Month: November 2025

Last Day in Tokyo

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

It’s always hard to know how to spend your last day in a big city when you are facing an overnight flight.

I opted to give Steve a knife making class to celebrate his birthday.

But first I picked up my rings and my bangle. They quite a fuss presenting it to me.

Here they are.
And on my wrinkly hand

It was a fun session. Thank you Nane_asakusa.

Then it was off to Bub Activity Centre

https://bub-activitycenter.com/#bub

I found this and it happened to be around the corner from our hotel so no long train journey!

It was so well run. We had loads of fun and learned something as well.

Run by 3 young people including Misa who turns out to be Russian! it was set up so well. And run in a fun but professional way.

We are set up with protective jackets, finger protectors, and our own sharpening stone.

We saw the different types of knives and selected one. They are a carbon knife and start just s as a blade. We sharpen!

It was harder than it looked! I’m going a vegetable chopping knife. Steve’s doing a standard kitchen knife.

They were helpful with showing us where we could improve how to hold it …. Where to add pressure

After we reached a certain stage we went to the engraving table. We learned how to write our name in Japanese, then engrave it on the wooden handle.

It was hard!

Back to the sharpening table to do the other side. But first we had to pass the ‘slice the paper’ test. I passed as did Steve.

Then we graduated to the next grade stone to finish ……back and forth. Up and down. Until the edge was perfect. My fingers were hurting!

Be scared Steve.

We had photos taken and the knife was boxed for travel. We have to declare it. It’s a weapon. I hope theres no problem.

I would recommend this great activity. Especially as a last day thing when you’re out of the hotel and don’t want a huge day.

BUB as they are called run lots of activities.

We finished around 12.30. Had a quick bite then headed to Jiyucho

https://jiyucho.tokyo/en/pages/jiyucho-tokyo

When searching for bookshops or craft shops or writing centres I found this. It’s near Asakusa where we’re based ( Did I mention I love this area)

We tried to go yesterday and now today I really don’t have time to sit and sip tea and write and feel super peaceful. But I had to see it.

The lady who runs the shop – for a better word …. Is Eika. She was quietly spoken. Probably because there were 6 people sitting quietly writing.

The idea is you write a letter to yourself using prompts suggested by the centre.

I hope you can enlarge and read

You are given beautiful tea to sip and you write. In a year they post you the letter. What a lovely idea.

There are also postcards you can write to yourself or friends and they will post them.

There’s also a library. You can take a book and exchange but they ask you to write a letter to put inside.

Eika was delightful. She showed me around, talked so calmly and let me take lots of photos. And I bought some cards and coffee pouches with inspirational words on them. I had to use my translator!

The coffee bags with thoughts. Some translations don’t always’flow’

I think we need this in Brisbane. Japanese people seem so calm and patient. We need to adopt some of these traits.

We made it back to the hotel to change and get the Skyliner train. 41 minutes to Narita.

All very easy.

Tomorrow I wake up in Brisbane. Can’t wait to see the family friends.

Last Days in Tokyo

/ brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

We’re slowing down a little…… left the hotel around 10 and went for brunch at the February Kitchen a rather hip type of cafe that wouldn’t be out of place in Byron Bay.

It was opposite a fun park!

Steve felt like eggs.

Feeling full we went walking. I had found a place that offered a place of peace in a big city. You could go to the cafe and sit and write a letter which would be posted to you in a year’s time. You could reflect on aspects of your life. You could sit & read and write poem. You can write postcards to friends. It sounded charming. So we walked the streets of Asakusa through to the next suburb. Kuramae

This area seems to be handbag area. There were so many beautiful handbag shops. The leather smelled beautiful and the cost was reflected in the quality. I resisted.

We found Jiyucho. And it was closed! So we took a train back to our area and sat in the grounds of Senoji. This is probably my favourite shrine. It wasn’t when we first went there at the start of our trip. That day it was raining and super crowded. But today is more peaceful and a great people watching place.

It’s the weekend so all the young girls are dressed in traditional kimonos. They walk with little steps. I think to keep the thong footwear on. though some wear sneakers.

We also spotted a strange looking character dressed in what appeared to be an army uniform. Steve did a quick research and found he was not a serving army member or perhaps had never been. He had a flask and he kept sipping out of it. definitely odd. Mmmm

By now it was time for my jewellery making course. What started out as a ring turned into 2 fine rings and a bracelet. The lovely owners Gayani and her husband were so helpful. They offered to make one ring and the bracelet to save me time. But I had time and said I’d like to do it all. Would I be sorry? Would they have to fix things?

I started with a ring. The design was poco poco. I held the cylinder and hammered away. Quite therapeutic.

Then the next design. Cutter cutter a different technique. A slower heavy hammering.

The the bangle. Also in cutter cutter.

The face of concentration

I really enjoyed it. A great activity for a holiday – to take home something personal – hand made !

I left the store without the jewellery. They are going to do the polishing later so I opted to collect it tomorrow.

Back to the hotel – about 10 minutes which is great. Everything is close in this area !

We went to the rooftop, but as I said it’s the no alcohol bar. So we took our own….. don’t judge please!

The rain was getting heavy so we decided to eat very locally. We also had a cultural show on at 9pm. Free for guests – with geishas dancing.

We thought we’d try the Kazoo club for some jazz and it was close the hotel. But first a drink. Steve spotted Black and White bar and we went in. Probably only an 18 seater with a charming Japanese owner. He’s only been open 2 months so is building clientele. It’s a great bar. He made me a pear Shochu martini. Quite delicious.

Shochu is a distilled Japanese spirit made with fermented ingredients like sweet potato or rice and it’s known for it low alcohol. Sounds good to me. Cheers !!!!Delicious

Peeling the pear for my martini !

After we’d finished we walked a little further dodging puddles sbccernt down into Jazoo. Why are jazz club always down stairs?? We looked in and there weren’t many people. Well there was 1 but it was early. And it was open mic night. So we decided to give it a miss. And headed for food.

We tried one. Full. Another had a very limited menu. The third had a few full tables. So in we went. It was another one with the bbq at your table. It was just right. Lovely meat.

I just love how you can choose the grade of meat. Steve had best tenderloin. Not just tenderloin. I had superior rips. Not just ribs. ( not a typo. That’s how it was written. ! Tips. )

We ordered a big salad and beer. Simple and tasty. And when you leave they give you a spray bottle to spray your clothes so you don’t smell smoky.

I love Japan. So many great thoughtful ideas.

After dinner we splashed back to the hotel about 3 minutes away, and went to the restaurant at our hotel for the cultural show.

Well what a n experience. Hosted by a man who had a very loud expressive voice he introduced the two geisha and the women playing the rather tuneless Japanese style mandolin.

The singer musician and the host
Our two geisha girls.

It was good but funny and fairly typical of the show they think tourists want. We don’t. We want something traditional.

Half an hour of dancing and we headed to our room to pack.

Last day tomorrow.

And our knife making course.