Tokyo Beauty & Health Diary - Weekend in Mizumoto Park

Beauty comes from a healthy mind and a healthy body. I would like to share a recent experience with you, a simply nice place, simple good meal and from this a relaxed, happy & contented feeling. These feelings are the starting point for health and beauty.

It is already September and even though Tokyo is still sweltering (between the typhoons) right now the signs of the end of summer are appearing. As the heat finally loosens its grip, it is time to get outdoors.

Mizumoto Park: The biggest park in Tokyo

Tokyo is not a green city in the sense that London, Amsterdam or Los Angeles are. We have fewer parks in the centre, but there are several nature-filled parks away from the hustle and bustle of the big city of Tokyo.

The other day, I went to Mizumoto Park in Tokyo where there were big forests and beautiful lakes. I do not have time to go to the sea or the mountains, but I want to feel refreshed… Mizumoto park is the largest park in the city (nearly 1 million square metres). It is to the north of the city in Katsushika-ku and borders both Saitama and Chiba prefectures.

Throughout every season you can enjoy stunning nature such as cherry blossoms in spring, Hana Shoubu, poplar trees, ginkgo etc. The park is divided into zones, and people can fish and take pictures of birds there. A dragonfly rested on the lake surface and beautiful butterflies were in the forest flying. There is a large and well-kept lawn, where you can play with your children and pets, and in the lakes shallow areas, you can also play in the water. Quite rare in Tokyo, you can also enjoy having a barbecue (*Direct fire cannot be used, you should use a portable grill or stove)

A popular feature of this park is a running course that meanders around the lake. Since it will be cooler in the coming months, why not opt for a spot of jogging while enjoying the beautiful scenery and fresh air.

“Mizu Manju” traditional Japanese sweets

There is even a restaurant in the park. It was over 30 degrees on the day I went there, and they still had the summer menu, so I ordered Soba (buckwheat noodles served on a cool bamboo bed), matcha shaved ice and a Mizu Manju for around 1,000 yen.

Have you ever eaten Mizu Manju? “Mizu Manju” is a traditional Japanese sweet that is cool and refreshing. Wheat flour, sugar, and rice are crushed to form a ball and then in the centre stuffed with red bean paste. Around the outside is a transparent kudzu jelly. Tastes of summer!

The menu of this restaurant is seasonal. Apparently, the most popular choice on the autumn menu is a shrimp cocktail bowl. Even though it is a restaurant in a park, the taste and quality are of a full-fledged Japanese restaurant. There is seating on a terrace, with lead hooks available for dogs. If you have a cat, you can bring the cat with you too. Picnicking with your family, friends, pets and packed lunch is so relaxing!

<Katsushika-ku Mizumoto Park>

Opening day Always open
Admission Free
Access From Chiyoda Line “Kanamachi” to Keisei bus “Mizumoto Park”, 7 minutes on foot

The taste of Autumn

I don’t cook much and eat at Otoya almost every evening. Otoya is a reasonably priced Japanese restaurant where you can eat basic home cooking. The sanma（Pacific Saury）set meal is now available for a limited time. Being an oily bluefish (as we call it in Japan), Sanma is very good for health, itis a good source of unsaturated fatty acids such as DHA, EPA, and linoleic acid.

Civilized by the mixer!

Recently I bought a food mixer. I was surprised by how much you can do with a mixer. For someone like me who is not good at cooking, it has revolutionized my kitchen. Making mixed juice is easy! Cut up apples and grapefruits, put them into the mixer, add a bit of honey, pour some milk into the mixer cup and turn on the mixer. That’s it!