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The winter chill had just begun to give way to the first tinges of spring warmth, and I got off the train at Shibuya Station. Before walking to meet my friends, I visited a shopping area nearby.
Tokyo is full of wonderful depachika (department store food halls), and Shibuya’s offerings are no exception. I wandered the colorful aisles, admiring the impeccable displays of tantalizing sweet and savory specialties.
Having picked up some lovely seasonal items, along with a bottle of sake from snowy Niigata Prefecture, I began walking towards the charming Naka-Meguro neighborhood.
A Japanese man browses the menu in a small izakaya in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
A small izakaya in Shinjuku, Tokyo
A reasonably short walk from hyperactive Shibuya, there is perhaps nowhere more magical in hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season than the tree-lined canal in the trendy yet laid-back Naka-Meguro. During the cherry blossom season – the duration of which varies from year to year – the streets along the canal exist in an almost-constant state of celebration. The majestic cherry blossom trees sway luxuriously sway over the canal, and small groups of friends gather to eat and drink amid the sea of pink.
I found my friends under the trees with all the requisite hanami supplies: tarp, grill, beer, snacks, guitar. We joined hundreds of other revelers in relaxing with friends and family on this perfect Saturday, eating and drinking under the sakura. As night fell and the early spring chill began to envelop us, we packed up and retreated to a cozy neighborhood izakaya to warm up over sake and small dishes of vegetables, seafood and grilled meats.
Experiences like this first led me to fall in love with Japan, and thrill me to this day, even after all these years. I first moved from New York City to Tokyo with a desire to master the Japanese language. Planning to stay a year, I ended up staying several, and now spend several months of every year traveling through Japan. (Read my story.)
I never planned on dedicating my life to Japan. But after moving back to the US, I found I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and ultimately Boutique Japan was born.
Over the years, our clients have told us they’ve fallen in love with Japan for the very same reasons – so without further ado, I’m thrilled to share a few of my absolute favorite things about Japan.
Smiling Japanese man Shinjuku Tokyo Japan
