Umami Mart

Isn’t she darling? Fujiya is a very old bakery/sweetshop chain in Japan– my dad always tells me that as a child, it was a super special treat to ever get a cake from Fujiya. This was the very last thing I ate in Japan, in Narita airport. Au revoir, Tokyo!

A field of aloe in Izu, peaking onto a breathtaking view of the sea. This was a center dedicated to just aloe, and sold anything from curative aloe candy, aloe soft serves, to magically healing aloe lotions. Remember Yamahomo’s post on aloe yogurt? PS: Sorry I haven’t been posting much- I’ve been crazy busy at […]

Got these clams from a roadside seafood guy that Naoko always goes to in Katsuura, Chiba. I remember he worked out of a ramshakle space, dotted with random trinkets for tourists and framed dust-covered posters from the 70’s. You would never think this were a place to get the freshest, top-of-the-line seafood. He must sell […]

God, I get so excited when I look at this photo. The bowls and plates, of all different colors, shapes and sizes– it’s all so visually stimulating. This was in a roadside restaurant in Izu, a seaside town known for their onsen (hot springs). In the middle there, that’s stewed fish, and to the left […]

Kumiko and I walked into a relatively fancy-looking noodle shop off of Dotonbori in Osaka. We ordered; the food arrived; we were stunned. Were they for real??? The bowl was literally wider than her torso– this is NOT an optical illusion. She looked this awkward the entire time she slurped her noodles. It was all […]

A soba shop in the backroads of Katsuura, Chiba, Japan.

Apparently, this is how civilized people eat at buffets in Japan. Who needs plates when we can all just eat out of little glass cups and ramekins??? What a difference from the way we pigged out at the Wynn in Vegas earlier this year. Come on, America! Get it together!!!

Will it be shoyu? Miso? Tonkotsu? 大もり= Oomori = Super Size Me? Side of fried rice? Gyoza? An extra egg? Extra slices of roast pork? Choose button carefully– there’s no turning back! Drop your yen into the machine and the ticket will print with your order. Take ticket to the dude behind the counter, who […]

Whole squid being hung out to dry, off the side of a major highway in Izu. I love their little feet hanging off the edges. Cute.

Japan’s country-wide home delivery service is probably the most efficient, speedy and convenient system in the world. You could literally get anything, ANYTHING, delivered to your doorstep in a matter of hours. It puts FedEx to shame, shame, shame. You can even get your suitcase delivered to your house from the airport! GENIUS! My aunt […]