Posted by: Sariko
(September 19, 2009 4:08 PM)

Last week my friend asked me to go with her to an interesting cafe in Kichijoji. So we went there together.
The cafe is just normal from outside. But the interior was surprising. There are neither sofas nor chairs but Hammocks instead !!.

It was amazing. I always wanted to sleep in a hammock. Because it really looks comfortable when I sometimes see pictures of people sleeping in hammocks. So I wanted to try it.

It was so comfortable for me. It is a bit difficult to have some meal while seating in a hammock.
Because it swings more than I thought. But it is good to relax and chat there.
I also enjoyed the atmosphere in the cafe.

I wish we have it our cafe too☆

Mahika mano
http://mahikamano.com/
10min from Kichijoji station on JR chuo line, JR sobu line, and Keio inogashira line.
From Ikebukuro, take JR Yamanote line to Shinjuku station, and then change for JR sobu line or
JR chuo line.

Posted by: Sariko (September 19, 2009 4:08 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(August 5, 2009 11:29 AM)

They have been to Mt.Fuji! Sugoi (great)!!

Mt.Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.
It is special and remarkable.
I like this beautiful mountain....and if weather is fine, we can see it from
Tokyo!

Also we can climb this mountain in July and August in the summer time.
and many people climbing toward to the top.
http://www.city.fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp/div/english/html/climb.html

I've tried once before with friends of mine.
We started walking from 5th station at 10pm, then just keep walking long long way....in the dark.
Walking toward to the top, it was not difficult for me, it was just a long way.....
Normaly, we can enjoy hiking with scenery, fresh air and trees....but nothing in the middle of the Mt.Fuji.Plants and trees can't live there.

Getting closer to the top, we felt really freezing cold, almost below zero,
but when the sun came up, it just turned hot! because we were above the clouds!

On the way back, we can't hide from the sun, and slippery ground and a lots of sandy dust....that was annoying me so much....

But I'm proud of myself and I still reccomend this to the others, you must try once at least!
We can see 'the sea of clouds', that's so beautiful and can't describe it.
That is a gift from Mt.Fuji only to the ones who succefully reach the top ;)

Then I will advise you to plan to stay one night at the hut if possible, this is much better. Bring banana and chocolate and Onigiri(rice ball) with you for energy, also winter clothes to keep you warm and good shoes for walking.

Um....I'm just really sure..it will never happen again to me......I prefer to seeing the Mt.Fuji at the lakeside having some beer :p

Posted by: Kayoko (August 5, 2009 11:29 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(July 17, 2009 1:18 AM)

While I was traveling, I had been giving 'Tsuru (crane)' to people who got close to me as a tiny present.
We are familier with 'Origami' especialy for girls from our childhood,
'Origami' is folded paper made of a square,colored and patterned paper .
We make animals, boxes, flowers and so on.
I' used to make a lots of things but now, remember only how to make the crane.

Crane is a symbol for peace and health.
So when someone is hospitalized, we make a thousand (1,000!) of this crane and make a wish for his or her recovery.

Also, we can see this thousand cranes (senba zuru) at ceremonies for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This is to wish for a lasting peace or wishing peace forever.....

Posted by: Kayoko (July 17, 2009 1:18 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(June 11, 2009 6:30 PM)

raining and rainy days.....

We have a lot of those rainy days in June here.
But if it's my day off, that's good chance to be at home and spend time listening rain drops.

In this rainy season, we will see this flower, it's called 'Ajisai'
and

in kanji character it mean 'purple sun flower'.

And there are Ajisai temples all over Japan. They are temples with a lot of Ajisai planted in their gardens.
I have been to Meigetsuin(one of those Ajisai temples) in Kamakura a few years ago and it was beautiful....

Even if it's unluckily a rainy day,you are a lucky person to visit there.
Because Ajisai is much more beautiful in rainy days.
You can trust me ;)

Posted by: Kayoko (June 11, 2009 6:30 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(May 5, 2009 2:03 PM)

Today, May 5th, is national holiday called 'children's day'.
Since long time ago, we set up the carp (koi)made of light cloth or made
with paper on the balcony.
We can see a lots of carps like swimming in the blue sky :)

I found this picture, Koinobori with Mt.Fuji on their behind, this is nice ;)

'Nobori (noboru as verb)' means 'go up'or 'ascend'
then, 'Koi nobori' describes 'The carps going up (stream)'.

