A garden.

It would be wonderful to have one at home, but since we do not, I often go to visit gardens on my days off.

I frequently visit nearby Kansen-en Park and Mejiro Garden, but when I feel like treating myself a little, I go to admire the gardens at the Prince Hotel in Takanawa.

I recently made the trip to Takanawa on a beautifully clear early-winter day off, so please take a look.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, the garden at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa has been transformed into an atmospheric setting called “Takanawa Izayoi,” featuring a variety of bamboo crafts.

There is a moon-shaped sculpture by the pond, and it was reflecting the gentle afternoon sunlight just so, creating what looked like a path of moonlight.

The garden has an elevation difference stretching from the Takanawa plateau down toward Shinagawa, and walking from one end to the other twice makes for quite a good workout.

Feeling hungry, I decided to have lunch at the lounge called MOMIJI (at Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa).

I was shown to a seat with a view outside and ordered a sandwich.

It was called a BLT sandwich, but because the bread was toasted, it was almost like a clubhouse sandwich—except that it did not contain turkey ham.

In fact, the fifth-generation owner is very fond of clubhouse sandwiches.

The bread was just the right thinness, the toast was cooked just right, and best of all, it was served warm, making it excellent.

That day, too, I had my fill of nourishment for both the eyes and the stomach, and it raised my motivation for work from the following day onward.

Thank you very much.

*I had intended to scatter the photos throughout the text, but the format had changed, so they ended up clustered near the beginning.