Zoshigaya Cemetery

March 28th and my thoughts were about having Indian curry for lunch. I headed through a mostly empty Ikebukuro Station. This was highly unusual for what is normally one of the busiest train stations in the world. 

 It was the start of Tokyo's stay home policy in trying to protect people from the virus. So many shops were shuttered.

Since I did need to eat and my room did not have anything to cook with, I took the Yurakucho Line to where I had hoped I could get lunch. Once again, lots of room and social distancing on the train.

Unfortunately the restaurant was closed. So I decided to take a walk through a place I had thought about visiting before. 雑司ヶ谷霊園, Zoshigaya Cemetery. 

Established in 1874, the Tokyo Metropolitan government opened Zoshigaya Cemetery as a public cemetery.  

Something notable of the cemetery is the number of Japanese writers, artists and people of historical importance that have been laid to rest here. 

For many walking through a cemetery isn't their idea of a place to go, but during this pandemic time, it was a way to be outside in a spacious area with interesting things to see.

While many of the grave markers are Japanese, there are western style touches here.

 The cemetery is also a place with beautiful flowers.

Including gorgeous sakura flowers. 

Which remind one of the impermanence of life. 

Like Aoyama Cemetery, there are a few western style graves here. 

One noted site is for Catholic nuns of the Society of Sacred Heart in Japan. The graves are for nuns who passed away, during the time from 1916 to 1953.

There was one grave I was interested in seeing. 小泉 八雲,Koizumi Yakumo. Better known to westerners as Lafcadio Hearn, a writer who opened up a lot of Japan to people unable to travel there back in the late 19th century.

I will finish my post with a few photos of the beautiful flowers in and near by the Zoshigaya Cemetery.  

And of course the gorgeous sakura trees. 

Suitengu Shinto Shrine

The other reason for my long walk through Ikebukuro that day was to avoid Sunshine 60 Dori because I wanted to go to Tomad's. Because people were still creating crowds there. I will have photos in a later post. After Tomad's I stopped for something to eat. This view, I've also posted from here before.

Because it's MOS Burger. A little comfort food for the times.

First time in MOS Burger where the person taking my order didn't understand anything I said or what I was pointing at on their menu. I think by this time many in Japan thought all the tourists fled the country. Although I was trying to speak Japanese and pointing at their picture menu...still the onion rings were good.

I ended up with their teriyaki tempura shrimp on a rice bun. It was different, and good.

One other place to share from this long walk. It is also in Ikebukuro, near the train station.

It is Suitengu Shinto Shrine, 池袋水天宮.

It is a small shrine without much around it, except for lovely trees and these interesting four Jizo statues.

Suitengu Shinto Shrine is surrounded by mostly concrete at the Ekimae Park, 池袋駅前公園, next to the train tracks. The shrine isn't old, having been built in 1933.

The other noticeable thing at the small park is the sakura trees. While most people just walk through the space on their way to or from the station, a few were looking up and enjoying the beautiful trees.

It's not a very big park and there isn't much else there except for concrete and people smoking or meeting up. But it was nice at this time in March.

Au Revoir

It was time to say goodbye to Balloon-kun. Actually, I untied the balloon and deflated it so I could take it as a souvenir.

I had a little time so I went out for a walk. I hadn't visited MOS Burger this trip so I stopped in. Time for tea.

This time I tried their veggie patty burger. Not bad.

But the real reason I stopped in was the onion rings. Oishii~!

Outside the weather did what it always does on my last day. Look beautiful.

I had time for more caffeine at my hotel. Free dark roast blend coffee anyone?

I didn't take photos on the train ride to Narita because I've done that before. I wasn't hungry so I just bought a few small things to eat at the 7-11 there. I should have bought more since the flight ran out of all selections for meals except one, long before they reached the back of the plane. And it was something that was really unappetizing to me. So I was left eating a hard roll and cheese, which I also didn't really want. If I ever fly Delta again, I'm bringing something more filling and edible. The panda cookies were good. The little pouch is something a friend gave me a while back, and I keep things in there for the flight, like a pen, ear plugs and lip balm. It's really helpful.

One last photo, of the carpet at Narita Airport. Since I have ones from the other side of the ocean. It's just a green textured carpet. I wonder if the design is to look like tatami mats?

Alice in an Old Castle in Ikebukuro

Earlier in my trip I had looked for a certain place, since Google maps didn't have a location for it. So now I was on my way back there. 

I didn't have far to go, because it was in Ikebukuro. Along with a few illuminations.

I had wanted to experience an Alice in Wonderland theme cafe for the longest time. Years in fact. Since the one in Ginza seems to be really popular, I was not sure about trying to go there. But since I discovered there was also one in Ikebukuro, I thought I would try it.

So there I was at the top of the stairs, about to go in. 

Down below, it was obvious I was in the right place. 

Since I arrived not long after the restaurant opened, I was warmly greeted and led down this long hall.

If this hallway looks familiar.

It's because this restaurant has been used for photo shoots in the past. Musician and fashion icon Mana has used it for photos for Moi-même-Moitié in Gothic Lolita Bible. In fact, that's how I found this place. Except it wasn't an Alice restaurant at that time.  

But now it definitely is. At the end of the hallway you are greeted by this card soldier. 

Who guards this ornate seating area. 

As for me, I was led to a booth in the room that I hoped I could see. Because that chandelier and the furnishings are absolutely splendid. 

It really is gorgeous. And while it may not seem like Wonderland, it is like the prior restaurant. Traces of the old Wizard of the Opera restaurant still linger. Like the decorated ceiling partially covered by the Alice themed medallion. 

This use to be a Phantom of the Opera themed restaurant. The long brick hallway is like a tunnel under the city of Paris. Masks still hang on the walls. When I was trying to find information about the the Wizard of Opera restaurant, I discovered it closed some time ago but was run by the same company that has the Alice in Wonderland restaurants in Japan. Since I still wanted to visit one, I was surprised to see one was in Ikebukuro. Looking at their photos of it, I was even more surprised to discover they were very similar to photos of Wizard of Opera. Some changes, but things like the chandelier and hallway are still there.

 So back to my visit, where now diners are served by Alice.

And the pretty menu is Alice in Fantasy Book. With a lot of delicious choices.

 I've always liked cranberry juice, so Drink Me with cranberry juice, blue curaçao and tonic water was a perfect choice. No shrinking occurred.

A little cup of corn soup with a rice cracker arrived. Eat Me was a extra, an otoshi, and very nice. And I did not grow larger either.

While most of the dishes are for two people, it was nice that they offered a couple portions for one person. The salmon mousse looked intriguing so I ordered it. Of course there was the Cheshire Cat grinning below this creatively filled glass. The salmon mousse was also very good.

Trying to choose a main course dish was difficult. I didn't want anything that would be too much to eat. I decided to be healthy and ordered Alice's Bagna Cauda with Tomato Sauce. It was messy but a really good choice. 

Since this was my unofficial early birthday dinner, it was time to spoil myself a little and have dessert. 

I picked this artfully arranged plate of chocolate and mint cakes. It was wonderfully delicious and just right.

At the end of my meal I was given a sachet of Alice in Wonderland tea. 

Thank you Mad Hatter-san for a lovely meal!

I have to say, this was wonderland in that it was a wonderful dining experience. I do recommend it for the decor, service and the food was good too. The website for this location is here http://www.alice-restaurant.com/kojo/