When you live in a place for a certain amount of time, it can become difficult to find those hidden places that keep life exciting. And yes, this even happens when you live in a place like Tokyo. Routines bring you down the same streets, past the same buildings, into the same stores…and before you know it, you’re missing out on hidden treasures that are only a few steps off the beaten path. This past weekend, hubs and I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I’m so glad we did, because the discoveries we made reminded me why I am so lucky to have the opportunity to live in a place like Tokyo. These photos are just a few of the enchanting scenes we found in a park that is, at the most, a 2 minute walk from our front door.
After our walk (while scratching a few monster mosquito bites) we decided to head down the hill to Hara Donuts. Hara Donuts is a chain in Japan specializing donuts made with okara, a by-product of soy milk or tofu. Before you chuckle and say, “Tofu by-product donuts? Those aren’t donuts!” I must tell you that these are, hands down, the best donuts I have ever tasted. With a texture that can best be described as light and cakey on the inside with a delicate crispiness on the outside. The balanced flavor and texture are enough to make me as obsessed with donuts as Homer Simpson. D-o-o-o-nuts….
To make things even better, these donuts are preservative free and use products made with local soy beans from Hokkaido. To read more about these fabulous donuts (since the official site is only in Japanese) check out this great article. One (or two) of these donuts along with a steaming hot latte make for a fantastic weekend breakfast. With Krispy Kreme invading Tokyo like a disease, Hara Donuts is a ray of sunshine in the world of donuts.
Just looking at the pictures from this weekend makes me feel the same serenity and complete happiness I experienced on Saturday. It was one of those mornings I often dream about but can rarely make happen because there are so many things to do. Letting loose and doing some exploring was the perfect way to spend my last weekend in Tokyo before leaving for Minnesota on Wednesday.
