Category: Japanese Food

Posted in Beauty, Experience, Family, Feelings, Food, Hotel, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Restaurants, Shop, Shopping, Shrine and Temple, Travel

Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Took a train to Ishiyama Eki (Ishiyama Station) to participate in a special Buddhist ceremony at the temple in Shiga.

I love listening to Buddhist sutra reciting; and also participating to recite it.

The peaceful moment brings me clam and peace.

After participation in a special prayer, visited Iwamadera (Iwama Temple), Ishiyama, Shiga.

First, I hit the bell.

Please take note that you cannot hit it on the way back; you will bring bad luck instead.

If you forget to do it, it’s okay.

This is not the must.

There is Bokefuji Kannon (Goodness for senile dementia prevention) at this temple.

There is also Shirahime Ryujin (White Princess Dragon Goddess) for beauty.

The temple is located on the mountain.

Then I proceeded to Hondo (main temple).

Hondo (Main Temple)

There is a small beautiful pond next to the Hondo.

The famous Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho, composed a poet.

Furuikeya Kawazu Tobikomu Mizuno Oto

(Old Pond, a Flog Jumped, Sound of Splash)

Then there is also Fudo Do (Fudo Temple).

Fudomyoo is God of Fire.

He can burn all bad luck!

There is also Inazuma Ryuo Sha (Shrine for Lightning Dragon).

This God will prevent us from lightening and fire.

And there is also Taishi Do, Temple for Kobo Daishi (Kobo Buddhist Priest).

There is a resting room; you should take a rest here to meet more Gods and Eight Great Priests.

After dropping souvenirs at the hotel room, went out to buy tomorrow’s breakfast.

On the way to the bakery shop, stopped by at the Yojiya cosmetics shop located inside of hotel.

Yojiya was the specialized cosmetics manufacturer for Geisha.

Today, Yojiya also produces cosmetics for general consumers like me.

I bought UV protection loose powder in white.

I have sensitive skin so I want to avoid wearing UV protection cream by wearing a hat and THIS!

Then walked down to LAQUE to buy breads and cut pineapple for breakfast.

We arrived late last night and were active today.

We decided to have dinner at Japanese Restaurant Irifune at the hotel.

I enjoyed nice Kyoto food and Kyoto Sake Heiangu with Mom.

Posted in Beauty, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo, Travel, Work

Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto (Day 1)

Posted on by sonokotchi

In Japan, there is unrecorded holiday season named Golden Week.

There are many Japanese National Holiday starting on 29 April – 5 May.

These are

29 April – Showa Day

3 May – Constitution Day

4 May – Greenery Day

5 May – Children’s (Boys’) Day

Therefore, many factories close during this period to save operational cost.

In my case, my office has our own calendar; the office close from 28 April – 1 May 2018 (Labour Day) and from 4 – 6 May 2018.

I decided to spend my earlier Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto.

I planned to take 6:30 pm Shinkansen (bullet train);therefore, I tried to finish my works by yesterday, then packed at night.

I didn’t expect any visitors today so I even polished my nails for holiday last night.

Luckily, we didn’t receive any urgent tasks from HQ today.

I could leave office at 5 pm. Yeah

I arrived busy Tokyo Station; there are many people heading for home and holiday.

I queued to buy a souvenir: Tokyo Banana’s Tokyo Banana Panda with Banana Yogurt Cream for my old friend whom I plan to meet in Kyoto.

These are cuuuuuteeeeee in Panda.

I also bought an obento (packed food) for dinner on the train.

After shopping these, we proceeded to the Shinkansen platform.

There are many people busily walking…

Shinkansen was parking at the platform.

On the train, I enjoyed seafood obento/dinner: uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe) and kani (crab).

Then I enjoyed Tokyo Banana Panda for dessert.

Yes, I bought them for myself, too,

I arrived Kyoto at 9 pm.

We took a subway (Karasuma Line) to Shijo Station for checking in at Kyoto Karasuma Hotel.

This is my second time to stay at this hotel.

This hotel is nice and cozy.

Time to hit the futon.

Oyasuminasai (Good Night).

Posted in Daily Life, Feelings, Food, Japan Technology, Japanese Food, Place, Tokyo

Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, Yurakucho, Tokyo

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, I went to Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, Yurakucho, Tokyo to renew my passport after office hour.

The counter is conveniently opened till 7:00 pm to receive the application.

