Citylight Book at Yoyogi-uehara is the type of independent bookstore where I would wish to hang every week. It opens in the afternoon and runs through late night as a bookstore, as well as a meet-up place, a bar for book lovers. Founded by Kaminaga-san, a veteran who had worked with publishing industry for many years before creating his own version of bookstore, this is a cool place to browse for new titles of books and magazines of a wide range of genres/topics. The second floor works as a nice study room too. CABO, the mix place where the bookstore is located also offers other original selection of snack bar and fine dining. You can easily drift in and out, encountering interesting souls in the hood. I had a book launch and talk event here in May, 2024. It's been such a wonderful experience, good crowd and good vibes only! 

Hawaian inspired tiny tiki bar, just a round corner form Shimokitazawa Station. Super nice decoration / owners personal skateboard collection, wired plants etc. Best Mojito in Tokyo! 

These are the Icicles of Misotsuchi in Oku-chichibu. They are built up very slowly by water dripping down. The best time to see these icicles is during the coldest part of the year, from about the middle of January to the middle of February. They're located in the in the Arakawa headwaters.

In Inokashira Park Zoo is the oldest female elephant in Japan, her name is Hanako. She became 64 years old in January 2011. She came from Thailand in 1949 and became popular. We all wish her long life. However, there was a tragedy that Hanako accidentally stepped over the staff working there and killed him. She was called “murderer” at that time.

Izu-Oshima is a small island which takes about two and a half hours by speedboat from the center of Tokyo. It is 120km away, but still is "Tokyo". The island welcomes you with a distinctive landscape, having Mt.Mihara, a sacred volacano at the center. Travelers will fully realize how small they are facing the majestic landscape of Izu-Oshima.