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Tokyo to Doha: the long layover journey
The Tokyo – Doha leg of the journey is an overnight flight. How fun? I don’t know anyone who likes long haul overnight flights. And although I love love love travelling; flying is the bane of my existence. I bloody hate it. Thankfully – I’m the kind of person that can sleep anywhere. And although…
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Kansai Area Highlights: Fushimi Inari Taisha and Cheese Yakisoba
When I found out that I was coming back to the Kansai area for a business trip, I crinkled and raised my eyebrows at the same time. It wasn’t on my plans. But when life is ready to bring you full circle, it will do it with a big smile on its face.
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Day 1 in Osaka: a bullet train and okonomiyaki
I got a seat at the counter and boy was I tickled by the sight of all those okonomiyaki neatly assembled. One chef was cutting the cabbage. Another was preparing the okonomiyaki. Another was making the negiyaki: made with scallions instead of cabbage. And another was expertly tossing noodles to make yakisoba. If you love…
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Nagano’s Nature: highlands, mountains and wild deer
I spent the past three days in Nagano on a business trip. A popular destination for school trips, camping and skiing – Nagano was exactly what I needed for a couple of days. I slept well, ate well and overdosed on nature. Although I was working, I finally managed to get a much-needed break from…
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Shin Okubo: Tokyo’s Korea Town
I’ve heard people rave and rave about Shin-Okubo: Japan’s largest Korea Town. Easily accessible on Tokyo’s Yamanote line, I went there today not quite knowing what to expect. The moment I stepped out of the station, I felt like I was transported to a different country.
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Jiyugaoka: Street Kebab and Chic Cafe Heaven?
I used to be an expert at eating kebabs, but I’m losing my touch… I made a mess – dropping ingredients, getting sauce all over my face and catching meat as it tried to escape from my pita. I was a bit confused by all the cabbage that was in the pita, but overall it…
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Yuzu and Kabosu: Japan’s citrus culinary treasures
“We use yuzu in baths on the winter solstice,” she says. “We also make tea, dressings and yuzukosho with it. Yuzu also has a little brother. Its name is Kabosu: commonly grown in the Usuki and Taketa areas in Oita. Unlike yuzu, kabosu is less well-known.”
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Miraikan: robots and the future of Japan
The creepiest looking robot of the lot. I could hear the whispers of kowai scary all around me. It’s one thing when robots look like robots. It’s another thing when they look kinda like humans. Otonaroid blinks. She waves her hand. She nods. She speaks. She mimics many things that a human can do, except…
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Why Japan is not an isolated country
Most Japanese people I’ve spoken to consider Japan ‘an isolated country’. Statistics tell a different story. Although self-sufficient in rice production, Japan currently imports 60% of its food. And despite the current narrative that’s playing out in the media with regards to China – the country remains one of Japan’s biggest trading partners, along with the…
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Kamakura’s Owl Forest
Unlike the Owl Cafe in Akihabara – Kamakura’s Owl Forest is not a cafe. So no sipping on a drink while you stare at the owls. It’s a ‘forest’ – so the owls (and people) have heaps more space to move around. THANK GOD. The ‘forest’ is only a two minute walk away from Kamakura…
Twinn Swan 