In the last week or so when we're waking up to 27 degrees and Tokyo is experience 35+ degrees celsius day in day out, my once thriving shiso (perilla) plants is suffering so much that it's browning on the edges 😦 Luckily, I work remotely and have a comfortable temperature controlled living environment but when … Continue reading Japanese vs Western way to survive hot, hot, summer
Last weekend, we visited Fuchu located in the western Tokyo for すもも祭り(sumomo matsuri or plum festival) held at a shrine with over 1,900 years of history called 大國魂神社 (Okunitama Shrine). Origin of the Plum Festival Back in Heian Period (between 794 and 1185), military commanders of Imperial Court, Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie … Continue reading Plum Festival in Fuchu
Just like the rest of the northern hemisphere, Japan has been hot. Recently, we woke up to the low of 27 degrees and high of 38 degrees celsius days with cicadas crying their hearts out 🥵. This makes us want to stay inside but what I have always wanted to do in summer especially since … Continue reading Evolution of over 1300year old Japanese clothes – yukata
I continue to be in Australia where last week I spent time with my parents. After moving back to Japan in 2019, this was my first visit to the Gold Coast, Australia where I lived when my family moved to Australia in 2001. My parents continue to live on the Gold Coast and staying with … Continue reading Native Expat goes back home (to Australia) from home (in Japan) 2022 edition part 2
We are back in Australia for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic🐨. I have lived in Australia since I was 12-30 years old and as my parents and many of my friends live in Australia, Australia remains a big part of my life. Since moving back to my motherland, Japan at the start of … Continue reading Native Expat goes back home (to Australia) from home (in Japan) 2022 edition
June 27 marked the end of the raining season or 梅雨(Tsuyu) in many prefectures in Japan including Tokyo where the rainy season ended 21 days earlier than the previous year. It is the earliest day for tsuyu to end in record. What I learned this week is that tsuyu season was created to warn any … Continue reading Caution hot! Japan’s sudden summer heat wave
From June 6th, Tokyo is officially in 梅雨（Tsuyu) or the rainy season between spring and summer period☔️.Once tsuyu is over, Japan enters the sunny, hot and humid summer time🥵. Generally, tsuyu is from the start of June but in the south part of Japan including Okinawa, their rainy season starts earlier in mid-May while the … Continue reading The start of a rainy season, Tsuyu and mineral rich city onsen
One of my colleagues recommended me a ‘quiet’ river spot not too far from Tokyo and as the temperature was still high around 35 degrees Celsius last weekend, I decided to take his recommendation during the last summer weekend during 2021. Getting to Iruma river From our station, we caught the train to Nerima station … Continue reading River swimming at Iruma river, Saitama
A couple of weeks ago, I received a missed delivery notice. Apparently a chilled item my grandma sent me. After I requested for the package to be redelivered, I received a box full of yoghurt jars, milk and caramel puddings, sausages and ham! It's not my birthday so I wonder why they sent it to … Continue reading What is ochugen?
To celebrate Tokyo Olympics 2020, two Japanese public holidays were shifted to create 4 day long weekend between July 22-July 25. My husband and I visited Shikoku over those 4 days and in the previous post, I shared the first part of our trip where we visited the art island, Naoshima, ate Kagawa's famous udon noodle and … Continue reading 3 nights and 4 summer days in Shikoku Part 2
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