May 27, 2014
What is this? Seem like sushi-go-around but for ramen
 I went to an old ramen shop that have a conveyor belt, although it is not working now. I think it used to serve ramen or gyoza.
Awaiting More Answers
1 Answer
Summer only foods
Are there any foods you only eat in the summer in Japan? Or, if you prefer, foods that you associate with summer? One that comes to mind for my family is somen - we usually only eat somen in summer, with the very odd exception. One of my kids sometimes craves somen when she's feeling poorly! 'Goya' is another. Do you eat somen and goya only in summer or would you eat it at other times of the year too?
14 hours ago
3 Answers
Public figures, artists, authors with foreign roots you admire?
One that comes to mind is the late C.W. Nichol. Born in Wales, formerly a Canadian, he became a Japanese citizen. Nichol was a journalist and writer who championed the preservation of Japan's natural environment and wrote fiction and non-fiction books. He was a regular columnist in the Japan Times. I regret that I never met him, though some of my martial arts colleagues did. Which foreign resident (or Japanese citizens with foreign roots) do you respect? What are they noted for?
on Jun 21
5 Answers
Celebrities, artists, authors with Japanese roots in your home country?
There are people with Japanese roots in the Americas, Eurasia, parts of Africa, and Australasia... Tell us about authors, scientists, artists, and celebrities with Japanese roots we should know about from your countries of origin.
on Jun 16
4 Answers
Baby Showers in Japan
Yesterday I wrote about "Baby Shower Day". But now I am curious - have you ever been to a Baby Shower in Japan? And if so, was it for and / or organized by a Japanese person or a foreigner? And FYI, in case you haven't noticed it yet, we can now see how many views our posts are getting again! Baby shower post: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/weBpJ-living_saitama_tokyo
on Jun 7
2 Answers
Taking the bitterness out of Goya?
Today is "Goya Day" and as I wrote in my post about it, my MIL is growing some this year so no doubt we'll be given some to cook. I am not a big fan, because I find it unpleasantly bitter. So, following in the same vein as tonetoedo's mentaiko / karako question - what way do you serve goya? Have you any tips for taking the bitterness out of it?
on May 8
5 Answers
Your 2026 food omiyage / souvenir picks?
I know this question has probably been asked several times in the past, but it is also the kind of question to which the answer changes frequently! So, I am curious - what are your top food souvenir picks for 2026? I am going home again soon, and I want to get food omiyage for several people, including the school where my son is about to finish a one-year exchange. I would love to hear your thoughts on the BEST Japanese food omiyage around this year! And / or the food omiyage you buy each and every time you are going home because it's always a big hit? I just had the photo in this post to hand, and it is not a recommendation per se, it's not bad and fits well into a suitcase, but it's not the best strawberry daifuku I ever had.
on Apr 24
5 Answers
What's your favorite 'kushiyaki'?
Just for fun; what type of skewered food do you like best in Japan? Or, if you feel like sharing, what are your top 3?
on Apr 11
2 Answers
Movie locations near you worth visiting?
The live action version of テルマエ・ロマエ Thermae Romae (2012) was shot at Nokogiriyama, Kyonan Town, Chiba Prefecture. It's one of my favourite getaways for hiking, the temple complex, and catching sea breezes. The movie is hilarious and heartwarming. Which Japanese live-action movies do you recommend, and are the filming locations worth a visit? Tell us the original title, English title, the year, and the location.
on Mar 23
4 Answers
Recent vending machine discoveries?
I always get a little kick out of finding a vending machine that dispenses something other than drinks or ice-cream. I have been seeing an increase in vending machines that sell religious items lately. I also like finding vending machines with unusual or attractive wrapping. Have you come across any unusual vending machines lately? Either vending machines that sell something other than the norm or a vending machine with eye-catching wrapping?
on Mar 21
5 Answers
What are our consumer rights in Japan?
Do you know your consumer rights in Japan? And if so, would you be willing to share anything about them? For example, what is the policy on returns? I am very familiar with my consumer rights in my home country, and they are very widely publicized back home, but information doesn't seem to be as transparent or readily available here. Or is that just me?
on Mar 15
18 Answers
What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture?
Today, February 20th, is Ehime Prefecture Day. What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture, what is the very first thing that comes to mind when I say "Ehime Prefecture"!?
on Feb 20
8 Answers
Do you have a favorite mascot?
The other day, on "Strawberry Day" I wrote about "Yoshimin", the strawberry mascot of Yoshimi. I thought it might be fun to introduce a few others, so I've just written about "Tokimo" the mascot of Kawagoe. And I plan to introduce a couple of my favorites. It begs the question, do you have a favorite mascot? And how about writing a post on City-cost about your favorite or a local mascot? Pictured "Umerin" who I plan to write about next!
on Jan 17
3 Answers