I decided to stop by the Iwasaki Chihiro Art Museum while taking a trip on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. The café right by the entrance has indoor seating with a view of sculptures in the garden, as well as outdoor terrace seating, creating a nice atmosphere. Unfortunately, they only offer drinks from their stock, and there is no service for drinks in glasses. It's a good place to take a break easily, but I wanted to enjoy some sweets and coffee since I came all the way here! Thank you for the meal.

Theme: The Way Otaku Live (640) Category: I'm Always Thinking About This Every Day, Kerorin♪ Originally, I had planned to post consecutively, but I ran out of energy and ended up taking a break for a day, as usual, in the "What's Going On" series. Even Jeremy the cricket is amazed. The forecast for the typhoon indicated that it would be gloomy all day, but it suddenly changed to include some sunshine on Saturday, July 27th. I went to Shinjuku Takashimaya for a certain event where I obtained a limited edition bookmark for that day only (I'm really silly. I should have used that effort for something else). After feeling like I wanted to see Shaun Tan's art again, which I had seen and liked two weeks ago, and to eat the Bavarois that Chihiro used to love but I had been disappointed by twice before, I once again got off at Kami-Igusa Station. I headed to the Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo within the Tokyo Art Museum to visit the "Picture Book Café Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo." I bought my ticket, checked the goods corner to see if the item that was sold out two weeks ago miraculously appeared, and then went to the café. I ordered the limited edition Bavarois and coffee. As expected, they were still available at 11 am. I usually don't eat sweet things because I drink alcohol, but when I do, I still love sweet things. I felt warm and relaxed. The building and the garden here are both lovely, and you can see Chihiro Iwasaki's art. The special exhibition was also good. It would have been nice to end the day leisurely, but since it was a rare day off, I walked to Nishi-Ogikubo and then headed to Hachioji, but that's another story. Kerorin♪. Here, I didn't get scolded by Jeremy the cricket, but at the very end of the day, I got into a big fight after drinking a 500ml beer on the Utsunomiya Line. Well, if they were selling Sapporo Classic at the station kiosk, what can you do? Kerokerorin♪

[上井草] After visiting a picture book cafe near Tokyo Station, I headed towards Kamiigusa Station and was stopped in my tracks by a sign inside the station. "Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo"... I must go there! I knew that there was a museum dedicated to Chihiro Iwasaki in Azumino, Nagano, but here it is in Tokyo. It turns out that Chihiro Iwasaki had her own home and studio in this town, and a magnificent art museum stands in its place. The children depicted through Chihiro's eyes are all adorable, sometimes lively and sometimes melancholic. You can encounter many works that evoke a sense of the seasons along with the expressions of the children. The museum also has a cafe attached to it. I couldn't resist stopping by. You can enjoy a leisurely cup of tea while looking at Chihiro's art books in a sunny space facing the garden. The small touches, like the little flowers decorating the place, add to the charm of the museum. ● Scones with two types and seasonal jam on the side, drink set 1000 yen The scones are made by a pastry chef from a shop called Karandorie in Kamiigusa, with plain and rosemary flavors accompanied by jam from a fruit orchard in Nagano called Kobuse Kudamono Kitchen. The Bramley apple jam is served with generous whipped cream. The scones are crumbly and moist inside, with a light fragrance of rosemary complementing the Bramley jam beautifully. I was pleasantly surprised to find scones that were even more delicious than expected. The coffee was also surprisingly delightful, with a good aroma and a smooth taste. After leisurely admiring the artworks, this lovely cafe attached to the museum further allowed me to relax and enjoy. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Theme: The Path of Living as an Otaku (639) Category: Things I Think About Every Day, Kerorin♪ In reality, Kerorin♪ was born and raised in the coastal area, but in Kasuga-cho, Nerima-ku. If you go a bit south, you'll find Ishigami Park, and further south, you'll find the Chihirou Museum Tokyo, the former atelier of the renowned Japanese painter and picture book author Chihiro Iwasaki. About 20 years ago, when I first started dating my princess (wife), we went there once, but haven't been back since. I really liked it, but the western side of Tokyo is hard to get to. So, this time, I went on my birthday, which is on December 16, and in 2018, I turned 50. And I happened to see something about the Chihiro Iwasaki Centennial Gratitude Day on December 15! Coincidence! By the way, the scariest mother-in-law in the world is on the 14th, and my princess's birthday is on the 18th, just so you know. Admission was free, and if you wore something red in honor of Chihiro's famous girl with the red woolen cap, you would receive a special message card. So, off I went. It was a Saturday, so I first treated my mother-in-law to lunch at a soba restaurant in Aobadai, Yokohama, to get on her good side before heading to Kami-Igusa. It was crowded. The cafe in the museum, "Picture Book Cafe Chihiro Museum Tokyo," had sold out of the limited edition Bavarois that Chihiro loved. I settled for a slice of shortcake and coffee. It felt different from what I remembered, and it turns out they had renovated. It used to be on the 3rd floor, and I remember the Florentines being delicious. The cake and coffee were good. I had a commemorative photo taken wearing the red cap. (The photo looked weird with the white filter on my face, haha) The artwork on display was, of course, amazing. I regret missing out on the Bavarois. I should have gone to the previous exhibitions, like the one with illustrations by Haruki Murakami or the one produced by Isao Takahata featuring Chihiro Iwasaki. So, I decided to come back again. Kerorin♪

