watashi to tokyo

Hiroshige Vivid!

I went to “Hiroshige vivid” in Suntry museum that is the exhibition of wood printing of Hiroshige Ando, yesh! one of my favorite artist.

I love so much to see his “One hundred famous views of Edo”. I am always amazed he draw such unique composition in 19th. Without Hiroshige and Hokusai, Japanese won’t build such big manga culture, Ukiyoe (Wood print) was core of Japonism, manga may be called neo-Japonism, they are bound up in each other.

Hiroshige Vivid @ Suntry Mesuem, Tokyo
April 29-> June 12th 10:00-18:00 (Friday 20:00)
adult 1300yen

Azumabashi Konryuzan Enbo
A view from a boat on Sumida river.  A ladies enjoy Spring and cherry blossom on a boat and view of Asakusa Sensoji, Azuma bridge, Mt.Fuji.

Nihonbachi Edobashi
A fish is a skipjack tuna, we call it HATSU GATSUO. So we call tell this is summer season. And that fish is in a carrying pole, there is a fish selling guy in this print and he would delivered it to the customer from fish market.  In Nihonbash there is a big fish market and it moved into Tsukiji after Great Kantō earthquake in 1923.

Ouji Shozoku enoki Oomisoka Kitsunebi
Every New year eve, fox gathered under the big tree near the shrine and change their clothes into official one and visited the shrine. Farmers lived near the shrine predicted their next year’s harvest by amount of lights that fox had. This print tells such aid story. Very unique one, coz Hiroshima’s print are colorful like it is called Hiroshima vivid.

Link
Edo in Tokyo - Part 2

Japanese hand crafts monopoly and Kaiyodo figures

Limited Monopoly "ZIPUNG" is Japanese Traditional Art Craft Edition MONOPOLY incorporates plenty of artwork and history, capturing the charm of traditional Japanese crafts while keeping the fun of monopoly intact. You need to travel all across Japan and collect same color Japanese crafts, then build workshops or department stores.

By the way, if you want to buy real craft work of Japan in Tokyo, the best and convenient place would be Japanese traditional crafts Aoyama Square. It is only gallery & shop where Officially designated Traditional craft products of various places throughout whole country gather in Japan. The hand crafts are very beautiful but of course very expensive.

Talking about traditional hand crafts toys, Japanese figure maker Kaiyodo makes traditional toy crafts series collaborating with Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten. Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten is the hand crafts maker established in 1716. Even they are such old maker, their products have contemporary high design. Automatically Kaiyodo's toy figures are highly accurate and repetitive manufacturing of traditional toys. You can buy those at Haneda airport, Tokyo Sky tree Town in Tokyo area, Tokyo Mid town or of course Nakagawa Masaichi Shoten head shop.

 

Beautiful Mt.Fuji and best spot for photos.

phantastic420 has beautiful Mt.Fuji pictures on his Instantgram. Especially people love this one and get hot in the world.

This photo would be taken at one of best spot to see Mt.Fuji and flowers "Yamanakako Hananomiyako Park". You can see such beautiful Fuji in four seasons here.

 

 

Huber, find your own guide for Japan

My friend's friend make this Huber service.　This is the matching site offering guide service for foreign visiteres. You can find your own guide for your purpose.

Let's go Seria. Great 100yen shop in Japan

I had recommended often going to Big Daiso(Japan guide) in Machida before. Unfortunately that Daisoo was closed, but 100yen Shop in Japan is getting better and better, actually some shop seems to have speciality.

Daiso is the biggest one, there are 2700 shops in Japan and also 700 shops in abroad. From foods to DIY tools, they cover various type of products, when you visit the big Daiso, it is hard to find something they DON'T have except for expensive jewelly and closethes :-)

No2.is Seria. Their concept is very clear, it's "For Ladies". Basically their products are natural, simple and cute, so we can use thier stuff that as is, but it doesn't look 100yen at all.

Small strage is the strongest pruducts of 100yen shop and Seria's prodcuts are cuter more than other shops, like this wood box, plastic box, iron, box etc at . Wall decor stuff does't looks cheap too, Do you think this Wall Sherf tin plate, iron fuck look 100yen? Bowls, cups, eating utensils are cute too. This is Fire Kingish one, Japanese design or other design one, and these are very simple so even guys love them.

The hottest part of Seria is people enjoy remaking into some original stuff by DIY with their own idea. There are a huge number of pages "remake Seria products" in NAVER. Wood board, Drawer box, wood case, those are most popular DIY item. Since Seria has Stencil sheets, paint, varnish etc,. too, it's very easy to decorarte. And guess what! Those Stencil sheets are Heat-resisting, you can make original mug cup too.

