I was quite sad to learn from Hitomi-San today that my favorite Almond Cafe in Roppongi had shut down after 44 yrs in this location.  For anyone who had been to Tokyo.. you can never missed the pink color sign of the cafe.. right smacked in the middle of the business station of Tokyo.  The cafe is a year older than I am.. and is opened everyday faithfully from 9am - 5pm.

You can go in and have a snack/pasteries.. or asked for take outs, and don’t you worry .. even though they had been in business for so long, they are very modernised and uses  barcode scanners.  The queue is always long.. and you always see a crowd of people at the front door.. but don’t be intimidated.. because they are very friendly people inside. So the next time you and I go to Japan.. donch forget they are in their new location… a min away from their present location.. i’m sure if you ask anyone on the street.. they will know.

The cafe will relocate on Jan 9 to a store about one minute from its current location.The company that runs the Almond cafes was founded in 1946, and is said to be the first food and beverage business in Japan that handed out “oshibori” - moistened hand towels - to customers before they ordered.

I kid you not .. this ice bar was opened in 2006 and my girlfriends from Tokyo .. had called me and send me pictures of the place.. during the launched. At -5C, it sure feels like here right now.. without the windchill.  I heard from my g/fs that the interior was made from Scandinavian ice .. so i guess the japs are getting a little of Sweden in Tokyo. Have some vodka .. and enjoy hugging together in this freezing temperature.. may not be the thing for me..  but for the crazy  japanese .. heheheheh!! yes.. my g/fs.. they were gamed to try just about anything.

I hear that the bar was truly awesome.. to begin with .. with tables and floors all translucent.  I had asked the g/fs if they tripped.. because of that.. they laughed so hard at me.. saying that the floors weren’t made of ice.  They have some little alcove corners with sofa like seating. .. and lots of fur throws around.. it seems.. and some standing bar tables too.  Holds about 50 people at a time.. you only get to stay max - 45 mins.  I guessed 45mins of below freezing point is enough for most ppl.

There you have it.. Ice Bar, Tokyo.

I bought my very first notebook in Japan . .and at that time the Sony Vaio was the most popular.  Of course, it didn’t have so many colors that they have now.  But nevertheless, i really liked it.. because it allowed me to talk to my home and office via the in built webcam.  Some 15 yrs ago, that kinda technology was really awesome.. and everyone was in awe of me.. when i travelled with it.  Even thought i bought it cheap in Japan.. the only problem i had was . .i had to reinstall the OS .. but first i had to wipe out the Japanese one .. that was already in it. .hahah!!

Gem Of Life Episode 42 With English Sub For Japanese Friend is what i am looking for, so that Miko-San can stop bugging me.. muahhaha!!!  Usually i can find it at this blog and I will quickly checkif Miko-San is online or not, if not, I will post up a post for her here, so she can see it when she goes online.  You can’t imagine why my Japanese friend is a die hard fan of Gem of Life right?  That’s because her mother is from Hong Kong but her father is Japanese.  We met during my 6 months stay as an exchange student many moons ago and had kept our friendship going for 20 yrs now. Ganbate Miko-San, today is our 20 yrs anniversary when i first set foot in Tokyo, Japan for the first time.

Updated :  Miko-San and Hitomi-San, Gem of Life Episode 42 is ready for downloading.

My Japanese girlfriends in Japan loves their pets a lot, the things they do for their pets are sometimes funny.  Like this one above, yes..!!! she really dyed the dog pink..!!!  crazy..???  hahahahah!! not really, it was just because her daughter loves pink at that time and thought it would be absolutely cute.  I thought so too.  But the things they buy and do for their doggie, like the several pet beds they had in their home, so that their dog can be comfy in the different levels of their home.  Her dog is treated so well, i wouldn’t mind being her pet too.

The Japanese are definitely somewhat strange . .but very creative.  This is a Jury bra .. because it can be turned over.. and look like a balancing of something. .and represents the statue right outside the justice center. Made by Triumph of course.. and not sure if you can get it anywheres else.

Originated in America, BilliKen is somewhat like a diety in Osaka and Shinsekai downtown area.  they say to touch its feet to bring you good luck.  Things as they are .. was what the statue represented i think.. something to do with the war .. and the american invasion some time in 1912.  So if you see one in Osaka, Japan.. take a picture.. don’t forget.  But note the the original one is made of wood and located on the 5th floor of the observation deck at the Tsutenkaku Tower.  The original Billiken in Tsutenkaku Tower is quite worn out .. truth be told.. and people even pen down wishes.. besides rubbing its feet .. like a few times.  It’s amusing to watch.  600 yen for a wish card.. to be hung beside BilliKen’s statue.

The Japanese are mainly Buddhist and believe in Buddha and you do see them at the temple a lot during the weekends or any kind of holidays.  And they are very much into the drinking of the holy water.. or washing your hands and face with the water.  What amuses me is .. you don’t see many people smoking near the temples.. but the Japanese are heavy smokers.. even the ladies.  I bet smoker life insurance must be really popular in Japan.  Unlike the Westerners, the Japanese take good care .. not to have smoke smell on their clothes.. and breath.  Now if only the people here could do the same… i would be really happy.  You see why i love my japanese friends so much now.

Friends asked me all the time about the famous Love hotels in Japan .. and each time i tell them.. that they do exist.. and very popular not only with the tourist.. but with the locals as well.. they just can’t believe it.  No way..!! they said.   The japanese gals.. are so meek .. and conservative.  Muahahahah!!! wait till you meet them.. when they are vacationing abroad.  Most of my Japanese g/fs goes wild..!!!  i kid you not.  I love them a lot .. but you can never imagine.. how wild they get.. when they are out for fun.  For those who are not aware of this.. the Japanese girls.. love the darker skin men ..  truly i tell yer..  they have some sort of fascination for them.  No idea why.. but they just do.  My g/fs visited me in Singapore.. and  they ALL got hooked up with the malay boys back home.

The Japanese are a great bunch.. but they do love their animes and Hello Kitty a lot as you can see here.  This is found in a love hotel in Osaka. Adonis Love hotel.  But having said that..  Love hotels in Japan are not only for those who wants a quick romp in bed with their lovers, it is a place for being romantic even with your legal husband and wife.  Why i hear you asking.. and scratching your heads.  Well.. in Japan land is really precious .. therefore it is not surprising to find someone living with their in-laws.. and their grandparents-in-laws.  So to be romantic.. at home, it can get quite impossible.  Therefore, sometimes couples choose to go to these love hotels.. and pay for them for a few hours.  To them .. it is not a Love Hotel .. it is a Rest Hotel.  Couples typically stay for a few hours.. because the wife/girlfriend.. like to relax after the romp and most Love Hotels .. cater to this need for the men with big screen tvs.. dvd players and even video games.  Have i been to any love hotels..?? you are prolly asking..??  No price for guessing it right.. hahah!!!

Souvenir stores like these in Tokyo Disneyland are aplenty.  These one not only sell cute souvenirs.. they also have  promotional pens to those who visit their stores.   And these kinda stores are usually swarmed with visitors that arrive at the Disneyland.  If you are wondering why even on weekdays, DisneyLand is still crowded, it is because the Japanese comes from all over Japan and visit this Disneyland.  So they are technically on holiday as well.