http://www.city-cost.comFri, 07 Aug 2026 20:34:58 +0900Kanji and design nerd.enCopyright © 2015 - 2026 City-Cost All Rights Reserved.webmaster@city-cost.com (CC Team)http://img.city-cost.com/static/blog_campaign_icon.pnghttp://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gbe2B-livingIn the Q & A section, I shared about using a sensu, or traditional folding fan. Sure, old fashioned, but it's compact, eco friendly and it works.I found another benefit of using this type of fan. The handheld electronic fans that a lot of young people carry around use lithium ion cell batteries. These are correlated with fires, as explained in this Asahi article published this week.Be mindful of your phone and other electronic devices, especially in the heat this summer, as a potential fire hazzard.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gbe2B-livingThu, 30 Jul 2026 21:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gbe2B-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M95q3-livinghttps://migrants.jp/news/voice/0716.htmlI stumbled across this website while searching for info about the recent visa fee increase law that passed on May 29th, 2026.The ministry of justice is open to hearing our opinions on the fees going up (for permanent residents it's 20 times the current amount). The change in fees is expected to go into effect in October this year. It feels Very Fast for a country which has been criticized for being stereotypically slow to change.I'm sharing this with everyone because the deadline is August 2nd (in about two weeks). Please contribute your opinion on how the fee increase impacts you and your family - not just financially - as a resident of Japan with foreign roots.Information is available in 14 languages via the website above and the site has Japanese followed by English. In addition, you can submit your opinion in your native language.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M95q3-livingSun, 19 Jul 2026 23:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M95q3-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQpl5-livingThis morning I felt an earthquake and later looked up where it was. It was another sizeable quake, in Shimane. So on Jan. 6th, 2026, I was reminded of the new year earthquakes a couple years ago in Ishikawa.Here's the JMA site for more info, hope everyone is safe and prepared for emergencies.Happy 2026To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQpl5-livingTue, 06 Jan 2026 11:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQpl5-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnvZX-foodIt's my first time to see Any turkey in Japan and it was in two stores in my city around Christmas. I have heard that turkey legs are sold at Disneyland but it's never sold in supermarkets.I'm not a fan, especially for Christmas. It seems like people from the US eat all kinds of things for Christmas dinner and turkey is not one of them. It's too close to our Thanksgiving. But maybe Canadians as I've heard any type of bird is popular.These seem like they are for the foreigners as they're labeled ターキ and not 七面鳥 or shichimencho, the Japanese word for turkey. It didn't seem popular anyway.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnvZX-foodSat, 27 Dec 2025 19:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnvZX-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXe0x-livingI recently picked up a fancy duster to help with the excessive dust that accumulates.I like it!(Before I used a homemade vinegar spray and paper towels to dust, if I even did. It was more like once a year for Osoji.)I thought this would make the Osoji chores easier, but started to use it already. It is really easy to reach things and mostly contain the dust that it picks up.Maybe I should make this a Q&A, but are there any other simple cleaning tools that might be helpful for the upcoming big clean?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXe0x-livingSun, 30 Nov 2025 19:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXe0x-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLpyN-livingJust a heads up that I've received a few calls in the last week that are scams, and how to recognize one.The first one came on Thursday over obon week. I missed the call but wondered what that number was as 425 is an area code in the US that I recognize. I found an article about a reporter who happened to pick up a call starting with those numbers. The caller claimed to be a police officer telling him he was a crime suspect. This kind of call has been increasing lately.The Asahi Shimbun article (link below) is worth a read if you aren't familiar with this kind of scam.If there is a plus mark at the beginning of the number, it's an international call. If you are expecting an international call from someone who isn't in your contacts, be cautious and try to know what time to expect the call.I don't receive international (or many local) calls to my Japanese phone number, so that's the first warning. The second thing that you can see is the country code, and the first numbers of these scam calls are not any country's code.Yesterday I was using my phone while I got another call from a similar but different number so I declined it. Immediately I received another. The scammers are likely using AI to make these calls. Several other articles have been published about arrests of Japanese citizens working in Cambodia to make this kind of calls.Even if you do answer a call like this, be aware of how to recognize something is not quite right and never give sensitive information to strangers.If the call is from "Private number," it's best to skip those too. Usually they are just telemarketers or sales calls.https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15845780To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLpyN-livingMon, 18 Aug 2025 15:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLpyN-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXeq5-living_educationMEXT created this multilingual website in 2020 to help people learn Japanese for everyday life in Japan. As the number of foreign nationals increases in Japan every year, being able to use the language makes living here a lot more comfortable.Tsunahiro is intended for beginner to intermediate level (up to B1) Japanese. First you can click on "Find out what level is right for you," to see if this will be a helpful resource. (I got a response that my level is "higher than the levels this site was designed for." Too bad, I wanted to connect and enhance my life in Japanese.)If you're looking for a free online Japanese language study resource, I thought this could be helpful.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXeq5-living_educationFri, 08 Aug 2025 15:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXeq5-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpW6Z-foodYou may have eaten "healthy rice" cooked with other grains to add fiber and nutrition. It's called zakkokumai (雑穀米).This is one way to stretch out your rice as prices are high this year.Usually we eat brown rice at home, but we got regular white rice recently, and I also bought a few kinds of grains to cook with the rice in the rice cooker.The taste is changed a little also, depending on the grain. Grocery stores sell packets of mixed grains, for example 10 or 20 different grains, proportioned for a cup of rice which makes it convenient. I thought these were really expensive and buying a bag of one grain is more affordable. Even adding in one grain at a time works fine and is simpler.The grains I use are pressed barely and quinoa. I also bought azuki beans. These should be soaked for about 12 hours before cooking.If you simply add grains and water to your normal amount of rice it expands. I've been removing the amount of rice to replace with grains. For example for one cup of rice, I remove two tablespoons of rice and add two tablespoons of grains. This way the amount of water is the same - I just fill to the one cup line. Also the amount of cooked rice is the same.Any other tricks for reducing the amount of rice you're using?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpW6Z-foodSat, 19 Jul 2025 15:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpW6Z-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MveRX-livingThe rainy season ended too soon, according to this article. Only 18 days here in Kansai.I had been wondering because even the little rain we had in the last two weeks was summer rain style, thunderstorms and short bursts of heavy rain.In addition, I heard cicadas yesterday, June 30th, while they usually start in mid July. There was also a random momiji already changing for fall?It's unfortunate, since the rainy season is a little cooler because of the clouds. The forecast for this week shows temps of up to 37 in Kansai and Nagoya, warning to be careful of heat exhaustion.Apparently, it's not just Japan - all over the northern hemisphere, it's hot.This means we are likely to have water shortages this year. I already have the summer blues. Working on small habits (chatting with random strangers) to stay positive. My summer mantra is "take it easy," and yesterday a stranger said, "yukkuri," or slowly. This is the way things move during summer in Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MveRX-livingTue, 01 Jul 2025 14:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MveRX-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLe6y-living_shopping_nishi_ku_osaka_shi_osakaI went on a weekday in the first week of February to the annual event held at the Osaka Umeda Station Hankyu Department store. It was my first time to go and I was hoping to avoid weekend / holiday / last minute crowds.It didn't work out at all. I was about to melt down it was so crowded on the 9th floor where the entire floor was chocolate boutiques and ice cream shops. Each floor also had a shop or a few and they were more relaxed. Some thingsI forgot about:Chinese New Year was on Jan. 29th this year and there are a couple weeks after that where those who celebrate it are traveling / on vacation, the yen is weak so there are a lot of tourists in general, and ... Umeda is always crowded.I'm not a crowds kind of person and I couldn't move in the "Secret Chocolate Atelier" area so I had to leave, but I liked the "Chocolate Springs" area that was not too bad.There were wine / beer chocolate pairings which was interesting and I liked the design on the local (but really pricy) beers from Nara. (Check out that hanafuda inspired design!)I would not do that again. I was glad I could check out some packaging design and do something different, but there wasn't much draw for me in the overpriced designer chocolate. I had already bought my Valentine gifts at the liquor store and the supermarket.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLe6y-living_shopping_nishi_ku_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 11 Feb 2025 19:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLe6y-living_shopping_nishi_ku_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MveDk-living_osakaI went on a detour from my usual route and explored a different neighborhood the other day. It was just a residential area with narrow roads and older homes, but I noticed something unique about the houses there. I spotted several of the homes with ceramic tile topped with a figure. Once I noticed one, there seemed to be one on every house. I had never seen these before, in my ten years in Japan. I guessed they were gods to protect the house. I found out they are called fukugami or luck gods, so my guess was close. There were a couple versions and they all matched the roof tiles. Have you noticed these guys in your area too?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MveDk-living_osakaTue, 04 Feb 2025 22:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MveDk-living_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2vVb-food_shoppingWhile making dinner I actually looked at this label, because I didn't check it in the store. I mean I can look at the vegetable and know what it is (白菜). The way it is written (白才) made me laugh, but also wonder if someone made a mistake. So I asked the internet (in Japanese). It seems that writing hakusai that way in Kansai isn't so unusual, although it isn't correct either. It's not used much anymore, but the dialect used to be shirona for hakusai, which would be written with the same kanji either way. If it is hand written, someone suggested the second sai has fewer strokes so it's easier to write, but the correct sai is not difficult to the average elementary school student. The reasoning was kind of, well, everyone can still read it. It seems like there has to be a better explanation for why it would be written that way. One commenter in Kanto said they had seen garlic (nin niku) labeled as “人肉” which in context I could understand... I think someone has a weird sense of humor because that's actually pronounced “jin niku” and means human flesh, as in cannibalism.Maybe this is the Japanese version of Engrish, so I'm entertained.Do you even try reading the labels or signs in stores? Notice any other different ways of writing things?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2vVb-food_shoppingTue, 04 Feb 2025 22:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2vVb-food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MA8b5-living_osaka_shi_osakaIn my part of Japan, Osaka, I've been noticing some fun familiar Christmas decorations. It's not just about the "illuminations" or Christmas lights and photo opportunities that are really common these days.Trees have been more common in Japan in the last 10 years, not that there are fresh trees for sale anywhere that I know of.At a shopping mall called NU Chayamachi near Osaka Umeda Station, I spotted a great tree at the entrance. What was great was the handmade decorations, created by the artist Makoto Egashirawho makes sculpural pieces out of vintage blankets. The whales and dinosaurs were such a nontraditional but great touch. There were a lot of ball shaped decorations hanging with fake tree garlands throughout the shopping mall too. The tree is on display until December 25th.At another mall I stopped by the Farm Universal garden shop and spotted some beautiful mistletoe with berries on it. They sold expensive bouquets but also had a whole branch of it on display. (Imagine a bouquet of mistletoe on a Christmas date.) "Yadorigi" as it's called in Japan is not a common sight!I'm grateful for these little bits of familiar but different Christmas Vibes as someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MA8b5-living_osaka_shi_osakaSat, 14 Dec 2024 19:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MA8b5-living_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbNNB-living_shopping_moneyI have ordered from the small business Minoyathrough Amazon before.They are in the same region and I know they have good products. So I ordered directly instead of using Amazon. Let's see how it went.What really surprised me was the price. I'm not gonna save the best for last, it's first in line.Price ComparisonProduct A (one kilo of raw almonds)Minoya: 1680 yen; Amazon:1955 yenProduct B (one kilo of raw walnuts) Minoya: 1576 yen; Amazon: 2028 yenProduct C (a kilo of pistachios with damage)Minoya: 1150 yen; Amazon: 1280 yen (plus 750 delivery - not available from Amazon warehouse)Not only was it cheaper to buy each of the three products directly, it was substantially cheaper!Service and ExperienceMinoya's website is in Japanese only but searching and ordering was straightforward, plus you could always apply a browser translation plugin as needed.There are a lot of options for payment (local credit card, convenience store, Amazon pay, and bank transfer to UFJ or with the local post office bank ATM). Communication and order confirmation was by email. I find the “Suggested” and “Amazon Choice” products are annoying when I specifically search for a different product on Amazon. There is a lot to sort through / compare and it makes it more difficult to make decisions without losing patience.Delivery and PackagingWhen ordering through Amazon, Minoya shows a longer expected delivery date than Amazon warehouse products. As they are local, the actual delivery time is much faster. I found this to be the same when ordering directly. The order came a couple days after my bank transfer was processed.Minoya ships orders over 10000 yen for free and for 750 yen to my region otherwise.By comparison, Amazon shipping is free for orders over 3500 yen when the product is in their warehouse, otherwise it varies by product and supplier.This company requires signiture on delivery, so you won't get leave at the door service. I actually prefer this but understand concerns about theft. (Although I always request to leave deliveries at the door, Amazon's sometimes require it randomly anyway.)Everything was delivered packaged in a tidy and properly sized box.There were two free product samples included too!The results are that I will definitely be using Minoya over Amazon in the future. I don't know if I'll be using Amazon for other products, but there has been no need to as I'm not living in a remote area and there are plenty of other online stores in business.The only positives I see for using Amazon are being able to use a foreign credit card and I suppose to order from different companies at the same time.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbNNB-living_shopping_moneyWed, 04 Dec 2024 18:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbNNB-living_shopping_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqWvl-living_shoppingIn light of recent American election news, I'm even less eager to support the big corporations who support the next president-elect. I hate the fact that they support him to be even more greedy and accept further tax cuts while they refuse to follow fair trade laws. I disliked Amazon to begin with, for various reasons, but mostly because they are not a good employeer.Then Amazon Japan got in trouble with the Fair Trade Commision yet again.They keep making excuses and finding loopholes.This time it's the requirement to keep lower prices on their platform in order to even have a buy button on the sale page. This violates antitrust laws. The link to The Asahi Shimbun articleAmazon has more than a quarter of the online sales in Japan. I know this platform uses Amazon credit to "pay" contributors. I have not been very active here for that very reason. I really want to be for the community of like minded people, but I am apparently collecting credit that I don't really want to use.I'm going to compare prices between Amazon and a company in the area who I have purchased from regularly, through Amazon. This time I decided to buy directly though the company. I'm guessing the prices are lower on Amazon by force.I'll share the data and experience in the next blog.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqWvl-living_shoppingThu, 28 Nov 2024 20:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqWvl-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5v3X-living_foodEarly fall (September-October) is when we can sometimes find the purple sausage fruit akebi in some stores. This year was the first time I tried it.We split one, only eating the inside fruit part. I didn't bother learning how to cook the outside part although I guess it can be done.It was okay. It's a bit of work to eat around the seeds and overall the taste isn't too sweet. I guess if you eat them regularly they are healthy. I was more interested in the plants.We have some wild akebi plants growing along the manmade river near us, although we don't ever see any fruit. And they might be a variety that is not a good fruit type. I have a weird habit of reading too much about random topics, and this was one of them. I learned that the plants are three years old before they bear fruit. Every year, a crew comes and cuts all the kuzu and wild plants down, so I'm guessing that is why I don't see the fruit. But the flowers are weird and pretty.I saved these seeds and am trying to grow plants from them now. I have this idea that they would be pretty "green curtain" plants next summer. The thing is, they seem to like a lot of water and might not survive summer if I'm in charge. We'll see if the seeds grow first. Have any of you tried growing akebi plants?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5v3X-living_foodWed, 16 Oct 2024 17:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5v3X-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQO83-living_food落花生 Rakkasei is peanutsIt's one of those words I could recognize but couldn't remember for years.Anyway.My husband is from Chiba, and that's where I had boiled peanuts for the first time ever. They grow well there because of the loose soil.If you have never seen peanuts growing, they grow like potatoes, under the ground. It's wild!When I see locally grown fresh peanuts for sale in our area (North Osaka), I buy them all. It's rare to find them and the season is short, so it ends up being about this much once a year.They just need to be boiled in salt water (I put them in the electric pressure cooker and heated without pressure for 20 minutes, it depends on the texture you're going for). They kinda smell like dirt ... because they are grown underground.They can be eaten once they are cool enough and shelled, plus we like adding some more salt. There are probably more fancy ways to enjoy them, but this is what we know.As someone who grew up eating only roasted peanuts, these are tasty and make a really simple dinner. We also had some steamed purple sweet potatoes that day. (I don't really cook, I mostly prepare ingredients.)Have you tried boiled peanuts?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQO83-living_foodWed, 16 Oct 2024 16:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQO83-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQO5l-livingI found out the hard way that My Number cards have an expiration date.I am sure there was mention of it when mine was issued and I just didn't pay attention / was distracted by all the city hall background noise and wanted to get out of there. We are all somewhat new to the My Number. It is not the neverending US Social Security Card. There is a date at the bottom marked something like 有効期限 with the date it is good for.I have not used my card in more than a year. After I finally remembered to bring it because my pharmacist asked for it three times, she was like... Um, it's expired.(italics are paraphrased translations)I learned online that there is a period after the expiration that you can still renew My Number cards. It's not like a year long though. In my case, I had to reapply entirely.The Process: At my branch city hall, require three staff to help me because this is a new (by Japanese standards) thing. Fill out two forms. Surrender the expired card (or have it punched if I need to keep it for some reason), take another form to fill out and mail in with a photo OR the online option.Just a note, the last form is not exactly the correct form. Maybe it doesn't exist yet or need to. The My Number Application Form digital certificate/renewal application formhas hand written at the top, Reapplication (with fee) due to Expired Card.(Japanese Form: 個人番号カード交付申請書　兼　電子証明書発行／更新申請書　With the added: 再発行（有料）有効期限切れ)I got a QR code on the form specific to my application. I opted to use the QR code so I can use my own photo taken with a Photo ID app instead of going to a photo booth.I didn't prepare the photo in advance and had to restart. You need to have the photo on your phone ready to upload when you start the online application. It was fairly straight forward to submit on my smart phone. I may have copy and pasted something into a translation app to make sure I understood correctly.After the email confirmation comes and everything is submitted, it takes around a month to get a letter in the mail notifying you to go to your city hall and pick up the new card.I hope you don't need to do this. Please check your My Number card's expiration date and simply renew it as needed.(Actually, check all of the things for expiration dates and set reminders. My library card also expired without me noticing about a week after the My Number thing...)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQO5l-livingWed, 18 Sep 2024 18:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQO5l-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4Wxk-living_education_nara_shi_naraField Trip Club went to Nara back in late March for a special workshop.I practice shodo, using sumi ink to write Japanese characters onto paper. Nara is the city where about 90% of sumi is made in Japan. It has a long history and Nara is close enough for a day trip so I had been wanting to learn more for a while.The workshop was held in a small space with a group of five students total. It was held in Japanese, although I believe the teacher sometimes teaches using English for off site / cultural experiences for foreign companies. I booked our reservation in Japanese on their site and we both speak Japanese so I felt that would be more authentic. There was so much information in around an hour, and we had a chance to ask questions, but we both felt like it was too much to really absorb that quickly. We took turns explaining a couple things to each other later since we caught or understood different parts.I misunderstood the “kojo” or workshop observation in the workshop description and asked about if we could see the place with all the soot being burned to make the sumi. I was told that it's way too dirty to go in there, hah.The observation was just in the workshop room. I guess I wanted to actually learn the entire process of making sumi and not just make the “only one” sumi shaped like my hand. Maybe some of the other sumi making locations offer workshops that go into more detail. We did get to try to knead the soft sumi and see how it is placed into molds to make the rectangle blocks, “cho” that are sold commercially.There is a tiny shop in the same space, where we can see samples of what some of the sumi looks like on paper. It was super fun for me to learn about the process and history of making ink stones. We took home our special ink stone wrapped in tissues in a small box, to keep closed up for three months to cure. This location is small - run by a couple. The workshops are available from October to April, as during the warmer months the ingredient called nikawa (gelatin or animal glue) becomes too stinky. Oh, at this location, Kinkouen, the price for the workshop was 2200 yen.Location info:錦光園(きんこうえん）547 Sanjocho, Nara, 630-8244http://kinkoen.jp/To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4Wxk-living_education_nara_shi_naraMon, 19 Aug 2024 19:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4Wxk-living_education_nara_shi_narahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ2Nd-living_sakyo_ku_kyoto_shi_kyotoFriday I spent the day in Kyoto. After Field Trip Club went to see Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto, I needed a break. The Kyoto Prefectural Library is in the neighborhood.Photos are not allowed inside. In the entrance, there is a small display of old structures from the original building. In the basement there is a large desk area and I read that there used to be a water fountain just outside. It is no longer there, too bad, that sounded nice.On the main floor, there is a big section with local topics and a section dedicated to art catalogs from the nearby museums.I was too visually overstimulated to look at books for too long. Still a good break. It's nice to see what libraries are like in other places. For those of you who don't already have a library card in Japan, I hope this series motivated you to check out your local library and the services available there.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ2Nd-living_sakyo_ku_kyoto_shi_kyotoSat, 03 Aug 2024 22:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ2Nd-living_sakyo_ku_kyoto_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgoEY-living_mino_shi_osakaI overdid it by going to two libraries today. The first was in a Human Rights Center I have been to, but the "tosho corner" closes before the Japanese class I usually attend. It was fun to check out the small library intended for kids and moms with small children. I think about half of the space is picture books, but there's a decent variety of other books.There is also a cafe which has never been open when I go and in that free space there is always some kind of collaborative decoration happening. There are books there too. I settled on some travel books to research. The desk spaces are really big.This building has classrooms and study spaces upstairs and is similar to the lifelong learning or multicultural center library combos.Library two was the central library in the sort of "downtown" area of our small city. It is in a building shared with a preformance "hall" and there was some kind of event like an audition going on. Sometimes the space downstairs has bazaars with books or other used things for sale. The library has two floors and both were really full of people trying to stay cool. A big portion of the first floor is dedicated to kids books and comics. The bookshelves go all the way to the ceiling along the walls. I couldn't find anywhere to sit, so I moved on to run the rest of my errands.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgoEY-living_mino_shi_osakaSat, 03 Aug 2024 21:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgoEY-living_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbbE9-livingMy usual library is a ten minute walk away. In addition to the library, the building is a multicultural center, or a space for consultation, classes and events. There is a cafe where chefs from around the world cook food from where they're from, so the menu is always different. The library itself is not big, but it has a kids space, some foreign books, comics, and the usual library things like space to sit and read.I was planning to be in the building to volunteer in the afternoon, so I went over with my laptop in the morning to finish up a project. It was fairly productive and there were plenty of seats available. Summer vacation and the space available for students to hang out and “study” upstairs meant that lots of students were around, some running in the library after being asked to stop and some playing so loudly upstairs that they could be heard in the library.Most of the signage is written with furigana for both kids and foreigners. Outside I noticed that books can be donated to the library. I stood outside to eat my lunch because there is no designated space to eat other than the cafe and the space the students were using. Last week I noticed that all three of the newspapers at that library had front page articles about US President Biden stepping down from running for reelection and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. If you are wondering about voting as a US citizen living in Japan, you can register or make sure you are registered to vote while living abroad at fvap.gov. Overseas citizens can vote.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbbE9-livingSat, 03 Aug 2024 20:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbbE9-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn42q-living_mino_shi_osakaRead about Monday and this series here. On Tuesday I opted for a more walkable city library - not the closest one as I'll go on Wednesday. There is a remodeled kids space, but the building itself is older and has some charm, like the Egyptian motifs decorating it. (The cramped toilets are not charming.) The building is actually a “Lifelong Learning Center,” meaning there are classrooms for clubs, like chorus circles and Japanese classes.The best thing might be the view. There is an area where drinks are allowed and a vending machine in both the hall and in the kids space. I don't drive but it looks like parking is not free at libraries.Cons about this library would have to be the toilets and the desk space. There are several spots to work at a laptop with an outlet, but there is a kind of storage shelf under the desk that just jabs me in the knees if I scoot my chair in too close. I'm not tall so I think this must be uncomfortable for most people.In addition, there is a chime maybe for the staff lunch break a couple times, then again before the closing time. This was kind of distracting but not terrible.It goes to show that when you're going to a library to get some work done, some will be better than others, depending on what you are hoping to get done.I spent the majority of my day at the laptop area drawing from reference photos for a bit then working on some design stuff. This library isn't very big but it has a good selection of design books and at the end of my visit I did look through and borrow one.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn42q-living_mino_shi_osakaTue, 30 Jul 2024 23:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn42q-living_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6o4e-living_mino_shi_osakaTo explain:I'm a freelancer, it's too hot out, and I get bored working at home by myself sometimes. (Sometimes it is really nice, and I have online or in person things and phone calls that break up the mostly alone time.) This week is a hot one in Japan, plus I don't have a lot of work that needs to happen at my house (like calligraphy), so I thought library coworking sounded good. I don't have to talk to anyone if I don't want to, but the fact that there are other people around means I'm less likely to goof off.This week started with me going to a library on Monday, then deciding I might as well go to a different library every day this week and be productive. Why not? Then I can proclaim the awesomeness of libraries.To be perfectly honest, my first year living in Japan, I didn't even enter the library. The fact is, libraries are a great resource and a comfortable space to get some work done.I went to the closest library that is open on Mondays. It's a good one. It is a city library that joined forces with the local Osaka University campus library for three floors of books. It opened just a couple years ago, has a cafe inside as that is the trend, and the hours are longer than the other city libraries. The best part that no one seems to care about is the AV room. When I noticed it, I thought it was really cool they have all this old film and music media and the players for them too. I finally used it for the first time and I was the only one using the space. I picked out an art movie in English. (There are so many movies and TV shows in a lot of different languages plus Japanese subtitles. Good to know they even have the Coffee Prince series if I ever wanna binge watch it again.) I took the DVD case to the reference counter and received a bin with headphones, a remote, and the DVD. There is also a number for the cubicle to go to where you can play the media you've chosen.Some people go to the movie theater during the summer but this is free. It's not possible to watch something with someone else, but I haven't watched a movie in so long and actually sat through all of it. I did a lot of doodling while watching. Next I researched a trip I'm planning then looked up references for a logo I'm gonna design. (The call number 727 is a favorite.)Any other library nerds?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6o4e-living_mino_shi_osakaTue, 30 Jul 2024 21:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6o4e-living_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWR0m-money_transportation_kobe_shi_hyogoThe first in a series of Field Trips to come! We did a day trip to Kobe using this pass and it's recommended.There are a range of prices for the Rokko Arima Shuyu Pass, depending on where you come from, as it includes the local transportation. We got the one day pass but there is also a two day pass. The passes can be purchased from stations in the Kansai area. It is a thin IC card shaped pass that you run through like a train ticket at ticket gates or show to the staff when you get off a bus or get on the cable car and ropeway.Cost per adult: 2600 yen (for using Hankyu Line)Value per adult: 4400 yenThe breakdown of how we used the pass:We used our local Hankyu train to get into Kobe (Rokko Station) 390 yenWe took Hankyu Rokko bus to Rokko Cable Shita Station 210 yenRokko Cable car, one way 600 yenRokko Sancho bus to Alpine Botanical Garden 210 yen(there was no discount on the 900 yen entrance, but we received a picture postcard because we had this pass.)Same bus to Garden Terrace 210 yen? (not sure)Walked a few minutes from there to Rokko Arima Ropeway 1030 yen one wayKin no Yu onsen entrance 650 yen weekday priceReturn train all the way, via Arima Onsen Station and the subway to Sannomiya Station (much faster than the complex way there) 1100 yenWe got more than our money's worth just for the transportation and also went to an onsen. Not bad considering we didn't do anything extra (that was covered by the pass) or take advantage of any of the discounts available at shops and museums in the area. The cable car and ropeway route is more scenic and expensive, but there is a discount round trip price. There is also a pass available from Cable Shita Station which includes a discount for the cable car plus bus plus ropeway part (shown in the photo below). This is an all you can ride day pass for the area, so if we had lots of extra time and energy, we could have stopped by as many other stations as we wanted to.If you are in the Kansai area, Kobe has a lot of great offers for tourism (and it isn't nearly as crowded as Kyoto!)Link to (Japanese) information about this pass (more offers are available - some with English information - on the same site).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWR0m-money_transportation_kobe_shi_hyogoFri, 24 May 2024 16:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWR0m-money_transportation_kobe_shi_hyogohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrnay-food_makinoharacity_makinohara_shi_shizuokaThis sampling of green tea bags and green tea leaf pies are from Grinpia in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture. If you haven't experienced picking tea leaves yourself, I recommend it! There is a seasonal tea leaf picking experience at Grinpia (April-October) which is 1000 yen per adult. There is also a restaurant serving things like green tea tempura, mmm. Sounds awesome. Limited English website hereFirst comes the fukumushi teabags. When I opened up the package the tea smelled fragrant. The package says the tea is first picked sencha, meaning "new tea" picked right when it is the season in early May.We don't have a teapot but sometimes brew tea in a one liter glass pitcher (shown in photo), either hot or cold. The tea bags are very easy to use and even though I didn't perfectly follow the instructions, the tea didn't get bitter when I left the teabag in the cup. I also reused the teabag and it was still good. Shizuoka tea is known for being affordable and not fancy, and the packaging and experience matched that sentiment. One of the teabags broke off from the string after pouring water into the cup, but it's possible that I pulled on it too much while separating the little tab at the end of the string. The paper bit and string seem glued to the teabags.Leaf Pie timeFor some reason I thought I would receive one leaf pie, so when I got the delivery and it was a fancy gift box of pies, I was surprised. I did wonder how many there were because it didn't say anything on the packaging about how many pies it contained. When I opened the box, I noticed there are eight pies. The packaging seemed too big for the “leaf” as they were kind of floating around in the individual packaging. This means the gift box is also bigger than it really needs to be.I ate one of the leaf pies together with a tea and it made a nice three o'clock snack.The smell and the taste of the leaf pie was sugar. Inside there is matcha filling, but it was either very weakly flavored or overpowered by the sugary taste. I do like green tea and matcha flavored things so that was disappointing. I thought they were just okay.The best by date is February 27th, around two months after they were made. This kind of thing is a little scary. I prefer sweets that are made freshly without preservatives.Mitsu...not yet opened. Not something that I would normally buy or use. We might put it onto some ice cream with corn flakes and make parfaits, but as it's winter that just hasn't happened yet. Recommended ways to use mitsu include adding it to kanten and kakigoori, good for summer, plus shiratama and warabi mochi, which we don't eat at home. Maybe on pancakes will happen. I'm afraid that we will use it once then it will sit opened in the fridge for way too long. Probably I'll wait until the weather warms up when we are more likely to use it.This post is supported by Makinohara City, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrnay-food_makinoharacity_makinohara_shi_shizuokaFri, 12 Jan 2024 10:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrnay-food_makinoharacity_makinohara_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G71mA-living_foodSome people eat fried chicken for Christmas here – a hilarious almost 50 year old Japanese tradition. Even though my family ate neither turkey nor chicken for Christmas in the US, we recently started our own tradition, I guess, of roasting a whole chicken for Christmas. We don't celebrate the holiday, although it's an excuse to eat fancier foods.When we have roasted chicken, it's enough for several meals for the two of us, then I usually put the bones and bits into our pressure cooker to make some broth. Around the new year, I use the broth to make chicken based ozoni, which is what my husband grew up with. This year, I made chicken pot pie using some of the broth first.It's a food I had never eaten homemade. My family would keep some frozen mini pot pies on hand for when my mum wasn't at home for dinner, which was my only experience until ordering a chicken pot pie in a restaurant several years ago.I had heard that the Kentucky chicken cream pot pies are good from someone who eats there often, while I almost never eat fast food and remained skeptical. Anyway, I wasn't about to wait in line for KFC's Christmas bucket or anything, but one tiny shopping mall location wasn't busy after Christmas so I tried one.I guess it was okay, considering it's fast food. I wasn't impressed with the quantity (the top photo was taken after breaking up the crust and before eating any) but it was filling. For 450 yen each, I'm not going to get one of those barely any chicken pies again. (I also thought the combo meal including french fries and a soft drink would not fit at all.)I was curious and looked up some homemade recipes. I think that none of the recipes contained corn, which is weird. I got the idea of how to make it after looking at several cast iron pan recipes with no spices other than salt and pepper, and just did my usual thing of not measuring anything. Added some savory herbs and cayenne pepper. It turned out great and has been requested again the next time there's a roast chicken.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G71mA-living_foodTue, 09 Jan 2024 19:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G71mA-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn4v4-living_foodI wish soy lattes were a normal coffee drink that was sold in every convenience store and supermarket, hot and cold, like the milk versions. This Kikkoman affocato soy milk was really nice and I wish it wasn't a limited edition flavor, only available in some stores. It was definitely sweet and has vanilla flavor, to mimic vanilla ice cream, which is perfect for those who want a sweet version of a latte. I'd love an unsweetened hot version, with this kind of coffee flavor. It is strong like espresso and not just the weakly flavored coffee version that Kikkoman usually sells. In a country where soy milk is a really normal thing, why isn't a soy latte not a normal option? Am I the only one who feels this way?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn4v4-living_foodTue, 09 Jan 2024 19:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn4v4-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOqqQ-living_food_osakaFor a few years now, I've lived in the North Osaka area.While grocery shopping, one of the things I noticed is that some foods go by a slightly different name here. Of course I could understand due to context so it was no problem, but I wonder if other regions in Japan use the same words or have their own dialect for these veggies.I moved in the fall and noticed the raddishes first. In standard Japanese it's kabu, but here they're called kabura. It's kinda cute.The next thing that I noticed was a leafy green called shingiku, which is the reading for spring chrysanthemum, as seen below. Here the same food is called kikuna, or chrysanthemum greens. It makes sense to me. I understood exactly what it was.Recently I saw this sign for a food I don't ever buy, a kind of root vegetable that I've eaten in school lunch soups. It's called satoimo (field potato), but here it's called tsuchi imo (dirt potato), hah. As seen in my neighbor unmanned veggie shop.There must be more that I haven't really noticed.I'd love to hear about any locally used food words in your area that differ from standard Japanese.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOqqQ-living_food_osakaThu, 21 Dec 2023 11:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOqqQ-living_food_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3jZ1-livingMaybe this isn't super new news, but it caught me off guard this week.As of October 1st 2023, Japan Post made some updates to their international postage fees, as shown on their English website here.I had only heard something about their Yu-Pack price going up, generally of no concern to me.Regular mail within Japan is sent at the same rate.I sent off a birthday card last Thursday, so it would arrive around the time of their birthday. The next day it was in my mailbox.It said it was short 10 yen.As it was a Friday night when I got this, I went to a post office on Monday to buy a ten yen stamp, and again, put it into a postbox.Tuesday, it was back again.This time, it was 20 yen short.??So I checked online. I halfway wondered if the staff didn't know what the new prices were.It seems that the first time, they assumed it would be sent surface mail, based on the price.Who sends letters by surface mail?The second time, maybe someone asked themselves this question and decided that I meant to write air mail on the letter.I wrote air mail on the letter and took it back to the post office again today. It would be way too late if they sent it by boat at this point.Anyway, prices went up by 30 yen a letter for my country, but there is a new system as shown on the site linked above.Maybe everyone else checks these things before dropping letters in post boxes.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3jZ1-livingWed, 18 Oct 2023 12:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3jZ1-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GByNO-living_fashionA couple years ago, I shared about my struggle with shopping, mostly to deal with the weather in Japan. One of the techniques for how to know your fashion style was a face type diagnosis.That original diagnosis has eight face types for women. I recently learned that the clothing company Kobe Lettuce has their own 16 type version - which you can diagnose by taking a photo. There are versions in Japanese, Chinese, and English here if you'd like to try it out.(Apparently I am "Handsome."It fits sort of. But clothes in Japan don't often fit.)This is entertaining at best with the strange translation, but for those of you interested in fashion and face type analysis from a Japanese perspective, maybe it's interesting?I don't understand why all of these fashion books and sites recommend "pumps" all the time. I've found that almost no one wears pumps anymore unless it's required for work.There is another site a friend and I found which has a face diagnosis for men. It is only in Japanese, for eight face types, and they want you to register or pay for recommendations. It is super entertaining that there are just four names for face types plus "soft" or "hard."Enjoy if you check it out!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GByNO-living_fashionTue, 29 Aug 2023 20:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GByNO-living_fashionhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlxnE-living_workMonsieur Roberto working hard so I don't have toIn my almost nine years in Japan, I haven't done overtime work, with the exception of "volunteer" work attending events on days off or a tiny bit of a side hustle. In fact, since getting married, I've been underemployed or self employed. A normal full time job doesn't sound bad sometimes, but knowing that it would likely mean both early and late hours including overtime makes it less appealing. I've seen the impact of working too much on those around me.This recent article reports that most Japanese workers aren't very happy. It hints that one reason for this is not being able to grow or advance at work. I can relate as I feel like teaching English as a foreigner in Japan is a dead end profession. It's not only teaching English - most professions in Japan rarely get a salary increase, regardless of experience or productivity at work.The article also mentioned that Japanese workers are less likely to skill up outside of work hours. I have to ask, what hours might that be, with 50-60 hour work weeks being so common? Between taking care of yourself and your family, commuting, and catching maybe five hours of sleep a night, 60 hours a week at work wouldn't leave much leisure time. I've talked to some students and know some people who either used to or currently work this kind of schedule on a regular basis - properly reported or not.In fact, this article from early Covid days says that two thirds of teleworkers were not reporting their overtime work. I think this ratio is probably similar for those working in the office, based on conversations with those close to me.In Japan, employers need to pay an extra 25% for more than 40 hours a week, plus another extra 25% for working between 10pm and 5am. For more than 60 hours a month of overtime (or around 15 hours a week of overtime all month), employers need to pay an extra 50%.Some companies, the ones we don't want to work for if we know, have a system where working more than 60 hours a month of overtime (or any overtime) is not paid at all. It's considered not being able to do all of your work in a reasonable amount of time, no matter how much work they decide to pile on you. This only profits the company's bottom line, not their productivity or their turnaround. Any company in Japan with a high turnaround is likely that way due to their overwork policies or other bad workplace culture.Even though staff is quitting on a regular basis at one workplace I know of, the workers don't openly speak about the illegal overtime system at the company. I hope this fear to speak out against illegal workplace practices in Japan changes because it is not at all sustainable for humans or the companies they work for.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlxnE-living_workTue, 15 Aug 2023 10:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlxnE-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1pJ-livingFinally there is a post-corona trip to see family soon, so for the first time I'm using a hold my mail while I'm out form.These are called (不在届)fuzai todoke and can be picked up at your closest post office. It's a very simple form and only asks the dates you will be away from home for, name, address, and phone number on the top part of the sheet. There is a space to press your inkan and you will be asked to verify your identity (drivers license, zairyu card, passport, etc.) so come prepared. Or you can take it home to fill out like I did.The bottom half (not shown in photo) will be given to you as a reciept after being stamped by staff. The staff will also fill in the middle portion which is just that they checked your identity and made sure of the date when your mail can be delivered after you're back.The post office staff said it is helpful to submit them early if possible, up to a month before leaving.Of course we are telling people who normally send anything by mail and requesting that our regular furusato nozei delivery be delayed as well. When we get our mail after coming back, it will be all bills most likely.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1pJ-livingSat, 27 May 2023 22:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1pJ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4vAv-livingOn the left, "it's okay to not throw out" and on the right, "(next time,) throw away!"In a bookstore I laughed about these two magazines publishing opposing ideas at the same time.One has photos of hoarder-like rooms full of 'beloved collections.' "Live surrounded by things you love." More like being swallowed by things you can't find.The other promises to give tips on tidying up. Sigh.It seems like both extremes exist in Japan, but there is also the "trash house" or what I feel like the collection houses will quickly become with enough added stress. The people who have a big enough space could collect, but most people in Japan live in tiny spaces.I have written about Marie Kondo here before. There is no shortage of books in Japan about how to clean or stay clean or organize all the things... There would be no reason to publish so many books like that if One of them actually worked for everyone. KonMari was helpful, but I have to stay on top of putting things in their place.Maybe the problem is that everywhere you go, someone is trying to sell something we don't need?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4vAv-livingSat, 27 May 2023 22:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4vAv-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2gAb-living_shoppingNot an uncommon sight outside of shops in Japan.Japan is such a trust based country that we can leave groceries in our bike baskets with no worries of them being disturbed.I don't imagine things that are expensive are left unattended or that anything is left for very long.I have left a large suitcase unattended while using a toilet and left my bag without a wallet in a seat to hold my spot.I have also seen people leave their phones and wallets on tables to hold their place, which is too much for me!I love that Japan is a place where we can count on others to be respectful of others' things.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2gAb-living_shoppingWed, 24 May 2023 18:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2gAb-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wry4g-living_osaka_shi_osakaYesterday we took the day off to go to the immigration office in Osaka.It was expected that it would be crowded but it was something like 200 times more crowded than our prior experiences. (Not saying much when the tiny Saga Immigration office had maybe two people waiting every time.)It would have taken under two hours except that we were told from the start that we had better submit an application to renew my current (spouse) visa in addition to applying for permanent residence. I kicked myself for not preparing this in advance, but in all honesty, I thought I wouldn't be allowed to submit them at the same time. The documents overlap so that was no problem, since we prepared for permanent residence which needs much more. We were told that it takes up to four months to process the permanent residency application but I only have a couple months left on my current visa.Thankfully all the applications and forms are available there. A lot of people don't come with everything printed out I guess. It was at least 50% copying what was written on the permanent residence application, yet I really struggled to hand write the application because of the background noise, stress, and anxiety. (At one point I told my husband to stop complaining that I didn't fill it out right and fill it out himself, wondering why I was even doing all the work. Haha the real reason is his writing is mostly illegible and I practice shodo, so even though it's totally backwards, I write more neatly than him. Then I appologized for being so grumpy and stressed out.) It's so much nicer to fill out paperwork at home on the computer with no worries that if you make a mistake you'll have to start all over.It was lucky that we had all the documents we needed to fill in the renewal forms and I had an extra photo.So glad that part is over with. Not as excited about going back twice to renew and hopefully get the change to a permanent resident.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wry4g-living_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 23 May 2023 21:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wry4g-living_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRXPW-living_food_shoppingThis month we got a very close and very affordable produce stand. I've been checking on it when I'm going that direction as the produce changes almost daily.Examples of what I've bought for 100 yen each:Two fresh new onions, one or two garlic bulbs (which run 200 yen each in stores), fresh green peas, baby leaf lettuce, and (probably not local) grapefruit!I love that it's closer and cheaper than the grocery store and I can directly support local farmers. There is no staff so it's 'open' all the time, although there is nothing there yet early in the morning.This particular produce stand also sells veggie starts and accepts PayPay! It's the first time I've seen electronic payments at a trust based store.Unmanned shops exist where I'm from but rarely and more often in rural areas. This culture of trust is something I really appreciate about Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRXPW-living_food_shoppingSat, 20 May 2023 21:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRXPW-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpoQL-living_nara_shi_naraApril 23rd, we visited Kasuga Taisha, which takes about thirty minutes to walk to from Kintetsu Nara Station. The shrine is famous for deer which line the road on the way, but it's also famous for wisteria.There is no entrance fee to the shrine where there is a large wisteria plant. We paid 400 yen entrance for Manyou Shokubutsuen (萬葉植物園) or botanical garden. The garden has 200 wisteria plants and 20 varieties. I had never seen a lot of the types of wisteria and was especially surprised by the yae type (multiple petals) shown below.Wisteria are part of the pea family and have a strong scent that we could smell even while wearing masks.It was super crowded when we went as it was a beautiful Sunday, but the wisteria were not all in full bloom yet, so they are expected to bloom through the Golden Week holiday.If you look up, you will also see wild wisteria growing all the way up the tall trees growing in the park.