2016 Azabu Juban Banner

I haven't been spending as much time Azabu Juban lately, and haven't had the chance to collect photos of the interesting banners that get changes with the seasons and matsuris. Since I work on a US holiday schedule, I had the US Labor Day holiday off. My first stop was Azabu Juban, and I spotted this latest banner.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/1250 sec.

More Azabu Juban Banners

I really enjoy the banners that change with the seasons and holidays in Azabu Juban. Often when I am walking though this part of Tokyo, I take a photo of the current banner. The artists or artists tasked with producing these are very talented. Here a few from earlier this year.

The first is for hinamatsuri or girls day, and the second is for setsubun.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.0, ISO 400, 1/25 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/5.6 AI-S @ f2.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Invader in Azabu-Juban

In Azabu Juban I spotted this Invader mural across the street on a concrete retaining wall in Roppongi. It looks like it may be missing a tile, but I am not sure. My children have been delighted when they spot a new one in the city.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Gelato in the Juban

Since Summer 2013, I have often walked by Gelateria Marghera and wondered if their pricy gelato is any good. It is a branch of a Milan's most famous ice cream shop. Will it's not too shabby, and rather deliction. On my first or probably many visits, I tried a cup with a scoop of croccante (almond crunch) and a scoop of tiramisu gelato. It was exceptionally creamy, smooth, and sweet. A great way to finish off the evening.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4.0, ISO 200, 1/50 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f2.8, ISO 200, 1/60 sec.

Paniculata Hydrangeas in Azabu Juban

In early June I came across these beautiful white Paniculata Hydrangeas (or PeeGee) in Azabu Juban.  I wasn't really sure if they were in fact hydrangea because of the cone shaped bloom.  Most hydrangea that I am familiar have blooms that are ball shaped. 

Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 32 mm, f5.6, ISO 200, 1/320 sec.

Year of the Dragon (part five)

I was walking passed the toy shop in Azabu-Juban and spotted a several new nanoblocks sets. There were actually two different dragons, but I was only able to take a photo of this one.

Year of the Dragon (part one)

The New Year's banners and decorations are going up in Azabu Juban.  There's only a few hours left in 2011 and the year of the ox.  The year of the dragon starts tomorrow.  Or will the year of the dragon start after Chinese New Year?

Smoking Crab

There's a tobacco shop in Azabu Juban near the Shinichinohashi crossing that has an odd feature.  There's a crab (or kani) featured on their signboard above the shop that is smoking a cigarette and blowing rings.　I guess that the crab is some sort of mascot for the shop, but I just can't figure out the connection.  Am I missing something?

Banners in the Juban

The banners on the posts in Azabu Juban frequently change with the seasons. They all feature a little girl and a cat who are usually dressed up to go with the theme of the banner. The first in this post one was taken in 2010 and the banner commemorates setsubun.

The new year banner features the seven lucky gods.

In late February and early March the banners featured a stylized hina doll set.

The final one for this post doesn't seem to feature a holiday or season. It was taken the day after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.

Shadow art / graffiti

When I lived in South Florida, there used to be an graffiti artist that painted or filled in the shadows of ordinary objects.  At first glance, you would see parking meters, bicycles and other everyday objects casting shadows at the wrong time of day.  Then you would realize that the shadow was painted in.  Sometimes, if the shadow was of a bike or other temporal / transient object, it would be long gone leaving only the shadow art as a memory.

Anyway, I walk by this veterinarian's office in Azabu Juban regularly.  Every time I walk by it brings back fond memories of Miami Beach...

Maple Leaves and my 20-year old Nikon lenses

I'm still taking photos of maple leaves. I find the light shining through the leaves incredibly beautiful.  This shot was taken with one of the older lenses in my kit.

I remember purchasing the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF (non-D) that took this image in the late 80's from Precision Photo in Boca Raton.  I think I paid about $800 used for it and have gotten over 20-years of service out of it.  The aperture is starting to stick, so it can't stop down past about f5.6 without overexposing.  Oh well, maybe it's about time to consider retiring this one and getting the new two ring Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF?

This one was taken about a month ago when the new leaves were just opening. I used my even older 85mm f1.4 AI-S manual focus to take this image.  I remember buying this lens with a good friend at a used camera equipment show at the North Miami Armory.  I traded a Nikon 2002 SLR and $200 to get this beautiful piece of glass.

Magnolia kobus

I saw some Magnolia Kobus in bloom in Azabujuban. While the kids were playing on the swings, I tried to get a few good shots.

More Hina Matsuri

Only two more days until Hina Matsuri (Girls Day or the Doll Festival).  Here's a comple more recent shots of Hina Matsuri related things spotted in Azabu Juban and Hiroo.

Here's a delicious ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. It seems like a bargin for ¥2,200.

And a banner from Azabu Juban.

Cheap Culinary Adventure in Tokyo? Have Taiyaki! (Part 3 - Final)

I finished the day with a stop in Azabu Juban for taiyaki.  It's a pastry made of waffle or pancake batter filled with azuki (red) bean paste.  It's made in a special waffle iron.

Seems that this treat was invented in this very shop, Naniwaya, back in 1909!  There's a good review on foodjapan.net.

The taiyaki treat was only ¥150.  That brings my grand total for a crepe, curry rice lunch (with coffee) and taiyaki to ¥1050.  Who would have thought that such fun food could be a bargain in Tokyo.  If you add transportation on the JR from Harajuku to Shinjuku, and the Oedo subway line from Shinjuku to Azabu Juban, that would set you back another ¥340.

Delicious Kabocha Milk Pan

Mont Thabor is my favorite bakery in Japan.  It's hard for me to resit stopping in for a treat when I'm walking through Azabu Juban.

They just have the right mix of Japanese and European style bread and pastries.  I'm especially fond of their Hokkaido Milk Pan and any of their pastries with Kabocha (Japanese Squash / Pumpkin).  This year they introduced Kabocha Milk Pan.

Yummy delicious!!!  Hopefully, this will be a permanent addition to their menu, but I'm afraid to ask.  This treat may be seasonal and could disappear with autumn... Boo hoo!

Orwellian Pachinko Parlor Advertisement

I saw this sign for a pachinko parlor near Azabu Juban.  To me, it seemed very Orwellian and frightening.  What the #$@% is an Amusement Revolution Group?

Here's another sign that I found more interesting and appealing.  It was near Hiroo Plaza and Hiroo Bashi and advertised another pachinko parlor.

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.

Setsubun

Setsubun is this coming week.  At the same toy shop that I saw the Nanoblocks, I saw these Oni masks. These are definitely pricey at ¥900!  Oh well, this shop is in Azabu Juban.

Nanoblocks

These blocks were on display in a toy store window in Azabu Juban. Although expensive (¥1,554 for the Tokyo Tower), especially considering their small size, a lover of architecture may find them interesting. They are called Nanoblocks.

Seems that they are even more expensive online. The Nanoblock Tokyo Tower is available at Amazon.com for about $40.