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Invited by the fine weather for the first time in a while, I went on a city trek from Shibuya to Nakameguro, a distance of about 20 minutes. The time of our visit in mid-April was the last chance to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and Nakameguro, which is usually quiet, was bustling with people, especially along the Meguro River, as it was the last chance to view the cherry blossoms. As a snowstorm of cherry blossoms fell in the air, we enjoyed shopping and mingling at the stalls.

The entire town is tinged with the color of cherry blossoms, with petals floating on the surface of the Meguro River and people's cheeks turning pink as they get tipsy from the alcohol available at the street vendors. Andrew's steps lighten as he is lured by the cheerful atmosphere of the city. Compared to Shibuya, Nakameguro is a much more mature town. . It's calm and there are a lot of high-quality stores. If you take a short walk along Meguro Ginza, you can find the Blue Bottle store where I work. There is also a great ramen shop near the station called Aburi, and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I'm also interested in the new stores that are opening one after another under the elevated railway tracks.

I always walk from my house in Yoyogi Uehara to Blue Bottle Coffee in Nakameguro, Tokyo. It takes about 40 minutes. I walk along the Meguro River, and in the spring, it's very lively and fun with many people out for the cherry blossoms. From now on, the crowds will slow down, so it will be easier to commute. I love walking along this path and watching the seasons change."

I went to Yoyogi Park last weekend to see the cherry blossoms, but the weather was so bad that we had to leave right away, so I'm glad I got to photograph them today. You see the red bridge over the Meguro River? That's the best spot to shoot."

. Since we were there, Andrew also had a drink at Hanami. He chose a bottle of hot wine recommended by vase, a store along the Meguro River that opens only during this time of the year. In the U.S., you can get arrested for drinking outside, so it's nice to be free in Japan. I usually drink craft beer or wine, but since I came to Japan, I drink sake more often.

Nakameguro is dotted with unique stores along the alleys that crisscross around the Meguro River. Andrew often visits Nakameguro because it is close to his work, and he was looking for bargains at "Hallelu," a store he happened to find by chance. I used to hang out in the lounge at KINFOLK," he said. It was a comfortable store in a renovated old house. It's one of the great things about this town that there are so many such hideout stores.

People think it doesn't rain much on the West Coast, but where I live in San Francisco, it rains a lot in the winter. If you go a little further from the city, you can find a lot of outdoor activities, and fashionable, waterproof boots like Danner's are very useful. In the U.S., people have the impression that mountain boots are for outdoor activities, but the Mountain Lite boots look wild and cool, and more importantly, they are just the right balance of comfort for walking around town, so I want to use them more and more.

The day's walk and snapshot ended with a walk from the Meguro River through Meguro Ginza to the Blue Bottle Coffee Nakameguro store along Komazawa Street. It had been about 4 hours of walking since we left Shibuya. Andrew, thank you for your hard work. Now, let's have a cup of coffee and take a rest, then go out somewhere. We still have a lot of walking to do, but what about you?