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.

Great place to get your work done, it's a library with nice interior space. 

The steep steps to Drip looks just like the entrance to many traditional Kissaten (Japanese coffee house/cafe) which are located on the second or third floor of the building. Well the inside is a creative blend and brew of modern interiors, new classic menu and contemporary vibes. I had my first Tokyo style cream soda and pudding. They were so good! The shelf of the owner is a big love too. I can easily spend a long day here with good reads and good drinks. 

Visiting POSTALCO brought me to this area of the city for the first time. With a fascination of their beautifully crafted stationery papers, I went to see their other original accessories, apparel collection and selected books too. It's a peaceful corner to quiet mind and re-imagine our contemporary style of writing / reading / creating. 

Shibaura House is a unique workshop space in an office district. The building was designed by Kazuyo Sejima, an architect who has often worked outside of Japan. The first floor has self-published zines from all over the world, sent in by small publishers. It's kind of like a park: there are tables and chairs that anyone can sit on while looking at the zines. It's free of charge.