What I Loved About Japan This Week

The cutest gift from the sweetest Japanese friends. It. Has. Miniature. Pom Poms. Ahhhh!!! It is a traditional Japanese style cotton weave towel - in a baby hooded-towel version.

Just 'cause.

My favourite local bakery by night, My Heartful Bread, is still open at 7pm! Not sure if that is a good thing. On which note, it is now fully dark by 6pm here! Winter beckons...

... along with breathtaking sunsets.

And because this is my all time favourite Japanese ice cream, Jumbo. It is basically ¥80-¥120 (like 80 cents to a dollar 20), crunchy wafer, creamy vanilla ice cream, and two layers of chocolate - one through the middle, the other lining the whole wafer. It pretty much makes my day whenever I get one. (Which is frequently.)

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

When Mums Come To Stay: Part 3 - Exploring The Hakone Open-Air Museum, Higashikurume And Haneda Airport

The final stages of my mum's visit to see us included a trip to The Hakone Open-Air Museum (feeling as if I'm saying goodbye to her again?! Seriously, so hormonal!) This is literally the view when you come out of the tunnel and enter the expanse.

Those splashes of colour? Children. Diving around inside a giant, silicone, honeycomb climbing apparatus. If I wasn't pregnant...

After walking, a natural hot spring awaits (or foot onsen), tapped from the famous hot springs in the volcanic mountainous area.

(P.S. Total bonus, the open-air museum also had the most incredible Picasso collection and exhibition I have ever seen. It was outstanding. Completely and utterly one of the best exhibitions I have ever seen in my life.)

Great, a shot of empty plates. Well done, Kirrily. It only occurred to me after eating, that I wanted a photo at this pub. Our fave local, with about 10 tables, you call out for service, and the smoky charcoal hits you the second you slide open the door. We had bowls of edamame, beers (I had no beer, chill), grilled spicy wings, smoky yakitori (charcoal grilled sticks) of chicken, leeks, onions, stuffed capsicums, as well as a plate of karage (crispy fried chicken). We ate chicken, ok.

Mum and I took a stroll along the river near my house - ok - until now, this was always a river. My mum's arrival now means I can no longer hide the truth - it is now, "a creek, Kirrily." Slightly less impressive sounding, but by Australian standards, undoubtedly the truth. (It is barely past your ankles 99% of the time, unless post-typhoon, in which case 'gushing river' is definitely appropriate.)

Turns out Mount Fuji is 'at the end' of our street in Higashikurume.

People, Haneda Airport? Seriously? It is amazing. Who knew plane watching, reasonably priced cafes, and sunset views of Mt Fuji are only a ¥750 train ride away from Ikebukuro?

Miss her! Thank you for coming, mama!

When Mums Come To Stay: Part 2 - Exploring Hakone And The Magnificent Fujiya Hotel

The Fujiya Hotel.

So this side of Japan utterly takes my breath away. Welcome to the mountains of Hakone and the completely magnificent Fujiya Hotel...

We arrived in Hakone by switch-back train, that slowly edged its way up, going from left to right, over and over again. This tiny stamp of a platform was our stop.

Shortly after - The Fujiya Hotel, in all its greatness - old and magnificent. Think The Grand Budapest Hotel of Japan, a.k.a. a movie set waiting to happen.

The completely abandoned, mist-encased swimming pool.

A lounge.

The view. From our room. I can't even.

The tiny hallway of a tea room, overlooking the damp Japanese gardens, umbrellas at every door for your possible stroll.

A conservatory lounge.

We ventured 'down' to Lake Ashi, 700 metres above sea level. Pause at this slice of bliss, Bakery & Table. We may or may not have had Salted Caramel buns, Cranberry And Dark Chocolate rolls, hot and melty Garlic loaf, and a crunchy Apple danish.

Two caramel lattes later. 

Giant cedar trees lined a path cut out through the mountains for travellers hundreds of years ago.

And Lake Ashi itself. I was in mist, dew fallen, fog and mountainous heaven. 

Part 3, the final instalment of Mum's trip next - The Open Air Museum, Life Around Home In Higashikurume, And Haneda Airport - random, but sunset views of Mount Fuji on the train and the stunning observation deck for plane watching and cosy coffees were perfect for a slightly teary farewell.

When Mums Come To Stay: Part 1 - Exploring Tokyo And Surrounds: Kawagoe And Yoyogi

Kawagoe (an old town), Tokyo

So make that 3 weeks! (I had a teeny rest. Hey, I'm pregnant, gotta make the most.)

But now I'm back! Two weeks of bliss with my mother in Tokyo, exploring, having coffee, and planning all things baby - a new mama and grandmama-to-be in the same room... well, I'm sure you can imagine.

Here's some photos of our trip, if you would like to see...

Abandoned building in Kawagoe, an old town, in Tokyo. Total perk for tourists: there are none! So we could be tourist and felt like locals.

 Heavenly door action. In an old Samurai home, Kawagoe, Tokyo.

You can't beat the streets - street food yakitori (smokey grilled perfectness over charcoal) in Kawagoe, Tokyo. 

Yellow.

The main street in Kawagoe, Tokyo.

Not a good photo, but a great memory.

Apparently Yoyogi Koen (big central park in the middle of Tokyo), has a different food festival every weekend. HOW did I not know this? This week: India. 

Mama not quite understanding our excitement at freshly cooked naan and curry - with spices! SPICES, I tell you! (The delicacies of Japanese cooking utterly depend upon allowing the subtle flavours of each piece of food on a plate to speak entirely for itself - hence spices are practically unheard of, well from my extremely novice experience anyway.)

How to make Kirrily sing for joy? Mum's home cooked Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding. Dream. I actually got up in the middle of the night for a leftovers fridge raid for this.

Dang. Sprung. The only downside of having a mum come to stay: she will take photos of you at McDonalds. 

Oh, and a little bit of stroller (!!) at Japan's famous Air Buggy store. I'm trying to look cool and super natural. Inside = bursting. In. Love.

When Mums Come To Stay: Part 2 (Hakone and the utterly breathtaking Fujiya - think The Grand Budapest Hotel in Japan) coming soon.

Miss you already, mama!