We started off our Summer Break with a trip down to Lake Yamanaka with my in-laws. When we arrived at our cabin, the whole lake and surroundings were veiled in thick fog and you really couldn’t see anything at all, let alone Fuji-san. The vibe was still nice, in a surreal and eerie kind of way, but I really wasn’t expecting the weather to clear up. However, when we woke up and stepped out of the cabin, this was the view in front of us. What a difference a day makes! 
It was very serene… 
And we had fun exploring. 
After Yamanaka, Mrs IKIMASHO and I flew down to Fukuoka where I used to live 20 years ago. What I didn’t expect was that our visit would coincide with the practice runs of the Yamakasa Festival where huge floats weighing one tonne are dragged through the streets. The floats don’t have wheels and so water is thrown about to reduce friction between the float and the road surface (and to cool down the participants). It was a chaotic and cool experience and one I had never seen before. You can see a video of it here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1176364590178054 
Me, watching on. It was nice to take a trip down memory lane in Fukuoka, and I wrote about it in another blog here: https://ikimasho.net/2024/07/18/postcards-from-fukuoka/ 
The heat has been brutal in Tokyo this year, maybe the hottest I can remember, and so at the last minute we booked flights to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam where at least we had a pool and it was cool enough to walk around. (I say cool but it was still over 30, but at least not near 40 like Tokyo.) It was great to eat bun cha, bun thit and bo kho again. I counted it up, and this was my 6th time to Vietnam. I think it’s the food and chaos that keeps bringing me back! Check out some photos from that trip here: https://ikimasho.net/2024/08/25/postcards-from-ho-chi-minh-city/ 
Back in Tokyo, and we escaped the summer heat with some nice lunches out. Sushi… 
And tonkatsu, one of my favourites. 
It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the ocean… 
Stopping off at one of our favourite little restaurants in Zushi to eat a pork/ginger/garlic dish we love. 
As well as ice creams from a fancy craft ice cream shop. 
We were lucky enough to catch some interesting festivals in Tokyo. This one in Oji Shrine was a ritual dance called Dengaku. The costumes and headdresses were unique. 
We also enjoyed the Awa Odori in Kagurazaka. Video here: https://www.facebook.com/ikimasho.net/videos/1602708093630545 
I left the flash on by accident in this photo, but I liked the end result of the shadows bouncing along the street. 
One lunchtime we had a Chinese feast… 
While for dinner one night we had excellent ramen from King Seimen in Oji. 
I absolutely love sansho pepper, the type that numbs your mouth, so I took a solo trip to Lashowhan in Shibuya to eat their soupless tantanmen. 
We had some bizarre weather in Tokyo over the summer. A big typhoon passed by, the heavy cloud cover creating an eerie glow even though it was nighttime. 
We enjoyed watching this lightning storm from our bedroom window. 
We ate simply most nights, just fish and salads because of the heat. But a few times we enjoyed spending a bit longer in the kitchen. Mrs IKIMASHO cooked some amazing satay from scratch 
While I seared up some scallops and asparagus with a spinach soup 
Mrs IKIMASHO got a new ‘do. 
Always surrounded by green 
We had a special meal in a restaurant with very minimal design. 
A nice salad… 
And beautiful parfaits. 
One afternoon we took a trip out to Asagaya to see the Tanabata decorations. Short video here: https://www.facebook.com/ikimasho.net/videos/856669319264275 
I took a craving for Indian food… 
And a walk around retro areas. 
Nearly time to say goodbye to the heat for another year… 
I hope you are all happy and healthy, and had a lovely summer too. Thanks for reading. Justin / IKIMASHO
IKIMASHO! 
The food is making me very hungry – it looks so good.
Thank you, really enjoying your posts . Am I Norn Iron but would so love to see Japan .