Hotel Ryumeikan In Japan, Tokyo

We stayed at the Ryumeikan Hotel for only 2 days - and when we first booked it - we didn’t really think that it was a boutique hotel - looking at its picture - but we were quite wrong.  The entrance of the hotel was quite plain as you can see here - but the inside was pretty decent and some rooms I were told later that they even had those clawfoot tubs that I loved.

Unfortunately, my room didn’t have the clawfoot tub but it was still a very nice tub - if I may say so myself.  Not the conventional tub and I prefer the oval shaped tub a lot better.  I liked the open concept window where I can enjoy the night light of tokyo while i enjoy a soak after a long day of shopping or working.

For the smaller room - they don’t have such a big washing area but still a very nice one - and I wouldn’t mind having a smaller wash area as long as I have one of those clawfoot tubs.

Love the room - they gave us a king size bed - but I didn’t quite like the carpeting as you can see in this picture.  But definitely loved the desk though - one can work comfortably here.

This is the upper lobby lounge of the hotel - you can have a drink here and meet up with your guests or just relax for the evening.  It is also the place where you can check in - and if you have luggage - you need to lug it up yourself.  The hotel is only 5 mins away from the train station and I loved it - very convenient to go anywhere downtown. The rates were good - so if you are in Tokyo - and want to stay comfortably - you may want to check out this hotel.

Modern Living In Japan

While a lot of younger people love the modern living and contemporary sofa they buy from imported stores - most of them have a piece of art that represents their culture in their home too.  My girlfriend from United States who now currently lives in Japan on a permanent basis - have lots of these art pictures of old Japan in  her home - although everything in the house looks like an American home.  Besides the modern sofas, all her bedrooms have modern bed sets as well - but they can be pass as Japanese furniture as well because of how they look - very clever of my girlfriend because that pleases her in-laws a lot - who are Japanese.

Tell me this don’t look like a japanese bed to you?  see I told yer - but nope contemporary design - modern living brought to you from United States.  So if you want some Japanese in your home - you don’t have to look too far eh.

Japanese Pancakes

Well.. it really isn’t pancakes.. but sorta.  It’s actually called Imagawa Yak.  Definitely missing it right now.. and wished i could sink my teeth onto one of this sweet and sugary thing.  Made of eggs, flour and sugar.. it’s pretty popular as a afternoon snack in our office.  Plenty of them sold in the shop houses in Japan - Tokyo .. where office furniture are sold and around Asia.   I love the one in Azabu Jyuban because it was near our office..  at $1 a piece .. you can’t really go wrong with it.   Comes with fillings of red beans.. cheese and peanut or custard, i always get the red bean ones.

Red Candle Table Lamp

I have been asked many a times.. if in Japan.. do the folks there use lamps like these.. that you can find in the West.. in speciality shops.  I have to let you know. .that yes.. some do use these lamps.. and please be made aware that those manufactured in Japan are definitely different . .than those you find manufactured in China.  In Japan.. the japanese believed that quality is above everything.   Everything you see here .. to make this table lamp successful is all hand made.. and inspected personally.   So yes.. as long as I see that sign “Made in Japan” .. well you know .. you can trust that they are quality product.

Japanese Homes

Traditional Japanese homes in Takano River looked like that. In the cold winter months, it would really be nice to have a tankless water heater.  I remembered my host family having to take turns because they wouldn’t have so much hot water to go round the entire household and i feel extremely bad, because they always let me have a hot bath first.. since i am the guest.  I really wished i could send them one now .. since they had been so nice to me.. during my 6 months stay in Japan.

Relocating To USA

My friend Chiko- San has just gotten a job in the USA and she and her whole family is moving there together.  We all know that moving or relocating is no fun and needs a lot of work and planning.  She is very excited but was getting stressful too because she didn’t know who can help her or how she can move everything from Japan to the US.

A good place to start for someone like Chiko-San is Relocation.com.  They have the resources and information you need for your move.  On this site you can find all the information you need, from buying a new house, moving, renting an apartment or even get some mortgage info.  Need a shipping quote? No problem!  They have all the info for folks like Chiko-san who is moving internationally.

First Snow

December 19 was the day I remembered that I saw my first snow in Japan .. while i was there on a project.  I remembered the date so well.. because my daughter was also born on this day.  I was certainly not hoping to get so much snow.. after all, I’ve seen enough snow in Canada eh.  But i was glad that the hostess of the place we were staying in .. had  electric blanket ready for me when I got home from work. I love my host family.

Traditional Japanese House

I love the Japaneses traditional houses in Japan.. they are so simple.. yet very zen .. but don’t be deceived by these houses and think that they drink from the well.  Nope..! they are just like us and have the same kinda kitchen faucets like you and I have at home.The friend of mine that this house belongs to, was worried about not having a environmentally friendly building materials, so they build their house with an all wood theme. And it was on a hillside that looks down a valley that they chose the spot to build their home.  It was pure serenity.. and calmness when we visited their home. Gomanasai !

Hotels In Osaka

This is the Swissotel Nankai in Osaka, being a hotelier before with the Swissotel group, i had the privileged to stay in their complimentary rooms when i was on vacation in Osaka many years ago.  When we had first decided to choose Osaka as one of our destination, we didn’t know that Osaka is actually a very vibrant city.  The hotel itself is at the heart of Namba .. where you can just shop till you drop because Takashimaya which consist of a 7 storey high shopping arcade is just beneath the hotel.   And when you are tired out with the shopping, you can just head back to the hotel’s 9 different restaurants and bar and i have to specially mention their  bar stools because they were really pretty and comfy. You bet it was expensive.. !! had we not had gotten complimentary rooms, I doubt that we could have afforded to stay a week in Osaka.

Noren

Noren are decorative silk-screened curtains used for centuries by the Japanese as door curtains, wall hangings and window curtains. Traditional noren are split down the center - allowing a person to pass through from one room to another. Commonly found also in japanese eateries.

These imported Japanese noren are true collectibles - many produced on premium Japanese cotton and hemp fabrics and depicting kabuki and geisha images taken from ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints. Their beauty and style suit most modern decor and they can readily be mounted and framed or used as wall hangings in addition to their traditional use as room dividers.