Hina Matsuri

Hina Matsuri (Girls' Day) is around the corner.  This holiday is extra special in my family.  My daughter Lucy was lucky to be born on this day.  Some of the shops in our Tokyo neighborhood have had window displays featuring the dolls that a family would display during this holiday.

 

I spotted this display in January at the Wako department store in Hiroo Garden.

  

This display was in a antique ceramic shop in Azabu Juban.

This display was in a clothing store window.

Here's a banner celebrating Hina Matsuri in Azabu Juban. Just wondering why is the boy doll is depicted as a cat (shouldn't this be the Emperor).

Sakura spotted at Starbucks!

Starbucks here in Japan have already started promoting cherry blossom season in Tokyo.  The gift cards and Sakura flavored drinks (Sakura Steamer and Sakura Frappucino) are being advertised heavily in their stores.

Some of the advertising (merchandising for those in the business) for the Sakura themed seasonal beverages.  I haven't tried one yet, and don't have the desire.

Here's a new Sakura Starbucks gift card.

Here's a fancy mobile Starbucks truck in Roppongi Hills.  In addition to the Sakura themed paint job, it has a cool Seattle license plate.  Seems that the staff is getting a pep talk.

Hawaiian Water

I'm not sure who bottles the stuff in the picture below. It's probably not the same quality as the Hawaiian Deep Sea Drinking Water, but it's gotta be good. Right? At least the bottle is attractive.

This display was found in the TV Asahi headquarters in Roppongi.

More Sakura in February? Nah... just plum, but definitely allergy season. :(

This Sunday when I went out to park the car on Meji-Dori, I thought that I may have sighted Sakura for the second time in 2010. 

These are probably plum blossoms, but the color is very close to Sakura.  The ones that were definitely plum were a little further up the street.  Both of these trees are located near several shrines on Zekko Zaka. The one's out front the side entrance to this shrine are definitely plum (ume.)

Although it snowed last week, perhaps spring is arriving early. The news here in Tokyo has already announced that allergy season has arrived. This is something I would prefer, not to be able to confirm. Alas, my eyes itch and my nose is running.

Ultraman and Baikinman at Grinpa

It's funny where you'll find Ultraman or other Japanese characters.  The last time we saw him he was hiding a neighborhood garden.  Here his is in guarding the entrance to the area where all the rides are at Ginpa amusement park.
 

 

We also saw Baikinman (ばいきんまん) (Anpanman's nemesis) and other assorted Japanese characters in force.

New glass wanted

Nikon just released this new super wide zoom lens for it's digital FX and film cameras.  The AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR looks like it may be the glass that I have been waiting for.  There's a short blurb about it on dpreview.com but you might as well read about it on the official Nikon website.

If you live in Japan, it's already listed on kakaku.com.  Prices in Japan on 15 February 2010 are shown starting at ¥116,790.

You wouldn't believe where you can find a bus stop

On Friday, the family drove to Grinpa Land located in the Fujiyama resort area on the slopes of Mt. Fuji near Gotemba to enjoy some sledding and the snow.  I'm not sure how often the bus stops here, but there's a bus stop at the entrance to the Fujiyama resort area.

High Tech Parking

Parking in Tokyo can be a financial challenge, but there are ways to make it bearable.  Most lots in shopping areas have a validation system based on how much you spend in those shops.

Normally parking in the swank Roppongi Hills is ¥600/hour, but having brunch at Roy's on a Sunday (from ¥3,500/person) gets you enough credit to park in the space age parking facility for free.  So in summary, spend money and park for free. 

My kids always enjoy watching the car get sucked into the machine, disappear, and then watch it reappear after we return and insert our ticket.