Category: Japanese Culture

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Cooking Rice in a Pot

Posted on by sonokotchi

I cook rice and brown rice in a pot.

Cooking rice in a pot is very easy.

This time, I cook brown rice.

I wash two cups of brown rice and add 120% of rice of water.

First, cook with strong fire to bring it up to boiling, then lower the fire to the lowest to cook till all water is absorbed.

Add 120% of rice of water again; then cook brown rice the same way again.

Cook with strong fire till boiling; then lower the fire to the lowest to cook till all water is absorbed.

Turn on the fire to maximum for 10 seconds; then turn off the fire to steam it for 10 mins.

I cannot eat all at once so I quickly pack them individually to make a ready-to-eat instant rice pack.

You need to pack immediately after finishing steaming it for 10 mins.

If you leave it long, rice won’t be moist enough when you heat it up by microwave.

Now these are ready to be frozen.

I can easily heat it up by microwave to enjoy steaming brown rice anytime.

Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Travel

Trip to Hokkaido (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I woke early to go for Onsen (hot spring).

It’s quiet; air is crispy but Onsen keeps me warm.

I love this moment in open air onsen.

I took a quick breakfast.

I picked all bad combination: carbohydrates…but these are nice…

I want to try Wakasagi Tsuri (pond smelt fishing) on the frozen pond.

Today, Wakasagi Tsuri is available only at Kairaku Koen (Kairaku Park), Tsukigata Town, Hokkaido.

We set the car navigation to Tsukigata Onsen.

It’s about one hour from Sapporo and two hours from Jozankei Onsen.

Yes, there are many beautiful sceneries.

Arrived at Kairaku Koen.

We got ready at Mizube no Ie (Water Front House).

Wore a rubber boots then walk on the lake.

There are tents on the lake.

There is a stove in the tent; therefore, it’s very warm inside.

Place a bait (warm) on hooks.

Then start fishing.

Obviously, I’m not good at fishing.

I caught a total of three Wakasagi only.

The weather is nice so we tried to fish at outside.

We drilled our own hole.

I tried for a while, but I caught none. Boo Hoo.

Time’s up.

The shop cooked Wakasagi Tempura for us.

There are only eight (8) and enjoyed each bites because they are very very very fresh.

After fishing, enjoyed Tsukigata Onsen.

I really enjoyed my short stay in Hokkaido.

I’ll plan to come back again.

Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Travel

Trip to Hokkaido (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I forgot to post the view from my room last night.

It was snowing so looked romantic like this.

When I woke up, the view is this.

This hotel has a nice view overlooking Onsen-gai (Hot Spring Town).

Of course, I went for morning Onsen (Hot Spring) before breakfast.

The breakfast is buffet style.

After breakfast, departed hotel for Otaru.

On the way to Otaru, there are few cars parked on the street.

We stopped to see what’s there.

There are tents…they are doing Wakasagi Tsuri (pond smelt fishing) in nature! Wow!

Reached Otaru.

Otaru is known as port city and famous for canal and glass!

I tried making a tumbler by blowing glass at Taisho Glass Kan (Taisho Glass House).

Hon-kan (Main Shop)

Blow Glass Studio

Sensei (teacher) helped me greatly so I could make a tumbler.

After making a tumbler, also made a marble bead at Taisho Glass Beads Kan (Taisho Glass Beads House).

After making crafts, went for lunch.

Walked on Otaru Sushiya-dori (Otaru Sushi Restaurant Street).

There are many Sushi Restaurants on both sides of this street.

Picked and went in Asahi Zushi Honten (Asahi Zushi Main Store) among sushi restaurants on the street.

And ordered Special Sushi.

We continued for Foodie Hunting in Otaru.

Hokkaido is famous for Ramen; looked for a nice ramen in Otaru.

The chef of Tokai-Ya is former French chef.

According to the web, Ramen tastes sensitive and sophisticated and comments are right.

Ordered a bowl of Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, Ninniku (garlic) Chasiu Miso Ramen and Katsuo-meshi (bonito rice).

After walking in Otaru, stopped for coffee at Cafe Deco, Otaru Roman-Kan (Romance House).

Otaru is nice town to walk.

Now time to go back to our hotel: Sankeien, Jozankei Onsen.

One hour drive back to hotel is breath taking.

Snow is thick and heavy; I won’t see these sceneries in Tokyo.

Its cold out; therefore, it’s very nice to dip in Onsen.

I love to dip in open air bath in cold.

Ate dinner and relaxing on Futon.

Plan to wake up early tomorrow for Wakasagi Tsuri (Pond Smelt Fishing). hehehe

Posted in Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Sunrise and Sunset, Travel

Trip to Hokkaido (Day 1)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Depart Haneda International Airport (Tokyo) for Chitose International Airport (Sapporo, Hokkaido).

There are many buildings and houses in Tokyo.

After 1.5 hours journey; it’s snowing in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Hokkaido is huge; we need to rely on cars.

We didn’t make a reservation, but there are many counters for rent a car service providers at the arrival hall of Chitose Airport.

I just picked Nippon Rent a Car.

The number of rent a car is large in Hokkaido; these cars are all rent a car service cars.

The counter is also huge.

While waiting for a car, I found Hokkaido Exclusive Drink: Hokkaido Tokibi-cha (Corn Tea).

This is nice roasted taste.

