What’s it like to visit Japan after the pandemic? My friend Sheila recently visited and is kind enough to share her experience as the country finally re-opens! Visiting Japan After the Pandemic As most of us know, Japan is finally open after being closed to outsiders since the beginning of the pandemic. I suppose weRead On >
Traveling
Japantown on Sawtelle in Los Angeles
Japantown on Sawtelle in Los Angeles is about as close to Japan as we’ve been able to get these last two years. As someone who considers Japan to be a second home, the inability to travel to Japan has been rough. One thing that helped (a little anyway…) is knowing I’m not alone in missingRead On >
Recommended Shojin Ryori Restaurants in Japan
When it comes to sampling authentic Shojin Ryori, there are dozens of options throughout Japan. When it comes to sampling the best of the best, though, there are seven restaurants that you absolutely must check out. Must Visit Shojin Ryori Restaurants in Japan Shigetsu (Tenryuji, Arashiyama, Kyoto) This was my very first experience withRead On >
Kettl Tea of Brooklyn, New York
Readers are always sharing new “Japanese finds” with me either when I am traveling or at home in the Bay area. This blog post about Kettl Tea is as a result of my niece, Corina Seligman. (Have you read her guest post on sake btw?) She knows of my passionate love of all things MatchaRead On >
Japan: 25 Years Later
I recently returned to Japan for a long-planned for visit after a 25 year absence. Really?! It just never felt like it had been that long, probably because a part of my heart has always resided in Japan—ever since I first visited its shores when I was 15 years old. But this trip was aRead On >
Canada Travels: Part 2–Victoria, BC
I fell in love in Victoria–His name was Sampson, a noble horse. He took us on a horse-drawn Tally-Ho Carriage Tour through the historic James Bay neighborhood where some of the oldest houses in Victoria still stand. Amazingly, Alisa, my hostess, knew the lively and engaging female carriage driver. She turned out to be aRead On >
Canada Travels: Part 1–Vancouver, BC
Just back from a wonderfully fulfilling and fun gastronomic trip to Vancouver and Victoria. I was thrilled to see how much of a Japanese influence on food there is in Canada. I had planned this trip without realizing that Canada turned 150 years old on July 1st! So young. Lol. I celebrated watching fireworks withRead On >