I went to Senkoy in Higashi-Koenji with an old friend, who suddenly wanted to see a temple near Chuo High School. It turned out to be closer than we thought, so we decided to stop by. There are famous udon shops and Shabu-Yo nearby. I didn't expect such an impressive art museum. I might try watercolor painting too (laughs). I became a fan of Chihir's work after seeing it. I ended up buying a few watercolor postcards, and embarrassingly enough, I now want to collect all of them (^^;). It's always interesting no matter how many times you go. The entrance fee was a bit pricey, but it's worth it when you leave. I bought some postcards as souvenirs for my mother. The cappuccino milk foam was delicious. However, I wondered if the mustache would make it difficult to drink (´ー｀ ===========

Strawberry Bavarian cream, iced tea - Thank you for the meal♪

The picture book cafe inside the Chihiro Art Museum. The apple iced tea was cold, sweet, and delicious. Located in a quiet residential area, it has a calming atmosphere. I want to visit again.

The so-called cafe in the art museum has indoor seats where you can enjoy the garden through the glass, as well as terrace seats where you can relax and enjoy the garden. The atmosphere was very pleasant. The menu was heartwarming, fitting the name "Picture Book Cafe." When I ordered sparkling wine, I was surprised to see a small bottle brought to me. It was the perfect amount for two glasses, so the cost performance was good and the unexpectedness made me happy. My friend and I enjoyed sparkling wine, apple iced tea, and hotcakes deliciously. The art museum was also wonderful, and I would like to visit again.

I visited after a long time and enjoyed an strawberry bavarois & drink set (¥842) while looking out at the garden after viewing the exhibition. I ordered and paid at the cafe counter, received a buzzer, and then took a seat. It felt like a self-service food court. It was only available to visitors, so it was relatively peaceful.

In our house, we always use a "Chihiro Calendar". Chihiro Iwasaki, who has created numerous works with children as the theme, left the words "Peace and happiness to all the children in the world". Her paintings, which incorporate a technique of blending and blurring like ink wash paintings, depict various aspects of children. I visited the "Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo" to see the special exhibition "Haruki Murakami and Illustrators". I enjoyed viewing illustrations by Makoto Sasaki, Ayumi Ohashi, Makoto Wada, and Mizumaru Anzai, along with excerpts from Murakami's works. My personal favorite is still Mizumaru Anzai. Of course, I also visited the exhibition room showcasing Chihiro Iwasaki's works, and took a break at the café inside the museum. The café, available for museum visitors, has table seating along the corridor and terrace seating in the courtyard. Since it was quite hot that day, I secured a table inside. You place your order at the counter, pay, receive a buzzer, and wait at your seat. When the buzzer goes off, you pick up your order and enjoy it at your table. I ordered grape juice (480 yen + tax) and iced rose hip tea (450 yen + tax) this time. The grape juice is from Shinshu and has a subtle acidity and natural sweetness. The iced rose hip tea is an original blend of this café, with a gentle flavor. You can enjoy a view of the well-maintained garden from any seat in the café. Chihiro Iwasaki loved working in this garden. After viewing the artworks, it might be nice to relax while gazing at the garden. Such moments of peace can be found in these simple pleasures.

This picture book cafe is located on the first floor of the Chihiro Art Museum and can only be used by visitors. They offer sweets, simple food, and drinks for self-service. You place your order and pay first, then keep your seat and wait to be called with a pager. The ice cafe latte and strawberry bavarois I ordered were ready in about 5 minutes. With a discount for ordering a set, the total came to just over 900 yen after an 8% consumption tax. The bavarois was based on a recipe from "Shinjuku Suzuya," a place Chihiro loved, and had a traditional, sweet, bubbly texture. Around 11 am on a holiday, only about 30% of the table seats were taken, but by 12 pm, it was almost full. The Chihiro Art Museum itself is wonderful, and the current exhibition was very interesting, keeping me there for 2.5 hours. Afterward, I took a bus from a nearby bus stop to the Suginami Animation Museum. The bus service was convenient, and I arrived at the museum in about 15 minutes after leaving the art museum.

I came to the Chihiro Art Museum for the exhibition of Haruki Murakami and illustrators. They are offering a special menu item, a limited quantity of "hotcakes with Coca-Cola topping." This is the dish that appeared in his debut work, "Hear the Wind Sing." The Coca-Cola comes in a nostalgic glass bottle. You can pour it on as you like. Butter and maple syrup are sold separately. I pour the Coca-Cola nervously. I can hear the fizzing sound of the carbonation. The sweetness of the Coca-Cola mixes with a medicinal bitterness, creating a very complex flavor. This might be the last time I try this, haha.

