2022 has started with new experiences from making dashi or Japanese broth from scratch (if you missed it, please read the previous week's blog about how to make dashi). Within a week, I turned 180 degrees and revisited the past; where I visited 鹿児島 (Kagoshima) where my dad is from. My sister and I often … Continue reading Coming home to Kagoshima
I hope everyone is having a good start to 2022 so far. As mentioned in my last week's blog, we celebrated New Years back in Tokyo. To make the most of staying at home, we decided to go back to basic and made Japanese broth, 出汁 (dashi) for the first time. Here are the ingredients … Continue reading Back to basic: how to make Japanese broth, dashi
Depending where you are, when you read this, the new year may be upon you and if so, happy 2022! If you're reading this post as it comes out on 2022 New Years Day, my husband and I maybe preparing 出汁 (Dashi or broth) from scratch for the first time as our first meal of … Continue reading Nozawa Onsen Part2: Onsen, Food and Ski
Merry White Christmas from Nozawa Onsen! 🎄🎄I was dreaming of spending Christmas with my family who lives in Australia and Germany but it wasn't much of an option to be together, again.Nevertheless, my husband and I decided to make the most of spending the holiday season in this beautiful (and so far relatively Covid-19 safe) … Continue reading White Christmas in Nozawa Onsen
お歳暮 (Oseibo) is the end of the year gift that you send to people you do business with, family, and those who you want to thank for the help and support they provided throughout the year. We send 御中元(ochugen) during summer and Oseibo during winter. Fun fact: Oseibo means "toward the end of the year" … Continue reading What is Oseibo?
Winter illuminations are brightening up the nights in Tokyo now that the days are shorter and nights are cold! I've been warming up with 鍋 (nabe or hotpot) with Kagoshima black pork slices that I received from furusato nozei (unique tax system in Japan that lets you transfer your tax to other domestic regions in … Continue reading Aomori garlic galore
In the last week's Tokyo weekend getaway: Karuizawa, Nagano post, I shared the highlights from Karuizawa part of our 3 nights 4 days trip and in this post, I’ll share the highlights from Hakuba part of the same trip. About Hakuba Hakuba is located in the Northern Alps region in Nagano prefecture and people have enjoyed skiing … Continue reading Tokyo weekend getaway: Hakuba, Nagano
February 23 is Japanese emperor's birthday which fell on a Tuesday in 2021 and is a public holiday. Many people decided to take Monday off to make a longer weekend.My husband and his brother did so; I were not so lucky but we decided to take this opportunity to explore beyond Tokyo and enjoy the … Continue reading Tokyo weekend getaway: Karuizawa, Nagano
The coronavirus number has been going down and although we are still in a state of emergency, many people we know have been traveling or making travel plans. I have wanted to go strawberry picking since we moved to Tokyo 2 years ago (I've mentioned about it in one of my early posts) but haven't … Continue reading Tokyo weekend getaway: Charming Chichibu Saitama
February 11th is National Foundation Day and a public holiday in Japan 🇯🇵 (more about its history in my previous year's blog post).It is a day to love and appreciate Japan where last year, we enjoyed Japan's beautiful nature in Hakuba for skiing. Bell Tower on the left hand side of the ski resort, ring … Continue reading Sushi & Sumida art strolling
Native Expat 