Kobe Nishimura Coffee Shop

Kobe Nishimura Coffee Shop

I will introduce a long-established retro coffee shop in Kobe.
That's Kobe Nishimura Coffee Shop.
It is Kobe that imported coffee for the first time in Japan and provided coffee at a coffee shop, and Kobe has a long coffee history in Japan.
Although Nishimura Coffee shop has some shops in Kobe, this is a picture of a store in Kitanozaka in Kobe.

Kobe Nishimura Coffee Shop

It is a coffee shop opened in 1974 as Japan 's first membership cafe. It was opened to the public in the period of the 1995 Hanshin earthquake. Architecture of red brick tangled with ivy is a motif of Shanghai's British style western style, and now it is a landmark of Kitanozaka. It is a very popular coffee shop that you can spend an elegant coffee time surrounded by antiques.

I ordered a shop recommended "Nishimura Original Blend Coffee". It seems that 6 kinds of coffee beans are blended. It seems that water is used the famous " Miya Water ". Moderate hard water seems to make coffee a mellow taste.

Nishimura Original Blend Coffee

The coffee cup is custom made Arita porcelain.
It is a bitter taste and sour taste. The scent is also very good, it is very delicious.
I ordered pumpkin tart with coffee. In this shop baked sweets and tarts using seasonal ingredients are very popular.

Pumpkin tart

It is delicious with natural sweetness. It fits coffee very well.
Sandwich is also delicious so it is recommended.
The atmosphere is also very good with nice interior. Customer service is also very good. Why do not you try Kobe's long-established coffee shop if you are interested?

Kobe Nishimura Coffee Shop
http://www.kobe-nishimura.jp/index.html

Restaurant Suiminoe in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Restaurant Suiminoe in Shinjuku, Tokyo

"Suminoe" is a very popular Japanese-style creative dish restaurant located in the basement of Shinjuku station.
Lunch time is always crowded. Also bread is sold next to the restaurant, it is very tasty and popular.
I ordered a Japanese style spaghetti lunch meal.

Appetizer

Taro with sesame sauce
Mashed sweet potato with walnuts
Cream cheese with black sesame and white sesame sauce
Roasted duck meat with cream cheese sauce

It is very beautiful, elegant and healthy appetizer.

Spaghetti with tomato sauce and bacon, lotus root
French bread (free)

It is a Japanese style spaghetti with a good texture of sliced lotus root.
French bread is also tasty. (I forgot to take a picture it.)

Vanilla ice cream with dried apricot and iced coffee

Caramelized bar is on the top of ice cream.
It is very delicious because the sweetness of ice cream and the acidity of apricot blend together.

This meal is about $ 11.
It is a nostalgic restaurant with Japanese taste.
Taste and atmosphere are wonderful. It is recommended restaurant.

Suminoe official website
https://www.suminoe.in/

Ball-shaped Sushi (Catered box lunch)

Ball-shaped Sushi (Catered box lunch)

I often eat catered box lunch at work.
The other day, I got a delicious catered box lunch with beautiful appearance and very delicious.
It is a catered lunch box shop called "Tokizenmiwa" in Tokyo.
It is a luxurious lunch box with various kinds of side dishes and ball-shaped sushi.
Bowl shaped sushi looks cute and it is a very popular sushi for events such as celebrations.

Temari-sushi (ball-shaped sushi)

From left

rice sprinkled with red perilla with Japanese herb
Boiled soy sauce shiitake mushroom
Steamed shrimp
Sea bream
prosciutto

Roast beef
pickled mackerel
Boiled octopus
Salmon
rice ball with shrimp tempura filling

Taro and carrot boiled with soy sauce
Teriyaki chicken
Tomato with gold foil
Bran bun wrapped in bamboo leaves
Cold tofu

Pineapple and grape
Sesame tofu with bran (autumn leaves shape)
Boiled spinach with sesame sauce
Omelet
Pickles (Kyoto-style chopped vegetables pickled in salt with red Japanese herb)

It was a very luxurious lunch time.

Tokizenmiwa official website
http://www.mi-wa.jp/

Organic coffee and pancake at Cafe Nature

Organic coffee and pancake at Cafe Nature

Cafe Nature is a popular cafe of pancakes and organic coffee at Shinjuku Odakyu Department Store. This is the place where I always take a break, such as shopping in Shinjuku. It is a place where it is very calm without being so crowded.
I often use it alone on weekdays and am enjoying reading while the pancakes are baked.
There are various types of pancakes, but the other day, I ordered strawberry raspberry blueberry pancake and organic caffe latte.

