A Complete Me Day ― 2024/02/06
I spent today for no one, only for myself.
9:00 Had my hair cut for the first time this year.
10:30 Had a break with buns and coffee.
590 yen in total
Found a cluster of cafes near the Sunny Kego branch. A pleasant surprise,
Off to a cinema.
11:30 Got to the cinema, newly opened in 2020．
Here I got a six-month membership for 600 yen, which allowed me to see a show for 1,000 yen on certain days of the week.
Since the regular fee is 2,000 yen, I think this 600yen can be justified even if I visit there just once.
This is the first time for me to see a film in a cinema since 2020.
Image retrieved from
The film itself was neither very persuasive nor very moving (although the casting should be very correct in terms of anti-agism and anti-lookism). But sitting alone in a dark room, completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, immersed in another world on the screen, is a relaxing experience in itself, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even better, there were only a handful of women in the screening room. It felt like a private screening for those who must have been very taken with The Rose of Versailles in the early 70s.
13:45 Left the cinema and went to Tenjin to get some meat and fish and had a late lunch at Iwataya.
A genmai onigiri stuffed with deep-fried koya dofu for 350 yen and a can of blended green tea for 140 yen, in attempt to take some healthy-looking food.
Oh, and on the way to Iwataya, I stopped by Junku-Do bookstore and got some books to read in bed, free magazines and a new ball-point pen.
Souvenir of the day!
15:15 got a bus home.
My New Shopping Heaven ― 2023/12/23
I have found another shopping paradise that seems to have been designed especially for me.
A few meters away from my favorite bakery, there are a Seria 100-yen shop and a clothing store specializing in comfortable and reasonably priced (some might say "cheap," though) casual clothing for women over a certain age, hidden on the top floor of a local MaxValu.
Unlike other Serias, this particular shop was almost empty. I could comb through every rack and shelf without any other shoppers getting in my way.
I couldn't believe it was actually Seria, which is supposed to be always crowded.
Then there is an Obachan clothing shop.
Look at the widest range of thermal underwear
and room trousers. Needless to say, most of them are brushed on the inside.
As usual when I visit a shop for the first time, I failed to get something I really wanted, but to show that I appreciate the shop, I got these items.
Two pairs of slipper socks for 590 yen and a pair of knickers for 390 yen. The lady at the till kindly put my purchases in plastic bags for free, just in case I bought something wet in the food section downstairs. I was grateful for her attentiveness, and at the same time, felt her resistance to charge for plastic shopping bags.
In addition to Yusen-tei Park and the Kanten Shop, I came to have another spot to drop in at in Tomooka area. My bread shopping trip is going to get even busier!
Early Summer Flowers ― 2023/05/04
We can appreciate seasonal flowers throughout the year for free of charge in Maiduru (meaning 'dancing crane'?）Park. Camelias, cherry blossoms, wisterias, lotuses and so on... When I visited there the other day, the wisteria has almost finished flowering, but the peony was in full bloom.
舞鶴公園では、一年中季節の花を無料で見ることができます。椿でしょ、桜でしょ、藤に蓮などいろいろあります。ちょっと前に出かけたときには藤の花は終わりかけでしたが、芍薬が満開でした。
By the way, I wonder why our flower beds tend to look like commercial flower farms even though it is in a park.
ところで、この辺の花壇は出荷用の花畑っぽいのはなぜでしょう。公園なのに...。
Reference:
A Hidden Gem ― 2023/04/24
There is a small room (or recess?) with vending machines on a basement floor of a local department. I guess this space was designed to provide you a time and space to cool yourself down during your shopping spree with a reasonably priced cold drink. The last conscience of Iwataya. However, I haven't seen anyone who use, not mention to anyone who reflects on their shopping, here.
某デパートの地下には、こんな小さなスペースがあります。自動販売機もあるので、普通の値段でちょっと座って冷たい飲み物を飲めるというわけです。買い物中にちょっと落ち着け、ということかしら。岩田屋の良心。しかし、この部屋（というより、隙間？）に人がいるのを見たことはありません。
One Hour around Nishijin ― 2023/04/17
Today's shopping journey.
Start at the library to borrow books I reserved online.
今日のお買物ツアーは図書館からスタート。オンライン予約していた本を受け取りました。
Then, I dropped in at a student canteen in a local university
その後、近所の大学の食堂によって、簡単にお昼を済ませました。
for a quick lunch.
