After last weekend’s trial lesson, it was time for my first regular drumming lesson today. I also received a new pair of drumsticks, and a file folder with drum patterns to learn over the next couple of weeks. Here is a short video of me playing along to a song by Shiina Ringo (椎名 林檎). The lesson was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to continue to learn more.

After the lesson, my wife joined me and we went for lunch at the nearby cafe chocotto. A nice and fairly new shop, offering quite healthy and balanced lunch plates, including the use of sake koji and sake lees as cooking ingredients.

Lunch plate at cafe chocotto in Komagome, Tokyo. © 2025 Norbert Woehnl Photography.
Lunch menu at cafe chocotto in Komagome, Tokyo. © 2025 Norbert Woehnl Photography.
Dessert at cafe chocotto in Komagome, Tokyo. © 2025 Norbert Woehnl Photography.
Exterior photo of cafe chocotto in Komagome, Tokyo. © 2025 Norbert Woehnl Photography.

After this satisfying meal, we walked north towards Nishigahara, and came across Shimofuri Shotengai, an old shopping street with a very “retro” atmosphere.

Shimofuri Shopping Street in Nishigahara, Kita Ward, Tokyo. © 2025 Norbert Woehnl Photography.
Shimofuri Shopping Street in Nishigahara, Kita Ward, Tokyo. © 2025 Norbert Woehnl Photography.

We then walked a little bit further north towards Kyu-Furukawa Gardens. More about that in the post linked below.

Spring at Kyū-Furukawa Gardens, Tokyo, Japan

Some impressions from a short spring visit to Kyu-Furukawa Gardens at Nishigahara in the Kita Ward of Tokyo, Japan.

Spring at Kyū-Furukawa Gardens, Tokyo, Japan
Norbert Woehnl 📷
April 07, 2025

Unedited photos shot with iPhone 15 Pro.