Nakano in general is much quieter than the bustling streets of Shibuya or Shinjuku, with numerous shops, restaurants, and cafés in high concentration near the station. There is also a park of decent size nearby that is perfect for an afternoon picnic. Several food trucks lined the park's perimeter, selling anything from traditional Japanese street fare to tacos.
Since I didn't have to be anywhere in particular for a couple more hours, I just sat in the park, sipped my green tea, and read for a while, enjoying the sunny weather.
As it got closer to 3pm, the time which I had planned to meet my friend for lunch in Kichijoji, I packed up my things and headed to the station. I wound up getting to Kichijoji much earlier than I had anticipated, since the actual transit time was only ten minutes, so I fooled around with my iPhone camera settings for a bit before heading over to the station entrance. I think now is a good time to point out that every photo in this blog has been taken with my iPhone! A couple of years ago, when I was living in Tokyo as an exchange student, I had a Canon Powershot at my disposal for my photography needs. A smartphone camera cannot (at the time of this post, at least) replace a high-grade DSLR camera, but with the latest advances in technology they're rather comparable to traditional compact point-and-shoot types. As an added bonus, it's one less thing to carry during one's travels!
After meeting up with my friend, Cassie, we started wandering around Kichijoji in search of a delicious meal! It didn't take us too long to find a place that sounded appetizing.
Omurice, a portmanteau of the words omelette and rice, is exactly what you might guess upon looking at the photo. Typically consisting of chicken fried rice, topped with an omelette, and drizzled with ketchup, Omurice is one of those meals enjoyed by both children and adults alike. This was actually one of my first meals during my student ambassadorship in high school, so this dish has a special place in my heart.
The shop itself had a cute American western-retro theme to it, ran by an elderly Japanese couple. The meal was only ¥850, and came with a small soup and salad. While I can't remember the name of the restaurant for the life of me, it was very close to the entrance to Inokashira Park and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the area.
After lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the park and enjoying the sights. We happened upon a bubble tea shop on our way back to the station. I couldn't resist the temptation and purchased a matcha (green tea) bubble tea, which was a perfect way to combat the summer heat.
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