強羅 Gora – 箱根湯本 Hakone-Yumoto – 新宿 Shinjuku – 原宿 Harajuku – 表参道 Omotesando – 外苑前 Gaienmae – 渋谷 Shibuya
The sky in Gora.
An hour later.
Fire extinguisher.
Umbrellas.
Favourite pictures in ka you kyoku.
Western breakfast; Japanese breakfast.
Back to the city. Our housekeeper, Taka, looked after us extremely well at GORAKADAN. We have to thank HF for the experience.
Found ChaChanoMa but it has already closed for the New Year holiday.
To Annon Cook instead.
Shopping from kisara.
Mocha and sour cream roll.
Workshop and shop in Zakka.
Shop in Ebisu where I couldn’t browse.
Curry as seen on Mai’s.
Replies
V (via contact form): You can find Head Porter Plus women’s wear in hp*annex.
Julia (via contact form): Here is something I do for work. As for Japan during Christmas, it just happens that I could get away for an extended period of time without work commitments during the Christmas and New Year break so here we are. I’d like to visit Tokyo during the spring-time hopefully. Where were you living during your 3-year stay in Japan?
natsuki(@baies): I had an unexpected relaxing trip to the onsen so all’s good. I am a little sad because a lot of the independents I want to visit have closed for the holiday. I have to be more active next time. Happy new year!
may: I wondered if it could be made (at home). Not exactly replicating the crocodile but making animal sculptures from scrubbing brushes.
Priscilla: The only ride I went on was the one where I got aerial views of Asakusa. Nico went on swans and the carousel.
Grace: Which part of China is your family in? Communications is my major too but I don’t know if I am not regretting the choice. If you need any help with planning your weekend trips (to maximise time!), you can write to me.
ai: If you notice Nico in the background of the napolitan shot, the ice-cream she was holding is fake. I actually contemplated the tawashi animals but too big to bring back! It didn’t seem over-priced at that time but now I think about it…
Annette: It’s a corn snack I think but because it’s so cheap, I dread to read the ingredients list. They come in extremely tasty and varied flavours!
sopchan: I didn’t think they were screaming but they are hysterical. I wondered though if they were the types made of animal fur.
yuko: I didn’t. I never manage to find anything I want. Got a box set of her three books in one.
hiki: It’s my favourite. Most things are very well-done in Tokyo but hoco has that extra independent spirit that doesn’t feel contrived. So will you be breaking from work today? Have you finished with cleaning?
editor: I think there was the same fries man in London too. Outside a shop from a falafel chain.
tommy: 名字是男是女不太重要吧？哈。。。
graziella: Two days left!
Winnie: The nails belong to my friend, Chieko. I’m like a tramp. Mine are hardly trimmed, not even polished.
Tofu: Thank you for your feedback but I might change the banner when I get back in London next year. Cherry pie was delicious! I miss it now. Coffee was so good too.
A note on: cafe, flower, food, gora, japan, kanagawa, lifestyle, panasonic lumix dmc-g1, shopping, tokyo, travel
So so pretty!
i very much like the new banner and blog design. the breakfast photo is amazing!
the umbrellas look really nice-I’ve never seen such before, but looks like something I’d rather use when it’s raining than the European option..
what does a Japanese breakfast consist of?
Fantastic photos. It’s like Lucy Liu and Uma Thurman will turn up any second.
such amazing photos Tommy, as always. I have a little ache in my heart looking through them, they really take me back to our honeymoon trip last December. I think it’s going to be a while before we can visit Japan again… sad, sad face.
What an incedible sky!!! And you captured it. In fact you’re so good at looking at the small details – like the tassels on the blinds….
It all looks SO exotic to a Western sensibility, the flowers placed on a bowl (it wasn’t a meal was it?)
Is it a particularly expensive place to be (staying wise/travelling wise) – did you work it all out painstakingly before with a schedule of things to do – or are you just on holiday seeing how things go and where they take you?
So many questions , sorry – also are vegetarians catered for easily there??
Happy almost new year
I’ve never been to Hakone myself — but now I feel I MUST visit! Thank you as always for lovely, lovely photos.
Food! Glorious food! And Japan! I left my heart there since 2006. The Japanese breakfast! [Cups mouth]. Um, even the grapefruit looks more appetizing. Hope you have a spanking new year. :)
actually, i remember using a scrub brush as a cat’s tail for art class in primary school. the cat’s body was papier-mache over a glass bottle. i only remember this because straightening out the brush was such bristly (and painful) work!
beautiful photos tommy!!
i love the japanese breafast, it’s so healthy.
i have those kind of japanese flip flop, but not the special socks :)
gorakadan looks amazing! my family is from 成都， 四川 . i’m looking at grad school programs for communications in the states and so many schools are like “you want communications? here’s our journalism grad school program!” but journalism isn’t the only thing you can do with communications! once i get my tutorial schedule i’ll be sure to ask you for your help! thank you!
oh thank you for sharing yoru photos rom japan!!
Oh I am so jealous that you are now in Japan!!
You seem to be having a fantastic time there.
The pictures at Gora Kadan were beautiful.
I love the place.
It is definitely the best Ryokan to visit in Hakone (even more so if it is an invitation from HF!!)
Hope the rest of your stay will be as wonderful.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and don’t forget to eat Soba noodles on New Year’s Eve!! ;)
Beautiful photos as always! I wonder what it’s like to call HF a friend. I bet he has a lot of interesting stories to tell.
Lovely photos! They brought back memories of my onsen experience somewhere outside Tokyo last year. How great that was!
看了你的照片，我越来越想去日本了。
Your photos are amazing now I have to go to gorakadan!
ahhh you stayed at gora kadan! so lovely :) what a wonderful treat!
Fantastic images!
How wierd & funny is this? I know Mai! I was in the same year as her at St. Martins back in days! I was soo surprised to come across her name on here and subsequently finding her blog!
- Anyway, hope you’re well Tommy, & thanks for letting me use your image. – I’ve got a G9 camera that I never ever use because I hate it – I’m currently surfing the net, wasting time after falling asleep at 9pm, woke up early now can’t sleep… – I came across panasonic lumix gf1 bundled with 20mm pancake lens on Amazon. – Isn’t 20mm pancake lens the one that you use? Is it the lens you’ve used for your Tokyo shots? It’s beautiful as always – You’ve got G1I know, & I was pondering on wether I could imitate your photography y’see…