A Walk around Shimokitazawa & Kichijoji / 下北沢と吉祥寺の散歩

Sunday was another nice day so we decided to go for a walk. Today, we headed to Kichijoji by way of Shimokitazawa. Shimokita is within walking distance of our apartment (about 15 - 20 minutes). From there, we will take a train to Kichijoji. But first, we shall have lunch in Shimokita at the Village Vanguard Diner (which I'll save for another post). In Kichijoji we plan to buy new jeans and walk around Inokashira Park. That's are only plan for today. Along the way, I shall take pictures of whatever catches my interest.

日曜日はまた散歩日和の日で下北沢と吉祥寺を歩きまわろうと決めたんです。下北はうちから歩いて１５から２０位の距離で、そこから吉祥寺までは電車で行きました。でもその前に下北のビレッジ・バンガード・ダイナーでランチ（それはまた別のポストで紹介します）。今日の目的は井の頭公園で散歩、ついでにジーンズを買う予定。歩きながら気になる物も写真を撮りました。

This is what the street looks like going into Shimokitazawa from our apartment. It's a very popular shopping area for the younger generation of Japanese.

ここは下北沢の商店街に入る前の光景です。若者に人気なショッピングエリアです。

Here's the first little item that caught my camera's eye. Cute little critter ain't he.

最初に僕のカメラのアイに入った物。可愛いね。

This is the entrance to the shopping arcade at Kichijoji. It was Mikako's first time here and she found Kichijoji to be a blend of Shibuya and Shimokitazawa rolled into one.

ここは吉祥寺のメインの商店街の入り口。初めて吉祥寺に来た美香子の感想は渋谷と下北沢が混ぜた感じと言ってました。

There was a little sausage shop we found on our way to the park so we shared a chorizo.

公園に行く途中にソーセージ屋の店を発見して、二人で一本のチョリソを食べた。

We also spotted a large Ekkokko doll outside a store called Titicaca. In case you have forgotten or just plain do not know, Ekkekko is an Quechen (Inca) God of Fortune. Unfortunately, this specimen seems to have lost part of his right foot, how much good luck can it really bring?

チチカカという店の前にこんなでっかいエケッコ人形も発見しました。エケッコ人形って何？と聞く人の為に。エケッコ人形はアンデス高地の幸福の神様。でも可哀そうな事に、このエケッコ人形の右足が切断されてるみたいです。本当に幸福運べるかな？

One of Mikako's co-workers told her that there was delicious soft cream shop not too far from the park. After eating the sausage, we came across Donatello's which is a popular gelato chain in Japan. I said maybe this is the shop your co-worker was talking about so we stopped in there and had some gelato. You could order three flavors for a reasonable price. I ordered the white cream, blueberry ice, and sweet potato. Mikako ordered sweet potato, red potato, and kiwi. Darn, I should have ordered a different flavor from Mikako so we could actually taste six different flavors. The honey yogurt looked delicious but I had already ordered my three flavors.

美香子のバイト先の仲間が井の頭公園の近くに美味しいソフトクリームが売ってる店があると聞き、チョリソを食べた後にドナテロウズを発見。人気ジェラートの店で、美香子のバイト先仲間がここに来たんじゃないかと言って、私たちもそこでデザート。三つの味が楽しめるので僕はブルーベリアイスとホワイトクリームとさつま芋を頼んだ。美香子はさつま芋、紅芋、とキウィを頼んだ。ブルーベリアイスはちょっと失敗かな。あ～もひとつの違う味頼むべきだったな、それだったら、六つの味が楽しめたのに。ハニーヨグルトにすれば良かったかな、でももう自分の分も頼んでたし。

And around the park we walked. Today, being a nice day, there was quite a few people who rented boats out on the little lake there. I think it looks too crowded to be any fun.

で、やっと井の頭公園の中を歩いた。今日、天気が良かったので、大人数がボートを借りていました。個人的にはこんな小さな池でこんなんに込んでて、楽しめないなと思ってました。

I only took this picture because it amused me. Mikako didn't think anything of it.

自分がこの看板が面白いから写真を撮った。美香子が面白くもなにも思ってなかったので、僕に何でそうゆう写真を撮るのと逆に聞かれた。

By the way, Mikako did get to eat her soft cream, not to be confused with gelato or sujata, and that made her really happy. After that we took the train back to Shimokitazawa and walked home from there. We were tired when we got home but it was a great day.

ところで、美香子が食べたかったソフトクリームも食べた。ジェラートでもない、スジャータでもない、正真正銘のソフトクリームでした。僕も一口食べた。そおあとに、また電車で下北に戻り、下北から家までまた歩きました。疲れたけど！