atami.moa.museum.熱.海.の.moa.美.術.館

MOA museum of art (moa美術館) stood highly on top of the hill side with an unbeatable sea view.  at the entrance after the ticket counter is a good 4 or 5 flights of escalator up to the museum itself.

it reminds me of MIHO museum in the kyoto prefecture.  there are different colors of the light illuminating as one take the escalator and some background music playing softly and at the end, a large and spacious dome welcomes me.  just the walk itself is quite an experience. and from this point onwards you have the choice of taking the indoor escalator or do what i did, come out to the open space and walk my way to the museum, and pose to appreciate the wonderful sea view and fresh air outdoor.

moore plaza

the exterior of the museum, it's really very MIHO too, although MIHO is more impressive but right here, i am enjoying the fresh air and sun while appreciate the blue sky, puffy cotton like clouds and sea view.  i feel like a bliss, not a moment that i am not thanking God for a wonderful saturday like this.

clear blue sky and just one barren tree in this picture makes the place very surreal.  very watercolor and very japanese painting like too!

at the top, finally and this photo just shows how high up i am as you can see a little bit of the ocean out there

and as i entered into the museum, this is the view that welcomed me.  again very MIHO yet with a different ways with a different view.

view from the main lobby

for me, just the panoramic view itself already worth the ticket (1400 yen), let alone the collections in the museum.

a noh theater, it still holds seasonal noh performances

golden tea room 黄金の茶室

a golden tearoom replica, this is a rather famous replicas from the imperial palace (i believe) and you probably can't see it clearly but all the tea ceremony utensils are made of gold.

another panoramic view, looking at the castle out there, i am planning my next destination in my mind while i am not even done with the one third of the collection...

the japanese art collections are very rich, likewise monet's water lilies can be found here too.

there is an island at the far side of the ocean.  that is one of the famous island that tokyoites go for long weekend.

imagine this is just the interior of the museum, and i have not yet share about the museum compound yet.

more to come!

atami.熱海

when the weather in tokyo is too cold, i run to "hot sea" , well that is the literal kanji translation of atami (熱海), located at izu hanto, an absolute weekend paradise for tokyoites.  i couldn't find any ryokan or hotel reservation for this weekend, but i woke up in the morning still decided to make my way to hot sea atami.

and on the way to atami, mount fuji (富士山) decided to show his face to welcome me. that was a very pleasant and surprise welcome.  the last trip i took shinkansen from tokyo-kyoto-tokyo two years ago, fuji-san just decided to hide himself then.

up close and personal welcome and big hug from mr fuji

 it was very cold, icy cold in tokyo city, but a quick 45 min shinkansen ride, i am at the comfortable seaside.  a lot warmer and comfortable to walk in the sun.  i took things slowly, hopped on to a circular bus that costs 800 yen for the day.  i visited a few places, from atami baien (熱海梅園) to MOA museum of arts (MOA美術館), atami castle to kiunkoku (起雲閣) and from kiunkoku i walk toward the sea and take the slow stroll along the atami promenade, accompanied by calm pacific sea and walk up hill to atami train station.

again i am having bottleneck in sorting out my photos, so for now i am just sharing a few photos of atami beach front so that you got an idea of the place.

 

at the top as i looking down to the promenade, i really feel that i was at cote d' azur, the french riviera. and it is not wrong to say that atami is the japan riveria and onsen paradise.  i totally understand why all accommodations are sold out on weekends, especially the cold weekend like this.

atami castle at the top of the hill

at the promenade, i look up to atami castle at the top, she is waving at me, oh no... i just don't want to leave yet

atami beach front

i walk rather slowly along the promenade, love the mild sunset and deserted beach.  it's quite and i almost have the whole area for myself and as look to the left where all the hotels and ryokans are located i know why the beach is deserted as everybody is soaking in the rotenburo onsen (outdoor hot spring) somewhere up there and enjoying the view.  i wish i could be one of them but no... i am not staying... i am going home.

moon terrace

supposedly the romantic spot when the moon is lite and the lights are on, should be very enchanting at night.

half way through the promenade, i have to hike up hill, i mean really like 80 degree up hill to the atami train station where i will catch my shinkansen home.

taking this photo while soaking my foot at the foot onsen just outside the station.  the consolation at least.  i think i will come back again to atami.  now that i know this place a little more, i know where i want to stay for a night at least.

more stories on atami to follow in the coming week.

