About Those Seven Lucky Gods

While a lot of Ikebukuro is concrete and glass, a few interesting details can be found.

Like these flowers which have a molded metallic appearance. I think they are peonies.

And of course the Rougan-Megane Museum, which always is a good thing to see as I was headed back to the Zoshigaya area.

However, I noticed something I had not seen previously. A hokora for a lucky god?

In fact, it is Hotei of the Seven Lucky Gods, god of happiness and contentment. He is located at the Nakano Building in Zoshigaya.

Heading towards the shrine area, I saw that hydrangea were starting to bloom.

Also saw there were a number of notices about not playing Pokemon Go here. Later in the day when I came back this way, there was a group of various people standing around staring at their phones. It was a little strange to see since there are usually very few people in this area.

I'm skipping places I stopped at before, but I have to say, it was much lusher and greener here in this part of Zoshigaya than it was back in March.

I may have noticed this roof previously.

But I had not stopped here before.

This is Renkoin Buddhist Temple, part of the Nichiren sect.

It was a quiet small place.

Ikebukuro Glasses and More

I can function okay without glasses. But sometimes the print on things can be pretty small, like on customs forms. So I do have a pair of inexpensive glasses for that, and for doing needlework. Except on this last trip to Japan, they broke. So I wondered where the heck would I find inexpensive reading glasses in Japan? Lucky for me, one of the best places was right there in Ikebukuro.

It's the Reading Glasses Museum in Higashi Ikebukuro. And as you can see, the building is covered with glasses. Inside is the same thing. It is a very unique place.

And for under 1000 yen I ended up with this pair of reading glasses along with a hard plastic case and cleaning cloth. Not bad. 

While I was there, I walked a bit. I found a number of shrines and temples. And this place, Racines Bistro.

A lower level space with a bakery and restaurant that serves a variety of food at lunch.

And later in the day they serve something else. I was placed at a long table that faced their open kitchen, enjoying a bit of tea while I waited.

For this. Japanese soufflé pancakes.

I wasn't looking for this place, but getting the chance to see what all the talk was about, I couldn't pass it up. These were nice and warm, served with whipped cream, butter and maple syrup, topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Yes they did taste of eggs and had that fluffy soufflé texture. It was fun to get a chance to eat these pancakes.

Outside the weather was balmy and beautiful. Another March day in Tokyo that looked like this.