KITTE building in Maru-no-uchi, Tokyo

First a glance from a distance. Looks good. Then I went inside and briefly looked around. The atrium and top light together have you connected with the day's weather and light. Just the right size to browse around the stores. Each floor has distinctive interior design. Architect KUMA Kengo did a beautiful interior job. Do not miss the basement, which I missed (shame!), but I didn't miss the roof top garden. There you are looking down on Tokyo Station. Somehow, the station, cars, and other items below look like miniature models. Loved the naming too. KITTE in Japanese means stamps; an appropriate name to a former post office building and there still is a post office inside. KITTE sounds similar to Kit-te, meaning "please come." Sounds so cute.

Now and Before

Exterior; the glassy high rise part is added

Tokyo Station looks smaller than life from KITTE roof top

Dancing all night

The ladies are dancing all together at a store where things Japanese are sold. They sell good items with good prices. The store named Takumi, is on the fifth floor of the Sun Mall building in downtown Hiroshima.

KITTE in Tokyo

From KITTE roof top

KITTE atrium

KITTE exterior on the right; Tokyo Station on the left

KUMA Kengo's interior design

KITTE building in Marunouchi, Tokyo, shows KUMA Kengo's sensitivity. Every floor shows his affection and respect to heritage of this country. He was in charge of interior design of this building complex located next to JR Tokyo Stn. A former post office renovated into a commercial building embodies its history yet lives its second life greeting countless flows of visitors.

Guardians at Sekizan Zen-in

Notice this one is closer to the entrance to the hall than many others

This is one of the paired guardians at one of the halls located on the premises of the temple. They were made of wood if my memory serves right. If so, this is an older style. Once these lion-like aminals were inside the room, holding the lower end of a kind of curtains on the floor. These imaginary guardians retain the original style more than many others sitting completely outside. Commonly, one of the pair has a mouth open and the other closed, but this pair both opens the mouth like howling lions. Cute with a close look at them!

Soba buckwheat noodle store in Kyoto

facade of the old noodle restaurant

This is an old dining place all right. Kyoto has many of them. After all, the emperors and nobles were here in the old capital of Japan; food, utensils and clothing became sophisticated thanks to their consumption and the budinesses in Kyoto have kept their pride, heritage, and history for such a long time. These old establishments are called SHINISE. Your sense of evaluation would be sharpened by knowing their products and services.

my lunch!

Winter peony at Tokugawa Garden

Even in the middle of winter, flowers bloom with affectionate care and attention. Winter peonies were in bloom at the garden next to the Tokugawa Museum where Tokugawa clan's heritage is displayed.

Snowy Kyoto

snow trees!

My fellow guide and I took advantage of a snowy day in Kyoto. Going to Sekizan Zen-in was my request. Iris and jasmine went there and saw gorgeous snow and heard the head monk of the temple chanting a Buddhist scripture in one of the halls.