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpoQL-living_nara_shi_naraTue, 25 Apr 2023 21:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpoQL-living_nara_shi_narahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYn01-living_healthStarting on March 13th, 2023, the Japanese government now allows individuals freedom to choose to wear a mask or not, but has anything really changed?Before the change, around a year ago, a part time job gave the choice to individuals. Some staff and students have gone without masks for the entire school year.Their company philosophy is to respect individuals and this includes the reasons they might have for choosing to wear a mask or not.As I expected, this Monday when the law went into effect, I didn't notice anything different about local people's behavior.I went to a somewhat touristy location and most people wore masks even outdoors as usual. The people who were not wearing masks were all obviously foreign tourists. This is no different from the last few months since more tourists have been allowed to enter the country.My theory for why most people who live in Japan didn't change anything is culture related.From the start of the pandemic, three years ago, I heard from students and friends about their mask opinions. I was told that a lot of people were tired of being asked to wear a mask, especially during the first summer. The thing is, everyone continued to wear masks, even though they really didn't want to. It was just what was expected. Seeing a random person rebelling was somewhat of a shock and is still strange.For most people in Japan wearing masks is totally normal and now we're even more used to it.Of course for prevention during the flu season, when experiencing cold symptoms, and during the hay fever season now, it makes sense to continue wearing a mask.What I don't understand is the timing that the government chose. Previously I had heard that the law would change this May, which makes sense because of the above mentioned reasons.The flu was going around last month and I got my flu shot too early this season. In addition I have had hay fever, not terrible, but enough that it helps to wear a mask outside. Just in case I'm getting a cold and my symptoms aren't hay fever, it's better to wear it indoors too.We are not supposed to need to explain the reasons for our choice to wear a mask or not, but I don't feel that is the reality yet.At one part time job, we talked about this change and somehow the manager got the idea I would be taking off my mask. I understand that students want to see my mouth to learn pronunciation. I just don't feel like I am ready yet.Maybe once it gets warmer, more people will hang up their masks and it will feel more normal to follow along.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYn01-living_healthWed, 15 Mar 2023 07:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYn01-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MvLpV-livingIn my country as well as in Japan, the ideal date for Valentines Day is probably a fancy expensive restaurant. While there is nothing wrong with that, it tends to be seasonally overpriced, overbooked, and over-rated.I have for sure considered strawberry festivals and other fun food related events in this season, although they are limited time and have a limited number of guest that can be accomodated.An easier and possibly more enjoyable option here in Japan is taking advantage of the rare warm late winter days when it feels like spring is right around the corner. Spring is the time for romance, starting around mid-February when love shrines pop up and everything starts to bloom. Unless your hayfever comes early or the season is especially rainy (or still snowy), outdoor time is generally free and good for our health. Most areas have a park or river where lots of ume trees, peach trees, or at least sakura are planted.Depending on how early the plum blossoms start, they should be visible around Valentines Day. Here they started blooming in the last days of January, which is way too early. On February 12th it was unusually warm and the deep pink variety (koubai) was in full bloom. To our surprise, honey bees were already active, busy taking advantage of the blooming ume. The pink type was opening and the white ume blossoms were just starting. There are also lovely pink weeping plum branches which bloom around the same time as the white ones.Last year there was a similarly early warm spring day, although one month later, and we enjoyed a picnic in a big park in Suita, Osaka full of blooming plum blossoms. They were mostly white flowers, but there was even live music, so it set the mood.White blossoms for white day? That was the timing anyway, (not that anyone celebrates white day.)Peach blossoms are usually blooming around late March and I used to live in Koga, Ibaraki where there's a big peach blossom festival every spring. It's probably a little late, but if a White Day picnic sounds fun, picnicing there can be romantic for sure.In Yanagawa, Fukuoka, there are canal gondolas with kotatsu that will ferry you around to see the beautiful sakura. We never tried it, but that sounds amazing. Maybe that's the ultimate Valentine date for me: to keep my feet warm in a kotatsu, be ferried around to see pink blooming trees, all while snacking on Japanese sweets and drinking the local yame cha. The girls days festivities start up right before Valentines Day, and there is no shortage of pink and red decorations. When we went, it was at the end of Hina Matsuri season and the sakura were in full bloom.Do you think you (and or your partner) would settle for an outdoor walk or picnic, viewing pink plum blossoms while bundled up as needed, during the Valentines Day season? It sounds better than a crowded restaurant to me.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MvLpV-livingWed, 15 Feb 2023 12:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MvLpV-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaKBg-living_workAnother fiscal year is racing upon us.In this season, as a freelancer with my own tiny business in Japan, I always think about updating my list of clients, finding more work, or even changing my employment situation all together. There are usually very few changes in the end and it only results in extra stress. I guess I like a challenge?Above is one of the photos that resulted from attempting my own resume photo at home. A recent photo attached to resumes is not a tradition where I come from and to me is just another extra task any time documents are submitted.For reference, the size requested is generally 3 x 4cm, a clear photo with no glasses or hat on, white or light background, and no shadows.Most people in Japan probably use photo booths. For some reason, all of the photo booths in our area have a blue background. I'm not sure why, because all the requirements say resume and visa photos should have a light background. If we pay extra for data, we could change the background color with a photo editing tool, but why would that be necessary?Anyway I feel like I always look awful in those photos so I wanted to try something different.I went to a photo studio to get a photo, but learned that it would take a week for physical photos and including data the cost was over 5000 yen, for only two printed photos. They also wanted to give me the data file on a CD. Who has a CD drive these days? They aren't standard on computers anymore and I heard a lot of people don't even have a laptop at home.There are a lot of free apps for taking resume photos yourself.I tried out a few with bad results. The one from Recruit made my face look disproportioned. I'm not sure why but am guessing it has something to do with my camera or type of phone.I ended up using a simple app called ID Photo. It lets you choose the size photo you need and not only take a photo in app, but also use a photo on your phone.The photo can be saved alone or you can choose the number of photos you want to print out and save a file with several pictures on it.(I haven't tested out printing the photo.)The next problem was lighting and background. As seen in the above image, there is a background shadow. I ended up taking a photo where there is a solid white window screen, and the daylight from behind that makes a nice background.I'm still not happy with my photo... but I can only use it for three months and I'll need to take another one.I think using a photo app is helpful for those living outside of Japan who want to apply for jobs that require a photo attached to their resume.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaKBg-living_workTue, 14 Feb 2023 10:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaKBg-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z12P4-living_mino_shi_osakaAbove photo is not the main waterfall, but one we call Minoh Shotaki (small waterfall) as a joke.Sunday November 27th was beautiful and sunny, and possibly everyone's last chance to see fall leaves at Minoh Waterfall this season.It was a vast improvement from my last visit a couple weeks earlier, which was too early for much of a fall leaves viewing. The reason this Sunday was probably the last chance is that for those who work on weekdays, next weekend will not likely be promising. There is a forecast of rain on the 29th and 30th, then it is expected to get much colder. Early morning temps of below five degrees Celsius are usually gonna get the leaves falling off the trees quickly.That being said, Sunday was stunning, if you could catch a glimpse between the crowds. I have never seen so many people there in the two years since we moved to the area, although coronavirus travel restrictions have recently been lifted. Lots of tourists, maybe locals like me, dogs, and even one cat were in attendance. (As the saying goes, "neko mo, shakushi mo imashita.")Minoh station had a steady stream of arriving visitors and the momiji tempura shops were selling out. Several of the food trucks had lines as we walked through the park along the path. As you can see in the above photo, it wasn't gonna be easy to get up close and personal with the waterfall, so we didn't try.Usually Minoh Ootaki (Waterfall) is considered to be a power spot, but in this season, it may revert to a power-sucking vacuum, because the crowds left us exhausted. It wasn't the usual refreshing experience we were hoping for.Minoh Waterfall is a three kilometer walk from Minoh Station on the very short Hankyu Minoh line, accessible from Umeda via Juso and Ishibashi Handai Station transfers. It's not difficult to find the road up directly in front of the station gates. It's a paved road with some slope, and if you don't stop at shops too much on the way up, it will take around 40 minutes. There's also a free footbath near the entrance to Minoh Kanko Hotel.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z12P4-living_mino_shi_osakaTue, 29 Nov 2022 12:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z12P4-living_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1ve-living_yamashina_ku_kyoto_shi_kyotoMonday, November 21st, after an evening of light rain, mostly cloudyNot far off the beaten path, one station East of Kyoto on JR Biwako Line (and Kyohan Kyotsu Line), is Yamashina Station. It is a much quieter part of the city and the trains mostly emptied out when we stopped at Kyoto Station. From Himeji and Umeda, there are special rapid JR trains which stop at Yamashina.There is only one exit from the JR station, and if you turn left, then left again in front of the Starbucks, there is a tunnel going under the tracks. Head straight up the mountains towards Bishamondo. From the Kyohan station, turn right first.There is no fee at Bishamondo unless you want to enter the temple to look around inside (500 yen). The outside is the interesting part. It's a well kept temple with bright paint and looks like it would also be beautiful in spring - there are wisteria vines and cherry blossom trees. We saw a couple or two taking wedding photos. We stopped by a little shop that has pricy bento and sweets; buying either will allow you to sit inside and enjoy the great view. Other than that, there is a vending machine next to the cafe and public toilets. There are several restaurants and a convenience store in front of the station.There is a smaller temple called Sorinin which is the area most of my photos are from. It's beside a neglected cemetery with mossy stone lanterns and the ground is carpeted with red maple leaves. There are other small temples in the area. If you are looking for large maple trees, mountain views, and not much of a crowd, this is the place. I'd say we went at the perfect time, although there is still some time left where it will be colorful based on the remaining greenish and yellow leaves.Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/JQBW4DN6gBBn2i2u7To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1ve-living_yamashina_ku_kyoto_shi_kyotoThu, 24 Nov 2022 13:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1ve-living_yamashina_ku_kyoto_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4vd8-foods_productNot the kombucha made with seaweed, the fermented sweet tea kombucha, which is rare in Japan. The times I have seen kombucha in Japan, it is imported from the US.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4vd8-foods_productWed, 23 Nov 2022 18:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4vd8-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wryoe-livingI'll admit, I've never been a big Halloween person. As a kid I was into the candy, but not as much dressing up in costumes, not at all the parties.I don't mind that it's not the same kind of holiday in Japan. In fact, ten years ago, it seemed like a normal day to me. These days, it seems like stores have caught on to make Halloween a decorative or marketing based holiday. I don't imagine Japanese kids will ever go trick or treating. (I'm not even sure what's going on in western countries as far as that goes. It might be back to normal but I'm guessing the pandemic has kept a lot of kids from trick or treating for the last two years.)I'm enjoying my warm mid-October weekends by updating the patio. I went to a bigger Daiso store in town and picked up some "terra cotta" style pots that I'm guessing are just painted terra cotta color. I also picked up some water based paint. I have tried painting this kind of pots before using regular acrylic paint and it did not really stick or look opaque on the pots. I was impressed by this paint. Maybe it's the color (ink black is the only color I bought) but I'm guessing it's the type of paint. This small bottle was maybe one third full, but I only needed one coat.It covered four small pots and then I also painted a bigger pot that already had a plant in it.This weekend I painted two more small pots and another big one. There is still paint left. I didn't paint the bottom (as you can see in the photo) and only painted a few centimeters of the inside, to be clear.Because these pots are sort of orange, I thought they would be nice to paint jack-o-lantern faces onto. The orange and black Halloween colors were a happy accident.Since it's not normal to find carving pumpkins in Japan, this could be a nice option. I also thought it would be less time consuming and easier for small kids as a Halloween craft. Probably safer than using a knife? I haven't seen carving knives for sale in Japan anyway.I made a jack-o-lantern looking face for fun, but I wasn't using the right kind of brush for it. I think this would be fun for a month or less as a decoration, then later it could be totally painted over in the same black.I wanted these pots black for uniformity and to make the color of the plants pop more. Halloween themed or not, painting these pots achieved my goal when I couldn't find any planters that I liked.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wryoe-livingTue, 25 Oct 2022 13:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wryoe-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1Br-living_food(See Beautiful Invasive Kudzu, part one, at the link)Kudzu flowers bloom in late summer / early fall, around September. They are really pretty and smell like grape juice. The flowers are blooming now where I live. I wondered, are the flowers good for us too, since the roots are so healthy? Earlier this summer I read an American article (Readers' Digest) saying the flowers can be used to make fancy lemonade. The idea was to reduce the number of viable seeds in order to help fight against this invasive plant. Meh. That's not gonna be an easy fight. Kudzu can grow new plants from the vines too. Why have I never seen anyone collecting the flowers before? After thinking about this, I was looking for some herbal tea and noticed some blends in the diet tea section of a drugstore. They had pictures of the kudzu plant and contained kuzu no hana. Hmm. I Googled it. (The link, also linked in part one)There are apparently flavonoids and other good stuff in the flowers (most edible flowers are colorful and therefore healthy). Some people think these components are good for reducing belly fat. I'm not sure if that works so don't take my word for it. The Japanese article I read also says that dried kudzu flower tea (called kakka / 葛花) is good for hangovers. (I have never tried it for this purpose / had a hangover. Again, don't take my word for it.)Our small bag of collected flowersAll you have to do is collect the flowers, put one bunch in a cup, then pour some boiling water over it, technically. Be warned that there are lots of bugs in the flowers. In the small bag we collected (photo above), there were a couple spiders, ants, round tiny beetle things, really teeny bugs, and a big green one. I understood why no one collects the flowers. I recommend doing the cleaning outside if you try it. After bug checking, flowers can be used as is or dried for later use. Newspapers are recommended but I didn't have any so I used some A4 paper only printed on one side that had been set aside to reuse.There was an interesting Cookpad recipe I found using the kudzu flowers to make a kind of syrup to use with carbonated water, mixed drinks, on yogurt, etc. I had planned to make this, but of course my husband wanted to make infused kudzu flower liquor as he often does with in-season fruit. We kind of ran out of vessels for any more kudzu projects. And patience. No more patience.Not very exciting kudzu flower teaI used the kudzu flower liquor leftover for making tea. The growing flowers start out red/pink then become purple as they mature more. When I poured hot water over the collected flowers, they all turned purple instantly, then 5-10 minutes later they were mostly white. Unfortunately the water didn't turn a pretty color. We agreed that the tea was mostly flavorless and a disappointment. I guess that's why it's better in blends.It was interesting to try and I will set aside the dried flowers to use in a tea blend at some point. Maybe after drinking alcohol? For now the flowers are still working on getting dry.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1Br-living_foodSat, 24 Sep 2022 11:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we1Br-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVvaJ-foods_productTasty flour tortilla burrito with 'tacos meat' sauce and two kinds of cheese. The staff will heat it up for you or you can microwave it at home / work for a minute.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVvaJ-foods_productTue, 20 Sep 2022 14:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVvaJ-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4v8o-livingHere's what I know about the plant called kudzu (in Japanese: kuzu / 葛 / クズ). I know that kudzu was introduced to the US from Japan and is invasive there too. It's native to Asia. (I know this thanks to teaching the Eiken reading section.)There is kudzu growing along the small river near our house. It gets cut back every once in a while with all the weeds, but no one bothers to take the time to pull plants out by the roots, so they always come back soon. The stuff grows fast like bamboo and spreads from a vine touching the ground. You might be familiar with the roots. They are used in a traditional cold medicine called kakkontou. It's helpful for relieving headaches and preventing a cold when you start to feel symptoms. The whole plant can be used for livestock feed - I've seen a news report about goats 'mowing' slopes of these plants in cities where it's dangerous for people to operate weed whackers.I've had some new curiosities about kudzu lately.I first started wondering about these vines that grow so fast that they eat buildings. Do people use them to make baskets or something?Yes, in America and in Japan, the vines are used to make baskets. In Japan they have traditionally been used to make material also. Craftspeople soak the vines in water to separate them into threads. A cool way to use the plentiful material, but sounds like too much work for me.I started wondering why the sweets made from kuzuko(kudzu root powder) are so rare and expensive. Traditionally, kuzumochi and other sweets were made from kudzu roots. That practice has largely been replaced by using cheap katakuriko (potato starch, not made from chestnuts).Why don't people just dig up the roots and use them?(Since they grow like weeds...) I thought it was more about clean growing environments to use as a food. The roots can get really big. I didn't realize that this means digging them up is a ton of work, not to mention the process of making powder. For example, the roots from a five year old plant are about as big as a human leg. I saw a picture of roots the same size as a human lying next to them. Not as easy as pulling up some potatoes, that's for sure.The roots are also really great at preventing soil erosion, so the plants are usually left alone in hilly residential areas.One more question I had was about the flowers. Stay tuned for part two.Here isThe Japanese blog I read to learn more about kudzu, featuring photos of the roots as big as a small human, in case you wanna see it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4v8o-livingTue, 20 Sep 2022 13:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4v8o-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPbkg-foods_productThis is a dessert from Kyushu, where I lived for almost five years, yet I had never tried it until living in Osaka. (I don't regret waiting so long to try it.) To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPbkg-foods_productTue, 20 Sep 2022 13:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPbkg-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7lle-living_howtoThis year, I replaced my seven year old laptop, which I bought in the US before moving to Japan.After setting up my new laptop, I decided there wasn't a reason to hang on to the old one anymore, and started researching what to do.Trash collection and recycling in Japan is usually a hurdle but even in the US I wasn't sure how to do this.First I checked my city's trash collection information. It literally says to contact the manufacturer on how to recycle devices. I checked the manufacturer's website both in English and in Japanese and was still at a loss. There was nothing that had been updated recently along the lines of recycling. I asked my husband who has sent in an old laptop made by the same manufacturer. He looked up the service he used and said maybe my laptop wasn't produced in Japan so that model was not one that could be sent in for recycling in the same way. My research continued. Along the way I backed up and deleted files on the laptop, signed out of everything, and did a factory reset to ensure my info was not on the hard drive.It took some time to find a solution as most of the information I could find was for laptops purchased in Japan only or would require taking the laptop to the US to recycle. This is not exactly convenient.One local store advertises that they buy used laptops and tablets and I had seen what I thought was the same model for sale there. They took less than five minutes to look up the laptop. The staff told me they could not buy it, but if I paid 6000 something yen, they would dispose of it for me. (I would have donated it but told them I'd look elsewhere.)Finally, I found an article about a local company who takes used laptops for recycling. The company is called Renet Japan. Their website says they will accept laptops for free until the end of September 2022. They also accept a lot of other electronics with a 1500 fee per box if a computer is not included together, which could still be a cheaper option than recycling through your local noncombustable garbage pickup.Someone from Sagawa Express came to pick up a box containing the old laptop two days after I registered on their website. Yay!If decluttering your unused electronics is something you have been meaning to figure out, the article (in English) by Zenbird linked above explains it well. The Renet website is only in Japanese.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7lle-living_howtoTue, 23 Aug 2022 10:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7lle-living_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3qqj-living_shopping_awaji_shi_hyogoI had seen an NHK video a while ago about this Hello Kitty resort on north Awajishima in Hyogo Prefecture. Recently I saw it on the map when we were talking about an outing to Awajishima during the summer. It looked completely bananas and we decided to go.There are two locations, less than 5 minutes apart by car. First we went to Hello Kitty Smile.Entrance includes walking freely through some rooms that have weird displays like walls filled with stuffed animals and projection mapping. The best part was a human size kalideoscope that people could go inside for triple trouble photos. Upstairs, inside Hello Kitty's 14 meter tall head, there is a dome where they show a huge projection mapping show several times an hour.There is also a meet and greet with a live (costumed) Hello Kitty in her room, but this only happens a few times a day so we skipped it.For an extra fee, there are four restaurants and an event area. It's targeted more towards kids although I was interested in trying the sand painting. There are also a couple shops which sell Hello Kitty products. Fruity drinks sold in souvenir cups are also available.All this is in a two story building right on the water, but unfortunately there is no accessable beach nearby.Visually overstimulating and not only for children.We hopped over to the Hello Kitty Show Box on the shuttle bus next. They opened the Apple House this year, which is just a huge apple with a nice view on the top. You might get splashed with a water sprayer while looking at the rooftop of the Show Box (top photo).Entrance to this space is sold as a set if you go to Hello Kitty Smile also. Entrance includes either lunch or cafe time with a short live show (mostly cheesy summer festival music). All the food served in the restaurant is vegan! Other than eating while enjoying the show there are just shops and the outdoor area. Everyone is allowed a greeting and photo time with the costumed Kitty, at a distance.As expected, it was super weird. We did everything in about four hours while taking our time. It was just a day trip for us, although there are a bunch of other interesting tourist spots in this part of the island.A couple notes:We went by highway bus from Kobe and free shuttle as we don't drive and Awajishima doesn't have trains. The shuttle bus was confusing even for Japanese natives as it is not clearly labeled or clear which direction to head in. It's recommended to go by car, but even that might be confusing.The website is available in English and other languages, but nothing at the attractions was available in English, other than the restaurant menus.https://awaji-resort.com/hellokittysmile/To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3qqj-living_shopping_awaji_shi_hyogoMon, 01 Aug 2022 10:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3qqj-living_shopping_awaji_shi_hyogohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GykPj-foods_productBite size ice creams, very similar to Pino in Lassi and Spice Curry flavors. There are six in one box, a bit taller than a box of Pino. They are individually wrapped.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GykPj-foods_productSat, 09 Jul 2022 18:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GykPj-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLq04-living_medicalThis May, (2022) the rainy season has not technically started in the Kansai Region, but the frequency of my headaches has already gone up. I'm one of many people who are sensitive to the air pressure changes common during rainy and stormy weather. In fact, every woman who I work with and talk with about this has the same problem. (It's more common for women to have migraines, but men get them too.)This year I finally went to a neurologist to get treated for my migraines (in March) as it's become frustrating to try to lead a normal life when I never know if I'm going to suddenly need to take it easy or even take a day off. It is not that there's a cure, but I feel better managing my migraine issues with a professional, with a pain killer that actually helps, and preventative medicine. The treatment seemed to be reducing the frequency of headaches. Until the rain started up again. One of the preventative medicines I'm taking is also a traditional medicine, but it's no problem to take other types of kanpo at the same time.Last year I bought a few (kanpo) traditional medicines after a doctor student mentioned recommending them for people with similar symptoms. Goreisan (五苓散) is the name of the kanpo medicine, which is on the left in the photo above. I also bought two medicines with almost the same ingredients from Amazon, but they are all sold in the nearby drugstores as well.The medicine called ズッキノン (top) is for symptoms like tight shoulders and neck, chronic headaches, and correcting circulation problems. The packets contain eleven herbs (like licorice and ginsing) in powder form. I have limited experience using it but it calms down the neverending pressure headaches I get during storms.ティラック (bottom) adresses heavy feeling and dizziness with headaches and swelling. These are common symptoms felt during low air pressure. It has exactly the same ingredients as the goreisan, (including jujube and cinnamon) which is sold by both Kracie and Tsumura and comes in either tablets or packets of powder. The advantage of the box type is only that one dosage is individually wrapped, not just loose tablets in a bottle. It's easy to keep one in my bag if I'm out and suddenly need it.Most people automatically recommend drinking more water when you have headaches, which is sometimes part of the issue, but the cause of some air pressure headaches is said to be too much liquid stuck in the body, causing swelling.I took a smaller than recommended dosage of the goreisan tablets, before meals once a day or so, during last year's rainy season. It seemed to help a lot for me and I have been taking it during rainy days this year as well. I think I will bring this up during my next check in with the neurologist, as kanpo medicines can be cheaper when prescribed and covered by insurance.A coworker mentioned taking a medicine with soy isoflavones called エクオール which has helped her with the same symptoms. I eat a good amount of soy products normally, but it's something to keep in mind for women who may have headaches related to hormones changing in middle age.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLq04-living_medicalWed, 01 Jun 2022 10:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLq04-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1v9V-living_educationI went out on my bike for a ride to enjoy the perfect April weather recently. I had a plan to stop by a store in that direction, but overshot it. I checked my map and randomly saw that there was a keyhole shaped green area surrounded by water nearby.I knew what this was, but didn't realize there are a couple kofun less than an hour by bike from where I live. I changed my plan, as I have been known to do, and made a detour to check this out.This one is the Mausoleum of Emperor Keitai, and it is completely fenced off, as most intact kofun are. Probably because I didn't grow up hearing about these in school and they are just so different, I probably looked like the weird foreigner nerding out on something totally everyday normal to the neighbors. I got a mild obsession reading about the burial mounds specifically in the Osaka region. The most well known larger ones are in the city of Sakai, and Nara also has several, although I never saw them when I went. It's nice there are some close enough to get to by bike.There is a gate at this kofun, although it's not technically accessible as there is a kind of zen garden right in front of it. The forest on the island is like a giant with a big belly laying on their back, wild and thick with trees. It's probably a great habitat for birds and other creatures.A bit farther East, there is a larger and open burial mound which has been excavated. Imashirozuka Kofun in Takatsuki City is like a normal park, and during golden week, when I went there to check it out with my husband, it was fairly crowded.This one is only partially surrounded by a moat, but there are some hiking trails in the woods with descriptions of the different parts of the keyhole shape and how it was built.There is an attached museum showing artifacts and maps of the other, smaller burial mounds in the area. Some of the newer ones are more of a simple hill shape, which seems to be much more common all over the country. I even saw this type in South Korea, so the cultures may have some similarities as far as ancient burial methods. If you think about it, maybe it's related to pyramids as well?There were a lot of terra cotta artifact recreations outside so they could be photographed and interacted with. Besides horses there were sumo wrestlers, houses, birds, etc. Fun and educational I suppose.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1v9V-living_educationFri, 13 May 2022 16:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1v9V-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaDeW-living_workAfter ten years, I thought I was retired as an English teacher in Japan.As a holder of a spouse visa, I'm not required to have full time employment to continue living in Japan. (Not that it's exactly easy to leave the country right now...)I have been applying for jobs outside of teaching because a change sounds good plus I would like to work in the design field. Nothing full time or design related has worked out so far.Looking at hourly wages, teaching is higher paying than a lot of other jobs, but teaching around 40 lessons a week would be impossible for me. As an introvert, even 20 lessons a week would be difficult mentally. Luckily, I don't need to earn a full time income right now. This could change at any time, as the economy is not the strongest it has been, but I'm not worried about money.Working part time at a conversation school has been good for me to need to get dressed and leave the house a couple days a week. Working with people is also important for me mentally. Online teaching work is great and so much easier, so I do that a couple days a week and hope to pick up some more independent lessons, via the site Hello Sensei.This time of year, schedules tend to shift around and most teachers are incredibly busy, while students get to take a break in spring. I'm also working on an extra deadline for my hobby (Japanese calligraphy) and have been kinda stressed out this month. I think by next week that will be finished and off my mind.Contributing to that stress, I had an online meeting with some new coworkers this week. Meetings in general, plus in Japanese and with people I don't know equals being really tired afterwards. I feel super awkward normally, my old computer was especially slow, and a delivery arrived in the middle of the meeting. Ugh.I was recommended by a friend to work a couple hours a week at an alternative junior high school. It was something I immediately knew I wanted to do. It's a new challenge within the teaching English realm, and it sounds like it will be really flexible as far as curriculum and teaching style. Plus super small classes means it will feel a lot more like a group lesson or a long term workshop. I'm thankful my schedule will still be fairly open with around four hours or less of teaching work each weekday in the next school year.There is a ton of variety within teaching English in Japan. I thought I had tried almost everything but every season seems to bring something different.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaDeW-living_workWed, 30 Mar 2022 12:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaDeW-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoKQY-living梅のち桜Plum blossoms change to cherry blossoms.It's not an actual phrase, but this is the kind of feeling I had this spring. We use that word, のち for weather: 曇りのち晴れ or cloudy changing to sunny. This year (2022) on March 12th and 13th, temperatures reached over 20 degrees Celsius in Osaka Prefecture. We had a very warm week, even at night it wasn't too bad, but since then it has cooled down again. It really feels like spring because we've had rain a few days this week, including this three day weekend. Plum blossoms had already been blooming, but last weekend, some cherry blossoms also started opening.In the photo above, while walking along a row of colorful plum trees that bloom in March, I noticed the pair of cherry trees across the river were already blooming.There aren't too many peach trees in the area, but those obvious pink flowers bloomed around last weekend too. It's rare for peach to bloom before mid-March here and especially early for cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms have not all bloomed yet, even a week later, but I have seen them in a few places around town over the week. I think most of them will open for sure by next weekend (which is supposed to be rainy). Magnolias are blooming and they are usually a sign that cherry blossoms are next in line.Last weekend was the kind of weekend that everyone wanted to get out and enjoy the nice weather. It felt comparably as warm as golden week last year.We rode bikes to a big park near Minami Senri Station in Suita, Osaka. We then walked inside the park looking for a place to eat our afternoon snacks. A lot of people were there as expected, most wearing masks and keeping distance, but others had the idea to picnic outside too.We settled on a hilly space where plum blossoms were blooming. We had a view of the pond and were close enough to the stage to enjoy what was going on.There was a band playing old folk songs, a few we knew, a few in English and we enjoyed the background music. It was strangely fitting to hear old anti-Vietnam war songs while everyone is thinking about Russia and Ukraine.The plants were in winter mode in general, but the feeling was the same ashanamiin spring. I wondered ifhanamiwould become a plum blossom or peach blossom event from now on because of global warming.I feel like I'm not the only one who has really missed picnicking outside as a social event. The parks in Tokyo like Ueno Koen are ridiculously crowded from what I remember, but if we can make extra space, outdoors seems safe enough.I think everyone else thought so too. Not everyone was eating, but plenty of others had tents and blankets to sit on the dead grass and enjoy the sun. I hope we will get the official okay from the government to holdhanamiparties after the 21st this year.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoKQY-livingWed, 23 Mar 2022 11:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoKQY-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjPZy-livingThe lake in Yufuin, Oita - an Onsen town in Kyushu. Onsen steam is visible beyond the lake.It's extremely common for me to hear that people are super nervous about trying onsen in Japan. After all, naked bath houses aren't common all over the world and this falls into potentially embarrassing territory.On the contrary, as a part of the culture here, there is no focus on the fact that everyone is naked. It would be a lot more strange to enter a bath house wearing a swimsuit. This was clear to me on my first visit to Japan.We definitely wanted to try an onsen bath the first time I visited Japan, so my friend and I headed out to an onsen the day after we arrived.We also made an amateur mistake right away.When you enter a sento or onsen building, there is a reception desk and maybe a lounge area in the front. There is also a space for shoes at the entrance.For people from western countries, taking off your shoes all the time isn't a natural thing. Here it is a form of respect or sign of entering a holy space to remove our shoes. We should have realized there was a step and a change in the flooring - these are sure signs that it's time to take off the shoes. We didn't notice the shoe lockers either.We walked up to the reception desk to pay and that's where we were asked, by sort of politely embarrassed staff, to remove our shoes and leave them in a locker by the entrance.Once that stage was clear (or failed?), there were other new experiences, but nothing so uncouth as wearing shoes into a no shoe zone.For example, the entrance fee was paid using a vending machine if I remember correctly. There are simple options like gender and child or adult. The ticket is then handed to staff at the entrance to the changing room. There most of the lockers for personal items will require coins to lock, and then usually return the coin when you open it later. Knowing the type of coin you'll need or just having random change is helpful, but as we had just arrived in the country, we had little change. It was so long ago that I only vaguely remember we had to find a change machine or get change from staff.Following along isn't so hard, "Do as the Romans Do," as they say, and it was a nice experience, despite the initial error. I'm not saying it won't be awkward at times, but the onsen experience is well worth that strange feeling of doing something for the first time.Every space has the same sort of routine, so once you have been to a bath house in Japan, you will recognize the signs and signals, if you pay attention.Going alone isn't bad either, and you might strike up conversations with others or end up with someone washing your back for you.This has been one of my favorite topics in Japan, so I have written about bathing often. Some Kyushu Onsen links are below!Ureshino OnsenBeppu OnsenChikushino OnsenKurume OnsenObama OnsenTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjPZy-livingWed, 09 Feb 2022 14:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjPZy-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAyDN-livingIf you read random blogs on the internet (like this one) you might get the impression that Japan doesn't sell deodorant or that Japanese deodorant doesn't work. I think it's all a matter of the deodorant here being different than what we're used to.I attempted to buy a natural deodorant on iHerb for the second time recently. They proceeded to inform me that the product (and several others) are out of stock After I started checking out. That was frustrating but I understand the supply chain has been disrupted these days. I've been out for a while but it's winter and I use a crystal stone which is usually enough in this season.I looked at a couple stores and didn't see any familiar looking deodorant, if we're talking about Shapes. Here, they all look like small roll-ons. I was impatient and nothing looked like what I wanted. I have been using stick type deodorants and am not a fan of the roll-on or spray type. I read an article or two with some recommended local deodorants and those included stick deodorants.At my local drugstore, I noticed there are in fact, stick deodorants. They are the same shape as the roll-ons, and look really tiny. They are also so much more expensive than what I can find online from the US, despite being smaller. The testers really helped because even with a mask I could check what they smelled like and check the appearance. The scents were not strong, but not something I enjoyed or needed.I decided on the unscented Deonatulle Soft Stone W (double strength) 20g for 900 yen plus tax. This is supposedly the most popular brand and there are also men's versions.It has worked fine so far, but we'll really see how things go this summer.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAyDN-livingSun, 06 Feb 2022 14:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAyDN-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLOEP-living_food_moneyI heard that Daiso sells baking supplies, maybe especially around Valentine's Day, so I wanted to try them out. I had been interested in baking muffins for breakfast, not chocolate sweets, but I also picked up a packet of brownie mix for later.I have a problem with the way Daiso packages their mixes. The instructions show to use random amounts of eggs, in grams. In the photo of brownie mix below, this is highlighted.I had to look up what 35 grams of egg meant. It is maybe half of a small egg, which I have never seen sold in Japan. (The sizes sold near us are medium or large.) I went back and got another package to make it close enough to use one egg. I initially bought two packets of the muffin mix as it is closer to a regular amount of mix - each packet only makes 4 muffins. In addition, Daiso's mixes require adding a lot more butter, if you consider that you need two packets for a regular amount.In the photo below you can see the instructions for a similar mix from Seria, one egg. I had to check to see if it was similar. I didn't bother to try out their mixes.The muffins were really dry so it was not worth buying Daiso mixes again. Edit: The brownies were so different from American style, not at all sweet with a weak chocolate flavor. More like brown bread.I ended up buying Morinaga's pancake mix which is only around 250 yen for four packets of mix. The instructions also say to use one egg (for each packet) and include instructions for muffins or steam cakes in addition to pancakes. This mix makes 6-7 muffins.It's a lot more affordable than going the 100 yen shop route, plus instructions are clearer and the muffins were better in my opinion.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLOEP-living_food_moneySun, 06 Feb 2022 13:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLOEP-living_food_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoKO9-living_medicalAs a huge fan of onsen, it's sad to say I haven't been to one, not even to a foot bath, in over a year. Despite living in a city with onsen and foot baths within a reasonable distance, the pandemic has made this more complicated. It's not that I can't go most of the time, it is just more weird now, since we obviously can't wear masks while bathing. In the case of the local foot baths, near Minoh Waterfall, they are open when they are open, and when we are under a state of emergency, they close all the time. This is quite different from most outdoor foot baths, open to all at any time. (One example is Hot Foot 105, in Obama, Nagasaki.)A while back I got into a book called, The Seitai Method, which is mostly about stretches for health (based on a special flavor of Japanese chiropractic). The book includes partial bathing for health benefits, and one of those that we have adopted as a morning practice, is foot bathing. This is mostly done in the winter, when we are not rushing in the morning, which is not as common as I'd like to. Sleeping late because it's cold doesn't help, but I've been meaning to get to it for a couple weeks now.We do this with only two special items, both from 100 yen stores, although I think the tub was 2-300 yen. The basin is big enough for feet but is technically a basin for catching water under your dish drainer. The other item is a cute water thermometer, which seems to work fine for measuring air temperature also. It floats on the surface of the water. You might already own items that are close enough if you bathe babies or pets in your home.Foot baths are good for improving symptoms of a cold due to renal fatigue, coldness in the hands and feet, sore throat, fatigue, and tired legs, among other things. They are helpful to ease any cold symptoms before getting a fever. I suffer from cold hands and feet in the winter, but enjoy it enough to take a foot bath without symptoms.The water should be heated to around 47-48 degrees Celsius. For children or those sensitive to that temperature, use 45-46 degrees. Both feet should be immersed in the water up to the ankles. The book says that it is normal for your feet to become bright red. In fact, if they are not both red, keep soaking even one foot. The amount of time recommended is 4-6 minutes and by then you might be perspiring.This ritual is kind of squeezed into a rushed morning when it happens for us, but is a welcome 5-10 minute break to relax. It's sort of meditative, being stuck there with your feet wet and no where to go. It would be lovely to have a foot bath with real onsen water at home to enjoy any time, but this is the next best thing.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoKO9-living_medicalTue, 01 Feb 2022 10:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoKO9-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxWqo-livingBlame it on introversion, the Coronavirus Pandemic, or just needing a break from it all. We didn't do anything for the new year.But do we ever?Our tradition is normally to stay at home and avoid the crowds.We go out only to get out of the house for long walks, maybe enjoying some illumination or nature hikes. Not early enough for the sunrise during the winter, no thank you to cold and dark hiking. Not to the popular shrines and temples with their smells of incense and burning last year's charms. Why wait in line to pray? I never understood asking for a good year. I prefer being thankful for what we have.Our usual plan is to sleep late if we want to, eat some special food, go for walks, read books, and watch a series or movie. That's it.We do have local (as in living in the country) family, but not the type to host any new year gathering. Again this year, we asked, but it was not deemed necessary to make a visit. This is sort of because it's crowded from everyone having time off and traveling at the same time, sort of because of cautiousness about spreading germs, and just not a usual tradition for us anyway.It was similar for me back home. My family rarely did new year parties or any parties for that matter. The usual calls were made to check in with family, both in Japan and to the states. My brother sent a photo of his homemade cinnamon rolls to make me jealous. They got some snow after Christmas and sent photos, played in the snow a little, and ate too much as usual. I actually sent out a few Christmas cards on time. My grandfather turned 94 this week and mostly spent the holidays alone in an elderly home. Everyone was scared to visit because the great grandkids had colds. Cards and phone calls are all I can do for now.I think we have sent out homemade nengajyo once or twice, but my mother in law doesn't and we don't have many contacts who do, so I don't bother with it. (I don't usually send Christmas cards either, but this year felt like it for some reason.) I have a regular practice of writing with ink and brush, so I have done a little "tiger year" writing, nothing serious yet. I got a lovely nengajyo from my teacher, late as usual, that I might send a reply to eventually.Shopping is not a hobby of ours, especially not with the new year crowds. In fact, this year my new tradition was to go grocery shopping before everyone started their holiday and stock up enough for at least a week. I shopped on the 28th and it's now January 6th. We still don't really need anything. I want to be more intentional about things like shopping, so this is a good start.Shopping for other things... I tried on the 27th and it was too intense for me. I quickly got impatient with people getting into my personal space and gave up. If there is anything good left, I might peek at some fukubukuro later today after an appointment.I feel bad for anyone who has to work during the holidays, so shopping during that time is only giving companies a reason to stay open.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxWqo-livingThu, 06 Jan 2022 15:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxWqo-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7BJn-living_medical_healthEvery year I go for a preventative medical check up. This service is one I'm thankful is provided for free or at a low cost with health insurance.This year we have a different type of insurance and I had to make a reservation with a medical center. With the national insurance, most local clinics provide basic checks although it might be necessary to go to multiple clinics for different tests.I was surprised that the online reservation was done at least a few months before an available time. So I'm going for my appointment during the week between Christmas and the New Year. Convenient because work has slowed down, but inconvenient because there are extra New Year things to think about. Now that it's happening soon, I finally sat down to look at all the paperwork that was sent in the mail.It has been overwhelming because all of this is done in Japanese, and because of the number of extra tasks I need to do before going in. It took me around four hours to read paperwork and register my forms online. I'm also stressed out because I hate doing these kinds of things. Who doesn't?Here are a few things that have changed since the last check up. Part Coronavirus prevention measures and part the type of medical facility I'm guessing.The agreement to follow Coronavirus prevention measures, including a checklist to confirm you don't have any symptoms that would cause issues for anyone at the medical facility.We're used to the masks, the hand sanitizer, and the temperature checks by now. This form said the appointment would be canceled if I had any symptoms on that day or the weeks leading up to it. This includes close contact with anyone who has been overseas or to a large gathering recently.The online medical surveys instead of paperwork when you arrive to the clinic are a first for me. I think this is good as it reduces time in the clinic and the data is all digital, available to staff before the appointment. I filled out a few forms after registering via a QR code. (For those without access to the internet, paper forms can still be requested on the day of the appointment.)I have done the take home poop test several times before, but this time, the pee test is also done at home. As you can see in the photo above, I'll need to make a paper box and bring in my sample in the little bottle. This is literally the same thing you can buy to put soy sauce in for lunch boxes, which is kinda hilarious.In addition there is some paperwork explaining that we shouldn't eat before the appointment, what to wear to keep things going smoothly, etc. and a map of the location. That's another thing that's different - one location for so many tests! This one is at a hotel, so I think they are hosting the mobile medical trailers as hotel business is not so great these days.After this appointment I'm planning on an "alone date" at a nearby restaurant. I'll be relieved when it's over.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7BJn-living_medical_healthSun, 26 Dec 2021 11:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7BJn-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRYp2-livingThe new year holiday season trash collection schedule is important, so make sure you check it and plan accordingly.It's been a while since I moved to Japan, and now I think I'm more into oosouji than my Japanese husband. My first new year in the country, I cleaned up and left town for the holidays, but nothing that I would call a big clean. I have a habit of leaving things tidy in general, especially before going out of town. This is something I picked up a long time ago when a housemate mentioned that it was so much nicer to arrive home after a vacation when the house is clean.Since that first year, I've picked up a little on what most Japanese people think about the tradition. No one actually likes it and it might only be an excuse for housewives to get their kids to help clean up. But in theory, I think it makes a lot of sense. There are traditions like making resolutions and the new year is a chance to get a fresh start. It's no secret I like to tidy up (Konmari fan), but I'm not into cleaning. I have gotten into a routine of doing chores most mornings this year. It's something I learned from a book for women with ADHD, and it actually stuck. The book recommended doing one to three easy chores each morning, depending on what amount of time you're working with. I have ideally started a load of laundry and vacuumed or cleaned up something small and taken out the trash on weekday mornings since then. A time limit is also important. For most people, that's getting to work on time, but I just set a time that I should stop and work on personal things. Some days I honestly barely finish cleaning up after breakfast by that time. But this routine helps me to stay on top of things more than before. So then, the big clean.I decided to work on a few things that are infrequent chores or chores that I don't want to do in general. I also decided to break those into a few Mini-Souji sessions because if I spend all day cleaning I'll hurt myself. We started last weekend by cleaning off our desks with a timer set for 30 minutes. It was spent finally finishing up some projects cluttering up the desks and then wiping off our desks after the timer went off.Some chores are better done together. For example, I wanted to dust off the ceiling lights today, so I combined it with two other dusting tasks and after that I did regular vacuuming. The two chores left as of now are windows and floors, which are both not fun nor easy on the back. I think we will do that as a team with fun music.Another thing to keep in mind is your local new year season trash pick up schedule. We have about six days with no trash pick up, so I'm going to plan on getting as much out before the end of the year as possible, meaning that cleaning will have to happen sooner. There is also the last non-burnable trash pick up of the year and I have a bag ready to go next week. It's been slowly filling up over the year with broken electronics and used up batteries and lightbulbs. Yay for decluttering the entrance!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRYp2-livingSun, 19 Dec 2021 10:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRYp2-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z82RA-living_fashion_deeperdivesBackstory:About twice a year, like clockwork, I go through a wardrobe crisis. As someone who grew up in a mild climate, Japan's summers and winters feel extreme. I still haven't been able to figure out how to stay comfortable but seem to be working on it full time once the season is upon us.It's fall, but a chilly one, plus this winter is forecasted to be cold. Meanwhile I have one winter coat, a down vest, and a very old hoodie. Basic black “baba shirts” I can manage. But finding “outers” that I actually like is hard. I put my tax yen to work for me by using the library. What clothes am I even supposed to own? What does a woman in her 40s dress like when she's never been able to deal with makeup, heels, or dresses? I never learned about this when I was young because I grew up in the 90s, when wearing clothes that don't fit from the thrift store was considered cool.So thus, this season's bi-annual wardrobe breakdown is focused on fashion from a Japanese perspective. I need help, and found plenty of books that say things like "the best clothing items that really suit you," but it's still a lot of work.Personal Color is a theory that was popular in the 80s in America. Via a book called “Color Me Beautiful,” women could identify their “season” and the colors that brighten their faces the most. I'm familiar with this as I was identified as a “winter” when I was a teenager. (This means I wear a lot of black, mostly because it's easy to find.)In Japan, this seems to have been tagged onto both face type and body type diagnosis theories for fashion. I like how one book organized the colors into light and dark, warm and cool tones, plus basics. Bone Structure Diagnosis(kokkaku shindan) is partially similar to the western version of small, normal, and large bones. (I looked that up too and was surprised that as a petite person, I'm big boned, according to some wrist measurement thing I found on the internet.)This theory was developed by a Japanese woman, Yumiko Futakami, who founded the company ICB. There are a lot of Japanese Youtube videos all about this theory. I first knew about it around ten years ago when I was goofing off in a bookstore. At the time my Japanese reading skills were much weaker and even now, the diagnosis test is not super clear. Using both the library book I picked up and videos with a clearer explanation, I could learn my type. It was not what I thought, but I was relieved that it wasn't all images of flowy skirts and heels. I think I got really into this for a week or two, made a list of clothing items that should look good on me and what colors to buy them in... but then the trying to shop part. It's overwhelming, time consuming, plus actually finding anything you're looking for is not easy. I have found literally one sweater from that list.Face Type Diagnosis is another related theory.This one is by image consultant Jitsuko Okada. I found out about it in videos first, as a kind of sideline related to the Body Type thing. It's about the style that matches your face shape. Fabrics, designs, use of patterns and colors are involved.Rather than the western round, heart, square, etc. face types, there are titles like cute, fresh, and cool for the eight types. These are determined by if your face is a child or adult face; then a curving face or angular face.I thought there were natural proportions that all faces have, like space between eyes, width of the nose, etc. The diagnosis seems unaware of what I learned in art class. I am still wondering, are my eyes big, or just big compared with Japanese people? Is my nose "high" or is it just high compared with Japanese people? Sigh.The first type I thought I was seemed cool, but also not me at all, which made me think maybe I've been dressing wrong all this time. Then looking at the diagnosis 16 question quiz again (like a teenager magazine) I wasn't so sure. Is my nose round or sharp? It's all relative. Even the western type descriptions of face shape had me confused. Is my face egg shaped or long oval? Is it really that important? Plus the descriptions have a disclaimer that if your type seems too dressy or too flashy, switch to a similar type. I'll choose the casual childlike one then.This theory has me ready to give up. About where I leave off with any attempt at clothes shopping. I was into the body type book but am still not sure about face type. I even caught myself analyzing random people without realizing it.So in conclusion, Japan has it's own, fairly popular ways of stereotyping people for the sake of fashion. Like fashion anywhere, I still am at a total loss. I think some aspects of these theories have slightly helped and at least I'm using Japanese a lot.