A Japanese Wanderer, Tsukubu — Tasting the Poetic Beauty of Japan and Beyond

  Have you ever enjoyed cherry blossoms at night,  beautifully illuminated with special lighting? Today, I went to Gotenyama, near JR Shinagawa Station,  to see cherry blossoms lit up at night. They looked mystical—more fleeting and ethereal than during the day. It is said that the 8th Shogun, Yoshimune Tokugawa,  planted cherry trees in Gotenyama. Back in the Edo period, people would come here  to enjoy the blossoms while drinking sake. Yoshimune is also known for starting the tradition of fireworks  along the Sumida River. He truly knew how to entertain people. And that spirit of enjoyment continues even now. I believe cherry blossoms are a beautiful part of Japanese tradition.

  Have you ever seen the ads on trains in Japan? One day, I got on a train and saw an ad that really caught my attention. It was about an Iwate local products fair on the 8th floor of Takashimaya Department Store in Nihonbashi. The Marukan restaurant, which I had wanted to visit for a long time,  was also featured in the fair! So, I decided to go the next day. There were many local products from Iwate, all gathered in one place. I quickly found the Marukan area and ordered  their famous half-size soft serve ice cream,  which locals eat using disposable chopsticks. Of course, I ate it with chopsticks too. It was incredibly delicious! I’ve decided to go back next time and try the full-size version!

  I want to introduce you to a wonderful place in Motomachi. Although it is in Japan, it feels like Paris, France. The café is called "Café de Lento." "Lento" means "slow" in Italian. Indeed, time flows slowly there, accompanied by French pop music. The café offers a beautiful atmosphere and delicious dishes. I had a salad and a glass of iced milk tea. I believe their salad, made with care and love, is the most beautiful in the world. The iced milk tea is made using "Marco Polo"   from the French tea brand Mariage Frères . This café is a precious place for me.

  Do you like cherry blossoms? It has been raining and cold, even though it is cherry blossom season in Tokyo. Since the rain stopped today, I went to Ueno Park to see the cherry blossoms. I bought a cup of coffee at Starbucks in Ueno Park and then walked  while enjoying the cherry blossoms. It was really busy with many foreign travelers . After seeing the cherry blossoms, I moved to Asakusa to enjoy tendon   at a traditional soba restaurant named Owariya . This shop is one of my favorite restaurants. Although it is a soba restaurant, their tendon is very popular  because of the two big shrimp and the rich sesame oil flavor. "Bread is better than the songs of birds," but for me,  tendon is better than cherry blossoms.