There is a departure gate as well.

My Hokkaido Car is cute Toyota Vitz.

First, we went to Shokotsu-Ko (Shikotsu Lake) for lunch or snacks.

These snacks are nice.

Yaki Tokibi (Grilled Corn)

Imomochi (Potato Mochi (potato mixed with pounded rice))

The scenery is beautiful with snow and sun setting.

Driving in snow is also beautiful.

Finally, arrived at Jozankei Onsen (Hot Spring) Sankeien (Hotel Sankeien).

Hotel room is washitsu (Japanese style).

Before dinner, went to Onsen to fresh up and warm up.

Then dinner.

Now I’m watching TV from Futon. fufufu

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo, Travel

Trip to Nikko (Day 4)

Posted on by sonokotchi

It was snowing when I woke up.

It was nice to dip in open air bath in the morning before breakfast.

It’s time to go back home, Tokyo.

We had time till our train back to Tokyo, we stopped by Kissa (Cafe) Tsuruya for a coffee and oshiruko (red bean soup with mochi (pounded rice)).

Sayonara Kinugawa Onsen (Hot Spring) Station.

Snow stopped nearing to Tokyo.

Oh no, returned to Sky Tree where I started this trip.

Returned to Asakusa by Revaty.

It was peaceful and relaxing Year End and New Year holiday.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Travel

Trip to Nikko (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I picked more western food this morning.

After breakfast, we left hotel for Tobu World Square.

There is a station named Tobu World Square.

The park is located across the street from the Station.

The entrance of Tobu World Square.

It’s a miniature of the world.

New York

Egypt

Paris

Greece

Spain

Many More Places

And Japan

When we returned to hotel, hotel served mochi (pounded rice).

This is traditional way of making mochi.

There are three flavors: anko (red bean), kinako (soy bean powder) and daikon (white radish with soy sauce).

These are fresh, soft and delicious.

After the snack, I took a bath then had dinner.

We had dinner with desert, but went to desert again: double desert. hahaha

I will watch what I eat starting tomorrow.

Posted in Exercise, Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Shop, Shopping, Shrine and Temple, Travel

Trip to Nikko (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Akemashite Omedetogozaimasu (Happy New Year)

This is the view from a room.

I had a buffet breakfast; hotel serves New Year dishes, too.

It’s New Year so decide to go to Nikko Toshogu (Shrine) for prayer.

At Kinugawa Onsen (Hot Spring) Station, Station staffs and local people are serving sake and Amazake (sweet non-alcohol sake).

SL train stops this Station.

Then I see the real SL train: Taiju. Yeah!

Today, I took this train to reach Tobu Nikko Station.

Two trains were connected; it has double faces.

The road was crowded with cars to visit the shrine.

We took a bus till Shinkyo (God’s Bridge) then walked to Nikko Toshogu.

Shinkyo (God’s Bridge) is beautiful.

Nikko Toshogu is the World Heritage.

We walked to the entrance of Nikko Toshogu.

This is the first gate, need to show a ticket to enter the premises.

Toshogu is in the process of repairing.

Some buildings are reborn in bright colours.

This place is famous for THREE WISE MONKEYS: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.

Yomeimon (Yomei Gate)

This gate is so colourful.

This dragon is drawn at the ceiling of this gate, beautiful and powerful.

This Nemuri Neko (Sleeping Cat) is also famous.

This cat looks as if she can wake up anytime.

The main building of shrine is still under the repair.

We managed to pray and visit places before the place gets crowded with more visitors to arrive.

We catch a bus back to Tobu Nikko Station.

We went to collect our free souvenirs, Castella (cakes) and Yuba (tofu), at Nikko Castella Honpo (Main Store).

Then we changed a train to return to Kinugawa Onsen Station to hotel before it gets dark.

We enjoyed dinner after a good exercise, walking at Shrine.

We had a voucher to get another dessert after dinner.

We did dessert hopping tonight. fufufu

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Travel

Trip to Nikko (Day 1)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Depart Asakusa Station for Kinugawa Onsen (hot spring) Station by Spacia, Tobu Line.

I enjoyed privacy for two hours train ride at Compartment 2.

Sky Tree and peaceful scenery from window

I see snow at Kinugawa Onsen Station; yes, it’s cold here.

It’s a hot spring town.

The station gate looks like as if we are going to enter a hot bath.

Kinugawa Onsen

I took a shuttle bus to Kinugawa Plaza Hotel.

Opened a door and there is a fusuma (sliding door) to lead us to a main room and small sun (living) room to over look a river.

There is a public hot spring bath; therefore, there is a shower booth only at the room.

We had dinner at room and dinner was nice.

After dinner, went to Onsen.

There are free ice candy bars: Gari Gari Kun Onsen Manju (black sugar flavor).

I watched Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red/Women Team vs White/Men Tram Song Battle) on TV.

Watching this TV programme is a typical way to spend New Year’s Eve in Japan.

Namie Amuro who is celebrating her 25th career anniversary decides to retire next September.

This year would be her last performance at Kohaku.

Singers who are selected to perform on this programme is based on the performance and popularity in the year; therefore, Japanese singers are honor to participate in this programme.

After Kohaku, watching Iku Toshi Kuru Toshi (Year to Go, Year to Come).

Listened to Temple’s Bell to purify the spirit to receive a New Year.

Happy New Year!