Tapioca drink everywhere ! 😱

Hello there 💃🏻

So, I can’t be the only one who noticed this crazy fascination for the tapioca drinks in Tokyo ! Am I ?
I was very surprised by how popular it is here. It’s starting to get more popular in Paris too, but nothing will beat the Japanese market on the tapioca consumption ! I' have seen some of the longest This drink with the very chewy strange bubble are originated from Thaïland. Japan have a strong relationship with Thailand. A lot of Japanese people go there for vacation, I guess this is how the tapioca drinks trend started to get more popular in Japan !

Oh and I have a second job by the way. And guess what is it ? YES ! You got it ! I work in a Tapioca bar, I took this photo on my first day in this place called the Tapi-Queen (they make very delicious tapioca teas by the way 😍)

And what about you ? What do you think of tapioca tea ? Do you like this odd texture ?
Give me your answer in the comments ! I would love to know !

It's Boba Time!

Who doesn’t like boba? Boba is another term for bubbles that are made of tapioca. It was first invented in Tainan, Taiwan. These ‘magic pearls’ elevate the flavour of a milk tea, that’s why people started to add them into drinks. It has sweet flavour and chewy texture that comes from the tapioca itself, or in Taiwanese this chewy sensation is often called as QQ. Boba got so famous back in the late 20th century and began to spread all over the world, including Japan. Japanese people are crazy for boba, they are even willing to queue for more than an our to enjoy one cup of bubble milk tea. The first time I tried bubble milk tea, I feel like it’s becoming my new favourite drink of all time. However, I don’t need to worry about my boba intake in Japan, since they are literally everywhere! It is not too hard to find, although it costs more expensive than those in Taiwan. Nowadays, boba is not only served as a plain flavour, but also mixed with other additives like brown sugar, green tea, and many others. This undoubtedly is a game changer in food industry.

The Best Doughnut in Kyoto

This is simply the tastiest doughnuts I’ve ever tasted in Japan. Japanese people call this 豆乳ドーナツ, or Tonyu Doughnut. Tonyu Doughnut is made of soy milk and therefore has a really chewy and soft texture once you take a bite. You can find this a lot in Nishiki Market, which is the second largest shopping district in Kyoto that offers various of traditional and delicious foods. Originally, Tonyu Doughnut is only served with white cane powdered sugar on top of it. However, you can find a lot of version with fillings or even more toppings like maple syrup or vegetable oil. This is definitely a must try food when you visit Kyoto.

Beautiful Sights of Tokyo

Last June, I went to for a cruise trip with my classmates in Nihombashi, Tokyo. It provides a river tour across Tokyo rivers for 3900 yen, and for me it is worth the price. Starting at Nihombashi river, it will take you around Tokyo to experience a majestic view across major waterways in Tokyo. Not only can you feel the relaxing breeze, but also you are able to see a lot of skyscrapers that roar beautifully. There are tour guides available for both English and Japanese speakers, so you do not need to worry. You can experience Japanese history and culture while cruising along Tokyo Bay. Do not be afraid of the splashes you will get, since the water is absolutely clear and clean. If the day gets really hot, don’t worry because they already provide some hats for you to wear in order to protect your self from the sun. It may be a little it pricy, but it is definitely a great way to explore Tokyo by boat and see the things you have never seen before!

Tantanmen

Tantanmen (担々麺), what a delicious food this is! This good looking food is a Japanese take on what originally comes from China, which is Dandan Noodles. Generally, it contains preserved vegetables, minced pork, chilli oil, Chinese Sichuan spices, scallions, and of course, unique hand-made noodles. The first bite you take will straight up blow your mind as if you are actually in China. The authentic flavour of those spices are just going to make you want some more of it. Most of the times, soy milk is added to elevate the flavour of the warm, exciting broth. If you cannot handle spicy food, sometimes you can ask the seller to discard all of the chillis from the dish. It may contain too much ingredients, but once you mixed them all together, the flavour will make sense. I really hope this tantanmen shop opens nearby where I live, so I can enjoy it anytime I want.

