As we head into the last full week of June, it feels like not so long ago the sakura petals were falling… 
The suburban streets displaying their trademark canopies of pink and white. 
Food, in all its forms, always seems to be on my radar. I must have stood and watched this guy for about 15 minutes crafting fresh soba from scratch. It was interesting to see how many times he rolled it, before folding it back on itself over and over again. 
The soba place was next to a tonkatsu restaurant that we sometimes go to. 
On another random outing, I spotted this fun stand-up udon/soba shop… 
While I settled for a bowl of soupless tantanmen from another shop not too far away. 
Quirky street lights… 
And an even quirkier coin laundry. 
All of these places are independently owned, usually by elderly people who live on the same premises, and so it will be sad when they finally start to disappear. I especially like this one. 
En route to see some sakura one day, we stopped off for a mid-morning meal. A light and refreshing bowl of tuna on top of rice, with a hearty soup on the side. 
It was nice to see the train passing by this tunnel of flowers. 
Sakura petals delicately placed… 
And a billboard delicately perched on top of a building. I’m not sure how well this would survive an earthquake… 
Another healthy lunch of mackerel, rice and soup. A few little chicken karage thrown in for good measure too. The interesting part about this meal was the little condiment jar they gave you on the side – a nice mix of garlic, chili etc to put on the rice. 
Can you spot our little friend? 
There he is. 
A sunny scene in the suburbs… 
And a quaint one down the backstreets somewhere in Kawasaki. 
This spring, the weather was glorious… 
Allowing the flowers to really make an impression. This was all outside an apartment building. 
I went a few times to a ramen shop in Nakameguro that I like, Teuchi Asama. While I usually prefer shio over shoyu, the soup here isn’t too strong. However, it’s the noodles that are worth coming for – nice and thick, cut in-house. 
A dog chilling out in a cardboard box outside a fish shop in Ebisu. 
Twilight vibes in the neighbourhood. 
And clear skies overhead before a special lunch one day.
Up high, there is always a sight to see… 
While down below, the streets invite you to peek around every corner. 
As always, the best part about living in this city is exploring it on your own terms. If you want to have a busy/energetic experience, of course you can go to the bigger stations. But for me, after a busy week of work, it’s always nice to potter about the quieter neighbourhoods. 
Even the cars find the vibe sleepy and just want to take a nap. 
Mackerel again, this time marinated in mirin. Sides of minced tuna, nato, green beans etc. 
Always time for coffee. 
May of course meant the Sanja Matsuri… 
An opportunity to see one of Tokyo’s most exciting festivals… 
With thousands of people all over east Tokyo, chanting and lifting portable shrines through the streets. 
I’m really looking forward to more traditional festivals during the summer months. 
Boards of Canada released a new album after 13 years and I was one of the lucky ones to go to the Tokyo premiere. 
It was a night I will always remember, and the album itself is amazing. 
Speaking of things I will always remember, I think it would be hard to forget this bakery looking like a fever dream. 
At the end of May, the first hydrangeas started to appear. 
We took a trip out to Enoshima… 
Where there were nice colours on display. 
Back in Tokyo, you never know what you’ll find on the street corner… 
Or walking past a random shop. 
Lazy evenings… 
And zen mornings. 
The beauty of nature. 
Thank you for reading my little check-in from this part of the world.
I hope you are all keeping well…
As you get ready for summer, please stay safe and healthy.
Justin / IKIMASHO
IKIMASHO! 