it's sunday again.  time to get ready for another busy week.

have a blessed week!

top.of.the.world

it's a beautiful day here in tokyo, i hope you are enjoying your saturday to the fullest like me too!  i went to atami (熱海) today and spent most of my day there, just came back in time for the "star viewing" event organized by the building management tonight.

while we all take turn to watch the stars using the special binocular, i also take in the superb night view from the top of the world tokyo via my nikon.  thanked God that my nikon did me the justice, the photos came out okay, i won't say great because i should be able to do a better job using dslr.  having said that these are taken without tripod, so a pad on my own shoulders for these results.



the eiffel tower of the east, tokyo tower right in front of me and the sister building mori green hill office tower



all the time at the top, my heart just giving thanks to God for all the wonderful things that He has done for me. 

roppongi hills from a distance, another mori building with a stunning view of tokyo and also house a museum. 

 roppongi hills, i am going there tomorrow for the sunday church service.  it's also my plan to go up to the mori arts museum tomorrow as JLH church is about to move to harajuku starting mid march, from that moment onwards i probably won't make a trip there anymore even though it is just a metro stop away.



at the very end, far back after the red and white steel tower is the tokyo sky tree.  a new landmark that will eventually takes over tokyo tower in terms of height and fame. it's all the way beyond asakusa (浅草) at oshiage (押上)

from this direction, is the view of shinbashi (新橋),  ginza (銀座), chiyoda ward (千代田区) and all the way visible to asakusa and beyond signed by the tokyo sky tree at oshiage.

logo my apartment building, also a mori property

at the point of taking this photo, i suddenly feel like badman robin who always stands at the high place viewing down to the city.  here i am, not badman or catwoman but a blessed one whom spirit is deeply touched with gratitude to the mighty God in heaven above.

tokyo bay at the far end

lastly the look out to beyond tokyo bay and perhaps a little bit of odaiba (お台場).

hipsmatic.hamarikyu

firday, yes, friday!!  since yesterday i have been searching for a weekend stay at atami but with no luck of any reasonable price accomodation.  atami, izu or ito are Tokyoites weekend paradise with onsen (hot spring) and great seafood.  i searched all night and found nothing, not just for this weekend but it seem all places are booked up in advance.  so i guess i have to stay in tokyo again.  not that i am done with exploring tokyo but just the idea of soaking in the hot open air bath with natural water and the kaiseki dinner that follow after the bath Itches me so much.
time passes incredibly fast, both working days and weekends.  so much more that i already in the counting down mode, although i am not done here till march but the fear of not seeing and know this city and country enough just tear me apart.  perhaps i have fall in love with tokyo? i guess so... it was really since last weekend when i explored hama rikyu onshi teien and that moment i really discover the charm of this city, which is something that hong kong cannot give.
anyway, it's friday, i need to keep this short so that i have time to plan for my weekend. it's about time to get my hair cut and to see the ume...
below are a few shots of hamarikyu onshi teien in hipsmatic mode, taken by my iphone.  you probably know i love lomographic but lomo puts me off because it is not digital but on film.  i have no patient to wait for the development of the film which takes days....
hipsmatic is a good substitute.  enjoy!

center lake and tea house

view of the city skyscrapers from the tea house, a mixed of modern and traditional

tatami sitting place where i am waiting for my japanese tea ceremony to start

another view of the tranquil garden and modern scene

stone path - lead my way Lord, and i will follow You, that's exactly what i feel at that moment

some random shots here and there

takeshita.dori.竹.下.通.り

hello harajuku (原宿), koniciwa takeshita dori (竹下通り).

this is the famous and playful sign that marks the start and end of takeshita dori.  this is also a place where young, not so young, dare to be different, 'trendy' or alternative gothic people congregate.  takeshita dori is the magic charm of harajuku.

from ginza i take a short metro ride to omodesando, and from there i took a stroll to harajuku. not that i have not had enough of my portion in window shopping but i came here for a purpose.  the church that i am currently attending will be moving to harajuku starting mid march.  saturday night is just the preview of the location with a short celebration service.

while approaching takeshita dori, there is this seriously long line queue for something.... this is not the end of the queue, it actually turns and a lot longer...

i am curious, so i walk up and check it out.  it's actually nothing more than a restaurant called 'eggs n things'.  well, i will leave it for you to figure out what so special about this eatery then.  there are hundreds of restaurant, noodles bar ranging from affordable to expensive here within omotesando (expensive), harajuku (reasonable) and takeshita dori (cheap).

