My new neighbourhood

Would you like to take a walk around my new neighbourhood with me?

You might see buildings coloured in Tiffany blue, lemon and pink! Ooo Hello Perfect Town!




Best Train Station Backdrop Ever! A must for the next portrait shot!



My first rubbish day Tokyo style.















Shimokita Muji is only 7 minutes walk away. Perfect for those furniture and stationery emergencies!



This little local cafe has an organic lunch set for ¥1100 and you can also buy organic vegies from their mini-me market.











My new closest supermarket. I love you Oozeki!



Bear Pond Espresso for those moments where green tea is not going to cut it!



Hara Donuts.














Shimokita Station area is always buzzing! But if it's relaxation you are after, best to head over to the nearby park / nature walk. By nature I mean 1 x turtle and 1 x fish.











This park / nature walk takes you almost all the way to Shibuya.



Hmmm I wonder if they will give me a job here! That would be nice wouldn't it!

It's so so wonderful to be a 'Tokyo Resident'! I still keep pinching myself daily and even a week after arriving I can't seem to move this giant smile off my face!

Tomorrow it's furniture shopping day! Hopefully I can find some super cute retro pieces for my new mini-me Barbie-doll-size apartment!

Love Love
Hello Sando
xxx

Hello Sando Tokyo 30th!

Sandwiches guess what? I turned 30 in Tokyo today!!!
It's been the BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER. And it's still only lunch time!
Here is a pic of my Japanese Birthday Cake from my party last night!



Well, I'm off to treat myself to some Shibuya shopping now!

Love Love
Hello Sando
xxx

iphone4 Japan Launch!

Did I time my arrival in Tokyo well or what?! The iphone4 was released in Tokyo today! weeeeee! Think lots of cute Japanese camping out since Monday in front of SoftBank stores everywhere all to get their hands on the new iphone. So popular is the new iphone in Tokyo, SoftBank had to stop taking pre-orders for the handset!

Sadly, I was one of the unlucky thousands who missed out on receiving their phones today so I need to wait until they call when mine has arrived. Oooo I can't WAIT till it arrives so I can start regular twitpic updates for you!



This is the teeny basement room at Shinjuku Bic Camera where I filled out my iphone4 contract application. Oh my goodness you need an extremely high level of Japanese to make a phone contact in Japan! Needless to say I was completely confused! So many plan options! You also need a Japanese credit card (rather than simply a Japanese bank account if you are on a working holiday visa) or you need to buy the iphone4 handset upfront.

My entire second day as a Tokyo resident was lost in translation (even after 4 years of Japanese study)! I opened my new Japanese bank account (love the fact I could chose from 32 key card colours! Hello Lilac!), popped into to the Shinagawa Immigration Office, shopped for mamacharis (Japanese mama-style bikes complete with shopping basket), visited Nitori (the Japanese version of Ikea) and picked up a Barbie sized fake Eames Hang-it-all for my Barbie sized apato, ate a delicious katsu-curry for lunch, purchased the most adorable Tanabata tree and decoration kit (will post pics once I have set it up!) and had the best home cooked Japanese dinner ever! Oooo I love living in this city!

Will write again soon lovely Sandwiches!

Hope you are all well!

Love Love
Hello Sando
xxx

My first day living in Tokyo!

Hello Sandwiches!

I arrived in Tokyo last night! It's so lovely to be able to call this amazing city my new home! I haven't been able to wipe the smile from my face since arriving~! My teeny tiny apartment is like living in a Barbie house! I have banged myself about a hundred times already and my Odango hair bun only just scrapes under the doorways! But it's so cute and so super sunny!






Gracie had pre-delivered a 'Hello Onigiri' welcome card, some sweet flowers and a super cute cushion to greet me when I arrived in my new apartment!



My sweet Japanese bread breakfast Hello Sandwich!



Today was such a lovely first day living in Tokyo! After wondering around my local Shimokitazawa neighbourhood I took a cab over to Setagaya-ku city hall, applied for my alien registration card and received this little Setagaya-ku arrival pack.




