－Feel Tokyo－ English Edition

Place like a fairyland －Hyappon Shidare - (One hundred cherry trees)

I introduced Tama-Center area yesterday, and if you think you still have a lot of energy left, and if you feel like walking around more, you should walk down to Karakida Station on Odakyu Line (one station away from Tama Center station.)

When you start to see Tsurumaki Nishi Koen (Park), Karakida is almost there. In Tsurumaki Nishi Koen , as asuka is introducing it in her blog, there is a must-see spot: Tama city's natural monument " Kawai family's Shidare-Zakura". But it is a personal residence, you should keep a respectful distance when you viewing it.

In Karakida, there is a walking trail called "Karakida-no-Michi". The direction to the entrance of the walking trail from Tsurumaki Nishi Koen is as follow : Cross the road and go over Karakida station, and make your way through between railroad and condominium building. When you almost pass over the condominium, there is an entrance of the walking trail. (Upper middle of the picture)

From the entrance, you can just follow the route. (Pink line on the map). You will pass "Miharashi-hiroba (scenic place) ", and "Ohanami Hiroba (Cherry blossom viewing place) " where you can see beautiful cherry blossom. And what is waiting for at goal is .... 100 cherry trees! The area is filled with cherry blossom's sweet smell, and it makes me haze over a little and I thought that fairyland could be the place like this.

When you visit this spot, I suggest you to wear comfortable shoes, because you will walk around unpaved walkway. You don't have to cover every spot, you can start to walk from any places. Of course, you can just go there to see 100 cherry trees too.

Just one question in my mind. Are there exactly 100 cherry trees?

Kawai Family's Shidare-Zakura
address：2-22 Tsurumaki, Tama-shi

Karakida Hyappon Shidare
address：35-1 Karakida

Tama city is dyed in PINK! －Takarano Koen(Park)/Narahara Koen(Park)－

There are a lots of Ohanami (Cherry blossom viewing ) spots in the area around Tama-Center station (Keio line, Odakyu line). I don't think I can introduce every single Ohanami spot, so let me introduce some of them where you can go there by walking.

After you go out from the West exit of Tama-Center station, move down the stairs in front of you, and turn right. Go down only several meters, then you will see a street lined with cherry trees along Koｔｔa river, which runs parallel to railroad ( left on the icture).

Surprisingly, this street with lined cherry blossom leads to Nagayama station, the next station toTama-Center station. If you just keep on walking on the street, you can only see a row of cherry trees, so after you take a walk for a while, let's make an u-turn and go back to the Tama Center .

After you return to Tama-Center station, walk down "Parthenon avenue " which is famous for beautiful illumination in winter period, and head to "Parthenon Tama". "Parthenon Tama"is a cultural institution which has some large and small theaters. Behind the building, there is "Tama Chuo Koen (Park) ", a large park with a big pond and vast lawn.
There are some interesting spots in the park. "Green Live Center " is a small botanic garden, and there is also an exhibition of the removed and constructed old Japanese style house and garden - used to be owned by Tomizawa family, who was one of the Japan's old noble family.

Going through Tama Chuo Koen, then you go to residential area from the side of a welfare and pension institution "Wel Sunpia Tama". The residential area is designed in European-style. Please enjoy the cityscape while you are exploring the area. (Upper right of the picture)

After you go down the residential area toward south, you will see a playground on your right side. And there is "Takarano Koen(Park) " down the road (lower left of the picture). You will be surprised to see that the park is filled with cherry blossoms.

The lawn in the center of the park is surrounded by cherry trees, and there is also a pathway lined with cherry trees - that creates" Cherry Blossom Tunnel ". Takarano Koen is connected to "Narahara Koen (Park) " with a bridge, and the Cherry Blossom Tunnel continues even further than the end of Narahara Koen.

Cherry blossom season is going to continue, but unfortunately, recently we often have bad weather. But you can also enjoy walking around these spots in other seasons. There is also "Tsurumaki Higashi koen(Park)" on the north of Naranaha Koen, and "Tsurumaki Nishi Koen(Park)", and Tama Chuo Koen on the west. Enjoy a nice walk in nature!

Takarano Koen(Park)
address： 5 Ochiai, Tama-shi

Narahara Koen(Park)
address：4 Tsurumaki, Tama-shi

Both have restrooms and free parking (not very large). There is also a pay parking at Wel Sunpia: Parking will be free by using facilities in Wel Sunpia
including hot spring. It is also nice to soak in a hot springs after you enjoy walking.

Chocolate Paradise for Chocolate Lovers♪ －100％ Chocolate Cafe－

I am craving for chocolate! When I get tired, or when I am on the way back home from work, I can't help buying chocolate as if I am under hypnosis.
100% Chocolate cafe is the place where satisfies the desires of chocolate lovers like myself. 100%Chocolate Cafe - the name has a nice ring to it- is the chocolate theme cafe produced by Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd.

The best of all about this cafe is "fresh chocolate". The cafe clerk will squeeze generous amount of fresh chocolate cream out on bread and waffle in front of you.

Another fun stuff of this cafe is a piece of small chocolate that comes with drink. There are 365 different kinds of chocolates, and everyday, a different kind of chocolate is served... and it makes me feel like I have to come here everyday!
You can also purchase chocolates at the cafe. These chocolates are made with well chosen materials : there are 56 kinds of chocolates that made with 22 different types of cacao beans from 16 different countries around the world.

