Category Archives: Japan

Going to the Studio Ghibli Museum, Tokyo

February 6, 2016 Siree Leave a comment

Escaping into a Fairytale

It may not have flashy gates or a mascot roaming around to greet every guest but the Studio Ghibli Museum is such a beautiful site nestled in nature you feel like you have stepped into a fairytale that only the signature creative minds behind Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away could imagine out of thin air!

Definitely, a must go if you are an animation or anime fan, the inside not only displays the works of Studio Ghibli over the years but also acts as a teaching ground for animation principals with interactive giant zoetropes, projectors and hand painted dioramas. My favourite had to be the animator’s workspace layout with every nook and cranny filled with illustrations, model airplanes, book, etc. It felt just like the scene where you see Howl or Arrietty’s bedroom for the first time. Everything was so eye catching and had a child-like spirit to it, it was definitely inspiring! Unfortunately, the museum has a no photography policy inside, but luckily the outside patio areas were photo friendly should you feel the urge to savor the moment on camera.

Ok I lied, there is a big Totoro ready to greet you at the entrance haha

If you start to feel hungry, there’s the cafe on site but since it was the only place to get a proper meal, the line was so long and had people constantly lining up I couldn’t be bothered waiting and went to the side which sold hot dogs, ice cream and soup. The best finds were the Studio Ghibli ale beer and the hot apple cider drink! I took the beer bottle home as a souvenir since the label was so nice! But I definitely recommend bring some bento or onigiri if you plan to come.

The whole site had such attention to detail! I want a cat tap now!

At the rooftop garden stands the full-sized robot or “BFG” as I like to call him from the film Laputa: Castle in the Sky which makes for a cool photo before heading to the gift shop for some final gifts and finally an ice cream… or two haha

The loot of the day! The cute little dog is from their in-house short film “Goro’s Big Walk” which is a cute story of a puppy (Goro) who escapes his house to follow his owner (a little girl) but gets lost on the way. The souvenir goods were a little expensive at the gift shop so I ended up getting only a Kiki’s Delivery Service card and the postcards of the museum’s courtyard, the animator’s work station and the Museum building drawn in true Studio Ghibli style!

If you plan to visit the museum, you will have to purchase a ticket in advance as they don’t sell tickets on site.

You can check out where you can buy a ticket in your country via their official website.

The Details:

Where: 〒 181-0013, 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo

Website

Until Next Time!

Siree

Japan, Travel

Akiba Fukurou – Owl Cafe

January 29, 2016 Siree 2 Comments

Owls for Muggles!

I’m pretty sure everyone has heard by now, Japan has some pretty exciting and interesting cafe culture in the form of animal themed cafes. While cat, rabbit and dog cafes are some of the well known types, I always wanted to go to an owl cafe! Before coming to Japan, I never thought owls could be kept as a pet so what a treat to see one up close and personal!

Just a few minutes walk from Akihabara Station is “Akiba Fukurou,” a super cute owl cafe with 28 owls inside!

While researching on what owl cafe to choose, I found that most owl cafe services require you to order a drink as the minimum “entry fee” with the food area being divided by a glass window in which on the other side, is where the owls are kept. An extra fee is charged to go into the owl room and the experience is around a 10 minute session to hold and take photos with your feathery friend. When I did the math, it ended up being a bit too pricey and since I had my sister and her bf joining me, I wanted them to experience “being” with an owl rather than just being able to “see” an owl through a glass panel. The difference with Akiba Fukurou is that it’s not your usual owl cafe experience as it’s more of an aviary in the form of a stylish cafe. There is no drink or food menu and the whole time you are there (around 1 hour) you get to experience bonding with the owls in the room. You can walk around freely, pat and hold as many owls as you want! Woohoo!

Aren’t they the cutest?! Even the biggest owl was so sweet when you gently stroked its face haha. The owls are very well trained and the staff are also knowledgable and skilled at handling them should you have any problems. The staff will give you an intro on how to hold the owls as well as which owls you can hold or touch etc.

The owl I picked was called “Charles Xavier,” a Black-Banded Owl. Such a looker, I liked him the most haha!