it's crowded, but not as crowded as the last visit two years ago. perhaps it's the time that i am visiting but at least i don't have to braise shoulder to shoulder. lots of hong kong tourists though, i hear cantonese everywhere...

the sort of shops here in takeshita dori.  if you want to be elegant and classy, head to ginza or omodesando, here is definitely not for you.  if you are the ones who want dare to be different, want to be cute and have strong incline to anime. this is the right place for you. i am cheapo when it comes to something.  i just love the daiso 100 yen shop.  they used to have a lot of outlets everywhere two years ago but this seems to be the first so far.  i grabbed a lot of stuffs, from the laundry bags to some kitchen wares, every item is just 105 yen after tax. in fact the ceramic is much cheaper than kapabashi at asakusa if you are opt for something similar, a little lower quality but perfectly fine for the purpose.

the famous crepes, spoiled of choice... but not my cup of tea. it seems to be a very "right" and must try thing here.

at the other end of the street, i spot two "cuties" in the one of a kind dresses.  they are not the only two, just that it is hard to capture the moment in the narrow street of takeshita dori.

i will have plenty of chances to revisit harajuku on sundays... looking forward to explore this place with the girls that i met at the church.... it would be fun!

a.glimpse.of.ginza.銀.座.の.一.見

ginza (銀座) - world famous premium shopping district yet i have no urge to go until yesterday.  after enjoying your extended back garden hama-rikyu onshi teien, i continue my walk to chuo district, the most expensive shopping street.

this strip of streets are closed for cars on saturday, and it is actually quite pleasant to take a stroll early in the morning (well early enough) before the crowds rush in.

 

these are the expensive, world famous most sought after objects of desire from the west.  almost every brand name has a outlet here in ginza.  these are just a few on the main ginza boulevard, there are others at the side street.

some price friendly retail stores.  i walked into h&m and zara and the goods and presentations are so much better here, not just comparing to the lowland but also comparing to the ones in new york city.  somehow, clothing's in h&m and zara become not just trendy but also classy.

chanel and louis vuitton are rival face to face against each other. mikimoto is japan own legendary tiffany (tiffany is here too). i wonder when will i own a set of pearl from mikimoto.

wako (和光), a famous emporium that started with seiko watch i think and carries its own brand of luxury goods.  a little old fashion to my taste though, not that i can afford anything in there but the handbags, clothing's are more like den haag noordeinde, a place where the royalty shop...

opposite wako is mitsukoshi (三越).  i can actually see mitsukoshi from my client's office and now i finally step my feet here...

i was totally starved by the time i reach the 2 chome of ginza.  with so many choices of food and restaurants to choose from, i went into this restaurant on the eighth floor of matsuya ginza (松屋銀座) and ordered a set lunch.  it comes like a feast, although everything in small little portion but if you add every single bite together, it's a very fulfilling and satisfying meal.

not to forget chawanmusi (茶碗蒸し) too good to resist, super delicate and smooth... full of seafood too!



 and finally to finish off, a special bean flour dessert, super yummy and refreshing!

ginza is very pleasant, i will definitely come back again. there are still a lot to see and taste.
today actually marks my one month stay in tokyo.  i arrived on 27th jan and it's 27th feb.  time flies isn't it?  today is also the annual tokyo marathon 2011 but i didn't join the crowds to witness the marathon live, although it is really not too far from me.  the starting point is from shinjuku toyko government tower and by the time i leave for my life group meeting, the runners probably already reached roppongi, tokyo tower area, but i have a more important appointment.  i am meeting up some gals from jesus lighthouse tokyo for life group (or cell/care group) meeting.




it's my first meeting in the life group, we had it at starbucks at roppongi hills, just opposite the church at 11am.  i attended the 1pm sunday service and had lunch with some of them.  a bunch of international mix (american, british, indians, filipino, american hongky, just to name a few nationalities), but we all love Jesus for He has a special place in our hearts and that's why we meet in tokyo. 


i been to many more places this weekend.  after ginza i went to omotesando (表参道) and harajuku (原宿) area.  today after the service i went to daikanyama (代官山).  i took too many photos and i think i have to buy an external hard disk for storage.  more stories of my tokyo weekend will come in the next few days...

more now, time to get ready for a new week.


i wish you a blessed week ahead.