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z82RA-living_fashion_deeperdivesWed, 08 Dec 2021 14:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z82RA-living_fashion_deeperdiveshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GB35n-living_osakaI'm not a summer in Japan fan. It holds something more than the heat, humidity, mosquitos... pure sluggishness. We just agree to not get along while I agree to hydrate and enjoy shaved ice to survive it.My first summer in Japan turned to shock around mid October. After the summer that would not end, it finally cooled down and was the perfect temperature.For two weeks.Then it was cold.I did not like that.Fall is my favorite season, so learning that fall in the Kanto region of Japan, like the spring, was fleeting, was nothing but a disappointment.Upon living in other regions of Japan, I've been pleased to learn that the seasons are more normal. Whatever that means.Now in Kinki Region, near the Hokusetsu mountain area, the weather has been quite comfortable during the day for the last month or so. It is cool at night for sure, but not that bad. There haven't been any mosquitos and it's definitely not humid anymore. It's been the kind of hot - only if you're out running around and the sun is shining and you're wearing too many clothes. This week the temperatures dropped another notch and it has been rainy all day. I'm wondering if the fall leaves will exist for the holiday tomorrow. I did some online browsing for an electric carpet.Last week, I did a bit of mild hiking for the first time in a while. I had heard that we can walk up a trail to a temple in the area, but it's an hour and a half one way. Since I got anemia a few years back, I get tired really fast, but used to be in shape and really enjoyed hiking in the Pacific Northwest of the US. I decided to go for 45 minutes up the mountain, about halfway, then go home. I even set an alarm on my phone to remind me. If I don't overdo it, there is a better chance I'll have a good experience and go again.The entrance to the mountain is actually about 30 minutes from an intersection, aptly named "~ temple entrance," near our home. Up to that point was mostly familiar. Then I entered the gate starting the mountain trail, set up to prevent wild animals from getting into the rental farm at the base of the mountain.That's where I felt I was in the mountains, surrounded by trees. It had been a while and felt really good. I think we all need nature time for mental well being.Fifteen minutes later I had arrived at a viewpoint (photo below) and the first checkpoint on that trail, and my alarm went off. I decided that I needed more of this nature time in my life, especially in this season where a hike will warm you up. Until the end of this year, I'm gonna go once a week and add ten minutes to that time every week. I should be able to reach the temple by the end of the year, and maybe I'll go again after the new year, for hatsumode.I'm getting back in shape.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GB35n-living_osakaTue, 23 Nov 2021 17:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GB35n-living_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkmqA-foods_productThis is a glass jar of homemade pudding tiramisu, an invention of the Ouef Pudding brand, which also makes normal pudding and seasonal puddings. It was purchased from a temporary stand at a station and not from the store.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkmqA-foods_productSun, 24 Oct 2021 21:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkmqA-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z824a-living_food_onlyinjapanI feel like I'm not the only one who has mentioned this before, but there are some weird yogurt flavors here. As I haven't lived abroad in other countries, it's possible there are plenty of places that have more than plain, strawberry, and maybe mixed berry or peach yogurt.It hasn't really become boring to go grocery shopping here and be a bit surprised every time I notice a new to me or seasonal flavor of yogurt - or any number of kind of bizarre products honestly. It's kind of evolved from wonder and ignorance to either interest or skepticism. Meaning that some of the flavors don't seem at all appealing, not related to them being "too Japanese" for me. I've heard of wasabi or soy sauce flavored ice cream, but these yogurt flavors are much more tame sounding.The others I tried just because they were new to me or sounded good PLUS I had never seen them anywhere else.A couple recent examples of these two categories:I'll passI'm just not a fan of tomato in any form, period. I also wondered if this was like a plain yogurt with tomato flavor or a sweet tomato flavor... Tomato is a fruit and treated as such in these parts especially. Because my husband likes tomatoes and I mentioned this, he was interested to try the Morinaga brand two pack of tomato yogurt. He said it was like a plain yogurt with "fruit on the bottom"-like mix in sweet tomato topping. Not cheap, but maybe it was discounted because it's too weird for most people?I also saw grape flavored yogurt the other day and it didn't sound appealing at all. I guess I'm weird about grape flavored things in general which is probably why.Sure, I'll try itOne of the first weird-to-me yogurts I noticed while living here is aloe. It's kind of a year round, most brands, standard flavor here. I like aloe in general and occasionally buy it. I wonder why aloe yogurt isn't also a thing in North America.I think sakura yogurt is something I've mentioned here before. It's so token Japanese and seasonal, but like other things sakura-flavored, just alright.This Apollo yogurt was weird, haven't seen it around since then.I'm sure I'm forgetting so many that I've tried over the years and there are some examples of tropical fruit flavored Greek yogurt sampled by @genkidesu here.The most recent seasonal flavor experience has been this persimmon and Asian pear flavor by Dannone Bio.A bit pricier, but "autumn luxury" indeed.This one is not around all the time because of seasonal availability of the two fruits it contains. I'm a fan and would get it once a year if they sell it every year. It's my first time to notice it but also the first year in this region if that is related.It is probably that I'm really into fall foods in general, but the chunks of fruit and mild flavor were great.Is there a seasonal yogurt flavor we should try or that Japanese companies should make? I wonder if pumpkin yogurt is a thing?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z824a-living_food_onlyinjapanTue, 12 Oct 2021 14:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z824a-living_food_onlyinjapanhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYXo6-living_foodI recently bought a new tamago-yaki frying pan after researching a bit in a library book and reading this question here. I bought the UMIC pan (Ureshiyama Kinzoku Kouguyo) from Amazon for under 3000 yen. It's made in Niigata, Japan.This is my first time to own this type of frying pan. My mother in law taught me how to make tamago-yaki a while ago, but I made it for the first time with this pan.*This is a nonstick frying pan made for use on a gas stove. It's not appropriate for IH stoves. It's got some weight to it and the handle is wooden.The company makes "Kansai" style rectangle pans like this and "Kanto" style square pans without the angle at one end. The Kanto type are more for professional use, and since I'm a beginner, I went with what I see as the classic Kansai shape.Once you've got a pan, your stove, and some saibashi (long cooking chopsticks) it's time to start. Tamago-yaki is a Japanese style sweet omelet, like a bigger version of what you might get on egg sushi.In a bowl combine some sugar, mirin, and salt with a couple eggs. (More eggs is okay and will make a thicker omelet.)Use an appropriate amount of oil and heat the pan.*Pro tip: High heat is what destroys nonstick pans. Keep the heat at medium or lower. Also be sure to avoid touching the pan while heating, including the part of the handle close to the body, as that gets hot too.I found that butter makes a nice color, but any heating oil works depending on what kind of flavor you'd like. As this is not a big pan, it's easy to entirely coat the bottom of the pan.Next add the eggs and tilt the pan so they cover the bottom surface.Let the eggs become solid enough that the outer edges change color. The egg should still be uncooked in the middle.Use the saibashi to fold over a bit of the short side of the omelet.Keep folding slowly, like you're making an egg burrito.Turn off the heat and let the egg sit and continue cooking for a minute.I use the saibashi for everything, including slicing the roll in half and holding a paper towel to wipe out any excess oil.Some things can be added inside the omelet before folding it up if you're feeling ambitious. On my second try, I was a bit too ambitious with cheese and kimchi. Things got a little messy because I added way too much and the kimchi had too much liquid.A small amount of seasonal vegetables (okra and corn) another time was really nice. I also experimented by using miso instead of salt. It tasted good but there were visible pieces of miso as it didn't entirely mix in.If you have any tips, please leave them in the comments, as I'm still new at this. I hope you give it a try yourself if you've never made tamago-yaki.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYXo6-living_foodFri, 24 Sep 2021 10:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYXo6-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z825L-livingStarting on October 2nd, 2021, Japan Post will no longer be delivering mail on Saturdays.This means the number of days that mail is delivered will decrease, as it will change to only weekdays that are not holidays. (The post office will remain open on Saturdays, but not make deliveries.) It will take an extra day to deliver registered mail posted on Fridays-Sundays because of this.Details in Japanese on their site.This doesn't bother me at all and I prefer it if the alternative is postage prices going up.For those of you using Japan Post for business, this might be important. For me it just means I won't have to receive deliveries from Japan Post on weekends (while I'm out or trying to relax).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z825L-livingMon, 20 Sep 2021 18:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z825L-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z367Y-living_foodMy current project is a fresh prune vinegar which got a nice color within a day.Kurozu is translated literally as “black vinegar.” It is an aged rice vinegar with amino acids and reported health benefits like improving circulation and digestion. It is not only a summer drink, but I often see it promoted as being healthy during the summer months. Similar to taking shots of apple cider vinegar to ward off colds, some people think it works while others are skeptical.Fruit infused vinegar, sometimes called kurozu, is a drinking vinegar made from a simple combination of fresh fruit, vinegar, and sugar. It doesn't need to be infused in an aged black vinegar, although it can be purchased that way from some local businesses. This article goes in depth into the process of making kurozu by the business Kakuida in Kagoshima.Of course stores sell infused fruit vinegars, mostly in the sweetened apple cider vinegar flavor. If you are interested to try making fruit infusedkurozu, you can try out even small amounts using the fruit you like. You'll need a container with a lid and a wide enough opening, preferably glass. Choose your favorite seasonal fruit, which shouldn't necessarily have seeds removed. In the case of umesu, the fruit are left intact with only stems removed, the same way ume liquor is prepared. Citrus fruits are generally sliced and have seeds removed. The sugar is also the same rock sugar used to make fruit infused liquors like umeshu. It's called ice sugar (氷砂糖) in Japanese. Rock sugar and the big glass jars used to make fruit liquors usually come out in the seasonal sections of stores during spring and summer. It should be in the sugar section most of the year. Note that regular sugar and honey work fine if you don't want to bother with rock sugar. I made a lemon honey vinegar recently.Of course you'll need vinegar. There are a lot of vinegars available in Japan, but you'll want a commercial vinegar. Basic rice vinegar, grain vinegar (above photo), or even apple cider vinegar works, but don't use a seasoned sushi vinegar or something made for cleaning, if you can even find that. (I have only seen a small 500 ml size bottle of vinegar in Japan. There are inexpensive one gallon (almost four liter) jugs of white cleaning and cooking use vinegar for sale anywhere in the US, so it is strange that's one thing I don't see here.)With the three ingredients, you'll want to (loosely) proportion them evenly, in a 1:1:1 ratio in your glass jar. Depending on the fruit, your drinking vinegar could be ready in a week. At least once a day, give your jar a little shake, enough to agitate the liquid and ensure the fruit is covered. (If the fruit is floating out of the liquid for too long, it can get moldy.) The rock sugar will start to dissolve soon.When the vinegar seems infused well enough, you'll want to remove the fruit. It's also a good idea to strain out any little bits of fruit. It should be refrigerated once the fruit is removed and used up in a reasonable amount of time (a month or two?). Drink the vinegar with water at a 1:4 ratio, adjusting to your taste. It can also be used as a shaved ice syrup or in homemade sauces. The fruit can be eaten too, although you might want to mix it into something sweet. Stay hydrated out there.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z367Y-living_foodThu, 26 Aug 2021 14:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z367Y-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkmyB-living_medical_onlyinjapanI haven't seen this type of thing very often, but I've only seen it in Japan. The small color dot stickers are generally lined up in neat little rows and sometimes color coordination or patterns are visible.Today I had vaccine number one.After that, I went to the nearby drugstore for some groceries and saw the above Corona Vaccine Interview.People who have had at least one vaccination are encouraged to mark their side effects by sticking a dot in the appropriate place.The top section is for side effects common after the first vaccine, the bottom half for the second.As for the side effects discussed, first we have fever. On the left no fever, in the middle between 37-38 degrees C, and on the right over 38 degrees.Then there is feeling tired, yes or no. We also have arm pain, swelling, and headache.I see more stickers in the top half and am guessing a lot of people have had only the first vaccination, if any, at this point.Another reason this was created is to help those who are worried about getting the vaccine for various reasons. Seeing the number of people who experienced specific side effects and what the common side effects were might make them feel more at ease.I compared this information to the handout I was given while waiting about fifteen minutes in the clinic after my vaccination.For some reason this paperwork shows the word for symptoms (shoujyou) instead of the vaccine's side effects (fukusayou). I just had a conversation about that to make sure I understood what the difference was.This chart also doesn't distinguish between the first and second vaccinations, although from what I hear, most side effects occur after the second one.It shows that at least 50% of people have some pain on their arm where they got the vaccine, fatigue, or headache.Compared with the sticker spreadsheet, which shows headache, arm pain, and fatigue, headache and fatigue are much more frequent after the second vaccination. It seems that more like 90% of people who participated in the 'sticker interview' had arm pain. (I noticed my arm was sore exactly four hours after the vaccination.)Between 10-50% of people have muscle pain, chills, joint pain, diarrhea, fever, or swelling at the site of injection. We can compare fever in general and agree but it looks like over 50% for after the second vaccination. As far as swelling, it's similar with maybe only 20% after the first vaccination but the second one pushing that percentage up.As very few people experience nausea and vomiting (1-10%), it's not on the handmade chart at the top.I shared the top image with a friend who said it was like a "sticker spreadsheet," and it really is. It's a quick visual way to get information based on personal experience, vs. a cold set of data, like what has been provided by the clinic. I like that it gets the community involved and interested in a more tactile way. I wonder if it will persuade anyone who has decided not to get the vaccine.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkmyB-living_medical_onlyinjapanThu, 19 Aug 2021 14:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkmyB-living_medical_onlyinjapanhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvjJ-foods_productA big for Japan single serving watermelon flavor ice bar featuring chocolate puffs as the watermelon seeds. Refreshing treat big enough to share in the summer months!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvjJ-foods_productTue, 17 Aug 2021 16:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvjJ-foods_producthttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z820x-livingIn Japan, almost everything about addressing envelopes is backwards from what I'm used to. The country, if international post, comes first. (I write this in Japanese plus in English.) When I send letters overseas, I write the address horizontally, as JP staff will only check which country to send it off to and postage.For domestic mail, the seven digit postal code goes into the boxes printed onto the envelope (as shown in the photo) or at the top.Next comes (usually written vertically) prefecture, city, neighborhood, block and building number, in that order. If necessary the building name, room number, and floor if it is an office or retail building is added.The addressee comes last but is usually written a little larger than the address.After the addressee's name on the envelope there is an honorific attached. There are a lot of these but they can kind of be separated into two types: addressed to an individual or a group.IndividualsMost frequently, for individuals, you should use 様 (sama). Same goes for in the letter contents and after someone's name in a polite email.先生 (Sensei) is used instead for both teachers and any medical doctors and dentists, including those with doctorate degrees working in the research field.Less frequently used, unless you work in an office:社長(Shachou) is used for the boss of a company, 部長 (buchou) for a department head.If addressed to the school principal, use the school name, principal's name, 校長先生(koucho sensei).(先輩 (Senpai) might be used for colleges or students who are older than you in the letter, but not on the envelope.)行 (gyou) is used when self addressing envelopes. For example when posting tax documents and expecting stamped documents in return. The office will send the documents in the provided envelope, likely after crossing out gyou and replacing it with sama.宛 (Ate) is like above, used for self addressed when you are a teacher, doctor, etc.殿 (Tono) is sometimes still used (I have yet to see it) but is not common, as it can be translated to “Lord” so it sounds kind of too formal or old fashioned these days.Groups御中 (Onchuu) is used for companies when there is not a specific person it's going to. This shouldn't be used after a person's name, so if you want the department/project leader to get the mail but don't know their name, it can be addressed: Company name, Department name, person in charge (ご担当者), sama.Likewise, if it the letter is addressed to the company president, the order should be: Company name, (Department) President, Name, sama.(This order is placing the company name and title of president or team leader as a priority above the individual's name.)For addressing to multiple people or the members of a group rather than an individual or the business in general, use 各位(kakui), which is similar in meaning to 皆様 (mina sama) in conversation.PS: The return address goes on the back of the letter, and no honorifics are used after your own name.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z820x-livingWed, 28 Jul 2021 18:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z820x-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyWAY-livingHave you seen the Google home page game currently showing instead of the changing illustrations?If you click on play, it leads you to an animation and 80s style video game!There are all kinds of Japanese fairy tale themes and you can compete in games or just go around helping random citizens with their problems.It's pretty fun, but I don't recommend trying it if you're likely to get distracted for hours like me.Not sure how long it will be around for or if it is available everywhere. Maybe those with Japanese / other language settings on their computers will see instructions in that language?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyWAY-livingMon, 26 Jul 2021 13:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyWAY-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1AO-livingThis is my first summer in Japan in Kansai.Summer isn't my favorite season in Japan - I usually end up feeling sleep deprived and grumpy until it's finally over.I'm working on being more present in daily life, after all I am the type to notice weird details and get distracted when I see a cat while out for a walk. But taking the time to appreciate all the details, soak in some morning sunlight, and get some fresh air, even though it's already hot out, takes a bit of effort.Little things (like watermelon hammocks) make me full of wonder.Much better than thinking about the Bad-Idea-Olympics.I found myself thinking about how developed countries like Japan currently rely on air conditioning so much, but as a kid, I don't remember using it. I think it's better not to use air conditioning if possible, that it's more a matter of being used to it, sometimes to excess. A lot of health problems are connected to not enough outdoor time.Personally I feel like it gets too cold at the highest setting and the air gets stuffy, so I prefer to not use air conditioning. It is really helpful on the super hot afternoons, but sometimes a fan or dehumidifier setting is enough. Japan hasn't gone over 41.1 degrees Celsius so far, but as seen in Canada this summer, air conditioning can be a life saver at times.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1AO-livingSun, 25 Jul 2021 14:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1AO-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdBpO-living_foodA longtime ice bar popular for kids and nostalgic for adults, GariGariKun is probably a familiar name. You can find their fruit, soda, and melon soda flavors in iceboxes all over Japan during summer.It's fitting that as the Akagi brand's GariGariKun celebrated it's 40 year anniversary this year (2021), I finally tried it.Spoiler: I didn't try the soda flavor.The thing is, this ice bar is famous for trying really weird new flavors, which I love. They have had spaghetti and cream of corn soup flavors. Ew.Last summer, a coworker told me that the seasonal mint chip GariGariKun was really good. That wasn't even tempting to me. Same with anything soda or melon flavored. I had just never been interested to try an ice bar that was marketed towards kids. (Apparently they now have Otona GariGariKun, for fancier flavors, like golden pineapple, strawberry, and kiwi. These retail at 100 yen each and contain real fruit juice. The current flavors are listed on the brand'sJapanese website.)Skip ahead to this summer. I picked up a Black chocolate bar for myself (made by the same company) one evening and saw the seasonal Kyushu mikan GariGariKun with Kumamon on it. I didn't think my husband would complain no matter what kind of ice cream bar I brought him, plus he loves mikan. I thought it might be kind of nostalgic for him.So I tried a bite.It was really soft, to my surprise. I mean the name GariGari means crunchy, so I thought it would have a more solid texture. (It may have been that our freezer hadn't gotten the ice bar back to it's usual frozen self yet.) It was nostalgic for me, bringing back memories of orange popsicles and creamsicles, which I liked as a kid. This has started a bad habit.Next I got a couple more of the mikan flavor since we liked it.Then I got a couple of the ume flavor.For anyone not used to ume flavor, this might not be a good pick. In a happy kind of way, at first I just made the sour face. Then I kind of loved it. Umeboshi was an acquired taste for me, but now it's a summer essential. This flavor, chosen by popular vote, ended up being super sweet, sour and refreshing.My husband brought up the obvious: that it's like a kakigoori in ice bar form. I hadn't really considered that, but the texture and flavor choices really are like shaved ice. That was the company's original concept to be exact.Next I found a slightly more expensive (maker price 140 yen) seasonal flavor. Rich Salt Chinsuko which sounds summery as it's the traditional Okinawan souvenir cookie. It's made with Okinawan salt and has cookies inside. I also realized there are a few different designs for the packaging of each flavor. This flavor has GariGariKun as an Okinawan shiisaa.This one is on another level of so good. It's more milky and the salty cookie taste reminds me a little bit of cookie dough ice cream.Now that I know that I like these, I'll be watching for what they come up with next.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdBpO-living_foodSun, 25 Jul 2021 12:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdBpO-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Globb-living_onlyinjapanSeeing carefully crafted old Japanese minka being demolished intact, when they looked perfectly fine days earlier, is always a surprise. Scrapping materials for use elsewhere doesn't seem like a priority. Curtains, light fixtures, air conditioning units, even toilet paper are left as is, before the houses are demolished.There are four locations within two minutes of where we live where these old houses, with heavy ceramic roof tiles intact, have recently been torn down. When I see this, it makes me want to claim any perfect sliding doors and removable hardware, not that I have any space or use for them. If I could easily ship them off to America, I'm sure some people would pay to incorporate them into their homes.It's really hard to understand from my perspective, growing up in a country where 100 year old houses are still valuable and home equity exists. Here there is little hope to get any original value in return if you want to sell a house, even a fairly new one.Renovation does exist here. There are not many 'house flippers,' and I have only met one. This previous student was not actually a flipper. She worked as an architectural designer for a small family business inherited from her father and grandfather. She had building staff which took care of renovations and worked with the clients to design them. On one occasion, she told me the company bought an old house for a great deal, even though it was close to a station in a big city. They then renovated and rented the house out for a bit of regular income. To do something like that without any experience and connections in Japan is not common. Still, I hear of young people and foreigners sometimes buying an old house to renovate. You can find plenty of popular magazines showing renovated old homes and condos.Especially noteworthy is the “free house” option. This is not actually a free house, but in suburban and rural areas countrywide, abandoned houses (akiya) are becoming more and more common. They can be a burden on the city as property tax can't be collected if no owners can be found. There are websites listing the cities (by prefecture) offering discounted vacant houses for sale. Some of these can be in terrible condition, requiring demolition and clearing overgrowth. Even if it was free, after these expenses, it's still not cheap land. Some might be in decent repair, but they are at least 40 years old. If you're up for a huge project and want to buy a cheap home in rural Japan, maybe you can find a good deal? I think it's a gamble as mold and insects have likely destroyed any houses sitting vacant for some time. I did a quick search and saw homes for 50,000 yen, which is crazy. Of course there must be a catch and the property is usually in less than desirable locations. These days, once internet is set up, for those working from home, this option might be more appealing. Maybe this is the way of the future.The destruction all seems so wasteful in contrast to the resourceful Japan I know. I do enjoy the “dollhouse” views into the houses but don't think I'll ever get used to it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Globb-living_onlyinjapanFri, 09 Jul 2021 15:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Globb-living_onlyinjapanhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z36J8-foodPost deciding to eat gluten free at home, testing out the variety of gluten free noodles seemed like a good plan. We often eat cold soba noodles during the summer months, but these are usually soba mixed with wheat flour. Chinese style cold noodles are another good cold option. Switching these dishes to gluten free noodle dishes isn't difficult. Here are my preliminary tests to experiment with some of the gluten free noodles easily available in Japan. These are all perfect for when you're dieting but want to eat noodles, or just to rotate in for a lower calorie version of a meal. No need to be avoiding gluten – in fact I have eaten most of these before avoiding gluten. Bean or rice based noodles are something we already use sometimes. The instant harusame soups are good and I sometimes make a homemade version. The thin type is easy enough for cold salads so I plan to try this in a chukamen style. The wide flat noodles made from rice are perfect for pad Thai or pho. I have been wanting to make (actually just eat) pho, but it involves buying hard to find ingredients that I will probably never use up. I found an instant version in Kaldi Coffee Farm and also picked up an instant pad Thai kit. The pho is what you would expect of an instant noodle soup. It's merit was that all I had to do was add boiled water, which is great when it's too hot to cook. Plus the chili oil cleared out my sinuses a little.Konnyaku noodles are not something I'm excited about. I already use the little cups of konnyaku jelly, stored in the freezer, as an ice cream substitute. Healthy and almost no calories, not much in the taste department, konnyaku noodle options under 100 yen a packet are plentiful in any Japanese supermarket. I have had these, or the thinly sliced version, in dishes like niku jaga. It is fairly easy to incorporate konnyaku into winter basics like oden and nabe. I think the trick here is cooking the noodles in something flavorful or pouring lots of yummy toppings and sauce on them. These have a fishy smell, so it's better to rinse them in water before using them.I made a coconut curry and had an amount of leftover that was maybe enough for one meal. I thought this might be a nice chance to try adding in the bag of shirataki(literally, "white waterfall") sitting in the fridge. I removed the liquid in the bag, rinsed the noodles, and heated them while reheating the curry leftovers. They aren't bad at all, but the texture is a bit chewy in a different way than other kinds of noodles.Tofu noodles are something I started to see recently. Sounded good as an udonand nabe noodle substitute. Aeon stores carry a packet of tofu noodles along with a pouch of tsuyu, for udon style soup. It costs a little under 200 yen for one serving. I also found a dish of noodles alone for about 100 yen.I got this cheaper version and tested some out in the same way I'd eat somen. The package is sort of the same as a pack of tofu – it's got white liquid that you'll want to drain out first. There are no instructions for how to use them, so I assumed whatever goes for tofu would work. The noodles have no taste, just like tofu. I mixed in some negi, tsuyu, umeboshi and a little grated carrot to about half of the noodles. Not bad at all. Tofu noodles are something I'd use again. I'm wondering if they can be used for something like yaki soba without melting or sticking too much.Please comment if you have a favorite gluten free noodle I don't know about yet!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z36J8-foodMon, 05 Jul 2021 10:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z36J8-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6lyV-livingチラシ chirashi = flyerお断り okotowari = refuseNot sure why I didn't do this sooner.A simple handwritten sign taped near your mail box (or one of the similar stickers available online and in stores) will relieve you of extra junk mail. Some notices include other words, but in our case the simple sign in the photo worked immediately.It's one less thing to have to throw away or recycle.We used to get weekly flyers, but they were exactly the same ads every week. Including one for jobs delivering flyers. Ugh.I recommend making your own sign! Maybe the advertisers will get the hint that it's not working?PS: I've seen some things online saying people need the pizza coupons. Those are available online apparently, so no worries.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6lyV-livingThu, 24 Jun 2021 23:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6lyV-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1Bm-shopping_money_howtoAeon group stores have a cashless card called Waon for paying in their group supermarkets, as well as participating retail locations and convenience stores like Lawson and Family Mart, etc. There is a list of participating stores at this link. If you regularly shop at any of these stores, it's probably worth it to collect points with a Waon card.I have trouble finding appropriate change without fumbling and feeling like everyone is waiting for me, so this is super easy. You pay by touching your card over the sensor, the same way an IC card works to pay for public transportation.I finally decided to start using the Waon card when there was a bonus for signing up to get the My Number card. I got my card right before the deadline and used the 5000 yen sign up bonus after charging 20,000 yen onto the Waon card. The Aeon group added another ten percent (2000 yen) on top of that.I know I'll shop in one of their stores at least a few times a month, so I will use the balance. (I didn't shop at their stores as often before we moved last year, so I just got the card for the first time.)In the local Aeon store, there's a big display with a lot of different "hometown" designs you can choose from. The package has the Waon card and instructions in Japanese inside.The card costs 300 yen and you can buy it at the register or service counter. There are sometimes promotions at new stores and I've seen tables outside with staff encouraging sign ups of this card and their credit cards.When you buy the Waon card, you'll receive a coupon good for 300 yen off a one time purchase of 2000 yen or more. So the card is essentially free, as it should be.To add money to the card, you can use one of the charging kiosks in stores (pay by cash or credit card) or at a register. (At the machines there is an option in English if you need it.) Once the card is loaded up with money it makes a funny "bark!" sound every time you use it.One benefit of using the Waon card is being able to collect points without using an Aeon credit card. Normally one point is earned for each 200 yen you spend. You'll be eligible to earn extra points on their bonus point days and by buying bonus point products. These are easily changed into credit (one yen per point) if you select that option when you charge up the card.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1Bm-shopping_money_howtoMon, 21 Jun 2021 10:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1Bm-shopping_money_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2qa2-living_medicalMaybe, in a Japanese town near you.Today I got a text from Yolo Japan. It was weird. Anyway it was to inform me about the "mass vaccination center" in Osaka city starting to send out 'tickets' for vaccinations for those aged 64 and under. If you live in Osaka City. (I don't.)The article on their site has interesting info about what the process will look like, although it varies depending on your area.I read some recent articles about these centers in Osaka and Tokyo being a sort of show since almost no one has been using them.It's been frustrating that the government wants to get those 65 and older vaccinated first, yet people who are not 'online' have to set appointments by phone. In addition, said phone lines are busy and all that work might be only to get an appointment two or three months from now. I wish we could have reserved online for my mother in law. Maybe her appointment could have been sooner. She has to wait until August and I'm guessing they won't let her change that date now.I felt like it was strange at first, but my husband's work already started vaccinating all their staff this month. It seemed like they would be judged for being allowed to do so before everyone in the 65 and up group has had their first vaccination. Then I read about this starting to happen in a lot of companies now.At least it's starting to happen. I hope those in Tokyo are prioritized before Bad Idea Olympics and people working in supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores are next!Edit: We just received our town's "coupon-ken" in the mail, although I'll have to wait for another notification about my age group's reservation dates. There are lots of locations available for the appointments at both private clinics and local hospitals.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2qa2-living_medicalWed, 16 Jun 2021 13:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2qa2-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEAJW-living_medical_healthDespite my whole family having allergies, I had never gotten a simple allergy test done before.My ears have been itchy and extra uncomfortable from pressure changes this rainy season. Not my typical runny nose allergy symptoms, but before seeing an ENT, it made sense to rule out allergy causing this first.I found a small clinic nearby specializing in allergy for adults, as opposed to primarily for children. I think the blood tests in the US for allergy check more like 50 things. Here they did a test of 12 potential allergens. The doctor did a quick consultation to check why I wanted to do the test (and approve if insurance would cover it). I didn't expect this to be something covered by insurance, but he thought my history of atopy and previously established dust and penicillin allergy was enough to warrant running a blood test. He asked about what things I wanted to test, so I went with a couple of plants that bloom in fall, when I get hay fever symptoms: rice and ragweed. I also chose a few of the common food allergens – milk, egg, wheat.Potato was also tested as I did an exclusion diet years ago that showed a sweet potato allergy. Regular potatoes were a mild sensitivity, causing some joint inflammation. For foods, there are two or three things they test each, for example the egg proteins, egg white and egg yolk separately; wheat, gluten, plus some part of wheat proteins I had never heard of. For background, the exclusion diet is a more accurate way of testing food sensitivities, but after some point I didn't test all the foods, one thing at a time carefully; nor do I have the notes on what my reactions were.After taking blood, I was told results would be ready in about a week. Japanese is vague so I thought they were going to call me for some reason. A week later, I hadn't heard anything and realized I was just supposed to go in. (This is the same for the regular health check results.)The CostThe before insurance cost for a first clinic visit and 12 type allergy test was almost 20,000 yen. It came to just under 6,000 with insurance. The follow up visit for results was 400 yen after insurance.The ResultIt was a bit inconclusive because only select things were tested, although now I know I have no allergic reaction to what was tested. The doctor said I have nothing to worry about as far as food allergy. Next will be to ask an ENT if there is something going on in my ears.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEAJW-living_medical_healthWed, 09 Jun 2021 10:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEAJW-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQKJZ-food_healthOur main staple, brown rice.For a variety of reasons, as a couple we decided to transition into a mostly gluten free diet. It wasn't because of celiac disease or intolerance. We have both gained a few kilo in the last year, so part of it was to lose weight. I have been gluten free (strictly) for a couple months as part of an exclusion diet years ago to see if I had food sensitivities. That time, after the first week or two of struggling to figure out how to fill my stomach, my mind was the clearest it's ever been. I struggle with brain fog, lack of focus, and sluggishness so I thought that I could really use another gluten-break. In general I want to eat more of the foods I love and less processed stuff. It's hard to not rely on what's easily available everywhere, and bread is certainly everywhere in Japan. We are thinking we'll continue eating mostly gluten free until the end of the year, maybe longer.But “mostly gluten free” might be too easy of a loophole. The reason for “mostly” is that it's hard to avoid soy sauce or men tsuyu which is in so many things. Wheat is a common allergen so that will be easier to spot on most packaging. The SO has a thing for eating out, so once a month we'll do that, probably choosing places that are not serving so much carbs. For example, we can go to a sushi or yaki niku restaurant, then we'll get in a couple months of very little gluten. After that we can eat whatever we like once a month when we eat out. (We will likely avoid all you can eat bread restaurants.) In that case, if there is an obvious reaction (sudden weight gain, feeling slow minded, or rashes) we might want to avoid the stuff even more strictly.Most Japanese recipes are already gluten free if you don't count the soy sauce. It's a good season to transition from pastas into rice noodles and experiment with new things. Quinoa will also be rotated in, mostly in salad form. I'm excited to eat Asian foods like pad Thai and pho, maybe salad rolls. I haven't made them in a long time, and am not as much looking forward to cooking as eating. I am noticing way more gluten free choices in stores here, so if there's something we miss, there might be a substitute.I'm interested to hear from anyone who is gluten free in Japan – tips, tricks, and benefits.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQKJZ-food_healthFri, 04 Jun 2021 18:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQKJZ-food_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJOey-livingThe state of emergency was extended until the end of May. We weren't surprised.Then it was again extended until June 20th. It seems like the government is planning to continue until the "Cursed Olympics." It's frustrating but stimulating conversation if you can stomach topics like bribery and bureaucracy.Japanese lessons will start up again this month via Zoom. The libraries remain closed for browsing. They started to allow reserving books online then going in to pick them up, so I got myself an English version of the Neverending Story. I've read it before, but it's long and really good, so that seemed like a good way to 'escape' on rainy days.The rainy season happened earlier than usual (May16th) which means it's easy to stay at home when you aren't forced to go anywhere. I'm pushing myself to at least go for a short walk every day (in the morning when possible) to help with mental health and vision. (I've had eyestrain again this spring from too much indoor time.) Found these weird flowers that are not hydrangeas.I have been doing some extra cleaning, extra laundry on dry days, and fighting off the ants scouting out the apartment. Part of the reason for the extra cleaning is allergy-ish symptoms. I am guessing I am struggling with weather and pressure change issues. It isn't the usual runny nose I get with dust allergies. I got myself to a clinic that does basic blood tests to check for allergies I'm not already aware of. More on that another time. Finally took this huge kotatsu blanket to the laundry mat. Yay me.I found an opportunity to test out a robot vacuum with Betabound, and I hope I get chosen because I was thinking about buying one already. If you're interested, use this link and both of us will receive a reward if you fully participate in the project using my referral code, which is “Prompt bat”.(Betabound is looking for people in Japan to test out a robot vacuum cleaner. Equipped with systematic navigation, this smart device pairs with your smartphone to help control its functions through the accompanying mobile app.)My cucumber plants got a new sunny spot. The hope is that they will grow up the bamboo branches to block some of the light that wakes me up at 4:30 am.I was thankful for some substitute work at a small eikaiwa last week. It's good to get out of the apartment and work with people, as much as I'm trying to transition out of teaching. It seems the English speaking foreigner in Japan will always be stereotyped as an English teacher, but I'm taking steps in the design and creative work direction. I do enjoy teaching as a lucrative day job and it doesn't feel like work a lot of the time, so this is a good thing.After an online meeting introducing potential non-English teaching work, I decided that it's not for me. I spent about a week stressing about how to send an email in polite Japanese turning down the opportunity. It was a matter of looking it up online and double checking with my husband, but was still hard mentally. I do want to work and felt bad saying no, but classroom teaching in Japanese has been nothing but stressful for me from past experience.Staying home has been a lot harder while unemployed. I'm looking forward to something like the party that's happening in North America after a good number of people have been vaccinated. Fingers crossed.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJOey-livingWed, 02 Jun 2021 18:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJOey-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpYpx-livingI recently wrote about how the pandemic is bringing me down these days.On April 25th, Osaka Prefecture declared their third state of emergency and it is stricter than the previous ones. I didn't read the news in advance to know about the planned closing of retail establishments in shopping malls, public libraries and restaurants. Supermarkets and drugstores are open along with restaurants for take out only. Smaller businesses not grouped into shopping malls remain open if they would like to.I understand this is to help reduce spread of the virus during the Golden Week holidays. The plan is to stay at home as much as possible until at least May 11th.While the due date for checked out library books was extended until the 18th, I wish I had known the libraries would be closed and borrowed more. The nearby library is connected to a multicultural center, which also closed. This means volunteering there and attending Zoom Japanese lessons is also cancelled during the state of emergency. My extremely limited social activity has become zero.In addition, the weather here has been rainy for spring. Thursday, Showa Day, the first day of the holiday week, was pouring rain all day. We needed no encouragement to stay at home.I have a new habit of sitting on my patio to enjoy the morning sun while watering my tiny garden. It's been really nice to notice the small changes and sip a coffee because it is still cool in the morning. On rainy days, sitting next to the window was close enough. I only went onto the patio to rearrange things so my plants got a drink without drowning.It's days like this when I wish I had more library books. The three items I have are related to fashion and wardrobe, which honestly isn't that interesting to me. I am going through my biannual frustration with what I'm supposed to wear when the seasons change in Japan. If I'm really motivated or just bored, I might actually follow the advice of the books to try on all my clothes and put together coordinating outfits.Friday, although not a holiday, we had beautiful weather. I spent a lot of time outdoors near the grocery store which is part of a closed shopping mall. It's an outdoor mall where pet dogs are welcome and includes lots of natural areas and water features. It seems strange that outdoor malls are closed too. Saturday was likewise great until a short thunderstorm hit in the afternoon. We went on a long bike ride to walk in a park we had noticed before. So many people were spending time outdoors: biking, walking, and eating.Sunday has been off and on rain, and we will be mostly clear for two out of the three remaining days. I'm thankful for that because spending some active time outdoors before it gets too hot and humid is important.I started using Google fit so I have some motivation to stay active, even at home on rainy days. Jump roping and yoga videos have been great. Vacuuming our apartment is apparently 120 steps.There is really nowhere to go other than to pick up groceries, so we have some activities to spend time on at home:Watching the last season of Attack on Titan,Eating snacks while playing Scrabble, andCatching up on various internet things.For example I have been Googling and researching related to US “Economic Impact Payments” which I never received, how to file taxes for independent contractors, and buying a home in Japan. There will also be some job searching and time for hobbies.I have been enjoying getting to sleep in later than 7am this weekend, which my body does not usually even let me do. The gloomy weather helps.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpYpx-livingSun, 02 May 2021 16:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpYpx-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvBm-living_workSometimes this is how I feel.A year in, the pandemic / staying at home stuff feels like it's finally hitting me kinda hard, in the face.I keep hearing about how anxiety and depression are increasing because of changes in social interaction. I thought I was doing okay, but six months ago, we moved. My role changed from English Teacher to housewife, and I am not happy about that.I am not willing to eat bento all the time. I am so thankful that I don't have to go to work when I have a migraine or it's pouring rain. But cooking and cleaning is boring. I have a couple tiny businesses and am always hustling so I never feel like I have nothing to do. I can't relate at all when I hear others are bored.I have free time for a day job. I also feel guilty not having a job when there is a shortage of workers in Japan. It hasn't worked out yet, but I will eventually get a day job here. I'm leaning towards not teaching English, which is already one of my tiny businesses. I volunteer and am making connections for potential work.I think it's been a mental hurdle in that I'm not internally motivated to have a career or earn a lot. I have no interest in commuting into the city to work. It's mentally good for me to have a regular work schedule and be around people. I'm often distracted from working on my creative business because I feel like getting a job is more acceptable (expected?) or I need more interaction with people.Today I was thinking about the impact that exercise has on my mood. I wonder if having a job is good for me mentally partially because of the consistent physical exercise required to get to work. I have always been a ride-a-bike-to-work person in Japan. That morning and afternoon ride is probably a big mood booster. (And it's a big buffer to separate working time from spacing out in pajamas time.)I feel like it's also great for sleep patterns to be outside in the morning and signal that it's time to be awake.As I'm working from home for now, a self-imposed schedule with a morning walk would be helpful. Some days motivation to do anything is lacking, so I might need to bribe myself until it becomes routine. A step at a time, it will help the transition once I get a job again.I'd like to hear about your experiences, specifically with jobs other than teaching in Japan, if you have them.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvBm-living_workWed, 21 Apr 2021 17:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvBm-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyWRb-living_fashion_deeperdivesExploring Japanese patterns via a couple books on the subject.In a bookstore I was browsing the design section and found this book on the traditional emblems used on fabrics, industrial design, ceramics, etc. across Japan.The title of the book: 有職文様図鑑 (ゆうしょくもんようずかん)As a fan of design and Japanese culture, I was really interested in the pictures in the book, but not as much trying to read and comprehend all of it in Japanese. The local library doesn't seem to have it, but there is related information online in Japanese. I like that the book goes into detail about the origins of each style of crest used in Japan, ie. what it originally depicted.These are traditional crests or emblems, generally used by noble families or monks. They can be called examples of the past. The ones in the book are more decorative but the word monyou can include family crests, called kamon. Those are also really interesting as another Japanese culture rabbit hole to get lost in. As an example, if the crest shows an image of wisteria flowers, it is likely historically related to the Fujiwara family.A bunch of examples can be seen at this link.There is also an overlapping study of patterns used for kimono and their meanings. Apparently in a traditional wedding, men wear montsuki, or formal clothing with their family crest. My husband doesn't even know what his family's crest is. Years ago I met a college student who was a self-admitted “kimono nerd,” but it doesn't seem popular for young people to have any knowledge about what pattern of kimono is appropriate.Over ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, (old orient) the paintings and images, like those of Pharaohs and Buddha etc. included pattern-like details, for example on clothing worn by people in the images. From these, we can see that the emblems and patterns existed at least 1500 years ago and how they have changed over time.The patterns originally depicted nature – flowers and leaves, water and rain, clouds, and those inspired by animal patterns like feathers, turtle shells and fish scales. A long time ago, these could have been used to share information about daily life and teach what plants were food as opposed to not. Maybe they specified the local area the person wearing the pattern came from, like Ainu kimono did. They may have just been decorative. Some of the crests are obvious motifs, like butterflies around a flower.Usually circular shapes are repeated in a polka dot-like pattern, simply called maru. In another style, these circles overlap to make a more full pattern, for example shippou, or connected hexagons, like kikkou, which is a turtle shell type of pattern. There are also diamond shaped patterns, known as hishi.The checkerboard patterns, like Tanjirou wears in Demon Slayer, is called ichimatsu. To me, the pattern looks like it was originally a close up of two contrasting colors, tightly woven together.Grass type shapes are seen more in industrial design. These running patterns are used as inspiration for fabric design and gates. The interesting thing is that the designs in Japanese crests are not so different from patterns seen over Europe and Asia. More unique patterns are found originating from Africa and the Americas, because they were not included in the Silk Road years ago.Japan's crests are unique in the plants and animals commonly found here, but some plants, plus clouds and water patterns are fairly universal.I found a related book in the library, this one with limited English translations. It's more focused on the beautiful motifs made from wood carvings and printed onto fabrics or paper, maybe even for mokuhanga (woodblock prints). This one is called “The Tales of Japanese Patterns” (日本の文様ものがたり), by Akihiko Toto.Something stood out to me from the preface.Motifs are originally related to kanji, or the first Chinese phonetic symbols. I know kanji is based on an image or simplified drawing, which evolved over time. But kanji evolved representing a sound and a more literal visual representation evolved into a design motif. Both initially had a kind of force or energy in them, according to the author, based on Chinese literary teachings. A quote by one scholar, Shizuka Shirakawa, says, “Chinese script contains the power of incantation.”As a nerd about both kanji and design, this connected the two in my mind. Maybe what I'm attracted to is this “power of incantation,” which admittedly sounds kind of weird.The book divides the type of motifs into four sections: botanical, from natural phenomena, animals, and geometric. What I really like about it is that each motif has photo examples, the name of the motif and it's meaning, and a detailed part about where that meaning comes from. I was happy to learn that momiji (the name I gave my new red bike when moving to Minoh) has the meaning of longevity and transition or transformation.The emblems and woodblock printed motifs are beautiful and full of history. It's a history that goes outside of Japan and even Asia.The first book has images that seem more representative of graphic or industrial design, while the second book is more similar to arts and crafts. They are both creatively inspiring.