Tokyo

Last weekend, I went to Tokyo with my friend by Shinkansen (bullet train).
I've been Tokyo several times but around Christmas was my first time,it was amazing although everywhere in Tokyo was so crowded.



Shinkansen



nice view from the hotel (Tokyo Ikebukuro) room



Harajuku(Takeshita street)





Shibuya





Tokyo tower from Roppongi

 



Asakusa (Sensoji temple)





Tokyo sky tree
http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/english/





Ekiben (Railway boxed meal) are a specific type of bento boxed meals, sold on trains and train stations in Japan



Kushiyaki

Kushiyaki is typical Japanese cuisine, skewered vegetables,sea food,beaf and chicken etc grilled on an iron plate.
Today I went to the Japanese restaurant in Osaka to have Kushiyaki for my lunch.
It was good!!!

Tenri

Tenri is the name of a place in the north of Nara prefecture.
Last weekend I went to Tenri after reading about it in a ladies magazine which featured interested cafes,restaurants etc in Nara.
Nara is a very historical place similar to,but quieter than Kyoto so there are many old temples,shops and farm houses.Some of these have been renovated and set up as businesses, which appeal to day trippers from Kansai area.The magazine was featuring these kind of small cottage style businesses.

One article in particular about a cafe caught my attention when I saw the photos.I really loved the atmosphere,the way they mixed Japanese and western style,in the decor,and served a western menu,was something different to the norm.

The cafe was recently renovated and just opened n March 2011.This is a typical Japanese old style house for rich people,the massive gate,huge space with a storehouse,all surrounded by a large Japanese garden,complete with feature stones and topiaried pines.But now it has been made into a western style cafe completely without the normed Japanese drinks and food.

I wanted to eat lunch at the cafe when I read but the reviews on the Internet,I found out that lunch time is can only be made for parties of 6 people or over.I don't like waiting in long queues so I just had breakfast which was average but cheap,scrambled eggs,toast with butter and coffee for 480yen.

It took me 2hours to drive there ,but only because I didn't want to pay the highway toll which is understandable as it would have cost me 1,800yen!!!

Donabe

Donabe is a Japanese pot which is made from clay.In winter time,people enjoy many variety of hot pot in Japan, so most house hold have at least 1 or 2.
This time I tried to cook very simple dishes for a small hot pot "Chines cabbage and pork hot pot" which I watched on TV ad.
The TV ad sponsored by "Mizkan",a very well known Japanese company which wants to encourage their merchandise "Ponzu". Ponzu is and important condiment in Japan ,it's made from vinegar,shoyu and yuzu(a Japanese citrus fruit) as well as other ingredients.

Ponzu

Of course I already knew the recipe so it was easy to cook and healthy cuisine.

Eat dipping Ponzu 

Arashiyama

There are a lot of beautiful and historical places in Kyoto,I have written several times about some of them.
Kinkakuji temple and Gion might be well-known places for tourists but for Kansai people,Arashiyama is a much more popular place because there are many things to do and see there.
Most of schools in Kansai take their students to Arashiyama for school trips and its also popular as a dating spot for couples of any age.

The symbol of Arashiyama is "Togetsu-kyo" which is a very old long bridge.

My favourite place in Arashiyama is the monkey park which is located on hill top.There are over 100 wild monkeys,and of course they are dangerous!!!

I went there a few days ago,the mountain path is very calm and has a nice breeze also it was good exercise for me.

But I was so scared,because on the way up the hill,some monkeys sat on the path and blocked my progress.

 If we stare at them,they will get angry and jump around attacking people .I had to walk carefully past them,avoiding eye contact but I managed to slip past without incident.
On the top  of the mountain,there is a hut where monkeys know they can get apples and peanuts,so they hanging on to the gauze and stretch their arms out to be fed.I fed some  of them and found it interesting ,especially the baby monkeys.

After the monkey park,my friends and I went walking along the side of the road which is well-known for its beauty and is sometimes used as a location for TV CM,dramas and movies .
Also you can see rickshaws which might take you back in time to Japans romantic past.