More Soup

This ITO EN vending machine had corn potage and a red bean soup (Dainagon Shiruko).  In addition to the hot soup, there are several types of coffee and tea, in addition to grape, citrus, nectar and Banana au Lait fruit beverages.

Plum Blossoms, Trains and Traffic in Setagaya Koen

The family returned to Setagaya Park (世田谷公園) this weekend. It's located on the outskits of central Tokyo near Sangengaya station.

I spotted my first plum blossoms of 2011 here. There were several different varieties and colors planted. However, I couldn't get a good angle on the pink ones so you'll just have to enjoy these white flowers.

The plum blossoms were located around a minature / model SL train that you ride.  Some had told me that these trains used to be actually steam powered.  For safety and efficiency, it seems that they are now electric and only appear to be steam locomotives.

It may sound strange to tell your children to play in the traffic, but there's also a traffic play area for children in this park. The goal is to learn the rules of the road while playing. There are ten three wheel pedal cars for the kids to drive around. The street lights and crossing signals are fully functional. The street signs and cross walks are all there too.  The trick is to get the young drivers to follow the road rules.

Have you ever been to Almond Roppongi?

I must have met people out front of the Roppongi Crossing Almond Cafe dozens of times during my time in Tokyo. That doesn't sound like much (especially since I've lived in the Tokyo area for almost 9-years), but I really don't like the Roppongi nightlife and usually avoid passing through...

Anyway, when I moved back to Japan, I noticed that the Almond Cafe in Roppongi had closed. I shed a tear momentarily, and realized that I never ever ate there. It was just a convenient meeting spot and landmark.

Recently, I was surprised by it's return.  It reopened in December 2010..  It's still pink, the awnings are gone, and it's in a new building.

Ornamental Cabbage

The family was in Setagaya Koen this afternoon.  This park is located just outside central Tokyo.  It's a little unusual.  Some of the playground equipment appears to have been made in the woodworking shops located in the park.  Anyway, I didn't take any photos of the odd play equipment, but I did take some photos of the beautiful ornamental cabbage.

Here's another in a lighter shade.

Hot soup anyone?

I'm not sure if this is seasonal, but there were three types of hot soup offered in this vending machine. 

Hawaii for the holidays

The family spent New Years in Honolulu this year. I didn't take any touristy snaps to add the blog, but I did like this photo of a large tree in the Honolulu Zoo.

Christmas / New Years Lights

I didn't spend much time in December taking photos in Tokyo. However, I did bring my camera with me to pick up my watch that was repaired at a jewelers shop in to Harajuku.

Anyway, I took a few photos of the lights or illuminations along Omotesando (表参道). None were that great, but this one is one of the better ones.

I also spotted these "meter maids" (or "meter men") enforcing parking. Parking tickets in Tokyo are not cheap so be sure to park legally. I couldn't hang around too long, I was only parked several spaces down and I only had about 15-minutes left on the meter. Oh well...