Since antient times in China, there was a story 'carp become dragon when they
go up to the top of waterfall',
so people have set up 'koi' outside and wishing their children grow up healthy
seems like carps going up waterfall powerfully.....

This link should be make you unserstand what that means,
my explanation is not good enough :p
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodomo_no_Hi

Posted by: Kayoko (May 5, 2009 2:03 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(April 27, 2009 3:01 PM)

I'm living in Tokyo for a long time but maybe... I don't know much about Tokyo.
Oneday, we have explored imperial palace and garden, around central Tokyo;)
I realized how nice and beautiful....there was full of freshly green
and flower called Tsutsuji blooming, it was just like flower carpet spreaded.
Also, there are historical houses and museum.

We can rent bicycles and cycling around the palace on Sunday

Such a gorgeous afternoon tea and champagne at The Peninsula Hotel Tokyo♪

We jumped into the bus and enjoyed Tokyo view from the top!

Woooow-!! :D........ . . . and .........Ginza at night!

Then, lastly, we warmed up with cafe-latte.......

Now I can advise you to go there and explore yourself ;)
I know everybody goes Roppongi or Shibuya, such a livery town,
but maybe it would be good idea to see both side of Tokyo!

P.S. Special thanks to Mr.Ono (←we are going to tell you who he is later!)

More information about...
***Imperial palace
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Imperial_Palace
*Close on Monday and Friday and New years Holiday,
Entry till 4pm(it will change sometime, so pls check their schedule) Free admission

***Area map
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/infomation/2area/map/01map_tokyo.html
*Metro, Chiyoda line and exit C10 is easy to get to Higashigyoen( garden)

***Sky bus Tokyo
http://www.skybus.jp/English/index.html
*Tokyo-Ginza, 1hour, 1,500 yen

Posted by: Kayoko (April 27, 2009 3:01 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(April 24, 2009 9:51 AM)

Sometimes we find humorous notice in the public places and those are notices for manner in the train that I like.

↑she seems talking on the mobile phone for a long time....

↑rushing into the train....but not in time...

↑good music for him but noise for next person

↑someone can't read a book because of them...

Posted by: Kayoko (April 24, 2009 9:51 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(April 20, 2009 10:13 PM)

This is me...

I always try to read a book but I can't stay up if I can have a seat....
It's very comfortable for me to sleep on the train.
The sounds of running train, it's just like saying 'sleep well, sleep well....'

On the other hand, this picture describes about rush hour on the train.
It's happening every morning on weekday, truly!

People rush into the train for going to work, time between 7am and 8am,
it's awful and stressful situation.
I ,myself, have had this situation many times.
Headphone of portable music player has been broken, I got hurt all over....totally
exhausted....

Now I remember, when I been to Australia, people have said...
'No rush no rush....!'
I love this word :)

Posted by: Kayoko (April 20, 2009 10:13 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: sakurahotel
(April 17, 2009 11:17 PM)

One day, we had an 'ONIGIRI party' with some rice one of our guests had left
to us.
ONIGIRI is a rice ball formed into triangular or oval shape
and often wrapped in dried seaweed.

It's a kind of 'Japanese soul food' and it has various things inside like salted
Japanese plum, salmon, tuna, and so on...

It's very simple but tasty and we can take them out for lunch such as picnic just like sandwich
and we are familier with them from our childhood.

Wonder what 'soul food' is in your country??

Posted by: sakurahotel (April 17, 2009 11:17 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Kayoko
(April 9, 2009 9:25 PM)

Kyoto has different beauty.
Visiting Kyoto in the season of cherry blossom is, needless to say, valuable.
One of our staff, Yoshihiro, has been to Kyoto and please take a look pictures
which he took !

It is also beautiful to see cherry blossoms at night.
We can see them with illumination.
This is great tree in 'Maruyama park'...

Um,it's gorgeous isn't it...good job Yoshihiro ;)
We strongly reccomend to trip to Kyoto and if you visit there in the spring,
you try to see cherry blossoms at night.
We promise that you will see some splendid scene ....

Posted by: Kayoko (April 9, 2009 9:25 PM) | Permalink