Living in Misawa can be tough!

Have you ever thought about buying any of your favorite chips online? Realizing such a small selection we can choose from commisary, We have thought about purchasing chips online as a bulk. I was in the states almost a year before I really started to settle down in Misawa for the 4 yeard of journey, I didn't even think about finding a chip that we like or buying fruits and vegetable can be hard thing. When we were in Vegas, We lived across from Wal-Mart and Costco. couple blocks down the street, there was Smith's and Farmers Market. We had such a nice selection of food and places that we can choose from. Here in MIsawa, We have commisary and BX then off base grocery stores such as Universe, Home mac and Asahi Drugstore. Fruit comes with a small bag and price is ridiculous. People is talking about Farm around this area and Fruits store, however it is certain that we have a very very limited selection of the food and fresh products. 

Last night, I had a dream of buying 2lb strawberry, kiwi, watermelon (which is about $30 in Japan), and many of items and bringing them to home! I certainly miss all of those things..

Tokyo trip_the Second day Dinner

We had dinner at Outback in Roppongi. Pumpkin soup was great. server was super busy so the service was slow. We realized that we need to grap anybody to get any services by calling them sumimasen. otherwise, we wouldn't be able to get the bill or to go box when the dinner was over. we might have been wait an hour to leave. Mini bbq was great. 

Outback Steakhouse Roppongi

Roppongi Food Gate, "Rocmon" 2F

6-1-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032

03-5413-4870

Tokyo Trip_Takoyaki Museum

This place is a food court rather than a museum. there are stores where sells tacoyaki and related items. It was funny yo see tacoyaki standing on the ship and direct the way on the sea and small place to memorize tacoyaki. 

Even though we couldn't go to Lego Land, we could visit their store at the end of Wax Museum. Dobbie key chain is the item we bought there. It costs 600 yen.

Bubble tea was the best part of takoyaki  museum

Tokyo trip_ Wax Museum

We would like to go to Lego land and Wax Museum together at the price for 2,700 yen per each person. we were not allowed to access in Lego Land because we don't have child with us. So we only could see the Wax Museum. it was fun to take a lot of pictures and people were very nice. Lots of dolls were Japanese pop starts or politians so we didn't know who the singer is. also lots of starts we recognize there which gave us the great  and funny pictures. 

Tokyo_Jan 31st, 2015_Obaiba

Obaiba is artificial island which only one railroad is running through the island called yurikamome. Heading out to the island is great when it is a good day. It was rainny day which made everything hard to move to diferent places. we bought a day pass of yurikamome which was about 850 yen. the one way is about 350 yen so it is much better to buy one day pass if you plan on drop by several places inside of the islad. we thought there is a aquarium and fun places, but what we found out when we get there is that they don't have aquarium but it is a huge shopping center. there were bunch of teenagers who came to odaiba for the trip. We didn't feel like much of shopping so we decided to just look around little bit and head out to aquarium until we found the cool places like Wax museum and lego land. the weather works negatively toward our trip as well. 

the small fish tank is what they are talking about as an aquarium. 

the cool small stores are pretty fun to see. 

Tokyo trip_The Second day Lunch

We were planning on head to Starbucks after Fire museum. We saw this place on the way to Starbucks so we decided to have lunch here. their peppers were not finely chopped which added on more flavors on the burger. we were happy to find another great burger store in Tokyo.

Island Burgers

Tokyo, Shinjuku, Yotsuya, 3 Chome-1

03-5315-5190

lunch starts at 11am

Tokyo_Jan 31st, 2015_Fire Museum

Tokyo Fire Museum is a geat place to learn the history of the fire prevention in Japan. It has great display items that shows the what and how fire prevention has been eveloped to fit the geological situation in Japan (mainly wooden houses).  We only could see 3th, 5th and underground floor due to the construction at other floors, we had great time there. It is so easy to find the find since it only takes a minutes from the subway station. 

Fire Museum

3-10 Yotsuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0004

03-3353-9119

There is a toy museum near by Fire museum, so I highly recommend to drop by both place once you are here. It was rainny and snowy day when we went there, so we decided to head out to odaiba.

Tokyo_First night

Roppongi ha the beautiful illumination around midtown mall. 