This small cafe is always crowded with chocolate lovers. When I went to the cafe, unfortunately all the seats were taken, and I had to do take-out.
Take-out menu is limited to drinks and small "Korone"( a snail shell like shaped bread, filled with fresh chocolate cream) I tried "almond cream", "caramel whip", "kirsch white", "strawberry creamy"(limited time only) Every item is very rich, creamy and so delicious. You can immerse yourself in the deep chocolate paradise! I would like to try waffle and tart next time I come here.

100% Chocolate Cafe (Japanese)
address：Meiji Seika Honsha Bldg 1F, 2-4-6 Kyo-bashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
access：8 min walk from JR Tokyo station (Yaesu South gate) , or 1 min walk form Subway Ginza line Kyobashi Station (Exit No 5)
open： Weekday: ＡＭ-8ＰＭ（7：30ＰＭ LO） Weekends, and national holidays: 11ＡＭ-7ＰＭ（6：30ＰＭ LO）
seat：14 seats: all non-smoking

When it gets warmer I can't help coming here... －Machida Ice Kobo Latte－

Today's highest temperature was 19℃。 Tomorrow's forecast is over 20℃。。。
As soon as the weather gets warm, I start longing for Italian gelato.
When I become craving for gelato, I always head down to Machida Ice Kobo Latte.

This tasty gelato is made with fresh milk and highly-selected fruits and vegetables, all fresh from farm in Machida-city. All flavors have a very rich and natural taste of milk and fruits. You can choose the size of gelato from either one flavor (260yen), or 2 flavors (340 yen) and there is also a box of gelato that you can take-out (500 cc: 1200 yen, 1,000 cc:2,200yen)

There is always a long line in front of the store, but it won't take a long time until your turn come. If you go there on a bright sunny day, I recommend you to enjoy gelato outside of the store and refresh ourself!
Near the gelato store, there is an unmanned vegetable store. You can buy these vegetables while you are enjoying gelato. Also within the same site, there is a store called "Tokyo Milk Kobo Pure" where you can taste plain milk and fresh yogurt.

As for the access to Machida Ice Kobo Latte, it is little bit far from Tokyo metropolitan area. But why don't you stop by there when you drive back from Sagamiko visit ?

Machida Ice Kobo Latte (Japanese)
address：2567 Sagami-cho, Machida-shi
access： See map
Little bit inconvenient by public transportation. Better to come here by driving. (Parking space available for Max. 30 cars)
open：9AM-5PM （Open 7 days a week)

After enjoying cherry blossom viewing －Lufting－

"Lufting" is a cafeteria style restaurant located near Rikugi-en ( located at the intersection of Hongo-Dori, and Shinobazu-dori in Komagome, Tokyo).
Lufting is a casual cafe in daytime, but it also serves alcohol at night. It is a wonderful place to have a couple of drinks after enjoying cherry blossom viewing at night ! And within the same building, there are more iteresting stores to look in.
" Markte" sells Eastern European style sundries and
" WHITEHOUSE&co."is a gallery and store which also sells variety of stylish goods.

Lufting has a variety of menus at lunch time. Menus varies from a light meal set such as salad, bread and soup set (700 yen) to Hayashi -Rice (900yen) , and any items comes with a cup of coffee. There are also several different kinds of delicious-looking cakes displayed in show-case. You can have a relaxing tea break in the afternoon as well.
During 4/9-4/17, the store called "Charkha" in Osaka which sells Eastern European style sundries will have an exhibition in Tokyo called " Charkha Tokyo Exhibition ". During this event, Lufting also serves Czech style cuisine and desserts for a limited time only. If you are interesting in Eastern European culture, don't miss it!

Just one request to the waiter at Lufting.... It was better to have a coffee after meal.. ( Coffee was served before lunch was served.)

Lufting
address： 1F 2-28-28 Komagome, Bunkyo-ku
access： From Komagome Station, go straight on Hongo-Dori to Tokyo University direction. Store located at the intersection of Hongo- Dori and Shinobazu-Dori.
Open: 11：30AM-10PM （9：30PM Last order）
close： Monday

The first cherry blossom viewing ( Ohanami ) of this year at Rikugien

This winter, it took a while to get cold in Tokyo. But once it became cold,it seems the bitter coldness continues forever.
Even so, the temperature starts slowly getting warm, and the sign of springhas started to be seen here and there.

"Ohanami" is one of the major recreation activity of Spring. For those of you who cannot wait Someiyoshino blossom, try to visit Rikugien Park in Komagome Tokyo. You can view great Shidare-Sakura at this spot before Someiyoshino begins to bloom.

Rikugien is famous for its artificial low hill and large pond. It is great to visit Rikugien in daytime, but moreover, I highly recommend you to visit there at night time when it is brightly lit. You can take a walk around the park until 9:00 pm in the cherry blossom season in spring, and the clored leaf season in autumn. The mood of Rikugien at night is very different ｆrom the one in daytime, and it is one of the best dating spot for couples.
There are some little teahouses in the park, and you can taste Japanese style sweets while you are viewing cherry blossom.

The park was scheduled to open for Ohanami until March 27th at first, but since cherry blossom was late in blooming this year, the park won’t close
until April 3rd. Today, the cherry blossom has not been fully bloomed, but I think it will be all out by this weekend.
Please go visit Rikugien for Ohanami and have a fun!

Rikugi-en (Japanese)
open： 9AM-5PM　 9AM-9PM (during event )(Last admission 8：30PM)
access：7 min walk from Komagome Station (JR Yamanote Line or Subway
Nanboku line) or,10 min walk from Sengoku station (Subway Mita line)
Admission Fee: general admission: 300 yen/person