"Jardin" = "Niwa" = "Garden"

This is LIEU, our French restaurant's, original non-alcoholic cocktail "Jardin".

It is made from Elder flower syroup, mint and soda,

has very refreshing taste and smell.

Not only for a light drinker,
I reccommend you to try it in the hot sunny afternoon to refresh yourself !

“Tango no Sekku” Boy's Festival Dolls

Tango-no Sekku (Boy’s festival or Children’s day) on May 5^th is a festival to pray the health and courage of boys.Families with sons celebrate this day by flying carp-shaped windsocks called “Koinobori”.  They also decorate their houses with samurai armors and warrior dolls, and eat seasoned rice cooked in bamboo leaves and sticky rice filled with red bean paste.
In Japan, carp are known to be strong fish that can leap up waterfalls. The Koinobori symbolize parents’ wishes for their sons to be as strong as carp.



We decorated our lobby with dolls and miniature armors 
of Boy's festival. 

  

Right doll : "Shoki" for against evil.
Left doll : "Emperor Jinmu" for being good at both academics and sports.
Center : A miniature warrior helmet



Flowers are Blooming in the Courtyard (April 8th, 2011)

We have a garden, a "niwa", between two restaurants, Grill & Bar LIEU and Japanese Cuisine YUKURI.  Many flowers are now blooming !



This is a view from the window of YUKURI.

It is a best time for "Yamabuki", a Japanese rose.

"Kaido", a Japanese crabapple. Pink flowers are very cute !



Giant Pandas are back to Ueno Zoo ! ( April 6th, 2011)

Two giant pandas from China was shown to the public on April 1st, 2011 at Ueno Zoo !
It is first time for Ueno Zoo showing giant pandas, Ri-Ri (male) and Shin-Shin (female), since Ling-Ling died in 2008. It's been a while since I last saw a panda, now I have one more thing I look forward to see this spring.

Ueno Zoo Official Website (English)

Ueno Zoo Official Website for Giant Panda (Japanese)



This is a picture of giant panda from Ueno Zoo official website.
They were saying in the news that about 3,000 people lined up to see
the pandas before opening of the zoo !



Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo (April 5th, 2011)

As it's been nice weather since last week, the cherry blossoms has begun to bloom in Tokyo. Today I went to the Chidorigafuchi Imperial Palace Moat Park, Kitanomaru Park and Yasukuni-Jinja Shrine to take some pictures. Each places are around 15-20 minutes walk from Hotel Niwa Tokyo, all located in the outer part of the Imperial Palace. They are also known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing points in Tokyo.


A "sakura", cherry blossom, and Tayasu-Mon Gate at Kitanomaru Park.

  

Many people are enjoying boat ride at Chidorigafuchi Moat.



Chidorigafuchi-Ryokudo, a promenade, right beside the moat are crowded with people who come to see the cherry blossoms at this time of the year. It's like walking in the tunnel of "sakura" !