Tokyo trip_First day dinner

As it shown on the schedule, we head out to Roppongi to have a first day dinner. this place is located inside of the midtown where there is a complex of shopping center and the hotel. It is the far courner of the food court. Baker Bounce burger has great Bacon and cheese burger served with Japanese style salad and several potato wedgies. I ordered grilled veges and mashed potatoes. there were little bit too much of egg plants but overal taste was great. they make ketchup at the store and it is sold in their online stoe. the ketcup was great. 

Baker Bounce Midtown

5 Chone- 13- 5 Taishido, Setagaya, Tokyo 154- 0004

03-5481-8670

open until 22:30

 

Tokyo trip_Jan 30th 2015

We arrived little earlier than the schedule so we decided to head out to Roppongi. It's been a while since we saw lots of buildings and people on the steet. Even if it was cold outside, it made us feel more like home than we were in Misawa.

when we were approaching to the hotel, this is what we saw on the street. the buildings were so close to the road, we could see people having cup of tea in their house. we were so excited to be in city. 

An apple peeler

The apple produce around Misawa is huge. The price for the apple is so affordable all year around. But the peeling the apple can be annoying. I found an apple peeler at Noroti at Hachinohe yesterday. It's 560 yen and works great for me. 

Here is the result

And 

Tokyo Trip plan

Day 1

Tokyo Arrival

dinner at Rigoreto
from Hiro-o to Roppongi (Hibiya Line) 5F West Walk in Roppongi Hills
budget : ¥40,000 (possible candidates for dinner is at Bakerbounce Burger)

Day 2

Asakusa
Eat melon bread at Kagetudo & Silk pudding
Hiro-o -> Higashi-ginza , then Higashi-ginza -> Asakusa (marunouchi line) - orange

Odaiba
odaiba kai hinko en station off - lego land (decks tokyo beach)  , daiba station - statue of liberty & aqua city , aomi station - venus fort
Shinbashi (Ginza sen) - Yurikamome Line (get 800 yen , day pass)
lunch at eggs n' things (pancake) or KUA`AINA (burger)

shibuya (Option #1)
disney store, loft, NHK studio (until 6:30pm)
Tokyo Teleport Station -Linkai line toward omiya. Ebisu Station - Yamanote Line 各停 towards For Shibuya (490 yen)
dinner at outback steakhouse

Ebisu (Option #2)
Ebisu Garden Plaza, Harbs, Ebisu Place Tower 38th floor for free night view
Tokyo Teleport Station -Linkai line toward omiya. Ebisu Station (490yen)
dinner at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele(Pizza)


Back to Hotel

Day 3

Harajuku
Meiji jingu, Kiddy Land, Marion Crapes, Gyoza lou
Hiro-o Station - Hibiya Line 各停 towards Nakameguro, Ebisu Station - Yamanote Line 各停 towards For Shibuya - Harajuku 310 yen
Lunch at Gyoza lou, snack at Marion Crapes.

Shinjuku
Don Quixote, Tokyu Hands - stores
Harajuku Station -Yamanote Line 各停 towards For Shinjuku - Shinjuku 140yen
Lunch at Tonchinkan

Ikebukuro
sunshine city
shinjuku - Yamanote Line 各停 towards For Ikebukuro station
aquarium - 2000 yen for adult


Ueno
Ueno zoo, Market
ikebukuro-  Ikebukuro Station
ikebukuro-  Ikebukuro Station
(Platform 7,8) Yamanote Line 各停 towards For Ueno, then off at Okachimachi Station and walk 3 min
zoo - 600 yen

Back to Hotel

Day 4
Back to Misawa

Details about restaurants and places are stored in other post.

Tokyo Trip plan details - restaurant addresses and information

Roppongi

メゾンカイザー (Maison Kayser) - bakery

赤坂9丁目7-4 Minato, 東京都 〒107-0052 Japan

+81 3 6804 6285

Business websitemaisonkayser.co.jp

RIGORETO BAR AND GRILL

〒106-0032

東京都港区六本木6-10-1 六本木ヒルズ　ウェストウォーク　5F

5F West Walk in Roppongi Hills、6-10-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Reservation

Tel: 03-6438-0071/03-6438-0177 (rigoretto.grill@huge.co.jp)

Mon-Sat : 11:00am-5:00am, sun & holidays 11:00am-11:00pm (lunch : 11:00am-3pm)

Bakerbounce Burger (Tokyo Midtown store)

Zip          107-0052

Address               Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 9-7-4 D-B113

