(北湯沢) Kita Yuzawa, Hokkaido

(羊蹄山) Yotei Mountain, Hokkaido

The Misty Lake Toya, Hokkaido

The weather this year for Japan seemed to be a bit unusually warm.  This day, it went up to 12 degree and there came a romantic fog embracing Lake Toya.

View to Date City (伊達市), Uchiura Bay, Hokkaido

Usu Crater, Lake Toya, Hokkaido

Yokohama, Japan

Nigishi, Joinus Yokohama, Japan

This shop is famous for its grilled beef and ox tongue, but I'd rather try their grilled pork.  The set was served with brown rice, natto paste, pickled and a bowl of soup and a salad.  This chain restaurant will be on list if I run into it in other cities.

Brooks Cafe, Omote Sando, Tokyo

It's about 32 degree this day.  I felt like something cool and chill for a lunch.  So I got a smoothie and a sandwich in this cozy place.

Kyo Hayashiya, Sogo Yokohama, Japan

It's a bit interesting to taste some used tea leaves preserved in salt as a condiment (the small dish on the right side of the below green tea delights.  It turned out as very refreshing from the strong flavour of green tea ice cream, and even making the green tea taste more crisp.

Sheraton Yokohama, Japan

Staying in Yokohama is not bad since it's not that crowded and congested like downtown Tokyo.  If you take Haneda Airport, it takes 30 minutes by train which runs very frequently.  This hotel is quite a Japan western hotel standard.  The room is quite spacious and well maintained.  The only issue is the use of the gym/pool facilities which is not complimentary to hotel guests, but this is quite a common policy of many Japanese hotels.

Utadon (歌行燈), Sogo Yokohama, Japan

If you visit Isetan or Emporium in Bangkok, or Isetan Tokyo, this restaurant shouldn't be a stranger.  The Chinese name of this place is quite poetic.  This time I tried this restaurant in Sogo Yokohama.  There is a signature summer menu (photo 3).  It's quite refreshing for having a bowl of udon in lemon chilled soup.

Tokyo Bay

15:12, Yokohama, Japan

15:09, Yokohama, Japan

15:10, Yokohama, Japan

Nishi (West) Ginza, Tokyo

I'd still prefer to stay at Ginza because of its historic and cultural heritances.  Many shops and restaurants still keep their classic and premium style.

Midori Sushi, Umegaoka, Tokyo

Got brought to this shop in Umegaoka, about 2-3km west of Shibuya.  The shop has been here over 20 years and expanded with several branches in Ginza, Shibuya, Akasaka...etc., and a branch in HK lately. Ordered quite many pieces of sushi and sashimi.  It's about JPY15k, appro. HK$1,050.  If it's in the same standard in HK, it could be 3 times higher.  It's a bit unfortunate that a sudden urgent business matter arose that my friends and I didn't finish the meal.  Then the waitress came to say "sorry we need to close".  

Abused freedom, in the busy streets of Tokyo

Have seen quite a lot of tourists carrying heavy camera gears including a giant tripod to shoot people crossing street.  Some even stood on the other car's or shop's side wall.  

Nishi (West) Shinjuku, Tokyo