Around Town: Fukuro no Ouchi (Owl House)
As you may have seen on Instagram over the weekend, I had the pleasure of going with a friend for coffee and cake at an owl cafe! I first came across Fukuro no Ouchi (pronounced oh-oo–chi, not ouchy!) when Chad and I were bumbling around Sugamo waiting for our time slot at Tsuta Ramen, and I had been wanting to go ever since!
There is a little bell outside you can ring before going in.
When you are seated in the cafe, a waitress comes up to explain how the cafe works. The cafe charges 1500 yen for one hour, and that includes time with the owls and a drink. You are given a number, and when your number is called you can go in the owl room to touch and hold the owls for about ten minutes. While you wait, you can enjoy a beverage and (for an extra 500 yen) a cute cake. You are also encouraged to peruse the gift shop.
Our call number and some of the cakes available. Also some really informative English 😉
The owl room!
This was my favorite owl. Her name is Milky, and she shares my birthday month of November!
Aren’t they marvelous? I love the one in the top middle–it reminds me of a teddy bear!
The owl in the middle right pictured above was smaller than my hand!
It felt so amazing to hold such beautiful creatures!
Fukuro no Ouchi is about a ten minute walk from Sugamo station, and is open from 1-8 on weekdays (closed Wednesdays) and 12-8 on weekends. For more information, you can visit the Fukuro no Ouchi website (Japanese only). I really enjoyed the cafe, and definitely recommend a visit if you’re in Tokyo!
xx Caitlyn
I love that almost every tourist place in Japan has a stamping area so you can stamp a dated picture to remember your visit on a pamphlet or brochure.
It didn’t take long at all for us to be very glad we decided to visit these beautiful gardens. 
It was hard to believe it’s the end of December with the bright weather and colorful leaves! 
Chad and I shared a fluffy, sugar-crusted raisin bread and a danish-like pastry with apple, dried cranberries, raisins and powdered sugar. 
Rikugien Gardens are based on a theme of poetry, and this bridge and rock symbolizes a poem about loneliness in the moonlight.With the bright sunshine and loads of ducks swimming around nearby, we fortunately didn’t feel very lonely looking at it. 
After spending an hour and a half or so enjoying the gardens, we headed back toward Sugamo station to check out Jizo-dori, a shopping street known as a Harajuku for Obachans (Japanese grannies).
I have a feeling the “healing properties” from rubbing the duck bum are related to the nearby temple, Kogan-ji. There is a statue within the temple that you can rub to heal your ailments. The picture above is of two men making New Year’s preparations for the temple entrance, but I failed to get any good pictures of the temple. You can see some pictures and read more about Kogan-ji (as well as some other interesting Jizo-dori facts) on this 
There are lots of interesting shops lining Jizo-dori that sell everything from traditional Japanese rice crackers to “
The shop above sold several sweet potato delights, including a whipped sweet potato concoction inside an apple. A nice old man bought some honey-covered sweet potato bites and gave one each to Chad and I. If you’re around the shop and have a little money to spare, I’d recommend indulging! 
We had a really nice day full of fresh air and interesting window-shopping before heading off to try the now-famed 
Yesterday we were seated at the bar, where you can see two to three chefs working away, usually smiling while they’re doing it! 
Tired boy after our hike…! 
We had a super random but yummy picnic of sausage, mandarin orange jello, canned salmon, cheese and olives, and cheese bagels. I tried some banana milk and Chad had coconut milk. Not necessarily the healthiest, but it got us through the walk ahead!
There were some pretty neat things growing inside, including banana trees, cacao trees, and coffee trees (none of which I got a good photo of, unfortunately!). 
We got on the tram at Ostukaekimae station.
I absolutely love the atmosphere around Minowa station. Just near the station is an old shopping arcade that reminded us of living in Yokkaichi. So much so, in fact, that I kept expecting to see a giant 
Miso soup!
As we sipped our coffees after lunch, we decided that we must have chosen a rather auspicious restaurant! 
Hello friends! Today we went to 
I love these flowers because the petals almost look like a print on fabric.
First of all, let me just say that when I write that the bakery is tiny, I mean tiny. But it is also adorable!
They serve alcohol too!
The staff was very friendly, and the service was prompt.
There is absolutely nothing tiny about how fabulous these tarts are, you guys. The puff pastry is just slightly burnt but super buttery and flaky. Contrasting with the crunch of the pastry is the sweet, silky egg tart filling. I just can’t tell you how in love with these tarts I am! Gahhh! I feel like Nata de Christiano would be enough of a reason to go to Shibuya, but after that, we had another great experience at Streamer Coffee.
Streamer Coffee is known in particular for its latte art. The owner, Hiroshi Sawada, was the first Asian to ever become a World Latte Art champion. If you know me at all, though, you know that I don’t care much about latte art if the espresso doesn’t hold its own. But um, you guys? The espresso at Streamers is absolutely awesome. 
And I mean, awesome. As in, my latte was one of the best I’ve ever had. Streamers has created its own coffee blend, and the beans are also for sale in the cafe. #pleasegiveme #allthecoffee
Outside the ramen shop, there is a giant oni, or ogre, club.
The noodles were of an al dente texture, and a bit thicker than a lot of ramen we’ve tried, but I liked them a lot. 
Little Snail 