Ten years ago we moved out of London and I've barely been back since although I love the place. So on Monday I decided to go in for the day and visit my former place of work to stock up on Japanese food and ingredients.
When I worked at the Japan Centre it was very much a bookshop. I was assistant manager and book buyer and I loved my job. The staff were mainly young Japanese people and we all had a great relationship. Since I left about fifteen years ago the boss has diversified. Now the the Japan Centre consists of two buildings on Piccadilly (just near the tube and the big Waterstones). Shop one:
is now a food store selling Japanese ingredients, crockery, bread, snacks, lunches, tea and books in the basement. You can imagine that I went a bid mad in there:
I just had to have some onigiri (Japanese rice balls):
and as for inari zushi, my mouth was watering at the mere thought of them:
They are sort of tofu skins filled with rice and have a sweetish flavour.
I know Amber just loves anko (aduki bean paste) so I had to get a few of these:
which look like this inside - think this one had chestnuts inside too:
Next door (where the bookshop used to be) is now a restaurant. I haven't eaten there for months but I remember the quality to be excellent as well the prices. I think huge bowls of ramen (noodles) were about 7 or 8 pounds.
Both shops are well worth a visit if you are in London. You can have lunch in the restaurant or treat yourself to take away food and perhaps take it to nearby St James Church and eat in the courtyard:
I went inside afterwards and was treated to ten minutes of violin playing. He's the guy in black.
Better still St James Park which is quite close by:
I had such a lovely day pottering around on my own - no Oxford St or Convent Garden. Instead I ambled down Jermyn Street and up past the beautiful windows of Fortnum's:
a quick peek inside:
and then it was time to head home and do the school run.
Oh I forgot to tell you what I saw before I got to the shops. This lot coming out of St James Palace:
so I joined the tourists and snapped away:
Rejuvenated by London but with sore feet, armed with tons of goodies I got the train home and couldn't get my head around that girl who used to do this everyday fifteen to twenty years ago. Was it really me?
I decided that I need to do this more often.
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You really should pay Japan Centre a visit. The address is: 212-213 Piccadilly and they appear to have a website now (click here). The (Japanese) Manager assures me that if anyone wants to order Japanese craft books and magazines he will be only to happy to try and get from Japan (as long as they're not out of print).
You've made my mouth water. I love the inari zushi best although I was shown how to make azuki bean paste treats and they are sublime.
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 18, 2008 at 02:01 PM
hello, just stumbled on your blog today. great reading! I've never been to London....maybe one day...
Posted by: Sara | June 18, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Although a born and bred Londoner I have never been into Fortnum and Masons! I have never been to the Japan Centre either but now I am tempted because of all the lovely food. Thank you for a most enjoyable post Simmy. I too must get up into the centre of London again soon and bring back a bit of the girl I used to be. Dare I say, let my hair down a bit!!!
Posted by: simone | June 18, 2008 at 02:54 PM
I went to England for five weeks my senior year of college and have always wanted to go back. I'm adding Japan Centre to the list of places we'll go when we take our kids, hopefully next year.
Posted by: Caroline | June 18, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Oh I just love Fortnum & Mason's it is so old fashioned. Hopefully get to go to London again soon when the kids are a bit bigger.
Posted by: Thimbleina | June 18, 2008 at 07:23 PM
I have walked by that Japan centre many times but have never gone in. I now feel that I must the next time I am there. I Love looking at Fortnun & Mason's. Oh you have made me long to go into London for the day soon! Those look like Canadian soldiers at the palace? I could be wrong, but the uniform's the right colour! I just love going into London for the day, be it to one of the museums, or just to laze around in one of the parks. It's such a beautiful city and is so full of life! Thanks for sharing your visit with us!
Posted by: Marie | June 19, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Well i recently stumbled upon your blog and i really enjoyed this post! I've never been to england but hopefully will someday and ive never heard of those places but you never know i could visit them sometime in the future!
Thanks for posting and i really love your blog!
God bless
ana barrett =]
Posted by: Ana Barrett | June 22, 2008 at 06:03 PM
It was lovely to see a little of your London. I have had a couple of days in London lately and it was so lovely to go back and wander but like you, I could not believe I used to do it daily! I am determined to go more often too, days like these are good for our souls.
Posted by: Rebecca | June 27, 2008 at 02:48 PM