Strawberry raspberry blueberry pancake

Two pancakes with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, berry sauce.
The pancakes are fluffy and delicious with elegant sweetness.
I heard that pancakes are baked with carbonated water mixed with organic wheat, so that it burns fluffy with bubbles of carbonated water.

Organic caffe latte

Organic coffee is also fragrant and very tasty.

Odakyu department store is adjacent to Shinjuku station and it is in a very convenient place. Cafe nature is on the 2nd floor of the department store, and from the cafe we can see the city in the west of Shinjuku. It is a good scenery. Please try to use it during shopping or sightseeing if you like.

Cafe Nature in Shinjuku Odakyu Department store official web site (English)
http://translation.odakyu-dept.co.jp/LUCODS/ns/tl.cgi/http%3a//www.odakyu-dept.co.jp/shinjuku/restaurant/natyure/index.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XPARAM=q,&XCHARSET=UTF-8&XPORG=,&XJSID=0

TOP MUSEUM (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum)

TOP MUSEUM  (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum)

If you want to immerse in the world of photography in Tokyo, I recommend Top Museum (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum).
Top Museum is the only specialty museum concerning photos and images in Japan. It is in Yebisu Garden Place, Tokyo. It displays a wide range of artistic and high-quality writer's works both domestically and abroad.

Top Museum
(Tokyo Photographic Art Museum)

It is my favorite place. Although the contents of the exhibition have changed periodically, "World Press Photo Exhibition" to be held every summer is the most fun.
I went to "world press photo exhibition 2017" also this summer.

World Press Photo Exhibition 2017

Every year, the world's largest photo exhibition "World Press Photo Exhibition" to be held at about 100 venues around the world.
This year's grand prize was a picture of an incident in which police officers shot the Russian ambassador in Ankara, Turkey.

There were pictures showing the world's current situation, including the photos of Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and the appearance of sea turtle life threatened by fishing gear.
It was a valuable opportunity to see the world, which we have never seen in the past, from conflicts, environmental issues, sports decisive moments to daily scenes.

I also went to the "Dayanita Singh, Museum Bhavan" which was held at the same time.
Dayanita Singh is Indian photographer. Photographs of Indian rich and middle class themes that are not stereotypes.
A mobile art museum named "Indian big house museum (Museum Bhavan)".
It was written that photos can be replaced irregularly by her.

There were exhibits such as "sent a letter" in which 7 books entered the box and "suits case museum" containing 44 photo collections in two suitcases.
I thought it was very ingenious and interesting.

Not only photo exhibitions but also video work screenings are held.
It is not very famous place in Japan, so it is not crowded.
It is located in quiet and exclusive "Yebisu Garden Place". It is a highly recommendable place.

Top Museum official web site (English)
https://topmuseum.jp/e/contents/index.html

Mango Tree Cafe

Mango Tree cafe

Mango Tree Cafe is a cafe restaurant where we can eat authentic Thai dishes casually. It is a restaurant that I go every time when I want to eat Thai food in Tokyo. We can eat various northeastern dishes of Thailand.
Mango Tree Cafe has several stores in Japan.
The other day I went to the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, I ate lunch at the mango tree cafe in Ueno station.
I will write articles of the National Museum of Western Art soon.
Anyway,  Pad Ga Prao Gai (Stir-fried chicken with basil) with rice and green curry are also delicious, but this time I ordered Pad Thai and Mango Pudding.

Pad Thai
(Thai style fried fresh rice noodle)

This Pad Thai is really delicious.

Seasoning is sweeter than general Thai restaurant. Fish sauce, chili sauce, spice vinegar, sugar are on the table so we can add it to your liking. I heard that noodles made from rice flour are homemade. It is delicious with a lot of nuts and fried tofu and a lot of bean sprouts.

Pork and green salad (free)

Boiled pork, cucumber and lettuce with fish sauce and chili powder

It is free for lunch time.

Mango Pudding
with berries and whip cream

This mango pudding is really delicious. It is smooth, creamy, fruity and elegant sweetness.
And the price is 250 yen (about $ 2). It is very reasonable and tasty.

I would recommend this restaurant if you want to eat delicious Thai food in Japan.
It is also recommended for meals after museums and zoo tours in Ueno.

