Posted by: Ken
(May 20, 2012 7:05 AM)

Hello everyone!
I'm Kyoko.(I'm writing at Ken's account.)
I'm working in Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro as a trainee for a month:)

Today I'll write about my favorite japanese noodle "So-men".

Do you know something about "So-men"?

そうめん / shibainu

So-men is one of japanese noodles, which is eaten mostly in summer.
We eat so-men normaly with cold bonito soup.
Eating so-men makes our body cooler in hot summer.

But!
There is another way to eat so-men.

Look!

This is the pot noodle of so-men.
Yes, we eat so-men with warm soup too :)

I like this way to eat so-men, especially, when I catch a cold.
Very good for the stomachache.

How would you like to taste so-men with both of cold & warm soup?

Posted by: Ken (May 20, 2012 7:05 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: maiko
(March 26, 2012 8:22 PM)

Do you know KAISEKI?
I went to Asakusa yesterday and had KAISEKI with my family.

Also we enjoyed a great view of Skytree which is the new tokyo tower
from the restaurant!!

Look!!

Read More

Posted by: maiko (March 26, 2012 8:22 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: maiko
(March 17, 2012 3:07 PM)

It's just opend yesterday at Ginza, Tokyo.
I went to there!!

Read More

Posted by: maiko (March 17, 2012 3:07 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Mihoko
(March 8, 2012 6:38 AM)

Read More

Posted by: Mihoko (March 8, 2012 6:38 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Misol
(March 16, 2011 5:24 PM)

If you feel like having Korean dishes, you could try Shinokubo.

Shinokubo station is on JR Yamanote line, takes about 6 min from JR Ikebukuro station.

Near Shinokubo station, there is a local Korean town, so that you can get a glimse of Korea while you are in Japan. In Shinokubo, you may hear a lot of 'Anyong haseyo'('hello' in Korean) around. The atmosphere is a bit different from any other places in Japan. It's more energetic and dynamic... I think ;D

You could find many Korean restaurants, K-pop shops (selling Korean-pop idol products) and Korean markets.

What about having Samgyopsal for dinner tonight at Shinokubo? ><

* Samgyopsal consists of sliced pork belly meat, cooked on a grill. It's very popular Korean dish!

Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro
http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/

Sakura Cafe Ikebukuro
http://www.sakura-cafe.asia/ikebukuro/english/

Posted by: Misol (March 16, 2011 5:24 PM) | Permalink

Posted by: Misol
(March 7, 2011 9:32 AM)

Do you believe that one's blood type influences one's personality?

Although there is a controversy about whether blood type determines person's character or not,
many of Japanese still like to talk about blood type and personality.

As a matter of fact, about 40% of Japanese people are A type, taking the first place.

All Arashi members are A type except Masaki Aiba ( he is AB type) :D

It could be dangerous to judge people only by their blood type,
but still, I think it's an interesting theory and a good subject for ice breaking.

Here is the chart from Wikipedia, showing the main traits of each blood type ><
Do you think it makes sense or not?

Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro
http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/

Sakura Cafe Ikebukuro
http://www.sakura-cafe.asia/ikebukuro/english/

Posted by: Misol (March 7, 2011 9:32 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Sariko
(February 11, 2011 11:04 AM)

Have you ever try to taste rice cake?
And have you ever seen how to make rice cake??

We,Japanese people eat rice cake in new years day specially.
We have soup called Zouni and rice cake in it.

It's very few chance we can see making sticky rice cake and now you can see it :)
We first steam sticky rice and make them with mortar(usu) and pestle(kine) like below.
This little boy living near my house, he is very cute by the way ;)

Also, we occasionally eat sticky rice cake as sweet :)
I don't know who made this recipe but this is actually great!
This is 'Ichigo Daifuku'which is strawberry and sweet beans covered by sticky rice cake.

Making Ichigo Daifuku was fun :)

Or you can find and try this,'Yukimidaifuku' :)

This is bestselling sweet and it's icecream covered by nearly sticky rice.
Ohhh....now I want to eat this ;)

Posted by: Sariko (February 11, 2011 11:04 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Misol
(January 22, 2011 10:07 AM)

Do you like clubbing?
You could try clubs in Shibuya, Roppongi, Ebisu etc...
Yeah, those clubs are hot and have cool DJs, as usual..,
but here, I would like to introduce you the new type of club.

Ageha! :)

It's the club at Shin-Kiba, seaside, quite far away from downtown.

Ageha is a lot more bigger than other clubs, and it has outdoor stages as well.
The place is quite big and open, and non smoking (except smoking areas),
so there is no worry of cigarette smell.

You can get fresh air from the sea and even see the sunrise at dawn.

Yurakucho Line directly connects Ikebukuro station and Shin-Kiba station.
or you could get Ageha suttle bus departs from Shibuya station.

Please check http://ageha.com for detail :)

Then, enjoy Tokyo's nightlife! We all are born to enjoy in this world, aren't we? ;)

Posted by: Misol (January 22, 2011 10:07 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Misol
(January 18, 2011 11:55 AM)

If you enjoy drinking either for fun or social gathering,
you wouldnt's miss trying Japanese Izakaya.

(moderate drinking makes us happy :D )

As you take a seat, a small dish 'oto-shi' will be served.
  

You should pay for it although you haven't order it.
The price varies to places but is usually 300-500 yen. You could take it as table charge.
Oto-shi brings your appetite~

Delicious Izakaya Dishes

Sake & Nama-bi-ru!! *(Draught beer)

Let's get a little bit relaxed and have some fun !
.....but please remember to drink moderately :)

Posted by: Misol (January 18, 2011 11:55 AM) | Permalink

Posted by: Sariko
(April 12, 2010 10:10 AM)

We did!
But it was raining and cold... I think it's because of this guy.
He is rain man↓

Again!
Just kidding, Hideki :P

It should be Beautiful if it's sunny.
Some of cherry blossom already blow from the tree.
They are such a fugacious flower. But the pond is full of cherry blossom and
turned to sakura color. It was beautiful.

After we walk down the park and enjoy(?) cherry blossom in such a cold weather,
we went to Iseya, Japanese style izakaya.
This izakaya is very old Japanese style with full of Yakitori (Japanese style BBQ chicken) smell.

↑Mr. T is doing meditation...

Posted by: Sariko (April 12, 2010 10:10 AM) | Permalink