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyWRb-living_fashion_deeperdivesFri, 16 Apr 2021 16:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyWRb-living_fashion_deeperdiveshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYX69-living_foodI love strawberries and have been buying them a ton at Gyomu Super lately because they are only around 200 yen a pack. I usually get Fukuoka's amaou, but the cheaper "chibbi" ones, which we think are tastier anyway.I have been frustrated by the packaging strawberries come in though. I only noticed this year because I buy them way more often. The excessive plastic cover sticks to the strawberries and everything else. I still need to put the pack into a little plastic bag or the berries will fall out. It is also tricky to get the bag and cover plastic off in one piece. In fact, there are scissor marks on the sticky sides of the plastic cover, but using scissors doesn't usually end well either.I prefer the simple soft paper cartons that berries come in back home.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYX69-living_foodWed, 14 Apr 2021 18:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYX69-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOmA-living_foodI got a tiny jar of nama nori, or raw nori I guess.I hadn't eaten it before, but it looked interesting. There are cheaper brands but I liked this packaging. I think it was 2-300 yen.It can be used on top of rice, similar to furikake. I tried it that way, but admit I like furikake better.The nama nori is also sweet and really salty, even dispersed over rice.I guess it could be used on grilled fish or even with fried vegetables, but I haven't bothered to try it yet.Have you tried it before?I don't think I'm getting this again, but even after years living here, it's still kind of fun to try new things.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOmA-living_foodWed, 14 Apr 2021 18:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOmA-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxWJy-shoppingI went sightseeing a little over the weekend and these are literally the only thing I bought.I stopped in a dagashi shop to have a look and commented that my friend's kid has an eraser collection.In reality, I think this is hilarious and got one for myself too. They were only 50 yen each!No washlet, but a really Japanese looking toilet, complete with a moving toilet seat and lid. Too distracting for school, these are perfect for any eight year old, or someone who still thinks like one!I can't say it works well as an eraser or not. As of now, it's for entertainment purposes only.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxWJy-shoppingThu, 01 Apr 2021 16:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxWJy-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOpN-living_medicalMejiro enjoying plum blossoms.Usually people in my town wear masks even while outside, walking around. The exception is when I see people exercising as masks can get damp quickly and make it harder to breathe.I usually wear a mask outside too, but last weekend we went for a long walk on a bamboo forest trail, and mostly left the masks off to enjoy the sunshine. We heard our first uguisu of the season and it was too warm for coats.That night, I suddenly got allergies.Usually I don't have spring allergies, and if I do it's later in the season and very mild. I get dust allergies in winter, mostly a runny nose. This was non-stop sneezing and runny nose, with itchy and watery eyes until I took cold medicine. (I don't have allergy medicine on hand right now.)It was milder in the morning and gone by the next evening, so I'm guessing there was something in the air during our walk that triggered my sniffles. We are new to the area, so it's possible there's something local that I'm not used to.It's nice to know that masks really help with allergies and I'll be wearing one outside all the time for now.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOpN-living_medicalThu, 18 Mar 2021 12:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOpN-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1qg-foodMuch like chestnuts are fall food and are great mixed in with rice, bamboo shoots are a springtime food.It's the season when the new bamboo shoots start to come up, and where they are unwanted, get dug up. Conveniently, bamboo shoots can be eaten if they are boiled. It's not just for pandas.If you search your region, there is likely a bamboo shoot digging たけのこ堀り experience you can participate in, on property owned by the person organizing the event. It's not proper to dig up bamboo shoots on someone else's property. It seems like the stuff grows everywhere and like weeds, but it is also expensive to buy.It is early in the season, but I've seen large fresh bamboo shoots in supermarkets in the last week for 1000 yen and up a piece.I think it's easer to buy the prepared type, which is available year round, and avoid the bother of peeling off all the outer leaves. It's also really affordable compared with the fresh type.I found a packet of small take no ko in Max Value for 298 yen. It is organic, but we joked that the stuff grows underground and hardly has any need for pesticides normally. I experienced some weird white sandy oozy stuff between the layers after cutting them in half, and it was a pain to wash off. I'm not sure what that was as I haven't seen it before, but probably some naturally occurring silicon? I didn't get a photo.First the excess liquid inside of the packet of 'boiled in water' (水煮) take no ko was removed, then they were thinly sliced and cut into large bite size. A bit of the shoots were added to a salad, but the majority of it was used for mixed rice (混ぜご飯).I prepared two cups of brown rice as usual, then added a bunch of bamboo shoots and some tsuyu(soy sauce also works) on top and cooked normally.When the rice is done, it needs to be mixed well to blend in all the pieces of bamboo shoot and distribute the browned from tsuyu parts more evenly.We ate the mixed rice for breakfast with a lightly fried egg on top, along with some fried toumyou (bean sprouts) and miso soup.Because I made two cups of rice and added lots of bamboo shoots, there was plenty to also make two decently sized onigiri for our lunches. I thought it wasn't salty enough so I added some salt and iri goma (sesame seeds).Another popular way to eat bamboo shoots is boiled with other seasonal vegetables in a traditional way. Nimono (boiled stuff) is usually made with dashi like kombu seaweed and katsuobushi (shaved bonito flakes), mirin, and soy sauce. It's common in prepared meals at supermarkets in spring.The taste of bamboo shoots is almost nothing and the texture is crunchy even after cooking. I'm not sure why, but some people love it. I mostly think it's cool to be able to eat bamboo and enjoy the seasonality of it.Give it a try for yourself.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1qg-foodWed, 10 Mar 2021 15:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm1qg-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G02gZ-foodWe went to the store on Saturday for ingredients to make a soy milk nabe. This cool display caused my husband to decide on shark meat for the protein. I was cool with that, as trying new things is good for you. 398 yen for 1 盛 (like a heap?) was a few steaks, not bad. And it has collagen too.We marinated it for about ten minutes in some apple cider vinegar as it can have a smell, I guess if it isn't fresh. It didn't take long to cook the light colored fish.I hate to say, "it tastes like chicken," but the texture reminded me of sasami, or chicken breast. The taste is more mildly fishy for sure as it's not oily. I didn't know that shark meat is fairly common around the world - used in fish and chips for example. It was my first time anyway.Have you tried it?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G02gZ-foodMon, 08 Mar 2021 19:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G02gZ-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJOjD-livingFocusing on Self Improvement, Working Online, and Getting Out: here's what I'm up to in the Corona Era.Self ImprovementLast year we moved and I spent a significant amount of time setting up our new place. I am not working outside now, so I am working on self improvement more. This includes nerding out on e-courses related to creativity and spending a lot of time studying Japanese / Japanese calligraphy. Also learning how to cook in Japanese.(Plus the library! I am thankful that libraries remain open in Japan.)I consider it an improvement that I'm also keeping in touch with friends and family more since all this started. Living far away from them is hard and I can't exactly visit any time soon. Working OnlineLast spring, one of my independent lessons switched to Zoom and we continued that way after I moved.In that way, I continue teaching English online a little, with an active profile on Hello Sensei to find more online students. One new side hustle is with Appen, an AI training company which I found out about while searching for remote friendly jobs in Japan. It took some time to set up and qualify to work on any projects, but I recently worked on a temporary project. It's nice to use my ability in Japanese for an easy side job I can do from home.Appen is currently looking for people who use smart speakers in Japanese and to do other easy tasks you can do from home. You can sign up to join their short term projects at this link.I did not get a full time job I recently interviewed for, but was asked to collaborate with the NPO on a project basis. I am hoping to work with them to improve their website and help the international community.I really appreciate being able to work online when the weather is bad.Getting OutI need some fresh air and movement daily.I feel like it takes me two hours to do grocery shopping, multiple times a week. We don't have a car, there are a lot of hills here so we bike sometimes, but walking is easier to certain areas. There is only so much I can fit into a backpack when shopping. I'm really trying to limit the time I spend on household duties so I can focus on other work, but I am not efficient at grocery shopping. I find it distracting and sometimes challenging. I have considered shopping online and getting deliveries, but have not done that except for some items. Online shopping is even more distracting for me than shopping in stores. We do get rice delivered online because we eat brown rice and it is much more affordable to buy about 10 kilo at a time.The grocery shopping in physical supermarkets keeps me active at least. Plus walking with the extra grocery weight on the way home might be good. I am not the gym type but am interested in yoga classes. The problem is I have not even prioritized using 15-20 minute yoga lessons available for free online, so that is something I want to start doing regularly.Not a huge difference for me other than much less traveling and socializing.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJOjD-livingTue, 02 Mar 2021 10:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJOjD-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXm84-foodI got this because I recently read about the health benefits of hibiscus tea. This is from the same series as the Shizuoka green tea varieties sold there, but it has five bags instead of ten.I thought it was expensive, but it is still cheaper compared with the same type of tea in supermarkets. (I saw a box of ten tea bags for almost 300 yen.)I thought I liked this kind of tea, but maybe I had never had it before. I'm pretty sure I've tried it in a restaurant.I was expecting a fruity smell, but it just smelled strange to me.The taste is the same, but not bad. It was relaxing and the strong pink color is appropriate for this time of year.The package says a product of Japan, meaning it's processed in Shizuoka. The rose hips are from South Africa and the hibiscus is from China. That was kind of a let down, considering roses and hibiscus grow in Japan. I guess it's the reason for the price.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXm84-foodFri, 26 Feb 2021 17:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXm84-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z82yd-foodIf you're hankering for fancy Cheetos (maybe the type with four different kinds of cheese) while in Japan, find a bag of Suko-n melty quatro cheesesnacks.I'm not sure why the mascot is a gorilla, but the same could be said for the Cheetos mascot.These snacks remind me of the fancy version that would be sold in some health food stores back home. I doubt they are healthier than any of the popular brands.Koikeya is a good brand for potato chips and these looked good, especially for 58 yen.I don't advise scarfing down the whole bag after a long bike ride, like I did. It did make a tasty 5pm snack before dinner though.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z82yd-foodFri, 26 Feb 2021 17:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z82yd-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdBv0-living_deeperdives書道 = The Way of WritingBack when I lived in Portland, Oregon in the US, I happened upon shodo, or the way of writing.I was not new to Japanese language and culture, as I had been interested since Japanese students stayed with my family when I was five years old. All things Sanrio fascinated me. I had studied the language and held an annual pass for the local Japanese Garden. This is where I saw shodo, for the first time.There was a demonstration where shodo artists splattered black ink onto paper on the floor with paintbrushes that may as well have been brooms, they were so big.My eyes were probably huge.Most of the artists looked Japanese, as one might imagine. The fact that one of them was a westerner around my age made me consider that this was not an entirely private Japanese club.I had no idea what they were writing, but it was beautiful in an uncontrollable sort of way.Later I learned that there was a class, taught by one of the artists, that was accepting students.I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it was love at first sight.The teacher, an older woman who had come to America as an adult, didn't really speak English, or need to.Most of the students were Japanese. In addition to the one Westerner I had seen performing, there were at least two more. All of the Japanese students were bilingual and happy to sort of explain anything I didn't catch on to. This class became my Saturday hobby for a few years. One I was strangely comfortable with right away.There is a Japanese “Magnet” (bilingual) program in the public schools in Portland, and weekly shodo lessons are conducted at the elementary school. This was started by the same teacher, in order to have the type of lessons that students would study in Japan. She taught there for some time before semi-retiring and passing it on to my classmate who had been assisting her. When that assistant became the teacher, for a short time, I became her assistant. After that, I moved to Japan.My teacher in Portland had taught while still living in Japan, as part of the school based in Saitama, Bokutensha Group, which we all study under. I was introduced to one of my teacher's former students, who became my new teacher.The new class was similar, except that my classmates were mostly kids. Technically, the class in the US is studying about junior high or high school student level shodo. The writing is done on hanshi, a bit larger than A4 sized paper, and four characters are written. There are two styles of writing that I submit each month:a block text called kaisho 楷書 and a semi-cursive style called gyosho行書.There are five standard styles of Japanese writing total, starting from the very old tensho (篆書) style which is still used on official hanko or documents like Japanese passports. Reisho (隷書)is used for the text on Japanese paper money. Sousho(草書) is used for handwritten letters even now.There are other styles within these five categories which higher level students write.After a year in Japan, I moved and started to study by mail. There was a long hiatus after I returned to Japan, but I've been seriously studying by mail for almost a year now.Within the school, there is a head teacher who is like the CEO of a company. He directs the style of writing, the historical works which are imitated, and the styles that all of the teachers learn and teach. Much of shodo is based on old Chinese Buddhist texts, but it is not limited in it's belief system or necessarily practiced by religious people. It has long been a standard practice for Buddhist monks, although in Japan it has also become a cultural practice, often associated with the upper middle class. I imagine it's similar to how tennis is a sport I always felt was for upper class types. Shodo is somewhat of a respectable hobby.When I first started, I started at the lowest (級位) ranking, 10位. It goes from 10- 1位. Within (段位) ranking, there is 準初段位 (じゅんはつだんい) - 10段. This is followed by 天一階 (てんいっかい) - 天10階. Finally the highest rank is 招待 (しょうたい), where my teacher is. There are ongoing opportunities to level up based on the quality of your monthly submissions. Currently, I'm 準３段 level, working on a level-up test, which happens once a year. The writing is in a slightly rounder kaisho style. For the 'shoudan shiken,' I will write six of the characters 「賢何以審論光」from a stone carving made during the Tang Dynasty (the artist lived between 709-786). Students are given お手本 (an example) which is a photo copy from a textbook, to essentially imitate the style of. Each person's imitation will of course be subtly different. In the above photo, one of the characters from the example is the character for write, used in the word shodo. I feel some pressure to do well. My teacher says to have fun and take my time writing. I think she knows, without watching me write in person, that I am impatient with myself and have a hard time slowing down.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdBv0-living_deeperdivesTue, 23 Feb 2021 13:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdBv0-living_deeperdiveshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvpo-foodI mentioned in one of my tea articles that I rarely see Shizuoka Tea used in snacks, but I found one.Matcha Tiramisu is kind of a weird idea, but I went for it.Not bad. Not something I normally eat at all. I liked how the chocolate had a snap when you bite into it. The mascarpone cheese is interesting too. As expected, the tea flavor isn't something that stands out. They are kinda tiny. My husband ate them in one bite.This is a co-trip collaboration (small trip) promoting visiting other parts of Japan. In this case, Hamamatsu Shizuoka.There's a similar product using Kyoto Uji Macha (much more common for snacks and in my region).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvpo-foodMon, 22 Feb 2021 17:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvpo-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnyyJ-livingOver in North Osaka, we got up to 17 degrees this weekend! The ume have been blooming for a couple weeks already. It is supposed to be below zero again by the middle of the week though...Photo from two weeks ago, taken on January 30th!After a walk by the path of ume trees, we went out again, separately, for a bike ride. It was just too nice out to stay inside.I stopped by for groceries and checked the chocolate. I actually bought something super simple for my husband weeks ago. He always claims he doesn't want anything yet is always willing to eat what I get him. It's just one of the pink chocolate bars by Lotte.I am not into chocolate unless it's fair trade super dark chocolate, but I tasted this one. It's similar to what's on strawberry Pocky. Maybe not so much strawberry flavor as that.I guess everyone else had done their Valentine shopping early too, because the supermarket had almost nothing in their special seasonal section. They had filled it in with cheap snacks that didn't even all contain chocolate.I heard about the earthquake tonight, after spending most of the day offline. It must be really scary for everyone living in the area, considering it was in just about the same place as the disaster almost ten years ago. I heard there wasn't a risk of tsunami this time, yokatta.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnyyJ-livingSun, 14 Feb 2021 21:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnyyJ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVXPJ-livingDrainage gulleys go through Japanese cities to ensure that streets (and buildings and farms) don't flood. Leading to driveways or on big streets, they are usually covered with metal grids or concrete blocks. This is one of the particular things I noticed right away as being very different from what I was used to. The open ditches seem dangerous and I have accidentally ridden my bike into a small one. Some people in my area seem to creatively take advantage of these uncovered spaces by setting various things over them, then putting plants on top. It's a clever way to make space for more plants in a country where lots are tiny and often have no yard. The narrow bits of concrete surrounding homes is sometimes covered in layers of potted plants. Here are a few examples.I was excited to start a patio garden this spring, but am not motivated at all now that it's slightly warming up. Maybe next month.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVXPJ-livingWed, 10 Feb 2021 19:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVXPJ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqQjk-livingNow that the My Number points incentive is ending in... less than two months, I finally decided to apply for the My Number Card, or Myna.There's a How To here, which was helpful to get started.There are also some English (and other language) resources explaining the process, although the application online is in Japanese.I spent some time motivating myself to get a photo from one of those "Shomei Shashin" photo booths in front of every convenience store. I also heard it's possible to apply directly from the photo booth. There is a button specifically for taking your photo for the My Number Card application.Your photo can be transmitted digitally with the code that came with the paper / photo-less my number card.That was the problem.I threw away that postcard and QR code, if I even had it sent to me five years ago. I don't actually remember there being a postcard application back then.In addition, my address and last name have changed from what is printed on the front of my card. In both cases, I needed to visit my city hall.I still get nervous about this kind of thing, even if I have to do it in English.The staff in the city hall were extremely patient to explain everything simply and walk me through the process, which took 15 minutes, only because the photo booth was occupied.From asking where in the city hall they do my number stuff to confirming the application process was done, everyone was super nice.(My Number Card Application = Kojin bangou ka-do shinsei / 個人番号カード申請)I explained that I didn't have a QR code, so I was asked to write my info on a simple form. They printed out an application with the code on it, then took me over to the photo booth.The city hall where I live has a system where the photo is free if it's being used for the Myna application. I didn't know. Anyway, my regular photo was probably going to be rejected because I was looking up in it... So I retook it there.The staff walked me through it so it went so much faster. I was still kinda exhausted afterwards.I was told that in 1-2 months the blue envelope would come and I could schedule a time to pick up the new card.I hope it's before the end of March, when the Myna points bonus expires. (I got one of those Waon cards that qualifies for the Myna points.)It's not too late, if you still haven't gotten your My Number Card. It seems it can take a little longer to process applications now as the deadline is coming up.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqQjk-livingThu, 04 Feb 2021 13:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqQjk-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6lZQ-livingA lot of you have probably seen the anime, Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer). We only watched it over the new year holidays for the first time, and thought it was great. Despite Coronavirus and the fact that we almost never go to movie theaters, we have considered going to see the movie.As usual, there are products all over that I started noticing once we watched the anime. First it was little kids dressed up as characters leaving the shrine for hatsumode. It made me wonder, is that show really appropriate for small kids?I do appreciate that it's funny, which balances the demon slaying part a little. Much more kid appropriate than Kyojin no Shingeki (Attack of the Titans).As Eli mentioned here, there are valentines for Demon Slayer, which seem expensive, even for a tin. I also keep seeing kids and people of all ages with other nods to the series.Other than tons of masks with the kimono designs the characters wear (none for Inosuke, hah), I even saw these little hair bows.My husband told me the manga artist, (pen name) Gotouge Koyoharu, has already retired because of the success of this series, although she is only 31.If you haven't seen it but are looking for some anime to watch, it's a good one.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6lZQ-livingFri, 29 Jan 2021 18:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6lZQ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJO9L-living_workLast weekend was spent preparing a CV and writing an essay in Japanese.I have a resume in Japanese, but have never even written a CV in English. I had to look up what a CV was, in Japanese, because it is clearly different from an English CV from the examples I saw. I ended up leaving out some of the sections entirely as my experience is nothing like a career track. It consisted of relevant volunteer experience, creative experience, and work experience. There was also a small section to list my computer skills as the job requires.The essay, to my surprise, was the easier part. With no experience writing in Japanese, other than occasional Line chats and emails, I was worried this would be awful. I sat down to write what I wanted to say in Japanese with anything I didn't know just written in English. Then I looked it up later to edit. I figured as the essay was a, “Why do you wanna work at ~?” topic, it was fine if I wrote the same way I speak in Japanese with more polite grammar.I had my Japanese husband check over everything for grammatical errors and anything that sounded confusing. It was far from perfect, but I was surprised that he could understand it okay. This all started three days before the application was due.The job posting had caught my eye about a week earlier and I wanted to apply. In the photo above, the first "※" shows that nationality, age, and gender are of no particular importance for this job. This is so rare in a country where it is standard to write your age and gender on resumes. I love that this workplace is open minded and supports diversity, as a foreign woman in my 40s.I thought I should apply even though one of the requirements is a drivers' license, which I don't have. Looking up how to get a drivers' license was overwhelming, and I was already intimidated by the CV and essay in Japanese part. I had kind of given up, but then I met someone who works in that job when I went to a Japanese class.She encouraged me to apply anyway. I got the chance to ask why the job required a drivers' license. It seemed like I could use a bicycle as usual and it would be fine, so I decided to do it.Surprisingly, while writing this, I got a call from the workplace, informing me that I made it to the second stage: the interview. I am super grateful that I made it, but so scared as I've only interviewed in Japanese once. For jobs teaching English, interviews are held in English, with maybe five minutes of asking simple questions in Japanese for a level check. For a direct hire ALT job, I interviewed in Japanese I guess, but some things were repeated or explained in English. This interview could be similar to that. I'm really not confident in my level of Japanese, despite Japanese people always commenting that I'm good at it. I know to some extent they are just being polite and said the same thing when my level was much much lower.The next time might be about the interview and possibly even getting my first job in Japan that isn't teaching English.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJO9L-living_workThu, 28 Jan 2021 11:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJO9L-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvPQ-living_educationBeing the huge Japanese language nerd I am, I was shocked to find out that there are two hiragana / katakana I didn't know!I was looking for lists of the kanji that hiragana and katakana were derived from, then found these images on Wikipedia - there used to be symbols for wi and we as well!On the left, you can see the column for わゐゑを！My husband said they learn this in 'Japanese' class in school and even when he was young, sometimes he'd see older women's names written using these hiragana. They are pronounced イ and エ, but were probably slightly different sounds from the sounds in アイウエオ. (If you know the kanji that these hiragana / katakana came from, those are pronounced イ （為 or 井）and エ（恵）.)This chart has ワヰヱヲ at the bottom.Anyway, if any of you are also nerds about kanji, you might enjoy these charts showing the kanji that the phonetic systems came from. If you have Japanese input on your computer, you can write those hiragana and katakana by typing wi and we.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvPQ-living_educationSun, 24 Jan 2021 20:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWvPQ-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgrPd-foodI think I finally understand why Japan loves Haagen-Dazs ice cream.I know that it exists in the US, but have just had it there once. (One time a Japanese classmate brought some to a pot luck.) I guess there is local quality stuff I always chose instead. Here the teeny (110ml) tubs are at least 200 yen each, so I don't think I've ever bought it. I have had some gifted to me for doing a favor (kabocha, which is the closest Japan got to pumpkin spice flavor in fall nine years ago).I got a couple tubs as a treat for my husband's three months at the new job as an 'otsukaresamadesu' gesture.This macadamia and strawberry seemed like the flavors he'd like the most. First we split this one and haven't had strawberry yet.It's super creamy and I was surprised that each tiny spoonful had several chunks of macadamia in it.Yes, more expensive. But worth it?What flavor should we try next, for those of you who already buy Haagen-Dazs at least sometimes?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgrPd-foodSun, 24 Jan 2021 18:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgrPd-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6l3Q-foodGrandma's Peppermint tea from Gyomu Super is one of my repeat purchases.The chamomile is also good. The price is the best: 88 yen plus tax for 20 teabags – not individually wrapped. I keep them in a glass container instead of in the box once I open it.Considering these are not super popular teas in Japan and at Kaldi Coffee Farm, ten teabags (mint or chamomile) sell for about 300 yen, it's a great deal. The text when you open the box also makes me laugh.Before I used to buy loose chamomile tea online and put it into teabags or use a tea strainer, which is a huge pain. These are as affordable and just easier.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6l3Q-foodFri, 22 Jan 2021 18:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6l3Q-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYX4o-living_food_educationMy decision to start a habit as this year's challenge (not resolution), was to cook in Japanese.I need to give myself reasonable goals, so I thought I could manage 52 recipes this year. Once a week, I will use the new pressure cooker cookbook or an online recipe, in Japanese, and cook something simple and healthy. Ideally this is a Japanese recipe with 2-10 ingredients, and if it is two, water can't be one of them. (Boiled eggs, although easy in the pressure cooker, didn't count.) I will also write the recipes into a notebook (all in Japanese) including notes about anything I changed. (I'm a frequent adapter of ingredients and amounts.)Since I found myself at home a lot more, I thought it would make sense to learn how to cook. I know some people love it but I just want to eat. I'm not going to try anything fancy that involves multiple steps and bizarre ingredients. I know how I am. I do enough of the experimental cooking, exploring my Armenian American heritage, and embracing my Los Angeles roots. But those Japanese basics... I have learned some, others I sometimes make up as I go.This challenge isn't to force myself to measure correctly or always use the ingredients listed. It's to improve Japanese.I can read fairly well at this point, plus I can look up what I don't know. This exercise is to improve reading and cooking vocabulary, grammar, and writing in Japanese. In the process, I'll learn how to cook some things that aren't actually difficult. I literally feel like I'm in an elementary school home economics class while I'm working on this challenge.I'm working ahead lately. I also have a list of ideas.My list of commonly used basics to keep in stock helps, but this will give me a little direction and interest in eating proper Japanese meals at home.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYX4o-living_food_educationThu, 21 Jan 2021 21:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYX4o-living_food_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/weDmJ-foodMinoh City's mascot is named Yuzuru, a cute yuzu-citrus-headed samurai. The region is known for it's large yuzu fruits, although I haven't seen any that are abnormally sized yet.I got a cheap pack of four small yuzu at Gyomu Super for 100 yen, mostly because they are locally grown, in season, and much cheaper than lemons. The flavor is different, but can be used in just about the same way. (I generally see them used for their juice in yuzu ponzu or squirted onto fish.)The reason I wanted lemons in the first place, is I had plans to make ginger syrup. I make this often during winter as it's super easy to make (I found a Martha Stewart recipe online - three ingredients, including water) and is the type of versatile syrup I have used on pancakes, but mostly to make tea. Ginger has warming properties, perfect for this colder-than-usual winter. I also get dust allergies around this time of year and have had an off and on scratchy throat. I'm sure you've heard of honey lemon ginger tea?So the yuzu are squeezed.(I actually did that freezing the juice in the ice cube tray for later trick. It resulted in me forgetting for a couple days, wondering where to put frozen yuzu juice cubes, and cleaning a sticky ice cube tray.)Now what?I found a lovely recipe online, as I'm currently cooking in Japanese. (More on this later as the story unfolds more.) It's for a topping called yuzu neri, which actually uses the skin of the citrus fruit. (The wordy Japanese recipe is in the link.)This is not the first time to see or make something using the skin of a citrus (like marmalade) but the first time I've used a proper recipe to make this type of citrus skin-as-food.After these yuzu were squeezed, the sneaky remaining seeds were also removed. The fleshy part is fine as is. They were then thinly sliced.The idea is, bite size small after they are thinly sliced. It's easy enough.Then there are only two other ingredients. I really love the recipes with just a few ingredients. It is truly my style of cooking.It says for each yuzu, use about a tablespoon and a half of sugar. But also that you should adjust according to your preference. I think I used way less sugar than that because I don't like overly sweet things (and don't measure things). It was a little sour at first but later on was just right.The last ingredient is soy sauce. A splash, again more or less as you like.The recipe says to assemble and mix this in a bowl. I'm such a pro chef (sarcasm) that I have no mixing bowl. This was put into a plastic storage container of barely containable size, closed, and shaken for a while.It's great!We used it to top our curry udon the other night, and tonight on tan tan nabe. It's a welcome balance to any of the spicy foods you might be enjoying this season.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/weDmJ-foodMon, 18 Jan 2021 12:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/weDmJ-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYXL6-foodFor fans of 'fuwafuwa' kinako mochi, this is an interesting seasonal version. Strawberry daifuku flavor is a bit more expensive than the regular kinako mochi. This was 200 yen for six bags.The smell was obvious strawberry on opening the bag, but there wasn't any other strawberry daifuku - like taste. I think it had something like kinako without that flavor, as the texture was the same. Powdery on the outside and melts in your mouth.I think I like the original better, but am a sucker for these seasonal flavors.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYXL6-foodTue, 12 Jan 2021 22:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MYXL6-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOe4-foodSuper cup is probably recycling their flavors because I remember they had a cafe latte cookie flavor a couple years ago. This one is new to me, I think.It's a little rare to find the six-pack mini cups in unique flavors, so I got this for around 250 yen from Gyomu Super.The black tea flavor is weak and like a royal milk tea. The cookies are a bit sparse but a nice addition. It's kind of like English tea and cookies, but in an ice cream. I'm not sure which hot drink goes well with this... black tea or something else...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOe4-foodTue, 12 Jan 2021 22:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKOe4-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqKA-foodOn the left: 豆乳 (tou nyuu) - Soy Milk成分無調整 (sei bun mu chou sei) - No added ingredients.On the right: 調製豆乳 (chou sei tou nyuu) - Prepared Soy Milk香料(kou ryou) 着色料不使用 (chaku shoku ryou fu shi you) - Free of fragrance and dyes.I've been using Midori brand soy milks, 1000 ml for about 150 yen at Gyomu Super. Usually I buy the one on the left with no added ingredients.Without realizing it, I brought home the wrong one a couple weeks ago.On inspection, the ingredients of the prepared soy milk includes salt and sugars, including stevia.The regular soy milk is just soy beans.I didn't use it for savory cooking, so I honestly didn't notice the difference. The reason I stick with the unsweetened type is to avoid added sugars that I don't need. Midori brand from Oita Prefecture is the only kind I've seen without adding a bunch of unneeded stuff. It tastes fine as is and if I'm using it for something like a smoothie, I'll probably add honey. Usually we use a little soy milk in our coffee and that's it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqKA-foodFri, 08 Jan 2021 10:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqKA-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgaAW-living2021 is Year of the Ox (or Cow) according to the Chinese Zodiac, which says Year of the Ox starts on February 12th, 2021.Above are some examples of the kanji for cow or ox (牛 or 丑), both readushi, although those styles are not the only way to write it, at all. A quick Google Image search will lead you scrolling through several styles, including writing in hiragana and cute cow illustrations.(I was given some examples by my shodo teacher and chose the styles above that looked fun for me to write.)Even if you've never tried it before, shodo(the way of writing) is a fun hobby that doesn't have to cost a lot. If you want to give it a try, it's a nice Corona-safe activity and way to decorate your new year cards or your house.Japanese kids usually write kakizome(first writing in the new year) in school in January, generally a springtime word or phrase which is assigned to each grade at an appropriate level. I remember writing "Saitama no haru" with students when I worked at a junior high school in Saitama Prefecture. On Paper:For Kokugo (Japanese class), students will usually write on hanshi, which is a unique paper size, a bit bigger than A4. That's what I use for my practice and in the photo above. Students will use the long pieces of paper and write on the floor instead of at desks for kakizome.If you don't want a bunch of unused paper, it's fine to write on normal A4 copy paper or those boards that come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. I wrote on a couple of them this year (shown above), but don't like them much - they absorb ink a different way than the paper, which I'm used to. Anyway they look fancy.If you have blank postcards, those are perfect for sending new year's cards. The only thing you technically need is a brush and ink. These can be found in Daiso, where they sell all kinds of tops and kites and other new year traditional activities along with the shodo supplies.I can't vouch for the quality of the brushes in Daiso, but the ink is fine. Traditionally an ink stone is used, and Daiso sells them, but it's a lot of work if you're just trying this out for the first time. I don't even use them anymore because I don't have the right materials or the patience.What's way easier, if you don't want a mess, is a fude pen.Literally a brush pen, there are a ton available at Daiso, in a variety of styles and colors. Similar to a western calligraphy felt pen, it's like a marker that will let you achieve a variety of thicknesses while writing. A lot of them have two sides with different thicknesses like markers. Brands like Kuretake sell the refillable ink well type also.These are perfect for writing addresses and messages on postcards, plus if you want to write in gold to be fancy, you can get a gold one.It's okay to keep it simple. There's no need to spend a lot and you might have a fude penand some postcards at home already.Other supplies I use for shodo are: on the left in the photo, a shitajiki, which is essentially a black piece of felt to soak up any excess ink so it doesn't get onto your desk. (The plastic boards to go under the page you're using in a notebook have the same name.)A bunchin is a long paperweight to hold your paper in place. Daiso's are pink and blue. Any paperweight / heavy stuff works, if you even need it.A suzuri is a container to hold your ink, if you use liquid ink and a brush. Any bowl or palette dish should work. Daiso's are plastic and two sided (one is supposedly for using the ink stone but doesn't work well). Traditionally suzuri are made of stone.I hope you give it a try and have fun!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgaAW-livingThu, 31 Dec 2020 11:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgaAW-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJPxY-living_foodOn a recent Mega DonKi visit I saw a crazy price for these Sweets ice creams that are usually about 200 yen. I think they were 68 yen each. I decided to get one on my way out and continued looking around. When I came back, someone had cleared out all of the ice creams in this flavor... but then I saw one tipped over all the way in the back. Lucky.My husband and I are berry fans and he loves cheesecake, so this sounded the best. And it was really good. He said it didn't taste like cheesecake, and the flavor name is just cheese in French. There's a berry layer of ice cream and a cheese layer.I'm not sure if the containers were banged up a little or the limited flavor finished it's run, but it's nice to find a good deal on these sometimes.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJPxY-living_foodMon, 28 Dec 2020 19:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJPxY-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxLov-living_foodHave you ever been to a kids' Christmas Kai (party) in Japan? I've only been once, as part of the shodo class I was a part of eight years ago, and I've been wanting to go to another one ever since. As long as I wasn't going for work that is. I went to one for work and it was bigger and not nearly as fun. More like pineapple-apple-pen noisy-ness with me entertaining people in a costume (maybe just a reindeer headband?). So not my idea of fun.The fun Christmas party was basically just snacks and silly things like photos and saying what your goals for the next year are. I think there was fried chicken. There's something exciting about simply getting a whole bunch of snacks that you can eat and still have left to bring home.It was mostly kids I was used to being quiet and serious around, so it was fun to goof off and get to know them better. I said I was eight during my self introduction, and the seven year old nearby said, "I thought you were ten!"There was also writing the next new year animal (that year was snake year) with ink, because it was a shodo class. (More about that later.)These days there aren't many parties happening, but I felt like having a home party, just for my husband and I, for Christmas. There are no Christmas decorations going on in our place. I've been having fun listening to 70s and 80s African music, maybe the opposite of Christmas music. While writing letters in the last week I started cutting up some colored scrap paper I have at home, from the variety color packs you can find at Daiso. It was fun and not at all serious perfectionist art, but I liked it. So there it started.A garland using some fun cut shapes (trees and strawberries!) will be enough decoration to make it seem festive. I kept myself distracted while on the "phone" with my mum by cutting these out.We have some ice cream in the freezer, I received a bunch of snacks (senbei and chocolate and cream filled tubes) from volunteering at the library, and then I went to the Mega DonKi.I'm not a fan of the noise and crowd at Don Quixote, but I hadn't been to the one near our new place and felt like checking it out. Super overwhelming as usual, but they have a full on supermarket? I didn't know. They had roast chicken and decoration cakes, but I passed on all that traditional-for-Japan stuff. I got a tin of "Castle Cookies" as I like to call them, for only 298 yen. Because it's nostalgic to have a tin of these around when you feel pickish (is this Canadian slang? snacky?) during the holidays.As usual we had a slice of strawberry shortcake earlier this month for my husband's birthday. No need for more.I feel like a normal dinner will be sufficient on Friday night, supplemented by maybe a drink and some ice cream. The decorations and these snacky things being there will make it more festive, although I'm sure my husband will say we should wait on snacks. (Snacking is mostly reserved for Scrabble time on the weekends.)I just need to keep my paws off those snacks until Friday night, and we've got a super budget Christmas Kai with very little effort.Enough to make me remember how my uncle used to say, "How Festive." sarcastically about any holiday display, then smirk.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxLov-living_foodSun, 27 Dec 2020 06:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxLov-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqAj-livingWhen it first started up, the Go To Travel and Go To Eat Campaigns had their skeptics for sure. Great, discounts are good to stimulate the economy, but is it really a good idea? Encouraging people to go out while some countries are locking down because of the spread of the new Coronavirus?I wondered myself, even though we used the Go To Travel campaign to look at apartments before moving and recently got some of the final Go To Eat discount vouchers before the program was discontinued. Now people are being asked not to eat out, not that it's stopping anyone from the looks of things.The winter break is fast approaching, so of course a ton of people had already made plans to use their holidays for traveling to take advantage of the program. Maybe not visiting family because we wouldn't want to spread the virus to vulnerable family members, but just a regular vacation, at a discount.It seems like the government is finally realizing these campaigns aren't the safest way to stimulate the economy. I do appreciate that everything isn't shutting down like in countries where it's worse off.During Japan's biggest travel season, using that time off to travel won't be discounted and some areas are even charging extra fees for out of prefecture visitors. Which is probably a good idea. Maybe it won't be crazy to travel for the New Year holidays this year. (As usual, I'm not going to test it out.)Of course this means a lot of previously made travel plans have been canceled.Some of the canceled plans might have been adjusted to go somewhere closer, without an extra travel fee. After all, it's one of the only times families will all have the chance to get out of town together. Even if it's only a long weekend, I get the idea that a lot of people want to use their rare time off for traveling.Maybe a drive to outdoor illuminations will be good enough.Meanwhile, we like making jokes about the campaign names, instead calling them Go To Trouble and Go To Sleep.The whole idea of the campaigns has become trouble and we'd all be healthier if, instead of eating out and socializing during our holidays, we went to bed a little early.I know how I feel after I don't sleep well for one night, so I think some extra sleep could benefit the whole overworked country. It's good for our immune systems and fighting against the virus. The Coronavirus and the other one, influenza, which is (no surprise) not so widespread this year.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqAj-livingThu, 24 Dec 2020 10:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqAj-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPmx-foodI picked this Calbee apple cinnamon granola up for around 600 yen, being a sucker for cinnamon. It's a seasonal offering and some of those flavors are curious, but this one sounded great.I don't remember seeing this type of flavored granola back home, but this flavor really reminds me of homemade baked apples. It's not too strong or sweet either. Another bonus for me is no raisins. It has dried raspberries as well as apples and almonds.It's more expensive than the plain granola I'd usually buy, although it's worth the splurge, as I'll probably only have the chance once.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPmx-foodTue, 22 Dec 2020 17:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPmx-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNWek-living_healthThis year has been stressful for most, not to say other years weren't also stressful.The health and social changes were enough, but we also moved in fall. This meant a change in employment situations and household responsibilities for my husband and I.Because we moved for his job, I quit my part time jobs and took on more of the responsibilities at home. I could have probably gotten a new job right away. Instead, I took this chance to work on myself, do some personal design projects, and take the responsibility for most stuff around the house so my husband could focus on his new job. I'm grateful to have the financial freedom to not work outside when staying at home is safer. I'm leaving the option open to go back to work when I feel like I need to for my sanity, if I start to become too much of a hermit.Working on my own design business - for now only personal projects, a practice to do what I love and not just a day job, has been great. I struggle with focus and feeling productive for sure. On the days when I've felt awful from migraines, dental work, etc., I'm too hard on myself for not doing enough work fast enough. And pushing myself to work when I'm not feeling well usually only makes me feel worse.Here are a few little things I'm doing to gradually improve in my health routines as the year is coming to an end.SkincareMy hands got dry and painful cracks already by November. When we got a box with a bunch of medicated hand cream that my mother-in-law didn't need, I took the chance to use it regularly. I didn't take pictures of my frostbitten swollen fingers and cracked cuticles before starting, but using this every night before bed has been helpful. It's got a smell since it's medicated. Omi Brotherhood Menturm is a weird but cool brand - I like their medicated chapstick too.Personal GrowthI'm investing in myself to learn things I'm interested about (mostly design and business). I've had aCreative Liveaccount for a while and realized they have an "On Air" category to sample video courses for free. They're also offering free physical and mental health videos now. This kind of thing is now playing in the background while I'm working in the home office. Now there are sales on their paid courses and subscription plans, plus for those, you canuse my link for $15 off.Sometimes I need this change in perspective, to breathe deep, relax, stop pushing myself so hard to clean all the things...SupplementsI've been having issues with anemia for over a year. Taking supplements has helped a lot, when I remember to take them.Instead of cluttering up my desk with bottles of vitamins, which I still forget, I came up with an idea.I got a cheesy pill box at Daiso (a bigger one would have been better), stuck some adhesive magnet sheet to it, and put it on the fridge. If I'm in the kitchen after a meal and have a drink, it's an efficient time to take vitamins.It is slightly more effective in helping me to remember to take my multi-vitamins so far. Which means I feel better and more productive.Next on the list will be volunteering and working on making local friends, somehow, when no one is socializing and I'm not working outside.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNWek-living_healthThu, 17 Dec 2020 09:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNWek-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z42qL-money_howtoWhen you leave Japan or just have a bank account that you don't use anymore, why not close it?It's not as hard as I thought, for someone who has never opened a bank account on my own.As a bit of background, I had three bank accounts, each opened for different jobs. Two were very local to Kyushu, where I lived for almost five years. Recently we moved to a small town in Kansai with not even an ATM for either of those banks in the area. I decided to close both as I didn't see the point in going into the city each time I needed to take care of something I couldn't do using online banking. Neither of those accounts were even set up for online banking, so even doing that meant a visit to the branch in the city.First, you'll want to check and double check that all of the coming and going payments are finished and settled. You can withdraw or transfer cash if you want, but that can be done when you close the account.You will need your bank book, cash card, ID (zairyu card or passport if you no longer live in Japan), and hanko. If you have a one time password thing for online banking, bring that too.At the window, just let them know you want to close the account. In Japanese there's a special word I forget, but I just said, "Kouza wa tojitaidesu." (I want to close (my) account.)I did this at two banks. Both tellers replied to the above Japanese statement with, "Close desu ne?" so maybe they're just using English to check... Thought it was a little funny.Bank number one had a balance of 0, so it was super fast.I had to enter my pin number and the form was printed out with all my info on it.Both banks punch a hole in the bank book, put a sticker on front, and stamp inside under the last entry, and keep the cash card (and any online banking key).I keep the bank book for my records and get a form saying the account was closed.No ID shown, no hanko needed. I was surprised that any random person could have said it was their account and closed it.Bank number two had a balance and a number of transactions I hadn't updated. I had to hand write my name and account number on the form, stamp my hanko, then wait.I asked if they wanted to transfer my balance to another account or give me everything as cash; they said the latter is their policy.My transactions were updated by staff after I confirmed there shouldn't be anything pending. I wished I had done this in the ATM first to look over it. A few staff watched over the careful counting out of money and thanked me for my business as they handed me a tray containing my form, bank book, cash, and an envelope. I awkwardly stuffed the cash into the envelope before leaving the counter.Again, no showing of my ID.I was a bit surprised by this lack of proof of identity. I'd bring all of it just in case to avoid another trip if you do need it.But also, guard your bank books and hanko carefully!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z42qL-money_howtoFri, 11 Dec 2020 15:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z42qL-money_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqJW-foodThis vegan shredded cheese caught me off guard in the local chain drugstore. Not something you see every day."Vegan Shred" is mostly vegetable oils and uses garbanzo beans. I was surprised to see a vegan product that isn't soy based, although I didn't check to see if it's soy free. I like how it says "my vegan" as the brand name I guess.I decided December is Cheecember. If I hadn't decided on December 1st, I would have organized it as a 31 day challenge to eat a different cheese every day. Maybe next year.Anyway there have been some sliced cheese quesadillas happening. Maybe I'm gonna test this vegan shred out.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqJW-foodMon, 07 Dec 2020 21:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqJW-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9ln-foodMaybe I was feeling like a taste of home (what feels like home in Japan, we just moved), because I got a Fukuoka Prefecture Amaou Strawberry juice from Kagome.I don't get this kind of thing very often but they're usually good.This one is about a third vegetable juice, has no added sugar, and supposedly has raspberries too. It was around 160 yen. It's cut off in the image, but it's a winter limited edition. (Thus the random snowflakes.)On the first sip, I was really confused.Not a bit of strawberry flavor.I wasn't sure what flavor it even tasted like.A look at the ingredients showed mostly apple juice, mango, and banana. Aha.So why ruin the taste of strawberry with overpowering mango and banana?This is drinkable, but I don't recommend it if you really want strawberries.I also don't really understand putting things like daikon in the veggie juice blend... is that even nutritious?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9ln-foodFri, 04 Dec 2020 21:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9ln-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQok8-living_foodThis fancy seasonal limited edition Pocky "kuchidoke ichigo"(melt-in-your-mouth strawberry) was a prize during the Aeon Black Friday drawings, using their shopping app.I'm not sure if I'd recommend using the app unless you're a hardcore housewife, but at least I got free snacks? Actually, you get a coupon for 5% off your entire purchase one time, good for two months after signing up.Normally, these cost about 230 yen a pack. The packs each have two short Pocky inside, but they are thicker than typical Pocky. There's a chocolate (with no noticeable choco taste) biscuit covered with tart strawberry. I'd say it's like the flavor of strawberry yogurt.Good pick for those of you snackers who want something individually wrapped (to avoid eating them all at once).