Grilled Beef Tongue at Sendai Tasuke

Grilled Beef Tongue at Sendai Tasuke

I will introduce a delicious Sendai beef tongue restaurant "Tasuke" in Tokyo.
Beef tongue contains high-quality protein, iron, vitamin B, low fat low calorie, so it is a very popular healthy food in Japan.
It is one of my favorite foods and I eat frequently.
Sendai City in Miyagi is very famous as the birthplace of grilled beef tongue, but there are also many special Sendai-style grilled beef tongue restaurants in Tokyo. Among them, the restaurant I recommend is "Tasuke".
The other day, I went to "Tasuke" in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
I ordered "Grilled Beef Tongue dish"

Grilled Beef Tongue dish

Grilled beef tongue (salted)
Barley rice
Oxtail and green onion soup
Chinese cabbage pickles
Miso pickled peppers
Simmered bonito
Roasted green tea

Beef tongue grilled by Bincho charcoal (a kind of high-quality charcoal) was very tasty. It was a very juicy thick beef tongue.
Oxtail soup was an elegant salty soup. It was a very big tail meat in the soup. Miso pickled peppers and cabbage pickles were also delicious.

I think that it is the most delicious Sendai-style beef tongue specialty restaurant that we can eat in Tokyo.
If you are interested, please eat it. I highly recommend it.

Sendai Tasuke official website
http://www.tokyo-tasuke.jp/

New Year's wish, Amulet, Fortune-telling at Tokyo Daijingu (Shrine)

New Year's wish, Amulet, Fortune-telling at Tokyo Daijingu (Shrine)

Last month, I visited Tokyo Daijingu (Shrine) to pray for the New Year.
It is a very famous shrine in Iidabashi, Tokyo.
It is famous as a god marriage, a book mark type fortune-telling paper and amulet are very popular.

Tokyo Daijingu Torii (an archway to Shrine)

Tokyo Daijingu is Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the deities whom the Japanese have worshipped since the establishment of the country. It is one of the five major shrines in Tokyo, Meiji jingu, Yasukuni jinja, Hie jinja and Tokyo daijingu.

I mentioned "Hie jinja" in the previous my blog.
https://rosediamond-blog.blogspot.jp/2016/08/hie-jinja-hie-shrine.html

Middle gate (Torii)

The Tokyo daijingu is enshrined together with the three gods of the creation that governs the work of knotting of the heaven and the earth.
It is also known as a shrine with profit in marriage, visits by people who wish for good relationships are getting more and more year by year.
There are also benefits for domestic safety, business prosperity, mischief, fortune-telling, traffic safety, academic achievement, etc.

Hall of worship

I visit this shrine every year for New Year 's visit.
I worshiped in order to ask for good health, business prosperity and good match.
I drew a bookmark type fortune-telling paper and bought an amulet of agate.

Bookmark type fortune-telling paper
and Amulet of agate

Bookmark type fortune-telling paper 

A historically famous singer's love song was recorded, and the coloring is beautiful. It has a faint scent of flowers (wisteria) and you can use it as a bookmark after reading.
Depending on the sacred fortune-telling paper are written such as "great blessing" or "unlucky". I drew "great blessing".

Amulet of agate

Agate seems to be told that spiritual powers that exorcise evil and bring wealth and health will live. Among them, the red agate is said to give us the power to lead things to success.
It is an amulet I purchase every year. I feel that my heart will be calm with this amulet.

It also holds various events such as great calligraphy or candle workshop etc, on a regular basis.
If you are interested, please visit.

Tokyo daijingu official website (English)
http://www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp/english/index_e.html

REVLON LUCKY BAG

REVLON LUCKY BAG

Lucky bag is one of the commercial customs in Japan. It is planning sold as cheaper goods for the beginning of the year. The bagging of products that different goods are enclosed.
Since lucky bags are sold in the shop of various genres, I am very excited every year.

Revlon is my favorite among cosmetics that I can buy at a drug store.
Especially I love Revlon lipstick and matte balm and nail polish.
I buy a Revlon lucky bag every year.
This year's Revlon lucky back what I purchased at 1800 yen (about $ 15).
In the bag there was a total of 6200 yen (about $ 53) cosmetics.

REVLON LUCKY BAG

Skinlights Pressed Powder 103 translucent

Cream Blush 200 Flushed 

Ultra HD Lip Lacquer 565 HD SUNSTONE

Transforming Effects MATTE TOP COAT 

Nail Enamel 805 Tempting

<Review>
Skinlights pressed powder : Texture is very good. 

It covers the pores and dullness, and finish to the skin with bright clarity. 

It is also likely to be used as highlighter.
Brush is very soft. 

Cream Blush 200 Flushed : It looks like a very bright color, but when I actually try it, it became a very natural finish. It's very long lasting.  