A Sunset in Taito

Hello everyone !
There is a place that I really love in Tokyo, and it’s Asakusa ! Especially around the Sensoji temple.

What I like in Asakusa ?
The Sensoji temple, the old narrow streets, and the charming shopping streets where you can buy sweets or souvenirs or the omokuji paper fortunes.

What I don’t like in Asakusa ?
The crowd ! Indeed, Senoji temple area is always very crowded whether it’s the locals or the tourists, which makes it hard to freely walk without bumping into people.

What do I do to avoid the crowd ?
I wake up very early ! This is the best way to enjoy Asakusa. And also, the best way to enjoy a nice sunset 😊

This photo was taken at 5h30 in Asakusa. It’s the Sumida river. Do you recognize this tower ? Leave a comment if you do 😉

Sumida river - Asakusa.

Halloween Like None Other →

Happy Halloween, everyone! It has only been a day after the actual Halloween day, but Halloween celebrations has been done in many places since weeks ago. To be honest, we don’t really celebrate Halloween in my country so this is my second time celebrating Halloween in Japan! My friend and I went to Ikebukuro on the 26th of October, the first day of 池ハロ (IkeHaro = Ikebukuro Halloween). IkeHaro is an annual event that is held usually during the weekend before Halloween. Since Ikebukuro is a famous place for Japanese pop culture like anime, manga, games, and many more, the costumes people wear are usually not scary costumes but cosplays of certain characters - very different than the Halloween parties in the Western, or even other cities in Japan. As a fan of Japanese pop culture myself, I recognize some of the characters and took pictures with them. Even though it was super crowded, we had so much fun! If you have any interest in Japanese pop culture or even cosplaying itself, IkeHaro is a must-visit annual event.

Hello there 💃🏻 Selma, I am a french girl living in Tokyo !
Nice to meet you !

Tokyo vintage shops →

If you are a fashion vintage lover Tokyo is going to be your paradise. This is what a Japanese friend used to say to me before I arrived in Japan. Now I understand what he meant!

Tokyo offers so many things and for all the testes, but about vintage fashion is just insane. I usually go to Omotesando or Harajuku. But recently I have discovered Shimokitazawa too. It's a great area to get lost and explore. I don't buy all the time I go there, but honestly, it's very fun visiting all the tiny shops and check out their new arrivals.

Well, if you are a vintage fashion lover, you are in the right place!

Gyoza!

This is absolutely a comfort food that you should try when visiting Japan. Gyoza (餃子) or Japanese dumpling is actually originated from China, but got really popular in Japan since the 20th century. This food is a labour of love wrapped with minced meat vegetables, soy sauce, sesame oil, and many other delicious ingredients. which then will be fried for a while to be able to give a unique, crunchy, flavourful taste (usually also called as yaki-gyoza). Some gyoza are only steamed and not fried, we call them sui-gyoza. Most restaurants and stalls sell 6-pieces set of gyoza for around 300 until 500 yen, which is a really great price for such food! The flavour will elevate once you dip the gyoza into a soy sauce.

Arashiyama Bamboo Groove

Located across Ōi River, Kyoto, Arashiyama must be one of the top sightseeing district for visitors and Japanese locals. It has a lot of historic sites and beautiful sceneries to offer, including this majestic bamboo groove. These standing-tall bamboos are approximately 30 meters in height and 15-20 cm in diameter. When I visited this site back in June 2019, there were a lot of tourists taking pictures whilst enjoying the incredible view. During summer, Arashiyama gets really hot to the extent that it reached up to 35 until 38 degrees Celsius at noon, so you will probably see many umbrellas scattered among the visitors. However, you will experience a relaxin, cool wind breeze as entering this bamboo groove, especially since the bamboos are covering most of the sunlight. Once you finished admiring these sceneries, the route will lead you to places where you can buy Kyoto souvenirs and traditional food, that’s including varies of ice creams that you can enjoy in the hot weather. There is no doubt that this site is one of “Kyoto’s wonders” that you must visit in order to get full experience of Japanese culture and its beautiful views.