In the café located in the art museum consisting of four buildings with triangular and mysterious square shapes, which was built on the site of Chihiro Iwasaki's home and studio where she spent the last 22 years of her life, the interior features antique oak flooring that has been used for over 100 years in a bourbon factory. The seemingly concrete walls have a beautiful finish of Saitama cedar boards, exuding warmth. In Chihiro's garden, there is a wooden white rose trellis with blooming white roses. It's a charming garden that Chihiro took care of in between painting. The garden is filled with nostalgic flowers such as chrysanthemums, violets, hydrangeas, roses, geraniums, and hibiscus that bloomed during the Showa era. Enjoying tea time while looking at this lovely garden, we had a rice flour Asian pound cake for 530 yen (572 yen with tax) and organic roasted green tea (served with roasted black beans) for 380 yen (410 yen with tax). It's a great deal at 750 yen (810 yen with tax) for the set. Sitting on slightly lower chairs, we took a bite of the cake. The low-fat whipped cream pairing was perfect. The balance of sweetness was just right, reminiscent of a mother baking for her beloved child. It was a taste that exuded kindness. Reflecting on Chihiro's world, we had a soothing and heartwarming time.

This is a cafe called "Picture Book CAFE" located inside the "Chihiro Art Museum" in Tokyo. It is about a 7-minute walk from Kami-Igusa Station. The museum is dedicated to the picture book artist Chihiro Iwasaki, whose illustrations are well-known and widely used. The cafe is located inside the museum, and while it is not very crowded, it can occasionally get busy with locals and visitors. The cafe has a few outdoor terrace seats with a view of a well-maintained garden. The menu offers light snacks and desserts, with some items inspired by Chihiro Iwasaki. The cafe is closed in February for maintenance, along with the museum. Please note that the cost performance may not be the best.

I had visited the Chihiro Art Museum in Azumino several times before, but this was my first visit to the Chihiro Art Museum in Tokyo. I thought the museum might be crowded due to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the controversy over the Tokyo Olympics emblem, and some reports related to Chihiro's art, but surprisingly, it was not crowded on a Saturday. It seems that the generation that used to read Chihiro's picture books to their children has changed. The museum opened in 1977, three years after Chihiro's passing, which was 38 years ago. I used to buy Chihiro's picture books about 45 years ago. The museum had an exhibition titled "70 Years of Peace: Chihiro's Wish for Peace." I think parents with children should definitely visit this museum. There is an open cafe called "Picture Book CAFÉ" right after entering the museum. I ordered a set with peach-colored cake, rose juice, and strawberry Bavarian cream, along with a blend coffee. The strawberry Bavarian cream was a reproduction of the one Chihiro liked from the Shinjuku Suzuya restaurant. The rose juice was made in honor of roses, the flower Chihiro often depicted. "I don't remember when I started liking peach color. All my crayons had become the smallest in peach color," said Chihiro. By the way, the Shinjuku Suzuya restaurant in Kabukicho has now closed and turned into a tonkatsu restaurant, currently closed.

After filling our stomachs at Marushima Soba, we satisfied our hearts at the Chihiro Art Museum. We spent time exploring the special exhibition section, the watercolor technique section, and the atelier section before stopping by the cafe inside the museum. We ordered apple juice (from Matsumura Village, Shinshu) for $4.80, grape juice (from Shinshu) for $4.80, and a tarte for $4.20. Shinshu (Matsumoto) is Chihiro's mother's hometown, so it must hold a special place in her heart. The Shinshu fruit juices were a bit pricey but incredibly fresh and fragrant. The tarte, a Czechoslovakian pastry made with blueberries, apricots, and yogurt, was moist and delicious. The colors of the pastry, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and mint leaves on top created a beautiful sight against the backdrop of the green grass outside the glass window. The tarte itself was not very flavorful, but the sweetness of the blueberries and the creaminess of the yogurt made it enjoyable. My daughter couldn't take her eyes off the tarte, watching every bite I took. The sound of her sipping juice echoed in the quiet museum. I realized that the warm and gentle paintings by Chihiro were created with precise and calculated techniques, along with a loving gaze towards children. The intricate techniques like "tarashikomi" seemed impossible for me to replicate, even when looking closely at the actual paintings.

In May 2014, I visited the Chihiro Art Museum in Nagano, which is surrounded by nature. I ended up liking Chihiro's paintings more than I expected. In May, I also visited a museum in Tokyo. It is located in a quiet residential area with a garden where you can have tea. I enjoyed admiring the artwork, feeling the atmosphere of the museum, and then relaxing with a coffee in the pleasant sunshine and greenery during the Golden Week holiday in May. I bought a postcard as a souvenir and framed it to hang on my wall at home.

Picture book writer Chihiro Iwasaki's art museum. In a relaxed space, you can read picture books unlimited on a gentle bench while looking at the exhibits. It's like heaven for those who want to see picture books to choose for children. There is a cafe attached to it. The coffee has a simple taste that doesn't disturb the lingering feeling of the museum you just saw. The cakes are not too sweet, with a moist and rich scent of wheat coming softly. Chihiro's pictures are wonderful, but her writing is also wonderful. Especially the gentle and soft expressions about raising children make you feel warm just by reading them. I would like to visit again slowly.