We’ve been getting to bed later and later which results in our waking up later and later.  Last night, we didn’t turn in until after 10:00 p.m.!

Today’s outing was pushed as I had a pre-pre-pitch at 9:00 a.m.  It went well and, according to my partners on the show, there have been buyers, both domestic and international, inquiring about the project.  If it goes, the most likely shooting location would be Hungary.  But in the meantime, there’s been some very strong interest in my cosy mystery series, and that one would shoot in South Africa.  Could I actually have two shows in production in 2025?  Or,  more likely, will these go the way of so many others which will leave me plenty of time to complete that Columbo rewatch?

Today, we hit the Yoyogi Park neighborhood and checked out their dog-friendly cafes.

The gang parked outside Cafe Rostro…

Where Akemi and I enjoyed a couple of lattes.  The coffee was great and the staff was wonderful.  Highly recommended.

Akemi made a lunch reservation at an Italian restaurant (L’Ombellico) attached to the boutique Trunk Hotel which is apparently the sister restaurant to our favorite hotel in Osaka, the Zentis.

Apparently one of the biggest pizza ovens in the area.

We had two very good pizzas.  Akemi is a big fan of the Napoli style.

Unfortunately, there was no way to get into the Trunk Hotel without a guest key (which led us to wonder how anyone checking in would get inside, but perhaps that is a question for a later trip).

So we just walked around the neighborhood.  Akemi picked up a ceramic cup.

And we ended up back at Nadoya no Katie for some Glitch coffee.  After much sampling over the course of these two weeks, these were our favorites.

Ooooh.  Caramel Ghost House.  Scary.  And supposedly delicious.

With several hours to kill before dinner in Ebisu, we stopped off in Shinjuku and got our steps in.

Love these subway themed print PSA’s.

Enjoying the rush hour crowd.

Finally, we arrived in Ebisu.

Dinner was at Sowado, sister restaurant to Sakai Shokai which we were unable to book on this trip.  But it all worked out because this place was terrific.

Highlights included the black throat perch, shirako in white miso stew, ham cutlets, and motsu udon.

I had a couple of drinks including a pomelo cocktail (delicious!).  Yamazaki-san treated us to a few interesting bites including this fresh myoga (Japanese ginger) that is definitely an acquired taste…although Akemi loved it.

A late-night stroll back through the streets of Ginza.

And we end our night with a Japanese traditional treat: a baked sweet potato out of the back of some buy’s truck.

Tomorrow is our last full day in Japan.  Hard to believe this trip is almost over and we’ll be returning to the cold winter of Toronto.  I’ve already received an advisory from Air Canada informing me that snow may affect our flight back!