With your creativity, imagination and some small DIY skill, you will be able to make a lot of original good things. People recommend each other the stuff they like and find in Seria. Please check it out and don't miss going there when you come to Japan. Seria is really usuful and nice shop

Link
100yen shop
Recent 100yen Shop

A Nice Japanese Diner near Asakusa

Nice Japanese Diner for foreigners.
Ashi is a small Japanese Diner at Asakusa area. You can enjoy sake and nice foods for drinking and also "teishoku" (set menu) for dinner. The owder lived in the U.S for 10 years and he made a menu that foreign peoples will enjoy. Since it is very near to Sensoji. Good to visit after Asakusa sight seeing.

Get Upset!

"Get Upset! " Virtual Reality game place "VR ZONE Project i Can" open at divercity Odaiba in April 5th. It is time limited event. Need to check it out.

Issei Miyake Exhibition

NISEI MIYAKE Exhibition "The Work of Miyake Issey" has started at The national Art Center, Tokyo. if you are sensitive to fashion and trends, you would know this BAO BAO bag which got to be hot  a few years ago. The great part of this bag is you can change the shape. 

If you don't have any interesting to fashion, you would know his work because of Steve Job's the black turtlenecks which became a part of Jobs' signature.

The Work if Miyake Issey @ The national Art Center, Tokyo
March 16-> June 13th 10:00-18:00 (Friday 20:00)
adult 1300yen

Hot 6 Sweets in Tokyo in 2016!

There are a huge number of sweets in Tokyo, here is a selection hot 6 sweets in Tokyo 2016 and of course all are Tokyo originals.

ZAKUZAKU : Cream puff with rich custard cream covered by crispy almond powder puff.

1 piece 250yen
Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Shinjuku 3-38-1 Luminest B1F
OPEN 10:30-22:00
Tokyo Shibuya-ku Jingumae 1-7-1 Cute cute Harajuku 1F
OPEN 10:00-20:00

anovan : We call it "Bouchee". It's two baked meringue confectionery sandwiched whipped cream.

Tokyo Shinbuya-ku Jingumae 4-26-22 Harajuku H building 1F
OPEN 11:00-20:00

RINGO : Ringo means apple in Japanese. Custard and apples in super crispy pie, they sold over 10000 pies in a week.

1piece 370yen
Tokyo Toshima-ku Minamiikebukuro 1-28-2 JR Ikebukuro Station 1F
OPEN 10:00-22:00

Le Souffle : Super fluffy soft souffle fades in 30 seconds, they have about 40 kinds of souffles, not only sweets one but also vegetable and omal or such dinner type one.

Tokyo Meguro-ku Midorigaoka 2-25-7 2F
OPEN 10:00-20:00

Number Sugar : Handmade Caramels. Their flavors are vanilla, salt, ginger, orange peal etc,. Package and wrapping is cute too.

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Jingumae 5-11-11 1F
OPEN 11:00-20:00 (close Tuesday)

Ken's cafe Tokyo : their special Gateau au Chocolat is changed in temperature. In regular temp, texture is smooth like terrine, when you make it hot, it becomes fodant chocolat with melting chocolate, and make it cool in fridge, it gets to be rich ganache. ahh lovely

Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Shinjuku 1-23-3 1F
OPEN 10:00-20:00

The best Tokyo sweets souvenirs in 2016

Find Travel picked the best 70 of Tokyo Souvenirs sweets which you can buy at Tokyo Station. In the Tokyo Station, there are a lot of shops as if it is a small town, here is the map from thier official site Tokyo Station City.

I will picked some which I was hooked, here is watashi to tokyo's best 5.

Tokyo Banana : I can't miss one. I picked this one in 2005 as popular souvenir of Tokyo but it has not changed yet. There are variations of flavor, caramel is good.

mamegui : mamegui is named from Mame (= tiny) and Tenugui (Japanese hand towl). This shop wrapped small Japanese sweets by small tenugui.

Marshmallow Elegance : Thier Chocolat Terrine is beautiful. Fruits and marshmallow are coverd by chocolate. Covered by Gummi and caramel are good too.

Ginza Kikunoya : Fukuyose is assoted tiny Japanses sweets. There are candy, senbei, bisket, beans etc,.I think it is easy to carry or send too.

Juchheim: I will pick Kobe beef pie!. I don't think it is impossible to hate kobe beef.