Karuizawa is a beautiful alpine resort in eastern Nagano just one hour away from central Tokyo. A suburban town tucked away in the mountains, its relatively cooler climate makes it an ideal retreat from Japan’s sweltering summer heat. I abhor summer, especially summer in Japan, where its daily average temperature of 40 degrees is even […]
I recently came across a post that mentioned about how people turn to writing during times of crisis. I will never forget this particular description, for it truly speaks to my heart. “A diary can serve as a stimulant to feeling. It can remind the author, whether she is writing from prison or the warfront […]
If there is one thing I never leave Japan without, it is sunscreens. As a religious sunscreen user, I make it a point to amass several bottles of sunscreens whenever I visit Japan. What’s so good about Japanese sunscreens? And why do I buy them in Japan instead of in Singapore? Lightweight and Scentless I […]
Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya is a chain restaurant from Fukuoka known for both motsunabe (hotpot dish with various offal) and Fukuoka’s local specialty, karashi mentaiko (spicy cod roe). There are several branches throughout Japan, and when I was in Osaka, there happened to be a newly opened branch in Takatsuki, DH’s hometown, so we decided to […]
Plum blossoms, or ume, are as beautiful as they are underrated. Many people head to Japan to view the celebrated cherry blossoms, but few realise that plum blossoms are just as enchanting, and they last longer. While cherry blossoms bloom for two weeks at the most, plum blossoms colour Japan in varying shades of pink […]
Everyone says that living in Japan will give one clear skin. Perhaps it is their diet, or their traditional onsen soaking habits, for indeed, I don’t quite recall seeing any Japanese woman with bad skin. Almost every single one of them seemed to have such flawless, glowy skin. And yet, I had been battling with […]
I was invited to Devonshire Hair Studio at Somerset for a special facial lifting programme with them. It is actually a special form of massage by an aesthetics clinic from Tokyo, called Kadomori. They specially invited the head coach of Kadomori, Keigo-san, all the way from Japan, to conduct a few special sessions in Singapore […]
Just a month away from Christmas, and I’m missing the white winterland of Hokkaido already. I fervently wish I am back in Japan to catch some snowfall, or actually, just anywhere in the world that is blessed with white winter. But while I am only able to spend a tropical Christmas this year in Singapore, […]
As we had to return our rented car to the rental car company which was located in Naha, we’d decided that it was better to stay a night in Naha and continue our sightseeing in Naha. Naha is a relatively compact town easily accessible by public transport, so it was not a problem getting around […]
Seeing the sea of baby blue nemophila in Hitachi Seaside Park is one of my many to-see/do things on my never-ending bucket list, and I was tremendously blessed to be able to see the ocean of blue under a brilliant blue sky. Hitachi Seaside Park (ひたち海浜公園, Hitachi Kaihin Kōen), located in Ibaraki prefecture, is an […]