Hama Rikyu 浜離宮

I found an oasis in Tokyo. There are some landmarks or tourist attractions in Tokyo for persons who live in Tokyo, It is one of them for me. Hama Rikyu is a famous park. It is located at Shiodome 汐留 that is office town. and metropolitan area. However, Slow time passes and atmosphere is so calm in this park.
We can see modern and high office buildings from the park, but it is so quite inside.

There is a Japanese tea house in it .We can drink a cup of powdered green tea and Japanese sweets、wagashi 和菓子 seeing a pond or trees. I got on Tokyo water bus after walking in it and spending peaceful time. We can go to some downtown, shitamachi 下町, Asakusa 浅草or Ryogoku 両国. Asakusa is very famous town in Tokyo. A lot of foreigners visit this town. They enjoy old and traditional places. Water bus was interesting. I can see different scene of Tokyo on the bus. It was very beautiful.
I recommend to get on the water bus in sunny day.  

I could feel relaxing time.  

MUJI 無印良品

MUJI is a name of Japanese brand. I like its goods. Design is so simple and not expensive. We can buy various necessity for our life. Stationary, furniture, foods, or dresses etc. I like MUJI shops. There are a lot of shops in Tokyo.

There is a cafe in some MUJI shops and I sometimes go for a lunch at Meal MUJI in Yurakucho (有楽町). Meal MUJI is a cafe and I like this place and atmosphere in the cafe. There are some types of plate lunch and breads. I have favorite lunch there. A lot of plate seeing foods are displayed in the showcase. I can choose three type of a few portions of plates. Every foods seem to be so delicious. The cost of this lunch with a cup of drink is about 1,000 yen. Since it is spacious cafe, women who have their babies can eat close to baby buggy.

I like to see various MUJI goods there after lunch. I sometimes buy some attractive goods. It is one of my pleasures. New Meal MUJI is recently opened in Shinjuku (新宿).

There are shops in some countries. If you go there in your country, you might find your favorite goods. 　

Relax in Autumn

Now it gets cooler and air is so clear and fresh. Kinmokusei (Osmanthus fragrans) is good smell and we fell autumn.
I went to Obuse in Nagano prefecture this weekend. Nagano is a place that Olympic winter game was held in 1998. Obuse is very small town in countryside. Special products of this town are grape, apple and chestnuts. They are autumn foods. I like autumn season because we can eat abundant and delicious foods.

Beautiful Apples in Obuse

The motif of this shop curtain (Noren) of Japanese sweets is three chestnuts.

I visited a museum of Hokusai , Hokusai kan and Gansho-in (I'm sorry for no English site). Hokusai is very famous Japanese artist as you know. He had visited and stayed for several years after he was 80 years old in Obuse. He drew celling painting in Gansho-in when he was 89 years old. The selling painting (Happo Nirami Houou zu) is vivid color and I couldn't feel that it was old work. I was touched.

Autumn is good season for travel. I can so relax. Eat delicious foods and feel good arts or nature... It is very excitied and delightful thing.

My favorite town, Kichijoji

Kichijoji is a name of town in west Tokyo. I like this small town. There are a lot of shops, restaurants, cute coffee shops, schools and big park around Kichijoji station. Also this place is quiet residential area. we can enjoy this vibrant town anytime.

I sometimes go shopping, meet my friends, eat lunch at weekend. Since there are many type of restaurants of Japanese, ethnic or western food and coffee shops, I can't always decide the day's restaurant easily. I definitely eat sweets after lunch. It is very comfortable and I can relax.

Inokashira Park is very big in Kichijoji. It's like a Central Park in N.Y. There are a lot of trees and a pond. Many people go there to walk around or go jogging. It is famous place for Hanami (Seeing cherry blossoms) at spring. The scenery is very beautiful and amazing. And there is Zhibri Museum near the park.

I saw a Japanese film recently at theater. It is "Goo Goo datte neko dearu". The story is set in Kichijoji. An American, Marty Freidman who is ex-guitarists of MEGADETH appears in this film. (He can speak Japanese fluently and sometimes broadcasts in Japanese TV programs.) He explains about Kichijoji in English in the film. If you have a chance to see the film, you will know about this town.

Karuizawa

Rainy season is over. Is it hot summer this year ? School is in summer vacation.
Karuizawa is one of famous summer resorts in Nagano prefecture. It takes about 1 hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo. It is a small and quite town in winter. However, in summer a lot of tourists visit there to relax or play sports. It is cool in summer, there is no sea but a lot of trees, fresh air make us happy. And rich people have own cottage or villa. Therefore, Karuizawa is famous place and resort for high society.
I'm not rich but I have visited several times. When I was a college student, I used to go playing tennis with friends or stay for relaxation at villa for rental.
There are a lot of shops around Karuizawa station. We can eat delicious food or buy souvenir. Everyone can enjoy fresh air and atmosphere.
I have heard that John Lennon loved this place and stayed in every summer. If you have a chance, I recommend you would go to relax.