Boisterous bullfrogs wake me up earlier than usual. They’ve been going literally since three in the morning, went on for 30 minutes, stopped and started again at six, they haven’t stopped since. I am not in favor of killing them but I’d love to figure out a way to get them outta here. Yesterday, aContinue reading “Descent into baloney we must fix”
Category Archives: Neighborhoods
Hotel KOO – collection of seven rehabilitated machiya’s in Ootsu
KOO is a collection of seven rehabilitated machiya’s (traditional Japanese townhouses) refurbished with modern furnishings, some as private villas and others with two or three separate guest bedrooms creating 13 units in total. Japanese machiya’s are small – typically around 1,000 sq. ft – and split into two levels. Insisting on key features such as […]
Trunk Hotel, Shibuya
It’s a common misconception for would be travellers to Tokyo that this city of super abundant creativity and modernity has numerous well-designed, boutique hotels. Well … there aren’t. There’s probably many reasons and this blog isn’t meant to be for real-estate finance mundane so I’ll curb it to a couple of inter-related reasons: prohibitive land/developmentContinue reading “Trunk Hotel, Shibuya”
Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) in winter
Of all the parks and gardens in Tokyo, Shinjuku Gyoen evokes to me the most Central Park in Manhattan. It’s not the size (it is less than one fifth of Central Park) but rather how the park is completely encased by the maddest section of the city yet feels peacefully detached from it. Minutes after you enterContinue reading “Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) in winter”
Hamarikyu Gardens (浜離宮庭園) of Shinbashi
There’s the vast gardens of Imperial Palace and bustle of joggers and dance groups in Meji Jingu/Yoyogi Park but Hamarikyu Gardens hold its own with its classic Japanese aesthetics and tranquility. Even on the most pleasant public holidays, Hamarikyu is sparsely populated and devoid of tourists. The garden’s placement at the foot of Shinbashi monolithsContinue reading “Hamarikyu Gardens (浜離宮庭園) of Shinbashi”
Star architect mania in Minami Aoyama
Minami Aoyama (South Aoyama) is the area north and south of Omotesando dori, east of Omotesando Metro station. It is an haute couture version of its neighboring Kita Aoyama (North Aoyama) and has a more relaxed and refined atmosphere. Even on Sunday afternoons crowding is less of a problem to be able to stroll around furniture shops andContinue reading “Star architect mania in Minami Aoyama”
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