Ikebukuro Diary

Yey!!
We got new washing machines and dryers.

You don't need to prepare detergent.
It is automatically, pour to your laundry if you push start button.
Is'nt it so cool?

Look!　How good this washing machine is.

Before↓

After↓

200yen for washing
100yen for dryer

Enjoy your laundry!!

Good news for those who like clothes.
One of the most famous shopping buildings in Tokyo, Lumine, will open a new branch near Ikebukuro station on April 1st.

(This is Shinjuku Lumine)

http://www.lumine.ne.jp/world/digital_gallery/index.html
↑Check out their website. Isn't it so cool?

I still don't know what shops will be in Ikebukuro Lumine.
But they always have good shops, restaurants and movie theatesr. I hope you will like their selection.
I'll let you know when they have more information about it.

I am sure Lumine Ikebukuro makes your shopping more fun!!
Enjoy your shopping at Ikebukuro.

This is 'Korean seaweed' which Eun jung gave us as a souvenir!
We,Japanese people familiar with seaweed but Korean seaweeds has a little bit
salty and tasted sesame oil and we love it :)

Seaweed is 'Nori' in Japanese and...

this photo titled 'Nori and Noriko' by the way ;)

Eun Jung came back from Korea!
She has been to Korea to see her family, for Lunar New Year.

I was eagerly waiting for you Eun Jung and......
this Korean raspberry wine...'Bokbunjajoo'

'Kamusahamunida' ;) (Thank you in Korean)

Do you want to taste it?.........no! :p

I could not miss their performance, Mao Asada(Japan) and Kim Yuna(Korea).

It just finished their program and ranking is now....
2nd is Mao Asada and 1st is Kim Yuna!

Their skating were perfect and beautiful....
I heard they are good rival to keep up since long time
and I just can't believe they are only 19 years old.... : o

Well, we should keep an eye on their next program!!

Wow!! Our cafe is full of people today!

They are all staring at the TV monitor to see...

The female figure skating performance of Vancouver olympics!!

We can see Mao Asada from now. Ooooooh, how exciting :D

Web blog is popular in Japan. Many people write blogs for their companies or have their own blogs.
As you already know, we have a web blog in our hotel
But our web blog has several rivals.
Let me introduce them.

The strongest rival is this↓.
Sakura Hostel Asakusa's web blog.
http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/blog/
They update it almost everyday. I am jearousy of many topics they have everyday.

Another rival is this.
Sakura House web blog.
http://www.sakura-house.com/blog/
Since Sakura House has many apartments and guest houses all over Tokyo, Their topics have a variety .
Mostly, they write about some particular towns. And it is very interesting because each town has different face.

Our sister hotel, Sakura Hotel Hatagaya also has a web blog.
http://www.sakura-hotel-hatagaya.com/blog/
They write about Japanese culture and life. Their topics are very interesting.

Is the web blog popular in your country? Or is this popular only in Japan?
If you have your web blog, please let us know. I would like to see it.

Good news for Taglyn's fan!!
The prince, Taglyn debut as a barista at Sakura Cafe!
Don't you think he looks good ;)
Well, why don't you come to see him at our cafe☆

We had earthquake recentlly.
There are occasionally earthquakes in Japan......
That's terrible and scary........................................................
I feel very bad when an earthquake comes
And then I pray in my mind 'stop stop, please!!' ....
There are lots of earthquakes in Japan as the country is located on the continental plate boundary,.
I guess, some people (from Europe?) don't have this experience.
So they might not know....but please just keep in mind that earthquake is a terrible power of nature you can never imagine how scary it is.

(↓Niigata pref, 2007)

What should we do when it occures?

1. Don't be panic!! this is very important, and protect yourself first,
Stay under the desk, for example.
Don't rush out and in case you are out on the street watch out for falling objects such as roof tiles and broken glass,

2. Make sure that any sources of flame are out.
3. Secure an exit for escape when the shaking stops

Are you okay with this?.........I'm not okay..... :(

Good value for getting around Japan!

This pass covering all JR line, which mean you can travel around north and south, anywhere you want , even such a long distance!

For purchase this pass, you need to order before you come to Japan.
Please check it out information as below, if you planning to come to Japan ;) ↓
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html

I reccomend to ride on Shinkansen (bullet train) once during your stay in Japan!

Enjoy!!

Sorry everybody, today's topic is about sweets again..

When I was eating chocolatechip cookies, Noriko brought some bananas.
Chocolatechip cookie itself is yummy.
Banana tastes sweets.
Then, I came up with a new idea.
Why don't we eat them together? I thought they match very well. So we tried that.

Delicious!
This is what I thought. They match perfectly.
Noriko said also ice-cream will match them well.
We will try it next time.

If you have any new idea of receipe, please let me know☆

Actually I don't know much about 'Lunar New Year'.

We celebrate New Year's day on 1st of January but some
Asian counties has 'Lunar New Year' to celebrate in mid February.

I wondering how they celebrate for that?
How's in your country if you have?

