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"This is the traditional taste of Japanese style food stall", I thought, when I first came across with the Ramen at Dragon. It reminded me a little bit of the ramen at Gifuya in Shinjuku many years ago. There is no cut nori, I know. I am talking about the soup. There are two main ingredients for the ramen soup. One is Ajinomoto and the other is Chinese chicken soup powder. Nowadays a lot of ramen restaurants use Chinese chicken soup powder against the tradition of Japanese ramen, which is not ramen but Japanese style tanmen in my opinion. In my definition, Ramen should be based on Ajinomoto. Shoyu ramen soup is simple. Ajinomoto, lard, dashi and soy source. What kind of Dashi, a class of soup and cooking stocks, is used depends on the tradition and routes of their ramen style. Whether or not lard is really made of pork reflects the quality of the ramen restaurant. - I would like to use the word "restaurant" rather than "shop" because it is sacred place for Japanese philosophically. And the restaurant offering the taste of food stall should be considered most sacred place. - Dragon looks mediocre. People working there are not enthusiastic unlike other service oriented big smile eating spots everywhere in Japan. They do not flatter. They just serve what it should be at the right price. Do not hesitate to ask questions to them. If someone asks, they answer.

Ojori is a chain of restaurants originally founded in Shibuya. Their Futako Takagawa branch used to be located nearby bus terminal area about three minutes from the station. Recently due to the Futako Tamagawa "Rise" development project, they moved to the new location under the bridge of Denentoshi Line just in front of the station. Just after you open the door made of white wood with old Korean Kingdom style, there is a fish tank at the entrance. They serve fresh seafoods. The interior of restaurant is decorated with hand painted wall paper full of Korean authentic atmosphere. Tables are equipped with air circulation system for Korean BBQ. Last night, we ordered Seafood pajon, Korean pancake, and a plate with variety of Kimchi as starter. And we regretted that the volume was probably too much for two persons. Then we decided not to take Korean BBQ and instead ordered Yukke, Korean style hourse meat carpaccho, Bibbimba, Korean stlyle frid rise made in a stone made ball, and spicy soup. All those dishes were excellent. Next time, I would rather come over to this restaurant with more than three people once to enjoy thier Chige, Korean soup pod, and then later their Korean BBQ second time at least.

Recently I decided to do some exercises at least once in a week. Its menu is very simple. I would swim for 1km on a rainy day, and I would ride a bicycle for 20km on a sunny day. Today, I passed through Hyogojima, an small island along with Tama River nearby Futako Tamagawa station. And I found a a good café just along with the river. The name of café is PEACE. I found an introduction of this cafe in internet in Japanese. http://allabout.co.jp/gourmet/cafegohan/closeup/CU20070611A/ It is so relaxing to be on the riverside at the café especially on a rare sunny day in between rainy days in June.

This is a short video introduction of my house.

Costco is well-known membership warehouse club in the states. It is similar to Metro or Macro in Europe. Costco recently opened its 6th location in Kawasaki. http://www.costco.co.jp/eng/whs_863.htm If you like American foods, you should love it. Although they have three other locations nearby Tokyo, Tamasakai, Kanazawa Seaside and Makuhari, this location is the nearest to Futako Tamagawa. To get there from Futako Tamagawa area, you just take Kampachi, Tokyo Metropolitan Road Nr. 311, or Tamagawa-Ensen Road, the road along with Tama River on Kawasaki side, until crossings with the national road nr. 15 and then go west. You will find the Costco on the left on the national road nr. 15. Its 7th location will be opened in Sapporo soon.

This chain restaurant is recently opened in Futako Tamagawa area. Do not expect the original Big Boy, http://www.bigboy.com/. As same as the other American chain restaurants in Japan, this restaurant or better to say dinner serves you Japanese-taste customized menu. But you would better check the most famous Big Boy menu in Japan, “Oh-Dawara” grounded beef stake. It’s unique and juicy!

This cozzy jazz bar is located at a basement floor in a building on a street between two Takashimaya buildings. If you are alone and a standard jazz fun who likes Guiness Beer, you should love this place. I do not want to write too much about this nice nice place. All you have to do is just be there once especially on Saturday night.