Tel          03-5647-8311

Fax         03-5647-8312

E-mail    info@bakerbounce.jp

Tokyo Midtown Official Site) Http://Www.Tokyo-midtown.Com/jp/

Thai Kitchen Krung Siam Roppongi

106-0032 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 7-10-4

TEL-Fax: 03-6434-9350

Toei Oedo Line Roppongi Station Exit 7 2-minute walk

Lunch 11: 30 ~ 15: 00 (LO14: 30) Dinner 17: 00 ~ 23: 00 (LO22: 00)

http://www.krungsiam.info/index.html

TULLY'S COFFEE (タリーズコーヒー六本木ヒルズ店)

Address: 六本木ヒルズノースタワー １Ｆ, 6-2-31 Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan

Phone:+81 3-5772-2334

Hours: Open today · 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

Seattle’s Best Coffee Cinnabon Roppongi

六本木6-5-18    Minato, 東京都 〒106-0032  Japan    Roppongi Station, Roppongi Hills

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE

Roppongi

http://www.outbacksteakhouse.co.jp/en/location/roppongi.html

Telephone: +81-3-5413-4870

Address

Roppongi Food Gate "ROCMON" 2F, 6-1-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 Japan

One minute walk from "Hibiya Line Roppongi" station or "Oedo Line Roppongi" station.

Store Hours

Mon-Fri: Lunch 11:30-15:00 (LO14:30), Dinner 17:00-23:30 (LO22:30)

Sat-Sun Public Holidays: 11:30-23:30 (LO22:30)

Shibuya

GONTRAN CHERRIER TOKYO | ゴントラン シェリエ 東京 (awesome bakery)

1 Chome-14-11 Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

+81 3-6418-9581

Asakusa

Kagetudo (melon bread)

2 chome-2-10 asakusa, taito-ku, japan

Tel: 03-3847-5251

http://blog.naver.com/jongkuni/220169717143

Asakusa silk pudding (http://www.testarossacafe.net/shop/index.html)

Taito-ku, Tokyo Asakusa 1-4-11 telephone number 03-3843-7771

Hours 11:00 to 21:00

nearest station Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station 2 minutes , Asakusa Asakusa Station 3 minutes 　　　　　　　　Tsukuba Express Line Asakusa Station 5 minutes

Odaiba

Eggs' n Things Odaiba shop (pancakes, waffles, crapes, omelets..)

9:00 to 23:00 (last order 21:30)

Tel: 03-6457-1478

Minato-ku, Tokyo Odaiba 1-7-1 Aqua City Odaiba 3F

Yurikamome "Daiba Station" 1 minute walk from  a 6-minute walk from Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai "Tokyo Teleport Station"

KUA`AINA クア・アイナ (burger)

Address: Japan, 〒135-0091 Tokyo, Minato, Daiba, 1−7−1 アクアシティお台場 (Aqua city 4^th floor)

Phone:+81 3-3599-2800

Hours: Open today · 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Shibuya

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 渋谷店

Address: 34-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan

Phone:+81 3-5459-7751

Hours: Open today · 5:00 pm – 12:00 am

ディズニーストア(渋谷公園通り店) (shibuya Disney store)

Address: 20-15 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Phone:+81 3-3461-3932

Hours: Closing soon · 10:00 am – 9:30 pm

ロフト渋谷ロフト店 (Loft)

Address: 21-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan

Phone:+81 3-3462-3807

Hours:  10:00 am – 9:00 pm

NHKスタジオパーク (NHK studio park)

Address: 2-2-1 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan

Phone:+81 3-3485-8034

10am to 6:30pm (200 yen for adult)

http://www.nhk.or.jp/studiopark/

Ebisu

L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele

4-4-7 Ebisu, Shibuya 150-0013, Tokyo Prefecture

+81 3-5447-3800

恵比寿ガーデンプレイス（株） (Ebisu Garden Place)

Address: Japan, 〒150-0013 東京都渋谷区 恵比寿４丁目２０

Phone:+81 3-5423-7111

http://gardenplace.jp/

恵比寿ビール博物館 (Yebisu beer Memorial) 500 yen for adults

Address:  Japan, Yubinbango150-8522 Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ebisu Garden Place Ebisu 4-20-1

Phone: +81 3-5423-7255

Hours:  11:00 am - 6:30 pm

HARBS (cake store)

Address:  Japan, Tokyo, Shibuya, Ebisu, 4 Chome-20-7 Ebisu Mitsukoshi Ebisu Mitsukoshi 1F East zone (within the Ebisu Garden Place)

