Category: Japanese Culture

Posted in Exercise, Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Restaurants, Shop, Shopping, Travel

Foodie Trip (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I started my day with Japanese breakfast at Toraya, the Sunroute Hotel Wadayama, Hyogo.

We are near to the Ruins of Takeda Castle, Asagoshi city, Hyogo.

The only thing I didn’t know is I need to walk 2.2 km to reach the summit and the ruins of castle.

It was a nice walk to the summit.

We are greeted by the rainbow; that’s encouraging.

We finally reached the ruins of Takeda Castle.

Today, there are only castle’s stone foundation is available to visit.

The view is nice from the summit.

This is the ruin of Tenshukaku (the main building of the castle).

This ruins of Takeda Castle is famous and also called, Tenku no Shiro (the Castle above the Sky).

It is not the season now, but when the time is right, I can see a magnificent view like in a photo.

I would like to come back again for this scenery.

After a good excessive, I had Miso Nabe Udon (Miso Claypot Udon), together with snacks, Himeji Oden (Himeji Style is to eat oden with ginger sauce) and Oinari san (vinegared rice with tofu) at Wataya, Himeji, Hyogo.

Now left for a dessert.

This is Himeji’s casual dessert: Gozasoro.

It has two flavors: Koshian (red beans) and shiroan (white beans).

This would be my last Foodie Report for this trip.

This wasn’t a typical way of celebrating Christmas with turkey and cakes, but I enjoyed it greatly!

Merry Christmas!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel

Foodie Trip (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I started my day with taking a hot spring.

Then enjoyed a Japanese breakfast.

We decided to visit Tachikui Sue no Sato (Tachikui Pottery Town).

Tachikui Sue no Sato Area

I tried to make a pottery for first time at Yume Kobo (Dream Factory).

Sensei (teacher) is very kind and knows how to lead students.

Tachikui-Yaki is one of six greatest pottery in Japan.

If you want to try making pottery for the first time, Yume-Kobo is highly recommended!

It was fun.

It requires discipline and it brought me peace in my mind.

I now consider learning pottery.

Sensei taught me the process.

I made four things: beer cup, Japanese tea cup, Matcha green tea bowl for tea ceremony and rice bowl (from left).

Sensei helped me greatly with beer cup and Japanese tea cup.

I made by myself rice bowl (first thing that I made) and Matcha green tea bowl (the last thing I made).

To make tall glass/cup shape is difficult compared with a bowl.

I want to make a beer cup and green tea cup alone one day.

With happy feeling, I had a happy ramen at Ohashi Ramen, Nishiwaki, Hyogo.

Then proceeded to next destination: Wadayama.

We plan to stay at normal business hotel; therefore, we stopped by at hot spring spa, Ouka no Yu, before reaching to a hotel.

There are so many different baths to try here.

I enjoyed staying here greatly.

This is a sign for women bath.

I enjoyed watching the Year-End horse race, Arima Kinen at the bath because there is a big screen TV at open air bath and sauna.

I watched the race at open air spa.

This is the replay at the lobby of spa.

I bought two bottles of Tajima Tennensui (Tajima Natural Spring Water).

I love to try local products to get energy from local area.

Hotel is located nearby this spa: Hotel Sunroute Wadayama

Again, this is Foodie Trip; Hotel is simple and comfortable.

Tonight’s main event is crab dinner at Kutaro, Wadayama, Hyogo.

Yeahhhh

Every crab dish was niceeeee: sashimi (raw), grilled, pot and last dish is porridge with crab stock.

And drink is also nice.

This is Asahi Super Dry Beer bottle with crab on the label.

And this Kani Zake (grilled crab with Japanese sake) is nice and smoky!!!

This is my Christmas 2017.

Merry Christmas!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Restaurants, Tokyo

Bonenkai (Year-End Gathering) Day

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, I had two Bonenkai.

I had a corporate Bonenkai (Year -End Gathering) at Malaysian Restaurant, Malay Asian Cuisine, Shibuya, Tokyo.

I enjoyed these Malaysian food: Satay, Nasi Lemak, ota ota (it’s fish surimi. After open banana leaf, there is a curry flavored fish surimi: picture on the right), Murtabak, pandan chiffon cake and Teh tarik.

At the evening, I enjoyed Italian at Il Ritrovo, Ropppongi Hills, Tokyo with my flower arrangement class mates (7 of us).

I was busy talking during Bonenkai; therefore, I forgot to take photos.

Nonetheless, the restaurant is famous for pizza, delicious and VERY cost effective.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my friends!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Gadget, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Restaurants, Tokyo

Foodie Report: Nihonbashi Yabukyu

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had a nice namakaki tempura zarusoba (oyster tempura cold sobs) tonight at Nihonbashi Yabukyu, Tokyo.

This soba shop opened in Japanese Era Meiji 35 years, 1902.

This restaurant is a member of Kibachi Kai.

Kibachi (wooden bowl) symbolizes the basic of soba.

Kibachi Kai aims to improve skills among members.

I found my favorite soba shop name, Azabu Jyuban Sarashina Horii, in a list.

If you are looking for a nice soba shop, we can refer to the website of Kobachi Kai at http://www.kibati-kai.net/01about/index.html.Unfortunately, it’s in Japanese only.I hope you would reach to a soba shop by Google Map…?

Posted in Beauty, Daily Life, Feelings, Health, Japanese Culture

Taking a Bath

Posted on by sonokotchi

Taking a bath can solve problems of swelling and blood circulation.

I take bath which is 38 – 40C for 15 – 20 minutes to warm the centre of my body.

40C is low for Japanese, but I start sweating and get warm up after 20 minutes.

Taking a bath is also good for detoxing.

Water gets cold fast during winter; therefore, I reheat a couple time in 15 – 20 minutes.

There is a function to reheat a bath in Japan.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Restaurants, Tokyo

Year-End

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s raining and cold outside, 3C.

Today, I received a nice set of corporate calendar from my friend as a sign of Year-End.

Sending calendars is a traditional custom of Year-End: getting ready to receive a new year.

I like her corporate calendars because pictures are all beautiful Japanese sceneries.

I look at nice scenery of Japan when I get tired at office.

I plan to place all in my office room.

And I had Bonenkai (Year-End Gathering) at Malaysian Cuisine Penang Restaurant, Shiba-Keon, Tokyo.

We laughed over nice food.

Year-End is approaching.

Posted in Books & Magazines, Daily Life, Feelings, Food, Health, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Wadaya No Gohan (Wada’s Food) Making Body and Soul to Win Cancer!

Posted on by sonokotchi

Dr. Wada is teaching us how to prevent making and growing cancer.

Our daily life and eating habit creates cancer; on the other hand, we can also prevent making or growing greatly if we change our eating habit.

Cancer needs sugar/glucose to become cancer.

I should not overtake sugar and carbohydrate such as white rice, breads, pasta, etc.

Salts will give energy to cancer.

I should take less salts to reduce activities of cancer.

I should cut daily products such as milk, cheeses, yogurt, butter, etc. because it will grow cancer.

I should take good quality oil, omega 3 oil such as linseed oil, perilla oil, etc. and omega 9 such as olive oil.

To reduce salt, Dr. Wada advises to use dashi (umami: soup stock of konbu (seaweed) and katsuobushi (fish flakes) for cooking.

I will take his advice to change my eating habit to make my body and soul to prevent cancer.

I know it’s not easy because I love to eat and these delicious food is the one I should stop eating. Ahhhhhh