Unbelievable!

I read from the Yomiuri Shimbun today that 1 in 3 married women are victims of domestic abuse in Japan. This is unbelievable! How can women sit back and tolerate any form of abuse!

Starbucks Japan says ...

You'll get the gist of this notice. I love translations! =)

Till my next blog entry, stay alert! =)

Afternoon at Shimotakaido

Having visited Tokyo a couple of times before and covered most of the ‘touristy’ places in the city, my friend and I chose to hang out at a local neighbourhood one recent afternoon. We picked Shimotakaido since it is recommended on CNNGo and a short ride on the train from the Keio line at Shinjuku. We were not keen taking another long train ride.

Sunset at the walking street of Shimotakaido

Train crossing

There is a walking street at the Shimotakaido station. The walking street has many small shops selling vegetables and fruits that extend out to the street. I reckon that if I stay here, I can do without a fridge at home and buy my dinner ingredients on the way home from work. =)

Big tomatoes ...

We walked into a Wal-mart (unfortunately, I can't remember its local name) supermarket and on the top floor, I noticed that only 25% of their diaper shelf space is for Merries baby diapers and diaper pants. The remaining 75% is devoted to adult diapers. This must be a sure sign of their aging population! Or maybe this is a senior citizen neighborhood? I wonder if we will see this in Singapore someday? =(

Bicycles parked outside 'Wal-mart'

A few other things stood out for me ....

• A small store selling wafer fish with red bean (azuki). I LOVE these snacks, so even though there is a queue, I must get one to devour. The fish was yummy. They served it with a crispy crust and red bean filling of the right sweetness for me. Y120 each.

Yummy wafer fish with red bean!

• A small store selling cute stuff for moms and babies. For sale are things ranging from bibs for babies to cool reading glasses for moms. I bought a small bag and an organizer bag from here. =)

• Apartment block with double-deck parking for bicycles. I have seen these parking for cars but bicycles … it is my first-time. =)

Interesting time spent at Shimotakaido.

Till my next blog entry, have fun! =)

Pungency tea, anyone?

Just a short post to share with you my favorite drink in Japan. =)

I love translations! =)

Till my next blog post ... stay hungry, stay foolish!

Kijite Hoeiso, Hakone

My friend and I visited Tokyo and Hakone over the Chinese New Year holiday and we had a good time there. Our experience at the Japanese onsen was impressive.

To me, as a foreigner in Japan, my experience at Kijite Hoeiso is considered as very ‘Japanese’. This traditional style ryokan has about 18 to 20 rooms, fabulous indoor and outdoor onsens and exotic (to me) food for dinner.

Kijite Hoeiso in Hakone

I was served pheasant sashimi as the appetizer dish for dinner. I eat fish sashimi whenever I dine at a Japanese restaurant but bird sashimi is a whole new different ball-game to me. I courageously took a bite, it tasted good (no smell, somewhat tender) and proceeded to enjoy the remaining portion. I took some Asahi beer with the pheasant, hoping that the alcohol would finish off any germs on the bird (blue flu concerns). You may think I am crazy but hey, I needed the peace of mind. I later found out that pheasant sashimi is also eaten in Korea. That made me feel better, at least I know I am not the only ‘weird’ one. The rest of the dinner was somewhat intriguing and unfamiliar but good. The steamed soybean milk tofu that was served for breakfast the next day was also delicious.

The raw pheasant, as the appetizer, to be eaten with soy sauce and wasabi

The thigh of the pheasant, as the main course, to be grilled to medium raw.

And the onsens! Ahhh, the onsens! My friend and I booked this facility for its onsens. We wanted to experience Japanese onsens just like those that we have seen on Japan Hour – outdoor, natural setting (not tiles but rocks), steamy and clean. We were not disappointed. Our timing was good. It snowed the day we arrived in Hakone, the winter snow perfected the whole onsen experience. We rinsed off at the indoor onsen and then walked quickly (it was freezing cold) to the outdoor onsen for our relaxing dip. After 8pm, the facility allowed private booking of the outdoor onsen and I highly recommend this. They gave us a tag to hang outside the outdoor onsen so people would not come walking in. The outdoor onsen is located right next to a stream and you can hear the water flowing. It stopped snowing, the skies are clear and we could see the stars and a few planes flying by.

The outdoor onsen, next to the stream

Our private time slot at the outdoor onsen.

The facility is small and you get a lot of privacy - you are not bumping into people at every turn of a corner. We were assigned a lady to serve our meals in our room and prepare our futons. She is marvelous – very attentive and speaks a bit of English to help explain things to us.

First time to an onsen and do not know what to do? No worries, they have a guidebook for you. =)

Given the remarkable experience that we have had, my friend and I will definitely be back. Next time, we will skip the whole tour of Hakone thing, go straight to Hoeiso, enjoy the onsens, have exotic dinner in the room, enjoy the onsens again, sleep, wake up, enjoy the onsens again, have breakfast, go around facility to take more pictures and check out. 

Some tips for Hakone:

• You can take the express train from Shinjuku Station instead of the Romance Car to save some money. You have to change train at Odawara but that is no bother, very straight-forward.
• If you have the Hakone Free Pass, I think you can take the Tozane bus from the bus stop opposite the Hakone-Yumoto train station to go to Hoeiso. No need to take the small bus “B” and save Yen100 per way. I found out about this on my way back to the train station from Hoeiso. 
• The road where the Hakone-Yumoto train station is located has a quite a number of restaurants, so this is a good place for you to catch lunch or dinner.

Till my next blog entry, please take care! =)