During our recent trip to Japan, we spent a few days in Tokyo. It is a huge city and each area has its own characteristics… they are almost separate towns that make up a huge metropolis. Having already been there in 2015, we had already visited all the “must-see” places on our list, so this…
Nutella Dorayaki
If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter you will know that I have been travelling through Japan! Unfortunately, we are now back home and trying to get readjusted to our usual routine. I will be sharing the details of my my trip as soon as I finish to sort out all the photos…
Doraemon Cake
My youngest daughter turned 7 on the 1st of December. She fell in love with Doraemon when we visited Japan a couple of years ago and this year she requested a Japanese themed birthday party and a Doraemon cake! As I too love Japan and grew up watching Japanese anime (Doraemon included!), I was very…
Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll
Today I want to share with you one of my favourite recipes: Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll. While waiting for my gallbladder surgery I was on a strict low fat diet and this Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll was my dinner for almost 1 full month! I kept on making it, as it tasted really good even…
Salmon Sashimi with Ponzu
I love Salmon Sashimi! In the last couple of years I have learnt to really appreciate Japanese food. Even more so after our trip to Japan last year, where I learnt that Japanese food is so much more than what the majority of people who live abroad think it is.
Haru Cooking Class Kyoto – Japan Guide
One of the things I had on my “must-do” list for our Japan holiday was a cooking class. I have always been intrigued about learning other countries’ cuisines and Japanese food is one of my favourites. As we were spending 6 nights in Kyoto, I thought it would be the perfect place to try…
Nishiki Market – Japan Guide
When visiting Kyoto, you must stop by Nishiki Market, a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. It has a pleasant and busy atmosphere that is perfect for those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for!
Tsukiji Market – Japan Guide
When in Tokyo, you cannot miss a visit of Tsukiji Market, a huge wholesale market best known as one of the world’s largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day! It is definitely a popular tourist attraction and the market is always very busy.
Tonkatsu
Today’s recipe is one of my favourite Japanese dishes: Tonkatsu. It is a deep fried panko coated pork cutlet. Nothing fancy, really. To tell you the truth, I did not know what all the fuss about it was before going to Japan and tasting it myself. In the end, I thought, it is a fried…
Japan Guide – Geisha
During our recent holiday in Japan, we got a glimpse of Japanese culture. One of the most interesting aspects of it is the world of geisha. Geisha are professional entertainers who attend guests during meals and other occasions. They are trained in various traditional Japanese arts, such as dance and music. I thought of…
Tokyo – Shinjuku Guide
Today I will take you all around Tokyo, for my series of little guides on the Japanese cities we have visited. I have already shared with you tips on Asakusa and Ueno + Yanaka + Akihabara, so today I will show you around Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Ginza and Marunouchi with this little Shinjuku guide….
Tokyo – Ueno Guide
During our recent trip to Japan, we spent quite a few days in Tokyo. In fact, we started our holiday from Tokyo (at that time we stayed in Asakusa) and we finished it off in Tokyo as well. From there we flew to Italy and we were back a month later, as we stopped…
Takayama Guide – Japan
Takayama was the next city we visited during our Japanese trip. This was one of the most anticipated parts of our itinerary. We had heard a lot about the Takayama Festival, held in spring and autumn. The Spring Festival takes place every year on the 14th and 15th of April and we really wanted…
Kanazawa Guide – Japan
Kanazawa was the city we visited after Kyoto. I was so sad of leaving Kyoto that I was convinced I would not like Kanazawa. It’s hard to come right after Kyoto. Instead, I am happy to say that Kanazawa is actually very beautiful! It’s not a huge city, yet there are plenty of interesting…
Matcha Nama Chocolates
I have always liked Matcha sweets, but after going to Japan, I love them even more, especially when Matcha powder is paired with chocolate. In fact, in Japan you can find a huge variety of chocolates made with Matcha, including famous brands like Kit Kat or Pocky’s… yum! When we were in Kyoto, we fell…
Kyoto Guide – Japan
The other day, I was reading the news when a photo stole my attention. It was the image of a geisha standing on a red bridge and holding a paper umbrella. I immediately knew the picture was taken in Kyoto. In fact, the article stated that Kyoto was recently crowned the most beautiful city…
Nara and Fushimi Inari Guide – Japan
During our trip to Japan, we stayed 6 nights in Kyoto. We really needed some time to unwind and we didn’t want to move around too much, so we mainly stayed in town. The only time we did venture outside was during our day trip to Nara. Today I will share with you a brief…
Koyasan Guide – Japan
As I have always been very interested in experiencing the traditional side of Japan, Koyasan was high on my list of “must-visit” places. I was very intrigued by other travellers’ stories about it and I really wanted to see it for myself. Koyasan is a little town on top of a mountain, filled with…
Osaka Guide – Japan
Ah! Osaka! I must admit, I had never thought much about it. I don’t know why… probably because I have always been more attracted to the traditional side of Japan and I thought Tokyo would be enough to experience modernity. We were so uninterested that we had even skipped it all together in the first…
Hiroshima Guide – Japan
During our recent trip to Japan, we also visited Hiroshima. The majority of you may not know that I have a Political Science degree, with a major in International History… I love history and I was particularly interested in visiting a place that has become the symbol of the atrocities that wars can cause…
Miyajima Guide – Japan
Miyajima was the second place we visited during our recent trip to Japan. We loved it so much that I thought of writing a little “Miyajima Guide” to invite you to include it in your next itinerary! It is absolutely worth it. Miyajima is a small island in front of Hiroshima (an absolute must visit…
Tokyo – Asakusa guide
During our recent trip to Japan, we spent a few days in Tokyo. It is a huge city and each area has its own characteristics… they are almost separate towns that make up a huge metropolis. Asakusa is completely different to Shibuya or Ginza for example. Even though each place is fascinating, we particularly…