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 […]
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 […]
It’s been a long while since my last update, due to my bad habit of procrastination and just simply lazing and enjoying my time in spring. I took photos of so many flowers that my camera is turning into a flower album. Next post will definitely be on flowers. Perhaps a much delayed cherry blossom […]
On the second day, before we begun our exploration, we gave our stomachs a wonderful treat for breakfast at the Hakodate Morning Market, which is only one minute away from Hakodate station, and opens daily from 5am to noon (6am in winter). The market had all the feel of the old Tsukiji market sans the […]
It had been one of my lifelong wishes to see snow in my life. When I first saw it on 2017, I was beside myself with happiness. Yet, it was not sufficient. My craving intensified, and I felt a deeper need to see even more snow. Not just mere snowflakes falling on me, but snow […]
What is a yakatabune cruise? Simply put, a yakatabune cruise is a luxury cruise. Once you are on the cruise, you will not only get to see unparalleled scenic views of Tokyo from the river, but also feast in traditional Japanese fine cuisine with free-flow drinks for a span of 2 to 3 hours. Yakatabune […]
Kamakura (鎌倉) is a coastal town endowed with not only beautiful ocean views, but rich history in its numerous shrines and temples. Only one hour away from Tokyo, it is no wonder that it gets extremely crowded on weekends, especially during the hydrangea season, which is right now in June. But as Kamakura is pretty big, […]
My meals in Kanazawa deserve to be dedicated a separate post because they are just that good. While you definitely must not miss trying this wonderful korokke (Japanese croquette) in the Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa, Kanazawa, due to its proximity to the sea, is actually known for its incredibly fresh seafood, so basically it […]
When you think of sake brewers an image of a middle-aged Japanese man would probably cross your head, but have you ever heard of a female sake brewer? The toji (head brewer) of Nadagiku Sake Brewery (灘菊酒造) in Himeji, Misa Kawaishi, is one of the few female sake brewers in the country. They have also merged […]
Who says there isn’t any nature to be found in Tokyo? Just 2-3 hours drive away from Tokyo, lies a rough diamond called Okutama. This is a place for nature lovers, for hikers, for adventure seekers. It isn’t easy to get here by car, one has to be skilled in navigating the rough terrains of […]