afuri

Like really, my favorite ramen hasn't been tonkotsu since my first time trying Kamukura Ramen in Osaka. AFURI brings shoyu ramen to another level by adding yuzu.

I love summer. There's plenty of light available and of course, plenty of hydrangeas in bloom.

omotesando / a happy pancake

On our last day in Tokyo we decided to go big on breakfast. We braved ourselves to A Happy Pancake in Omotesando on a weekend morning and was lucky enough to get in without waiting for long.

We tried four flavors, and concluded that pancakes are just pancakes after all. I'm not particularly a big fan of fluffy things so I can't do its fluffiness justice.

We split after breakfast, one group heading to Harajuku and another towards Aoyama.

What a good morning to start with.

sushi for breakfast

On the go for sushi early in the morning -not as early as 1am to queue for the tuna auction show!

We chickened out again for the tuna auction, cos we're just normal people who appreciates sleep more than anything.

Love love love the hydrangeas.

I wonder what this place is for...

I'd love to try riding this...

Hi!

The famous Sushi Dai.

 ....the queue continues here. (I find it extra hilarious)

Then we're like no, let's just go somewhere.

Hello my first omakase experience!

I really appreciate how they designed the tabletop to make their food shine like they're on the stage. 

Omnomnomnom

The never ending queue scene.

Apart from the seafood market you'll get to find some traditional tools for your home.

A busy market in the city. Love the blend between old and new. The difference makes it both sad and beautiful.

totoro cafe

I've been wanting to visit this place since seeing one of these puffs on the social media. Having more time to spend leisurely on our second trip, I decided to come back to Shimokitazawa to pay a visit to this little place.

The cafe's name literally translates to Whitebeard's Cream Puff Bakery. They have a sister restaurant right upstairs that serves Western style cafe food. The shop already won my heart at the first glance. I personally find the rustic design -that reminds me of the sisters' place in the Totoro movie- to be super cute.

For dine in, head upstairs for the reception, and the lady downstairs handles the takeaway orders. 

SO. MANY. TOTOROS.

We were seated outdoors as the cafe was fully booked that afternoon, which is just perfect. The weather was absolutely amazing, and we couldn't be bugged by bugs when the setting pleases me that much. Spot Gigi.

How to do a totoro puff justice:

We sat and wrote in our techos till the sun starts to set. Two ladies next to us were having a conversation over their boyfriends and wedding plans (unintended eavesdropping). Shimokitazawa is always gonna be special for me.