Omotesando Koffee

June is the best time for viewing hydrangea in Tokyo. They bloomed almost the same time all over Tokyo, at least where I spotted them. Same here, in this very small garden in the Omotesando Koffee's area, it was nice to sit beneath the hydrangea bush, under the sun (just a little or I'd get tanned), and have a refreshing iced-mocha.

The shop is a little bit hidden but wasn't hard to find. We're living in a google era, where we can search almost anything out of it. Thanks Google!

Even there is only two bench in the garden, people still came here all the time. It is famous among locals and foreigners, according to what I saw several times I visited. Some seems to know the owner, they had some chit-chat with him while sipping espresso at the bar inside.

Note : Photo taken by iPhone5C

House NA

Architect Sou Fujimoto

I have always been admiring Japanese architects and architectures for years, since I was studying Architecture. How they can manage such small spaces and create many great things. Not just the architects but those who are involve in the construction process should get credit for my admiration too; engineers, constructor, contractor, and more.

The house located in the neighbourhood of Koenji, walking distance from the JR station. 

I always curious how the owner lives in such transparent place and what do he/she feels about living in it. Certainly, there's a lot of people go there to see the house, with curtains shut outsider outside. Also there's a note from the owner in front of the house to all the visitors that please be keep your voice down or else you gonna disturb the neighbour. 

Note : All photo taken by Nikon V1 and 10mm lens.

Gwen's speech

I went to the cinema to watch The Amazing Spiderman 2 yesterday. It wasn't about the fantastic action production that touched me, but Gwen Stacy's lines in the films were impressive.

Note : Skip this if you haven't watch the movies yet.

' I know that we all think we're immortal, we're supposed to feel that way, we're graduating. The future is and should be bright, but, like our brief four years in high school, what makes life valuable is that is doesn't last forever, what makes it precious is that it ends. I know that now more than ever. And I say it today of all days to remind us that time is luck. So don't waste it living someone else's life, make yours count for something. Fight for what matters to you, no matter what. Because even if you fall short, what better way is there to live? '
Gwen Stacy's speech for graduation scene.

A reminder to anybody including myself that life is unpredictable, no matter what happens tomorrow, we have already had today. Let's make every single day count.

:-)

Irises in Nezu Museum

During this year Golden Week, I had visited the Nezu Museum while the 'Irises and Wisteria Screens' special exhibition was holding. The exhibition last for about a month, from April 19 - May 18, which is almost the same time for the Irises in the garden to bloom.

I had visited the museum several times before this exhibition, I have to say, the Irises and Wisteria Screens' has totally won my heart for its beauty, complexity, delicacy, subtleness, and all. Not only the magnificent screens in the exhibition, but the real thing blooming in the garden was breath-taking too.

Nezu Museum was opened in 1941 after Nezu Kaichiro, Tobu railway industrialist and president, has passed away. The museum intention was to preserve his personal collection and it was his private residence site at Aoyama where the museum located. Due to his passion in 'the way of tea', the museum is considered especially strong in arts related to tea. Not only the exhibition, but the museum also included a very beautiful garden with tea houses too.

In 2006, Nezu's grandson commissioned Kengo Kuma to remodel the buildings and design a new in the garden which one now a Nezu Cafe. Kengo Kuma is a very well-known architect these days, not only in Japan, but his name is famous all over the world too.

'It is an attempt to design a museum as an urban design, rather than a single building. The avenue of Omotesando, where high-end brand shops and boutiques are jostling one another, begins with the woods of Meiji Jingu Shrine, and concludes in the south end with Nezu Museum abundant in green.
...
We want the new museum to be linked naturally with its surroundings by the shade from the gentle slope of the roof, located between the busy commercial area and the wood. 
...'

The architecture itself is subtle in my opinion. Tons of details, usual for Japanese architects, but still admirably. The lighting in every exhibitions, too, very considerate, very specific, very impressive.

It doesn't matter if you are interested in Art or Architecture or not, the museum is worth a visit if you go around the venue. The cafe in the garden was very nice, it is located for viewing the beautiful garden, plus green tea latte was good too. Stroll down the garden for a while and you'll forget those boutiques outside.

Note: Photograph is not allowed in the exhibition.
Direction: Omotesando Station Exit A5
Walk up the stair and turn right, go straight until you see the museum.
Price: 1,200yen/ 1,000yen for student

Norwegian Tokyo

After moving to Tokyo for 2 months, I've decided to write a journal based on my interest and passion for good design, space, and taste.

As we all know that there are a lot of good coffee around the city, I happened to try one yesterday.

It was a fine Saturday, yesterday. Nice weather. All day sunny and people were enjoying the weather.

Within the walking distance from Shibuya station, up in the north, nearby the Yoyogi garden, here is a Norwegian-born coffee shop.

Fuglen Tokyo
Espressobar Cocktailbar

We arrived there at around 3 o'clock and were lucky enough to get a seat in the shop. It wasn't crowded but the seats inside were quite full. I ordered blended Ice-mocha (620yen) which was nice and refreshing even though the coffee was very light. My friend ordered shaken Ice-latte, single shot, much better if you want more real coffee and caffeine. Anyway the coffee smell really good, would be great to have it early in the day (I will have trouble with sleeping if I drink too much coffee in late afternoon though).

The interior represents Norwegian scent so well in my opinion, the dark-coloured woods, furnitures, books, and decorated stuffs. The place must be famous among the foreigners, too, because I almost felt like I wasn't in Japan. LOL.

p.s. I apologize for any error in my writing skills since English isn't my native language. :-D