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A crowded cherry-blossom day in Ueno, with lunch above the park

Ueno Park was so busy that walking through it took effort. A lunch her friend had reserved at LUCIS GARDEN gave Haruru a calmer part of the day, with a view and time to enjoy the meal.

From haruru.1002’s two accounts shared in April 2024, edited with permission.

A homemade pound cake to take to a friend

For her friend, Haruru had made a sweet-potato and cranberry pound cake using rice flour. Her photographs show three loaf tins in the oven and the baked cakes laid out afterwards.

She liked how moist the cake had turned out and was already thinking of using rice flour for future pound cakes too. In that account she also wrote about going to Ueno for the cherry blossoms: it was not raining, but she felt cold.

A homemade pound cake to take to a friend — Haruru’s photograph
A homemade pound cake to take to a friend — Haruru’s photograph

A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN

The park was crowded enough that she could barely walk through it comfortably. It was not the slow cherry-blossom stroll she had hoped for, although her photograph caught blossoms above the pond and colourful pedal boats on the water.

Her friend had reserved lunch at LUCIS GARDEN, on the ninth floor of Totenko in Ueno. Haruru liked the view and was able to settle into the meal. The photographs follow the food on the table, from a plate of small appetisers and spring rolls to warm dishes, noodles and dessert.

A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph
A busy park, followed by a leisurely lunch at LUCIS GARDEN — Haruru’s photograph

Making a short stop at Bunraku

Since they were in Ueno, Haruru wanted to make one more familiar stop. They went to Bunraku for a little while, and her collage brings together grilled skewers, beer and small dishes.

It was her friend’s first visit. Haruru was happy that her friend enjoyed it, giving the outing another good memory after the bustle of the park and their quieter lunch.

Making a short stop at Bunraku — Haruru’s photograph

Sources for this account

Haruru’s two accounts shared on 6 April 2024 describe preparing a sweet-potato and cranberry pound cake as a gift, a cold day, a crowded Ueno Park, her friend’s reservation at LUCIS GARDEN on Totenko’s ninth floor, and a short Bunraku visit. The official restaurant page confirms the LUCIS GARDEN 上野店 name.