The pack came complete with earthquake emergency information. I love the note that points out I should 'have slippers ready'. Check!





I am completely in love with the view from my new apartment!! At night little red lights glow from the tops of buildings.




You can even spot Shinjuku from the back of the balcony!



I arrived just in time for rainy season so although I can't hang out on my teeny tiny balcony, these two super cute clothes hangers can!



Tonight's dinner: A delicious bento from my new local supermarket! (Hello Sandwich Tokyo HQ is yet to be equipped with a rice cooker and other kitchen essentials) And in a minute I am off to the local ¥180 bar! Come and visit soon Sandwiches!

Love Love
Hello Sando in Tokyo
xxx

My Shimokita Apato! 下北沢 アパート！

Hello Sandwiches!

eeeep! I found my new Shimokita apartment! It's teeny tiny Tokyo style but lovely and sunny and super close to the station and walking distance to my dear friend Gracie's apartment! I found it on Forrent (special thanks to Google Translate). I can't wait to get there next week and start filling it with cute things!











Love Love
Hello Sando
xxx

BONZA MOVING SALE!

It's time to sell everything before I move to Tokyo! My friend Yumi is also joining the sale as she is moving to Paris!

We hope you can come along to our Bonza Moving Sale!

GOODS LIST:

A bed
Book shelves
Fan
Microwave
Lamp shades
Lamps
Frames
Furniture
Fridge
Wine rack
Chairs
Bed side tables
Ladies and mens clothing
Lots of cute fabric
Yoga mat
Kitchenware
Pre-loved craft packs
Pre-loved accessory packs
Garden pots
Plastic storage boxes
Books
CD’s
Yumi Takahashi art zine
Astro turf
Desk
Stereo
Oven toaster
Ikea wall mounted shelves
Wallpaper rolls


I also have a few copies of my Hello Sandwich Tokyo Zine to sell if you missed out!


And boys - don't feel like you are missing out as my friend Rhys is also joining the sale as he is moving to Japan too! Rhys is selling some boy-friendly things like:

Epson – Printer/Scanner
Brother MFC – Printer/Scanner/Fax
Computer cables and hardware (DVD drive, 5.1 surround sound card)
Books, Records, CDS, DVD’s
Winter Clothes: Scalfs, Benies, Hats, Jackets, Hoodies, Jeans, Pants
Other Clothes: Shirts, T-Shirts, Shorts
Shoes: Skate shoes, leather shoes, snowboard boots
Photography Equipment: film, tripod, reflectors, SLR, underwater camera, animation & register equipment.
Muskater zine
Holga photography zine
Surfing, Skateboarding & Snowboarding Equipment, 6′1″ DHD Surfboard, Burton Balance & Atlantis Snowboard, Skateboard
Travel Bags, Backpacks, camel pack
Kitchen wears Toaster, kettle, sandwich maker, maxwell jars, silverware, knives & knife block, utensils and more
Shelves, Cupboards Office Chairs
Desks
Cables: Internet, Power and misc
Electronics: Mobile phones, sound cards, kits, amp, speakers
Bicycle parts: Inner tubes, brake lever,
Motorbike parts: seat, tank, cover, gloves
Tools
Office & Art supplies
Travel & Camping Equipment
Couch
Picture frames
Magazines Art, Photography, Surfing, Skating, Car, vintage and misc
Toys
Plants

Come along and say Hello before I move to Tokyo! Pick up a coffee at The Little Marionette (Annandale branch) and pop on up to snap up a pre-loved by Hello Sandwich bargain!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xxx

Sumimasen by Isabelle Boinot

Isn't this 'Sumimasen' book by Isabelle Boinot just gorgeous! I treated myself to a copy and it should arrive in Tokyo just in time to be a birthday / welcome to Tokyo present for myself!

Japan fans will also love Isabelle's two Japan blogs: Sumimasen, a blog about her Kyoto travels and Tokyo Sugoi focusing on Tokyo!

Below are some spreads from Isabelle's Japan sketchbooks!












It's now just 14 days until I move to Tokyo! eeeep!
I hope you will come and visit me!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xxx