This is something about KANDA (next to Akihabara station) area. If you are to enjoy Tokyo local food especially spicy one
KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN around 12:00
KARASHIBI RAMEN around 12:00
, you must go to KARASHIBI RAMEN. There are KARASHIBI RAMEN anad KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN, 2 shops next to each other. Both are famous and there are lots of people waiting.
We went to KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN this time to eat PAKUCHI MAZEMEN (Coreander ramen without soup). You can choose the level of hottness with 2 kids of indications. “KARA” (hot) and “SHIBI” (pins & needles…). I guess the hotness comes regular red peppers and this pins & needles comes from Japanese (or Chinese) mountain pepper?? So the taste is really addictively good but addictively hot!!!
KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN MAP Address: Chiyoda-ku, Kajichou, 2-10-10. (2min from Kanda Station) Kanda Station is next to Akihabara station by JR Yamanote or Keihintohoku line.
Lots of lot of tourists and people at Asakusa usually, especially to the famous Sensouji temple. But where I recommend is this river side, you see not so many people and it is the photo place! (for SKY TREE and Sumida River).
Asahi beer’s Office building (this looks like glass of beer right?) and the soul represents their employe’s enthusiasm but totally looks like a poop…
Sumida River
Girls in Kimono, they were from China.
This river side has weired…object..art….Here…
What is this?!!!!This inside….say hi!!ahahahahaahahahafun!Weired!!
There are tons of Christmas events in Tokyo…. All I wanted to visit but I had no time to do it being a “working mom”. (Got full-time job and raising a son) My son and I went to two of those christmas (and new year) light ups in Eastern Tokyo. One was at famous SKY TREE and the other was at TAKENOZUKA（竹ノ塚） station and to its park which is located about 1km away from there and called MOTOFUCHIE-parkHikarino Saiten光の祭典.
TOKYO SKY TREE is locate just 5 stations away (15 min by train) and it is just located near by the station, it is so easy for me to take my 3 years old cute monster!! As you know there was aquarium on the 4th floor, we also went there. But be careful, the fee is very expensive, it cost 2,000 yen for adults and 600 yen for over 3 years old. (Ueno zoo doesn’t charge kids under 10 or so… so compared to Ueno part with its size…i would not recommend to go that much…the only reason we go is it is nearest aquarium to our home.)
In the acquarium, the man catching the eel….
Merry Christmas! (it was on Dec 27th though)
Night…..
Penguin lolipops!
Pretty lights ups
He was tired…? I was happy…to go out at night!
Our fun memory of Christmas Eve was surely this event at MOTOFUCHIE-park at TAKENOZUKA (竹ノ塚）station. I believe this event is not known so much in Tokyo, but locally, it is pretty famous. I have known this almost 10 years but I never intended to visit because TAKEOZUKA is not in the central Tokyo and it closer to SAITAMA pref. You know Japanese people tend to like to go to central Tokyo whenever they have events like Christmas. This year, we were supposed to go to GINZA area (like 5th ave in Manhattan) to see the lights ups but my mom got sick and she couldn’t come. Instead, we chose to go to the nearest lights ups, and that was this place. But it turned out fantastic for kids!! I think we might visit again next year on Christmas eve.
TAKENOZUKA station: 12 statioin away (30min)from Asakusa by TOBU Sky tree line
But I really don’t think it would be things to see……except this event….Trust me I live in Adachi-ward (same ward) for 30 years and Adachi-ward doesn’t have much sightseeing spot exept…Public bath!!Sento!!(銭湯) I will get to that later!
I went to Tokyo Comic Con at Makuhari Messe on Dec 2nd-Dce 4th. It was part of my job though, the company I work for had a booth and we took a part in this fun event! My job was to explain the products to English speaking visitors and to gather as many people to our booth. Our product, Drobo is super user friendly storage products from the US and we are the sole agent in Japan.I went to Tokyo Comic Con at Makuhari Messe on Dec 2nd-Dce. It was part of my job though, the company I work for had a booth and we took a part in this fun event! My job was to explain the products to English speaking visitors and to gather as many people as possible to our booth. How many time I screamed…”Cosplayers!! photo shooting !!” Our product, Drobo is super user friendly storage products from the US and the company I work for, is the sole agent in Japan.
Besides work…!
Event was awesome!!!!
sooo cute~~!with Drobo girls and desiner TAKAHASHI-sanPhoto ShootKinniku man and R2D2my friend, she is he!! Kakoii!! Gooood looking guy but he is she!!from Death NoteDe lorean!! Back to the future!!Night Rider..Me and KINNIKUMAN筋肉マンPeople are in costumesYuriko Tiger-chan, Kawaii
Anyways, what was the fun part is that we called those soooo cute cos-players to promote our products and we did photo shoot sessions!! I was amazed!!! They were soooo cute. The artist HIROYUKI-MITSUME TAKAHASHI designed the costume and it was just soo cute!! Gosh how many times I used the word “cute” but it was really KAWAII.
