Arigato !!

Our church, love this ceiling.

Anmitsu

Click here for more….

Signs of Spring - Sakura - "Cherry Blossoms" chiffon cake

]]> http://japandme.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/sakura-cake-at-starbucks-in-japan/feed/ 1 Farah Spring time http://japandme.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/ichigo/ http://japandme.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/ichigo/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:49:23 +0000 Farah http://japandme.wordpress.com/?p=1102 ]]>

Love these "Ichigo"

]]> http://japandme.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/ichigo/feed/ 0 Farah strawberry http://japandme.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/ikura/ http://japandme.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/ikura/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:57:59 +0000 Farah http://japandme.wordpress.com/?p=1095 ]]>

Salmon Eggs

From our meeting place, Narita station, we walked down the Omotesando Street, to get to the main gate of this famous Buddhist Temple.

The street that leads you to the Narita Temple

Naritasan's main gate

Before entering the Temple Grounds, just like Holy Water

We looked forward to meeting our friends, and walking around the garden to see the flowers.  However, we were a little too early because not all the flowers were in bloom.

We were not disappointed by that because we had seen and experience more than what we expected.  We enjoyed walking around Naritasan and it’s beautiful wide Japanese garden and most of all we re-discovered the city of Narita.

Visiting Naritasan reminded me of being in Kyoto and also Nikko, two places in Japan famous for their temples, shrines, and rich Japanese culture and tradition…

Daifukumochi or just Daifuku,  is a soft type of mochi ( Japanese rice cake) with sweet bean paste filling.

There are two types of the bean pastes:  “An or Anko” is the red bean paste  from the Azuki red beans; and the white bean paste which is called Shiro An. (Shiro= white).    Lately, some daifuku mochi’s use cream instead of the bean pastes.

Ichigo Daifuku with white bean paste

This one has the cream inside

There are many kinds of Daifuku mochi’s.  They usually come in these colors- white, light pink, or very light shade of green.

Traditional Daifukumochi

Most of them are covered with confectionery sugar.

The kanji characters “Dai” and “Fuku”, literally means “BIG LUCK”.   Thus, we see mochi in many ceremonial occasions.  Mochi – is very popular during New Year.

Personally, I love any Ichigo Daifuku.

Ichigo Daifuku is usually sold in Spring time, when the fruit is in season.  But recently, we can find them almost all year round.

A new type - the strawberry is on top of the daifuku mochi

These are different flavors of Mochi Ice

Also popular in the market is  Mochi Ice ( Mochi Ice-cream), these are soft mochi filled with various flavors ice-cream.   When you put this bit size-mochi in your mouth, you feel the regular mochi, only this time – it is so cool and refreshing.

Many shops try to create different looks and tastes of mochi.    So, friends, which one would you want to try?

Isn’t it the main International Airport that serves the Greater Tokyo area ?

Yes, is one answer.

Narita is synonymous to both Airport’s Terminal 1 and 2 of the Narita International Airport.

No, is another answer, because, Narita is not ” just the airport”  my friends.

Narita City is in Chiba Prefecture, home of this airport.  However, many have not “discovered”  this place as a tourist place.

Most tourists take the train to Tokyo from the airport, thus, many “skip”  this city.

Some foreigners seen walking around the quaint, side streets of Narita are usually part of the airline staff and personnel.

Compared to Tokyo, Narita is more relaxed and tranquil. It is also known for golf courses and rice fields.

It is  just about 20  minutes from the airport.

So, if you are going to stop over Narita Airport for a few hours – I recommend you ask the Immigration to grant you permission to go out of the airport so you can “taste and feel” Japan even for just two hours.

Yes, for those with a layover at the Narita airport – go out and see “mini-Japan” in Narita.

Tokyo is about 70 kilometers away and thus too far and tiring for one with little time.

The main attraction in Narita is the famous Naritasan or the Naritasan Shinsyoji Buddhist Temple.

However, another Blog will be dedicated to this Temple.

Why I mentioned this is because of the main street that leads to the temple, the Omotesando.

The street that leads you to the Narita Temple

As we walk  along this winding road, we see lots of shops, old and renovated ones.  Food shops, souvenir shops, and many restaurants serving a palette of both Japanese and International food.

Sake anyone? Rice wine?

Osenbei - the traditional Japanese Rice cracker is sold here

There are Noodle shops – Udon and Ramen;  Japanese delicacies like Takoyaki, and most of all I was surprised to see lots of Unagi restaurants.   One shop even shows how they “prepared the Unagi” from start to finish.  (My Unagi blog)

Unaju

There are two trains that will get you to Narita.

If you are coming from Narita airport, you can either take the JR train or the Keisei train.  Am not sure, but they may have a bus that will take you to Narita station.

Now, if you are planning to come  from Tokyo, the most economical ride I would recommend would be the Keisei train from either Ueno or Nippori stations on the Yamanote line.

It is easy to find the main road, Omotesando, from the Narita station.   There are signs, but if you don’t see them, there will always be someone eager to show you where to go.

Walking around Narita city reminded me of a few old towns and cities in Japan, it was like being in Kyoto and Nikko.

It is definitely a  good way to capture and feel Japan and the  Japanese culture.  Highly recommended for those with limited time.

It is now a part of my list where to bring friends and family. 

Narita City , am so glad I rediscovered you!

Naritasan's main gate

This is was the very special Unaju meal we had.

