Category: Friends

Posted in Family, Feelings, Flower, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Restaurants, Shrine and Temple, Travel, Waterfalls

Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had these for breakfast.

I, again, visited Ishiyama, Shiga this morning

to visit Ishiyama Dera (Ishiyama Temple).

It’s guarded by Nioh (guardians).

It’s Spring so Temple is so green.

Walked through old aged stone for fun.

On the way to Hondo (the main temple), there are many temples to visit and pray.

Daishi Do (Kobo Great Buddhist Priest Temple)

When I look up from here…I see…

At Hondo (the Main Temple), I prayed to Nyoirin Kannon (Goddess).

After visiting Hondo, there are still many places to visit.

And the path are beautifully decorated by azalea.

This is the map of Ishiyama Temple.

You can see that there are many places to visit in the premises.

We are half way now.

We continued walking down the path.

Then we reached Kodo (Light Temple)

The door for this temple is opened specially from 28 April – 20 May 2018, allowing us to meet three special Buddha.

We are so lucky to be here today.

The first Japanese lady love story writer, Murasaki Shikibu used to visit this temple to get inspirations to write Genji Monogatari (Mr. Genji’s Story).

There is Kanro Daki (Kanro Fall).

And nice Shobu En (iris garden).

I cannot enter, but there is a path to the sacred place looking mysterious.

There is a holy stone.

According to the signage, it says Ooyuya, meaning a big bath…?

I also prayed to the very important God: Daikokuten (God of Wealth).

At last I prayed to Kinryu Ryuoh (Golden Dragon King) for preventing bad luck and bringing good luck.

After visiting Ishiyama Temple, we took a breath at tea room, Kanou Shojuan, to enjoy Ishimochi (stone rice cakes).

Ishimochi presents strong stone foundation of this temple, wishing for prevention of bad luck and establishment of strong tie.

These are delicious.

I had dinner appointment with my old Kyoto friend.

She took me to a nice Japanese restaurant Izama at Mitsui Garden Hotel Shinmachi Bettei, Kyoto.

I absolutely enjoyed food, drink and chatting!

Kyoto Local Beer (Dark Beer)

Three Types of Kyoto Local Sake

After dinner, I went to Bar Islay Mojito with her to continue girl’s talk without Mom. hehehe

Posted in Beauty, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo, Travel, Work

Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto (Day 1)

Posted on by sonokotchi

In Japan, there is unrecorded holiday season named Golden Week.

There are many Japanese National Holiday starting on 29 April – 5 May.

These are

29 April – Showa Day

3 May – Constitution Day

4 May – Greenery Day

5 May – Children’s (Boys’) Day

Therefore, many factories close during this period to save operational cost.

In my case, my office has our own calendar; the office close from 28 April – 1 May 2018 (Labour Day) and from 4 – 6 May 2018.

I decided to spend my earlier Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto.

I planned to take 6:30 pm Shinkansen (bullet train);therefore, I tried to finish my works by yesterday, then packed at night.

I didn’t expect any visitors today so I even polished my nails for holiday last night.

Luckily, we didn’t receive any urgent tasks from HQ today.

I could leave office at 5 pm. Yeah

I arrived busy Tokyo Station; there are many people heading for home and holiday.

I queued to buy a souvenir: Tokyo Banana’s Tokyo Banana Panda with Banana Yogurt Cream for my old friend whom I plan to meet in Kyoto.

These are cuuuuuteeeeee in Panda.

I also bought an obento (packed food) for dinner on the train.

After shopping these, we proceeded to the Shinkansen platform.

There are many people busily walking…

Shinkansen was parking at the platform.

On the train, I enjoyed seafood obento/dinner: uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe) and kani (crab).

Then I enjoyed Tokyo Banana Panda for dessert.

Yes, I bought them for myself, too,

I arrived Kyoto at 9 pm.

We took a subway (Karasuma Line) to Shijo Station for checking in at Kyoto Karasuma Hotel.

This is my second time to stay at this hotel.

This hotel is nice and cozy.

Time to hit the futon.

Oyasuminasai (Good Night).

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Golf, Restaurants, Tokyo, Work

Meeting After Meeting

Posted on by sonokotchi

I am assisting an instant noodle manufacturer to penetrate Japanese market.

