I am keeping exploring the West side of Tokyo, especially the wide Setagaya-ku. Last Saturday, the sun was shining bright, so I decided to visit Todoroki, on the Oimachi line. There is a charming little trail in an unexpected fresh wooden valley along the stream.And a shrine at the top of the hill, or it wouldn't be Japan.

I was enchanted by the walk, you should really go and have a look, it is a beautiful and peaceful place with plenty of green. It is rare to see such a "wild" nature around Tokyo. I just loved it.

The sakura season is over, but bringing even more light in the spring sky, here are coming the new green leaves! At the very end of the Inokashira line (access from Shibuya), at Kichijoji station, Inokashira Park looks like a green paradise with its long lake covered with swan-boats and its pouring sunshine.

And guess what? It is also the source of the Kanda river, the same Kanda river I was living by during my studies at Waseda, the same Kanda river I was admiring at every season, running along and meeting tanuki and giant turtles by its riverside... The source of the magic of my first steps in Japan!

I know, I am so easily moved to tears...

And once again, bye-bye sakura. See you next year.

A sunny Saturday, finally ! I jumped on the Chuo-line (from Shinjuku station, 45 minutes by express train to Takaosanguchi station) and had the best walk ever to the top of Takaosan !

To reach the trail, I just had to sit in a nice "lift" chair and fly above the trees ! Soooo great and relaxing !

Takao-san nature : green, sculptural roots, and amazing flowers that even don't look real...

Pont suspenduuuu

Takao Top !

And on the way back...

I feel rejuvenated ! Go and have a walk before the rainy season...

It was the last park in Tokyo for me to discover - I never go to Ginza aera usually - so, my first destination for this long week-end. Space and sky... and sun... I needed it after last week typhoon. Hibiya Park is really pleasant and peaceful - and free. A few minutes walk from Ginza, its waffle shops and its restaurants.

Random suprise at the corner of the street - Nishi-Koyama area

The nicest thing about living in Tokyo is that you can randomly find little unknown treasures anywhere you go - even in the peaceful area of Nishi-Koyama, next to my place, where I am used to go twice a week for the swimming pool.

At Koishikawa Korakuen, one of my favorite parks in Tokyo. Only 15 minutes by foot from Iidabashi. For 300yen, have a walk in this Eden garden !

BITTERNESS IS POINTLESS

This is NOT soup... This is macha-latte. The vegetable-like flavor of macha mixed with regular milk - no sugar, of course. Oh yes, it's good, you can trust me. Go and try at RenoirCafe...

In the macha-and-milk sweetness serie, I should also mention this one : take no ko, bamboo-shape biscuits with macha-and-milk falvored chocolate. Dropped in a cup of hot macha... What else ???...

Now, for the unfortunate people who don't like macha, no bitterness, please. What about this fresh mint milk-shake from Cafe Liberte, Omotesando ? Come on, happiness is so easy to get so sometimes. Just try.

SWEETNESS IS THE KEY

I got this heart-shaped fake macaron as a marketing gift along with a bottle of a beverage so disgusting you don't want to know anything about it - I bought it anyway to get the macaron, to feel closer to my little sister...
And it's green. Sis', please tell me if there is a Pierre Herme's macaron which looks like this. I'm interested in the actual flavor of my fake macaron !

Et au milieu coule une rivière

This is the most modern part of Paris, usually empty, because it's not in a central area. Bercy Park is the perfect place to read a book or to draw something. A long time ago, it was a place where wine was stocked and it seems that its perfume is still in the air... If you need a nice shot of green, have a sunny walk at Bercy !

ここはベルシーというところです。昔、ワインのストックのところでしたが、今公園になりました。現代的なデザインで、いい天気の時本当にきれいな場所です。そして町の中心ではないので、とても静かです。

In Paris too, you can find large and beautiful parks. This one is called "Buttes Chaumont" and strangely, tourists usually don't got there to have a walk, and that's a pity because it's one of the best parks in the region... The view is beautiful, the grass is green and people are relax.

パリにも、きれいな公園が見られます。ここは十九区のブットショーモンという所です。理由がないけど、環境者が少なくて、とても静かな公園です。でも景色は本当にきれいで、モンマートが見られます。