Another amazing meal at Spice Lab, my favourite elevated Indian place in Tokyo. Extremely creative fare with Japanese ingredients! Highly recommend if you want a special meal

I’m always tweeting about trains but honestly so grateful that my office is walking distance

I’m also on the other site: simnagra.bsky.social Additionally threads/insta: Sim_nagra

Lord of the rings return of the king (extended edition) is on in 4dx right now in Tokyo and it was the best movie experience of my life. If you like LotR at all, go! I thought we would need a break but we managed just fine

Started off the new year with hatsumode at our local shrine, they sell omamori for pets now

First movie of 2025 and if you like LotR I think you’ll have a great time. Brian Cox was amazing as Helm.

Starting off the year with my favourite train - the romancecar. All seats are the same price, but we got the best observation deck seats by booking a month in advance.

For a private onsen experience in Hakone, Yunessun’s Mori no Yu is also an option, it’s less well known and thus less likely to be booked up. The main baths are not tattoo friendly but if you have tattoos you can book these

On a clear day Yuzawa is pretty stunning

Took a day trip to Katsunuma, even in the winter it’s such a stunning place to visit and super easy to get to from Shinjuku.

Yamanakano ice candle festival today, thousands of candles literally made of ice were lit up celebrating the end of Diamond Fuji weeks. February is the perfect time for clear views of Fuji

Good Fuji viewing day today, can see the details of the Yoshida trail zigzagging up

JR green car is honestly the only way to go on the Shonan Shinjuku on the weekends. Interestingly compared to green cars on limited expresses, there are no seat reservations. You buy a green car ticket on Suica and then tap in above the seat when you board.

Blooms in Tokyo have been really late this year because of the cold, but it’s finally plum blossom season 🌸 If you’re traveling for sakura, aim for final week of march and first week of April

Kawazu sakura in full bloom now (by Kawazu station), the festival ended this weekend but the blooms should hopefully be around for about another week 🌸

Some exciting Japan train news: a new overnight train from Tokyo to the Tohoku region is launching in spring 2027! nippon.com/en/news/yjj202…

Once again extolling the virtues of the Green Car on the JR line - if you’re going to Kamakura or even just to Yokohama, it’s so comfortable, convenient and cheap (I wish this were an ad) The interior is just like a limited express, but you can’t reserve seats in advance.

The hydrangea path at Hase-dera in Kamakura is fully in bloom now - absolutely stunning, but also extremely crowded. You need to get a reservation in advance to enter the path (though anyone can enter the temple). I’d recommend an early morning slot before the crowds hit!

Most people take the subway or bus to Osaka Expo but honestly the only way to do it is by boat