New For Valentine In Japan

Photo credit :  Tokyofashion.com

Valentine’s Day  in Japan 2012 is very popular in Japan but this is not just because you get chocolates, flowers and gifts - because in Japan, they celebrate it differently.  Now like I said before on Valentine’s day in Japan - it’s only the women who give chocolate to let the man she likes or is interested in know her feelings and then the men in Japan will recipocrate on White Day on the 14 March only in Japan and created by Japanese with gifts of chocoalate and jewelry box gifts to the one he might be interested in.   As bizarre as it may seems - on Valentine’s day - you can see woman from all over japan flocking into chocolate stores, candy stores and also flower stores to buy gifts for the men. Japanese are known for being meticulous and not worry about spending money to buy the right gifts.

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Located at 154 Noboribetu Onsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0592, Japan - this is an Onsen actually - a hot spring Onsen to be exact.  It has an indoor and outdoor onsen.

The outdoor hot spring were called, sulfur, salt and iron hot spring.

Rooms were nice and spacious but please keep in mind that the staff don’t speak too well in English although they do try to accommodate.

Pool Party For Christmas

While I missed the pool and bbq parties back home where the children can play around the pool safely because of having swimming pool fencing. We can do this here I mean the pool fencing  - but since it is Winter, no one will be having a pool party here.   But I do remember having pool parties in Japan in friend’s home with a pool and hot tub. As I watch their holiday photos on Facebook, I have to say that I’m quite tempted to visit them next Christmas too - to enjoy the sun and the pool. I think I really missed the outdoor pool a lot and the sun tanning one can do when I lived and traveled around Asia. Sure we have our pools here - but we can only use it during the summer and summer isn’t that hot either but yes, we do have the fencing too put around the pool because the kids are always playing outside and we have to make sure that they don’t go in there when they are alone without an adult. Plus, we have younger kids who comes and visit with their siblings and we all know how engrossed kids get when they are playing and they forget their younger ones - so now that we have the fence put up - we don’t have to worry about one falling into the pool when we are not watching. But I could definitely use some pool party right about now.

Spooky Tours In Tokyo

Remember the movie - The Grudge?  yup that one !  if you are into that kinda movie - then you have to go for the spooky tours in Tokyo - or was it called the haunted tours?   Entrance is at 3000 Yen and you have to take off your shoes before going in and seriously if you are timid - don’t even think about going for that tour.  You get to listen to all kinds of tales and visit graveyards and temples - and the guide was pretty knowledgeable and the tour was a easy paced.  Great to visit with your teenagers and it gives you a variety of insight on all kinds of scarey tales.  Lilly Fields is the person to contact for this tour.

Ocean Hell, Umi Jigoku, Beppu

Beppu famous for its onsen - it’s a must to visit when you are in Japan - and one of the must visit attraction in Beppu is hells!  yes!  not literally but this volcanic lake is so hot - you an boil an egg in it I hear.  There are 9 hells altogether in Beppu but I find the Ocean hell really beautiful but for 2000 yen - you can visit all 9 Hells.  Of course, there is more to do in Beppu than the hot springs - you can visit the zoo, eat food cook with the steaming hot spring water, enjoy the scenery in Oita Prefecture, eat som Onsen Tamago - go on a cable car ride and many more but that would be another story for another day.

Getting Married In Japan

So I have a lot of American girlfriends who are married or getting married to Japanese men - now why is that so I teased them ?  but yes ! it’s not uncommon these days - so many Canadians and American women go to Japan for exchange programs and many goes there for teaching and other kind of work.  So when my closest friend’s daughter wrote and told me she is getting married to a Japanese man - I wasn’t really surprised.

So what is the procedure for an American to get married in Japan - I was asked.  Well, besides first getting your partner rings there are some things you have to be made aware of if you want to get married in Japan and be legally recognized so I was told.   In Japan - they called it the civil registration - and you can do it in a Japanese municipal government office.  But of course, you can have the traditional Japanese celebration and the modern Japanese - they do it in church too - but the only legal way to get married is in the government office.

Aerosmith Japan Tour 2011

For those who wants to catch the Aerosmith Japan Tour 2011 - you still got a few more days before the tour ends.  The band started their tour in Japan in late November and has 8 dates to their concert and tomorrow the legendary band plays in Nagoya - Japan.  Aerosmith bass player Tom Hamilton  was said to have bought a special Fender Precision Bass for this tour and why not right?  since his first bass guitar was a Fender Precision - one that he borrowed from a friend - so he said in an interview and he later bought it from his friend.  Of course, now he doesn’t have to buy it from a friend nor borrow a Fender Precision because he can afford any Fender Precision Bass.  Anyhow, it’s an honor to be able to see this legendary band play - so for those who are in Japan - go see them - in Nagoya or Sapporo.

Choya - Japanese Green Plum

One of the desserts I missed a lot from Japan is the Japanese green plum dessert - also known as the Auome.  Found in most confectionery or cake shop in Japan - these are just exquisite.  Made from Japanese green plum of course - it’s very tasty and not too sweet nor sourish.

I was actually introduced to these Japanese green plum thru’ these choya drinks and fell in love with it.  If I ever go back to Japan for a vacation - I would buy a dozen of these  to share with people here.

Deepavali In Japan

I didn’t think they celebrated Deepavali in Japan - but they do - in fact in Yokohama - with such a diverse multicultural residents - it was only too easy to enjoy the celebrations with our other Indian friends living there.   Deepavali - or Diwali as they called it - is the festival of lights.  In Japan - they have the street celebration and lots of Indian food you can purchase to try out.  They also had dances and Bollywood songs that they dance to.  Diwali is celebrated in October in Yokohama.

Dango

I do not recommend the dango if you have caps or fillings in your teeth - because they can be so chewy and hard at times - your caps or fillings may come off while trying to chew it.   Dango is made of flour and it can be sweet or savory - so you can choose which type you want to pick and try.  Dango comes in different colors too - and they are like candies to the kids - till they try it.