At the end of the session, you get a photo as a souvenir which was really nice! If you are looking into a owl cafe to visit in Tokyo, I definitely recommend this place!

The Details

Where: 〒101-0022 67, Neribeicho, Kanda, Chiyodaku, Tokyo

Website

Until Next Time!

Siree

Greatly Terrific Food Outing, Japan, Japan Food Guide

GTFO: Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest

January 2, 2016 Siree Leave a comment

DSCF5693

THE VERDICT

Setting & Atmosphere
Food
Service
Value for Money

OVERALL SUMMARY

Quality dessert to satisfy the sweetest of teeth

While exploring Jiyugaoka, a beautiful little neighbourhood in Tokyo known for its stylish shops and more importantly, sweets I found hidden to the south side of the station a place called Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest.

It’s a dessert-themed restaurant experience where Alice might have stumbled upon on her way to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – a dessert made forest wonderland!

Let’s explore the delights this rabbit hole leads to…

SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE

The interior is adorable with the pink cut out trees and cute picturesque shop fronts. As you can see, this forest is not just one restaurant but made of many individual patisserie shops offering their own signature dessert experience. Want something with strawberries? Look no further than the cute ‘Berry Berry’ shop. Maybe a fluffy soufflé? ‘Le Soufflé’ is where you can get your fix! There’s even have a Hong Kong style dessert house selling not only traditional Chinese desserts but also Yum Cha dumplings if you want some more savoury. Ah, I miss home~

While theme restaurant’s don’t always get the best rep as the food is more “style over substance,” each shop’s head patisserie chef is a professional in their field and the store’s creations are almost like their trademark so the desserts are not only pretty, but you feel like you are eating something that was well made and special! They even have seasonal rotations of their creations on display at the front of the store to admire their craftsmanship and hopefully get your hands on later.

In Japan, there is a term called 「旬/shun」which describes the moment of seasonal food at its peak. The term has a bit more meaning than simply saying “it’s in season” as it’s more like a celebration of the time the ingredient is at its most flavourful state during the harvest. Currently, strawberries are in season so I had to try Berry Berry’s creations which just so happens to be all strawberry based for December. Japan’s strawberries are the best!

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

FOOD

Sweet and girly to the “G,” I went with Princess Tiara Roll and the Strawberry Mont Blanc with a basic black coffee for a set. Though the coffee wasn’t anything special to rave about the cakes were very nice indeed. Not too dry or overly sweet. The Mont Blanc had the special touch of a raspberry jam in the centre which was a nice touch to add some tartness.

Though I can’t comment on all the desserts available at Sweets Forest this time, I was pretty happy with the taste of these cakes at Berry Berry!

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

SERVICE

At first, it was a bit disorienting to figure out the “system” if you will at Sweets Forest for a first timer.

It’s a theme restaurant but with no wait service except for Le Soufflé with “general” staff who are stationed at seating points to help bust tables (but in Japan, it is polite to also bust your own table as well) and also welcome you to space.

The seating areas are shared amongst the shops meaning that no matter who you order food from, you are still able to sit at any area with the exception of Le Soufflé.

The staff are friendly though and very prompt to help you if you need some guidance or to take the tray off you when in the bustling area. The experience is sort of a stylish cafeteria Starbucks vibe if you will.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Great value for money to sit down and enjoy a light snack. The desserts are really not too expensive and with no entry fee which is a norm for the themed restaurant sometimes.

THE DETAILS

Where: 2-25-7 Midorigaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-0034

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10AM – 8PM

Japan, Travel

Seeing Autumn Leaves in Kawaguchiko, Japan

December 1, 2015 Siree 1 Comment

A Guide to Seeing Autumn Leaves at Lake Kawaguchiko

Picture a scene where the mountain breeze is chill and crisp as you walk towards a lone temple shrine standing proudly in solemn silence in the woods. The warm autumn sunshine shines brightly through the trees, passing through a canopy of painted fall coloured leaves perfectly framing the temple in a halo of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows.

It’s an idealistic image fitting for any travel postcard!

Though it might sound like poetic overkill, in Japan an idyllic autumn setting as I described is not too far from the imagination.