The sauce that is poured over the rice and the Unagi is called “kabayaki” thus we have the dish also called Unagi-kabayaki or Unaju.

Kabayaki sauce, like Teriyaki sauce – it is made of soy sauce, mirin, (sweet rice wine) and sugar.

Unadon is the glazed-grilled Unagi  on top of  Japanese rice. Unadon comes from the words “Unagi and Domburi” , the later is the bowl.

We love Unaju, specially if the Unagi is the one that is, freshly, pardon my language- “captured and cut”.

But, really- this freshly skinned Unagi, 

grilled over charcoal and topped on the hot Japanese rice with the Kabayaki sauce…is really super delicious.

Grilled to perfection, letting the fat drip, and making the skin crispy.

Today, we witnessed the “execution” of many eels…as they were served to the many customers of the Unagi restaurant, including us.

Unagi is very popular amongst the Japanese all year round, but specially in demand during the summer months, for it is known as “stamina or energy” food.  The Unagi restaurants that are popular are the ones that grill them fresh from the cutting board.

After grilling, they dip the Unagi in the sauce and grill again.

As the Unagi is being grilled, the sweet delicious sauce drips on the charcoal and creates a very pleasant “aroma”, and this smoke is actually filtered through a small window or exhaust dock that brings the smoke out to the streets to entice the people to come in.

The Unagi specialty restaurants are a little bit pricey compared to buying the packed Unagi at the grocery store and eating it at home.

There is even a Rakugo story of a very frugal man who did satisfy his appetite by just standing outside that Unagi shop exhaust window by just smelling the smoke with a cup of rice.  ( Rakugo is a form of  Japanese verbal entertainment where there is one storyteller.)

Lucky me, I had the chance to sit in the restaurant and enjoy the real thing and not just the smoke… 

More about Unadon and Unaju here at this link.

Are you having the traditional family dinner?
Or did you reserve a table for two at a restaurant and/or a dinner show?

In Japan, “Baren-tain Day” is a little different.

Men receive the gifts.

The women, the girls, give the gifts, in most cases, they are chocolates or chocolate cakes…anything that has chocolates actually.

Beautifully packaged chocolates are sold all over

Basically, they say that  Japanese women are “shy”. However,  it is on this special day, that they can voice out their feelings…

This is  one of the days when women in Japan can express their love.

Women buy the most delicious or beautiful looking chocolates  they can afford for their special someone.

Choc shoppers

That is not a difficult thing to do here in Japan, packaging almost comes perfect with each gift you buy…

"Barentain choco"

Chocs Designed for Men

The school girls usually make their chocolates and hand them over on the day or if  they are too shy, they hide them in the boy’s locker or desk.

All these written above kinda fall under the “Honmei” kind of chocolates.
Meaning, that their chocolate or gifts come  from their heart.

Godiva

The other kind of chocolate- is the “Giri-chocolate” – usually given to the men at work, co-workers, superiors,  or the “other boys”…

“Giri-choko” means “obligatory chocolates” – so the women do not spend so much for them, usually from a dollar to maybe 5 dollars the most.

So, the women have their chance to say ” I like you, or I love you” – if they are lucky…it is given back, and they start a relationship with their special someone…

Usually, they get the reply the same day or a month after.
March 14 is “White Day” -  when the men or boys who received chocolates, give the girls or women gifts – usually, candies or special gifts…

There are a lot of “Valentine’s and White Day” gifts at department stores and selected shops, and even convenience stores.

Recently, brand chocolates are popular.  Bulgari chocolates – one small piece is more than 10 US Dollars here.

There are also Armani dolci !!!

Whatever it is, brand or no brand…. the chocolate makers really make lots of money during this month.

Anyway, I got to go, am thinking – shall I buy my Y some chocolates, and do the Japanese Valentines tradition?

Will I join the mobs of women who fall in line to buy a chocolate? Or order through the net?

Here is a sample of the Yahoo Valentine’s shopping corner in Japan-

Here is another link, hope both links work though…

Or shall I convince him that Valentine’s day is the day when women receive roses and are treated out to dinner….
But, I am in Japan… so I guess…

What would you choose?     Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you !

Here is a link about Valentine’s Day in Japan from my friends at MustLoveJapan….

Fresh from the hot grill

Nowadays, it is popular all over Japan.  We often see these shops during Japanese festivals, and at the busy “shotengai” – shopping districts.

Tako- is the word for Octopus.

Yaki is taken from the verb- “Yaku” which means to grill or to bake.

Tako-yaki is made of diced or whole octopus, with tempura scraps, and the shops secret ingredients…but usually topped with okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise.  Sometimes, green nori is sprinkled depending if the customer likes it.  Katsuboshi, the dried bonito shavings is also added on top of this food.

According to Wikipedia, this was ” first popularized in Taisho-era Osaka,where a street vendor named Endo Tomekichi is credited with its invention in 1935 .”

As mentioned earlier, Tako yaki is sold usually sold out on the streets… but recently, we can find them at the shopping malls.

Many people line up for Tako-yaki

For me, Gindaco, is one of the most delicious shops that serves Tako-yaki. Their poster below shows the confidence- it says – “definitely delicious” .

Gindaco poster- 8 pieces for 500 yen (about $5.50 -today's exchange rate)

When eating this, be very careful… the tako-yaki balls are very hot inside.

After my big bite of this yummy stuff...

Hope when you come to Japan, you can try this… it is really “Oishii !”

Crunchy on the outside, hot and goooey inside…  whooo hot !