There are many other cos-playesrs and visitors also came with their costume. There were STARWARS booth, there were batmans,,, it was fabulous event!
Because of my beautiful son, I go to parks……a lot!! Almost every weekend besides my everyday lunch @ Akihabara where I work.
Two major parks I always go are Ueno park and Hibiya park. Ueno park is located surely old Tokyo and only 5 stations away from my nearest station (15min) and I like the lively atmosphere of “SHITAMACHI”. “SHITAMACHI” literally means downtown but not like the one in the US though, back in Edo period (when Shogun was on throne), all the town people lived “SHITAMACHI” where as BUSHI (who serves shogunate) lived in central area where near to Edo castle. You know if this BUSHI (worrier) got their houses close to Edo castle, their status are higher. In modern days, who lives where high ranked BUSHI got thier big house near Edo castle? Now days, lots of Embassies are located!! Interesting!
So you know how Tokyo’s SHITAMACHI is differet from central area, it is more and more clouded and more and more houses (not office building) and more lively feeling.
Anyway, On the other hand, Hibiya park is located in central Tokyo, just near to Imperial Palace, that’s where Edo castle were at. So Hibiya Park got totally different atmosphere. But I love love love this park too. Mainly, my mom grew up around this area and because of that I played in this park since i was…like 0 years old to..till now.
But I love the quiet and nice atmosphere in Hibiya park. There is Japanese garden and English garden, then playground. So nice and peaceful. By Hibiya line, Hibiya station is like 6 or 7 station away from Akihabara. Also it is next to Ginza where I say it is like 5th Ave in Manhattan.
Just so nice. There is a resturants and cafe too.Yanagi tree in Japanese gardenJapanese gardenGardenKOYO 紅葉So across the street, there is Imerial palace (former Edo castle) from Hibiya ParkThis is it! Former Edo castle. Now emperor lives there. Castle has gone by the big fire in 1657!! Oh my gosh! it was sooo long ago. I thought it was by war with the US… You can see the stone wall which still remains.Office buildings..also…KOYO season has come in Tokyo. Leaves started to turn colors.Central Tokyo but peaceful moment. Yes, there is teniss courts!Small hill ( a couple of tiny hills in Hibiya Park) Looks cute and nice… so peaceful…
Ueno park is one of the most famous and most spacious parks in Tokyo. If you grew up in Shitamachi area (Adachi, Katsushika, Sumida, and Arakawa wards, I think) the most frequently visited park in your life must be Ueno Park (besides the tiny ones near your house).
Ueno park is consist of museums (Art and Science), baseball fields, playgrounds, zoo, open area with water fountains, famous Shinobazu-pond, and restaurants & cafe…and more.
There are 41 public parks in Tokyo, and Ueno Park is the 6th biggest park and most importantly, it is one of Japan’s oldest parks.
Shinobazu-pond不忍の池寛永寺Kaneiji. TOKUGAWA bakufu’s temple.What is that temple? I did not know… It is Bentendo, part of Kaneiji temple. I will get another post soon for this Benten-dou.
Entrance (one of) area of Ueno Park
Small water fountain (big ones is not here)This would be “Sakura” street in SpringYou go up the stairs…thenUeno street photo, This road goes to Akihabara. Right blue signage is KEISEI Ueno station.
GAS!This goes to 早雲山 Souunzan (ropeway stop) where you can transfere to Hakone train to go to Goura and Hakone yumoto station. you see volucanic view just infront of you.Let’s get on the Ropeway!Mt. Fuji…. beautiful
From Ropeway, that’s OWAKUDANI!!
Hello~!Pirates ship…..ummm but kids love itJust nice and beautifulLake Ashino 遊覧船 Pirates ship (…why?) regulary depart hourly to the other side of the lake. taking 30min and another 30 min to come back.Everybody seems to try KUROTAMAGO
Hot, Good! but inside is normal ! haha
Hakone (箱根）is about 90min away (by the express train called Romance Car) from Shinjuku Station and it’s very popular tourist spot (area) for families and couples in Japan.
BECAUSE OF…..(and why I wanted to go to HAKONE)
ONSEN (hot springs) area (Onsen makes you beautiful and healthy) and Onsen Ryokan’s (Hotels and Inns) hospitality…best…
Nice KOHYOU (the leaves turning yellow and red…*No translation in English)
OWAKUDANI ( Terrific “Volucanic view” at the mountain top…) and KUROTAMAGO (Black egg)
OSHINO Lake (wonderful view)
Accesibility (about 90min from Shinjuku by Romance car)
Hakone Chokoku-no mori Art Musium (*Fantastic art experience spot!) 箱根彫刻の森美術館 Hakone Chokokuno-mori
FunFinder, Tokyo & East Tokyo local places 
