Tokyo is an incredibly bikeable city, when the weather permits, but I avoided biking for almost a year after moving here because it seemed intimidating. I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was 10, let alone around cars and pedestrians, how would I manage?

But then you think back to all those times you as a pedestrian were almost mowed over by a bike, or the people who seem to manage riding a bike while also texting, listening to music, and holding an umbrella.

If they can do it, I say we can, too. Though it’s probably better if we don’t do that texting, music, and umbrella thing. Also, wear your helmet.

If you haven’t been to Muji’s flagship store in Yurakucho, it’s worth the trip just to see the Muji house. One of many models that the “No Brand” store offers, the house is like it sounds: a full-size house, inside the store itself, that you can enter and poke around like you were snooping at a friend’s. It is minimalist and well-designed, a place for everything and everything in its place. I love you Oakhouse, I really do, but I hope you’ll understand if I start making plans to secretly move in to the Muji house.

ABOVE :  same 居酒屋、 spinach ^^.

ABOVE :  This is 牛角。焼肉店。

Many locals told me this is not good enough, but to me, it taste wonderful !!!

And I love the 食べ放題 there  ><.

The above is cabbage, you can eat just like that. And the SAUCE is MY SUPER FAV !!!!!!!

I NEVER EVER taste cabbage as good as this ~~~ !!!

NEVER forget this taste since the first time I tried that a few years ago !!!

ABOVE :  This is 牛角。焼肉店。

Some of the raw meat, waiting to be 焼く。

It taste sooo good after being COOKED !

ABOVE :  This is 牛角。焼肉店。

The 定番 rice that came with the 食べ放題。

Taste wonderful !!!!!!!!! ><

Makes me sooo hungry now …

OK, the following is something that REALLY was interesting.

I did not know there can be something like that.

BTW, it is CHICKEN. SALTED CHICKEN !!!

ABOVE :  1) It came like the above, with a paper …

ABOVE :  2) You open and see this, I thought this can be eaten … but actually this is ALL SALT !!!

ABOVE :  3) OH GOSH, the meat !!!!!!!!!

It was SOOO 柔らかい and taste GREAT !!! SALT seems kind of wasted though …

so I took some home, with those sweet chicken smell …

ABOVE : ほたて、one of my favorites.

ABOVE : I do believe that was Fried Tomatoe.

Below is MY FIRST TIME EVER 注文 of soy milk from AMAZON.

WHY? Because they are too heavy to bring to home from the supermarket.

That is all. HAHAHA. 便利でしょう。

Below is a 居酒屋 very close to where I live。

I never really thought about coming here cause the name sounds like it is for OLD folks.

But turns out it is very interesting and taste great~!

茄子！！！nice !!!

This taste good !

OH GEEZ makes me hungry now.

By the way that is CHICKEN.

最近ハマってる 。。。when you play this with someone you know, the fun point UP!

Below is one of the dessert we can get from the supermarket … wow, so good!

Below is a dish from バンミヤ、goodness it taste GREAT!

Maybe even better than 本番！

Look at those GLOSS ! Make it even more delicious ! Really LOVE this texture !

Below is just a photo of cakes. But the salesperson kind of sucks.

Grabbing dinner with a friend after work, I picked a place I’d heard about in her area: Indian restaurant Vege Herb Saga. They specialize in vegetarian food, were a bit hard to find even with GPS, and spicy as all get out. Those faint of heart or prone to stomach pains, beware: we and the table next to us were the lone group of non-Indians, the rest of the small basement space packed with acquaintances of the chefs who seemed much better acclimated to the spice levels than we were. But for me, it’s always the highest compliment to a restaurant’s quality and authenticity if the people from the region the food is supposedly also from eat there.

And anyway, I lived to tell the tale, though I drank about two gallons of water to do it. If you’re in the Ochanomizu/Okachimachi neighborhood be sure to swing by, but maybe keep a lassi or two on hand.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: this Tokyo summer has been awful. It’s been hot, and humid, and on the precious few days it lets up, some kind of plant life gets into the air and sets all my allergies off. I can’t win, and nowhere is safe. So when I peeked outside after the latest summer typhoon (really? /really/?) and it seemed pleasantly cool, if still sneeze city, I began to hope.

Is it fall yet?

Another place that I love to visit is Shimokitazawa. It’s easy to get to, especially from Kiba, and only takes about 40mins. It’s a really fun, interesting area. There are lots of cafes and lovely restaurants, including a wonderful veggie and vegan restaurant &Vege, tucked behind Starbucks on the North side of the station. I recommend stopping in there 🙂

there are also lots of great shops, especially small boutiques and vintage shops. Here are some of my favourites:

Don Don Down, north side. This shop price everything by a type of fruit, so remember to pick up the price code when you come in! They do a range of nearly new Western and Japanese brand fashion, including accessories and handbags. Some bargains to be found if you have a good rummage.

theres a wonderful gallery full of small shops on the north side, and it’s so good to have a browse and see so many different shops under one roof. I can never remember its name though….

One of the best, and most famous stores is Haight & Ashbury. They have a mans, ladies, and antiques section, and the antique section is always full of the most beautiful dresses and handbags. They’re expensive, but you feel like you’re wearing an antique piece of art when you have them on. I recently visited and tried on the most amazing Princess dress. Out of my price range, but they took a photo of me in the dress and featured me on their fashion blog! Check it out…

I love vintage shopping, and there are lots of great places in Tokyo to find a bargain, or something special. Here are some of my favourite places, by area:

Harajuku/Omotesando :

the first shop I want to mention is called Kinji. It’s in a basement shopping gallery, opposite HandM in Harajuku. They do a large selection of vintage clothes and accessories, mainly western style, and they have some really cool and unusual items.

the next shop is called Chicago, and it’s diagonally opposite Tokyo Plaza, and on the other side from La Foret. Their speciality is vintage Japanese clothing and accessories, and I’ve bought many beautiful pieces from there, including obi belts, kimono coats, yukata, and my first proper silk kimono. Here’s a pic of it: