Yesterday was snowing for the first time in Tokyo this winter. It's gonna be March soon but that didn't stop it... Anyway, I took the chance to go to open-air bath they have at a sports club I go to and it was really something. Relaxing in hot bath (43C) while it snows, vapors hazing from the surface against the cold, fantastic! And the best thing of all, I got that experience just minutes from my house, in the middle of metropolis. For all interested, I'm afraid you're gonna have to go to some onsen on the surrounding mountains cause I don't think it'll snow again this season in the city center anymore.

Date: February 28, 2009

Thank you for staying with us. We hope to see you again!

Date: February 27, 2009

We had a ''setubun party''. They made a ''Roll Sushi'' by themself. It was great time @ OAK !! Cheers mate　：）

Date: February 27, 2009

They came from Paris! It gave us some sweet that had entered the can of the Eiffel Tower.... merci ;-)

Date: February 27, 2009

They are have just got married! It came to Japan by the travel :) They said that they would want a lot of children!! We waiting for come back with baby☆

Date: February 27, 2009

Thank you for staying @ OAK HOTEL! Lovely family :)

Date: February 27, 2009

Winter does not always leave us cold and make us feel like '' I do not want to go out''.
Here is the thing. People from Australia visit our hotel not only to travel around in Japan but also something else. Some of them come to go snowboarding somewhere in Japan.
I definitely like snowboarding better than skiing personally. I am going snowboarding very very soon for the first slopes in this season so. i am so, so excited and can not concentrate on work at all. Just kidding!!!!! :) (Sorry to my staff.....)
Maybe some people would wait for spring to come as soon as possible, but some still want to have some fun.
After all, it is something seasonal.
Let's make a plan and take off now.

Date: February 22, 2009

Peter and Nicole was my host family in Adelaide, Australia 7 years ago. They stayed here 2 years ago as well, but we missed a chance to see each other because I got flu and didn't work while they were here. And yet, since we didn't keep in contact for ages, they didn't know that I was working here, but they chose us from tons of hotels in Tokyo!! Then, this time they came back and finally we reunied after a long time!! Amazing isn' it!! I do really hope that I'll be able to visit them again in the future :)

Date: February 17, 2009

He studies fish back in Australia and he was very excited about visiting Tsukiji fish market to see the auction in the very early morning !! Hope you enjoyed the auction :D !!! We love your yellow mushroom from the super mario ;)

Date: February 17, 2009

You must have noticed pachinko parlors if you've been to Tokyo. Garish blinking lights. Overwhelming noise. Suffocating smoke. Zombified patrons. Pretty much sums it up but the good side of the whole thing has been elusive for me for a long time. That is, until I found one artice of introduction on Japan Today and an entry in Wiki. So I'd like to leave links to these two enlightening pieces for all of you who like pachinko, detest it or are simply mindboggled by it's very existence. Have a look:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/an-addict%e2%80%99s-guide-to-pachinko

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko

Date: February 15, 2009

Today was the hottest day on record for February with temperatures going up to 24C in Tokyo or even 27C in Shizuoka!!! These are normally late June or early July figures... I don't know if it's global or local warming or what is it, but if it's gonna keep getting hotter this way we Tokyoites would be better off moving to Hokkaido or somewhere.
On the other hand, they say it's going to go back to winter time in a day or two so you might as well enjoy this weekend cause from next week it's February back again. Or Febury (Homer S.) :)

Date: February 14, 2009

Maybe you've noticed that in Japan you don't see kiosks at all. Here we have in lieu ... wait for it ... CONVENIENCE STORES! Banzai :)
They're on every block, work 24/7 and you can get everything from food, press, basic nessessities, in a word kiosk indoors. ;)
And like with so many other things you only notice them once they've gone. The Lawson in my building is closed since the 1st and Family Mart across the street is going through a remake and that leaves my intersection without, virtually without any convenience stores around!
FamiMa will be back in a couple of weeks and in place of Lawson there's going to be another similar thing, or so it seems, but in the meantime what am I supposed to do when I get a craving for just about anything coming back from late shift or going to the graveyard (night) shift... :(
Combinis please come back!

Date: February 12, 2009

" Moshi Moshi " is their favourite word in Japanese ;), By the way, have you enjoyed snowboading in Niseko? Have fun ^^

Date: February 11, 2009

We held a small party on the 3rd of February for the holiday of Setsubun and here are some photoes of the atmosphere.

Date: February 6, 2009

Thank you for your stay!!

Date: February 2, 2009

We are looking forward to seeing your smile again :D

Date: February 2, 2009