Fried rice (with no special feature) with Karaage, a mini salad and a bottle of unsweetened tea at 640 yen. Maybe I should have gone for a canned vegetable juice instead of the salad and tea.
なんということのないチャーハン（唐揚げ付き）とミニサラダとストレートの紅茶で640円でした。サラダと飲み物の代わりに野菜ジュースでもよかったかも。
On arrival at Nishijin, I went to a 100 yen, 110ye including tax to be more precise, shop at first
and bought
a bottle of bicycle oil,
a bottom cell for my wristwatch and
three clothing bags to replace plastic bags in which my husband keep his off-season clothing, which looks difficult to fit in his wardrobe.
西新に着いたら、まずは100円（正確には税込み110円）ショップで
自転車用のオイル
腕時計用のボタン電池
衣装ケーズ×３（夫がシーズンオフの衣類をビニール袋に入れていて、同も収納しにくそうだったので）と購入しました。
...And went to my favorite dried food store.
その後、お気に入りの乾物屋に行きました。
As far as I have known, this is the only store in this area where you can get Katsuo-bushi and Itanori, and other stuff, at one place.
鰹節と板海苔がいっぺんに買えるのはこの辺ではこの店だけかと。
Today I get a bunch of Nori, whose price got higher but not so extremely as other foodstuff.
2050 yen/50 sheets.
今日は板海苔（50枚入り2050円）を購入しました。お高くなってはいたものの、他のものほどひどくはなかったです。ありがたいわ。
Around Ropponmatsu in 1.5 Hours ― 2023/03/29
This morning I ventured (with my mask on, of course) outside my territory and visited some places I wanted to go during these COVID-19 days.
今日の午前中は、思い切って（とはいえマスク着用）、コロナ騒ぎの間ずっと行ってみたかった場所に行ってみました
Along rows of UR housing complexes, cherry blossoms were fully blooming. This year's flower viewing has been done.
URの団地沿いの道は桜が満開。これで今年のお花見を済ませたことにしました。
My first and main destination is an Austrian-style bakery in Tomooka, around 15 minutes by Mamachari from Ropponmatsu.
まず、一番行きたかったオーストリアパンの店に。場所は六本松からママチャリで15分くらい行った友丘というところです。
When this shop was near Ohori Park, I used to drop in there for pretzels and other bakery items, or occasionally for a piece of cake and a cup of coffee. But since it moved outside of my territory, this bakery has been a difficult place to get to by my 15-year-old Mamachari. I needed a bit of courage and physical strength and good weather, and the COVID-19 crisis to be under control. In these days, as the weather has been nice, cherry blossoms blooming, and me gaining a bit of confident to go out, I finally began to feel it should be the time to go. Actually, after watching a film titled Ludwig (1973）, I have been feeling I must experience a kind of decadence, with no particular reason. For me, the decadence means cycling for 40 minutes just for buns.
以前大濠公園の近くにあった時には時々プレッツエルパンを買いに行ったりたまにパンと一緒にコーヒーを飲んだりしていたりしたのですが、私のテリトリー外に移動してからは、買って15年になるママチャリでは行くのに勇気と体力といい天気が必要になりました。あと、コロナが落ち着くことも必要でした。最近は気候もいいし、桜も咲いてるし、ちょっとは出かける自信もついたしで、今しかない、とばかりに出陣しました。それに、「ルートヴィヒ」（1973）という映画を観たら、なんとなくゴージャスなことをしなきゃという気になっていたし。私の場合、ゴージャスとは、自転車を40分間こいで菓子パンを買いに行くことなんですが。
Anyway, I enjoyed a "proper" cake there. Very decadent, indeed. I somehow felt as if I was sitting with the Swan King (or Mad Kind, or Virgin King--was he really called by this name while he was alive? ).
何はともあれ、久しぶりにちゃんとしたケーキをいただきました。ゴー☆ジャス。白鳥王と一緒にいるような気になりました。ところで、ルードヴィヒII世って、生きてる時から「狂王」とか「童貞王」とか呼ばれていたのでしょうか？
Decadence at 840 yen
Then I headed for Yusentei Parknear the bakery.
次に、その近くの友泉亭という公園に行きました。
I can't remember when I saw such a beautifully velvety moss-covered ground for the last time.
前回キレイに苔で覆われた地面を見たのはいつだったかなあ。
Luckily, as there was no other visitor in this room, I thoroughly enjoyed an absolutely serene atmosphere this place offered-like a lord (after with a king).
