Happy 2013!

It’s already time again to wish my readers a Happy New Year! This year is the year of the snake. Again, we were able to get the right edition of the 12 animals of the zodiac tenugui (earlier ones featured here and here). We got the one of the Ox shortly after arriving in Japan in late 2008, and have kept buying the one for the coming year at Mitsukoshi ever since. This year, however, we were unable to get it there, neither in the original Mitsukoshi nor at the Ginza Mitsukoshi. Of course we did not want to break the series! But again, the internet was our friend… we found out that it is carried by a tenugui store in the Shin-Marunouchi Building, and off we went. I’m obviously counting on getting also the remaining seven in the coming years….

Year of the snake-themed barrel-shaped sake bottle

Japan with Baby

Our recent stay in Japan was our first with our baby daughter in tow. And even after living for 3 years in Japan, we discovered a new side of the Japanese, and we loved it! Japanese kindness and thoughtfulness gets scaled up to a new level when a baby is concerned. And even more surprisingly: the usually rather reserved Japanese suddenly become chatty!

Shuzenji Onsen

A stay in Japan would be lacking without a decent soak in a hot spring. An escape to an onsen town with an overnight stay in a traditional ryokan with good bathing facilities and a good kaiseki style dinner is, admittedly, an indulgence, but nothing else gives you this Japanese feeling! With limited time and baby in tow, we were looking for a place within two hours from Tokyo with hassle-free access. The Izu peninsula recommended itself through its easy access via the Tokaido Shinkansen and multitude of hot springs. While we had stayed on the sea shore in spring, we chose a place inland this time: Shuzenji Onsen (修善寺温泉), half an hour by local train away from Mishima which is reached by Shinkansen. Mt. Fuji is looming behind as the local train crawls down the Izu peninsula.

Shuzenji temple

Finally: Up the Sky Tree

I’ve finally been able to gratify what could be termed an almost 3-year long obsession – after all, I could watch Tokyo’s new landmark grow into the sky from my balcony. Since I did not want to leave things to chance, I reserved my ticket online (only possible with Japanese credit card). We chose an 8pm time slot thinking that a night view of Tokyo would be particularly impressive.

Autumn in Tokyo (Picture Book)

We’re back in Tokyo, and this is the reason why it’s a good idea to come in this season: autumn leaves! It’s not quite at the level of the cherry bloom, but the run to parks and gardens (armed with heavy photographic equipment) is considerable.

Incense in Japan

Incense is, of course, not unique to Japan, but is used all over the world. In Japan it is used quite commonly and as usual for Japanese things, comes in many refined forms. The most common shape is the incense stick, such as the cedar scented sticks from Nikko in the picture above. Also coils are a common sight (apart from the mosquito repellent type), but really, there is no limit to its possible shape.

From Kyoto: for each month of the year, a different shape and a different fragrance.

New Arrival

You might have wondered why no new posts have appeared here for some time. Well, my capacities have been taken up otherwise. Exactly four weeks ago, our baby girl Sophia was born. She’s already been to Japan in utero this spring, and from there she’s got her Japanese baby clothes and a Japanese name (her third name is Rei (麗) meaning beautiful, lovely).