KAGOSHIMA - SUMMER

KAGOSHIMA - SUMMER

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Finally, here are some photos from Kagoshima....

Sakurajima getting so active. It's one of the world's most active volcanoes, it's a great symbol of Kagoshima too. I took a ferry over to Sakurajima and drove around it in my last visit to Kagoshima - it was pretty amazing.




Terukuni Shrine. I like the area around here, I didn't go this time but Sengan-en (Iso Gardens) which is right next to this shrine is really lovely.


Sun was so strong in Kagoshima.


Every time I passed this department store Maruya Gardens I smiled :)


I had been wanting to visit this coffee shop which we regularly buy coffee beans from if we go to Kagoshima one day! So happy to have made it!!


Such a wonderful little place, people are so kind, had the best cappuccino I've ever had in a long while. Voila Coffee, the best!

Exploring the old warehouse area near the port.


Very nice shop and cafe set up in one of the old warehouses in the area, GOOD NEIGHBORS by Landscape Products.




Very random, but it was such a quick trip these are about all I could explore in very little time I had in Kagoshima I went last month. It was not really a holiday but still I got to enjoy it.
All were very good and here are some information to share:


Voila Coffee
2-2 Higashi-sengoku-cho Kagoshima-shi

Maruya Gardens (Department store)
6-5 Gofuku-cho Kagoshima-shi
Check out D&Department and Chin Jukan Pottery Store on 4th floor as well as the organic vegetable stall on the basement (weekend only).

GOOD NEIGBORS (Cafe/shop/gallery)
7-1 Sumiyoshi-cho Kagoshima-shi

Remm Kagoshima (Hotel)
Very convenient location, reasonable, clean, modern and only 3 minutes walk from Voila Coffee!

Kumaso Tei (restaurant)
Good place to experience the Satsuma local traditional cuisine.

Sengan-en (Iso Gardens)
9700-1Yoshinocho, Kagoshima City, 892-0871, Japan

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Kagoshima is a really lovely place, I hope to go back again for longer and more relaxed holiday!

By the way, if you are planning to travel to Japan you can not miss Alice's amazing travel journey she made in Japan earlier this year, she shares her experience and addresses of all the incredible places she went to such as Naoshima, Teshima, Takamatsu, Okinawa and Tokyo with her beautiful photographs!
Check out her lovely blog Quaint Living!

Comments: 8

LAST BIT OF SUMMER

LAST BIT OF SUMMER

Saturday, 14 September 2013

Cricket chirping was replaced by that of cicadas and it felt like autumn for a little while, but summer is back and is still sticking around. Even cicadas are back. But hopefully this will be the last post talking (or complaining) about summer, I've had it. Although...I finally took the film to have it developed so I may be posting some photos from this summer later. Hope that's okay ;)

Earlier this month, I launched a new website for my online store, it took me so long to finally have it up since I started thinking about and working on it, like over 3 years ago....  When you are your own client and have no deadline it can take forever and it seemed it will never be done but it's done and I'm so pleased. I hope you will pop by and have a look if you have a moment --> uguisustore.com

I have a limited section for selling international artists works which I sell in my tokyo store, currently listed are lovely potholders by Renilde and postcards by Mary. I had Ros's zine too but it's already sold out! You can still order it directly from Polkaros shop.

Another thing..., lovely Ishtar asked me to do an interview for her charming blog a little while ago and it's up on her blog now, I'm talking about my shop and some thoughts behind it as well as little about my life in Tokyo. Thank you Ishtar for putting it together so nicely, and even with Spanish translations!

UGUiSU♥ on Ishtar Olivera


I hope you are all enjoying the lovely change of the seasons, either moving to autumn or spring.
And happy weekend!

Hiki
xx

Comments: 2

SUMMER, ON INSTAGRAM

SUMMER, ON INSTAGRAM

Thursday, 22 August 2013

Summer in Tokyo..... I'm sure I've told you enough times how hot and horrible it is over the past 4 summers since I started my blog. It even seems to get worse each year, I think it actually is getting worse. It's so hard to sleep through the night without waking up at least a few times, either feeling cold or hot and having have to change the setting on air-conditioner each time I wake up. By the time a morning arrives I am exhausted. Not a pleasant thing to hear about I know. The worst is gone and we can feel that the end of summer is not too far away now, which is VERY good.