GRAB A CHANCE TO VISIT HAKONE

Have you ever been to Hakone before? Hakone is a great place, not only for sightseeing, but also for relaxing with a wonderful atmosphere. In July this year, I and my friend left a hustling Tokyo for two days and explore many wonderful spots in Hakone. We went to Hakone Shrine to see the acclaimed torii (sky gate) in the lake. We also had a chance to visit the Skywalker Bridge and view the Mount Fuji very clearly. If you have not been to Hakone before, this is a great place to spend your holidays with your beloved one.

First Time in Yokohama

On May 2019, I went to Yokohama for the first time with my church friends. We had a teen camp where we learn about the bible together as well as having fun. The weather during that time was still pretty cold, so some of us wore our winter coat. Yokohama is located near the beach, and it is also my first time going to a beach in Japan. From the building where we stayed, it only took 5 minutes of walking towards the sea area. We can also see the amusement park located at the opposite side of the beach. It was a very beautiful scenery, especially during sunset.

A sensational Festival at Kawagoe

Last weekend I went to Kawagoe to see the famous "Kawagoe Hikawa Festival Float Event". It was visually amazing, the contrast between the portable shrine light and the dark of the night made a very suggestive atmosphere. Spectators were overwhelmed. This incredible festival has a glorious history, over 370 years. It wasn't my first time at a Japanese festival, however, I can easily say the Kawagoe festival is the best I have ever been to so far.

Just amazing!

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Fushimi Inari-taisha is one of the most iconic places in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. This 1400-years-old shrine is always crowded with tourists and even local people. There are approximately 10000 gates that we can observe and take pictures with. For those of you who love physical activity, there are also a total of 12000 steps that you have to pass through if you want to completely explore this shrine. Back in June when I visited this place, I was totally tired, especially with the hot weather during summer. However, it was a fantastic experience being able to get closer to Japanese culture! The beautiful colours, architectural design, and new cultures that I got to see were just mesmerising. If you are planning to go to Kyoto, this is a really must-visit place that definitely offers amazing experiences.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Last week, I went to Blue Bottle Coffee in Shinjuku with my friends. Turns out, this is one of the best coffee shop in Japan! As a coffee lover, it is a must for me to at least have a sip of coffee every week. Coffee has a really unique flavour for each different type. The prices also range from cheap coffee to extremely expensive coffee. My favorite one is espresso, which costs around 500 yen. I also like the barista in Blue Bottle Coffee, because they provide good services and hospitality. In fact, there were a lot of people who came to this place every single day. I really love to come back there as often as I can.

Hi everyone!

Hello everyone! こんにちは！ My name is Wilson.

Hanami in Shinjuku Gyoen

Spring season in Tokyo is the BEST. Wherever you go, colorful flowers always accompany you. I went to do hanami, a common Japanese tradition to appreciate flowers during spring, mostly sakura (cherry blossom). I did various hanami in different places, yet Shinjuku Gyoen is the only one that completely captured my heart. The breathtaking scenery was not made up of only the sakura trees, but it is the combination that completed each other and made it unforgettable. As you can see in the picture, even the calm lake can look so beautiful, reflecting the ray of dusk. Well then, now you already know where to go during spring in Tokyo!

Playing with Capybara

Harajuku is a wonderful place where you can find many unique stores. My friend and I coincidentally stumbled upon a Zoo Cafe (動物園カフェ) a few weeks ago. Unlike cat cafe, dog cafe, and owl cafe which are common to be found in Japan, this cafe provides animals that you can’t see easily. There are small monkeys, hedgehogs, hamsters, meerkats, fennec, ferret, and even capybara! The entrance fee is 1500 JPY (incl. drink) for 30 minutes and we can play with all of the animals. We can also buy additional animal food to feed to the animals. My friend and I loves capybara the most. It is very cooperative that when we give our palms, it would calmly put his hand on top of it. So cute! This place is highly recommended.

Hi! I am Federico

I’m Fede. Hope to see you soon! Nice to meet you!