誰もいないのをいいことに、殿様気分を満喫しました。王様に続いて殿様。
The Kois in the pond seemed to be trained to link human beings with food. They immediately gather under your foot no sooner than do they sense your presence.
池の鯉は餌付けされているらしく、人を見つけるとすぐに足元に寄ってきます。
After that, I went back to Ropponmatsu and performed daily shopping.
その後は、六本松に戻って、いつもの買い物をしました。
Today's Souvenir:
1. Lots of buns, hopefully a two-week supply,
and 2. a discount coupon from BookOff. Hurray!
今日のお土産は、大量の菓子パン（できれば2週間ほど持たせたい）、とブックオフの割引クーポン。
A Quick Outing to Ohori Park ― 2022/09/22
Feeling encouraged by the Emperor and Empress who ventured to the （genuine) state funeral in a foreign country without masks and the decreasing number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, I extended my shopping journey to the Ohori Park to have a quick break.
The park felt safer than the promenade near my place as more people wore masks.
Needless to say, I dropped in at my favorite coffee place. But it has changed its offer. My favorite old-fashioned plain cake donut coated in coarsely granulated sugar has disappeared and more luxurious-looking custard puddings and cream puffs were on the menu instead.
I had a cream puff and iced coffee (450 yen).
Again, it felt safer in the cafe as everyone there were enjoying their coffee in total silence, as if in a Zen temple.
By the way, is it a new trend to serve coffee in a glass jar?
天皇皇后両陛下はマスクなしでよその国の(本物の）国葬に参加されるし、新規感染者の数は減るしで、私も思い切って買い物ついでに大濠公園まで足を延ばしてみました。
大濠公園の方がマスクを着けている人が多く、近所の遊歩道よりも安全な感じがしました。
いうまでもなく、お気に入りのコーヒーコーナーに寄りました。昔風のケーキドーナツ（ジャリジャリの砂糖がまぶしてあるやつ）がなくなって、もっとゴージャス感のあるプリンやシュークリームに入れかえられていました。
今回はシュークリームとアイスコーヒー（450円）を注文しました。
お店の中でも、禅寺のように皆さん無言でコーヒーを飲んでいて安心感がありました。
ところで、コーヒーをガラスの空き瓶に入れるのは新しい流行りなのでしょうか？
One-Hour at Nishijin ― 2022/05/27
Today I enjoyed a pleasant one-hour town walking in Nishijin. browsing some stores and stopping by at places I had hoped to have a look.
Perhaps because the government announced an
official comment on when and where to wear a mask, there were fewer no-mask people who scared me. So I felt safer walking around.
First of all, I celebrated my outing with a glass of iced coffee and a piece of Belgian waffle at Doutor.
Having a coffee prepared by others inside a café (even though it was a Doutor) felt so nice and special. I enjoyed a sense of being welcomed. A 300+ yen entertainment.
Having finished the coffee, I went to a dry food store to get some dried baby sardines, untoasted Nori and dried shiitake mushrooms.
Actually, this is today's main destination where I did the biggest shopping today (a bit less than 4,000 yen worth). Thankfully, this store hasn't raised the price yet. For more details on this shop, see my old post here.
Then I headed to a small local shopping center called PRALIVA and combed through every shelves and racks in the MUJI store. The clothing section was all monochromatic. Probably because they were made mainly from (not top-quality) cotton or linen, the garments as a whole looked tired, dull and not much different from ones hoarded in my closet. They used to be more attractive until a few years ago, with some colors and more experimental designs. But it was still fun to look around a brick-and-mortar shop handling something other than fresh food.
Then I climbed to the rooftop garden of the building. I've always wanted to go here, and thought it would be nice to have a break with a bottled drink and some snacks bought at Muji. The "garden" was like this.
Probably this place has not been designed to serve my purpose. There was absolutely no shade (there should be at different times though, I guess). I would instantly get a heat stroke if I attempted to sit here in these months. I think I prefer the hilltop cafe in a local bank's training center. At least there are some awnings there.
Finally, I bought a 1kg pack of frozen sweet corn at a
grocery store on the basement floor before back home.
Going out after a long time was fun and I felt like I had a fulfilling morning Next time, I would definitely extend my walking to Fujisaki area to take a look at a custom-made clothing store and stand-alone outlet boutiques.
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