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

Farewell Lunch for My Collegue

Posted on by sonokotchi

On Friday, we sneaked out from office to rush to Paul, Roppongi 1-Chome Store for lunch.

My colleague is getting married in the US so I arranged the first and this would be her last lunch with friends at our sister organization.

We met often at working site; however, we were too busy conducting each duties.

It was our first gathering among five of us outside of work and we talked non-work related matters!

It was worth taking a taxi to arrange small farewell get together for my colleague.

Nice crepe gratin and bread!

I wish her happiness!

Posted in Choco-chan, Experience, Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Travel

Short Trip to Unohama Onsen, Niigata

Posted on by sonokotchi

I didn’t have a proper weekend for for rest for months so I took Monday and Tuesday off.

I also needed time to clean dirty dishes and clear garbage from gathering.

It was before noon, Choco and I packed up and left house.

It’s his first stay over.

We stopped every two hours for Choco’s toilet; nonetheless, it’s good to take a break for a driver as well.

We took a quick bite for lunch at the parking area.

It was a nice clear day.

I expected to see Autumn leaves changing in colours.

We drove to mountainous area and the scenery became more scenic.

There is snow….

Kanetsu Tunnel

Enjoying looking at the rice field after harvest.

We stopped at the Parking Area for toilet break.

There is some snow and I wanted Choco to experience his first snow.

I thought he would enjoy it but he didn’t; he angrily asked me to pick him up.

We continued driving country side.

We finally arrived Unohama Onsen (Unohama Hot Spring) Wan Yado, Niigata.

Our room is typical traditional Japanese style Tatami room.

Choco looked happy.

The inn had a problem with boiler so we couldn’t use shower.

Therefore, we went to the inn across the street – Mikaku – to use their bath.

There is a bath inside

And outside (this style is called Goemon Buro, bath tub is in the shape of bowl).

The beauty part of our inn is there is a room for Choco.

Incan freely take and use basic necessities for Choco such as treats, food bowls, toilet sheets, etc.

I can ask to look after Choco as well (charged service).

We had a private room for our dinner.

Choco could join us and he had his plate as well.

We ordered crab menu; there are various way of cooking crabs.

Boiled

Nabe (Pot Dish)

Osashimi no Funamori (raw fish on boat)

Grilled

Other fish dish and Chawanmushi (steam egg)

Tenpura

Rice and Soup

Oops I forgot to take a photo of dessert Matcha (Green Tea) Pudding.

We are all tired so we went to bed early.

Next morning, we started with a morning bath by visiting Mikaku.

I didn’t notice a manager was quietly sitting at reception.

So cute!

I got ready and went down for breakfast.

We cook fish on our own plate.

It’s a long way back home, about 4 hours to return Tokyo.

We left the place after our breakfast.

People visit Onahama for beach.

It’s Autumn/Winter; therefore beach is quiet.

We took a different road back to Tokyo.

We admired different mountains such as Myoko.

Choco looked excited during the trip; however, once we reached home…. he suddenly looks exhausted.

I hope Choco enjoyed his first stay over.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japan Technology, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo, Travel, Work

Business Trip to Toyama

Posted on by sonokotchi

I was in Toyama from 30 October – 3 November 2019 for business trip.

Originally, we plan to go to Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) but it was suspended because the railway was damaged by Typhoon 19.

I had a confidence that a Japanese railway company, JR Nishi Nihon (JR West Japan) will do their best to recover the line; in fact, it started its operation on 25 October 2019, meaning JR Nishi Nihon recovered Hokuriku Shinkansen in two weeks.

However, I was worried that it might take longer to recover to affect our business trip; therefore, we flew.

We safely arrived Toyama Airport.

There are four flights in a day between Tokyo/Haneda and Toyama.

It’s either two flights in early morning or 2 flights in late evening for convenience of business people.

Therefore, we arrived Toyama early on 30 October 2019.

We couldn’t check in so we dropped our luggage at hotel and walked to Toyama Station.

We took a taxi to visit Toyama Castle before going to exhibition hall, Toyama Techno Hall, for preparation for our participation in T-Messe 2019.

We climbed to Castle Tower.

There is a nice garden.

We had to make a move; we returned to Toyama Station area for lunch.

We had our lunch at Shirohacha.

Then went to exhibition hall, Toyama Techno Hall.

There is a vending machine for ice cream so we decided to take a break; I had a salty caramel.

We finished booth set up and returned to city centre to check in at hotel: Comfort Hotel Toyama Ekimae.

We went out for dinner at Chohachi.

I really enjoyed local specialty: Shiroebi (Japanese glass shrimp).

This Shiroebi no Oshizushi (Japanese glass shrimp pressed sushi) was awesome!

Work hard during day time and enjoyed nice dinner at night.

Yagura Zushi

Kappo Ogawa

I also had crab at Sakanaya Dojo Toyama Ekimae Store.

Honestly, a casual dining place like Izakaya in Toyama serves very fresh, delicious seafood and very reasonable!

On last night, I had two dinners with different people.

After eating a quick dinner at Sakanaya Dojo Toyama Ekimae Store, I went to a train sushi restaurant.

I already had a nice seafood at Sakanaya Dojo so I thought I’m gonna have few sushi to accompany them.

But big NO.

After queuing for some time, we managed to get a table at Mawaru Toyamawan Sushitama Toyama Eki Store.

It was also awesome!

I enjoyed fresh seafood very much in Toyama.

I also enjoyed watching cute Murata Seisakusho (Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd) cheer leader’s cheering while working.

Murata Seisakusho is Japanese leading machinery and parts company.

By the time leaving Toyama, I start liking Toyama.

Now I want to go back to Toyama for seafood, Onsen (hot spring) and nice sceneries.

I started missing Toyama and feeling melancholic but soon I get excited finding Star Wars wrapped aircraft at Haneda Airport!

The END