Omiya Pastry Shop is an open self-service shop, with an atmosphere of unique and elegant calm, reasonable prices, and a basic flavor. The space and the taste is satisfactory on every count. The interior gives me the feeling that I've gone back in time to Japan's Showa period.

This well in Meiji jingu is called "the power spots" from people recently. It was made by the military commander Kiyomasa Kato. It is not been dry from the Edo Period till today. So it is said that the well has good luck. People set up the photo of the well on their screen saver. Of course also me.

Calm and quiet place to drink tea and enjoy a nice conversation.

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! 

Sailosaibin is tucked away on Kannon Street, a 3-minute walk away from Sasazuka Station on the western side of Tokyo. The shop is situated next to a duck-filled Tamagawa waterway and the neighborhood park adjacent bears sedentary housecats. The scenery here is nostalgic and peaceful, nearly hidden next to bustling Sasazuka. It’s a space for us to indulge our loves — fashion for Yuki and books for Ian. The clothing is a mix of things we have designed and produced, as well as one-of-a-kind handmade pieces filled with other designers’ thoughts and sensibilities. Our accessories and zakka are distinctive and idiosyncratic — objet that evoke mystery and humor. We carry a range of new, used, and antiquarian books that relate to design, art, photography, and culture.