May was a busy month for us with work. We mostly stayed local at the weekends, but did manage a few half-day trips out to places like Kamakura to reconnect with nature. 
At Sasuke Inari Shrine, we walked through a quiet forest and discovered a miniature village filled with thousands of porcelain foxes. 
A lovely little shrine located a bit of the beaten track. 
Looking up from the dark and into the light. May is a time when the trees are filled with green… 
And the hydrangeas make an appearance. 
Mrs. IKIMASHO is happy as they are her favourite flower. 
A cute photo shop showing the current time, as well as the time prints will be ready. 
Which way shall we go? 
Left or right? 
I love how the majority of cafes and restaurants in Tokyo never update themselves. They just age gracefully, beaten down year after year by the weather. 
May featured lots of biking around the suburbs 
And of course taking the train most days. We didn’t ride this one but it looked cool and futuristic. The front almost looked like an insect or something. 
It had amazing floor to ceiling windows too! This train runs from Ikebukuro to Chichibu and I’d like to ride it someday. 
Houses and gardens in suburban Tokyo 
Many of which are wonderfully creative, using potted plants, statues… 
And even cartoon characters 
Overcast days… 
Which turn into rainy nights 
Banh mi! Vietnam’s signature baguette. I am obsessed with these and could eat one a day, though still looking for a perfectly authentic one in Tokyo. This was from Kamata and not too bad. I still think the small stand in Ebisu is maybe the best though. 
Yakiniku lunch with good quality meat. You cook this yourself on the grill in the middle of the table. Served with rice, kimchi, salad, soup, and even a little bit of curry bottom left. ¥1,500 / £10 
Tsukemen dipping noodles. Soy based soup on the left, while the noodles themselves were soaked in a kelp seaweed broth. You dip the noodles on the right into the left. I love tsukemen generally but I wasn’t a fan of the kelp… made the whole thing really slimy. 
The salt-based shio ramen was much better. Mrs IKIMASHO made the right choice. 
Fan shops… 
Flower shops… 
And even cute old-school meat shops 
Walking around new neighbourhoods is still my favourite pastime 
Wondering what kind of places… 
We’ll see next. 
A simple curry lunch. You will find this kind of lunch at many cafes – usually filled with women! 
Taking a break with some fancy ice cream 
The streets in the sun… 
Rain… 
And under cotton candy skies. 
I hope you are all keeping safe, well and happy.
Justin / IKIMASHO
IKIMASHO! 
Wonderful pictures as always. Stay safe guys!
Thanks for the wonderful & personal tour that you & your wife take us all through each month. I have recently discovered that I’m a ‘weeb’, which I used to think was only an Anime fanatic or tech-head. I certainly do fit the definition when I looked it up. Also, I notice that your taste in Japanese food seems to match mine, in that I prefer to have my meat & fish cooked & ‘slimy’ dishes are not to my liking. I think that is why I like Japan so much, — it is so different to Western culture & yet at the same time, it is a greatly Westernised & modern country. As a friend once said, — it is very quirky.
I am so grateful for the time you spent taking those photos that at the same time are an impressive art work, and share them with us. You make me feel like I’m the one who are walking those streets, visiting the temples, staring at the busy and noisy train stations.
Your photos are simple and at the same time express things that cannot be expressed with words.
Best regards.
Soooo good, thanks so much! Wish I was there!
Love these man – so evocative of the understated pleasures of life in Tokyo.
Nothing better than just peddling though the sunny streets of Setagaya and
other spots in the West of town.
Was going to ride that cool train to catch up with a mate in Kawagoe last year (before cancellations) – one
day!
Just had a Bahn-mi for lunch – very en vogue in Melbourne at the mo!