A Birthday at Manmaru

It was tough. There are so many places I want to dine at in Tokyo. Yet it was March 27th, 2020, and worries about the virus made me think twice about that. It's why I didn't go back to Vampire Cafe and a few other places. Or try new restaurants. At least I didn't have to travel far to one of my favorites, and it is a very small restaurant with good ventilation. Has to have that because of the charcoal grills.

Yes I was back at Manmaru, with Pick Happiness sake again.

That perfect pour. I really need my own sake cup set.

Beatles' music playing and an older couple next to me celebrating one of their birthdays. He gave her a lovely watch locket that was a lot like one I have, and she gave him a beautiful blue tea bowl. So sweet!

I had not stopped thinking about that tomato.

So yes, I did get it again. And it was wonderful tasting once again. Ripe, sweet and thin skinned. A tomato grown to be eaten like this.

Of course there was grill unagi. I'm finally getting really good photos of it!

My unagi don. The miso soup is also very good at Manmaru

The celebrating couple ordered this lovely little block of cold tofu. I could not resist asking for one myself. Creamy, salty and a little sour topping with heat from the wasabi. So good.

That cup of hot tea. And my left over rice. What shall I do?

Into the bowl the tea goes. I am learning. This was the end of another "pushuu~" meal.

One last moment from Manmaru. The Beatles "Birthday" started to play. I did my best to tell the birthday couple that this song was on. They were so happy! I wished the man "Happy Birthday!" and both of them were very nice and also waved good bye as I left. It was a wonderful moment that I got to share in their birthday fun. 

Back at the hotel I enjoyed a little Kit Kat, thanks to the local 7-Eleven. It's nice not having to buy a big bag.

And a couple photos of the monaka that I got at Rikugien.

Sweet and crisp, they were like little rice macarons. Really nice treats!

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.

Tik Tea and Manmaru with a Side of Socks

I noticed Tik Tea when I arrived in Zoshigaya. 

Most notably, this. 

Heading back to the station, I took a better look. They had food and it was lunchtime. 

Inside was pleasant and clean. 

There was a friendly air. The guy who was running the place and whipping up the drinks was nice. 

My order arrived. Hot purple yam potato macchiato was warm and tasty. I had never thought of purple yams being mixed with green tea for a drink, but there it was and I enjoyed it. There was still a bit of fiber in it, which would surprise me when I drank it. In a way, it was like a vegetable smoothie.

The sandwich turned out to be a spicy chicken sandwich. I was hungry so I went for it. Not bad. Tik Tea's address is 2 Chome-8-7 Zoshigaya, Toshima City, Tokyo.

I had plans that evening that didn't turn out as expected. Good thing I know of other places to go to.

Of course there needs to be music with this post. Of course with Manmaru it's The Beatles. And the song I remember playing while I ate was "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". I always really liked the guitars in this song.

 And once again it was Pick Happiness. 

 Sakana no nitsuke anyone? Simmered carp was brought to me. I enjoyed it. Nice to try different dishes. And it is fun letting the people at Manmaru chose.

And the really good stuff. My choice. Amazing unagi.

 I enjoy roses. Especially blue ones. So off to Closet Child Harajuku I went. Where I was able to get a pair of one of my favorite Moi-même-Moitié socks.

Finished up the day in a bath of aqua green blue.

Pick Happiness

I realized that to get a feeling for my posts about the restaurant Manmaru, something more is needed. Pick your favorite Beatles song and play it. Or go with "Baby's in Black", which was what I heard while there. Because all Manmaru plays is the Beatles.

I've written about the manga and show "Wakakozake" before. The premise is a woman who enjoys going out alone and drinking and dining. Part of that is she has a favorite little restaurant she likes to visit. I kind of feel that way about Manmaru.

So of course it was the first place I stopped at for dinner on my recent trip. Each time I order sake just so they can overfill their little glass so it runs over and fills the saucer below. It's my Murasaki moment. As to the sake, it's a jumai ginjo that is called "Pick Happiness". I didn't know the name until the lovely server told me.

Something Manmaru specializes in besides unagi is dojo or loach. So I ordered it.

Dojo is a fresh water fish and in November, Manmaru was offering a tempura styled dish served with lemon. It was salty and crispy.

I went with the smaller unagi don set that came with their delicious miso soup and cucumber tsukemono.

Finally I have a good photo of the unagi.

It's fun to find all the eel images in Manmaru. Like this little decorated plate.

I was tired from the long flight but I decided to walk a little. There were a couple things I wanted to buy over on Sunshine 60 Dori. Not wanting to deal with chaotic Ikebukuro Station, I took one of the tunnels that runs under the many train tracks to get to the other side.

This tunnel actually has an official name. We Road, and it's been in the news recently because they have an artist who has been painting the walls and ceiling. I've seen her there a few times, but unfortunately I don't know her name. The colorful walls and ceiling do lighten up the long walk way with the very low ceiling.

I was also looking for a specific restaurant that night. Sometimes locations are not clear on Google Maps. I noticed this SEIBU window display that someone else had posted online. So I had to take a photo.

I also couldn't help but noticed the trains in this shop window.

It's MARUZEN, a book and stationary store with a cafe. If you feel like dining with the Haneda Airport and Toshimaen Express Trains, this is the place to do it. MARUZEN is located at 2 Chome-25-5 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City.

It seems there are a number of fruit parlor cafes in Ikebukuro. This one is Kajitsuen Riberu. The brightly lit store caught my attention. I may visit here in the future. This is located at 1-chōme-19-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City.

Something I definitely wanted to see during this trip were illuminations. I remembered viewing a few back in 2010 and I wanted to see more this time. Ikebukuro's contribution were these lit "trees" along Meiji Dori outside the train station.

I really did not plan this photo. But I like the way it turned out.

And my little purchases. A couple bath salts and hair clips from Tokyu Hands because I forgot my hair clips that I use when bathing. And a couple more bath salts from Tomads. Along with perusing the craft and kitchen sections of Tokyu Hands. Because I like cooking and crafting and it's fun to see what Japan has to offer.