Their products are all natural so food tasting session with potential buyers are fun.

To my surprise, each buyers have different feedback towards the products.

We can all learn from their feedback to improve the product.

At night, I had dinner @ Italian Restaurant Papa Milano, Nihonbashi, Tokyo with my golf friend.

Yes, I agree we need to plan golf!

Cheers!

Posted in Feelings, Friends, Gadget, Music, Place, Work

twitch

Posted on by sonokotchi

Have you heard of twitch?

This application is to stream game related news, activities and performance.

I am not a gamer; though, I promote game artists as one of my jobs.

My friend recently performed at PAX EAST 2018 – Final Fantasy XV A Special Orchestral Performance in Boston.

You need to download twitch application and register yourself; however, you can enjoy a good quality visual and sound for free.

I’m not a gamer; however, I simply enjoyed nice orchestral music and I believe you would, too.

The founder of Video Game Orchestra, Mr. Shota Nakama gathered talented musicians to play game sound with professional choirs and orchestra; he created a new game music industry.

He is a guitarist, performer, composer, MC and many more.

The next show is coming up: CAPCOM LIVE at Irving Plaza, New York on 9 June 2018.

If you are in the area, please join the live to rock together.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Restaurants, Tokyo, Work

1st Anniversary

Posted on by sonokotchi

I managed to finish my work by 5 pm and it’s Friday.

I didn’t want to go back home yet so I asked my office mate for dinner.

At the office, I don’t want to stay back so I don’t talk much.

In addition, usually, my mind is occupied with tasks and projects.

I totally forgot it’s been one year since she joined.

At our office, we don’t have a custom to celebrate an event together among office colleagues; she must have felt lonely.

It was good that I asked her out tonight.

I celebrated her 1st Anniversary at our office at Doburo, Ginza.

It’s Izakaya (Japanese style pub), but has nice Japanese atmosphere.

Food and drinks are good and reasonable; I also enjoyed talking with her.

Posted in Action, Art, Experience, Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Music, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo, Travel

Crazy Action

Posted on by sonokotchi

On Monday, I had a full day back-to-back business meetings because all meetings became 2 hours meeting.

I even missed my lunch.

When we finished at 5 pm, we rushed to Tokyo Station to catch a Shinkansen (bullet train) to go to Kyoto.

I was invited to Ohana (private time with Geisha) to have fun with Geisha!

I had an important meeting next day at 9:30 am at Kawasaki, Kanazawa.

It’s a crazy plan but it was manageable if I take the first Shinkansen back to Tokyo…hopped on the next available Shinkansen for Kyoto.

Quickly checked in at Kyoto Century Hotel which is conveniently located next to Kyoto Station.

The room is modern, clean and cozy.

Then rushed to Ochaya-san (Geisha Tea House).

Others waited for us to arrive to start the evening.

We had nice tori-nabe (chicken pot) for dinner; chicken are so fresh that it requires a few tens of seconds of cooking in boiling soup.

Followed by dance.

We also played Ozashiki Asobi (games).

It was magically fun!!!

The next day, I managed to wake up 5 am to catch 6:17 am Shinkansen back to Tokyo to attend meetings.

After meetings, I attended a business dinner.

Since I had to arrange the dinner, I decided to organize it at my favorite Tempura restaurant Mikaku, Roppongi.

This restaurant is my favorite because tempura are so crispy; chef cooks in front of us!

I had nice Haze Hire Zake (grilled goby fish fin sake) to enjoy these tempura.

Grilled fish fin adds nice roasty smell and flavor to sake.

I had Ten-don (tempura rice bowl) for my rice.

We had nice home made strawberry sorbet to refresh our mouth.

Chef grows vegetables and even these strawberries.

The following morning, my friend left Tokyo for Hong Kong to continue her business trip.

Nothing was planned in advance, but these three days became memorable.

Yes, this time I took many crazy actions; but I think crazy actions add spice to our life. hahaha

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Friends, Health, Place, Tokyo

The Calm before the Storm

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went for the second body and facial treatment today because I get Birthday Girl discount for spa treatment this month.

I learned greatly how to treat my body and face.

It was nice three hours.

Then I went to Haneda International Airport at night to pick up my friend from Australia.

Yes, I will have busy day and night with her starting tomorrow. hahaha