And it takes only a week for my passport to be ready; I can pick it up any time after 17 April 2018.

After I happily submitted my application for renewing my passport, I lined up to get a new product sample.

Kirin the Strong (Citrus Vodka, alcohol 9%) was launched today.

Staffs were busily disseminating a newspaper’s special issue like advertisement as if it’s a big news together with a sample of 250 ml can.

No harm to get a free drink.

I consider myself lucky today.

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

Movie Sunday

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had ramen for my brunch: AFURI at Roppongi Hills.

Then went to movie theater; in Japan, the movie is called The Pentagon Papers (officially, The Post).

It’s not an action movie; but it’s trilling.

Ironically, Japanese Defense Ministry is answerable to the similar issue: the daily battle report was reported, but Ministry/Minister didn’t know about the document, it existed but treated as missing, etc.

This could happen to any countries, especially when the state’s pride is involved.

On the other hands, we cannot forget that people’s life is in stake as well.

And I had sushi at Sushizanmai, Roppongi Haiyu-za Mae Branch, Roppongi.

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

1st Anniversary

Posted on by sonokotchi

I managed to finish my work by 5 pm and it’s Friday.

I didn’t want to go back home yet so I asked my office mate for dinner.

At the office, I don’t want to stay back so I don’t talk much.

In addition, usually, my mind is occupied with tasks and projects.

I totally forgot it’s been one year since she joined.

At our office, we don’t have a custom to celebrate an event together among office colleagues; she must have felt lonely.

It was good that I asked her out tonight.

I celebrated her 1st Anniversary at our office at Doburo, Ginza.

It’s Izakaya (Japanese style pub), but has nice Japanese atmosphere.

Food and drinks are good and reasonable; I also enjoyed talking with her.

Posted in Action, Art, Experience, Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Music, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo, Travel

Crazy Action

Posted on by sonokotchi

On Monday, I had a full day back-to-back business meetings because all meetings became 2 hours meeting.

I even missed my lunch.

When we finished at 5 pm, we rushed to Tokyo Station to catch a Shinkansen (bullet train) to go to Kyoto.

I was invited to Ohana (private time with Geisha) to have fun with Geisha!

I had an important meeting next day at 9:30 am at Kawasaki, Kanazawa.

It’s a crazy plan but it was manageable if I take the first Shinkansen back to Tokyo…hopped on the next available Shinkansen for Kyoto.

Quickly checked in at Kyoto Century Hotel which is conveniently located next to Kyoto Station.

The room is modern, clean and cozy.

Then rushed to Ochaya-san (Geisha Tea House).

Others waited for us to arrive to start the evening.

We had nice tori-nabe (chicken pot) for dinner; chicken are so fresh that it requires a few tens of seconds of cooking in boiling soup.

Followed by dance.

We also played Ozashiki Asobi (games).

It was magically fun!!!

The next day, I managed to wake up 5 am to catch 6:17 am Shinkansen back to Tokyo to attend meetings.

After meetings, I attended a business dinner.

Since I had to arrange the dinner, I decided to organize it at my favorite Tempura restaurant Mikaku, Roppongi.

This restaurant is my favorite because tempura are so crispy; chef cooks in front of us!

I had nice Haze Hire Zake (grilled goby fish fin sake) to enjoy these tempura.

Grilled fish fin adds nice roasty smell and flavor to sake.

I had Ten-don (tempura rice bowl) for my rice.

We had nice home made strawberry sorbet to refresh our mouth.

Chef grows vegetables and even these strawberries.

The following morning, my friend left Tokyo for Hong Kong to continue her business trip.

Nothing was planned in advance, but these three days became memorable.

Yes, this time I took many crazy actions; but I think crazy actions add spice to our life. hahaha

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

Nostalgic Friday Night

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to Takashimaya Main Store, Nihonbashi to meet up my friend.

Many cute Pikachu greeted me at the main entrance of Takashimaya.

We went to Kanda, Tokyo for dinner and drink.

It’s downtown area and there are many nostalgic restaurants and bars.

We went to Konamonoya, Kanda for casual dinner.

This restaurant serves mainly Kansai (Osaka) food.

Then went to very nostalgic bar: LUDENS, Kanda.

This bar is for enjoying Suntory whiskey.

I had a glass of Hakushu Highball (Suntory Hakushu whiskey with soda).

You might remember this bar because I am introducing this bar for second time.

Today, I remember the name of this bar! LUDENS!