Out & About
What’s in season…?
Seasonality is embraced wholeheartedly in Japan and vegetable lockers are a great place to get your healthy, delicious fix whilst supporting your local farmer. The unmanned open shelves are the best as you get to inspect up close before choosing and it’s also nice to be reminded that you are living in a fairly honest society […]
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Tsukiji market
In the preface to his tour de force, Tsukiji-the fish market at the center of the world, Theodore C Bestor writes “It is a modern market with an enormous volume of trade and venerable history dating from the early seventeenth century. Tsukiji is closely attuned to the subtleties of Japanese food culture and to the […]
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Essential lingo
So you are comfortable raising the necessary digits indicating your group number as you enter the izakaya and IRASSHAIMASE!! is barked by the staff at you in unison, but sometimes we need to dig deeper beyond the basics of restaurant behaviour and although using the odd slang word will generate some good energy or amusement/bemusement, […]
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MOS Burger
MOS Burger Mountain Ocean Sun Burger is the second largest fast food franchise in Japan after, yes take a guess! Those guys… Born in Tokyo, 1972 they have thrown their unique taste as far as Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Thailand. Their claim to fame was back in 87 when they unleashed the Mos […]
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Clam digging (Shio higari)
My daughter loves to engage in this Japanese seasonal pastime and family get together that is clam digging. I have one confession to make which I feel guilty about and will duly have to apologize for in time perhaps choosing father Christmas in the same conversation. I recently found out that the places where families […]
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Yamanashi
Yamanashi is know for hiking, skiing, climbing and fishing but for me it represents 3 things. Firstly there is the produce namely fruits, which benefit from the favorable climate and have been grown in this region for over a thousand years , such as cherries, peaches, strawberries and high quality grapes made into delicious grape juice and wine […]
Continue ReadingKamakura farmers market
Kamakura is an interesting and opulent place to visit if Japanese history and temples are your thing. On the other hand, chilling or indeed partying at the beach is also an option if you wish but for me, i go for the veggies. There is a rotation of farmers who are as unique and varied […]
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Oshino Hakkai noodle shop
The Fuji 5 lakes area is indeed beautiful but the real gem for me is a place that no guide books will tell you about and an easily missed heightened sensory experience unless you are looking for it. Just across the street from the car park that leads into the main tourist trap and pond, […]
Continue ReadingKappabashi-dori (kitchen town)
Ok, this place is a mecca for anyone interested in all things kitchen. Its been around for over a hundred years and has nearly 200 stores close to the tourist trap and main entertainment district of Asakusa. It is, even in the age of Amazon, an essential resource as you can buy veg ribbon makers, […]
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