Ultra HD Lip Lacquer 565 HD SUNSTONE : Coral, very vivid, shiny. The scent of mango and vanilla. Light texture, not sticky. Small brush can draw beautiful lip line.

Transforming Effects MATTE TOP COAT : It is a top coat that transforms to a matte finish.
I love this product. It protects my nails and I am satisfied with the beautiful matte finish.

Nail Enamel 805 Tempting : Beautiful golden yellow

Saryo TSUJIRI (Kyoto Uji Matcha dessert cafe)

Saryo TSUJIRI (Kyoto Uji Matcha dessert cafe)

TSUJIRI is 155-year-old Japanese traditional tea brand. There is a main store in Gion, Kyoto.
Tsujiri Cafe is in Kyoto and Tokyo. There are plenty of Uji matcha and dessert menu. Among them, the parfait made with good quality Uji matcha is very popular.
(Matcha : powdered green tea)
Matcha dessert can be eaten anywhere in Japan, but I think that this cafe is the best.
The other day, I went to Saryo Tsujiri in Daimaru department store at Tokyo Station and ordered "Special Tsujiri Parfait".

Saryo TSUJIRI "Special Tsuji Parfait"

From above...Matcha soft cream, Matcha jelly, Matcha castella (cake), Chestnut, rice-flour dumplings, Bean paste, Matcha bracken-starch pastry, Matcha Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream, Matcha Jelly

I enjoyed all of them. Matcha was very rich and delicious.

In the store, not only the tea of Kyoto Uji, Matcha flavored sweets (chocolate, rice cracker, candy, cookie, castella...) are also sold. These are also very delicious so it is recommended.

Uji Matcha Gion Tsujiri official website
http://www.giontsujiri.co.jp/gion/catalog/

Menu is different from Japanese cafe, but it seems there are branches other than Japan.

Tsujiri official global website
http://tsujiri-global.com/

If you are interested, please enjoy the most exclusive matcha dessert at Tsujiri Cafe.

Saryo Tsujiri (Tsujiri cafe) ofiicial website
http://www.giontsujiri.co.jp/saryo/

French Toast at Cafe AALIYA

French Toast at Cafe AALIYA

Cafe AALIYA is near the intersection of Shinjuku 3-chome, Tokyo. The specialty is French toast. It is a very famous and popular cafe. Because the workplace is near, I visit several times a month. It's one of my favorite cafe. This time I ordered "French toast plate".

French Toast Plate at Cafe AALIYA

French toast with whipped cream and cinnamon powder, vegetable and chicken soup, iced tea

French toast was like a pancake with fluffy texture, it was a delicious French toast with sweet taste.
The soup was also very tasty. Soup is for lunch time only.
I can not make such a fluffy French toast by myself.
If you want to eat delicious French toast in Japan, I recommend this cafe. Please try it if you like.

Birthday Dinner at "Ristorante AL FARO"

Birthday Dinner at "Ristorante AL FARO"

I had a my birthday dinner with best friend the other day. This restaurant is a place where we sometimes use. We had a birthday celebration at this restaurant last year as well. This is a members-only Italian restaurant in Shinjuku, Akebonobashi.
We enjoyed a very tasty dinner. And we had a great time.
I would like to thank my best friend. I have passed 22 years who become friends with her !
I got a handmade fashionable cape from her for birthday gift.
I sincerely thank her. She is the one and only best friend !

Aperitif :
Savoy (sparkling wine with lime and luchee liqueur)

Antipasto misto del giorno (Assorted appetizers):
Roast beef, smoked pork with red beets, Terrine of chicken thighs, caprese, smoked ham, yellotail carpaccio with quail of spinach

Soup :
Zuppa creme di porro (cream soap of green onion)

Primo piatto :
Short pasta with chestnut and walnut cream sauce

Secondo piatto :
Carre'di maiale in carbonade (Pork sparribs stewed in beer)

Dolce misto (Assorted dessert) :
Pine nut cake, orange sorbet, chocolate mousse, crema catalana

After that, we were happily chatting over a cup of coffee.

Tokyo Joypolis 20th anniversary

Tokyo Joypolis 20th anniversary

Last week I went out with my best friend at Tokyo Joypolis in Odaiba.
Tokyo Joypolis is indoor amusement park game company SEGA of Japan is operated.
Tokyo Joypolis is a theme park of concept "fusion of digital and real". 
All attractions has incorporated digital elements.
Tokyo Joypolis is 20th anniversary. Some of the attractions has changed, but it is still our favorite fun playground. Because it was Saturday evening, it was very crowded.

