Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Friends, Gadget, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Tokyo

Summary of My Week

I was rushing to places past few days and returned home after midnight.

I try to blog everyday; but I didn’t have stamina to do so.

Therefore, I decided to upload the summary.

On Friday, we went to Indian Restaurant Khan Kebab a Biriyani @ Ginza.

Sometimes, I get disappointed with food that requires many types of spices.

I understand the restaurant might face trouble sourcing the spices or simply trying to save cost. 

But at this restaurant, I enjoyed every food.


On Saturday, after our field trip to the cutting edge Japanese innovation center TEPIA, we explored Tokyo.

TEPIA is quite interesting to visit.

You can also participate in Japanese innovation.


This is the Nissin Cup Noodle Dancing Robot. 

The robot dances for three minutes while waiting for a noodle.

It’s a nice three minutes timer.


Then we went to Shibuya.


I enjoyed Kebab at Saray Kebab at Shibuya.


I had Kebab rice with humms and cherry drink.

Delicious♪


I also went to Harajuku.

The crepe was introduced in here; therefore, it is a fashion to eat a crepe here.

I ordered one.



I had Angel’s Heart strawberry crepe.

On the show window, there are six pieces of strawberries, a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate; but I had only two pieces of strawberries and mainly tasting whipped cream.

There are many crepe stalls; you should try others.

I decided to post bads as well.

I had a bad experience on Friday.

My friend bought watches as sourvenir at Don Quijote Ginza (we call the retails Donki for short).

Before ringing a cashier, we asked if they could set the time to Malaysian time which is one hour earlier than Japan.

Two sales persons said they would do, but we were told we need to purchase them first.

Fair enough, so my friend bought watches.

Then the lady who did cashier started telling me we cannot ask them to set the time because they are busy.

I told her we asked in advance and they said okay, it is not fair that the store asked us to purchase and after we purchase refuse to do what you promised.

She was bitching all the way.

But I kept quiet because I wanted everything to be processed.

Luckily, we asked them to set the time because one of them was out of battery.

This bitching lady needed to process it again, so she was really bitching.

But I don’t understand why she was so angry because the total amount was more than USD 500.

Then later we found out that she punched wrongly.

The amount was overcharged.

There is a tag saying, if you buy four, the price is JPY 2500.

But she charged JPY 1000 each.


Next day, we went back. 

She was there again and told us the store won’t refund if we don’t have every merchandises with its barcode.

The scene was about to get nasty, then a lady cut in.

I explained all the situation by showing a photo of price tag, pointing the actual signage and showing receipt.

This nice lady quickly apologized and processed to refund.

But the bitching lady was still bitching in Japanese.

And a man, I don’t know what’s his position, but he was siding this bitching lady by saying “you are right, you did the right thing” in front of customers.

I don’t understand them.

She overcharged a customer and it’s okay?

When we settle this, the price tag isn’t there any more.

The store must have taken it away quickly.

Luckily, I took a photo before they took it out.

This made me realized I need to write something bads as well, to protect consumers like us.

We went to other Donki, but they assisted us nicely and so as other stores.

Watch out the lady at Donki Ginza 2nd Floor watch section, she overcharges and she thinks it’s right to bitch in front of foreign customers in Japanese. 

She made me shame.

My friends from overseas thought Japanese are nice; but She succeeded to give a different impression to them who visited Japan for first time.

Luckily, they met more Japanese during their stay so they know she is the exceptional case.

After Harajuku, we went to Akihabara and had sushi.

The sushi restaurant strategically uses iPads to assist foreign visitors in many languages.

Too bad I didn’t take any pictures at Akihabara.

Perhaps, next time.

On Sunday, I catch up on my sleep because I need to go back to office as usual tomorrow.

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

My Friday Afternoon

I attended a seminar from 2 pm to 5 pm; therefore, I needed to charge energy after the seminar.

Actually, I had a cake and coffee with a friend who also attended a seminar.

The seminar ended at 5 pm; I didn’t need to return to office so enjoyed having a coffee at the nice cafe in Marunouchi.



The seminar venue is nearby Tokyo Station.

Tokyo Station was opened in 1914, same as the Grand Central Station in New York.

Both celebrated 100th anniversary three years ago and these are sister stations.

Isn’t it beautiful?


On the way to my line, Marunouchi Line, I was greeted by Goku (Dragon Balls).

Kamehamehaaaaaaaaa!!!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Setsubun no Hi (3 February)

Based on Japanese old calendar, 3 February is the New Year Day.

We believe Japanese horoscope starts today.

Traditionally, we through dried soy beans against demons to push bad luck away and bring good luck to home.

When we through soya beans, we say, “oniwa soto. (demons (evils) out) Fukuwa uchi (happiness to home)”.

We also eat number of age of soya beans for good luck.


And this is a new trend, coming from West Japan.

We eat a thick long rolled sushi facing at the good direction of the year while we pray for a good year to come.

I wanted to eat a long one, but it was cut to be eaten easily because others, including sushi master, don’t believe in this new custom.

Hummm, what’s wrong to be happy?


At last, I have another thing to do today.
The other day, I posted about this good luck charm: Ichiyouraifuku (bads end and goods will come, like ending winter and welcoming spring).

At midnight of 3 February, I need to place this good luck charm at high place and facing good direction of the year to make my life Smooth! 


Yes, I feel peace and now I can go to bed.

SLEEPY zzzzz

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Shopping, Tokyo

Anahachimangu (Anahachiman Shrine) @ Waseda, Tokyo

I went to Anahachimangu to get a good luck charms.


These are good luck charms for a smooth year: smooth relationships, smooth money transactions, etc.


I need to place a round good luck charm on a wall according to an instruction at midnight of 3 February 2017.

