I’m no shochu connoisseur, but I’ve had a lot of shochu. My relatives drink a ton of the potato-based Kirishima, so I am using Kirishima as the basis of comparison for every shochu I have had recently. I recently picked up a carton of potato-based Chihonokura from the Shirakawa Suigen area in Kyushu. Compared to…
Category: Japan
Fancy White Bread in Japan at Nogami Bread
Need a fancy loaf of bread? Sure you do! Try Noagmi Bread. This double sized loaf on display costs 864 yen, or about $8.50 USD. A smaller loaf is 432 yen. I have had this bread on several occasions, and it’s delicious for sure, but it’s not something I would plan on eating every day….
A Visit to Awajishima Circa 2004
In 2002 I took a trip from Osaka to Awajishima. The trip was awesome and was suggested by a reader of my blog at the time. I was lucky enough to be hosted by an exchange student friend who was living on Awajishima, so I had a local host of sorts. The trip was a few…
Harajuku Circa 2002
When I was relatively new to Tokyo I visited Harajuku summer 2002. Here’s some photos and memories from that time. Harajuku is just about a 20 minute stroll from Shibuya. If you plan to visit, just get to Shibuya and you can walk to Harajuku and through Omotesando as well on the same trip. Harajuku…
Minoh Beer – Craft Beer from Osaka. And eat some leaves.
If you’re looking for a quality local craft beer from Osaka you must try Minoh Beer. Minoh beer is probably the easiest Osaka-based craft beer to find. You might be able to find it in a restaurant or craft beer bar. You can certainly buy it online from their shop, and you can occasionally find…
Isuien Garden in Nara – Don’t skip it
The area around Toudaiji and the Deer Park in Nara is constantly packed. If you’re looking for something that is less crowded, don’t skip the beautiful Isuien Gardens. One creative feature in Isuien Gardens is their use of stones tied with rope to indicate areas that guests should not enter. This is great. The stones…
Review: The Chess Game at Japan Toys R Us by Portable Series
I was looking for a cheap tiny chess set to use with my kid while hanging out at the in-laws. Something that I could leave behind tucked away in a corner that wouldn’t take up much space. Something not heavy that I could bring on short overnight trips. Something so inexpensive that I wouldn’t cry…
Shochu Culture with expert Stephen Lyman
Do you want to really geek out on Japanese Shochu? Check out these two videos featuring Stephen Lyman, America’s leading expert on Japan’s national distilled spirit: shochu. Shochu is a nice, distinctly Japanese drink. Like whisky, different shochu labels have memorably different tastes and qualities. You can drink shochu on the rocks, split with warm…
Chusonji in Iwate Prefecture
I had the opportunity to visit Chusonji in Iwate Prefecture winter 2017. You can read a lot about Chusonji online, and I recommend that you do. If you’re looking for an impressive Japanese temple to visit that is far enough off the beaten path that it isn’t crowded with tourists, this is a great choice….
A Traditional Japanese Breakfast
What do Japanese people traditionally eat for breakfast in Japan? Many Japanese these days eat a more western breakfast with eggs, toast, and coffee. However, if you’re at Japanese inn or hospital or something you may get something more traditional, like this. So what’s in this photo: White rice Natto (a dish of fermented soybeans,…