The Origins of Christmas Customs
Christmas is coming and while several countries celebrate this holiday season, the traditions and customs may differ from one another. Some countries celebrate Christmas because of religious beliefs but others celebrate in a more secular way, out of merry-making festivities and parties. Christmas as a Christian Holiday Christians celebrate the holiday as the birth of Jesus Christ. Although there is no concrete evidence that Christ was born on December 25, they celebrate it with church masses/services, prayers, lighting of the candles on advent wreaths, and setting up nativity figurines at homes. At midnight on December 24th, a feast is held to welcome the 25th day which is believed to be the birth of Jesus. The next morning is celebrated by…
5 Christmas Desserts To Try in Japan
In a few days, most people will celebrate Christmas and plan their food ahead of Christmas Eve dinner. Although Christmas is not widely celebrated in Japan, you can enjoy the season through its unique food and drinks. Interestingly, you will find a wide variety of sweets not known to your country, and trust me, they are mouthwatering and visually appealing! They are inspired by Western-style confectioneries with a Japanese twist. Not so sweet and most of all the texture is fluffy. Here are five popular Christmas desserts in Japan. 1. Strawberry Sponge Cake (Ichigo Shortcake) The most popular cake in Japan, this delectable dessert is made of vanilla-flavored sponge cake frosted with rare cream and topped with strawberries. The cake…
MY PERSONAL BATTLE WITH COVID-19
Fall of 2022. Just three 3 years after the coronavirus pandemic shocked the world and it finally reaches my body. After my 3rd booster shot, I believe it will protect me from the contagious disease but it's still making its way to me. Everybody has a different experience with coronavirus. And let me tell you my story. Enjoying the fall season and how it started It was at the peak of the autumn foliage season when everybody is outdoors enjoying the beauty of colored leaves. Like everybody else, I was mostly outdoors to catch the changing of the season. I was attending a school PTA meeting and observing how my daughter performed in her class in high school. The…
Top 5 Cafes and Restaurants in Mashiko, Tochigi
Foods Product and Service reviews
It's autumn once again and while this season is the most beautiful for me to explore outdoors, it's also the best time to taste delicious seasonal foods. Think about sweet potatoes, kabocha pumpkins, and roasted chestnuts. Mashiko which is a small pottery town in Tochigi, Japan is becoming a tourist spot during the fall season. Its annual pottery fair draws people from all over Japan and the world. And while checking out the potteries and handicrafts made by the local artisans, you can't avoid getting hungry. Do check out the food scenes from this charming little town. To give you more ideas about where to eat, I narrowed down five restaurants in Mashiko that are worth visiting. 5. Kitchen Slope…
Hiking Nikko’s Lake Yunoko
Before September comes to an end, I would like to share with you one of my best summer experiences this year--my family hiking the calm and serene Lake Yunoko. Located in Oku-Nikko up in the mountains in Nikko City and a few minutes drive from the bigger Lake Chuzenji. This lake is a 3km round lovely lake which you can do a round trip hike for about an hour. In my previous blog article, we had an enjoyable summer camp with the kids, and one of the plans that we love to do is to hike this small lake rich in natural beauty. As I was searching online about what it's like to explore this place, it caught my interest…
Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park- A perfect summer getaway
During the summer camp with my family, I had the opportunity to visit the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park and was curious to learn about this place that is being recommended as a sightseeing spot in Nikko. It is located on the banks of the popular Lake Chuzenji. There is no proper parking area when you visit this museum because the management does its part to preserve the surrounding areas of the villa. However, you can park in the spacious parking area near the ferry boat ride of Lake Chuzenji. Rich in history and Italian culture, this villa turned museum attracts visitors because of its vintage-style interiors and natural-looking architecture that blends well with the surrounding trees. In this blog,…
SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE IN NIKKO, JAPAN
Hey guys, welcome back to my blog! Apologies for not writing for a long time. Been absent for a month due to a very hectic personal schedule but I'm back again! I am looking forward to sharing with you some exciting summer activities during my online absence. The summer season was a blast in spite of the sweltering heat. I can tell you that this year's summer was really hot that most of the time we stay indoors during the daytime. Nevertheless, we find ways to beat the summer heat. Summer 2022 Soaring temperatures began at the start of school summer vacation until the last week of August. I couldn't imagine people going outdoors unless you visit the mountains. Ideally,…
The Soaring Inflation: 5 Ways to Live with Less
Recently, the news is filled with not-so-good information. One of them is the rapid increase of daily commodities and goods worldwide. Although this is not a new problem, it hits vulnerable populations in low-income countries. Here in Japan, food and fuel prices increased and most people thought about how to live frugally, making ends meet during these hard times. It is the only way to survive after the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Photo by Konstantin Evdokimov on Unsplash We are all forced to live with less because of the economic crisis that threatened our livelihood. Some people thought how hard it is to adjust but learning the art of living frugally will make things easier. 1. Learn to…
Quick daytrip to Kasama City
It's the beginning of a long sweltering summer in Japan but people still find ways to get outside of their houses and explore what Japan has to offer. Kasama Inari Shrine So we decided to head off to Kasama City in Ibaraki Prefecture. We discovered that this city has a lot of things to offer for every tourist. From historical museums to shopping malls and cafes, it's definitely a must-visit destination for a quick getaway. KASAMA CITY in IBARAKI Kasama is a small city next to the place where we live in Tochigi. The city has numerous amazing local attractions and events to enjoy. It includes Kasama Castle, Kasama Inari Shrine, Kasama Nichido Museum of Art, Kasama-yaki (pottery) and Kasamatsutsuji Park…
OFF THE BEATEN PATH SERIES: Fishing in Okawado Fishing Site, Mashiko, Tochigi
Have you ever tried your hand at fishing? It must be so fun. But if you haven't tried it before, it's time to give it a try. Fishing is a fun activity for the whole family, especially for children. Okawado Fishing Pond We discovered a fishing site deep in the countryside of Tochigi, Japan. Located at the foot of Mt. Amamaki, this beautiful place is popular among families with young children especially during summer when the leaves are green or turning red during autumn. At the entrance, you will be asked how many people are joining for fishing. Then the receptionist hands you a bamboo fishing rod and a small plate of feed for the rainbow trout (nijimasu) that cost…
