Sunday Kimono 12

I came across this beautiful exhibition of kimonos from hand woven silk in a side street of Ginza on Thursday night.  The colours were sublime and silk absolutely beautiful. I couldn't understand the hostess, I thought they said it was from Kyoto, but maybe it was meant to be Koyama??  Google translate  didn't help either.  However I could read the price tag on some of them 450000- 500000 Yen - that is nearly $AUD 7000. Divine but expensive - now I want to visit a silk weaving village - just like in Laos.

Australians in Ginza

Dinner at Bills to mark Australia Day in Ginza with my friend Fiona who works at TIS (Tokyo International School).  Bills is an Australian chain here in Tokyo that the Japanese absolutely love.  Finished the meal with a brown sugar pavlova with rose water and strawberries - yummmmmm.  Started with a mojito with shiso (a green pungent Japanese herb )  more  yummmm. The restaurant was on the 12th floor overlooking the neon of Ginza.

Snow and Mountains

Snow capped mountains  in Hakuba - good snow on the runs- but was wishing there was more powder - but that may have been too much for my legs!

Another Peony

 A lone Peony in a bowl.

The Hakuba Valley

A lovely weekend on the snow at Tsugaike Koen and Cortina Resort in the Hakuba Valley.  Sunday was a beautiful day with views to the mountains across the valley.  The season has been poor in terms of Japanese Powder -Jappow- but still fun to be on the slopes and in the mountains.

More Peonies

Another obsession - They were truly beautiful!  The winter peonies fuyu- botan at Toshogu Shrine in Ueno Park are forced to bloom early for the New Year as a symbol of good fortune.

Sunday Kimono 11 - Supermarket

Love the colours in this lady's haori - kimoni jacket.  You know you are in Japan when the locals are wearing kimonos at the supermarket - mini mart.