Generally, Japan is known as very expensive city.
But I think it's something wrong.
We can find unexpensive meals and clothes and accomodations in Tokyo.
Though it except about cinema....

You will be surprised how expensive if you go to cinema, it cost 1,800yen for adult.
(equel for 20dollars, 14euro )

Well, we telling you a solution, no worry ;)
You can buy preview ticket as 1,280 yen at some ticket shops or if it will be on 1st of the month,
we can enjoy cinema just 1,000yen.

Or good news for ladies ;)
Most of cinema setting for ladies day at Wednesday in 1,000yen.

Please let us know if you planning to go to cinema, we can help you ;)

Many sweets!
Beautiful cakes and macaroons!

He transfered to Sakura House, our sister company and he is working at Shinjyuku office now.
On the day he leave from Ikebukuro, he gave us many sweets for us....
That's a very nice of you Mr.Shinke....

We should get together sometimes and waiting you to come....with......some sweets :p

Hand made soap.....how nice present it is :)
We got this soap from Jenny san!

It has a very delicate natural flavor...I like it very much ;)
I saw their web address on it. So I checked it out↓
http://www.slimbridgesoaps.com/

I'm interested in hand-made stuffs, so I'm happy to know them ;)

When I came in the staff room, I saw some chocolates on the table...

and....also there was message left...from Ms.Mitani and Suga, Sakura Cafe staff.
it saying...
'please help yourself to these chocolates which made by hand :D
it looks not good but maybe taste good☆'

How cute they are ;D
I think these chocolate are the best in the world!

PS: In Japan,women give chocolate to men on the Valentaine's day and
men give women presents in return on 14th March.
How's in your country??

Many Many Loves for all of our guest!!

♪Have a Happy Valentine's day♪

The Vancouver Olympics started on 13th Feb today!

Their performance are amazing... :0
Let's watch TV and support them!
Why don't you drop at Sakura Cafe and watch this Olimpics game on the big screen ;)
And also we pray for their safety...

We made fan page in facebook.
If you are member in a facebook, please find us and why don't you join
and share this page with us?!
Let's connect!

We set up the WIFI at dormitory room.
You can access to internet with your own computer or I phone, at dormtiory room.

Enjoy to make a travel plan or email with your own computer!!

For guest who don't have own computer, don't worry, we have public computer at lobby.

What happened here at Sakura Cafe?

Ah, it was 'costume party night' and everybody looks great :D

We can't recognize some people though, that's funny....
Who are they???

Ladies and gentlemen,
we would like to show you 'Ikebukuro winter collection' here,
We got these mariachi´s hats from Diana san, that's really nice ;)

But wait a minutes...a person on the right hand side is Mr.shinke?
Or should I say is that Ms.Shinke?? :p

Taglyn seems really like this hat, you can be a Mexican mariachi!

Por que no?

New room has just opened!!
First guest who checked in our new room is Liao-san!!
Conglaturation!
You are lucky girl!!

Don't worry everybody,
We still have some new rooms which nobody check in yet!!
But first come, first served!!
Hurry up!!

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

When I was on the night duty, CUTE DRUNK Tiger (Tomo) and Super Mario (Kikuchi-san, Sakura House) showed up in the middle of the night. They came from New Year Costume Party at café and they totally woke me up.

Kikuchi-san and I are big fans of Hanshin Tigers (one of the Japanese professional baseball team) and I do hope that Hanshin Tigers will win this year's championship.

Who is this Mexican guy ? …. Our Sakura Café’s chef, Shimizu-san.
He has just got married! Omedetougozaimasu!!!
But, I don’t want him to be like golfing superstar Tiger.

We are so sad that Takashi and Nishi left...
But don't worry, three new faces debut for cheer up our hotel!

Tomo! New manager of Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro.
She used to work at Sakura Hostel Asakusa as a manager.
Don't you think she looks gorgeous with hat :p

Well, one more ;)

E.J (Eun Jong)!
She has been worked at our sister company Sakura House for 3years.
Good news for guests from Korea ;)
She is from Korea so she can help with Korean language!

Shun!
New face in our company.
Enjoy this image picture first :p
We going to take a photo and show you all later.

They are waiting you guests to welcome here at reception.
Please come to see them ;)
And ,Tomo. E.J and Shun, we are looking forward to your self-introduce coming.
If you don't write, somethings will be happen.....like we announce your secret :p

There was snowy landscape ;)
It was very cold and not much snow cover but beautiful.
I could enjoy to hear the sound of snow under my shoes.

It was not snowing long and melted already...
But if we have a heavy fall of snow next time, I want to play snow ball fight ;)

Well, it still cold outside, so please take care everybody!

Hello, everybody.
It's already Feb and we sometimes feel spring breeze.
Especially, last week was pretty warm that temperature was more than 10℃.
However, it turns 1℃, now
Freeeeezen!!
Raining started at noon and now it changes to icy snow.
Snow is okay but I don't like cold.

Hope it's not going to be heavy snow.
However, according to weathercast, we should ready for it!!???