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQok8-living_foodTue, 01 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQok8-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR12E-living_mino_shi_osakaI'm not a decoration fan and not a big holiday fan either. Anything that equals clutter or things only used for part of the year don't make any sense for me.The nice thing about living in a smaller city, right next to nature, is all the natural decorations the seasons share with us. It's late fall now and the momiji are quite red, the icho (gingko) leaves have gone from yellow to tan already, and I keep discovering plants with crazy colors. I don't know what they're called, but there's a vine with shiny colorful berries - from silver to deep purple. (photo below)Previously, we have been to an autumn light-up in a park, the precursor to illuminations here in Japan.The local one is lighting up the waterfall for the first half of November, so we decided to make the trip up at night. Starting at 5 pm, when it's already mostly dark, there were a handful of lights placed along the taki-michi leading up to Minoh Waterfall. I guess it's a pain to get lights up into the mountains with limited electricity going through.It was darker than we expected for the 50 minute walk, then randomly we'd be blinded by LEDs pointing a little too much towards us. The lights were mostly fixed on a few locations: the temple and bright red bridge, the bug museum, and the waterfall.The gate had a blue and purple theme, then off in the distance, the temple had regular white lights on it.The bug museum wasn't anything spectacular either.Along the path, there weren't as many people as we had expected. Every now and then there'd be a bigger group passing us up, as if a train had arrived and they had all come at the same time. The lack of people might be because it was at night or because the leaves hadn't quite changed color yet. We went the last day of the event, November 15th. As you might imagine, it was mostly younger people and couples, although I did see a handful of sleepy kids. The majority of the shops along the way had also closed up for the night.It's a nice outdoor event for a date, which is I guess what we were doing. Less crowded than when we went during the day for sure.Of course, what everyone was there to see was the main attraction, the waterfall.It reminded me of the Teamlab outdoor exhibit I saw in Takeo, Saga a couple years ago. I wonder if their waterfall image projection was taken from this very waterfall?Coming around the bend towards the waterfall, it looked like something out of Narnia. As usual, the bridge is the prime photo-taking spot, but you can get closer or go up to the viewing area too.As you can see, the leaves are still green at this point. I haven't been up since to see if they've changed, but around home they have for sure.I understand why they do this only in early November. By the second half of November, it's too cold to go at night!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR12E-living_mino_shi_osakaTue, 01 Dec 2020 09:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR12E-living_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPjP-living_osaka_mino_shi_osakaI never cease to be entertained by Engrish and the Japanese sense of humor, which is even better in Osaka Prefecture.Maybe it's a stereotype because of the comedians in the area, but everyone seems to follow along.This fire department PSA is amazing. It looks like a movie poster starring Osaka Aunties, who are all wearing animal print.This is good for a giggle for sure. Boobie chocolate with "only one" in English.These hand painted signs are cute, but I'm not sure what's going on with this swan-pants princess.I love that there are lots of ethnicities represented on the "tobidasuna!" signs all over town.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPjP-living_osaka_mino_shi_osakaThu, 26 Nov 2020 12:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPjP-living_osaka_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmjym-livingRecently I moved, meaning I quit my jobs. It was sort of a welcome change to get settled in the new city, but at the same time, I knew I would get bored soon.I've been sort of looking at job listings although I'm not so interested in teaching work anymore. (I am still teaching a tiny bit online.)These days there are a lot of remote work and freelance positions listed.I don't have any pets, but this freelance project caught my eye because it's so different. I know some of you have pets, so if you like taking pictures and videos of them, you could try it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmjym-livingFri, 20 Nov 2020 14:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmjym-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z83kb-living_shoppingA couple years ago, I wrote this article about Black Friday sales, even in Japan.It seems to be one of the holiday traditions in Japan, taken from elsewhere, but not entirely understood.I had a conversation with a student about it last week and she didn't know what Black Friday even meant until I explained it.The name comes from the business accounting terminology of being "in the red" when a company has not made a profit / only made losses in a fiscal year or other time period. This is because negative numbers are written in red. The hopes of Black Friday sales are to get these companies into "the black," or at the very least breaking even before the end of the year.Japan typically has retail sales during summer, winter, and the New Year, depending on the retailer. Amazon probably started up the Black Friday thing in Japan, followed by Rakuten, smaller department stores, and this year even Aeon Malls and supermarket chains joined in.I recently started using Aeon's app, and they're pushing the Black Friday sales starting today, November 20th.Tonight will be the end of a normal workweek, but this is a three day weekend, which I think explains the timing. The sale goes until November 29th, the end of next weekend, the actual long weekend of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. In the US, Black Friday sales start on Thursday at the earliest and are finished by Sunday at the end of the four day weekend.The Aeon app has some drawings for free snacks, and I actually won a coupon for a fancy version of Pocky. I suspect this is just a lure to get customers to buy other things, while the 'free coupon' items will likely be out of stock throughout the valid period.I don't like shopping or this tradition in the US, so I'm not exactly excited about it becoming a new Japanese tradition.Feel free to copy this silly .jpg I made for your phone wallpaper, if you like.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z83kb-living_shoppingFri, 20 Nov 2020 10:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z83kb-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaklA-living_food_autumnfood2020Have you ever eaten maple leaves?Not maple syrup, maple leaves.Usually, we just look at colorfulkaede/momiji, or Japanese maple leaves, in fall. In northern Osaka, people eat momiji tempura.Not an everyday snack, these are a local food from the Minoh area, only sold during the koyo season when visitors flock to the mountains in the area.Japanese maple are a fall icon, similar tosakura in the spring. Plus, these momiji tempura are a deep golden color when fried.It's a perfect compliment to enjoying the fall leaves.Apparently the recipe was made over 1300 years ago on Mt. Minoh to appreciate the colorful leaves in fall. From what I read about the process to make momiji tempura, the yellow leaves are collected from trees (not fallen leaves) in fall from a specific type of Japanese maple tree with edible leaves. They are then washed and preserved with salt, in a process similar to making umeboshi. This takes one year or longer. The maple leaves you can eat this fall might be from last year or two years ago.Of course, I needed to give these a try when we visited Minoh Falls in late October. (November is a better time for fall colors and illumination, but also much more crowded.)The momiji tempura is sold at several shops on the "taki michi" leading to the waterfall in Minoh Park, as well as in select shops in the area. While walking, you can see shopkeepers frying the leaves.Pricing will go up at the shops right in front of the waterfall, so it's better to buy them at the lower part of the road. The shop I bought them from sold packs of 60 grams for 300 yen, omiyage-worthy boxes of 90 grams for 500 yen, and likewise bigger boxes for 1000 yen and up if you're giving someone with strong teeth a souvenir. One leaf on it's own will run around 100 yen, so it's cheaper to get the small pack and try them with friends. At the end of the road, in front of the waterfall, prices were about double.The above is the package of 90 grams of momiji tempura, which was a good size snack for two people.The ingredients are really different from tempura batter, so I'm not sure why they're called that. The ingredients above show flour, sugar, sesame seeds, momiji leaves, and vegetable oil. They last around a month, surprisingly.So what do they taste like?Not like my idea of tempura, which is lighter and thinner in most cases. The leaves are thickly coated in batter and deeply fried, so they are super crispy! The taste is slightly sweet, salty, and oily - exactly like fried biscuits you might find in the otsumami section of any supermarket. In fact, they'd pair well with some Minoh Beer, also sold in some shops in the park. The shape is probably the cutest part, and despite containing maple leaves, there isn't an obvious leaf taste or anything.I liked them and would probably get them again, especially if anyone was visiting from out of town or I wanted a gift for someone - who doesn't wear dentures, hah.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaklA-living_food_autumnfood2020Fri, 06 Nov 2020 17:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaklA-living_food_autumnfood2020https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEPON-living_money_workHow have I lived in Japan for almost six years and no one told me I have to pay pension?This English website is a good resource for all things Japanese Pension System related. I'm not saying that it's easy to understand. At all.This one is quite good too, easier to understand, but also easier to go down the rabbit hole of horror stories.The story goes, I have never paid pension (nenkin) in Japan.When I first arrived, I worked as an ALT "full time" for a dispatch company (they are all just about the same in terms of providing pension support). Said company did not pay shakai hoken (company health insurance) orkosei nenkin (company pension), or help me to register for kokumin hokenor kokumin nenkin (national health insurance and pension), but they did instruct me to register for only the health insurance on my own.It's like "pension" is a bad word or something no one ever talks about.I didn't know that I was supposed to pay into the National Pension System, never got any bills in the mail, went back to the US after a year, no problem.This may be the case for most foreigners working temporarily in Japan. I've heard that a lot of companies even lie and say that foreigners don't have to pay. They don't want the financial burden of paying benefits.Anyone with an address in Japan between 20-59 years old has to pay into the pension system, legally.This doesn't mean that everyone does, regardless of nationality. I think there's a lot of misunderstanding about who has to pay and how to do so if you aren't automatically signed up for kosei nenkin by your company. The above links note some exemptions for people with disabilities, low incomes, students, etc. But it's all so complicated.When I came back to Japan, same story, ALT dispatch company. Then self employed, part timer, etc. so I thought I didn't have to pay into the system, if I didn't want to.In the US, the system is different. It's not likely that current social security payments cover basic living costs. So you'll understand my lack of trust in such a system.The kokuminnenkin form that came with the company health insurance form.Last week, my husband started a new job with company health insurance and pension benefits.His HR manager told him that I should sign paperwork to receive their benefits, and also that I had to pay pension, even though I'm not Japanese. We had never looked into it or had anyone tell us before.It sounds likeI will be responsible to pay for two years of pension payments in a lump sum (around 450,000 yen). Once I'm signed up with his work, my husband thinks I won't have to pay any more because I'm covered by his pension, but I'm really not sure yet. That might be a part two.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEPON-living_money_workWed, 04 Nov 2020 13:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEPON-living_money_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdvEk-food_autumnfood2020I guess it's because in October I'm used to carving pumpkins, but in Japan, I want to eat kabocha. The sweet pumpkin is technically available for quite a long season, but I mostly eat it in fall and winter.The orange color and sweet taste is perfect for fall.It's even an old tradition (superstition?) to eat kabocha on the winter solstice (around December 21st) so you won't get sick during winter.Today I got a seasonal kabocha pan and then I saw an easy kabocha recipe while flipping through a magazine. On my way home I stopped by the supermarket and got some!Time to make Kabocha Gohan.I lost my photo, but I bought a kabocha that was cut in half. Kabocha can be really hard to cut and if I buy a whole one it is sort of too much (unless we eat kabocha everything for at least two days).The trick to cutting kabocha without too much struggle is to boil it in water for a few minutes then let it sit for a while to soften. You could also microwave it or just boil water in a hot pot and pour it over the kabocha into a pot.After that, it's like slicing butter.Today's recipe, as interpreted from being quickly glanced over, but hey it's only three ingredients, starts here:1/8th of a kabocha, cut into bite size pieces(Whatever that means, as they vary in size. Mine had 15 pieces and it was plenty.)One cup of rice (the cup that comes with the rice cooker)A couple pinches of salt (soy sauce or tsuyu would be good too I imagine).First rinse off that pumpkin and soften it so it's safe to cut.Prepare the rice as usual, but now that I think of it, probably add a little extra water if you aren't using a salty liquid. I used brown rice.Add your pieces of pumpkin on top. I think you can tell from the photos, but it's okay to leave the skin on! (I usually cut off the skin on the edges of each piece and use it for kinpira.)Add a few pinches of salt or some soy sauce, etc.Cook as usual in the rice cooker.So easy. I'm a fan of the mazegohan. (Mixed rice - rice simply cooked in the rice cooker with whatever you have around.)But, I'm guessing you still have some kabocha left after trying this recipe.As mentioned above, kinpira is nice with kabocha or just the skin. It's also yummy fried in oil or butter, even with cinnamon!I think the way I use it the most often is in nimono. I boil it with soybeans, maybe fish cakes, other veggies, in a dashi with mirin and tsuyu. I used to make a "red-orange" spiced (curry, cumin, turmeric) soup with azuki beans, kabocha, and carrots all the time in fall, but it's been a while. Or, you could make more Kabocha Gohan if you liked it! I'm going to.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdvEk-food_autumnfood2020Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdvEk-food_autumnfood2020https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxLQX-living_educationYou may have seen the Japanese-made Kanji, 〆 on packagednabe (hot pot)broth before. It's another in my series of Weird Japanese; the things you won't find in Japanese textbooks.〆　（しめ）is used as a short form, usually meaning:閉める ...to close, as written on the back of an envelope; but also締める ...to fasten (as in deadline: 締め切り),絞める ...to tighten, and占める ...to occupy.(All of the above are read as shimeru.)It essentially looks like an X, written quickly.In the case of the nabe packaging (the only place I often see this character), the meaning is finishing. A lot of people make nabe, then add noodles or other toppings to finish off seconds or leftovers.Have you ever noticed this character before?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxLQX-living_educationThu, 29 Oct 2020 11:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxLQX-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gl5Z2-living_foodI found this Cawston Press ginger beer in a big AEON supermarket and was tempted, then got it when I went another time.I guess it's a good season for an apple cider style drink, and the sharp spicy ginger taste is appealing to me.Not to be confused, this isn't really beer. There's no alcohol.For whatever reason, brewed ginger sodas are called ginger beer.I'm not sure why, maybe for the same reason that Americans call fresh pressed apple juice apple cider, even though it has no alcohol either.It's nice but not exactly what I was used to in a ginger beer. I like that there is no added sugar and it's made with pressed apples. There is a bit of apple or ginger (or both) stuff at the bottom, so maybe it's better to gently shake.The 'dry' ginger taste is great. The bubbles are weak.The price is quite high - 200 yen a can if I remember correctly.Maybe it's like a carbonated apple ginger juice, of the variety made with a juicer? It's not as thick as juice.What I was used to back home was quite bubbly and sweet, a non-syrupy ginger ale but with something more. No apples though.Now I just want fresh pressed apple juice.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gl5Z2-living_foodTue, 27 Oct 2020 20:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gl5Z2-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnxZm-living_shopping_osakaFor the first time living in Japan, I saw these "Halloween Kabocha" for sale in my closest Gyomu Super for 780 yen. They were in the usual vegetable section and there were just a few of them, shown above.It says they're grown in Hokkaido.I've heard carving pumpkins are for sale at Costco in Japan, but they sell out right away. I'm not sure where those are grown.I'm not planning to carve pumpkins this year, but thought this was worth noting and I'm curious why.One reason they are for sale might be that Halloween has been becoming more and more popular in Japan. The store even pasted shapes onto them to help customers imagine what they're for.Another might be the location. I live in Minoh City now, north of Osaka City. There are lots of foreigners in the area because of Osaka University's international students. I read somewhere that Osaka Prefecture has more foreigners, as a percentage of the population, than Tokyo-To.Has anyone else seen carving pumpkins for sale this season?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnxZm-living_shopping_osakaWed, 21 Oct 2020 13:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnxZm-living_shopping_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR1jK-living_foodI saw this cute poster in my old school teaching kids how to use chopsticks and eat politely.I had heard that we shouldn't stand chopsticks upright into our food and also number one in this list, but the others make sense too!Here's a summary of the five rude things to avoid while eating with chopsticks:1. Passing food to someone else with your chopsticks is rude. (Right image) It's okay to put food directly onto someone else's dish, but using the back side of your chopsticks is more polite if there are no serving tongs.2. Being indecisive about what to pick up is normal, but it's rude to hover your chopsticks over dishes while trying to decide.3. In the same way, digging around for the thing you like instead of eating everything is also rude.4. Picking up food by stabbing it is probably weird in any culture.5. Last, moving a dish around with chopsticks isn't polite. It's totally fine to pick up your dishes while eating in Japanese culture, where in South Korea, it's seen as rude.Did you know about these customs?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR1jK-living_foodMon, 19 Oct 2020 11:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR1jK-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKPJA-shoppingI thought I was so smart hacking 100 yen frames so they could hang on the wall.The 100 yen shop frames that are made to set on a self should probably only be set on a shelf.We recently moved so I took all these kind of frames off the wall. I didn't get a photo, but they stained the wallpaper. It was not the frame part, but the back of the picture frame that left a brown stain on the wall.I'm not sure how much this affected the repair fee I'm responsible for now, as we lived there for almost five years and the wallpaper was not new when we moved in.I will not be using these frames in our new place.Of course I'm sure not all of the cheap frames would do this, but a heads up in case any of you had the same idea to decorate your home.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKPJA-shoppingMon, 19 Oct 2020 11:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKPJA-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5nPv-living_food_mino_shi_osakaThis label illustration is so good I had to try it.We recently moved to Minoo (or Minoh or Mino...) in Osaka Prefecture, so I wanted to try this local beer. I had already heard of Minoh Beer and seen this monkey illustration on a coaster a friend gave me.The company sells a few regular brews for a little less, but this one is a limited seasonal peach variety that comes in at 420 yen a bottle. There is also the 'Monkey IPA' on the left in the below photo. I got these at the Grand Marche wine shop in Onohara Higashi neighborhood. It's a college town with Osaka University Suita campus nearby.It was really nice! Super light and slightly fruity, with a bit of fizz and almost no foam. Maybe this was my first time to try a Weizen wheat / white beer. I think this would be nicer on a really hot day, but it's already cooling down. I might wait until next summer, but I'd like to try some of their other varieties.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5nPv-living_food_mino_shi_osakaSat, 17 Oct 2020 09:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5nPv-living_food_mino_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4298-living_shopping_osakaHave you seen the popular Hokkaido souvenir, Shiroi Koibito?The Hokkaido cream cookies can be bought all over Japan. I once had a classmate who bought them as omiyage every time he went on a business trip to Japan, usually in Tokyo.We are in the process of moving to Osaka now, so last weekend when we went to look at apartments, I chose the above as omiyage for work. Osaka is known for being full of funny people and the center of Japan's comedy scene. It made perfect sense to make a joke of the famous souvenir from Hokkaido by adding one character. Instead of just white, it becomes funny or interesting.白い恋人 --> 面白い恋人There's also an image of Osaka Castle on the box of white chocolate cookies.I'm a big fan of Japanese jokes and even make my own sometimes, so this 'funny partner' souvenir was perfect. There are also gifts from Osaka that imitate popular cold medicine packaging. The packaging has titles like, "オモシロクナル" or become funny.Some people could really use this medicine.It was good to laugh about these when we're stressed about all the changes going on.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4298-living_shopping_osakaSat, 03 Oct 2020 08:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4298-living_shopping_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPZd-livingI have only seen this twice I think, but it's one of those Japanese ways of doing things that you will never see in a textbook.If you saw the above "MICE" in a catalog, what would you think it meant?I didn't have a clue, but when my fluent-in-English Japanese husband saw it, he just laughed and said, "Usually miscellaneous is abbreviated as 'misc' but they wrote 'mice'."I don't know if that makes sense, but at least the mystery is solved. This outdoor party does not include mice in any form. As a native speaker, I can't write miscellaneous without spell check or remember how it's shortened, so I will not complain that they did it wrong! It's funny to me too.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPZd-livingSat, 03 Oct 2020 08:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPZd-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpO1n-living_fukuokaAs typhoon number ten is approaching, I remembered to look at the app I saw a coworker using earlier. (It can also be accessed by a computer.) The above image is a screenshot of Windy.com at 8 pm on Sunday September 6th, 2020. It's a nice visualization of what's going on, but can induce anxiety, as too much data often does.I feel like I'm not very good at preparing for emergencies. It's possible there will be a blackout and we don't own a flashlight or candles.It's too late now. Yesterday I stopped by the store before work only to give up because it was so crowded.When I went on my way home, a lot of things were sold out, including bread and instant ramen of course. This is the ramen isle.I removed everything from the balcony and we closed the shutters.I was sweeping the steps until I gave in to the fact that it was a waste of time. We have liquids in the fridge and a small amount of instant and canned food. We've charged up the phones and laptops.I can't help but think it will all be no big deal by tomorrow afternoon, even though schools and lots of businesses will be closed. Number nine blew past less than a week ago and wasn't more than a storm where I live. I'm already sure number tenis a big deal for people living on the west side of Kyushu, near the water.Stay safe inside for now.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpO1n-living_fukuokaSun, 06 Sep 2020 21:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpO1n-living_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDqVL-livingI hadn't ever thought about it much, but this is what the inside of a Japanese vending machine looks like, in case you've ever wondered.When drinks come out, they are horizontal, so this layout makes sense. For some reason I imagined drinks were sitting vertically inside. Maybe for some designs, they are?The shorter drinks are on the left and you can see two places below where they come out heated or cooled. On the right side, there is one place for the 500ml or so pet bottle size.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDqVL-livingTue, 25 Aug 2020 11:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDqVL-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjaYm-living_transportation_oitaWe got out of town last week for the first time in months, unless you count hopping over to the town next door for a routine visa renewal. It was starting on the last day of Obon week, I guess, for a couple nights. I was hoping things would be less crowded at this time and I think they were. Some of that was likely due to the lack of overseas visitors this season.We have been to Beppu City multiple times, as it's just a couple hours away by highway bus. The bus was not too crowded although we were still expected to wear masks the entire time and refrain from chatting too much. There was no effort to space out passengers on the bus although reservations are required. There was plenty of room to have no passengers sitting directly in front, behind, or beside us.The Obon week was probably the hottest time this summer, so our plan to finally visit the Oita Marine Palace, or UmiTamago, was good timing.From Beppu Station or Kitahama Highway Bus Terminal, discount tickets can be purchased. For 2550 yen per adult, entrance to both the aquarium and Takasaki Mountain Nature Park plus return bus fare is included. We skipped the monkey park as we had been before. We also heard the monkeys haven't been coming out lately because it's too hot.We headed out after breakfast to beat the heat. Visitors at UmiTamago are required to wear masks and use hand sanitizer. As you enter the aquarium, you walk over floor mats saturated in sanitizer to avoid tracking in germs on your shoes. I thought this was smart as any particles from coughs and sneezes will fly onto the ground.The first thing we did after arrival is the dolphin show, as it's outdoors and likely to get crowded. There are also some other outdoor tanks like manta rays and a 'beach' where small whales and dolphins are swimming.Then we spent some time indoors.The place is a good size and we looked at everything including catching one of the 'performances' where fish swam through hoops. The coolest place was the dark deep sea fish section. There are lots of benches to sit and rest too.The aquarium allows re-entry, so we went to the park area outside to sit in the shade and look at the water until the other show started. (There are shows a few times a day but both shows are at the same time.) We saw a sea otter, a pelican, and a walrus do tricks. The walrus was adorable, especially when she did sit-ups.Everyone wore masks, even outdoors, and the seating was marked off to allow space between groups. I even saw staff asking someone outside to put their mask back on, so they are enforcing this strictly.We spent at least a couple hours there, plus looked around the gift shops while we had time before the bus back. It was a good way to stay out of the heat.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjaYm-living_transportation_oitaTue, 25 Aug 2020 10:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjaYm-living_transportation_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqn7-living_educationI recently noticed a capital W mixed in with Japanese in an advertisement and asked about it. This is a typo, isn't it?Nope. That's Japanese.I hadn't noticed, but apparently the alphabet W is used in Japanese these days. (I'm not talking about the small w used in chats to mean warai or laughing.)And of course I started noticing it everywhere.What does it mean?Double U simply means DOUBLE.Japanese is so weird.I think I need to do a series on the written Japanese that they don't teach in textbooks.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqn7-living_educationMon, 10 Aug 2020 12:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBqn7-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPr2-living_foodIt's summer and I'm one of those people who likes umeboshi and ume flavors. While at a Lawson I saw this for 100 yen and took a chance. I've seen grape flavor elsewhere, so this might be new or seasonal.I like it!The ume taste is just strong enough and offset by plenty of sweetness. It's not salty. I don't usually eat candy or gummies, but I liked this.My husband liked it too, saying it reminds me of sweets he ate as a kid.Not saying it's healthy or helps deal with summer heat the way umeboshi does, but nice if you want that flavor in a unique way.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPr2-living_foodMon, 10 Aug 2020 12:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPr2-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9LJ-living_foodI've noticed that most countries I've been to have drinking yogurt - a more liquidy version of yogurt that can be used with cereals instead of milk. I've never seen it in the US where things tend to be very milk focused. I hate milk, but enjoy yogurt, and would have loved drinking yogurt for my cereal. As a kid I experimented with other liquids with my breakfast cereal and nothing was quite right until rice and soy milks became common there.This is a drinking soft serve ice cream, not yogurt, I guess. How weird! Is it too complicated to just eat some soft serve?This one is a drinking mango pudding. Hmm.I've seen so many things like this recently in one liter sized cartons: drinkable 'rare' cheesecake, an nin dofu, and pudding.I don't really get it. Soft foods aren't convenient enough to consume I guess.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9LJ-living_foodMon, 10 Aug 2020 12:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9LJ-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPpy-living_moneyIf you have a small business or are working as a sole proprietor in Japan, you might qualify for a government subsidy program. It has been created to help small businesses with income lost due to Coronavirus this year. Considering that most public spaces closed for a few months in spring, maybe you qualify for this.For example, when I file taxes, this is claimed as freelance or independent contractor income. Be careful if you are not claiming small business income - if you didn't report the income on your taxes for last year, this subsidy isn't for you.First step, if you have a small business of your own in Japan, check this website in English and make sure you qualify.This site also has all the links and info you need, plus more about support due to lost income this year.You'll need to have at least one month this year where your total income was 50% or less than last year's income from the same month. There is a formula towards the bottom of the page that will help you calculate the amount you would be able to receive as a subsidy.At first I misunderstood - for X in the formula below, they're looking for the total amount of income reported on last year's taxes, regardless of how much of that income has been affected this year by Coronavirus.(Screenshot: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI))I thought I could qualify based on only my work as a freelancer. In fact, I need to calculate based on the total income from my part time jobs too. I didn't lose any work this spring at one of those jobs, so I don't qualify after all.If you qualify for a subsidy, proceed to the next part. Fill out the application and submit your documents. There is no Japanese website for this, but in most cases it can be done online.This is the online application page. I used Weblio quite a bit for the legalize part that I wanna make sure I get the gist of properly, but if you can read Japanese decently, it's not bad. If you have a Japanese partner or friend who can help, it's more efficient. I only asked for help twice to double check and my Japanese isn't great. I should have asked for help about the qualification part before proceeding though!Before you start, you'll need files ready to go that you'll upload later. There isn't a button to save and come back later, so it's better to have some time set aside to work through this. 1.) last year's tax form (there are two files for most freelancers), 2.) your sales account book for the year (assuming whatever works, I made a PDF of my relevant Excel file.), 3.) a copy of your bank book (front cover plus inside first two pages - two separate files), and 4.) proof of identity, which is both sides of a zairyu card for most of us.Steps for the online application:Page one(above photo) is your type of business, your email address and agreeing to terms.Page two is checking that you have required documents, mentioned above.Page three is creating a login and password after confirming your email address.Page four is agreeing to the 'oath.' This is the part I translated. Essentially it's agreeing that you meet the requirements, are up to date on your taxes, etc., don't enter false info, agree to any investigations and will return the subsidy if you made stuff up, your income isn't gang related, and you'll follow the payment regulations. (Because the subsidy is a type of income, you'll be expected to pay taxes on it for this year.)You'll want to check all the boxes.Page five is your basic info like name, address, and industry type. Note that your name should match your name on your bank book, on the inside page.Page six is where I got stuck. There are so many choices. The first one, general application, should be fine in most cases. At the bottom you'll want to confirm if your name matches on your bank book and taxes or not.Page seven asks if you file a 'blue' or 'white' tax form. Then you'll enter your calculations (similar to the formula in the top picture) and bank info. This was a little strange but first you enter the bank number (it's next to the bank name on your bank book) and then click to show a list of all the branches. Next find the branch on your bank book and select it.Page eight is attaching your tax documents and ID.Page nine is checking that everything looks good, then you can click on submit!From there you can log out and you'll get a confirmation email with an application number.As long as everything goes fine, the amount will be deposited into your account in a couple weeks. After submitting the application, I got an email asking me to make corrections. Then I realized I didn't qualify at all... Ooops!Has anyone already done this? Are you gonna do it now?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPpy-living_moneyTue, 04 Aug 2020 09:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPpy-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyPn9-living_fukuokaRight about now, the Olympics was scheduled to be happening in Tokyo. We all know why that isn't going on, but anyway, most people still got a four day weekend from July 23rd - 26th.In this area, I don't know anyone who took advantage of that long weekend by going out of town. In fact, it rained every day, so no one wanted to go out at all. So much for the special new holiday, "Sports Day" or the day before it, "Ocean Day." Not much fun in the rain.The common theme for me this year has been that all of my holidays have been ruined.That four day weekend? I was working.I had great ambitions to travel this year but have been out of town overnight just twice. Even day trips have been limited to a couple visits to the immigration office.The scheduled trip to the US was canceled. The 'annual' blueberry picking outing was also canceled as the farm was flooded for the second year in a row.My unique experience this summer has been working during what is normally summer vacation.I've already experienced working through Golden Week and am still looking forward to some time off.One of my workplaces pushed the summer holiday back a week (starting soon!), while the school has shorted the summer vacation. Students have just a week plus a few days off in August for summer.This is going to get more challenging as the temperatures rise - in the next few days the rainy season should be ending. It's already been super hot and humid, mostly getting to work and back. I'm grateful for air-conditioned classrooms and solar power!This is my summer landscape...Students have modified desk screens and wear masks while indoors. I heard the number of heatstroke cases is higher than usual because of wearing masks, so I've been paying close attention to how hot I feel while working indoors for a while.Getting caught in the rain while on my way has been the worst of it so far. I think it's good for me to stay busy during summer because the vacation can get boring if lots of travel isn't planned. (I wish I had more than a few three day weekends in August, but am grateful for those.)During summer when I'm not traveling, I usually spend a lot more time organizing at home. Even though my work schedule hasn't changed this summer, I've already started spending the free time I have at home cleaning up. I just feel a need to simplify more during summer I guess? These times are not so unusual for introverts, and this month has been so rainy that I don't mind staying in at all when I can.One thing I'd like to figure out better is ways to exercise at home during summer. Besides cleaning and maybe yoga, it's been challenging. I'm still getting my usual commuting exercise in, but it's not fun to go for walks when it's super hot or rainy.Next time, I will have an actual travel experience to write about, as we're taking advantage of the Go To Campaign during one of the aforementioned three day weekends in August.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyPn9-living_fukuokaSat, 01 Aug 2020 18:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyPn9-living_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKPDV-living_foodSometimes while grocery shopping I find the silliest Engrish.I guess it's always good for a laugh?They got the sound right, but the spelling (and meaning) wrong, which is a common mistake, (even among native English speakers unfortunately).I don't know that I'd call this food a 'wrapper' in the first place. I didn't buy it, but it just looks like a breakfast burrito. I've seen 'wraps' used to describe rolled tortillas filled with sandwich type ingredients before (similar to salad rolls), but never heard them called 'wrappers.'Who knows...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKPDV-living_foodMon, 27 Jul 2020 12:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKPDV-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z42oq-living_foodA couple times a year, I have a grumpy meltdown because I haven't eaten enough and don't feel good, but there's nothing to eat at home. I'm entirely too impatient and can't make good decisions when I'm already hungry.In addition, I have a tendency to get migraines if I'm not eating enough, which means potentially needing to miss work for a problem that's theoretically easy to solve.My friend recommended that I find an energy bar to keep in stock for when I don't have time for a proper meal. I have a habit of grabbing a handful of raw nuts and maybe a small square of dark chocolate when I'm at home. During the times I'm out at work and it's been too long since having a meal, it's good to have something more than a senbei as a snack with me.I know there are lots of choices for diet / energy / protein bars in Japan, but I hadn't tried any of them. I decided to buy different ones to test out.My criteria:locally available at the super-drug store close to homereasonable (they were all under 150 yen per serving, tax included)tastes goodeffectiveness at preventing meltdownsas a bonus, protein, vitamin and calorie contentThe ones I would recommend and am probably keeping in stock:Balance Power Big: Almond At 98 yen for a two pack, they're a good value. These have 160kcal, 2.5g protein, and 15g sugar per pack.These include lots of vitamins and are also available in a bigger package that seems like an even better price per serving (149 yen for six smaller packs). I got the Caramel Brownie one and they're great too.Caloriemate Block: Maple is a classic design I've seen all over Japan. This was 139 yen for a two pack that contains 200kcal, 4g protein, and 20g sugar in each pack. Good amount of vitamins too. I liked this and felt a little more energetic after eating one pack. The other flavors (plain, chocolate, fruit, cheese) don't seem very appealing to me.Cream Genmai Bran: Blueberry at 108 yen for a two pack was probably my favorite. Each pack has 177 kcal, 5g protein, 15g sugar and some vitamins. Healthy, but tasty.I also picked up a Cream Genmai Bran: Goma that I haven't tried yet.Cream Genmai Bran: Matcha is also by Asahi but a little pricier at 138 yen for a two pack. These have 157kcal, 1.8g protein, and 18g sugar plus vitamins like iron, magnesium, B etc. They're a tasty and dense sweet treat. There is also a chocolate strawberry one for the same price that looks like it might be good.The ones I didn't like and won't buy again:(Photo with the Asahi Cream Genmai Bran above) One Bar ManzokuCereal: Blackfor 98 yen has 173kcal, 2.4g protein, and 20g sugar. It tastes like a candy bar with B vitamins, but without the crash from burning off the sugar too fast. This was really sweet despite “80% off sugar.” In Protein Bar: Bitterat 138 yen has 199kcal, 16.2g protein, 6g sugar. It has a weird (like astronaut ice cream) texture, not tasty, but lots of protein.Asahi Protein: Yogurtat 138 yen has 186kcal, 15g protein, and 16g sugar. To me, it's not not yummy at all.In conclusion:Compared with supplemented drinks, these are a little harder to eat at work when I'm too busy for a break. They're more cost effective though, especially the bars I liked that have two packs each.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z42oq-living_foodThu, 23 Jul 2020 20:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z42oq-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9V5-living_foodI had been eyeing this Giant "drumstick" ice cream cone for a while, but unable to rationalize paying 148 yen for it when that would almost pay for a box of ice cream bars.The regular Giant cones are less than 100 yen each, but this is a premium flavor. After all, it's called "Adult Chocolate Berry."What convinced me to try it is one of my students excitedly telling me she rewarded herself (after four days of testing at school) with a triple scoop of gelato. Japanese has this cute word: (御褒美) gohoubi, that means to reward yourself. The first character is to make it sound polite since you're giving yourself a reward.I needed a gohoubi too. I've been working six days a week for over a month to cover some make-up lessons - delayed because of Covid19. I got this to celebrate the last lesson in that course.And look, after opening this up, I was thanked for my hard work, haha.This is not an every day ice cream. In fact, I'm not enough of an adult for it. I had to give my husband a couple bites because it was too much for me. (I've gotten used to tiny Japanese ice creams?)I'm not a chocolate cone fan, but overall, this was yummy.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9V5-living_foodTue, 21 Jul 2020 21:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9V5-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyPDj-living_fukuokaThis made me laugh.The rain was so crazy here in early July that the image for sunny was broken, haha.It seems like the crazy rain finally ended here in Kyushu, but we have mostly cloudy days ahead for the next week.I'm happy because cloudy and (reasonably) rainy is better than the summer weather for me. Once it hits 30 degrees and above I'm just uncomfortable.On the other hand, hot and sunny is better for most people I've asked. It's understandable if you consider all the flooding that happens every year in Kyushu. Here's the riverbank nearby, with the grass mostly submerged.Which do you like better, the rainy season or summer in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyPDj-living_fukuokaThu, 16 Jul 2020 10:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyPDj-living_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1bJ1-living_foodI grabbed this "premium adult black tea" golden peach tea (108 yen) from Lawson convenience store the other day, failing to notice the top where it says "0kcal."I should pay better attention to these kinds of things.At first, I thought it was too sweet, but yummy. A peach version of the lemon tea I've had before. But... there was a weird aftertaste, then I noticed why.Despite having honey at the top of the ingredient list, this 500ml pack shows 0 kcal for 100ml. That's because another ingredient is aspertame.It's not super common in Japan, but aspertame is an artificial sugar that's been around for years, commonly used for diet sodas. It's not especially healthy, as I know from my research for a uni health class paper.I'd rather have the real sugar and calories than this fake stuff!If the aspertame doesn't bother you, this is easy to drink, other than the aftertaste. It did leave me feeling dehydrated afterwards, strangely enough. I'd be sure to drink plenty of water in addition to the tea if you get it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1bJ1-living_foodThu, 16 Jul 2020 08:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1bJ1-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnxBo-living_oki_machi_fukuokaThis spring we went to Oki Machi for strawberry picking. The area is also known for growing mushrooms.I hadn't seen mushrooms being grown much, so it was interesting to go in the special cool but humid mushroom space in their rest stop store.For around 100 yen, you can choose the bunch of mushrooms you want, then at the register, pop them off of the bottle they are growing out of. Then the staff put the bottle back I guess for the mushrooms to be regrown.They had shimeiji (above) , but also eringi and enoki mushrooms growing this way. They were bigger than the ones sold in stores and of course fresher.We also picked strawberries at the farm beside the same rest area.They have the local amaou strawberries, but also about five other varieties. It was a fun outing to the countryside!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnxBo-living_oki_machi_fukuokaFri, 10 Jul 2020 11:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnxBo-living_oki_machi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrVBD-living_foodHave you seen this Morinaga Milk Caramel Latte?I think it's new, but it makes perfect sense to brand a well known candy with a caramel cafe latte. (I'm hoping there will be a hot version I can try in the fall. The cold milk will destroy me.)I also saw Morinaga Milk Caramel ice creams that I'm pretty tempted to test out.This one... looks a bit scary, but I've heard it's popular as a tapioca milk tea flavor. Tapioca is still really trendy, which I just think is funny as Japan was so late to pick up on it.I guess, royal milk tea is nice, but cheese in addition to the milk might be good? I don't think I can do it, but has anyone tried this?Edit: This one is crazy too - ChupaChup strawberry milk?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrVBD-living_foodFri, 10 Jul 2020 11:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrVBD-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6qEE-living_foodIs it just me, or do any other adults get tempted to buy kids snacks with cute characters on them?Growing up I didn't really eat processed foods or sweet snacks and cereals in general. I definitely don't think the packaged snacks had picture book characters on them.Sometimes I think this is a good thing. The characters entice kids (er...adults?) to want the snacks, but they aren't necessarily good for us.I'm sure the above Moomin buttered rum black tea flavored chocolate is made for adults. Japanese design is more appealing to me in general, but those sweet nostalgic picture book characters are not from Japan.Maybe it's more normal for adults in Japan to like cute characters, but in western countries, it's seen as childish?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6qEE-living_foodFri, 10 Jul 2020 10:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6qEE-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPP2J-living_education_fukuokaSchools in the area have been closed for the day because of rain.Yesterday while waiting for a class to arrive to a community center during heavy rain, a coworker and I noticed a lot of junior high school students going home. This would be normal except that it was only 2pm. Sometimes there are days when students have tests and finish early, but I suspect they were sent home early because of rain.I went for a walk on Sunday (photo above taken before the rain started) and on the way home the rain caught me. It's gone on without letting up much and is expected to continue until Wednesday morning. Heavy rain is normal in Kyushu, but every rainy season, it's sad to hear the news about flooding in one place or another. I'm hoping Kumamoto gets a break from the rain so the people there can stay safe.A couple years ago, the Chikugo River overflowed so much here that the Yume Town shopping mall flooded. Light flooding is normal on some streets, making it hard or impossible for cars and sometimes trains to get through. (One of the smaller train lines has been completely or partially stopped all week.)Of course elementary school students in Japan usually walk to school. Yesterday must have been difficult because the wind was also strong, so umbrellas were useless. It's been raining up to 40 mm an hour too.This morning I was getting ready to go to the school as usual, hoping the rain and wind would stay on the weak side. I don't have a car and usually ride my bike there in about 15 minutes. On rainy days, I walk with an umbrella, which takes 30 minutes each way. It makes leaving early in the morning feel more rushed. Then I noticed an email from a coworker.I was relieved to find out the school had been closed for today.My husband and I talked about how this was really weird to us, after living in Kanto. I worked in Saitama for a year and never once was the school closed because of rain or snow. One time we were sent home about an hour early because a typhoon was coming, but school was as usual the next day. He said he never experienced schools closing because of rain growing up.I think it's because Kyushu has so much rain compared with Kanto. But still, I wondered if kids these days are being spoiled. A coworker joked that this school year, kids haven't gone to school much.In other regions, do schools often close because of harsh rain or typhoons?Edit: Schools here were closed or finished early all week for the week of July 6th!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPP2J-living_education_fukuokaWed, 08 Jul 2020 18:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPP2J-living_education_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAqvo-living_food_yamagataNormally we don't splurge on fruit much. We do get spoiled a little bit on occasion because my mother in law and my students are generous.My sister in law is from Yamagata Prefecture. She lives in Tokyo (with my husband's brother), and her parents sent them some cherries. She then passed some on to my mother in law in Chiba.Then my mother in law sent some of them all the way to us in Fukuoka Prefecture.We finished them off without having anyone else to share them with.The cherries from Yamagata are similar to Rainier cherries from the Pacific Northwest. I've only tried them once before this and they're really nice, but the season is short and they're expensive.They are worth buying from time to time... but I think the season is over this year.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAqvo-living_food_yamagataTue, 07 Jul 2020 10:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAqvo-living_food_yamagatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLQjV-living_food_oitaThis was a gift so I'm not sure how much it costs and I haven't seen it in a store before. I heard it's sold at a mom & pop liquor store in a small town near where I live.If you can find it, this Kabosu Baeren Radler is a really fruity, easy to drink light beer. Only 2.5% so it's safe for lightweights like me, even for day drinking.The kabosu (like a round lime) is from Oita Prefecture, but the company is based in Iwate.I'm interested to try the company's other beers if possible. Have you ever seen this?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLQjV-living_food_oitaTue, 07 Jul 2020 09:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLQjV-living_food_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0vKn-livingCivil unrest in the US has overshadowed Coronavirus news lately, and when I really thought the protests in Hong Kong were mostly shut down in spring because of the virus, they've been sparked again. I highly recommend watching the documentary 13th(free stream in link) and educating yourselves on why the civil unrest is happening in the US. It's amazing what is left out of our school education.In the midst of social change, some people say that Covid-19 has quickly progressed the digital transformation. Dubbed the new normal, wearing masks, evolving education, and changing communication processes are expected to continue.With vaccine testing in progress, we still don't know how effective they will be. Possibly similar to an influenza vaccine that needs to be administered every year and only effective for the current strains of virus. At this point, we still don't know a lot of details.In this case, how will the travel and tourism industries recover, if at all? I'm not that excited about virtual reality visits to an onsen resort and am looking forward to the real thing. Especially when it comes to seeing friends and family in person without worrying about their health.It's nothing new to hear about designer masks, summer masks with ice packs, masks showing images of the wearer's face, etc. Back in February I knew reusable fabric masks would be in demand, but some companies are just now catching on. One local clothing company started making fabric masks and their online sales have basically saved the business from a huge loss in retail income since shops were closed for months.It's now totally normal to see fabric masks hung out with the laundry while going for walks. I'm also very entertained by the thought of "mask tan" as it gets hotter.The education system in Japan is (as usual) dragging its feet, but I really think that eventually, online education will be implemented here like it has been elsewhere. Students are supposed to wear masks in the classroom, but younger students especially don't seem to grasp the concept of social distancing.I'm grateful for online lessons saving my income. It's really convenient for my independent lesson, especially on rainy or busy days. And the days have been busy. At the eikaiwa, we're prepared for the second wave, and even now students can show up online if it's more convenient. In addition, working at home will be an option for teachers who normally use public transportation to get to work.I haven't heard how public transportation has fared, but I'm guessing the income has decreased. Restaurants have had to adapt to provide take out and bento, a much needed service for busy working people. Guest house businesses have also adapted to host Japanese people returning from overseas who want to quarantine away from family members or who are feeling sick but have not yet taken PRC tests. In this way, innovation is helping the businesses for now, with no end in sight to the decrease in tourism.More than ever, developing the technical skills to adapt to working remotely and with AI is part of the digital transformation that has become our new normal. I think the changing process is far from over.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0vKn-livingFri, 03 Jul 2020 10:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0vKn-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyP3a-living_foodI didn't think I'd be saying this so soon, but we ate at an all you can eat restaurant yesterday.I wasn't sure if that type of restaurant would even be open, so my husband checked online about the place we go to every year as a treat after applying for my visa renewal.The website said they were open as usual, but the restaurant changed the buffet part to only be on weekends and holidays. We found out after arriving unfortunately, so we decided to go elsewhere.The kushikatsu restaurant we've been to a couple times before was still open, with shortened hours between meal times.The sign at the entrance showed that masks and gloves should be worn while walking around the restaurant and taking food.I later noticed the small print that we should keep our voices down while eating too. This makes sense as talking loudly can spray droplets into the air. The patrons sitting next to us definitely weren't trying to stay quiet.The restaurant has no opening windows, but because they have multiple fryers, the ventilation system is strong. They seated people right next to each other because it was busy at lunch time. I wished we weren't sitting just opposite another group, with only a little barrier between tables.It was different, but it's nice that doing this kind of thing is still possible, considering that several restaurants in the US have been struggling financially and gone out of business recently.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyP3a-living_foodThu, 25 Jun 2020 11:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyP3a-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpOnB-living_foodIn Japan, I heard there's a limited amount of butter, so it's a product that is often sold out normally. In the last few months, it's also been subject to hoarding off and on, probably mostly when cases of Covid in Hokkaido are high.The message below confirmed my suspicions that Hokkaido is just having trouble keeping up with their usual production right now.I keep checking, but for about a month, the butter I usually buy has been sold out or just not shipped to the supermarkets.My husband bought a big (450 gr) butter a while ago, then realized it's a weird half butter and half margarine blend. It's not great, but it will have to do until I can find the usual stuff.We don't do any baking so our butter use isn't intense. I'm guessing a lot of you have also had trouble finding butter recently?