The Dinner at La Cocorico

Three of my very first coworkers when I came to this company
always return my Valentine’s Day presents with a White Day dinner.
I love going out to dinner with these guys.
We’ve all moved to different departments and don’t interact on a daily basis
but once a year we get together to catch up at this dinner!

This was my first time here but everything was delicious!
They’re special was the rotisserie chicken.
It was so good that the guys literally fought over it.
Good ole Japanese-style Janken.
You can tell from the pictures that
one of them is not good at this game. haha!
Anyways, I had a great night out with the guys.
Already looking forward to next year!

GEMS Shibuya 5th Floor
3-27-11 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
03-5485-7621

The Weekend in Miyagi – Day Two

The second day we were back at the paprika farm
we were at back in January (here and here).
I’ve been fascinated with these greenhouses lately.
They are so complex and brilliant.
It’s been educational being able to see first-hand how to built one.

This was the very last greenhouse to be built on his land.
And we were lucky enough to help him finish it.
We were all worried it would start to rain…until it started snowing.
This is the side part of the greenhouse that can be rolled up to let the air in.
Taking a break around the little bonfire…it was wet and cold all day.
At one point, it actually started to hail.
Rain, snow, and hail all in one morning…but we completed the last greenhouse.
We stopped by yesterday’s farm again to buy strawberries.
Took a group picture before we headed back home to Tokyo!

The Weekend in Miyagi – Day One

My trips to Miyagi are always quite sudden.
This time it was due to the fact that the
free highway toll for volunteer cars would end in March.
So we decided to go once more before it ended.
Spent the first day digging up weed the old-school way.
Often find seashells and things from the sea in the yard.
Playing with the farmer’s dog that gets bigger every time we see him.
This farmer grows strawberries…we got to eat some during our break 😀
We had these sweet little flowers back in Michigan, too!

Plum blossoms were just blooming while we were there!
We went by the local vinyard and I got to name one of the newly planted grape vines!

The new memorial  “Sennen-no-tou” that was built where the old grave was located.
It was built so the people a thousand years later will remember the tsunami.

It is located next to the grade school that is the only building standing in this area.
The onsen that we always come to at the end of the day…love this rotenburo.
The view from the outside bath…next time there will probably be more green leaves.
Perfect chilly night to have nabe for dinner…chatted the night away.

The Season For Nomikai

I have so many posts to put up
but my days have been kind of busy lately.
Mostly with all the good bye and welcome nomikai
with fellow coworkers who got shuffled around in the company.
Including me!
Actually it’s not that big of a move this time
as it was just a structure change so what I do doesn’t change.
So it’s like my team moved to a new department.
But we still got a nomikai because
no one in Japan would pass up a chance to drink.
And to be merry…yay!

The Surprisingly Long Sakura Season

It’s been super cold and gloomy in Tokyo.
It even rained some days.
I’ve really missed sunny days.
But you know what?
The cold weather has kept the cherry blossoms
from hitting full bloom too soon.
And so when I walked along the river today
this is what I saw…still in bloom!
Sometimes gloomy weather is a blessing.
I’ll be travelling this weekend so
I’m glad I got to see such pretty sakura
under the blue sky one last time 😀

The Ichiran Ramen in Harajuku

With all the gorgeous sakura blossoms
Tokyo looks like spring.
But it doesn’t feel like spring at all.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
It’s okay though because
there’s nothing like ramen on a cold night!
We stopped by Ichiran in Harajuku.
Ichiran is famous for their unique booth seating system.
(if you don’t know, you can read about it here.)
But they also had a teeny tiny room
to seat four people together.
Which is where we were seated.
And where we devoured our delicious ramen.
Fukuoka ramen is typically made of pork broth
(which we call tonkotsu in Japanese)
and uses very thin noodles.
This store allows you to choose
how you want your noodles and soup made.
I ordered noodles on the hard side
and very thick soup.
Oh.So.Good.
I’m not a ramen expert (I love ALL ramen) but
you know when a bowl is really good when conversation stops! ;D
ICHIRAN Harajuku
2nd Floor
6-5-6 Jingumae
Sibuya-ku, Tokyo
03-3407-5911
Open: 11am-11pm

The Sakura in Shinjuku Gyoen

My love for this gorgeous park just grows and grows.
I heard that Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden was in full bloom
and couldn’t pass up the chance of seeing it all myself 🙂

Shinjuku Gyoen has over 1,300 cherry trees within the park.
About 420 trees are the ever popular Somei Yoshino.
But what’s so great about this place is that
they have SO MANY different types of cherry trees.
You can enjoy an array of colors and shapes.
And the greatest thing about it is
you can enjoy the cherry blossoms for a longer time
because they all reach full bloom at different times…YAY!!!

And tell me if this beautiful reflection on the lake
doesn’t make you want to run to Shinjuku Gyoen right now? ;D

The Hanami in Yoyogi Park

Yes, you heard right.
We braved the hanami crowds
and headed to Yoyogi Park this weekend!
It was a very impromptu hanami
as sakura season came quite early this year.
But I’m glad we got to do it!
Drinks, sandwiches, and snacks…perfect for hanami 😀

Cherry blossoms scattered above our heads
It was a pretty chilly day
and it wasn’t the perfect blue sky.
But we had a grand ole time under the pretty cherry blossoms!
And you know what?
It wasn’t as crowded as I thought!
We were there from around 11am to 3pm but
there was plenty of space around us.
I guess all those rumors that Yoyogi Park
is jam packed during hanami season is a myth?
Maybe I’ll make hanami with friends an annual thing 😀