Before Japan begins to suffer the winter blues, fall’s arrival brings the spectacular sight of the trees turning color also known as kōyō (紅葉). It’s a magnificent sight to behold and has inspired many artists and poets for centuries. Today, many locals eagerly anticipate when the momiji maple trees turn crimson red to hunt for the best viewing locations. For travelers to Japan, this autumn past time is definitely something to experience if you happen to be here during the November period.

The most popular and famous spot for many Tokyoites to visit is the Hakone area near Mount Fuji where Lake Kawaguchiko comes alive with the colours and festivities of momiji’s change.

Let’s dive into what autumn activities await you at Kawaguchiko Lake as we go hunting for momiji autumn leaves!

autumn leaves

Where to See Autumn Leaves in Kawaguchiko

kawaguchiko autumn leaves

Momiji Corridor もみじ回廊

The Momiji Corridor is a walkway that runs along a small river leading into Lake Kawaguchiko. Though the walkway is 2km long, the viewing area for the autumn leaves is only at the front section closest to the lake. Still, it is the most popular place

to see the autumn leaves as it holds the local Momiji Festival, evening illuminations, and is lined with over 60 maple trees!

kawaguchiko autumn leaves

kawaguchiko autumn leaves The colours are amazingly vibrant against the blue sky!

kawaguchiko autumn festival food

kawaguchiko autumn festival food Some of the local treats you can eat during the Momiji Festival.

Momiji Tunnel もみじトンネル

About 3 km away from Momiji Corridor, the Momiji Tunnel is another popular photo spot for people who want to capture the autumn leaves with Mount Fuji in the background.

Despite what the name suggests, the “tunnel” reference is actually how the focal point is composed to make it appear that the momiji leaves surround and frame Mount Fuji in the distance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by George Yajima | Italo-Jap (@georgeyajima) on Nov 28, 2018 at 5:09pm PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Atsuya (@d5600_ak) on Nov 18, 2019 at 1:08am PST

Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center

Located on the north side of Lake Kawaguchiko the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Centre is a rest point that offers a different autumn scenery with Mount Fuji.

At the centre people can enjoy a coffee break while walking around the lakeside

flower and herb garden or enjoy blueberry fruit picking and fruit-related souvenirs at the gift store. If you want to walk a little further to enjoy the scenery, Oishi Park is also nearby.

kawaguchiko living center

kawaguchiko autumn leaves

Vanilla and Blueberry Mix Soft Serve. Grown and made on-site!

kawaguchiko living center

kawaguchiko autumn leaves

Iyashi no Sato Nenba (Healing Village)

Not too far away from Kawaguchiko is Lake Saiko’s Iyashi no Sato Nenba (Healing Village), an open-air museum and craft village tucked away in the mountainside.

Originally, Iyashi no Sato was a farming village but was destroyed during a landslide caused by a typhoon in 1966. To revive the image of traditional thatched-roof farmhouses that were iconic of the village, the local Nenba community reconstructed more than twenty houses converted into museums, souvenir shops, and restaurants.

Some of the shops in the village offer workshops on how to make traditional washi paper, charcoal, and soba with each shop specialising in a traditional local craft such as pottery or weaving.

During the autumn season, the scene of the thatched-roof houses surrounded by coloured momiji trees and farm life creates a beautiful rural scene one would expect to find in a historical TV drama.

IYASHI NO SATO NENBA

Mount Fuji in the clouds

IYASHI NO SATO NENBA

japan lemonade summer

IYASHI NO SATO NENBA

houtou noodles

Local houtou noodle soup.

IYASHI NO SATO NENBA

BONUS: Lake View on Route 県道710号

Although not an official photo spot, while driving towards the Iyashi no Sato Nenba Village along route 県道710号 we stumbled upon by chance a stunning view of the

mountains and autumn colours reflecting clearly off the water’s surface. It was so mesmerising we just had to stop and have a look!

Lake Saiko autumn

Run by two travel and lifestyle bloggers, The Hidden Thimble focus’ on creating truthful and in-depth travel guides, food & beauty reviews. Enjoy drool-worthy photography from around the world!