Although enjoying Tokyo summer never feels such an easy thing for me, I must say I love lights in summer nights. Lanterns from summer festivals (bon-odori), catching glimpse and hearing sound of the fireworks shows happening here and there accompanied with frozen daiquiris and cold beers - perfect.
The other day I had a lovely fun mini evening picnic with Ebo-chan at Saigoyama Park in Daikanyama. It was another hot hot day but there was really nice breeze and it was so nice. I even enjoyed walking home from the park.

Oh summer, we never get on but you do entertain me lots now I realise writing this post. But I will be so glad when you will be gone and Autumn arrives, though I know I will feel just a tiny bit sad when you really go.

Comments: 9

MOUNT FUJI FROM ABOVE

MOUNT FUJI FROM ABOVE

Thursday, 25 July 2013

On the way to Kagoshima where I went very briefly over the weekend I was lucky to see the Mount Fuji from the plane! At this time of year there is almost no snow on top but it was amazing to see it from above!

I didn't take many photos but I will share my Kagoshima shots later!

Comments: 17

TOKYO COFFEE GUIDE

TOKYO COFFEE GUIDE

Thursday, 18 July 2013

I feel like some really good coffee now. I haven't had one for a while I realize. I thought I'd do another coffee post, most of these photos and cafe infos have been shared here before but now you can see them all in one post :)


01. cafe ohanaya - one of my favourite cafes in Jiyugaoka. they do lovely lunch using fresh vegetables from Kamakura. Italian style food and coffee, good selection of organic wines. Vey cosy and lovely but mostly packed with people especially busy hours like 12-3pm.
2-14-20 Jiyugaoka Meguro-ku (google map)
3-4 minutes from Jiyugaoka Station. Closed on Wednesdays and 2nd/3rd Tuesdays
website

02. OMOTESANDO KOFFEE CLOSED
Always so so good. See the previous post for details -->

03. Cafe 6-chome
Not that the coffee is amazing but the atmosphere and the food is really good.
Near Jiyugaoka. See the previous post -->

04. Cafe ikanika
You might have heard too much of it here if you are reading my blog for a while...
I'm missing their beautiful cheesecake!! See the previous post -->

05. Amameria Espresso
Musashikoyama may not be the area many of who visit Tokyo would go to, but they make great coffee.
If you are staying in Claska, it would be nice to take a morning walk to Musashikoyama (about 20mins) and also you can take a lovely forest walk in the Rinshi-no-mori Park on the way!
3-6-15 Koyama Shinagawa-ku (google map)
3-4 mins from Musashikoyama station (Meguro/Namboku Line), 1 stop from JR Yamanote Meguro Station.
website

06. Lo Spazio
Not the best, but one of not so many places to get Italian style espresso in the Gakugeidaigaku area.
3-3-5 Takaban Meguro-ku  2mins from Gakugeidaigaku station.

07. Pan to Espresso to (Bread, Espresso, &)
Cute cafe near Gaienmae/Omotesando.
3-4-9 Jingumae Shibuya-ku (google map)
website

08. Rose Bakery
They now have 4 cafes in Tokyo! I've only been to the one in Marunouchi and Ginza but Kichijoji one looks really nice.
See previous post -->

09. Taste & Sense
Lovely cafe to have in the neighborhood for coffee and lunch!
See previous post-->

10. Coffee at Home
We enjoy hand drip coffee on the weekend. We buy fresh coffee beans from Voila Coffee in Kagoshima, actually many of the great coffee places in Tokyo buy beans from them. They don't ship internationally but if live in Tokyo I recommend shopping from their online store :)


So, I feel like some really good coffee even more now.
Where is your favourite place for a really good cup of coffee in your city?

Hope you are enjoying summer, here it's boiling.... Keep cool!


UPDATED April 2017

This post is originally from 2013 and there have been countless of new coffee places opening all over Tokyo other than all above. My recent favourite is TORANOMON KOFFEE run by the same people of OMOTESANDO KOFFEE.

Comments: 26