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpOnB-living_foodSun, 21 Jun 2020 08:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpOnB-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7R8N-livingI knew of Miffy, but until recently I didn't really know about her Dutch illustrator, Dick Bruna. Some people think Miffy is a Japanese character but she is from the Netherlands. Bruna even said that he thinks Hello Kitty is copying the Miffy design which was created more than 20 years earlier.In the last week, I noticed the above design for a pamphlet in our local city hall. The illustration was previously used for Bruna's Japanese postage stamps. He illustrated so many children's books and book covers for other authors too. I never read the books, but I see Miffy on products in Japan often. Japanese design is often simple, which is why I was drawn to it in the first place. I understand why Bruna's illustrations are popular here.I also picked up this Miffy toy at Seria last week. Now I realize that the Japanese characters I love (Hello Kitty and Rilakuma) are really similar to Miffy's simple design. I still like cats and bears more than rabbits, but I have a new appreciation for this little rabbit.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7R8N-livingSun, 21 Jun 2020 08:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7R8N-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M96Xn-livingSpotted this "invisible umbrella" ... kinda how I feel.Here's a top five list: things I want to do after corona.Since March things have been weird in Japan. Even though we got out for a nearby long weekend, it was strangely quiet.Of course, a couple months later I was already restless.Number one I wanna travel again once this has all settled down. I'm always down for an onsen weekend in Beppu or exploring new places in Japan.As of now, if I leave Japan, I'm not allowed back in. So I'm stuck here, despite the planned trip to visit family this summer.My husband and I don't eat out at restaurants too often. Usually around once a month, we'll go to an all you can eat buffet style restaurant for lunch. We're both big eaters so this is cost effective, although we are slowing down as we get older.I'm not sure about the current status of buffet restaurants, but as the bread shops have bagged all of their breads that were once out in the open, I think the layout must have changed a lot. That is, if places are even still open.Number two is, we want to eat in buffet restaurants. It will be nice to be able to take a break from cooking without getting prepared foods from the supermarket.We've missed out on a few festivals already and most of the long time summer festivals in Japan have been canceled this year. Not that we ever want to be around crowds, but we do enjoy some of the small festivals that are outside in nicer seasons. I haven't heard about the big fireworks ordeal in town yet. I'm hoping next year won't see all the festivals canceled again. As of now, some of the summer and fall festivals in the area are still on, so I hope they prove to be safe enough to attend. Our annual blueberry picking outing is delayed but still so-far so-good, and I'm looking forward to that in July! Number three would be I wanna go to festivals and outdoor events.Another thing that's been canceled lately is all the work related drinking parties and just going out with friends. It's bbq season, so hopefully I'll have the chance to enjoy outdoor grilling and even camping and hiking without too much awkwardness in the near future. Number four isI want to attend social gatherings, which as an introvert, I'm surprised is something I miss.Number five would have to be that I want a normal vacation from work. Here I wrote about the last minute changes to my work schedules, resulting in no weeks off from work since the New Year holidays in January this year. Summer vacation will consist of a few three day weekends where I'll probably stay in town. I'm guessing this winter is not going to be any better for travel, but I'm Really Looking Forward to Two Weeks Off with absolutely no work.I like my jobs, but I'm ready for a break.I've heard so much about people quarantining at home for months, bored out of their minds, watching TV all day... Can't relate at all!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M96Xn-livingWed, 17 Jun 2020 18:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M96Xn-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5n6W-living_shoppingAs a City-Cost user, I've been using Amazon.co.jp a lot because I earn credit by blogging. It's convenient because I can see the details in English and find things that aren't always available locally.I just started to use iHerb though. If you've used it you'll recognize their box design in the picture.Amazon didn't have what I wanted (Jason Naturals Vitamin E oil!) without shipping from the US and paying a high shipping fee. I've found better deals for some other products on iHerb too.Based in the US, the company also has a shipping center in S. Korea, so I've gotten both of my orders fast - about five days. Considering they're mostly products imported from the US this is a lot better than anything delivered from there directly to Japan.I also like that I can shop in English, but I can also set the currency to US dollars even though my orders are shipped to Japan. As I'm using a US credit card, it's just better to not have to pay extra for converting currencies.I'm kinda into side hustles, although I'll admit I'm not so focused on that lately. iHerb has a rewards program, so if anyone uses my special code, they can get at least 5% off their entire order. This also gives me the same percentage (with no change to the cost) and I can use that credit for my next order. I've done an internet search to find a reward code for that extra 5% off my iHerb order, but if you want to share yours in the comments, I'll use it next time!If you need a discount code when you place an order, feel free to use mine: BID5636To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5n6W-living_shoppingSun, 14 Jun 2020 14:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5n6W-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk5Qr-living_education_workToday was my first day of the school year for my part time ALT job.It was a long day.My schedule changed to accommodate more lessons and I'm working with two new "Gaikokugo" teachers for the first time.Nothing too different other than the masks and spaced out desks. Students didn't look super happy to be back at school, haha.When I was stamping my inkan at the end of the day, I noticed that my schedule had been marked with some hours I didn't work.I chatted with the staff about it - this was the answer to why I had been paid way more than expected for April. The university had decided to pay me for half of the hours I normally worked (last year), which I didn't expect at all, as a contract part-timer. I really appreciate this because I don't normally get benefits for this job.In fact, I contacted them right away after seeing my payslip last week because I thought they had made a mistake. The special paid days are marked with, "在宅" - (zaitaku) staying at home.The hours were added for both April and May, but not March as the higher-ups hadn't yet decided if the benefit would be given.I asked about another thing that has been on my mind: the schedule for this term/school year.I had heard rumors, and even seen news articles mentioning potentially extending the school year into the summer vacation.I just worked through Golden Week at my other job which has remained open this whole time, so I want my summer vacation this year!It hasn't been decided yet, but at the school where I work they are thinking about extending the first term until early August, taking a couple weeks for summer vacation, and starting the second term in late August.I understand this makes sense as it's not exactly possible to extend the end of the school year with such a short and busy spring break season in Japan.Maybe it's just my distaste for doing anything during Japanese summers in general, but I still can't help but feel unhappy (read: いやだ) about it. I've planned to visit family in July when my other job has their summer break, at the usual start of the summer vacation for schools.If the summer vacations don't line up (but I can actually use the flights I bought at a steep discount), I'm just gonna have to take a couple weeks off before the shortened summer vacation even starts.How about your work vacation schedule / kids' school schedules?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk5Qr-living_education_workThu, 04 Jun 2020 15:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk5Qr-living_education_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgaOl-living_medicalFor at least a year, I've been struggling with migraines again, which has been a thing off and on for at least ten years. It was diagnosed at the beginning with some pain pills (that didn't do much other than make me sleepy). The doctor at that time actually said she thought I needed glasses first, as up until then, I hadn't worn them. After explaining that an optometrist told me I wasn't ever going to need glasses, she came up with migraine as the next likely cause of ridiculous headaches.At that time, I had bought myself a laptop and also used computers all day at work.That's all it took to ruin my eyes.After another not-computer job, then a transfer to again work on computers, I found myself with those headaches again.This time I had health insurance including vision. So I got myself a free vision check, just in case that was the problem.It turns out I have astigmatism and am a little farsighted.This was all in the US...Now I live in Japan.Which means glasses shops (めがねやさん) also give you vision tests, there's no vision insurance, but it's affordable, etc. It's different.I've gotten regular vision checks with updates to my prescriptions since moving here, all in Japanese, which has been fine. Instead of alphabet letters, I'm asked to read hiragana or those closed C shapes that are facing different directions.I'm due for another check, and this time I'm going to the ganka, not the shopping mall glasses shop with cheap frames.The reason is my eyes freaking hurt!After looking at a million resources online, (Computer screen refresh rates, blue light block and FL-41 lenses, Dry Eyes frames, Binocular Vision Dysfunction...) I've come to realize, this pain is due to using computers at work for the last year. Before that I had been mostly working in public schools.Now the bulk of my work hours are using a computer attached to an angled wide screen TV, pulling up resources and worksheets. And then there's the bright lights and windows creating glare.In addition to this, a lot of lessons have gone online in the last few months. Staring at my students onscreen may have made things worse recently. In Japanese, eye strain is just called 'tired eyes,' or 疲れ目 with the technical name, asthenopia or 眼精疲労.Symptoms of eye problems are similar to that of migraine, especially vestibular types. Dizziness, poor coordination, difficulty focusing, fatigue, light sensitivity, and dry eyes. Yep, I have all those.In addition to iHerb orders with supplements recommended for migraineurs, I'm practicing better eye health.This includes a sticky note reminding me to take computer breaks at home, but also:8 Plus hours of uninterrupted sleep every night - this is not easy, but that magnesium is supposed to help with sleep too!Taking breaks & closing eyes- really helps, when I can get a break.Limit screen time - seriously, I'm addicted.Proper lighting for tasks - no Zoom calls in the dark please.Humidifier and improved air quality - especially if the aircon/heater is on.Are you noticing eye strain too?I promise I'm going to the eye doctor this week, as soon as I can get away from the computer.Edit: I am getting another pair of glasses for near work and hopefully they help!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgaOl-living_medicalFri, 29 May 2020 10:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgaOl-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mgavj-living_shoppingIn this sustainability article, I wrote about how to place more eco-friendly Amazon orders. I may have been a little wrong.I compared my recent online orders, mostly from Amazon, by taking photos of the boxes. Notoriously, boxes from Amazon are too big for what they contain, and these three boxes all have different packaging methods.I also used iHerb for the first time recently. Although I plan to use them again because there are a lot of good points, they are about on par with Amazon warehouse shipping practices. The box was more appropriately sized, but there were tiny useless air cushions and unnecessary plastic wrapping some of the items.The best - in terms of eco-friendly packaging was the Amazon private seller that I used. The company based in Kobe also offers free shipping with orders over 6000 yen and I found the prices were better than most of the same products shipped from Amazon warehouses. They also shipped the box in two days - the same or better than when I choose standard shipping from Amazon warehouses.The box was a good size and no extra packaging was needed.If I consider packaging and bring my own bag when I shop in physical stores, why not think about how the online orders I place are packaged?I think I'll be ordering from Amazon private sellers over the warehouse shipped items in the future!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mgavj-living_shoppingMon, 18 May 2020 12:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mgavj-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5nRe-living_medical_fukuokaA play on Abenomics (アベノミクス), Abenomask (アベのマスク) is a funny word describing the fabric masks to be sent to each household in Japan. We got ours last week, right after I read an article saying some people in Tokyo had still not received theirs. I was surprised because we live in a normal city outside of Fukuoka City.Sure, the masks came a little too late, but it sounds like a lot of people are expecting and preparing for a "second wave" of the virus to hit around fall. It's already been a little difficult to wear a mask as the days get warmer.There's a reminder to avoid closed areas, crowds, and close contact on the flyer that came with our masks. In the last week, since the state emergency was lifted in Fukuoka Prefecture, I've seen older couples talking with neighbors and extended families having bbqs, all without masks on. It's great to enjoy the nice weather before it gets too hot and rainy, but I don't know if the worst of this is over in Japan. The spread of Covid-19 might slow down for the summer in Japan, but I wonder if opening everything up might backfire on us. If businesses close windows on rainy or hot days and use air conditioners, they might be creating an ideal environment for the virus to spread, even during summer.I don't want to hide at home all year, but Kyushu's super rainy season will start soon. I'll be happy when I don't have to go out in the rain.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5nRe-living_medical_fukuokaMon, 18 May 2020 09:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5nRe-living_medical_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXQ4X-living_foodA sucker for yuzu drinks and sweets, I almost got a box of these seasonal Yuzu Melty Kiss around February when they were around 140 yen a box. (This is already a good deal for Melty Kiss in most cases.)Right before GW on a quick stop by The Daiso, I noticed these in addition to other Meiji brand seasonal chocolate (like the orange liquor ones). 108 yen for this, sure, I'll try it!I was honestly not sure if the flavors would be nice together, but I liked it a lot. The yuzu flavor was strong to me and balanced well.Not sure if you can still find any Melty Kiss at your local 100 yen shop, but if you're going anyway it's a good price.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXQ4X-living_foodMon, 11 May 2020 10:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXQ4X-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9JO-living_educationIt's Monday May fourth (hah, May the fourth be with you), day two in my three day weekend this Golden Week.A lot of you may be experiencing more like a three month holiday this year, with schools closed since March until at least the end of this month. I have had a long break from my part time ALT job, and despite an eagerness for things to return to normal, the end is uncertain.You may have heard that MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) is considering changing the start of the school year in Japan from April to September, to match that of western countries. Their reasoning is that students will be able to study abroad more smoothly, in addition to the concern that they don't know when school will be business as usual (if ever) again.The fact is, government organizations like MEXT are often criticized for changing slowly because of a hope for everyone to agree first. If they can't make a decision very soon and act upon it, planning for that change in about four months, it's not going to happen. I've seen a lot of comments where foreigners agree, hmm, interesting idea, but they'll never pull it together in time.Back where I'm from, it sounds like all students have transitioned to studying online, with a lot of homeschooling from parents who might be trying to learn how to work from home themselves. Why isn't Japan getting on board with online education?My other part time job is at an eikaiwa, where we have switched to Zoom lessons for those who prefer it, but several students still come in person. I'm one of a few staff who comes in person (without the need to use public transportation) but all other staff are working from home. (We are open for this GW but will take an extra week of this summer.) On Saturday I asked a couple classes what they think about this whole September thing. (The students are mostly in junior high school, with one being a new high school student and one adult student.)They had nothing optimistic to say about the potential change, except the high school student (the study abroad thing was brought up).The junior high school students were thinking very short term, with comments like, "I can't see my friends for a long time," and "It's not fun to study alone." Also ideas like, what are we supposed to study until then?A good point was that things start in Spring in Japan and culturally, cherry blossoms have this bittersweet ending and new beginning feeling. Would this feeling change, maybe to colorful maple leaves?The adult student was thinking more in terms of how difficult it would be to adjust not only for students, but also for parents and in other workplaces.Still no guarantees that a September school start in Japan will ever happen, but what do you think about it?*Update: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13402069To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9JO-living_educationWed, 06 May 2020 10:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we9JO-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBq2R-living_food_yanagawa_shi_fukuokaOne of the teachers I work with (not yet, technically) at an elementary school is from Yanagawa City in Fukuoka Prefecture. It's known for the girl's day festival and foods like nori.We met to discuss scheduling and he gave me the above pictured treats as omiyage.The one on the left is "Yuzu suko flavor nori ten" which are like nori tempura chips with a yuzu kosho flavor. They're really easy to eat and the crumbs at the bottom would make a nice furikake too. Recommended unless you can't tolerate the spicy peppery taste of yuzu kosho.On the right is "nori kuro," a little tube of black nori and yuzu kosho flavor paste with recommended uses on tofu, pasta, hot dogs, whatever. We put a little on sashimi and it was nice, but I think it's gonna go great with zaru soba the next time we eat that.If you see these at a Fukuoka local foods 'satellite' shop in your area, give them a try!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBq2R-living_food_yanagawa_shi_fukuokaMon, 04 May 2020 12:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBq2R-living_food_yanagawa_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPYk-living_food_fukuokaDuring the GW holiday, for the last two years, we've gone to a new tea picking festival. It's great and we would have gone this year, but as expected everything fun is canceled.This year I'm focused on my health so I decided (again) to cut out coffee, a daily addiction for at least eight years. I've taken breaks for sure, but usually get back to a cup a day or more, and don't think it is the best for my health. I'm drinking this roasted dandelion instant "fake coffee" which claims to not have withdrawal symptoms. Not true!One reason I keep going back to giving up coffee is that it isn't a locally produced crop. I live so close to a tea growing region so it makes way more sense to drink green tea instead. I drink it daily already but am planning to replace my coffee habit with local Yame tea and hydrate better in general. I'm in the cutting back phase this week.*raises mug of teaHere's to health, for all of you!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPYk-living_food_fukuokaMon, 04 May 2020 11:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVPYk-living_food_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPyd-food_kobayashicity_miyazaki_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiSettled between the two biggest cities in southern Kyushu, Kobayashi City is an hour and a half from Miyazaki City and an hour and 45 minutes from Kagoshima City by highway bus.In Kobayashi City, visitors can enjoy a farmhouse stay or stay in traditional houses called karukaya in Suki Village, go hiking in the Kirishima mountain range, try ceramics painting, or soak in Kanogo Onsen. Karakuni Dake is a 1700-meter tall mountain where Lake Onami can be seen. It looks so pretty that I want to try this 3 hour easy hike. As I live in Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu, Miyazaki Prefecture isn't so far away, but I've only been to Takachihokyo(gorge) near Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures. I was confused that there is a mountain named Takachiho Mountain in Kobayashi City, in the southern part of the prefecture. Traditional foods in Kobayashi City are carp and other fish, as well as Miyazaki beef. Beef from grass fed cattle is tastier and safer for the cows, but it's generally more expensive. In the southern part of Kyushu, “black beef” and “black pork” are popular, but I'm not sure that the taste is any different – it's just named that because the animals are black.My husband and I had the chance to try thick sliced Miyazaki-gyu sirloin steaks by Kurazono Farm in Kobayashi City.My inner design nerd appreciated the packaging. Even the “white tray” that the meat was on was black.The two steaks were 150 grams each, around 2.5 cm thick, and marbled, but looked like they had a larger amount of fat than other wagyu we've seen (and even more than in the photos on the flyer that came with the beef). Each steak was about the size of a deck of cards, which is the recommended serving size for meat. I thought they would shrink up a lot while cooking, but the size stayed almost the same.This thickness is rare in Japan and reminded me of the steaks we can find in the US for barbecue. It's too bad we don't have a BBQ grill, but I know some people in Japan own a little grill or use one in a park. I would just be concerned about the amount of fat that drips off of such a fatty cut of meat. (The leftover oil was enough to be reused to fry eggs the next morning.)We decided on frying the steaks in a frying pan without any seasoning as it's grass fed beef that should have a good flavor on it's own. They were fried for 3-5 minutes on each side and cooked medium rare.For the first taste, I wanted to try without seasoning. The flavor was really rich and fatty, but I agreed with my husband that it was nicer with salt and pepper. It didn't need any other seasoning and was a really nice treat for us, just paired with rice.I have noticed that what appears to be Kobayashi-gyu is sold at local Aeon supermarket, The Big, where 100 grams is sold for around 700 yen. We might have to try that too sometime ...This post is supported by Kobayashi City Promotion Company Inc., one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPyd-food_kobayashicity_miyazaki_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiMon, 20 Apr 2020 15:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPPyd-food_kobayashicity_miyazaki_kobayashi_shi_miyazakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmjja-living_shoppingIn Fukuoka Prefecture, we're supposed to stay home if possible and limit contact with others.It's as if no one got the memo.I thought it would be less crowded at the supermarket during the day on a weekday, but I was wrong. Everywhere was crowded. The roads there, the sidewalks and parks were full of people. Either ignoring the stay home suggestion or rushing out to stock up on pasta (because Italy might stop making it)?I had noticed these markers at checkout lines over the weekend. They hardly make sense to me as no one is practicing social distancing inside the crowded stores. Almost everyone is wearing a mask inside and I could almost make a game of counting the people who aren't wearing masks.At one store I noticed the clerks were using hand sanitizer before ringing up each customer maybe? The stores seem to all have their own protocols of what to do, but I wonder what's really effective. Waiting in line for the register isn't long enough to contract the virus from the person near you anyway, is it? Others seemed to think so too and lined up as usual, although I tried to abide by the new guidelines to avoid being 'that oblivious foreigner.'I still feel like we aren't doing enough.Not enough testing, staying home when we don't feel well, and taking care of ourselves. Or caring for others! I'm especially concerned for my 93 year old grandfather, living alone and quite bored with no internet and limited human contact. I think this must be a common scenario in Japan too. We've been calling family more frequently to check in and cheer them up.Please quit smoking if you're a smoker, it's the best thing you can do!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmjja-living_shoppingTue, 14 Apr 2020 18:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmjja-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7REW-living_education_workSpring in Japan is associated with transitions, but this year is a little different.For those of us working in Japan, spring transitions are usually a new school year or a new job position. In recent months, the transitions are adapting to the digital world, working from home, or maybe even no work at all. The 2020 school year is delayed until at least May 7th, after Golden Week. Spring break also started early - for most students around February 29th.In hopes that the spread of Covid-19 will slow down, starting on the evening of April 7th, those living in seven prefectures are asked to stay home as well. This means that businesses and workers are forced to adapt or will likely struggle financially.As an English teacher, there are no lessons for me to attend as a part time ALT. I haven't heard what the financial situation is for full time ALTs, but for me, no lessons means no salary.My other job is in an Eikaiwa type school that has been business almost as usual. Based on the people going for walks and shopping as usual, no one in this small city seems to take the 'stay home' very seriously.That school has already prepared by starting online lessons and decreasing already small class sizes for students who come in person. We are using the app Zoom. In the event that all students prefer online lessons (or a break from studying), teachers can still work at the school teaching online. It's also possible for teachers to work from home instead. I'm grateful for this arrangement as my other work is on extended break for now. In addition, this might make working from home more of a possibility as needed in the future.Because no one will be traveling during this year's Golden Week, it's possible the school will remain open for make up lessons, as a lot of students are taking breaks. In that case, the summer holiday will be extended, when hopefully it's safer to travel.Other Eikaiwa are starting to offer online lessons too, and of course Skype is one option. I noticed that Line is offering a screen sharing option now, so it would be an easy way for anyone in Japan to teach online. I still haven't gotten used to teaching online and sharing files is sometimes a hassle. It's probably best to try teaching online for my independent lessons which usually meet in a community center.As far as payment for online lessons, lots of students already pay bills by furikomi (bank transfer), so that is one option. In the case of using Line, maybe using Line Pay would be convenient too.As of now, education is evolving rapidly worldwide and Japan has already begun implementing cashless payments. It's time to transition fast or get left behind.Is anyone else transitioning to teaching (or working) online?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7REW-living_education_workFri, 10 Apr 2020 16:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7REW-living_education_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpOk5-livingIn the last year, our neighborhood has seen so much new construction. Houses that looked perfectly fine were knocked down and new ones are being built.I realized that despite the recent state of emergency, construction is considered essential. Usually seven days a week, starting at around seven am, except on Sundays, we have hammering sounds and other strange noises going on right behind our place.Usually it's not a big deal, but it's distracting when we work from home or try to talk on the phone. Or as I learned recently, when I become incredibly sensitive to noise because of migraines. I've had earplugs in most of the time for days now.We did get a new park that finally opened this month and everyone seems to be enjoying it. No one here seems to be worried too much about spreading Covid-19 while outside. They have held off on uncovering the playground equipment, and that seems like a good idea for now.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpOk5-livingWed, 08 Apr 2020 14:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpOk5-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQov3-living_food_teaDespite being in a completely different tea growing region here in Kyushu, I found this 100% Shizuoka Prefecture green tea with matcha at the local Sunny (Seiyu) supermarket for only 179 yen plus tax.The box of 20 individually wrapped two gram teabags is convenient as I'm not a teapot type tea drinker, as much as I'd like to be. (We usually drink instant green tea and really liked the one reviewed here, which I found on Amazon.)If individually wrapped tea bags is what you're after, Seiyu (or their partner supermarket) has you covered for Shizuoka Prefecture's tea, no matter what region you live in.It's recommended to steep in freshly boiled water for 30-60 seconds then remove the tea bag. The instructions don't recommend this for use as a cold tea, so I haven't tried it cold. We've got a couple other options for cold green tea, when the weather is warmer.Upon opening the teabag, the smell is really nice, as expected for tea from Shizuoka. It wasn't as obvious after brewing.This was nice with a snack and would work between meals or with any Japanese cooking. The flavor isn't overly strong but it still gave me the caffeine boost I needed in the afternoon.(Actually I'm going to try this in the morning and hopefully get into the habit of drinking green tea instead of coffee.)For 'cost performance' and convenience, this is a good pick.We're really into drinking hot teas this wet winter, as it's not that cold, but gloomier than usual.Hey look! Powdered Shizuoka green tea at Daiso too.PS: I also picked up some of The Daiso's hojicha from Shizuoka Prefecture last time and just went back to get more and try the Shizuoka genmai cha above (reviewed here by edthethe). I think the regular Shizuoka green tea from Daiso would be almost identical to the box of tea from Sunny, price-wise too, as it's a resealable pack of 12 unwrapped bags for 100 yen.PSS: I've been paying attention and noticed that Japanese green tea flavored snacks are usually made with either non-specific "Japanese Tea" (meaning the cheapest kind the company can buy grown domestically) or Kyoto Prefecture's Uji green tea.Maybe I need to look in more high end shops, but I'd like to try snacks made with Shizuoka green tea.How about Shizuoka green tea ice cream or KitKat? I'd try that.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQov3-living_food_teaMon, 30 Mar 2020 09:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQov3-living_food_teahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mdv8B-living_transportation_nagasaki_unzen_shi_nagasakiWhile everyone is scared about traveling because of Covid19, some of us are excited about traveling with discounted flights and hotels.We just needed a short getaway and onsen sounded relaxing. Rather than a city, we needed some nature time near mountains and the ocean. This is generally not hard to do in Japan, from wherever you live.I decided on a remote part of Nagasaki Prefecture for two reasons: we hadn't been yet and there are no reported Covid19 cases there. (In general, there are very few cases in Kyushu Region as of now and people are not panicking in the way I hear they are in other places.)Everywhere we went, public transportation was almost empty and tourist areas were fairly quiet.Still, we could relax, even more so because there were no crowds in a normally busy season.We opted to wear masks while using public transportation. Except for the bus in our city on the way home, there were very few people. While chatting with the ferry staff, he said there were very few passengers due to Coronavirus. They must be operating at a loss despite the decline in customers.For most people, the virus isn't a big risk, and relax time actually strengthens the immune system. The tourist industry is struggling now, so I'm glad we could help support the local economy a little.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mdv8B-living_transportation_nagasaki_unzen_shi_nagasakiWed, 25 Mar 2020 11:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mdv8B-living_transportation_nagasaki_unzen_shi_nagasakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP7Rg-living_workThe new fiscal year will start soon (I hope that's not delayed too). I have to use my pen and paper 'schedule note' to stay organized.I use a day planner over an electronic version because that's what works for me - as in I will actually look at it daily.Digital versions just haven't worked out. I've heard of some apps that people love -TeuxDeux is one list making app I want to try, but I don't actually want to pay for it. Ever since a friend gifted me a tiny Mujirushi day planner, (while saying, "I think you need this.") I've been hooked. Because my schedule isn't the same every day with independent work and two jobs, it really helps me to keep track of appointments and act more responsibly.I like Muji's simple designs and this year I've used a bigger, A5 size 'schedule note' vs. the A6 size I started out with. The extra space is nice, but that extra weight also means I don't carry it with me when I go out.One Muji version I used for a couple years doesn't have any dates written in, a "free calendar," meaning I could use it sporadically and take a month or a week off while I didn't have work. I've also experimented with incorporating parts of the Bullet Journal method. There's enough space in the weekly sections of these notebooks so I don't need an extra notebook for my lists.What I'm so confused about is the random lengths of time that calendars in Japan cover.In the above image, the calendars start in October of 2019 and go until December of 2020 or March of 2021. At 100 yen shop Seria, all the planners started in April of this year and go until May of next year, or last for 14 months. At Daiso, they went from March 2020 until the end of April next year (photo below).In Japan, schools and most jobs go on a fiscal year schedule, from April to March of the following year. Some calendars follow this pattern, but most add a couple extra months at the ends.Back home I haven't noticed this issue as calendars are just made for a year, from what I remember. Even though school starts in September and ends in June the next year, I don't remember seeing many 'academic planners' because workplaces don't use this schedule.My favorite day planner ever was one left behind in my desk at my first ALT job. It was an academic planner meant for teachers. It had a daily section with spaces for 1st-6th periods as well as before and after activities. I'd write the class year and number and the lesson taught, then monthly totals, so it was easy to know how many lessons each class had in a term. After using the academic planner for that school year, I tried to find one in bookstores, but never did.My current Muji planner goes through April, but I just bought a cheap and small monthly planner (discounted because the start date is in October of last year). I don't really understand why the monthly plan is for the extended fiscal year, but the annual view is for the January - December year. I want that part to last for the fiscal year too!Have you found a normal fiscal year day planner that works for you? Since most of you are probably using apps, how about one that shows Japanese holidays and has an interface that you like?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP7Rg-living_workWed, 18 Mar 2020 12:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP7Rg-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOWO8-living_foodIt feels like spring here already. We are just a few days away from the spring equinox and sakura are just starting to open.I'm such a sucker for the seasonal flavors of Kikkoman soy milk, but I forgot completely how I feel about sakura flavored things. It has been about a year since I've tried any.Unless you just want a springtime selfie during hanami or actually like sakura flavor, I don't recommend this.It's sweet and sort of weird and artificial tasting. Not quite the same as cherry... definitely not my top choice for flavor. My husband said he can drink it but doesn't really like it either.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOWO8-living_foodMon, 16 Mar 2020 08:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOWO8-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrV5e-living_medicalSorry about that silly title.I just listened to a podcast where the hot topic was: Coronavirus. One thing that was mentioned by the guest was the mask shortage and effectiveness of using a mask, particularly against the new strain of Coronavirus.He said it's best to leave the masks for those with weaker immune systems and health care workers, as well as anyone who has been in contact with someone who has the virus. (He also said he wears a mask every day since this virus fear started because he takes the train to work every day.)I'm not usually a mask wearer, but honestly feel like it's better to wear one for work right now so no one has to worry that I might be unknowingly spreading something. I don't see people distancing themselves or wearing masks religiously even outside in my city. The whole 'social distancing' thing saddens me a little. I feel like the lack of trust in others caused by the virus is the worst part.I read something (I can't find it again now) sharing the symptoms reported by hospitalized Covid-19 patients in China - data collected to be of use in identification and prevention. It's comforting to know that if symptoms are present, they are generally one or two of the following: fever, a dry cough, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes body aches and fatigue, similar to influenza symptoms have been reported. Very rarely did patients have a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat, so those symptoms are most likely a normal cold or seasonal allergies. I've seen misinformation saying that those are common Coronavirus symptoms, but they are not likely related to this virus.The thing is that most people who get the virus don't show symptoms, and I've seen a lot of information telling people to wear masks after they have symptoms. This seems ineffective for prevention as those people have likely already been contagious for some time.When there was a shortage of tissues because of hoarding, I felt fine knowing I could use a handkerchief and cloth napkin.Masks are not so easy.I've seen cloth masks used by some people in Japan for a long time and always thought it was an eco-friendly option. Last week I had a conversation with a student who has a family clothing business and considered fabric mask-making to help with the shortage. I learned that the cloth masks are not the same as surgical masks in their effectiveness. They can't be guaranteed to block tiny viruses and the company didn't want to be liable.EDIT: That local company now makes fabric masks which are sold here on their Rakuten shop.I found this article and thought the cloth version with a pocket might be a good plan. But... I don't have any patience for sewing.I ended up buying a black hand washable cloth mask for 550 yen with tax. It has a wire to hold the top snugly over my nose, just like surgical masks do. I think it works well for seasonal allergies and blocking any sneezes and coughs, at least. Maybe it will help my coworkers and students feel a little safer too.Have you considered making or buying cloth masks?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrV5e-living_medicalTue, 10 Mar 2020 18:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrV5e-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpO3n-living_medicalThis Meiji brand drinking yogurt is along the lines of the Megumilk and Kagome versions mentioned in my article, Iron Fortified Foods in Japan.I found a three pack for 95 yen plus tax at the local Sunny, a Seiyu group supermarket.This fat free drinking yogurt has 6.8 mg of iron per 92 gram serving, plus some folic acid. It's not the tastiest thing, but cost effective when I need a boost of iron. The packaging claims to have one day's worth of iron but keep in mind this is an amount appropriate for men and not enough for most women.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpO3n-living_medicalTue, 10 Mar 2020 10:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpO3n-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP7en-living_money_transportationRight around now (Coronavirus Season?) is the time most of the world is scared to fly or actually banned from entering another country without getting quarantined. Tons of flights have been cut or canceled.So I thought... Good chance to book some flights?My coworker mentioned flights to S. Korea were 800 yen now, half joking because no one wants to go there right now. If you're in the 'everyone is overreacting' camp, it's easy enough to joke about the virus... assuming no one you know has it.In January I had looked into flights to Hong Kong, just for a long weekend eating holiday for my husband and I this spring. I didn't book anything, but noted that HK Express (LLC) had some return (round trip) flights for 18,000 yen a person at the end of April (before Golden Week). Already a good deal, for off season.I checked again a couple days ago and saw that flights were almost half of that, during Golden Week.Considering it was impossible to find available flights last year for the Super Golden Week, some flights are heavily discounted now.Check this out:Hong Kong has been hit hard with all the protests discouraging visitors, and everything is still shut down for the month because of the virus... but in the end of April? We don't know what the situation will be. I'm just being optimistic. Keeping in mind that most airlines have waived cancel and change fees for flights purchased before the virus stuff blew up, I might have an easy out if they extend those waivers. If not, worst case we're only out a couple man yen if we're unable to go.The funny thing is that the flights were listed for just 1280 yen each way, but the fees are way more than that.I haven't pulled the trigger yet.What do you think? Is it too scary for you to plan for travel right now?Keep in mind that if you travel to certain countries this March, Japan isn't going to let you back in very easily. Be sure to check up to date details for the place and time you want to travel.UPDATE April 2, 2020:I didn't end up buying these flights, and as the situation worsens in Japan, travel is mostly halted through Golden Week. I guess it's staycation as usual.I did get super discounted flights to the US for the summer, hoping that things will be safer by then, and if not those will get canceled.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP7en-living_money_transportationFri, 06 Mar 2020 14:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP7en-living_money_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rjd-foodI mentioned this season's pink chocolate previously, so here's an update on the two items that I tried.This Raspberry Liqueur chocolate by Lotte was nice. I definitely prefer the Calvados... but this is along the same lines.This Pink Chocolate ice cream bar got me curious. As I wrote in the earlier blog, I couldn't tell if the image on the package was what it actually looked like.Strawberry ice cream is a good thing so I finally got one.Yes, it looks like the package. It's so weird. I call this a hybrid ice cream because you get a nice strawberry ice cream bar, then when that's done, the tiny ice cream sandwich part is good too. There is a chocolate version that isn't seasonal, so maybe it's worth trying. I recommend this weirdo strawberry ice cream though. My husband and I agreed: oishii desu.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rjd-foodThu, 05 Mar 2020 11:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rjd-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK1k1-living_foodYay spring! Early cherry blossom blooms are much nicer to think about than potential canceled everything this March.I'm not bored nor do I have that much free time as most of my regular schedule hasn't been changed. I hope the outdoor events stay on as the weather warms up, at least here in the southwest part of Japan.I love a seasonal snack and had the chance to try this crispy ume nori chipstar, which goes for around 200 yen.My first impression was literally, "It tastes like sour cream and onion." But the aftertaste is definitely ume.Kind of fun, although I prefer the potato chips that don't taste like they're made from powdered potatoes.Maybe you'll have the chance to taste these at a hanami party, I hope? If they're all called off, I think walking through a blooming park sounds safe enough, and the snacks can be enjoyed at home.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK1k1-living_foodThu, 05 Mar 2020 11:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK1k1-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrp5-living_shoppingI spotted this tape (はがせテープ) closing all the books and magazines in a Lawson, and wondered if this is happening everywhere. I haven't seen it elsewhere although I admit I haven't made it to look at many other places.The tape means you can't stand and read, which is to me, a part of Japanese culture. At bookstores people often stand and read, and it has never been an issue. Like standing and eating (立ち食い), there's even a cute word for this in Japanese: 立ち読みHas anyone else noticed this?Is it related to the Coronavirus or did Lawson just get tired of people reading in the stores and not buying magazines?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrp5-living_shoppingWed, 04 Mar 2020 11:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrp5-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wekjr-living_shoppingI was surprised to find empty shelves and hear announcements that customers could only buy one each of paper products when I went to a store Saturday morning. It was more crowded than usual and I just wanted tissues for my husband's leaky nose. There were none left. I couldn't understand why, then I read that there were rumors being spread on social media of a paper product shortage.When I went back to check on Sunday evening the store had put up this sign. The paper product shortage is a False Rumor.Masks are made from different materials than paper products, plus most paper products are domestically produced. Manufacturers have plenty of paper products.I was glad they did this as either people believed the lies or are hoarding to resell at higher prices. I imagine some people are scared that if the virus spreads a lot, stores might close, or they might be scared to leave their houses. Stocking up a little makes sense in that context, if you feel anxious about it. I doubt things will get that bad.One per family per day. This is the same kind of rule stores imposed on mask sales just a few weeks ago.Masks have been short for a month at least, now toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues are added to the list of sold out items.The above sign apologizes and notes that the next delivery date isn't determined yet. I'm wondering if people will calm down or continue hoarding once new shipments come in.In addition, bread was all sold out and people seemed to be buying lots of cup noodles. I don't get it. There's no shortage. The panic is causing a shortage.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wekjr-living_shoppingMon, 02 Mar 2020 11:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wekjr-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyy15-foodIn terms of dagashi, (駄菓子) or cheap kids snacks in Japan, Meiji brand Apollo chocolate is my favorite. When I saw this strange yogurt, I had to try it.I've seen it in a couple of supermarkets, first for over 100 yen, then for about 70 yen sort of to clear it out I'm guessing. It doesn't say limited edition, but it also doesn't seem like an all the time product.In the image above, you can see the cup contains strawberry yogurt, then chocolate sauce on the bottom. This is sort of like a'fruit on the bottom' yogurt, although I didn't mix it up.I was glad the strawberry yogurt part wasn't very sweet. Just like the chocolate, it isn't very natural tasting but also doesn't taste like fake strawberry flavor. It was a little tangy and thick, with no bits of strawberry. The chocolate at the bottom balanced the sourness without being too sweet.That being said, I'm not interested in getting this again. I prefer plain or regular strawberry yogurt. When I want some candy, I'll just get the usual Apollos.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyy15-foodThu, 27 Feb 2020 08:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyy15-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgXqK-living_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuoka_chikugo_shi_fukuokaThe shrine, Koinoki, in Chikugo City, Fukoka, is popular with single ladies who are looking for a partner.I haven't been to the actual shrine, but every year, they have mini pop-up shrines in Fukuoka City and in Kurume City.Until last year, Kurume's version was in the entrance of Iwataya department store outside of Nishitetsu Station, but as it closed that building last spring, the pink mini-shrine had to move.The new location is at Ishibashi Culture Center, with a backdrop of ume and momo blossoms.Small kids had written funny love messages to classmates and... Kamen Rider. I heard the adults loudly laughing about that one.I recommend visiting the actual shrine or the pop-up versions during February and March, if you're in the area.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgXqK-living_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuoka_chikugo_shi_fukuokaThu, 20 Feb 2020 11:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgXqK-living_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuoka_chikugo_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb3JP-living_foodI'm not a convini frequenter, but this 'Melty Cheese Shrimp Gratan' is something I had an urge to try after someone ate it while sitting next to me on an airplane. It smelled good and I'm a fan of gratan - a sort of baked macaroni and cheese.When I especially didn't want to cook or do dishes but needed to eat something on my own, I had a chance to try this. It's 450 yen including tax and the staff will offer to heat it up for you. There is also a slightly cheaper doria version.I had mine heated up then went home, by bicycle, trying not to tip over the container. (The contents are melty and slippery when warm, so when tilted, it tried spilling out.)It was just okay, with the shrimp being a bit overcooked. It was a bit lacking in the flavor department. As expected, it tasted like instant food and for that price I wanted something a little more home-cooked tasting. I'm gonna have to learn how to make this myself I guess.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb3JP-living_foodThu, 20 Feb 2020 11:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb3JP-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9lJ6-living_fukuoka_okawa_shi_fukuokaYabusame is the only reason I made the trek out to Okawa without a car.The shrine is not close to any stations, but there is a bus from a couple nearby stations on the Nishitetsu Omuta Line from Tenjin Station in Fukuoka City. It could be combined with a trip to nearby Yanagawa for the girls' day festivities beginning around the same time.The festival which takes place at Fuurouguu(風籠宮) in February is part of a trinity of Chikugo area festivals including Kurume's Suitengu and Kora Taisha festivals.Yabusame (流鏑馬) is horseback archery. You may have seen it on TV or just in the badass scene in Princess Mononoke where heads and arms fly off. It's a rare traditional sport that most Japanese people have never had a chance to see.There was a line up of visitors and lots of police roping off the road when I arrived. When the event started, there was a procession of people wearing traditional costumes and carrying tiny shrines from one building to the other.A few men took turns riding their horse from the main building to a smaller building in the back, wearing traditional heavy clothing with colorful paper decorations hanging off their backs.They then stopped right in front of diamond shaped bamboo targets to shoot the bow and arrow. Spectators sort of laughed when an announcer proclaimed that the target had been hit.This isn't traditional yabusame unfortunately, as the rider shouldn't stop before shooting. I'm guessing as an older sport (over 1000 years old) it's not easy to maintain a lot of professionals in the traditional sense.The entire event lasted about 15 minutes and the rest of the festival was typical for shrines in Japan, with yatai and local products being sold. It's a bit far away to warrant going just for that again.Have you had the chance to see traditional yabusame?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9lJ6-living_fukuoka_okawa_shi_fukuokaThu, 20 Feb 2020 11:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9lJ6-living_fukuoka_okawa_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj7B8-transportationOn a recent visit to Chiba, I noticed a funny sign in English posted at Narita Station, the first station outside of the Airport.To me, I guess it's funny because it's so obvious. Apparently, enough tourists were confused enough to get out at the wrong station and maybe even miss their international flights.Narita Station looks like a normal station and isn't a bad town to explore when you have time. With the famous Narita San temple, unagi restaurants, and onsen being the main attractions, it's not as exciting as Tokyo. But if you have time before a flight and don't feel like being in an airport for hours, everything you need is available there.Announcements in English clearly announce the arrivals to Narita Airport, Terminal One and then Terminal Two, both of which are underground (unlike Narita Station). There are also displays inside the trains showing the names of stations in Japanese and English.Before getting off the train, check which terminal your flight departs from. If you're flying LLC (discount airlines, mostly domestic flights), from Terminal Two Station, you'll want to follow signs pointing you to Terminal Three, an easy 15 minute walk along a racetrack.You might notice the signs are only in English.In the opposite direction, if you want to catch a train or bus into the city after flying into Terminal Three, follow signs to Terminal Two and the trains are downstairs.You will still need to walk a little, but free shuttle buses are also available between the two terminals.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj7B8-transportationMon, 10 Feb 2020 11:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj7B8-transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EXe-livingI've written about my habit of almost never buying the same toothpaste here, and this is the latest adventure.The last toothpaste I tried was Apagard, as I heard good things about it. I did not buy their most expensive premium toothpaste and opted for a basic one. I noticed no changes over using the toothpastes that cost about ten percent of the price. I don't know if you need the most expensive one to see results or if it's just a bunch of hype.This time I went cheap again with Ora2 me (?) stain clear mild toothpaste for about 300 yen. Calling toothpaste mild is already funny.I didn't buy it for the funny English on the packaging, but for the unique flavor: Floral White Tea.I have had white tea before and like it. So hey, tea flavored toothpaste, not so strange I thought. I've used green tea toothpaste before.But, the first time I used it, the scent made me think of a shampoo. I wouldn't call it mild.I had sort of forgotten what the flavor was, but when I remembered I just started laughing. It had a taste exactly like the flavor says - a floral white tea. It wasn't the most pleasant thing, but now it's alright. I guess new flavors always take a minute to get used to. I'm glad something silly like weird toothpaste flavors make me laugh randomly.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EXe-livingFri, 07 Feb 2020 09:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EXe-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GokQW-foodI've tried the normal shoyu version of these snacks, and I have to say it's much better.Maybe I didn't think through the decision to try these so well, but fruit flavored corn snacks aren't a new thing in Japan. Strawberry Cheetos aren't so bad.The yuzu flavor wasn't so natural tasting and they were sort of a strange texture, but they were still so habit forming that I couldn't stop snacking.Another seasonal snack uses Kouchi Prefecture yuzu.I think these yuzu Meltykiss sound nice for another yuzu flavored winter limited edition snack, but I decided not to buy them "for my husband" when I was really thinking about trying them myself. I think they would be appreciated as a Valentine's Day gift, but haven't gone for them, yet.Has anyone tried them?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GokQW-foodFri, 17 Jan 2020 13:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GokQW-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z31Aj-foodThe Greek, sold at Aeon group supermarkets.I found these on sale for 37 yen a piece - probably because the best by date was in a few days.I hadn't tried this brand or many Greek yogurts in the past because of the price. I picked up a strawberry and honey flavor, a little skeptical because they say fat free (fat zero). There is actually a minimal amount of fat that allows packaging to say that, but I prefer whole milk yogurts.I didn't expect this to be so thick, but it's actually a really thick and not so creamy consistency. The fruit was on the top and when I mixed it in all of the yogurt clumped onto the spoon.It's not the most natural of ingredients, but I do appreciate the use of stevia in addition to regular sugar. It wasn't too sweet for me but the quality of the yogurt wasn't as nice as what I've gotten used to - Koiwai brand. Not sure if I'd get this again, but it's a nice option for those who want Greek yogurt at a reasonable price and without the fat.