Exploring Tokyo's Izakayas

No doubt Tokyo is an amazing city. Every tourist says so. There's just this unending feeling of wonder, awe, amazement and glee. Each station within Tokyo's main wards is bursting with choices! The dishes are authentic, stylish, flavourful and delicious.

Here are just some photos.

Some notes about my izakaya trips.

1. It's great for socializing with close friends and family.
2. You can request for a non-smoking section but you better have a reservation. Tokyo's izakaya's are usually packed and when people are partying, there's always cigarettes. It was hard for us just to pick any place. We wanted non-smoking restaurants all the time.
3. There're great healthy choices within izakayas. Good fresh fish and lots of vegetable-based dishes. There's that handy 300Y edamame I just can't get enough of.
4. The chicken karage is a must-try... but of course I tried to contain restrain myself.
5. You can expect to pay around 300-600Y for each little dish you want to try.
6. House tea is mostly free.
7. Beer is not cheap at 1000Y or $9-10 each.
8. Expect to pay 2000-3000Y each person.

The only question then left for me is how do I gather all my horses and find a way to live in this amazing city. I barely scratch the surface each year when I visit and I have this itching feeling there is so much more to see!

If you too are taken by Japan's amazing wonders - technology, nature and culture, I highly recommend this book and this blog on Japan Living and Property Investing.

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The Magic of Mochi

My love affair with Japan is not yet over.

It started when I was 26 years old, when I tried looking for a way to find work and live in Japan. Since then, I often would just look at internet photos of the values I see in it:

Simple but efficient
Small but self-sustaining
Traditional yet futuristic

Japanese people are extremely creative and systematic. These two traits are too hard to combine.

A simple mochi displays how these two values are highly integrated in the Japanese culture.

This is just a simple set of instructions on how to make Mochi. Note that to make the mochi featured in my blog requires skill and a lot of creativity.

Ingredients

1 cup Mochiko (Mochi flour)

3/4 cup water (180ml)

2 cups sugar - you may reduce sugar definitely 

cornstarch

Anko (sweet red bean paste) or

Add filling if you like - you can add different types of ice cream, chocolate or nutella, cream or caramel, fruity jam or fresh fruit like mangoes, banana 

Remember only your creativity can stop you! 

Instructions

Mix Mochiko and water in a glass (or other heat proof) bowl and mix well. Add some more water if it's too dry, 1 Tbsp at a time.

Steam the Mochiko dough (leaving the dough in the bowl) in a steamer for 20 minutes.

Transfer the steamed Mochi into a pot and cook at medium to medium low heat with 1/3 of the sugar (2/3 cup). When the sugar is completely dissolved, add another 1/3 of the sugar and mix well. Add the last part of the sugar and cook some more until the sugar is dissolved. Take the time to melt the sugar, but be careful not to burn it.

Take the hot Mochi out from the pot onto a sheet pan liberally dusted with cornstarch. Shape as you like.

There is a discipline and technique in making mochi - and making them consistently the same each time - in terms of taste and presentation. And yet, there are hundreds of mochi varieties. Each train station would have an entire 500 ft area where you can buy an assorted range of mochi!

These are my parents shopping for mochi at Osaka train station.

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Amazing Tokyo

 From the moment the plane landed, I knew this journey was going to be a blast.
Tokyo is hands down the best!

The technology and information overload are overwhelming. I shake my head everytime I see public toilets of the newer malls.  Not that I love the bidet feature but the bidet has nature sound features, drying feature and the ultra luxurious (and funny) powder feature.

 The entire city is a great testament of how nature, culture, technology can coexist in one location.

From the airport, coffee shops, malls and with cheap mobile wifi rentals, I had no difficulty connecting to the internet to connect with my other responsibilities abroad.

The towers and buildings are some of the tallest in the world and most earthquake-proof.

The surroundings are so clean, Japanese people take pride in keeping their environment pretty. They make gardens in the smallest patch of land.

The people, at least in my experience, are very polite. Especially the service staff in boutiques and malls. It didn't matter that I looked like a scrooge, they'd smile at me, same smile they'd give a polished, manicured, face-lifted lady.

Trees that lived a thousand years still flourish in the middle of Tokyo.

The traditions are so preciously preserved - in fashion, food and architecture.

I've looked into living in Tokyo myself.
It's cheaper to live in Tokyo than NZ or Au.

This book can be a good reference for living / investing in Japan. http://sheldonthinks.com/japanproperties/

Japan Foreclosed Property - A complete guide for foreign and local investors! 

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Japanese Street Food

Everywhere in Japan there is something to entice your taste buds. Walking around Osaka train stations is enough source of endless food creations! 

These little dumplings above are very tasty! I think 1 or 2 pieces is good enough for a lunch treat!

This is a sweet tooth's best friend! This rice balls are dipped in caramel (slightly hot). Perfect for walking under Sakura trees in the chilly Spring Breeze.

These little munchkins are just that! Munchkins! But they are not that sweet! They are soft and quite creamy inside but a little crunchy outside. A bunch of these is about $300 I think. Not bad for a little snack but be sure to share with friends! Not good to eat a lot of these!


My first love in Japanese food is their sumptuous rice cakes! Yes! I love them and I have probably tried as much as I can. They are so tiny and scrumptuous. One bite is enough for an sweet sense explosion. I know, I know. I shouldn't eat too much of it! I will post photos of my little rice cake favorites soon. Watch out!



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The Joy of Sushi

I have fallen in love with Japan. This is a huge sushi meal served by my brother's in-laws for our visit. I heard it's a special set of sushi and quite pricey variety.

I loved the one with eel (left section, near the garnish).

I truly respect the beautiful food creations in Japan.

This is probably the most authentic sushi I have ever had in my life!

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Fish and Vegetables for Breakfast

A typical meal like this will keep you full for 5 hours!
With unlimited rice and salad!
This is only 250 pesos or Y500 or $12.5

We found this restaurant in a train station in Osaka :)

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Only in Osaka

HORAI - this food stall is only found in Osaka! They make really good dumplings and siopao! Love it. This is the first Japanese food I've ever had which is AUTHENTIC!

Only issue is $2 per siopao isn't too cheap :) Worth a try though!

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On my way to Osaka from Queenstown. This is a massive adventure. I have been dreaming of touring Japan for more than 6 years. Brace yourselves with photo overloads of all the best parts of Japan!

This crummy and never to be repeated ride with Airasia is *acceptable* to put it positively. It's worth the rough ride :)



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