Visiting Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, March 2019.

 I always love a cafe which has a big space, terrace with nice view, and good coffee, of course. And I always go such cafe whenever they open a new one in Tokyo. In early March, Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo was opened near Naka-Meguro Station. It's a new concept Starbucks with bakery, liquor bar, teashop...all kind of drinks available in it. So one day, I cycled there to check what it's like :)

  I decided to get there in the early morning of 8 a.m. because they said people making queue up to five hours just to get in. But fortunately, there was nothing like that when I got there. So lucky!!

 Inside was a factory-like atmosphere with a huge roaster is on the first floor, pipes and noises are here and there. And....

 Each section has its own speciality, like fine coffee, special liquor.... My fovourite is...

 Of course, a bread! I can't go without it XD They were lining up in front of the casher, but it only took 15 minutes or so, not a big deal!

Not only coffee, but decor was so interesting, each of walls has unique character :)

 It was still cold out there at that day, however, I enjoyed having hot coffee in terrace :) You can see Meguro river, which is one of the most famous sakura spots in Tokyo just right next to the building. (I cycled there on 28 March, and it was full bloom, by the way!)

One-day-trip to Kamakura from Tokyo!

 One day in the late Autumn of 2017, my friend and I visited an old town Kamakura (鎌倉), located just one hour riding on a local train from Tokyo. Despite its convenient location, Kamakura is amazingly different from the huge metropolitan city Tokyo: the city centre is filled with cute tiny local restaurants as well as souvenir shops, deep forests behind the city sit just next to the Pacific Ocean. What’s more, fascinatingly sophisticated cafes are available like everywhere. But first, why don’t we just drop the train off at Kita-Kamakura (Northen Kamakura) station to start a casual trail hiking which lead us to a big statue of Buddha?

 On the narrow local way, we found a lot of temples here and there. In most cases, the admission fee was 200-300 yen, just a couple of dollars. Since Autumn leaves had still on the tree, fascinated us, we went to temples one by one, walking on the gardens and around.

 As we climbed up hills, we discovered an ocean view beyond trees. The air surrounding us wasn’t that cold, perhaps the temperature hit 10 degrees at that point. I always love those modest weather, you know :)

 So, here we are ;) If you pay additional fee, which is just for 20 yen,  you can make it inside the statue like we did :) You want to know what’s inside? Well....NOTHING XD

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 Okay, it’s time to have a nice meal. We found a local restaurant on a narrow street, and had a Shirasu (small, steamed white baby fish), soul food in Kamakura along with fresh Tuna. Soooo nice :)

 Before it gets dark, we strolled around the city centre, had some sweets while doing window shopping. It was truly a lovely day ;)

Koenji, a totally different culture grows just near a massive city Shinjuku.

 Located next to Nakano Station I posted before, Koenji (高円寺) is one of the most mysteriously deep places in Tokyo.  Like many other stations in Chuo-line, Koenji also has shopping streets both in the north and south, tiny shops selling stationary, unique colourful clothes, green tea and so forth. We can easily find a cafe to sit back for rest, and when you blankly look at the street by the window, you would frequently come across young punk-style guys with their instruments on their hands. Yes, Koenji is also famous for its sub-culture. But person like me who love take a walk and shoot pictures, it also fun just see around.

 So let's get started from southern part of the station :)

 Most shops are so unique and outstanding, and every so often, I couldn't resist to stop to see what's inside.

 After resting in a local temple just near the arcade, let's move on to the north one ;)

It looks this part is more like for ordinary customers seeking daily things, such as meat, fresh vegetables, daily supplies and liquor. But even so, small shops offer something special.

 This rice shop have a variety of kind and places to be harvested. Customers can actually touch and see the difference. It's astonishing how vary they have in such a tiny tiny space.

 I'm always a big fan of hideout-like cafe, haha.

 Before leaving, why not stroll under the railway? Unfortunately, most shops were closed until late afternoon when afterwork people gather to drink. I prefer to this lonely situation, though...

 Well, let's get back soon :)