Inokashira Park in Spring

A Cafe in Between Passing Trains: Cafe N331

I have a penchant for riding trains, taking pictures of old trains with steam engines and visiting museums about old trains and railways. I even visited a company that makes railways, how geeky can I get? So when I found out that there's a cafe situated exactly between two train tracks (actually, I heard it stands on an old platform), I immediately went there even though there had been forecasts about a coming typhoon! 

Cafe N331, pronounced as "en san san ichi" is situated in between the chuo lines. It can be found on top of the newly-renovated Manseibashi Platform, which is now more popularly known as the mAAch. Inside it is a long stretch of boutiques with interesting products like clothes and bags, paper products and stationery sets and of course train models!

The cafe is really small and all the tables are beside the window so there's no need to worry about not getting a good view of the passing trains. The walls are all glass so you can see not only the passing trains on your side but also the trains passing on the other line in the distance. Just for the experience of being so close to a real, moving train is worth the visit. Please see this video that I took for you to see how awesome it is!

Don't expect so much on the food though because for me it's quite ordinary. I arrived there a little past lunch time and the curry that I wanted to order was already sold out. I ended up ordering an eggplant sandwhich, which is actually not bad but also not amazing.

To get there, you can get off at Kanda Station and walk for around 7-minutes. If the red brick mAAch building comes to view, it means you're on the right track. They are open from 11:00am to 11:00pm from Mondays to Saturday, but they close at 9:00pm on Sundays and holidays.

TIPS:

If you just want to enjoy the ambiance and train watching with friends, it's better to sit inside the cafe, near the counter. There 's a couch with colorful pillows that make the place even homier. But if you want to get a good photo of passing trains, better take a seat on the other end of the cafe where you can catch a good glimpse of the trains while chilling with your coffee or tea.

If you want to try their rice meals, it's better to arrive before 12noon because their food easily gets sold old, they're probably don't stock so much food I guess since it's a very small cafe. And because of it's size, I don't think they allow customers to stay there for a long time.

The Kamakura Daibutsu

 

     The Kamakura Daibutsu is found at the Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. This bronze statue of Amida was built in 1252 during the Kamakura Period and stands about 13.5 meters (43.8 feet). What is more interesting is that visitors can actually go inside this large statue for only Y20 and view its intricate interiors. According to the information guide inside the statue, because of its immense size, the statue had to be molded in thirty different stages. It says that the lattice patterns inside the statue indicate that a large number of molds were placed on top of each in several layers. To put the different casts together, a method known as irakuri was conducted.

    To get there, take a train to Kamakura Station. It only takes about an hour from Tokyo Station (costs about Y890) to reach this. Outside the station, there are English speaking volunteers whom you can ask for directions. They will give you a map too. They advised us which streets to take to get to the Kotoku-in Temple, which took us about an hour and a half walk, not because it is that far, but because it is lined with really interesting shops and restaurants that showcase the rich history and culture of Kamakura. It is just too hard to resist not getting into those shops! Here's the interesting souvenir I got. To enter the Kotoku-in Temple, it only costs Y200.

    

Koku-koen

The Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park is a 50-hectare park where Japan' first airfield was established in 1911. At present, this airfield was already converted to a memorial park where people can go watch the cherry blossoms in spring or build a snowman in winter. The old runway can still be recognized until now.

Adjacent to the park is the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum that not only hosts some historical planes that were preserved for decades, but also tells the history of aviation in Japan. Within the vicinity of the park, just across the museum, is the public library. Surprisingly, the library has some books in English.

Across this beautiful pond and pagoda is a traditional tea house where (if fortunate to grab a good seat near the window) this beautiful and relaxing view can be observed. It takes only an 8-minute walk from the Koku-Koen station of the Seibu Shinjuku Line to reach this hidden paradise.

Outside the Palace Courts

guardhouse in edo castle

This beautiful traditional Japanese architecture greets you at the gate of the Imperial Palace. Every year, during Emeperor Akihito's birthday on December 23, the palace gates are opened to the public and the emperor makes a public appearance.

Snow Outside my Window

It is my first time to see snow falling outside my window.

    

         I had been to a snowboarding trip to Niigata a month ago, so technically, this is not the first time that I actually saw some snow. The experience is totally different though. Going to a place to see snow makes you feel like you don't own the snow there.  It feels like you just borrowed a moment in time to experience the snow. But seeing the small white flakes fall beautifully right outside the window of your room gives you a surreal feeling, contrary to how natural the falling of the snow appears to be. The snow is falling right outside my window, not in some other place that I have to go and visit. It is falling right on right on top of my roof, just outside my balcony, out on my street in front of me. This time, tt is definitely mine to claim for all I want. This gives me a sense of ownership to the snow, to the experience.

        I honestly had no plans to go out today, but since it is snowing, I went out and let the flakes stain my purple coat and hot pink uggs. The simple pleasures of life make us realize how blessed are. We don’t need grand moments, just a quiet simple moment like this, and you realize how blessed you are for being able to see something as beautiful and as natural as this all for free.

On the Other side of Nishi-Waseda

     Today i tried walking on the other side of Nishi-Waseda. It is less crowded and a lot more peaceful than the road I usually take to the station, which is always filled with students walking and biking, trying to move past one another in a hurry. This other side is less commercial, not totally residential but there are mostly mansions and less stores. And today, for the first time in four months, i finally saw the Toden Arakawa Line, one of the few remaining streetcars in Japan.

Ken's 30th Anniversary Postcard

Happy anniversary Ken!

          Found this old postcard in a vintage shop in Koenji. It was printed to commemorate Ken's 30th Anniversary, but it appears like Barbie can't help stealing the spotlight!

Prope Dori, Tokorozawa

 

         I took this shot because I want to remember after many years how this street, where I pass through every day, looks like at this point in time.

Hello 2014!

 

          "Happy 2014!" says the Tokyo Tower. Cheers to a new year ahead of us!