Category Archives: Japan

(photo credit: my.opera.com)

Deeply saddened by the deaths and people who have been displaced by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant disaster, it is with a heavy heart that we are leaving Tokyo to return home to Singapore. We will forever cherish in our hearts the time spent with the locals who have shown us a tremendous amount of hospitality and grace throughout our travels.

As the new shoots of spring begin to show signs of new life, our wish for the Japanese people is that they too, will begin to slowly rebuild their lives with each new day.

We will continue to feature Tokyo in our next few posts, which we dedicate to the people of Japan.

Leaving you now with this beautifully written and meaningful article by Nicholas Kristof, columnist for the New York Times.

(photo credit NationNews.com)

As we continue to watch devastating footage of Friday’s catastrophic events and its deadly aftermath, we appeal for your thoughts to be with the Japanese people as they deal with this horrific national crisis. Over 10,000 people are estimated dead and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes. We urge you to contribute in a very tangible way by donating to the Save the Children foundation during this critical time. The team at Save the Children has already flown in to the disaster zones and are in the midst of providing relief to children (many who have been orphaned) and their families.

Save the Children aims to deliver food, shelter and psychosocial support to young people, helping them overcome the shock and stress that the disaster has left in its aftermath. They will set up child-friendly spaces to provide a protective environment where children can spend time with other children and trained teachers, allowing parents much-needed time to find food and shelter as well as locate other friends and family.

To read more on the Save the Children official press release and donate, click here

God bless Japan.

Dear Readers & Friends,

Thank you for all your thoughts and concern, we are safe in Tokyo (though very freaked out). Tremors are a lot less frequent now as compared to this afternoon’s scare – buildings were literally swaying and creaking and things flying everywhere. Even the tiles from our apartment were ripped off.

Our thoughts are with the people in Sendai as relief efforts are underway. Will update again soon.

D & P
xxx

We’ve been lovin’ Azabu Juban since we arrived in Tokyo for two reasons. One, it’s close to where we are; only a 15 minute walk from our apartment or 1 stop away by subway on the Namboku Line; and two, it has an understated sophisticated neighbourhood charm which evokes a sense of traditional tranquility, despite being only 10 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of it’s better known and rather boisterous neighbour, Roppongi.

Azabu Juban is an attractive residential area for many expatriates as it is close to the Central Business District and located within the belt of foreign embassies (Embassy of Singapore included) and international schools. Our favourite area in this neighbourhood is the Azabu Juban Shopping District. The vibe is cosmopolitan yet understated, making it a relaxing oasis in which to catch up with friends or to simply spend some alone time. This district has a mix of cafes, restaurants and small food specialty stores lined up along a long shopping strip rendering navigation straightforward (pun fully intended). You can either walk eastwards from Roppongi (follow the signs to Azabu Juban from Roppongi Hills) or take the subway westwards directly to Azabu Juban itself. We recommend the latter, where Exit 4 will lead you directly to the shopping strip, just past The Darjeeling. Continue reading →

Farmer's Market at Ark Hills

Every Saturday, we look forward to the Farmer’s Market near our apartment where we can pick up gorgeous strawberries and other seasonal fresh produce. There are also several food kiosks selling french breads, soups and the yummiest waffles ever!! Here are some snapshots from today’s market.

Hills Marche Farmer’s Market (at Ark Hills)

Every Saturday 10am – 2pm