Category: Tokyo

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Food, Friends, Restaurants, Surprise, Tokyo

Birthday Eve

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s my birthday eve.

I had been handling a project which is held in March around my birthday; therefore, I couldn’t enjoy or celebrate my birthday for 15 years.

This year, the project is handled by other colleague so my mind is in peace.

I also had wonderful surprises today.

My friend sent me early birthday wishes with hearty words which made me smile.

And after helping my boss’s wife for some translation, she returned to office with a surprise.

It’s so sweet of her and thanked Boss for a nice (I mean NICE) birthday gift.

I was thinking of getting a lipstick for coming Spring and this is the shade of colour that I was thinking of!

Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Boss.

And tonight, went to dinner with my choice of food and restaurant: my favorite French Restaurant Aux Six Arbres, Roppongi.

It’s a nice Birthday Eve ever!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Patissier Toshi Yoroizuka

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to Japanese famous Patissier Toshi Yoroizuka at Midtown Roppongi to get few cakes.

Though, he is famous and popular; I tried his cake for first time today because his shop is always crowded.

I bought seasonal Relais Sakura (Sakura Roll Cake) and Choux Paysanne (Nuts Choux).

I enjoyed them with my friend over 7 hours chatting.

We had to catch up for a year.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, International Culture, Movie, Restaurants, Shopping, Tokyo

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Posted on by sonokotchi

Happy New Chinese Year!

I’m not Chinese, but it’s Chinese New Year.

I want to do something Chinese today.

Therefore, I watched a movie, Man Hunt, which is collaborated between Japanese and Chinese and directed by Chinese Director, Mr. John Woo.

I watched the movie with subtitle because Chinese actors and actresses speak in Chinese.

It was 7:15 pm show so I changed cinema mileage (yes, we can cumulate mileage by watching movies) to a free drink and popcorn.

After the movie, I went out for Chinese dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Tsim Sha Tsui, Roppongi.

It was late, but the owner is very kind allowing us in.

We wished her Gong Xi Fa Cai, then she gave us a dessert!

How sweet of her!

This is her way of giving me a sweet Ang pie (good luck red envelope)!

Thank you and….

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, International Culture, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo

Long Friday Night

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to Yokohama China Town to celebrate early Chinese New Year with Japanese friends.

I had dinner at Yokihi (Yang Gui Fei).

It’s usually opened as boutique and cafe.

My friend knows the owner so he asked to open for dinner.

We enjoyed home cooking dinner and these are very delicious!

After dinner, we continued talking at Nodoguroya Kakiemon, Nakameguro.

It’s nice casual restaurant: oyster house.

This is real TGIF!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Movie, Place, Tokyo

Japanese Movie Saturday

Posted on by sonokotchi

I watched a Japanese movie, Inori no Maku ga Oriru Toki (When Lower the Curtain of Prayer) at Toho Roppongi.

This movie is the last case of TV series, Shinzanmono (New Comer).

It’s a dramatic detective movie with great sadness, very touching story.

After the movie, I had nice okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pizza or pancake) for early dinner.

This okonomiyaki is sauce flavor with buta (pork), kyabetsu (cabbage), negi (leeks) and tamago (egg).

It might look the same; however, this okonomiyaki is called negiyaki: soy sauce flavor with a lots of negi, buta and tamago.

I opened Japanese design Coca-Cola for late dessert.

Posted in Beauty, Daily Life, Feelings, Japanese Culture, Nature, Tokyo

Hi, Mr. Snow Man!

Posted on by sonokotchi

I left my room earlier this morning, anticipating delay of train and icy road that might require small steps to walk carefully.

Surprisingly, there aren’t many people on the train; I expected a train to be packed with people rushing to the office.

My office is located at the edge of Ginza, busy commercial area; therefore, people are busy clearing sidewalks.

I could walk safely around 8:30 am, though I diverted to avoid any stairs.

By the time I reached office, I felt like I’ve accomplished a task already.

When I looked out my office window…I found him.

Somebody made a Snow Man!

He made me smile and warmed my heart.

At lunch time, I looked out looking for him…he’s gone.

When I left office, the sidewalks are cleared.

Well, I should plan to leave early tomorrow morning again to watch out for ice which might be created under the shade and night.

It’s like a survival game in Tokyo. hahaha

I returned to home early so that I had time to do my nail.

I use nail sticker to design French Nail.

Posted in Daily Life, Feelings, Japanese Culture, Tokyo

Snow in Tokyo

Posted on by sonokotchi

According to the weather forecast, it forecasted starting snow around 3 pm today.

When I looked out around 3 pm, it was still raining.

I was budgeting for a project so I wanted to finish it before I go.

Everybody left at 5 pm sharp.

I looked out at 5:30 pm…then I lost a word…

I don’t mind snow, but it’s uncomfortable walking on the icy road with office attire.

It takes time to reach home.

We need to walk carefully (again, the road is slippery: icy snow on the asphalt) and public transportation delays.

I use subway, underground, for commuting so theoretically, I should not get affected by snow.

But, I was stacked in a subway on the way back because public transportation in Tokyo is vulnerable to snow.

There are many train operators in the Greater Tokyo Area.

To enhance the usage of line, suburb lines are connected to the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway.

Line is getting longer and longer.

At the end of my subway line, it connects to another line on the ground.

Subway operates behind schedule: it increases people waiting on the platform by taking space for passengers to get off from a train.

Train operators (not only one operator, but many) stop subways to control crowd on the platform.

All subways park at the nearest station till crowd get controlled, making subway to operate behind the schedule…

I plan to leave home early tomorrow morning, anticipating delay of subway and the icy road condition to walk carefully and slowly.

I’m thankful.

I’m at home and in the warm bed.

Oyasuminasai (Good Night)

Posted in Exercise, Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Restaurants, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Furniture Hunting with Mom

Posted on by sonokotchi

My parents plan to move to a new condo.

Mom is looking for new furniture and so as I.

We plan to go for furniture hunting today; that’s why Mom spent night at my place last night.

I excused myself to go to gym and quickly got ready to go out.

Of course, before we go for a good exercise, we went to get a nice brunch at my favorite Italian Restaurant: Il Ritrovo, Roppongi Hills.

This restaurant is famous for pizza.

The chef won the pizza contest in Italy.

Food is delicious; price is reasonable; staffs are nice.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for an Italian.

We took enough fuel, then went to IDC Otsuka (International Design Center Otsuka) Ariake Show Room, Ariake, Tokyo.

Otsuka Kagu Ltd. is the first furniture retailer implementing direct import of furniture from overseas.

Yes, this company had an issue with furniture industrial people by breaking the Japanese tradition of multi-layered distribution system in Japan.

This is my favorite furniture store because I can find about 50,000 items in 75,000 sqm.

I can compare many styles, concepts and brands at once.

Yes, it is a good exercise because I walk back and forth to compare furniture.

Yes, this shop ables to see the actual products.

Mom found a dining table and chair set and lace.

I’m considering a bed and light.

We plan to visit few more shops.

I love furniture hunting!