Phone: +81 3-3449-2643

Harajuku

Meiji Jingu

Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonochō, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-8557, Japan

Phone:+81 3-3379-5511

Hours:  5:45 am – 4:30 pm

Kiddy Land

Address: 6-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Phone:+81 3-3409-3431

Hours: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

MARION CREPES

Location: 1-6-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (Takeshita Dori, Harajuku)

Nearest Train Station: Harajuku (JR Yamanote Line); Meiji-Jingumae (Fukutoshin lines, Chiyoda lines)

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10.30am – 8pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 10am – 8pm

原宿餃子楼 (Harajuku Gyoza Lou) – 5 starts! Eat lunch here

Address:  Japan, 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 6-2-4, Okajima building

Phone: +81 3-3406-4743

Ueno

Ueno Zoo

Address: 9-83 Uenokoen, Taito, Tokyo 110-0007, Japan

Opened: 1882

Area: 35 acres (14 ha)

Notable animal: Ling Ling (Giant panda)

Phone: +81 3-3828-5171

アメ橫 (ueno market)

Address: Japan, 〒110-0005 東京都台東区 上野4

Phone:+81 3-3832-5053

www.ameyoko.net/

Shinjuku

豚珍館 • トンチンカン (Tonchinkan) –donkastu

Where: Nearest landmark: Kadoya Hotel, 1-23-1 Shinjuku, Nishi-Shinjuku

西新宿1丁目13-8 ＬｅＣＩＥＬ西新宿館  Shinjuku, 東京都 〒160-0023 Japan

+81 3 3348 5774

Hours

11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

ハンバーグ ウィル（Hamburg Will）

03-3358-4161

http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130402/13041176/

Tokyu Hands – everything store

http://shinjuku.tokyu-hands.co.jp/en/

2 minutes on foot from New South Exit of JR Shinjuku Station

10:00～21:00

(+81)03-5361-3111(auto responder)

Don Quixote –drug store

1-12-6 Okubo Shinjuku-ku Tokyo, JAPAN, 169-0072

03-5292-7411     / 03-5292-7412

Open 24 Hours

JR-Line JR-Line Seibu Shinjuku-Line It takes a 12 minute walk from Shinjuku Station It takes a 5 minite walk from Shin-okubo Station It takes a 2 minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station

Tokyo trip coming up..

So My husband and I will be taking a trip to Tokyo at the end of this month through ITT trip. We're very excited to take a trip during the winter time because we don't have many things to do here in Misawa other than snowboarding or skiing. I will plan this 3 nights and 4 days trip to Tokyo and will probably make a video along the way of the trip. It is similar to greyhound bus trip back in the States. we will ride a bus to Tokyo for about 10 hours on the toll road. So stay tuned about Tokyo trip. 

Also I am volunteering as a Japaneses language instructor at A&FRC on Fridays at the Survival Japaneses class. I have been working on making handouts for this Friday and hope the class is informative and fun for everyone. The class is free for everyone and held during lunch time on Friday. Please contact to A&FRC for more details about Survival Japaneses Class. 

Base housing and a dehumidifier and a humidifier dilemma

Living in Misawa almost for a year and half.. I have seen the transition of on base housing in a positive way. One of the great things that ever happened in Misawa AFB is probably air conditioner installation. I started to living on north side housing since it was newly remodeled and it was definitely quiet than main base housing.  Now that the air conditioners are installed , dehumidifiers might not be needed. Some of the base housing has not equipped with the air conditioners though. It is totally up to your decision to purchase one or not. I didn't have a problem living without humidifiers even though we needed to come to BX just for the air conditioner. It would be great to have one but it's not a necessity. A humidifier I bought from BX doesn't seem like doing its job. I am not planning to buy another one at this moment rather we're using it as a white noise maker at master bedroom. 

My husband and I were living in apartment in Vegas so we were imagine the tower would be the same as Vegas apartment. Shortly after moving to Misawa JP, we realize this is 100% different than Vegas apartment. we wouldn't be able to hear single sound throughout the day, week. People seems to be worried about having so many neighbors around by living in a tower and have annoying people or neighbors would be the worst thing ever living in overseas. one thing to remember choosing a house would be if you can handle all of the house chores, mow grass 2-3 times a week, shovel the snow (about 8 inches average), and many more. It is nice to have kids to run around easily in the yard that is belonged to the family. As a family without kids, living in the tower is definitely recommended as far as I experienced so far.