YURINDO | A bakery in a book

A new Saturday night hangout for us, the local book store Yurindo, what rebels. Nothing like a bit of nostalgic reading of The Hungry Caterpillar and the discovery of some wildly illustrated Japanese books to keep us coming back for more.

Beyond a few board books our Japanese book collection is drowned out by English titles and I am on the lookout for some fun new ones to call our own. Where to start? The punk rock fruit platter or the dictionary for young bread lovers? I know which one our little baker boy would choose...

ぱんだいすき

Yurindo

SEVENDAYS SUNDAY | Design and Kids Space

After celebrating my late father-in-law at a memorial ceremony today, I had time to look around Aobadai after a spectacular lunch at The Aobadai Forum Hotel with our relatives.

We kept the toddler amused with the kiddy setup (a tv-screen and a soft-playpen) in SEVENDAYS SUNDAY while I raided the shelves. I loved the KIKKERLAND products they stocked. So much so that I have found myself lusting after Stack The Carrots Jenga and these cheerful wrist bags.

SEVENDAYS SUNDAY

HOSHINOYA | Resort Paradise in Japan

Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my keyboard. I have been trolling over delicious food bites and mystical snaps from the sleek resort chain of Hoshinoya. Back in 2010 when we married at their Yamanashi resort - Risonare - I was unaware that such luxury and pampering extended beyond the Momo Mountains. I am also super eager to return on our anniversary and take advantage of the kid-friendly environment with Brent this time around.

Having just spent Golden week in Atami and enjoyed it immensely, I might have been disgruntled had I looked at the KAI Atami website before departure to our ryokan. Then I moved from the 'Japanese Hospitality' section to their 'Ultimate Luxury' cocoon in Okinawa and Kyoto and felt similarly ill-at-ease about our choice of accommodation a few years back. I am only grateful that a click onto their SPA menu could jolt me back to my senses.That was before I noticed the service charges - has the day finally arrived that one should tip in Japan?

Shizuoka | Golden Week 2013

With a sporadic work schedule over Golden Week, we stayed in Japan this year.

Koinobori | Center Minami

A weekend trip that began at Granny's house in the Hakone mountains learning how to cook fish and spot edible mountain vegetation ended with a lavish breakfast in an Atami ryokan (Japanese Inn), Hotel Kanichi. Brent developed a rash from the tsukemono (pickles) so more for me! Can't get enough of pickled ginger, radish and plum!

home cooking at Granny

dinner | course 1 of many

breakfast

We made a hasty return home with a fractious toddler and steady snack supply on the Shinkansen 700 today, but the highlight for me was the food, ryokan toilet paper and Brent announcing that it was his late Grandfather's birthday after a candle was lit at Granny's obutsudan (home alter) in his remembrance. 

highlight | Japanese retro toilet roll

His was most probably the 'birthday' cake from Tully's, the hotel's gift of Anpanman origami paper and the Koinobori fish. Something tells me their is some serious birthday anticipation on his end... oh the pressure.

'itadakimas' | Japanese hotcakes from Tully's Coffee Tama Plaza

Koinobori | Hime no Sawa Koen 

MARKEY'S JIPPON | Japanese Kids Wear

Markey's Jippon kidswear series has such cute leggings and shirts that I couldn't resist getting some for Brent on the way home from work today. The miniature Japan on their tags is just darling, as well as the emphasis on being a proudly Japanese product. With quirky accents and outdoor wearability. the shorts, shirt and leggings I bought are a festive addition to his Spring/Summer wardrobe.

Markey's Jippon Online Store

Sinden | Blonde in Japan

Where do I start when it comes to colouring my hair. I've been through a multitude of colours starting from high school - blackcurrant, red, brown, black, blonde, non-descript shades of yellow from Taiwan days and back again. It is any wonder that I have any hair left having put it through such a torturous journey but miraculously I do. I am no dye snob and have happily picked up boxes of delectable colours in Japan - Palty Milk Tea being the most recent. Hare to tell whether it's the onset of spring or just me liking change as I do, but I decided to go back to blonde. 

Although brave with the boxed variety I always need to go back to a salon for a brunette to blonde makeover and this time I chose Sinden. Actually I was interested in them after reading that the same designers, Klein Dytham of our wedding chapel also designed their premises. Not new by any means they have been running since 1994 with a change of ownership here and there along the way. I was happy with the service and read a stack of magazines while I waited - but to avoid the quick dash to the bank at the end of your appointment like I did I would suggest getting a quote before you proceed with a hair overhaul as I did. Yikes, but I need to work harder if I want to keep up with my roots! 

Our Japanese House | White on White

White brings to mind something fresh, clean and spacious. So I have been scouring the realms of Pinterest and the like trying to decide on interior fixtures for our new house. I am obsessed with a bright, illuminated space and have been toying back and forth between wood blinds, roll-ups and curtains and back again. We had finally settled on the white wooden venetian blinds for the main living space, when I came across some poor lady with socks over her hands dusting each separate plank one after another. Would the wood be worth it?