If you, like me, love the Japanese aesthetic and dedication to usefulness, the no fuss attitude to basics and, especially important for me as I live in the hills, the excellent use of very warming materials at a realistic price, shopping at Japanese shops can be very satisfying. There is a plethora of these shops … Continue reading Shop in Melbourne like it is Japan
Trains The first time I flew into Tokyo I was quite nervous about the Tokyo train system.... It is very extensive. Greater Tokyo, in fact, has the most extensive urban rail network in the world. According to Wikipedia, it has 158 different lines, 48 operators, 4,715km of track and 2,210 stations.... Slightly overwhelming. I needn't … Continue reading Japanese trains ❤️
Originally published on 7th January 2016 on Blogger We all slept really well in the "Comic Room" or Manga Apartment, in the very luxurious bedding. We woke up, not too early, but were driven out, as usual, by hunger. It's always hard to decide how to spend your final day, in a city which is … Continue reading Last Day in Japan
Originally published on 7th January 2016 An early start, a big breakfast and then off to the station. Sim, Maki, Lancy, Chelsea, Finn, Mya and I all squeezed into the car, with all our luggage. I was really sad to be leaving. We had reconnected with Koori-Chan, who works with Maki and made friends with … Continue reading Sayonara, again, Kyoto
Originally published on 7th January 2016 on Blogger So after a very late night, 2am, I think, we got up early enough to have our final traditional Japanese breakfast. We came downstairs to find a hive of activity. Mochi being made in the traditional way, with a large wooden mallet, called a kine, in a … Continue reading First Day of 2016
Originally published on 1st January 2016 on Blogger New Year's Eve started with Finn and I deciding that we would make the pilgrimage of his desire to see the great Mecca, NINTENDO. The Nintendo headquarters are in Kyoto, and although they are closed to the public, Finn wanted to see where the magic takes place. … Continue reading New Year’s Eve
Originally published on 1st January 2016 on Blogger It was an early start, on account of the fact that there was much mochi to be made today. All the kids (my 2, Maki's 2 and Maki's brother's 3) had toast and cereal and yoghurt, while Maki's mum made me a beautiful traditional breakfast of roasted, … Continue reading Mochi in Kochi
Originally published on 30th December 2015 on Blogger Well, where to begin the telling??? We got up before the sun and scrambled around to get organised, as after Kochi we were changing rooms in the guesthouse. We took a taxi to Kyoto station, and by 7.20am, we were on our way. This was the girl's … Continue reading Kochi
Originally published on 28th December 2015 on Blogger Well, I lost a days blog. My own fault, really, wrote it and went out, without saving it, and Mya used the iPad to play Minecraft with the girls, and it died...... Oh, well. So, two days in one. We have had a quiet couple of days, … Continue reading Lost a Blog
Originally published on 27th December 2015 on Blogger So, Mya went to see Chelsea's art exhibition and then on to a famous udon restaurant, where she lined up for one and a half hours, to eat the famous udon. Apparently it was very nice. Finn, once again, stuck being my cultural attaché, accompanied me on … Continue reading Ginkaku-Ji, finally…