Tokyo Joypolis

We did not get on too many of the attractions, but I will introduce some of the attractions that we played.

Wild Wing

An exciting glider tour of a beautiful virtual world. There was a very realistic and exhilaration.

Wild River and Wild Jungle Brothers

Wild River
Run the rapids on special raft. Genuine spray goes up.

Wild Jungle Brothers
An exciting adventurous jeep tour of the jungle.
Wild series be three in all, the tour content is different, but the same type of attraction.

The House of The Dead 4 Special

Carry out the mission in cooperation with two people, it is a thrilling shooting game.
Gun down zombies in ruined city. We also played "Let's Go Jungle Special" (Although I forgot to take a picture, the same type of attraction) Gun down the predators at uninhabited island tour.

TRANSFORMERS HUMAN-ALLIANCE SPECIAL

Riding on the motion ride that rotates the front, rear, left and right 360 degrees, shoot the enemy.
It was difficult to shoot the enemy in the upside-down state.
Since the violently rotating, we became bad feeling.

Dark Chapel

3D movie takes to a forbidden ceremony in the old church.
It was very realistic 3D movie. 
There was a little bit of love story element in the horror movie.

Fortune Forest

This forest tells us our future by mysterious rune divination.

It can divine such as whole luck and love luck and work luck, etc.... 

Dipping dots Ice-cream

This ice cream is a specialty here "Odaiba rainbow with ｇrape popping candy".

Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba

After playing in the Joypolis, it is recommended to take a walk Odaiba seaside park. It is a great place of scenery and atmosphere.

Since the indoor amusement a park, we can play fun even on rainy days.
It is a very fun place. if you come to Tokyo, it is recommended that you go to Tokyo Joypolis.

Tokyo Joypolis official website (English)
http://tokyo-joypolis.com/language/english/

HIE JINJA (HIE SHRINE)

HIE JINJA (SHRINE)

I will introduce the shrine that I visit often.
Hie Shrine is located in the lined with high-rise buildings of the Akasaka-Nagatacho. But it is still presence plenty of shrine. Hie Shrine is a prestigious shrine is one of the Tokyo five shrine. One of the Edo three major festivals, is also famous for Sanno Festival is performed.
I have no religion, but to come to the shrine and healed my heart, so I often visit the shrine. I also like watching the building, to take a walk.

Shya-den (main building of shrine)

Hie Shrine was designated as a Government Shrine before the Second World War, and was a highly respected place of worship for the people of Tokyo.
In 1478, Ota Dokan constructed Edo Castle on the site of the present Imperial Palace. He also erected a Sanno-Hie Shrine in the compound for a guardian deity of the castle.In 1657, Hie Shrine and much of Edo was destroyed by fire. However, in 1659, Shogun Ietsuna Tokugawa rebuilt the shrine at its present location.
Regrettably, the shrine buildings were burnt down in the bombing of Tokyo during the Second World War, in 1945. The present shrine buildings were constructed in 1958 with contributions from numerous parishioners and worshippers.

Fuji-dana (wisteria trellis)

The shrine buildings were constructed in the Gongen-Zukuri style with vermilion-lacquered finishings. The Gongen Zukuri style consists of a complex roof system in which the Haiden hall of worship and Honden inner sanctuary are connected. The Heiden offering hall, Haiden hall of worship, Honden inner sanctuary and Roumon gate were so magnificent that they were authorized as National Treasures.

Temizu-ya (sacred water)

Temizu (Cleanse your hands before worship)
1. Go to Temizuya before worshiping at a shrine.
2. Take the ladle in the right hand,scoop water and pour over the left hand.
3. Transfer the ladle to the left hand and cleanse the right.
4. Transfer the ladle once more to the right hand,
   and pour water into the cupped left hand. Use this water to rinse the mouth.
5. Wash the left hand once more.
6. Return the ladle to its original position.

Shin-mon (shrine gate)

Climb the stairs and arrive at Shin-mon.
Hie shrine is it seems blessings in business and marriage baptized child delivery and good-luck charm and wish success.

Omote sando (Sanno Otoko-zaka)

The new approach, Sanno Bridge of Akasaka district are also outfitted with escalator.

Sanno Torii

Along the highway, big Sanno Torii are built.
Access to the Hie Shrine is 3 minutes away from the "Tameikesanno" of subway Metro Ginza or Nanboku line.

Close to the Houses of Parliament. Please try to go to the Hie Shrine in passing tourist. It is a shrine with a very respectable and impressive.

Hie Jinja official wed site (English)
http://www.hiejinja.net/en/