It has to face this year’s good luck direction: North- Northwest.

After a prayer and getting good luck charms, we went to lunch at Sanchoan.

Mom and I shared a “Yuzu soba ((facilitating) smoothness soba)” and Tonkatsu (pork rice bowl).

There is a rumor that this restaurant is a founder of tonkatsu.

I came for a good luck soba and their famous tonkatsu!


And I had Taiyaki for dessert.

This is a Japanese traditional desert in a shape of Tai (red snapper).

I bought one in traditional style and one in modern style, croissant taiyaki.

Both are delicious with a lots of sweet bean filling!


After lunch, we went to 100 yen shop Can Do (a dollar shop).

This is our routine because there isn’t any 100 yen shop in my area to shop consumable products cheap.

And the shop has many innovative products that I ended up buying MANY products.

A beauty part of 100 yen shop is I don’t feel guilty about it.

Posted in Feelings, Friends, Japanese Culture, Place, Shopping, Tokyo

Visiting Toy Park Hakuhindo@Ginza

This place must is a dreamland for kids and even for adults. 


My friend from the US asked me to get PokĂ©mon Cards for her sons.  

But there are too many series and different kinds: the Moon and the Sun, the starter kits, energy kit…

I was totally lost.


I don’t have any knowledge on toys, but I like to walk into this shop to find new ones.

I would love to go back there.

Who hates toys?

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Friends, Health, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, My Flower Arrangement

What’s Happened to a Steak?

When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t that hungry.

I decided to have a smoothie instead of a steak.

Oh, I’m adding lemon to get more vitamins!

I think it’s a good idea to add lemon!


When I have time, I cook lunch, bring it to the office and eat it at my desk.


After arranging flower…


At the class, I had some almonds, snacks and this good luck sweets, Hachifukumochi, from Hikawa Shrine.


Since this year is predicted bad for me, I’m glad that I can have one.

Thank you my friend to share good luck with me!

I had some snacks at the class; therefore, I have no choice, but to have smoothie for dinner.


What’s happened to that steak?

I cooked it for tomorrow’s lunch. 


To be honest, I want to eat it now.

I’m hungry…

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Flower, Japanese Culture

Tsubaki (Camellia) Oil


I’m about to finish it.

This is camellia oil which is Japanese almighty traditional beauty item for hair and skin.

Since it’s showing its presence for many years, I thought this product isn’t cool.

However, I was wrong.

My hair is thin so it tends to expand during winter because now I’m trying to keep my hair long (my hair itself is dry) and air is dry, especially during winter.

I couldn’t control my hair with hair lotion and wax.

I reached this sample bottle…it works.

Now I value the camellia oil differently – cool. 

Posted in Feelings, Food, Health, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Travel

Trip to Izu (Day 3/New Year)

Akemashite Omedetogozaimasu.

(Happy New Year)

The first sunrise in 2017.


We eat Osechi (New Year dishes) on New Year.

Every dish has a meaning: black beans (work hard till get black), golden mashed sweet potato (wealth/gold), etc.


After breakfast, checked out the hotel and moved to Atami.


Visited Kinomiya Jinja (Kinomiya Shrine) for hatsumoude (a New Year prayer).



This camphor tree is believed to be 2000 years old.

This tree is a sacred tree for long life.


I also enjoyed a bowl of matcha green tea while looking at a sacred tree.


Today, checked in at Hotel Micuras, Atami.

This hotel is very modern and every room has ocean view.




We had French for dinner; nice.

Tomorrow, I’ll return to Tokyo. Oh, NO!

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

Trip to Izu (Day 2)

I woke up and looked outside.

Sun was about to rise.


I quickly went to an open-air bath to wait for sunrise.


Today, it’s our lazy day because we don’t have a car to go out.

This isn’t my first trip to Izu during Year-End and New Year holidays.

The traffic in this area is terrible during holidays because there are many visitors/cars from Tokyo, but a road is narrow and there is only one lane!


Usually, it takes only 2.5 hrs for 160 km, but it will become 8 hr journey during holidays.

I tried three times/years and I gave up; it’s so tiring to drive 8 hrs alone! Sob sob.

This is why we don’t have a car.

There aren’t any places that we can go by foot in the area. Hummmm

Ate brunch at 8:30 am. 

This is actually breakfast, but needed to eat for lunch as well because we cannot go out. hahaha

Our accommodation plan includes a complementary himono (local specialities, dried seafood) and a can of beer from Koshien (a store in front of Atagawa Station).

After breakfast, we made a brief trip to Atagawa Station by a hotel shuttle bus.

A shuttle bus meant to send off their hotel guests to a station, but simultaneously, a bus can send us to the station and take us back!


Yes, we managed to get aji no himono (dried horse mackerels) and beers.


That was the most active thing that we did today.

Other hours, dipped in onsen (hot springs: there are five different baths),


Free Massage,


Foot Bath,

Dinner,

It is a custom to eat soba noodle on New Year’s Eve to wish for long (as soba) life. 


After dinner, we have no choice, but to spend New Year’s Eve in very traditional way.

I’m watching Kohaku Utagassen (Red and White Singing Battle) on NHK.

Red Team (women singers) and White Team (men singers) compete their performances.

Every year, it starts at 7:15 pm and ends at 11:45 pm.


Then I plan to watch Yukutoshi Kurutoshi (Year Going, Year Coming) from 11:45 pm till midnight.

Temples gong a bell for 108 times to purify our 108 sins by midnight to welcome New Year.

We watch lives or listen to gongs throughout the nation for 15 mins.

These sounds are actually the countdown to welcome New Year.

The sound of gongs calm us to welcome New Year peacefully.

Another one hour to welcome 2017…