soy beans that is sweetened.

Thank you J!
 

Tokyo People: how cute is this grandpa with his Hello Kitty bag!

Seen in Kagurazaka

Machida People: I was laughing at how this guy was sitting.

He’s an Uber Eats delivery guy

Thank you H and Greg! for the thoughtful care package.

Reconnected with this banana muffin from Paul. I hadn't been able to find it at any locations nearby, but found it in Machida!

As we passed, Satoshi was surprised when I turned around to go and buy some.

Sadly we've already eaten the two I purchased..

Miso senbei from Jinba, in Hachioji...sweet and salty...love!

Tokyo (furry) people: Tachiaigawa

Tokyo People: this guy was already tall, dunno why he had to wear elevated pink shoes!

Tokyo People: this one was already working on the 3rd!

It’s a 3 day weekend, have a safe one!

tachiaigawa

Tachiaigawa was an area featured on a local television program.

Since we hadn't been to this area, we decided to check it out.

Right outside of the station is a shopping arcade, most shops were closed for the New Year holidays.

There was a plant shop that was open.

They sold unusual succulents as well as rare plants.

Tachiaigawa (Tachiai River)

Statue of Ryoma Sakamoto, an active advocate for democracy and adversary to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The Tosa Shimoyashiki (clan residence) is located nearby.

Bummer there was no actual objet/thing to indicate the area of the residence, just a "sign" on a fence.

Down the street, almost close to the next train station, Omorikaigan, is the Suzugamori Execution grounds which was used between 1651 to 1871.

Gruesome details of the different ways people were executed.

There was also a bridge called Namidabashi (literally tear bridge) where loved ones said “goodbye” to the prisoners before the were executed, I didn’t get a photo of the bridge 

At the Shinhamagawa Park is the Hamakawa Battery, a restored cannon.

The area was built in order to ward off the return of Commodore Perry in 1854 

We were glad to be able to check out this area of Tokyo

hachioji

Hachioji, I believe is the farthest west area of Tokyo.

It is more famously known for Mount Takao.

Since we didn't quite know what to do or see, we went in search of lunch.

And reconnected with Ippudo.

I tried their Hakata Chuuka Soba...this was delicious! the broth had depth, the thinly sliced char siu was tender, the thicker sliced char siu was super flavorful and tender, almost like kakuni!

Satoshi ordered gyoza, mentaiko rice and a bowl of shiromaru (tonkotsu) 

It's the year of the Snake.

Loved the wide walk areas

And the interesting designs on the sides of the buildings

This one was made out of all sorts of tiles

There was a geisha area

Loved the shutter art too.

It was nice exploring this side of Tokyo

machida

On the 3rd, we decided to get out early and head out to Machida.

It is still part of Tokyo, and we'd never been this way.

I was interested in checking out the Pokemon manholes that they had.

There are 6 of them in one park, Serigaya Park.

The google map points are spot on.

Loved all the sasanqua in bloom.

There were many sasanqua trees around the park

There was a graphic arts museum, but they were not open.

Enjoyed seeing some street art

And thought we could check out Maruya's taiyaki, but the info they had on social media was wrong...boo

and wouldn’t be open for another two hours

We ended up trying these croissants filled with sweet bean paste and butter...I tried the one with pumpkin and butter...the girl working the stand said she was giving out the warmest ones...ha! this was ice cold...boo!

We also went to Machida Hachimangu

And went through the "chinowa", to pray for good luck and good health

Chinowa is a huge ring made of grass like Chigaya and you need to pass through in a figure 8 pattern, 3 times, left, right, left, bowing each time before going through 

Then on the 4th time you bow and then walk straight through the ring to the altar and say a prayer

In front of the Machida library we watched a taiko & shinobue (bamboo flute) performance.

We were glad we got to check this area of Tokyo out.

It was still a bit too early for lunch, so we decided to check out Hachioji...