Somewhere in Shinjuku

March 27th and the weather was gloomy. I started my day with a MR.waffle. I don't remember what flavor this was, but it was good. 

Back on the Fukotoshin Line. Definitely less riders and look, everyone had no problem social distancing. Actually, I'm sure everyone was glad to have a little extra space.

I stopped at KERA SHOP in Shinjuku and then walked a longer route around Shinjuku Station.

I wanted to visit Pure Sound. I made it there but didn't find anything I wanted.

I decided it would be good to rest a bit, so back to my hotel. Not the best photo of the setting sun but it was nice to see it reflected like this.

My treat for the day was this little strawberry cake from 7-Eleven.

They really don't have sweets like this at the 7-Elevens here. Nor the really fresh good food selection.

Even something simple like this they still made it look nice.

As for what I bought at KERA SHOP, the Moi-même-Moitié Candelabra Embroidery Shirt in black. Along with something else. Since my flight had not been cancelled again, I decided it would be okay to spend a little money. I really like the asymmetrical cuffs and the candelabra buttons. I have a couple little vintage Moitié ties so I thought this would be fun to wear like this. 

Sightseeing in Shinjuku

Strangely, I'd never been to the infamous Golden Gai in Shinjuku. And I wanted to walk, so I headed in that direction. 

I expected a lot of bars and the rest that is found in entertainment districts. I didn't expect to find this long path through greenery. 

Something I like about Tokyo is the effort that is made to create green spaces like this. Some like this one have a feeling going back to when they were created. 

Of course outside of the path the view was more like I expected for the area. 

I can say I also didn't expect this child blowing a horn while riding a snail. 

Along with the other child riding a dolphin. 

Bar Shuten Doji caught my eye. 

I decided to grab photos of a couple live houses. A lot of music history has happened at Shinjuku LOFT. Most MALICE MIZER fans are familiar with it through those old videos. 

Another place popular for live music, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.

Heading back towards the train stations, I spied something on the top of this building. 

Yes, that is the Shinjuku Toho Building with Godzilla on top. 

Great sign placement as Godzilla towers above it, red eyes glowing. 

There were a lot more people near Shinjuku Station, including more who were not wearing masks. This was March 23rd. 

I was avoiding that station so I headed back to Shinjuku-sanchome Station. I took a photo of MUJI along the way, in part because they now have a store in Portland, Oregon. 

Back in my hotel room, where I had the seventh floor all to myself, I enjoyed the pretty reflection of the sky on the building across from my room. 

Izakaya in the time of the virus. I picked up a few things at the little shops near exit C6 in Ikebukuro Station. Chicken karaage and potato salad. Very good with Sapporo Black Label beer.

Along with chirashi from Midori Sushi. Also very good. 

The local 7-Eleven was selling the little Kit Kats individually. This was great since I didn't want to buy the big bags just to try different ones. 

Something I had ordered while in Japan arrived. I was using my iPhone a lot more, and of course the battery usage was more. Along with my laptop no longer working and previously experiencing a major disaster while in Japan, I decided an external battery would be a good idea. So I made use of the opportunity to get the Moi-même-Moitié battery, along with a new case for my iPhone. It was on sale and allowed for free shipping.

Sakura at Hanazono Shinto Shrine in Shinjuku

I started March 23rd with a chocolate taiyaki from 7-Eleven.  

Afterwards I headed to Shinjuku-sanchome Station. Less crowded than Shinjuku Station and it put me very near my first destination. Marui Annex and KERA SHOP. I wanted to see the new Moi-même-Moitié Candelabra Embroidery Shirts, and everything else they might have. The shirts are very nice, but I waited on buying anything because I still did not know what my flight situation was going to be. It was still really nice to be able to see KERA SHOP's window display. Very classy!

Of course I was still wanting to see sakura. And I knew of one place it would be at, that would be easier to get to and hopefully not be crowded. Unlike Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, which is prime sakura viewing for locals.

In 2018 I visited Hanazono Shinto Shrine. I remembered the sakura trees were just beginning to bloom. Since this time it was later in the month, I headed over to the shrine. 

I went through the main torii this time, guarded by this a-gyo open mouth komainu and child.  

With the un-gyo closed mouth komainu partner, paw on the ball of wisdom. Open mouth represents the letter A which is the beginning of all things, and closed mouth represents Um which is the end of all things. Together they represent the sacred sound "Aum".

As for the shrine, the sando leading to the haiden was beautiful. 

The sakura trees were in full bloom. 

Even with grey skies, it was lovely. 

Of course blue skies would have been wonderful, but then probably a lot more people would be there. Thankfully there weren't too many and most people kept some distance from each other. 

Since I had been here before, I didn't spend much time looking at the shrines. I was here for this view. 

It's really nice how the trees sometimes have little buds springing from their trunks. Being able to see sakura closely is special. 

Looking at this, I can't help but think of in anime, they often will have sakura trees. I do recommend visiting Hanazono Shinto Shrine in Shinjuku when the sakura bloom. 

A Few More Treats that First Full Day Back in Tokyo

My first full day in Tokyo in March, I really wanted to see some sakura. I took the Futokushin Line train from Harajuku to one place that I knew had sakura trees that would not be crowded. Zoshigaya.

My first stop was the Keyakimamiki Shopping Street. Sadly the stores were closed but I was able to pick out those very old Zelkova trees. 

They were still dormant but the bark of these approximately 600 year old trees was interesting to see. 

The closed stores means I need to plan for another visit in the future. Perhaps also look for a few manga related places also. And there is a little retro restaurant around here that I want to stop in at. When times are better.

I wasn't the only person curious about those trees from the 1500's.

A look at Kishimojin Temple as I walked to Owl Road, which is lined with sakura trees.

At Owl Road, that lovely pedestrian friendly walkway, the sakura trees were just beginning to bloom. But I had a few more days in Tokyo so I made a promise to come back before I left. 

Heading back to Zoshigaya Station, I noticed Shinjuku in the distance! The day was so nice I could see Cocoon Tower and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The construction barriers are for the Toden-Arakawa Tram Line. One day I want to ride this, especially if it is summer. Also called the Tokyo Sakura Tram, the streetcars are known for the roses that bloom along it and for their retro image.

I thought about having curry for dinner, but there was something I was craving. Something about these times made me want to go back to one of my favorite restaurants in Japan. That place that only plays Beatles music.

Of course my last stop for this first day back was at Manmaru. Ah, starting with the sake.

I really need to get a glass set like this. It's a luxurious feeling, the sake overflowing into the saucer below. Jumai gingo was happening.

For a salad, I went with the tomato. Absolutely the most delicious tomato I have ever eaten. I should have asked where it came from. There was definitely a "pushuuu" heard from me.

Followed that with an unagi don and I was feeling wonderful. This was a double "pushuuu" moment.

I did my best to treat myself this day, and yeah, that happened. What I didn't do was go to the Penguin Bar, but I did take a photo just to prove it does exist. Staying in this area of Ikebukuro, there are definitely interesting places.