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z31Aj-foodFri, 17 Jan 2020 12:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z31Aj-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1vW-foodHave you ever seen this?I'm used to seeing the red 190 ml cans of amazake but it was my first time to see this one. It was the same price (about 85 yen) and I had recently read about the health benefits of amazake, so I thought I'd try it.I don't remember if I've ever tried normal amazake before. Now I want to try it though.When I bought this one it was because it says seasonal (my favorite excuse to try new things) and ginger and it's been getting cold out. Ginger is a warming food so I always use it during winter.At the time though, I remember trying to read the katakana on the can. I think I must have been tired because I couldn't figure out what it meant. スパークリング in my brain at the time was "super cling." I don't know. Obviously, it just says "sparkling."It wasn't refrigerated at the store and I didn't cool it before opening - it was cold enough outside.I like it!I would get this again. It tastes a lot like ginger ale, but not so sugary.I think this would be fitting for kids or anyone who wants to avoid alcohol at a fancy dinner or get together.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1vW-foodThu, 16 Jan 2020 14:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1vW-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdRKJ-foodLast year KitKat announced their magic Ruby Chocolate, which I've seen in tiny bite size snacks but haven't tried. This season, I'm already seeing other versions of pink chocolate all over the place.I think some of these are available all the time, some are for Valentine's Day, and others are more in tune with strawberry season. They're also almost all by Lotte... but I'm sure all the major brands will start selling pink things around now. Look out for the ubiquitous Strawberry Fair that all supermarkets will feature this time of year.Here's a bunch of the pink chocolates I've spotted in the last week. If you're looking for ideas for Valentine's Day, this is a good start.I'm a huge fan of the apple brandy version of these Lotte chocolate liqueur treats, but I'm not convinced on these flavors.I'm pretty sure the Ghana Pink Chocolate bars are just white chocolate with a little strawberry flavor.Also by Lotte is the ice cream you may know, in a strawberry heart version. How cute.This ice cream version of Pink Chocolate confuses me. Is it an ice cream bar being eaten by an ice cream sandwich?By Bourbon, Strawberryrush is probably a nonseasonal weird 'chocolate' that I hadn't ever noticed.There are probably tons more to come. What's the pink chocolate you want this season?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdRKJ-foodTue, 14 Jan 2020 13:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdRKJ-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME830-foodI've been noticing funny ice cream flavors based on snacks or sweets and I think this is a new trend.Bourbon has an ice cream now (Latte flavor) and so does Lotte, like this Rum Raisin ice cream based on their Rummy chocolates.I also spotted a weird Hanako ice bar based on tapioca drinks - maybe good? Maybe really weird? I can't imagine frozen tapioca being good.Meiji keeps making these weird seasonal flavors... and I keep trying them.I knew their Sweet's brand of ice cream is based on desserts, so I took a chance on this Mont Blanc version.I can't say I loved it, but it was interesting. I'm a chestnut fan, but the flavor of the bottom part wasn't too noticeable. I thought it was supposed to be chestnut.The flavor I noticed was the white layer of ice cream that just looks like vanilla. It somehow tasted like whipped cream flavor ice cream. The crunchy graham cracker crust part was nice too. The top layer was strange though and didn't have any or much chestnuts mixed in.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME830-foodTue, 14 Jan 2020 13:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME830-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2o53-foodAll things foreign can be difficult to find in Japan, but I keep finding more and more foods that I didn't see anywhere in Japan even five years ago.While browsing in the supermarket, I didn't see the cute tiny jars of Snoopy peanut butter I had bought in the past, but next to the Skippy was this:Biscoff are Belgian cookies (Speculoos) I have only eaten on an international flight (between the US and Japan). I thought they were delightful and can even buy them in the store down the street, although I haven't.At first I was really confused. One of these jars is labeled crunchy so I thought this was a kind of peanut butter - after all it's next to the peanut butter.It's just a cookie spread. A search for 'cookie butter' will confirm this is a thing. I had no idea.Spreading cookies on your toast sounds weird to me, but apparently in Europe, this is used like chocolate spread or nut butters like Nutella (also popular in Japan now). Considering a Dutch breakfast is commonly chocolate sprinkles on toast, this isn't surprising.So why this, at about 500 yen for 190 grams, but not the Dutch chocolate sprinkles? A friend who has been to the Netherlands mentioned she'd love to buy them here but can't find them. I'm often confused about which foods get imported to Japan and which ones are left out. It's great to learn about some foods from around the world that I didn't try in the US. (Christmas pudding and stolen, Tim Tams...)I'm skeptical, but would you try this?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2o53-foodWed, 08 Jan 2020 10:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2o53-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxy2-living_food_medicalThis fall, my routine health check up revealed my hemoglobin count is low and I have iron deficiency anemia.I had noticed some symptoms like getting tired more quickly than usual, so it was a relief to get this diagnosis. I've been educating myself on how to remedy the situation so I feel back to my energetic self.At the doctor's consultation, I was told to eat more protein and given a pamphlet. There are some good points there, but I wasn't really into the idea of getting an iron supplement in addition to being more careful about what I eat. Foods I consume on a regular basis (brown rice, eggs, leafy greens, dark chocolate, nuts, beans) are helpful, but maybe I need an extra boost. I've been trying to eat more seafood (oysters!) and meat, plus finding the foods I like that aren't so common in Japan (lentils, quinoa, beet root...) and are good for me too.I found quite a few foods that are iron-fortified and have already tried some of them. I tend to feel a little better the following day but am not using any of these daily as of now.First, I noticed some differences between Japan and the US, where I'm from. Recommended daily intake of iron from foods depends on sex, age, and other factors. I noticed that 18mg is recommended for me in the US, but only 11mg in Japan.In the US, grains are heavily fortified, but not as much in Japan. Any cereals and grains imported from the US are likely to be high in iron.This is the label from the frosted flake cereal, Siscorn BIG, with the iron part circled (鉄). (鉄分 is sometimes used on labels too.)There is so much to consider, from types of iron in foods (heme and non-heme), absorption levels, and polyphenols that might inhibit absorption. I have to keep in mind to eat a more balanced diet, getting plenty of vitamin C from fruits and umeboshi.Drinking too much coffee and tea is also potentially lowering my iron absorption. It seems that drinking coffee and tea between meals is safer than with a meal.There is also a lot of controversial content online claiming that dairy products or calcium inhibit the absorption of iron in foods. I was surprised to learn that in Japan, it wasn't grains that are fortified with iron, but dairy products.Calcium and iron fortified milk by Glico, in juice box size (88 yen) or liter size (179 yen) is not for me, but I do eat cheese. Iron fortified baby cheese by TopValu (Aeon) is under 100 yen for a 4 pack and provides 1.8mg of iron per piece.I haven't tried this light iron prune drink by Kagome. It has some probacteria in it and each 80ml drink has 7.5mg of iron. A three pack is 148 yen.Prunes are a popular theme too. Daily iron prune drinking yogurt has 3.9mg of iron in each serving. The taste was a little weird to me, but Megumilk also makes a yogurt with 6.8mg of iron in 100 gr. I liked the taste better, but the drinking yogurt is still more convenient on the go.On the non-dairy side, this Tropicana mango drink doesn't taste like a fortified drink and claims to make up the amount of iron most people are lacking in their daily diets. 99 yen per pack and easy to drink while at work.This similar low calorie juice, prune and peach flavor, has even more iron plus folic acid (yousan, the kanji in the blue part) and vitamin B12. It's also about 99 yen. It's not for sale at my nearest store, but I'd like to get this again.I plan to incorporate Milo chocolate powder into my routine, maybe not daily, but when I don't rush out early in the day. For about 300 yen for a 240 gr bag, Milo has around 3mg of iron per serving.Winter seems like a nice time for a hot soy milk with Milo, which is also fortified with lots of other nutrients and vitamins. Think Ovaltine or instant hot chocolate mix fortified with a multivitamin.In this way, I think I can avoid using supplements, which I don't think I'll remember to take daily anyway.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxy2-living_food_medicalTue, 07 Jan 2020 16:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxy2-living_food_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmKo-foodAfter toasting some mochi, they were set on top of a piece of toasted nori and a thick slice of brie! Usually simple sliced cheese is used, but this tasted amazing.In addition, we used tsuyu instead of shoyu to drizzle on these. The subtle katsuobushi flavor really added to the complexity of this simple snack.I might use our remaining mochi for this instead of oshiruko (sweet red bean paste soup)!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmKo-foodSat, 04 Jan 2020 11:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmKo-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrbL-living_foodTanpopo Coffee (タンポポコーヒー) or roasted dandelion root tea isn't a new thing for me. I sometimes drank a powdered version in the states, blended with beetroot sugar and roasted chicory root. Chicory root has been used blended with coffee for a long time.I've seen something like that in Kaldi Coffee Farm but it's really expensive and marketed to expecting mothers as it has no caffeine, but has an earthy taste similar to coffee. As you can see, the color is also dark like coffee. It's not at all sweet, but the bitter taste that coffee has isn't there either.We went to a restaurant one time that had this tea at their drink bar. We really liked it, so later I bought some on Amazon.It uses roasted dandelion root, black soybeans, and black sesame seeds. I love the aroma but if you aren't a fan of beans or sesame, it's probably not for you.Of course this isn't a real replacement for coffee, but it's perfect if you want to cut back and replace coffee with something caffeine free.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrbL-living_foodFri, 03 Jan 2020 12:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrbL-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rkL-livingShunbou(春望) is wishing for spring.I like winter so it seems a little strange. I guess spring is always welcome after the winter runs its course.It's a new decade and people are so hyped. Sure it's a good chance to start new habits (or break old ones) but there are lots of new year traditions in Japan that I can't really get into.I was tempted by the lucky bags this year, but waking up early to wait in line in a crowded shopping mall or store sounds horrible on so many levels. Then there's the inevitability that the bag will contain things I don't want, so I'd have to figure out to do with them.I've also given up going to a shrine for the new year. It was cool like one time, but like I said, crowded.Taken the day before, the shrine nearby was all ready to be crowded on January 1st. There was a line when we went for a walk and passed by that day!It's so pretty with the decorations.But then, all those decorations and lucky charms should be thrown away by the next year.Here's some of the Lucky Rubbish.It seems like such a waste to make pretty charms and then burn them within a year.I hope everyone is healthy, happy and cozy this year.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rkL-livingFri, 03 Jan 2020 11:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rkL-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EgA-food_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaWhile browsing local events I noticed this buffet at the Hilton Sea Hawk in Fukuoka and showed my husband. He decided he wanted to do that rather than go to Sushirou or a local all you can eat place this month. It was a chance to eat Christmas foods from around the world, after all. We made reservations but they are not necessary.The Christmas Market Buffet lunch served from noon until 2:30 pm is a bit cheaper than the dinner and has fewer dishes, although there was a ton to choose from already. For an extra fee, you can get the drink bar, which was only a bunch of juices. For a higher extra fee, there are a few levels of all you can drink alcohol. Coffee, tea, and water was included in the price.Not included in the price (2,300 yen per person) was a service fee and tax. I kind of hate the service fees some hotel buffets charge because they are not usually announced in advance and just seem like a sneaky way to charge more. I was surprised that the bill was entirely in English. I guess the Hilton is an American company.The SceneThe place is huge and the reception and buffet restaurant, Brasserie and Lounge, are on the fourth floor. It was certainly festive. The Christmas trees and ornaments were over the top, but this was supposed to be a Christmas market so it fit the bill.The bar section is for guests who add on the all you can drink fee It was not full but there were plenty of people day drinking. Most of the restaurant was full with couples, lots of foreigners, and small kids.The front reception had a sled for photo shoots and nearby was a huge model train set up, which had lights that they turned on after this picture was taken. Kids were all over it. There were also huge Christmas trees set up in reception and on the first floor.The MenuThe foods advertised in the advertisement were a list of potential dishes and the actual main dishes were just a few of those. The mains weren't so exciting or great to me. I loved the salads! Quinoa, Greek salad, smoked salmon salad, and tortilla chips with pesto and hummus were in my favorite section. The fancy meat dishes were pork ribs and chicken, plus 'choriso' (just spiced wieners) and polenta, which was pretty good. I also had fun with the Asian section where there were Korean and Indian influenced foods.There was a crab soup - something like pho but from Malaysia from what I heard.The desserts were probably a little more Christmas-like. There was a huge variety of little cakes and 'puddings,' many of which went quickly, and some of which were never replaced. I enjoyed the Christmas pudding the most - it was my first time to try it! The strawberry shortcake was without strawberries for the most part and I heard the one we had eaten from a cake shop was much better.There were two soft serve ice cream machines and one was strawberry flavored - but tasted just like my childhood memory of strawberry bubble gum. There was also a chocolate fountain and tons of items to make parfaits or whatever people do with things and chocolate fountains.The AftermathLuckily for us there are some sofas scattered around the fourth floor just waiting for restaurant guests to recover from overeating.We did recover and walked around the city way too much looking at illuminations and Christmas markets after that. But too full for any more snacking or even free samples. (We got in 22 kilometers that day according to the GoogleFit app, including walking to and from the station and home.)Access is straight forward by subway, about a 20 minute walk from Tojinmachi Station on the Kuko line. Easy from the Fukuoka Airport, Tenjin, or Hakata Stations. Follow the signs to Yafuoka Dome, and you can't miss it.Fukuoka Chuo-ku Jigyohma 2-2-3 Link to access page on their site.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EgA-food_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaThu, 26 Dec 2019 16:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EgA-food_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpkEa-livingA new year, and a new decade, starts in a week. Are you doing osoji?Don't run away. I'm only here to help. Not with the actual cleaning, just cheering from the sidelines with some practical tips.I don't know if I care about the traditional, Asian reasons for cleaning before the new year. I do agree that starting the new year (and the probable days off) with a home at least feeling caught up is a lot more relaxing.Here's my cleaning arsenal. Some of it. These are more what I would call the everyday cleaning tools. More intense cleaning includes some towels or zoukin, as they're called in these parts.If there is light cleaning and deep cleaning, osoji is deep cleaning. I imagine my ideal is as if I were moving out and don't want to get slapped with a cleaning fee. Moving the fridge to clean under it clean.Regular cleaning, like weekly (daily?) stuff is hard enough for most of us. How about starting there?There's no way you're gonna be motivated if your goal is to KonMari your whole home and get it perfectly clean in one day. Think realistic baby steps.First, you're gonna wanna plan ahead.This means cleaning stuff is ready to go, a checklist if you're like that, and more importantly, the recovery plan.You probably won't have a chance to take out trash and recycling on December 31st, so check your pickup schedule and set those dates as tiny deadlines.I like to bribe some help if I feel like I need it, and have our rewards set up. More on that later.When I have most of a day with no work, I'm usually cleaning a little, and getting started early is okay. I know all the people going out of town the minute this year's work is done have finished osoji. They did it over the weekend before they went out of town.I kind of assess where I'm at including how much time I want to spend based on work schedule and health / energy.If I'm going to do a several hour burst of cleaning, I want to have meals ready to go or a plan to eat out after finishing.I also want to have in mind time to rest and something to reward myself for after finishing part or all of the cleaning. This is going to be different for everyone, from treats to massages, to a hot bath and a good night's sleep. Maybe a painkiller for the next day if I overdo it. Make sure to properly reward anyone you've coerced into helping you as well.Most importantly, don't give yourself a hard time if you couldn't get to everything you wanted to do. Be patient with yourself if you are making even small progress. Don't expect perfection! As soon as something gets clean, do you know what happens? It gets dirty again. This is life.When it's looking impossible, it's okay to call in for reinforcements. I've heard the cleaning companies are really good, although it seems really strange to me to hire cleaners... I can't do it yet.When it's all done, be proud of yourself and properly enjoy your holiday!What's your osoji goal? Are you satisfied with being just caught up like me?Chime in with your tips that I've missed!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpkEa-livingWed, 25 Dec 2019 20:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpkEa-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO9lX-living_money_japan2020What are you doing to plan for your future? Maybe you haven't even thought about this big annoying question yet.Retirement seems impossible for so many of us and at the same time I think others are starting to educate themselves. Not everyone has an interest in investing, and a lot of people are just allergic to thinking about their finances.All this can be further complicated while living abroad and not having a clear idea on how investing is done here in Japan.I'm at a point where I have a little extra income in yen that I want to put to work for me but haven't concluded what to do with it yet. Money sitting in the bank is doing nothing to keep up with the inflation rate as it earns around 0.001% in interest in Japan. My goal for 2020 is to get that savings into an investment that's earning a reasonable return for me. It seems that there are two huge factors: How long you'll be in Japan and Where you're at in Japanese ability. More on that later. First a check in point.Tip Zero: Because no matter where you live, before you even start to invest, where are you at now?A. earn more than you spend Simple but not basic knowledge for everyone. If you are spending (or putting on credit) more than you're earning, it's impossible to save for investing. Start there, by either spending less or earning more.B. get debt free Pay down any credit card and student loan debt before investing. The amount you pay in interest for those loans is bigger than most investing returns. Commit to paying extra until that debt is gone, then you will have a habit of setting aside that extra amount for...C. have an emergency fund This can be called a savings account, hesokuri, a freedom fund, an F-it fund, whatever. The point is, a minimum of three months of your current costs set aside for when you suddenly lose that income or something important comes up.To make it look pretty for my visa renewals, I have an amount I'm gonna let sit in the bank account, despite that almost nothing interest rate.If you aren't already there, that's a good first step to feeling a lot more free in your life. Once you're there, you can actually start to think about setting up that retirement fund.Tip One:Remittance / ExchangeFor foreigners in Japan, not all of us plan to live here forever.For short term in Japan, the best option is sending any extra money back home, via bank remittance. Most of you are probably already doing this, especially if you have debt there. Once you're debt free, that money sent to the bank account back home can be used to invest in the Roth IRA (US) equivalent in your country. (If you're from the US, up to $6000 a year can be invested into this account after you've already paid tax on it, then you can use it later in life without paying tax on any interest and capital gains it's accumulated.)If you aren't familiar with these types of accounts, it's easy to find information in English or your native language, as opposed to needing a high level of Japanese ability to invest in the Japanese equivalents. Setting up an online account allows you to send money to the investment account on a recurring basis. You can choose what to invest in inside of that tax exempt account, which is mostly overwhelming. (There are tons of books and blogs on investing and the simplest one I've read that offers practical knowledge was by Ramit Sethi, called, I Will Teach You to Be Rich.)Tip Two:Tax Exempt Funds in JapanIf you're here for the long haul, or at least five more years, there are some more local options for investing. One of these Japanese tax exempt options is called the NISA. It allows 120 man yen a year to be invested (100,000 yen a month) for five years. Similar to the Roth IRA in the US, no tax will be paid on dividends or capital gains earned in that investment. I even found informational bank pamphlets in comic format. With NISA accounts, you can invest in limited REITs, ETFs, individual stocks, and funds.NISAs can be opened using your Japanese bank account or with a brokerage account, which might give you more international investment options. The main issue with opening a NISA will be the hurdle of comprehending the Japaneseinvesting terminology. Depending on your knowledge of the stock market, this might be way too boring or overwhelming. I thought I was up for it, but it seems like a headache and I can only understand the paperwork (ahem, the comic) at a surface level. I want to be able to confidently make investment choices, which is hard enough in English already.Tip Three:Other InvestmentsThe local bank was offering a winter promotion for investing into the Japanese version of the 401K (in US), TFSA (in Canada), or ISA (in the UK) called the iDeCo. I haven't heard about any foreigners living in Japan who have used iDeCo. Even if you're amazing at Japanese and the financial world, is it even a good investment? I've had trouble finding more than the basic information about it, maybe it's only an option through some employers.I'm not convinced yet, but I am planning to learn more about crowd lending. The idea is to lend money to individuals or companies worldwide, and at much higher rates than what the bank will pay you for. There is risk involved, as with any investing, but the returns can be around 10% - amazing compared with your money sitting in a Japanese bank account. One Japanese company is called Crowd Credit and another is Itochu's crowdfunding through a company called Campfire. Of course this is along the same lines as other Japanese investments, it's either done all in Japanese, or you can exchange your money to use an English language crowdfunding brokerage account. Tip Four: Real Estate and BusinessWe get weekly flyers about open houses, but each area will be different. If you plan to stay here forever buying a home to live in isn't a bad idea. Compare prices to rent for years vs. how long you're paying the loan to buy a home.Real estate is something I have a little experience with by accident back in the US, as I rented out a house using a property manager while living in Japan the first year.It's not the same market in Japan and a lot of people think it's a bad idea because of the decreasing population. Others (like real estate brokers) think it's always a great time to buy property. Depending on where in the country, it's an interesting possibility. Buying apartment buildings or renting out short term housing like share houses sounds like a good opportunity for the right person but a nightmare for me. A percentage of long term foreigners in Japan have invested into starting their own businesses. Whether it's starting your own English school or an online business focused in Japan, it sounds like a ton of work. If that's your path to freedom financially then it's worth the extra hustle.**From a non financial perspective, some of you might be more interested in investing in your education or health. Either way you look at it, getting the finances sorted will give you peace of mind.I'd love to hear from any of you on your adventures in investing in Japan!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO9lX-living_money_japan2020Mon, 23 Dec 2019 10:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO9lX-living_money_japan2020https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk4Zm-livingThe interesting thing about doing laundry in Japan is that most washing machines are only hooked up to one cold water tap.As you can see in the picture, we have just one water option, and blue means cold. This is great for the energy bill and the environment, but not as much when your clothes are ruined from smelling stinky.Hot water washes are necessary for killing mites, mold, and bacteria. Temperatures of 40-60 degrees Celsius are recommended for this. Of course check your labels before trying these ways to wash your laundry in hot water. For the times you actually need hot water, here are some tips.Other Hot Water TapsIn my first apartment in Japan, while washing sheets and towels, I often turned on the hot water in the shower and stretched the shower hose to fill the washer – it just barely reached. Some washers will be next to the sink in thesenmenjyoand in some cases the sink faucet can even be swung over to fill the washer. If you aren't so fortunate, there are always buckets. A better option is the hose that you can buy in any hardware store. Your washer may have come with a hose attachment and opening at the back (mine doesn't have one) marked お湯入りoyuiri- hot water inlet or お風呂取るofurotori – to take water from the bath. That's right, reuse that already hot bath water to wash a load after bath time. There are pumps available if your washer doesn't have this special hose attachment too. One end goes into the bathtub and the other into the washer. These can be attached directly to your bath faucet sometimes too.Hot Water SoaksI was planning to use some natural ingredients for my laundry but they were too hard to find. Instead I got some Oxy Fresh and presoaked a few things in a small bucket before running a load. Using equal amounts of cold water and boiled water from the electric kettle, I think that would get the water up to the 50 degree range or so. It seemed to help a lot in some cases, but some of the shirts still smelled bad after washing. I then found a recommendation that made perfect sense without using hot water: IroningMost people in Japan don't use hot water for laundry as they think it decreases the longevity of clothing, but they do iron their clothes. They seem to always smell fresh and look neat. Ironing might be the key. This amount of heat should be enough to kill any bacteria that remains in the fabric after a normal cold wash. I decided to try it, as the owner of an iron who never irons her clothes. It helped I think, but some clothes were already too bad.Even if you use cold water, drying your clothes is also a factor. Some washers have built in dryers, although they are not terribly efficient from what I hear. Some homes have a built in dryer in the bathroom. Just hang your clothes up on a line and turn on the dry or heat function. Most people hang clothes outside on sunny days. This is the most energy efficient and depending on weather and humidity, probably the fastest. When the heat outside in the sun is hot enough, those mites, mold and bacteria don't stand a chance. Hanging clothes indoors in sunny windows is a similar option, and on rainy days, some people use dehumidifiers to help dry clothes faster. This should all be done immediately after the wash is done to reduce risk of musty smells.If all else fails, there is always the coin laundry. The one near our place is convenient for washing the huge kotatsu blanket but otherwise I haven't needed it. The washes are all hot (although some laundromats may be different) and you can also dry your clothes efficiently.I hope I finally have it figured out, between hanging clothes to dry outside or in the sunny windows, plus ironing. Do you ever bother to wash laundry with hot water? How do you do it?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk4Zm-livingSat, 21 Dec 2019 12:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk4Zm-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZ7ll-food_chiba_shi_chibaThe last time I was in Chiba I spotted this local yokan made by Bay-B Yokan in a few flavors. I bought a three pack as a gift and bought this apricot and honey version for myself, as I'm a big apricot fan. It was sold at the Sogo Department Store near Chiba Station.Now I wish I had bought the three pack for myself too! I don't remember what the other two flavors were.If you like yokan, especially unusual and local flavors, this is recommended. It's got a really authentic fresh apricot taste and the tartness is balanced by the honey.I guess it's a nostalgic middle eastern flavor for me. It was too good to share! I finished it off in one sitting. The little yokan was around 150 yen, only a little more than the mass produced ones you can find in any supermarket.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZ7ll-food_chiba_shi_chibaFri, 20 Dec 2019 12:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZ7ll-food_chiba_shi_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z31DX-living_transportation_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaIf you live in a not-so-big city or a rural area in Japan, or travel to one, it's likely you won't be able to use your Suica or other IC cards in every station.There should be notices about this at other stations on the same line - to remind you to buy a ticket and not use an IC card when you enter the gate. The problem is, these will usually be in Japanese and you might not even notice them.I recently went only a few stations away, but to a new neighborhood for me - and that station doesn't have an IC card reader. On the JR Kyudai Honsen, traveling between Kurume Station and Oita Station in northern Kyushu is really fun at first because it feels old fashioned and rural. The local trains are red or yellow 'one man' diesel engine trains and the express is the green "Yufu no Mori."Inside the train there's a display that looks like what you'd see on a bus - showing different fares between stations. For some of the long stretch of small stations in between the bigger cities, there are no IC card readers. This means we need to buy single fare tickets.I hopped on a train using my IC card as usual for an event in the more rural part of my city. It wasn't until I was on the train that I saw the notice that we need to buy tickets for the station I was going to. I wasn't too concerned as I'm sure I'm not the only 'city folk' to make this mistake.When I exited the station I apologized to the eki in (train station staff) telling him I had used my (Nimoca) IC card. He asked which station I came from to calculate the fare and asked me to pay that in cash. He filled out a Seisan Shomeisho (精算証明書) or Payment Certificate for me to prove that I had paid and correct the data stored on the IC card the next time I was in a bigger station. Luckily he didn't seem angry about it and explained what to do very calmly. You can see the type of IC card, amount paid, stations used, and date on the certificate above.I don't take trains on a regular basis, but I stopped by the station I had departed from that day and found there was no staff there. Maybe because there is an IC card reader, there's little need for staff to be around. I found that the schedule was dramatically reduced this year and it's really inconvenient for me - either early mornings or in the afternoons while I'm working. Luckily, I went to another station - not a JR station but the local Nishitetsu line, and they were able to fix my IC card. All you need to do is go to the tiny office near the gates where there is staff working and present your proof of payment slip with your IC card. It will only take a few seconds for the staff to adjust things so you can use your card again.That being said... if you can catch on that you shouldn't use your IC card in the first place, it will make things go a lot smoother!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z31DX-living_transportation_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaTue, 10 Dec 2019 08:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z31DX-living_transportation_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2oDg-foodMy recent reward for meeting a study goal was about to be the usual Suntory Horoyoi, until I saw this "Shinruchu" Apricot and Honey Liquor by Kirin. Oh, I love the apricot flavor, especially in drinks.I had been wanting to try this for a while actually, so it seemed like a good time. It's 14% alcohol and 250 ml is under 500 yen. There are also 500 ml and 1800 ml sizes.The scent is great and the flavor is yummy too. It's good with cold water, hot water, and bubbly (carbonated) water. I imagine it's great 'on the rocks' too but I want to make mine last a little longer.This Kirin fruit liquor comes in other flavors, like lychee, apple, and lemon! It's worth checking out if you like your alcohol fruity.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2oDg-foodThu, 05 Dec 2019 10:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2oDg-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK183-livingA few years ago, we went to the Rose Festival during early summer at Ishibashi Bunka Center in Kurume, Fukuoka.Did you know that roses bloom during the fall as well?I was surprised to hear that there is also a fall version of the Rose Festival, and roses are blooming well now. 400 kinds of them and around two thousand six hundred rose plants to be exact. There are also roses for sale if you'd like to grow some at home.I somehow missed this little fact up until this point in life. I always thought that roses bloomed only once a year, around June.That just shows you how much I know about growing roses despite living in a city in the US nicknamed "Rose City" and being from another city famous for it's Rose Parade... Sigh.I guess roses can be tricky to grow, but when you know how to (or use a green house) they can bloom a lot more often for you. I'll pass on trying to grow them for now, as I can enjoy them at this park twice a year. Now that I know.Last Sunday was Culture Day here in Japan, so it was the perfect day to take in lots of culture. The Culture Center is (no surprise) the perfect place to do that. This time of year we could fit in not only a stroll in the rose gardens, but a visit to the museum and an outdoor concert. The leaves are just starting to change color but not quite ready for the autumn leaves light-up or Momiji Matsuri that I reviewed here. We'll probably be back in a couple weeks when it's a good time to see more colors on the leaves. This year Momiji Matsuri starts on November 9th and goes until December 1st. I recommend it if you're in the area.It was a cloudy day and the weather was perfect with a hoodie, great for being outdoors. The museum was holding a free entrance day for Culture Day and hosting an exhibit about Tartan - all things plaid. We had a look around there and finished in time for a performance - piano and violin - outside by the fountain. We sat near the "Strawberry Ice" roses while listening to versions of Totoro and Phantom of the Opera tunes.The library was also open of course, so we did a little browsing there too. After the walk to the park we were feeling hungry and jumped on the chance to try these.I had heard rose soft serve ice cream was available seasonally at the Culture Center, but we had never seen it while visiting before. I'm a fan of trying the weirdest ice cream flavor available, and this certainly counts. The pink rose flavor was subtle and mostly tasted like regular vanilla soft serve with some coloring in it. We thought they may have used something like rose hip tea to get the flavor. The cones were also pinkish and I thought they were chocolate flavored, but not so obviously. (The cones were 350 yen each, by the way.)There was also a stamp rally and quiz so kids were running around trying to find clues and collect their stamps.The Rose Festival goes until the 17th this month with the main events on weekends, if you're wanting to check it out. This is the link to the flyer and info, all in Japanese. The park is open from 10:00-17:00 and will stay open later during the light-up events in the coming weeks.Link to the access page on the Culture Center's website. By Nishitetsu Omuta Line it's a bit of a walk but there are also the local buses if you aren't up for it.By the way this culture center is open year round and has free entrance, so it's nice to visit any time you happen to be in Fukuoka.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK183-livingSun, 10 Nov 2019 11:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK183-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRqp8-livingLiving in Japan means collecting plastic bags.Anyone living here will tell you where theirs are stashed and how they fold them into triangles or just stuff them into another bag.Sure, they can be useful at times, but at what cost?I'm happy to see a lot of supermarkets charge for plastic bags to encourage customers to bring a reusable bag. The supermarket that recently opened near us gave out their own cloth bags to the first customers during the opening week. How smart is that? Free advertising! (Too bad they aren't at all cute.)It's no secret that I'm a little environmentally conscious. This isn't one of the sustainability themed articles, but on that topic. I often want to do more. This week I found something super easy that you can do if you're interested. I know a lot of the readers and contributors agree. Just search City-Cost for "plastic" if you want proof.Recently I watched a video (different format TED Talk) about the dangers of all the plastic in the ocean. If we want to continue eating fish in our lifetimes, we need to do something fast to counteract all of the plastic waste on the planet. There is already a plan in action to transition the plastic industry.I recommend watching the video, and signing the petition on the website, No Plastic Waste.As a businessman with a background in metal recycling, Andrew Forrest has a good plan to change how much new plastic is created. The interview with Chris Anderson is worth the watch and I encourage you to share it if you agree.This plan is good financially for people around the world, plus for the environment and sea life. In Japan, a lot of the diet is based on seafood, so keeping the ocean safe is important for the future.#NoPlasticWasteNoPlasticWaste.orgTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRqp8-livingThu, 07 Nov 2019 09:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRqp8-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1lX-livingCosmos Park sounds like it might be named after Carl Sagan's cosmic TV show, but it's all about the flowers.Our journey started with a walk and a train ride on the Nishitetsu Amagi Line, which runs from Amagi to Omuta. Kitano is in the same city where we live, but it's over a big river and would be a rather long walk or even a long bike ride.Kitano Station is really tiny and on Sundays trains are running every thirty minutes during the day. We managed to be about one minute late for a train in either direction resulting in an hour of goofing off around the stations. Arriving a little early and planning ahead will be best to avoid this.There are even special cosmos tiles in front of the station entrance.Cosmos Park is a ten minute walk from Kitano Station. We managed to take the scenic route on the way there, but there are so many neat old buildings that have been remodeled that it was fun to walk down small streets. If you take a right (in the south direction) after exiting the station, there will be a road after a big shrine that's called Cosmos Gaidou, or Cosmos Road, I guess. (The shrine was nice too - we looked around on the way back.)The sign says this road is 3.5 kilometers long and planted with 500,000 cosmos plants. This is probably more plants that at the actual Cosmos Park. We only walked along the middle section of this road, but it seems like a good idea to walk along all of it, as that was as nice as the park.A couple of locals had set up yard sale type stands in front of their homes on Cosmos Road. That seemed like a nice little once-a-year side hustle, rather than setting up a tent as part of the festival. I was tempted by the potted plants for sale at one sale but it seemed like a bother to carry one home.The photos I saw online showed a couple having wedding photos done in what looked like a huge field of blooming cosmos. It wasn't so big as I imagined, but still plenty for some nice photos. There were also free potted cosmos for visitors to take home, but again it seemed like a pain to carry it home and we don't have a yard.If you turn to your right onto Cosmos Road, it will lead you to Cosmos Park.Most of the year this is a typical park with a playground, but in October is when there will be blooming cosmos and a lot of visitors. The annual Cosmos Festival is only held on one day (10-16:00) during October and entrance is free. The cosmos field is closer to Cosmos Road, not inside the playground area of the park. I imagine it would be nice all month if you're not going for the typical festival entertainment and food.A bunch of food tents were set up and we got some yummy local yakitori. Some high school students were selling sweet breads and homemade food as a fund raiser too. There was a brass band performing in a big stage - songs like the theme from Totoro and Beauty and the Beast. The green part in the above picture is a Kurrupa bouncy house. Kurrupa is the mascot of Kurume, like a cute kappa. There were also these spheres kids could run around inside on top of water. It looked really fun for kids and lots of families were there.The weather was lovely so plenty of people had brought picnic blankets and tents and set up for the day. Not a bad idea, but we just looked around at the flowers. That was the point, we thought.It's too early for the leaves to be changing color here in Kyushu, so October is the perfect time for camping and enjoying cosmos.If you'd like to visit Cosmos Park, the address is Koura 724-1 Kitano Machi, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.You can also visit the website (in Japanese).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1lX-livingTue, 05 Nov 2019 16:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1lX-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY5W2-living_foodFound this strange snack for around 150 yen and was curious.Ritz sandwiches are the kind of thing I think only exist in Japan, but I'm not sure. It could be like Oreo with flavors - they supposedly exist in the States, but I hadn't noticed because I don't usually eat them anyway.I did eat Ritz as a kid, so they have a kind of nostalgia for me. But I mean the regular buttery crackers and not the sandwich type. There are of course cheese cracker type snacks I have seen before but things like chocolate cream Ritz were totally new to me in Japan. I have tried those (maybe a store brand) and liked them, in a feeling snacky sort of mood.Spicy Chicken though. I was really thinking these could go either way, and after tasting, they are not the greatest.The box has a couple packs inside with probably too many sandwiches for two people to finish off at a time, but we did. They basically tasted like really artificial cheese spread was used. I didn't really taste it but my husband said the spice was like 'chicken seasoning'... or mostly salt and pepper. I didn't think they had a chicken or spicy flavor. (Spicy in Japan is nothing for me, as usual.)Kinda strange, but the other pack will be just fine for several months, ready in case of emergencies. I might not be tempted otherwise.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY5W2-living_foodTue, 05 Nov 2019 10:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY5W2-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrgX-living_medicalI think I'm finally mostly recovered from around a month of coughing.It's not entirely gone, but as long as I'm avoiding cold foods and alcohol, I'm good. This battle was probably the usual fall cold, caused by changing weather, stress, and improper diet.The last two months were a whirlwind with a few long weekend visits to family in Japan due to my father-in-law's illness and death. I don't regret at all being a part of the family and getting to see him, but it made normal life at home a little harder to keep up with. In addition, my husband has been with his family for over two months and will finally be returning soon.A normal cold when the weather turns cooler can be extended by stress I found. And just when I thought it had gone, it was back as soon as I didn't get a proper night's sleep a couple nights in a row.As far as diet, cooking while home alone is usually a pain. Plus it's hard to eat consistently healthy foods while traveling. (My mother-in-law hilariously offered ice cream bars before breakfast. I didn't take her up on the offer, but there is always tons to eat there.) I kept thinking I should just eat out instead of cooking sometimes, but I never did. I think the bento and instant foods from the supermarket usually sounded easier than going to a restaurant.As soon as I started feeling sick, I checked my temperature. I didn't have a fever, but I felt like I did - with body aches. Other than that and waking up with a sore throat, I thought I was okay. I had made it through work in the morning, so I went to the afternoon lessons. Canceling lessons last minute seemed worse than just going. I didn't feel any better as time went on and stopped by the drugstore for a couple things on the way home.Puburon was actually mentioned by a student. She said she took it when she felt like she was getting a cold and, somewhat like NyQuil, she can still go to work as usual without feeling too bad. There are several kinds too, so I checked them and the above "Sa" tablets seemed like the best choice. This bottle of 135 tablets costs around 1300 yen but the tablets are to be taken three at a time for adults.This one is for fever, runny and stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and phlegm. It has some pain killer in it so it helps with headaches too.After work, I did have a fever. It was 39 degrees, so I took a dosage of the Puburon and went to bed early. No fever the next day, but I thought it was better to take a day off and rest.The other thing I picked up was these lozenges, similar to a type we have at work. They look like the whistle candy. Not your typical cough drops or "throat candy" - they actually contain medicine. I think the box was 600 yen for 24 lozenges. This type is called Torochi and I had never noticed them before this year. They are common medicine for sore throats, coughs, and phlegm. I found them to be really effective, especially in the morning when my cough was the worst.I'm on my third weekend in a row staying in town, resting at home and eating home cooked meals (mostly). My energy levels are finally getting caught up so I can get to some fall festivals next weekend.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrgX-living_medicalSun, 03 Nov 2019 15:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrgX-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNY3x-livingOn a recent visit to out local Gooday DIY store to pick up a small eucalyptus tree for home, I noticed these babies.These small potted trees are meant for creating fall and winter mixed plantings that you may have seen outside of homes or shops.There are several varieties of pine trees, but these are especially cute and reminded me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.For around 400 yen, picking up a little tree like this for a Christmas decoration sounded like a good idea. They are small enough for a tabletop decoration, but larger options are available. If you're keen on raising a tree as a houseplant, why not one that can double as your Christmas tree? (Not that I've ever seen huge cut pine trees for sale as Christmas trees in Japan.)I haven't had a Christmas tree in years, but really like the idea of small potted live trees rather than fake ones. I'm tempted to get one when the season is a little closer.It seems really cost effective to buy a tree from a home center too. With a couple homemade ornaments, this would work just fine.Where do you usually pick up a Christmas tree while living in Japan, if you get one at all?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNY3x-livingMon, 28 Oct 2019 10:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNY3x-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJoYV-livingHalloween Fair with Pancakes!What makes these Halloween pancakes? (Decorations and clip art?)What do pancakes have to do with Halloween?It's not even pumpkin-shaped or pumpkin-flavored.Sometimes I'm baffled by how Japan does holidays.This is true even though my own country can be a total mystery from time to time. On occasion I don't remember exactly how things were done back home and who knows what people are doing there that has changed since I've left.I have definitely felt that marketing has been questionable in relation to holidays both then and now. I don't see the point in a lot of holidays, especially as an adult.As a kid, obviously Halloween is important because it means free candy. After getting too old for that, unless you love scary stuff and costumes, it's not exciting. I have no tolerance for either scary stuff or wearing costumes. A lot of people are fans of the cheesy costume parties and the pumpkin spice flavored everything. Meh. The fun in it for me used to be going to pumpkin patches and having a Jack-o-lantern carving party. That kind of pumpkin is very rare here in Japan.It's also strange to see the holiday evolve in Japan over the last several years. First I didn't notice anything at all around the season. Now I can see posters for trick or treating the weekend around Halloween and some kids dress up to get candy in certain community centers or shopping malls. (Of course trick or treating at random people's houses is way too weird.)I noticed even the nearby old folks' home entrance was decorated by a huge Jack-o-lantern cut from colored paper. All the snacks have seasonal Halloween decorations. But why the random Halloween decorations on anything? The basil sausage I recently bought was labeled "Halloween Party." This toilet paper even has seasonal packaging and designs for Halloween.I have never seen the likes of this back home.It was a welcome surprise then to see a huge kabocha (looking just like a carving pumpkin) in the local co-op supermarket.It's a guess-the-weight contest!（かぼちゃ重量当てクイズ）Now this brings back nostalgia of the country fair variety. I like the pasted on face. Because of course you can't actually carve that beast and still use it for a guess-the-weight contest.I didn't participate, but I'd estimate this monster of a pumpkin to be at around 50 kilograms.This didn't seem popular but reminded me of how we celebrate this season back home. Silly contests, homemade treats and decorations, and 'doing it for the kids.'I'm not sure if this is a contest type that's regularly in use in Japan, but I've never seen it until now. I wonder how it was introduced and if somewhere else I can find a guess-the-number of candy corn in a huge jar contest.If western Halloween culture is going to be introduced to Japan, I prefer this variety over the skimpy costumes at adult costume parties that have become so popular back home. I'll try not to roll my eyes at the 'Halloween toilet paper.'To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJoYV-livingThu, 24 Oct 2019 10:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJoYV-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mvrdd-living_educationRecently I found this in our library.I had heard about last year's NHK drama and want to watch it, but haven't figured out how to yet.The title, 弟の夫 translates to My Brother's Husband, but the Japanese honestly sounds nicer: おとうとのおっと.The manga does not have furigana most of the time, although one of the characters is an elementary school student, so some of the more difficult words are written in hiragana when she says them, and she often asks her father to explain those words too. It was really easy to pick up the meanings in the context.I think this was written so even older elementary students can read it. It's a nice level for me to practice and I could read it so much faster than manga or books written for high school students and adults. I didn't know all the vocabulary and readings, but it wasn't so much that it distracted me from enjoying the story.And the story! It's a little unusual in Japan, but I liked this so much. It handled the LGBT topics really well. The character was not accepted without curiosity or flat out opposed. There was a very natural thought process involving self questioning feelings with respect to others.In addition, the title character, Mike, is a Canadian. The manga not only focuses on gay marriage, but it also tackles marriage to foreigners. As you can imagine, this is a little bit of a struggle for the older brother. His daughter meanwhile thinks it's so cool.If this is level appropriate reading for you, I recommend it as an enjoyable read to practice your Japanese. (I'm a big fan of using authentic materials to study.) If you aren't quite there yet, there may be translations of the manga or drama and the story is great.All this said, I've only read the first manga. I'm planning to get the second one as soon as it's back on the shelf in the library.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mvrdd-living_educationThu, 24 Oct 2019 09:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mvrdd-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6YnR-livingTuesday, October 22nd is a new, one time holiday in Japan to celebrate the new Emperor Naruhito's enthronement. Because I have Sundays and Mondays off for my work schedule, I finally get a three day weekend. Most holidays fall on Mondays so it makes no difference to me.It seems like most people are working this Monday, and we have just had two Mondays off last month and one last week.I haven't seen any notice of local events on Tuesday, at least where I live.I'm hanging out getting caught up at home for a few days. I wanted to work on a project or something, but am doing things as usual, in a more leisurely way.For those of you who work the typical Monday - Friday, are you taking Monday off for a long weekend? Will you do anything special on Tuesday? It's a nice season for camping.EDIT: It is not the Emperor's birthday, which is on February 23rd. I think I knew it was the enthronement ceremony last winter when it was announced, then forgot. Sorry for any confusion, but this is not an ongoing holiday.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6YnR-livingMon, 21 Oct 2019 13:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6YnR-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZ7mZ-moneyThis month the tax rate was raised two percent in Japan.The biggest thing I've noticed in the last two weeks was that the local supermarket was sold out of the cheapest toilet paper.I found this strange as it costs around 250 yen a pack. So people were stocking up for potential savings of only five yen.This would make a lot more sense for high priced items, like if you needed a new computer or a car, that would make a big difference.Although I have heard it's been a lot of work for retailers to update pricing, it hasn't been something that has impacted me as of now. I should eventually look into using apps to pay for things (cashless discounts) but it's not a priority.I heard one business did the task of rounding up or down after the new price changes to make giving change easier. And I was asked about the tax rate in the US.That was a hard one to answer as the rates depend on where you live and sales tax is zero in a few states.The sales tax might seem high to some people, but it's a nice whole number, and I hope it helps with the country's debt and aging population costs. Relative costs are still low in Japan in comparison to the US, so I'm not worried about the tax hike.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZ7mZ-moneySat, 12 Oct 2019 08:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZ7mZ-moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rVW-livingI noticed these flowers starting to bloom at the end of August, despite the heat wave. They are higanbana, which usually bloom for only around a week right around September 23rd or the Autumnal Equinox.Higanbana are generally red but there are pink, yellow, and white varieties, some with a little pink mixed in like these. Our city has a festival next weekend with bamboo lanterns lit to illuminate the flowers blooming along the river. They seem to be in full bloom now, for the harvest moon (September 14th). I wonder if they'll still be blooming on the 23rd.