Ikebukuro Diary

Time goes very fast and we left only several days in January. But it is still cold in Tokyo.
This time, I will show you the ''must have item'' for cold winter.

1. Yutanpo
This is what I got in Berlin. We still have variety of different kinds of yutanpo in Japan.

I also like to see the Yutanpo cover. There are many different kinds of cute cover.
We put some hot water inside and keep it to next to our legs when sleeping. The warmness from
Yutanpo is different from the one from electric heater.

2. Hokaron
cheap and easy.

You can find it at any pharmacy store. Just shake it, then it will be warm. We usually keep it in the pockets of clothes or coat. Some hokaron has a seal in the backside. So we can seal in legs, back or whereever feel cold.

3. Wool sox

Maybe some of your coutnry have this kind of sox. So do Japan, we have it. This is what my grand mom made. It protects me from cold weather every winter. I feel grandmoms warmness.

If you have good idea for must have item of winter, please let me know.

I went to see the concert of my favorite band ‘DEF LEPPANDA’ at CLUB PHASE in
Takadanobaba yesterday.

Lead singer is Nori Kondo who is the manager of Sakura Hotel Hatagaya.

His voice is amazing! His hair is stunning!
Nori is a rock star.

Sakura (Sakura Hotel Hatagaya staff) showed up as a special backup dancer

with Hiro (left, Sakura Hotel Hatagaya staff) and a rock star

After the show, Hiro and I went out to Karaoke and kept singing …

We still don't have snowing but really cold days here Tokyo.
Ah...I want to be a bear then I can sleep till spring to come :p

But we have 'Kotatsu' and 'Nabe' to get through this cold days!
Do you know them??

'Kotatsu' is a low table attached heater inside and covering with a blanket.
It's so comfortable and I often slept in the Kotatsu :)

And one more thing, we can't forget about 'Nabe' ;)
'Nabe' is a Japanese Hot Pot and we have a lots of kind variety of that.

We going to put lots of vegetables and pork or beef, seafood, chicken, anything okay!

This picture which I found in internet, this is 'Kimuchi Nabe'!
It mainly cooked with Korean pickles called 'Kimuchi', and I love it.:D

It's so easy to cook and healthy and also too tasty...!!
It just good and let's have a 'Nabe party' ;)

The answer is our reception.
Our reception just has brandnew opened.!! It became twice more bigger than before.
Look at their happy smile.
Especially Kayoko, you can be good actress☆

Which costume going to win!?

Entry number 1!

Entry number 2!

We can't decide wich one...both are so cute ;)

Namaste!　
Guess what, I went to India on my winter vacation.
It was so an energetic country. Everything was so mixed and it was a new experience for me.
Cows, pigs, horses, camels, and dogs are on the road. Even a car gets close to the animals, they don't show any fear. Everything is coexisting and they act as if it was very natural.
When I went to Augla castle, I saw several monkeies and hook-bills. Even I come close to them,
they don't get scared. It was just like living in a zoo with animals. I was impressed by that.
I thought it is the origin of nature, and it is one of the beautiful things in this world.

well.. enough for my feedback.
Here is the pictures.

Beautiful Taji mahal. It is made by white marble stone. Isn't it look like sugar sweets?

I did elephant ride to go to the castle. I thought I'm gonna fall down. But it was fun.

Our staff,Takashi and Yoshikazu have just left.....
They have decided to start new thing and had to leave here.

We really don't want they to leave but..well....this is a life.
Now we are pleased to support their new challenges ;)

We gave our big message cards and cake.
Don't you think this picture drawing with chocolate really similar to them ;)

Then, they copied faces on the cake, how nice ;)

Hey, Takashi and Yoshikazu, we really miss you guys but we going to say...
Thank you and Good Luck for your new departure!!

And remember...you both should drop by here sometimes!!!

Last year, we have 65,363people from 111countries.
Thank you very much.
Here is top 30 nationality ranking of guests who stayed Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro in 2009.
Hope your country is rank in.

No.30 Brazil
No.29 Poland
No.28 Argentina
No.27 Austlia
No.26 Belgium
No.25 Mexico
No.24 Portugal
No.23 Norway
No.22 Indonesia
No.21 China
No.20 Denmark
No.19 Finland
No.18 Swiss
No.17 Sweden
No.16 Korea
No.15 New Zealand
No.14 Malaysia
No.13 Holland
No.12 Taiwan
No.11 Germany
No.10 Hongkong
No.9 Italy
No.8 Canada
No.7 England
No.6 Thai
No.5 Spain
No.4 U.S.A
No.3 Singapore
No.2 France

And awards for nationality ranking of 2009 is

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Australia!!
We had 7,091 guests from Australia last year!!
Conglaturation Aussie!!!

Can you imagine..............people traveling into the space...!

My dream is traveling all over the world...but to be honest maybe my real dream is a space trip ...!!
I've found one advertisement of 'GUINNESS' .
They were offering big presents for only three people for their
250 years anniversary.

The first prize is a 'travelling into space', the second one is a 'traveling
under the deep sea' and the third one is a 'private live music'.

I do wanted win the 'Traveling into space' !!
How fantastic it will be if I can see the earth from the space with my own eyes.....!!

I wondering who is such a lucky person....!!!???

If it's you, let me know how that trip please...!

We, Ikebukuro staff, got together and had 'Shinnenkai' (new year party)!!

Usually it's difficult to meet all together because of our work schedule.
So this was a great chance and we talked a lots and laughed and laughed and (had a lots of beers!) ;)
(sorry Hideki and Riichi, they were work that night)

We went Japanese style bar serves fresh seafood :)
There is small stove for grill at each table and we can cook by ourselves!

Meals are so good and so yummy!!

What is the matter Taglyn? Yoshikazu looking at you with a same face...
And...can you do like this?

We want to win to Yoshikazu!

Um....but....

You are the champion Mr.T....

Sometimes, Sariko make a good suggestion to me.
Oneday, she said 'How about going to cafe and have a baked apple,
Hon-chan(←my name)??'
Then I just said, 'Why not?'
Somehow...I think I used this word in somewhere....but it doesn't matter :p
http://sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/blog/2009/05/why_not_1.html

Finally we got baked apple!!

Actually, she already had idea which cafe we going to in particular
but their homepage said they finished baked apple,
just the day before we planned to go.
We were very very shocked it and searched a lots and lots with google.
We just typed like "baked apple Tokyo" or just "baked apple".
It was tough work.
But finally, we found the cafe where served baked apple with ice cream.

This is exactly what we wanted!
So we enjoyed it really :D

Additionally, I got latte with rabbit, how cute ;)

Happy New Year!
How did you spend this New Year?

My New Year always starts with watching the semifinals of the University
Rugby Football Championship at the National Stadium. It has been almost
30 years since my father took me for the first time when I was little.

At National Stadium on January 2, 2010.

During the New Year’s break, popular winter sports events, such as All-Japan
High School Soccer and Rugby tournaments, University Rugby Championship
and Tokyo-Hakone collegiate marathon relay race (Hakone ekiden) are held.

After the New Year’s party at Ebisu, I happened to get on a ‘Hakone ekiden’
colored train (Yamanote Line) at Ebisu Station.

Near Shinagawa Station on January 2, 2008.

It is cold outside, but it is exciting to watch sports while having white steam-breathing.

Happy new year, everybody!!

How do you spend your new year's day?
We, our hotel, celebrated new year with SAKE.

pour more pour more!

KANPAI!

This special SAKE available at our hotel by Jan 3rd (I hope...) If you are planing to come to our hotel or cafe, don't miss it.

We wish your happiness and peaceful world of this year!!