Category: In my neighborhood (Page 7 of 8)

It still surprises me to see traditional Japanese houses tucked in next to the new modern highrises. This house is at the intersection of two six lane roads.

This temple is across the road from tall apartment building. It is very small but one of my favorites here in Tokyo and it is just down the street.

Space saver

Today I am thankful I don’t live here. It would be my luck that I would be assigned a bicycle parking on the top and would have to lift it up and down everyday. On the other hand it would be great exercise for my arms. My building is small enough that we only have one level of parking and I refuse to park in my assigned spot. I like parking on the end and will probably have to move to my assigned spot if the two empty apartments are ever rented.

I am often surprised at all the amazing tiny shops that are tucked in among the residential areas of the city. Just two doors down from my building is acrylic. Her website is in English. The shop is just a tiny place, but the artist Masako keeps it stocked with all of her really interesting creations. My favorites are her bags, but she also has cool jewelry. The shop itself is one of my favorite buildings.

I cannot even think of a of a reason why the back end of a horse is on the front of a bar near my house. What were they thinking. I need to figure out what the name of the bar, Majiri, means.

My dad was a mechanic. First, he worked on cars and later on huge earth moving equipment. He was good at what he did and he had an amazing tool box. It was about 3-4 ft high, 3 ft wide and about 1 1/2 to 2 feet deep. It was filled with Snap on Tools. As a child I thought it was cool that the Snap On Tools salesman drove a large white truck and he came to the shop where you worked to sell his tools. I always hoped that I would inherit his tool box someday. (I think the stepmother probably sold them).

Near my house there are several hair salons, but this one is quite unique.  They use Snap on Tool boxes to hold all the tools of their trade. Clever?

I probably take too many photos of flowers, but I do love them. When we lived in London I used to visit the flower stall in St John’s Wood on Monday afternoon. I would buy a small bunch and come home with an armful. They were always trying to get rid of their flowers on Monday because Tuesday was the day they went to the New Covent Garden Flower Market (an amazing place by the way). My flat was rarely without a bunch of flowers. That all ended when we moved to Singapore, they were just too expensive. It is the same here in Japan, hence the Ikebana style of flower arranging. Ikebana requires very few flowers. I took a course a while ago, but I just don’t get the same joy from it as I do from English floral arranging. I love flowers and in large quantities.

Here in Japan I purchase a bunch of roses occasionally when the local flower shop has a Saturday special. Other than that I appreciate them as they grow in my neighborhood. This morning I noticed that the hollyhocks are blooming around the baseball diamond on the corner. And yes it is still raining!

I have arrived back in Japan just in time for the “rainy” season. It rained all afternoon today and into the evening. I have also arrived just in time for hydrangeas. They are one of my favorites. I love how just one large bloom creates a bouquet and how they change colors.