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rVW-livingSun, 15 Sep 2019 16:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rVW-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY5Ax-living_foodI had to try this limited time chestnut Pino for only 89 yen at the local super-drugstore.It's still really hot here but I'm always looking forward to fall and it's right around the corner. Chestnut is one of those flavors I had very little experience with before moving to Japan, but now I love it.These got a little melted on the way home but they are really tasty.I wasn't sure about chocolate combined with chestnut flavor, but it pairs well.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY5Ax-living_foodSun, 15 Sep 2019 16:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY5Ax-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJoaJ-living_foodOf course I expect things in Japan to be smaller than what I was used to back home, but this was just funny to me.Not only are these cookies tiny compared with the image on the box (thus the disclaimer), but they are also tiny compared with the box. It seems like a waste of packaging and a bit deceiving to me.I've heard that snacks and the amount of product in a package has been decreasing while the prices stay the same. I thought these used to be bigger. But why not make the box smaller too and cut back on packaging and shipping expenses?I'll admit they are tasty anyway.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJoaJ-living_foodFri, 06 Sep 2019 22:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJoaJ-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1mro-living_medical_familylifeWith understandably growing concern about pensions recently, I was curious about the current status of Japan's elderly population.According to the latest provisional data, almost 48% of Japan's population is aged 65 or older. Nearing half of the population at retirement age and older doesn't mean they are all retired, but that's a huge percentage. In addition, I found that there are currently around 70,000 people aged 100 years old and up living in Japan (with the large majority of those being women).My personal family situation is that I am a foreign woman married to a Japanese man. His father has recently been hospitalized and this had me unsure of what to expect about the traditional Confucian roles for caring for elderly family in Japan. Traditionally the responsibility goes to the eldest son's wife, with his family inheriting the parents home, etc. It doesn't seem to be the expectation in our case, with the eldest son minimally involved with family despite living closer than us.My father-in-law has arranged for care in the hospital, with daily visits from his wife. In addition, my husband has temporarily relocated to be able to help his parents through this time and visit daily as well. His situation is extremely rare in that he is able to do this while continuing to work.The Family Care Leave Scheme allows up to three months of leave while caring for a family member. It seems reasonable but I doubt most employers could lose staff for that long without a lot of trouble for their coworkers.It's a little lonely without my husband around, but I think it's important for him to be there for his family - I'd want to do the same.It seems rare these days for three generations (extended family) to live in one house and from what I've heard it can be difficult to do so. In our case, we are planning on regular visits to help my mother-in-law with anything she can't do around the house later on. She should be mostly fine but will enjoy the company I'm sure.There is still an expectation to care for elderly family members here, checking up and visiting on the usual holidays at the least. This is of course while living separately.Issues of elderly care in Japan run much deeper than social responsibilities like medical and pension funding. The burden on non-professionals to care for family members, the shame sick and elderly feel for needing help, and the abandoning of family members to avoid this care is really sad.Reading a little about these issues helped me to understand why my father-in-law chose to stay in a hospital.I'm thankful I could visit him there and that his family is there for him until the end.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1mro-living_medical_familylifeThu, 05 Sep 2019 19:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1mro-living_medical_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrV4-living_medical_healthA friend back home who also suffers from migraines recommended a product called WeatherX earplugs. They are earplugs with special technology to help your ears adjust to pressure changes. There is also a free app you can use to get alerts about upcoming pressure changes.If you suspect that you have ear issues or headaches from weather changes, there's a Japanese version of these. Rather than my friend buying them (from Amazon for about $12 US) and shipping them here or paying international shipping, I looked for them on the Japanese Amazon site. The product I found is very similar with only different colors and packaging. It's called Weather Relief X. There is even an app in Japanese, 頭痛ーる (which is, as expected, way cuter than the English version).I've been noticing I can predict rainy days by my headaches these days, and with all the rainy days in Kyushu, especially during the rainy season, these seemed worth the almost 2,000 yen to try out. Before a typhoon passed by, I had a super nasty migraine that I had to take a day off because of. If these earplugs help avoid more of that, I'm in. Technically before typhoon season even starts, I'm using them a little every day.Anytime I feel some pressure in my ears, my ears popping, or even sensitivity to sound (blasted cicadas at six am every day), I pop the squishy earplugs in. They come with a tiny case so you can bring them everywhere. I've been wearing them for around an hour or so at a time so I haven't had any ear soreness, but if I left them in overnight it might hurt a little.I had a bit of success with them on a recent bus tour through mountain areas. Despite ups and downs and unexpected sudden rain, I had only brief mild headaches. They are designed for changes in air pressure, but the company in the US, WeatherX, also has a travel version to help with larger altitude changes on airplanes.The cute app (Zutsu-ru) is only in Japanese, but not so difficult to understand. There's a profile where you can keep track of your symptoms and their severity, which is really useful. You'll also have a map of Japan with potential pressure issues and a weather hour by hour chart showing upcoming changes. Before those changes come, the point is to use the earplugs, so your ears can adjust more gradually. I like the features this app has way better than the WeatherX app, which I used a little before these earplugs arrived. I didn't understand the differences in how air pressure is measured in the US vs. in Japan, so the Japanese version is easier to understand. It also doesn't need to use my location like the US app; you just enter in your city.I'm still testing these out as there haven't been any typhoons or big pressure changes since I got them. So far I think they have helped to relieve some of the pain and cut off potential migraines.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrV4-living_medical_healthMon, 05 Aug 2019 23:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXrV4-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgX7B-living_foodThis happened today.The original plan for today was spending the day in the air conditioned library with plenty of books and next to Nonaka Park.It was too hot for the bike ride there after breakfast. And was I really gonna stay there all day or have to ride home when the temperature got up to around body temperature?I decided on a more relaxed staying in the air conditioning working at home day and a later library run - they're open until 8 today. It got up to 38 degrees today so hiding out was great.What made it fun was the quick run to pick up way too much ice cream in the morning. It was so fun to buy a ton of treats at once and know the freezer was stocked. (PS: Thank you Ponta Points.)I think it boosted my productivity - especially considering my usual grumpy-face during summers in Japan.We shared just one of these today - the mango 'frozen party' which I blogged about before. This flavor was great!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgX7B-living_foodFri, 02 Aug 2019 22:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgX7B-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb3mW-living_foodOf all the strange flavor combinations, Black Thunder candy bars have a new seasonal flavor: Corn ThunderFor whatever reason, I really wanted to try this, without thinking about how corn and chocolate don't even sound good.The mini size candy bars are sold in Lawson Convenience stores for 40 yen before tax, compared to 30 yen for the regular Black Thunder bars.Looks normal... but yeah, that's a kernel of corn.I do not recommend these, but they are very interesting. I will say I'm glad I bought only one mini bar to share with my husband - I didn't wanna finish it myself.I did see Black Thunder ice bars at 7-11 and I think those sound way better.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb3mW-living_foodFri, 02 Aug 2019 21:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb3mW-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Yy8-living_transportation_miyazaki_takachiho_cho_miyazakiTakachiho is in the middle of Kyushu, in Miyazaki Prefecture but also very close to Oita and Kumamoto Prefectures. It's most famous for being the region that the god Amaterasu Omikami is from and the meeting place for eight million gods to talk about important decisions. Since I'm no expert on Japanese mythology or Shinto beliefs, I'm going to keep those explanations minimal and focus on why I wanted to go there: it's pretty nature. There are 88 shrines in the region, but during this tour we only saw around five of them.We have never been on a package tour but it seemed like the best way to go about this journey without driving. During the trip I was thankful that we hadn't rented a car - the roads can be steep and windy.Through Nishitetsu Bus Hike group, there are day tours leaving Fukuoka City and going to Takachiho about three times a week. The group offers several tours to other locations in the region. The website and all materials are in Japanese, so being at least conversational in Japanese is recommended. Booking can be done through the website in the link. The departure time was early, considering we had to go into the city to meet by 7:30. The bus often left a little earlier than stated if everyone was there, which I quickly learned was always the case.The tour does not include typical tour guide explanations, but there were some descriptions of where we were about to arrive. Most of the day was spent on the bus for the 3-4 hour drive there and back. We felt like the on site times were rushed, as would be expected for this type of day tour. My husband and I prefer slow travel when possible so we have time to discover unexpected things, but we still thought this was the easiest way for us to go without spending the night in the area.From Kumamoto City there are highway buses as well. The reason we went for this tour is that the highway bus into Takachiho leaves only twice a day: early in the morning and in the evening. Return buses are similar. In addition, the cost for the (not shinkansen) train and bus round trip was a little more than the price for the tour we decided on, which also includes lunch. (7900 yen per person from Fukuoka City.)This tour is described as being a 'Power Spot' tour - full of shrine visits and nature. I guess you can say I felt more powerful during our visit. It may have been from all of the powerful naps I took on the bus. The passengers were nearly all middle aged women. The first stop was lunch.We had less than an hour and around 50 people waited in line to take food at the included lunch buffet. The healthy Japanese food was tasty, but it wasn't fun feeling rushed to eat.Next stop, Kushifuru Shrine.There are tons of steps leading up to the shrine where a god came down from heaven or something like that. The bronze and carved wood accents were beautiful.At Amaniwato Shrine we were blessed by a priest then allowed onto the porch behind the shrine overlooking the gorge. No photography is allowed, but we could see the cave where supposedly the god Amaterasu fled to and hid.After that we followed a narrow path down to the gorge and along the river. It was beautiful and cool despite the humid summer weather.There's a shrine inside a cave there called Amanoyasukawara, which was my favorite. Tons of rocks were piled up in the big cave and it was just a beautiful lush landscape along the river.After walking back up, we got some mango soft serve ice cream. It's Miyazaki after all!The most famous location would have to be the gorge and waterfall itself. Takachihokyo and Manai Falls near Mihashi, one of the bridges crossing the river in that area was lovely. The rock formations are really cool.You can see pictures online with the rental boats in the river, but the rental was closed while we were there. I think it's because it rained earlier that day. Rental boats are 2000 yen for 30 minutes.We walked down into the gorge for around 30 minutes then took a mini bus up to a parking lot after doing some gift shopping.Then a quick drive to our last stop, Takachiho Shrine. Here you can see the 'wedded cedars' and pray for just about everything as it's supposed to represent all the shrines in the area.It was a long day, but I'm still glad we were able to go so conveniently.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Yy8-living_transportation_miyazaki_takachiho_cho_miyazakiFri, 02 Aug 2019 20:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Yy8-living_transportation_miyazaki_takachiho_cho_miyazakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxN8-living_foodIt's our annual tradition and I wrote about last year's adventure here.It's a lot of fun to try the Saga Prefecture Takeshita Seika Milcook ice bars they have at the APA Hotel near Saga Station. (The hotel name changed.) I think they must be testing out the new flavors for the company.We aren't the only ones who want to eat all the different flavors of ice bars. In fact, it's been impossible to try them all as we have a limit of two or three bars each after having a buffet lunch.Here's the three I tried this month.Last on my list is the "Rakuto Berry" Blueberry Yogurt flavor, popular this summer as noted here.The reason this gets the lowest score is the flavor: the outer blueberry coating was almost grape flavor artificial; the yogurt inside tasted like Yakult. Way too sweet for me.Number two was good, but also way too sweet, as you'd probably expect... for Creme Brule flavor!"Otona no Miclook" is funny - this is really a flavor adult women would like the most. They got the flavor and texture really close. Not bad at all, just so sweet that I wouldn't want this again.And the clear winner for both me and my husband was this really Japanese flavor.I've mentioned before that my favorite ice bar is kinako mochi, and this one is also kinako flavor, but made with roasted black soybeans.You might think from the look of it that there's a chocolate coating. Nope. That is the roasted black soybean kinako coating.The flavor is barely sweet at all from the sweet azuki inside.Probably this kind of Japanese taste isn't popular among foreigners, but I loved it. I hope I can find it in normal supermarkets soon.Another fun thing the restaurant had is the Black Mont Blanc "crunch" topping to add to their soft serve ice cream.I didn't sample this one, but there were plenty of ice bars. I tried a bite of my husband's "Bitter Black Mont Blanc" - just a normal Black Mont Blanc with chocolate flavor and choco chips.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxN8-living_foodMon, 29 Jul 2019 09:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxN8-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rYd-living_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaIf you live in Japan, you may have had this experience:Where do you live? How do you spell that? F-U- what?(Then never hearing the place pronounced correctly from your contacts back home.)As the main airport in Kyushu is also close to Fukuoka City, we get a lot of funny looks based on the airport code. It's funny when making reservations over the phone too.I think some small shop owners in the city realize what this sounds like and are using it to get some free publicity.The same probably happens in Fukushima.Maybe your prefecture or city sounds funny in a different way?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rYd-living_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaMon, 29 Jul 2019 08:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rYd-living_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRqg2-shopping_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaStrictly city center-wise, this is what's available in Fukuoka to stay out of the rain and hot humid summer weather of Japan. It's nearly all shopping in Fukuoka, but this article is leaving out other potential summer spots -- all the beaches, islands, aquariums, etc that are a bit farther from the city center. If you want to spend the day in a way-too-cold air conditioned movie theater or shopping mall without leaving the area your hotel or hostel is in, these Fukuoka summer spots have you covered.The city centers around two main stations. The biggest is JR Hakata Station and the other is Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station in the Tenjin area. The two stations are only about a 30 minute walk apart and there are also 100-yen buses and a subway line connecting the two neighborhoods. Depending on the weather and time of day, a walk during summer is possible, but know there are options. A lot of Fukuokans get around by bicycle, so renting a bike is a good one. *While walking, you'll need to be careful to watch for bikes on the sidewalk (they should be walked in crowded areas) in addition to the people staring at smartphones while walking.Here's a loop I recently made. I started in Tenjin, but either station makes a good starting point.Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station area, Tenjin has all the department stores you'd ever need. Loft, Daimaru, Parco, Solaria, Mitsukoshi, Iwataya, Tenjin Core... Plus, below the station is an underground mall, called chikagai, for extreme hiding out from the nasty summer elements. The underground mall literally connects the subway and department stores to the Nishitetsu station so you don't need to go outside at all.On the other hand, there are even more stores in the area and plenty of events going on in the open space near the City Hall and in Kego Park. I noticed Octoberfest is happening now. In July, prime beer drinking month.I recommend Boul'Ange in Parco for award winning croissants when you need a bite.Moving on! A 15 minute walk to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, at Nakasu Kawabata Subway Station, on the 7th and 8th floors.There will often be small free exhibits and a library cafe space with a great view. I saw a children's book interactive exhibit (1,000 yen for adults) along with the regular collection. The above was a special installation painting by children's book illustrator, Chiki Kikuchi.The Asian Gallery costs only 200 yen but is included with the entrance fee for special temporary exhibits. Hours are 9:30-18:00; open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.There's a nice covered shortcut in the form of old-school shotengai Kawabata, filled with incense and tiny shops, plus huge tanabata decorations in July!Kawabatagai has a fun shop called Puchi Korea with a tiny bit of all things Korea, plus an Owl cafe! It's also just nice when the sun or rain is beating down.This will end right at the overpass entrance to Canal City, which I'll leave for last and skip to the huge station.Are you ready for Hakata Station? You'll have Tokyu Hands (my favorite), Marui (OIOI), Amu Plaza, a movie theater, tons of omiyage shopping... plenty inside but also the open space has tons of events if it's decent outside. (Above: Food trucks!)I think this area needs a nap space too.From there, it's an easy walk to plant-covered Canal City shopping mall. From the west side of Hakata station (Hakata entrance) you can practically see Canal City. It's a straight shot there, but if you go to your left before crossing the street to this entrance, you can head for the North building and straight back towards Tenjin. There's a sort of 'short cut' at the second floor level connecting the overpass with the mall and it's buildings.This is a sort of indoor-outdoor mall but even the outdoor areas seem cool from all the air conditioning in the shops. There is a water area for kids on the first floor and you can catch a water show.In addition to plenty of shopping, there's a movie theater here. If you aren't distracted, it can be a nice cut through between Hakata and Tenjin Stations.If you actually do all of this in one day I think you will sleep very well, but be sure to drink plenty of water!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRqg2-shopping_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaFri, 26 Jul 2019 14:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRqg2-shopping_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNYdZ-food_shoppingThis year four supermarkets in my area have already closed.It does cause more effort to get groceries at least temporarily, but they are likely to be replaced by a different company's supermarket. The store closest to home closed months ago and went through renovations. It looks like the new supermarket, a gyomu or wholesale type market, will finally open in the next month.Another supermarket from the same company closed last month and was reopened quickly afterwards as a discount AEON group store, The Big. It seems popular as there was only one other location in the central area and it's cheaper than the previous supermarket was.Another store closed yesterday - the one where I went for ice cream and the occasional "Costco Fair" items. I'm not sure if it will be replaced by another supermarket.The good and the bad.As mentioned, there's inconvenience at not being able to shop as usual. In addition, the other nearby supermarkets that are still open can be more expensive.The nice thing is, if you catch the right timing, you can get a lot of discounted products.Without knowing the store was closing and had already started clearing out it's inventory, I recently stopped by for ice cream. Most products were 30% off and the shelves in the dry foods and snack sections were already more than half cleared out.I wasn't planning on it, but I ended up buying a few things that we normally use at a discount. The refrigerated and frozen foods were not discounted, but for things like instant noodles and canned foods it's a chance to stock up.Is it just my area, or are supermarkets suffering to stay in business near you too?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNYdZ-food_shoppingWed, 24 Jul 2019 11:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNYdZ-food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrvk0-living_galleries_yame_shi_fukuokaFinally, on umi no hi, it felt like summer. We got the rainy season quite late this year in Kyushu, so it's technically still rainy season in mid-July and has been gloomy. We haven't seen a lot of rainy days yet and compared with last year it's been so cool.A friend was in town staying in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture with a few others, so I went down to visit for the day. I've been in Yame only a few times, mostly for new tea picking, so it was nice to see a different neighborhood. Yame is very much tea-growing countryside, and this small town area is in the center of the city. Access is easy by bus (numbers 30, 31, or 32) from Nishitetsu Kurume or Hanabatake Stations in Kurume City. I stopped at Fukushima bus stop.In a very relaxed and unplanned sort of way, we put on sun hats and wandered around the neighborhoods of Fukushima, Motomachi, and Kyomachi. There are a lot of small shops, old sake breweries, and shrines.Anywhere that looked nice, we slowed down to look and maybe take pictures. The details on the shrines were incredible - the hand carved details are special. The combination of traditional old materials with newer modern ones were fun too. We saw some additions with this nice light green that looks so Meiji era.Some structures seemed like huge houses or walled shrines or castles. We thought maybe just rich people's houses? Probably they are sake breweries.We spent a little time in a place called Sakaiya, home of the Kinoshita family in the Meiji Era. It was a home and sake brewery which opened up to the public in Heisei 4. The details in the building were incredible plus it was cooler in the shade inside. Several of these homes are listed in a Japanese pamphlet which also has a map of the old castle region. (We didn't know Yame had a castle in the 1600s!) We especially liked that each room had a marker on the inside in a specific design. The Tsuru room, the Tsubaki room, etc.It sounds fun to explore more of these houses and the castle ruins in the future.There are so many antique metal signs decorating the walls in these neighborhoods! It's surprising because each one is generally worth a lot of money. They sometimes have famous musicians or actors promoting products, but other signs were for bus stops or salt shops. I also liked this vintage 'nekosuro' cat slot machine.We stopped at the biggest shrine in Yame, known for it's puppet festival in September, Fukushima Hachi Mangu. I've never been to the festival, but it was recommended as it's a really unique type of puppetry - the large puppets move from levers below and on the side of the stage. The female puppet apparently has three different kimono wardrobe changes during the show.There are also unique ceramic lanterns at each side of the shrine's main hall. They were badly damaged and surrounded by birdcage-like structures, which were then covered by mikuji.The fu dogs were a bit overgrown, as are most things this time of year in Kyushu. It all made for nice scenery and details to explore for. It's not far so I'd like to go spend some more time exploring that part of Yame City.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrvk0-living_galleries_yame_shi_fukuokaMon, 22 Jul 2019 12:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrvk0-living_galleries_yame_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zayW9-living_foodIt's not unusual to have multiple names for one food, considering all the languages used around the world. This is apparent with what I call cilantro but is often called pakuchi now that it's popular in Japan. Maybe you've wondered about the Japanese names for things, especially when they are written in katakana, and where they came from.One such food is known as bell pepper in the US but capsicum in British English. The bell-shaped, not spicy peppers are fairly common in Japan during summer too. But what to call them, and why are there so many names for them?The green type is usually called piman. It's a bit bitter, usually smaller or a thin version of the bell pepper, so it looks like it would be spicy. It's not spicy, but doesn't taste good unless it's cooked.You can also find what's called aka piman, the red version, slightly sweet as it's more ripened.On the other hand we have the round bell shaped paprika. They are usually red or yellow and good raw or cooked.I have news for you: All of these are from the same plant.The only difference is in the color, sweetness, and nutritional value. I had a suspicion which was verified online. The green piman are merely picked earlier, while the brightly colored paprika are ripened longer.The Japanese names, piman and paprika are taken from different languages. Piman is a short version of the Spanish pimiento. Paprika (not the spice made from dried red bell peppers) is actually the German word for the vegetable. I'm sure those of you who are German speakers knew this, but it was new information for me.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zayW9-living_foodMon, 22 Jul 2019 09:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zayW9-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxbv-living_foodEarlier, I wrote about discovering these weird drinks (? slurpies, slush puppies, frozen treats?) called 'Frozen Party' at Lawson. Here's what I thought of the weirdest flavor that doesn't contain marshmallows.(The 'tenki no ko' series have marshmallows on top and are soda flavor. Too weird for me.)Cha Cha Cha Jelly Cheese Matcha.Alright weirdos, this is obviously for the Instagram generation. Not any cheaper than weird drinks at Starbucks at 330 yen including tax, this is quite large and dense for most Japanese sweets.When I bought the 'drink' I was given a huge tapioca drink style straw and a tiny long spoon. The straw is totally worthless for at least 20 minutes as this baby will be frozen solid, especially at the center.The creamy top is vaguely cheesy. Not so much. Heavy on the green tea flavor you would expect from probably not using any real tea. Sweet but not too much, and it's possible to finish the whole thing alone, but I didn't want to. My husband said that would be no problem for him as he finished it off for me.I recommend this if you want an ice pack for at least ten minutes outside on a hot day, then a drink.Do you plan to try one of the Frozen Party treats this summer? I think the strawberry, mango, and chocolate flavors are worth a try. The 'tenki no ko' flavors are too scary for me.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxbv-living_foodThu, 18 Jul 2019 12:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmxbv-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rOA-living_food_shoppingA little while ago I read that a couple convenience stores including Lawson, have decided to offer discounts on products that are about to expire. This is to help cut costs for both the company and the consumer as well as being more eco-friendly. Japan and most developed countries have a food waste issue and composting is not always easy. Most supermarkets already discount foods before closing time to encourage shoppers to buy those (older) items first.I saw quite a few discounted foods on a recent visit to my local Lawson, but was surprised to also see seasonal products like warm socks also discounted.Read about how to understand these discount stickers in Japan in this article.I think this makes a lot more sense than throwing away products that are still edible or usable. I have never heard of Japanese businesses donating to homeless shelters or other non-profits, but this is another way to cut back on food waste I often see where I'm from.Not a bad deal for something you were planning to buy anyway, but do you go out of your way to buy the discounted items?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rOA-living_food_shoppingThu, 18 Jul 2019 12:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8rOA-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQPJm-living_foodCan I put the 'croissant' in quotes?Yes convenient, yes affordable, yes seasonal flavor, but not a croissant. If you're looking for a real croissant, this is not what you're looking for. Head for the freshly baked bread shops please.Fortunately I was not looking for or expecting a real croissant. I mean... blueberry? If you look at the color of the mini croissants, you can see they are really light. They are super doughy, not at all light and airy and crispy on the outside the way croissants (and most pastries) are meant to be.When I opened the bag, there was a nice blueberry and buttery smell, but these have just a little butter and mostly margarine. They weren't awful, but not at all recommended.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQPJm-living_foodWed, 10 Jul 2019 13:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQPJm-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mpkb7-living_foodHah, not the animated movie, sorry.Frozen Party is the funny name of some Machi Cafe treats I just noticed in a Lawson. They are sort of cup parfaits or frozen smoothie looking treats. The flavors look so weird too. There are typical flavors like strawberry and then "Go Go Let's GoMango" as seen below.In the weather series you can choose from rainy or sunny soda. These have something at the top that looks too much like duppogi / mochi or cheese. Not sure what it is.I'm kinda tempted to try this almost disgusting sounding Cheese Macha flavor.These Uche Cafe ice cream bars look so nice on the other hand. Especially the ume flavor. They are also about half the price and seem to contain real food.Alas, frozen things was not the purpose of my visit.What should I try? I think I wanna test out a frozen party this weekend.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mpkb7-living_foodWed, 10 Jul 2019 13:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mpkb7-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EPp-living_foodSometimes it's hot (or not) and you've had a long day (or not) and just feel like drinking a refreshing beer.It's a rare occasion that I drink beer these days, although I like it. Yesterday was one of those days I wanted a beer with dinner. After work I stopped by the store for something quick for dinner and a beer. I just grabbed this Suntory Rich Malt because it was the cheapest beer I saw at 105 yen including tax. (A special price and they were nearly gone because of it.) I didn't really notice the 75% off sugars part. There are some potential artificial sweeteners in the ingredient list, but not specifically listed. I usually avoid things like aspartame so I would have checked it if I was paying attention.Keep in mind that I'm not an expert on malt liquors or anything. My husband and I split one can of this 4% alcohol beer, being the lightweights that we are, and it was a weekday. It was light and refreshing - reminding me a little of Pabst Blue Ribbon or Bud Light. It didn't taste like fake sugars or like the balance of sweetness and bitterness was weird.We enjoyed it and I might take up drinking beer more often this summer, if it's in small quantities. I wouldn't mind drinking this one again, but I'd probably go for trying something new as there are so many I've never had. We usually prefer darker beers too.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EPp-living_foodWed, 10 Jul 2019 13:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7EPp-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1bB-living_transportationEki de Kasa JR Kyushu program offers loaner umbrellas for those unexpected rainy days.The message says to freely use an umbrella when you need one, being sure to return it when you come back to the station. Each umbrella is labeled so you know it belongs to the JR station and don't mix them in with your own. They are not all the same style, so I think some might be long time abandoned umbrellas found in trains and stations.I've heard that umbrellas are often number one for lost and found items. This is really convenient and helpful but not something I'd expect to see where I'm from. I'm not a regular train rider and just noticed the umbrella stand this season. Maybe it's a new program.Have you noticed this in your local JR station too?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1bB-living_transportationSun, 07 Jul 2019 13:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1bB-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0VKK-livingThere are at least a few classes in my town to practice what is called e-hagaki, or picture postcards. It's similar to watercolor painting but using a type of paint also used for sumi-e or ink painting. e-hagaki are much more colorful but also use sumi for their black outlines. The main difference is the painting style and way of holding the brush.In one local community center, I get to see a colorful e-hagaki exhibition at least once a year. This year the exhibition is during the tanabata season so postcards are hung from bamboo branches. The images are usually of seasonal foods, plants, and everyday events. They have such a playful quality to them.The displays are arranged in a fun way too. This one shows a train going from one place to another, painted on larger pieces of paper.Of course these are postcards, so messages written in conversational style are usually blended in with the images.This exhibit had paintings on several other items in addition to postcards. Colorfully painted squid bones (cartilage, not sure what it's called?), ceramic bells, and fans were also shown. One unique thing was the local manhole cover rubbings that were then colored in.Because I've studied shodo in the past and watercolor painting is my hobby, I'm hoping to join one of the nearby classes when my schedule allows it. The classes are at the same time I work right now. I've only participated in a taiken lesson during a cultural festival. It will require buying some art supplies I don't have, but this is a neat Japanese art form.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0VKK-livingSun, 07 Jul 2019 13:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0VKK-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME8d1-livingTsubaki Oil is popular in Japan for beauty products (and also seasonal cooking) so I've been curious about it for a while. Because my hair is always dry and frizzy here, hair oil seems to make sense.While buying some other beauty products on Amazon, I was given the chance to get one of the samples included for free and chose this one, Oshima brand Tsubaki shampoo and 'hair pack' samples. It took me a while to finally try them and I'm still not clear on how to use the hair pack if not as a conditioner.I like how moisturizing it is. I'm not sold completely yet, but it has definitely helped out with the rainy season mess my hair usually becomes. My small issue is that the shampoo doesn't lather very much and it doesn't feel like my hair gets as clean. It does feel much softer and smoother.I'm curious to try out their tsubaki oil or another shampoo with tsubaki oil. This is the English website for Oshima products. For now using vitamin E oil around the edges / hairline has helped too.Have you tried tsubaki oil hair products before? What did you think?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME8d1-livingSun, 07 Jul 2019 12:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME8d1-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaymN-living_foodMy favorite ice cream bar in Japan (sorry Takeshita Black Mont Blanc, it was close) is Marunaga's Kinako Mochi.I had it the first time I ever visited Japan, while walking along a canal in Tokyo, enjoying hanami. I was really impressed and loved the kinako flavor right away. The mochi is also yummy and fits so well.Recently we've had the chance to try their zenzai bars - green tea with azuki beans and mochi. It's a really Japanese desert taste and also up there in my top favorite flavors.I was a little surprised when I saw a new flavor - muscat.It isn't especially Japanese first of all (it's a type of grape) and didn't sound particularly good either. Grape flavor and mochi?I haven't tried this yet, but I'm really tempted to because I like their other products. I wonder if it will be around for long. With almost 50% fruit juice used, I'm really curious. This is one I think I'll try with my husband because he will eat anything if I'm not into it.Have any of you tried this one yet?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaymN-living_foodFri, 05 Jul 2019 08:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zaymN-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mqj2p-living_foodWe've already tried both of Suntory Horoyoi's summer season flavors - white sour in aloe and mango.White sour means a cocktail made with Calpis, and the aloe and mango flavors are added in addition. Of course mango is great during summer, but aloe was also refreshing. It had the smell of aloe but the taste wasn't very obvious. It's a strange flavor for a lot of people, but if you're a fan of aloe drinks (or yogurt...) then have a try.I'm not sure that there are any health benefits to a sugary alcohol beverage, but normally both Calpis and aloe are great for digestion.As usual these are limited time flavors and there will probably be additional seasonal summer flavors available soon. (I recommend their year round flavors like ume and lemon honey anytime too!)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mqj2p-living_foodFri, 05 Jul 2019 08:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mqj2p-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW4mx-living_foodOh Japan, I love your weird flavors of just about every snack.I had to try these Calbee "Pakuchi Kara-age Potato Chips."Pakuchi is the best for some people and others can't tolerate it. (Cilantro or coriander, for those not familiar with all of the names it goes by.) I'm a fan and combining it with Japanese style fried chicken sounds like a southeast Asian flavor combo.The smell was a little weird, but the flavor was definitely fried chicken on the first taste.The thing is, I didn't notice any cilantro smell or flavor, although you can see a few tiny green specks on the chips. I think if you are one of those who hates cilantro, you would pick up on the flavor, but I would have liked to actually notice it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW4mx-living_foodSun, 23 Jun 2019 12:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW4mx-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJo8Y-living_foodUme fruits were falling off the trees like crazy around here in the last month and the green Japanese apricots are sold for making umeboshi, umeshu, and umesu. Even ume jam is possible, but these fruits aren't for eating fresh as they'll upset your tummy.Not everyone likes ume - in fact the first time I tried a sour ume candy, I hated it. It took me a little time to grow to love umeboshi and the other ume-flavored products.I'm used to seeing the products made with ume, but ume flavored things are generally limited to cough drops and gum, candy and cocktails.The thing is, ume are really high in vitamin C and good for helping your body deal with summer heat.I noticed this season has more ume flavored products than I've previously noticed.Both Suntory and Itoen are selling ume flavored waters. The Suntory brand is salty and the Itoen brand is more sour like umesu (drinking vinegar). I tried the Itoen one and it's one of those things a lot of people might hate because of the sourness. I liked it but it takes a minute to get used to.I also spotted ume and yuzu sherbet which I'm curious about but reluctant to try. I think it's because the Kracie brand also makes shampoo... so that's just weird.Have you seen any new ume-flavored products you'd recommend?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJo8Y-living_foodSun, 23 Jun 2019 12:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJo8Y-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyyRj-living_foodI'm entertained by all the seasonal flavors in Japan and every time I go grocery shopping I'm distracted while noticing what those flavors are.This time, the seasonal ice cream flavor is blueberry yogurt.Some of you probably hate blueberry flavored yogurt (understandable) so this is an immediate no way. It's not my favorite flavor of yogurt, but a frozen yogurt - like ice cream sounded nice. Sort of like a yogurt smoothie made into an ice pop.The above Meito brand ice pops were about 200 yen for a box of five. They were not especially exciting, but tasty anyway.I'm usually a fan of anything Super Cup, but I haven't tried the above Meiji brand blueberry yogurt ice cream. It's likely that I'll pick one up sometime soon as the temperatures rise.To be honest, I'm looking forward to picking fresh blueberries again this July, but not so much interested in blueberry flavored things.I also noticed Super Cup is selling a mango special ice cream. Mango is another flavor commonly seen during the summer and that sounds nicer than blueberry yogurt.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyyRj-living_foodThu, 20 Jun 2019 09:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyyRj-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Y7l-livingKurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture:Last weekend, we set out to Korasan, the local mountain that we sometimes walk up on weekends for some exercise. Usually the destination is the Shrine at the top, appropriately called Kora Taisha. This time our objective was the Ajisai Matsuri. Hydrangeas are blooming during the rainy season in Japan. They're a welcome colorful and cheery contrast to the gloomy weather.For a few years we've seen banners and notices about Ajisai Matsuri. On the mountain, there's a hydrangea garden (Ajisai-en) that we stop by on the way up, in the right season. I've described a couple things at Korasan here before, including the trees that are 'holding hands,' the shrine, and the nice walk in general.This year work schedules and weather allowed for us to go to the one day Ajisai Festival, which takes place on a Sunday in early June each year. I thought we would just walk around the hydrangea garden and have a look around the festival, around halfway up the mountain, then go home.Unfortunately it was a little early for hydrangeas, or they were just small this year again due to low rainfall. The festival was still ahead and it was a really typical tiny small town festival. Activities included a somen slide experience which I have never tried. It looks like it's really only fun for kids. Almost all participants were preschoolers, waiting with their wari-bashi, snatching up canned mikan and cherries mixed in with the noodles.It was all sort of gross looking considering it was a bunch of kids sharing germs, but they looked like they were having fun.We didn't stay at the festival for very long, but there was also some entertainment. When we arrived, a hula dance routine was just ending. Next was fifteen minutes of what I refer to as the creepy dance. (If you know what this dance is really called, feel free to comment.) First of all, I'm sort of scared of clowns and dolls already, so these masks were scary to me. Second, the last o-ji-chan was dancing in a sort of inappropriate way.I don't know what this dance is called, but there was a procession of costumed and masked characters, including what I'm guessing was a kitsune leading and kappa at the end of the line. The other faces were maybe an octopus and creepy looking people. Our city mascot, Kuruppa, was also in attendance. The music was a traditional repetitive march with percussion and flute.The ten or so dancers came out and in a slow motion konga line did the same dance, but all in their own unique styles. They weaved around the crowd and sometimes interacted with viewers a little. Especially that last O-chan who was popular with the little boys. I didn't think he should be teaching the boys the type of moves he was adding into the dance as he was hamming it up at the end of the line. I guess when you're wearing a mask, no one knows who you are, so you can take that as an excuse to act crazy?When a kappa came close to me as a type of interacting, it only scared me. Later I wondered if the masked dancer recognized me.I don't know why we even stayed and watched the whole thing honestly, other than to wait for the dancers to get out of the path back to the trail. A band was setting up to play next, but we headed up to the shrine because we were done more quickly than we expected.I don't know that I'd make an effort to go for the festival in the future, but wen they are actually blooming well, the hydrangeas in the garden there are worth the trip.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Y7l-livingWed, 19 Jun 2019 14:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Y7l-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlXVb-living_kurume_shi_fukuokaThis Tuesday started with some workers returning to our apartments to finish up trimming some bushes that they couldn't get to yesterday. There were still cars parked next to the bushes when they arrived at 7 am and they sort of waited around and planned what to work on while everyone was taking out their recycling and leaving for work. By 9 am they were finished - before it gets too hot, perfect.My asakatsu or morning activity is studying kanji. I usually wake up at around 7 and make coffee to drink while learning a few kanji and writing practice. By then the rice is done and I can make some breakfast, but today we just had yogurt with granola. I start work a little earlier on most Tuesdays and wanted to save some time.Yesterday and this morning it was rainy. Although it isn't technically the rainy season here yet (late May), it still felt humid in the morning. I needed a towel to wipe of my bike seat before heading off to my part time job as an ALT at an elementary school. Ready to go I had my bag with my inkan and my key inside, plus my thermos with the umbrella themed cover.I love that there are bike lanes for part of the short bike ride to work. The gate was left unguarded but I saw the guard walking around on the grounds after entering the school property. I will spare you a photo of what my hair looked like when I arrived. Humidity plus strong wind equals grumpy looking hair.Rainy day umbrellas at the school are so colorful but the rain was finished by the time I arrived. Today I helped out for three English classes and I felt like the students were a little more noisy and energetic. I guess this is what happens when it's rainy and we can't play outside.It shaped up to be a lovely but windy day; mostly cloudy but clearing up in the afternoon. I went home and made some lunch. The time flew and it was time to rush off to my independent work - one on one lessons in a nearby community center. There are some funny faces there.Today I have a weird three hour break between two lessons. I have a bunch of errands I want to do, so I chose a couple things that are close enough to the community center to take care of quickly. First updating my bank book at an ATM (yay, pay day for one of the part time jobs), next stopping by a supermarket for ingredients to make tacos, then stopping by the local Moonstar shoe store again to see if they have any slip-ons in a color I like. (No luck, but they do have great deals on Converse and New Balance.) I still had plenty of time so I rode down the little streets, snapping photos of interesting buildings. There is always some demolition or remodeling going on and the old buildings next to new homes are interesting. I stopped at Kogashira Koen to eat a snack and work on scheduling out my next month. Hydrangeas are already starting to bloom.Then back to the community center for the last lesson of the day. Back home by 7:30, a simple dinner of rice and fish prepared by my husband was appreciated after a long day.The evening was nothing exciting - the usual putting everything away and bathing, then finishing up my scheduling. I got a late message from work that the morning class tomorrow is cancelled, so we adjusted our plans a little.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlXVb-living_kurume_shi_fukuokaMon, 03 Jun 2019 10:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlXVb-living_kurume_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK10k-living_foodTirol chocolates often have really weird seasonal or limited edition flavors. I don't try them all because sometimes they sound awful (see here).This is a local flavor as well, part of the "Tirol Local" series for Saga Prefecture, which I just noticed when I looked at the picture. The reason Black Mont Blanc ice cream bars are representing Saga Prefecture is that it's the location of the ice cream company, Milcook or Takeshita Seika Brand. They are fairly simple but yummy ice cream bars based on the idea of Mont Blanc cakes, and I've heard they're hard to find outside of Kyushu.As the 'soul food' of Kyushu in ice cream form, this was a nice choice on the part of Tirol, but I wonder what it's like as a chocolate. I haven't had them yet, but I should get them the next time I'm at the supermarket where I saw these. I haven't seen them anywhere else, which is usually the case with these limited edition flavors - I only see them in one Aeon group supermarket called "The Big."I imagine there is a Fukuoka Prefecture flavor (ramen? mentaiko? amaou strawberry I hope?) somewhere but I haven't seen it at all, despite living in the prefecture. Have you seen any of the other local flavors from this series? I wonder what they are.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK10k-living_foodFri, 31 May 2019 20:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK10k-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyyeY-living_foodIt's been a while since splurging on one of the Kikkoman flavored soy milks. I've been getting the much larger kinako soy milk from the local super drug from time to time. These 'juice box' size ones are a small portion for me. The limited time flavor, macadamia nuts, had me curious.The package boasts a thick creamy flavor, but I don't trust packaging. The flavor was nutty and creamy, and as someone who buys real macadamia nuts sometimes, the flavor matches. Recommended for those of you who like macadamia nuts and soy milk. I would get this again.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyyeY-living_foodFri, 31 May 2019 19:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyyeY-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME8Wy-living_foodYes it is spring, strawberry season, soon to be blueberry season. This Mt. Rainier cold latte has cute packaging design, but I call false advertising.The design says Berry Happy, funny just like the character Strawberry Shortcake's sense of humor. Wouldn't you expect a strawberry flavored coffee drink? I have seen Starbucks strawberry lattes in this season, so I thought it was something similar.I checked the ingredient list.Not one berry related ingredient.It's a normal latte.I'm not berry happy.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME8Wy-living_foodWed, 29 May 2019 10:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME8Wy-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDRW9-living_foodThe reason I'm not the primary grocery shopper in my household is that I'm too busy noticing Engrish and weird products to be efficient.I sometimes do a little shopping for snacks or entertainment when I have some spare time. Here's a few products I thought were especially strange flavor combinations in my last visit to a Max Valu (Aeon) Supermarket.We are fans of the Imamuraya Azuki Ice Bars. They don't contain dairy products and if you're a fan of beans for dessert, they're a nice treat. These two ... whose idea was this anyway? I've never seen azuki combined with either coffee or yuzu in the first place. Azuki is usually combined with mochi and green tea, maybe kabocha (pumpkin) if you wanna be wild. I love both coffee and yuzu flavored things - they are both in my top five favorite flavors! But no. I will not be trying these. Just no.The other thing is mint. In Japan I've seen a lot more mint these days, especially during the warmer seasons. I am really not interested in mint flavored sweets, but herbal tea is just fine.I know in the US there are sometimes fruit flavored mint teas for example, but this Peach Mint Kit Kat is a big no thanks for me. A lot of you might be running out to go find this one though! I just don't go for 'chocolate' sweets that don't even contain chocolate, like 'white chocolate.'Are you willing to try these out and let me know if they're decent?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDRW9-living_foodWed, 29 May 2019 09:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDRW9-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW4qO-living_foodThis made me look.No one seemed interested in this limited edition Beef Curry, probably because of the (almost 500 yen with tax) price. Although it might make a nice gift, I'm not sure who the target market would be.It's cute or whatever, but I think they missed an obvious naming opportunity. Why not call it "Rei wa gyu?" It's the same kanji for wa. They even wrote wa gyu on the left plus "Japan Beef Curry" in English. I guess it sounds too much like chilled Japanese beef.Would you buy this - and if yes, who would you buy it for?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW4qO-living_foodMon, 27 May 2019 15:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW4qO-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO93n-living_medical_healthAlong the same lines as Kakkontouthis is a Chinese medicine recommended by the pharmacist working in our local drugstore.Shousei ryutou means something like 'little blue dragon tea' maybe. Found in the Chinese medicine (Kanpo Yaku or 漢方薬) section. I recommend looking up your symptoms in Japanese if you don't know them, which will help tremendously in asking for help or finding what you need.My second cold this spring! "I might as well try some medicine, because it might help me feel better." I thought to myself... stupid getting sick.I suddenly got allergy-like symptoms after dinner the other night, sneezing and needing a box of tissues nearby at all times. There wasn't an obvious reason for it - house dust, late spring pollen, and food allergies weren't probable.I did some reading on the subject of Chinese medicine and the way of thinking for getting over colds - which I've done numerous times but am still fuzzy on. I found the 'type of cold' I was suffering from and foods which would be beneficial to me and set out to buy them. (In this case, my cold is considered 'cold-wind' type so I need warming foods.)How much?The store had no ginger (it is the last weekend of the Super Golden Week). In the Kanpo Yaku section, I mentioned my symptoms and was recommended the box pictured above - 30 packets for around 900 yen. (I'm thankful for pharmacists when I don't feel like trying to find what I need.)Now that I think about it, this is a lot cheaper than the western allergy medicine in Japan.Indications?The brand (Raferusa?) has at least ten different Kanpo Yaku products for different types of symptoms. It reminded me of the homeopathic medicine back home - one for insomnia, one for stomach ache, one for sore throat, etc. This type says it's specifically for allergies, hay fever, congestion, and the common cold, in addition to bronchitis and asthma. Great, it will work if it's allergies or a cold, perfect!Three dosages a day are recommended, before or between meals. You take it by ingesting the powder and then washing it down with water - hot or cold. It doesn't taste good or especially gross, but like medicine.What's inside?Pinellia tuber, licorice root, cinnamon bark, schisandra fruit, asiasarum root, peony root, ephedra, and ginger.How does it work?At first I didn't especially notice anything. Second dosage took around three hours to kick in but I felt dry enough to sleep a little with my mouth closed - win! I feel like with the actual dosage recommended rather than once a day which is what I would normally do (lazy), it dried up my congestion and helped me to feel better. I took a short break after a couple days because I was feeling better, but the symptoms came back. I'm not convinced this product is making me better any faster, but it is at least easing up my symptoms until the cold runs its course.Plus, I finally got that ginger and felt nicer after having some warm ginger tea! Ready to go back to work after Golden Week? Umm... maybe.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO93n-living_medical_healthFri, 17 May 2019 10:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO93n-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyyka-living_foodYame Matcha ColaSlightly interested, but this is one of those pretending to be healthy junk foods, I think.There are a lot of weird local soda flavors out there, and if you're a soda drinker, this one might be good. It's obviously for novelty, not an everyday drink, because of the price. I feel like I'd be more likely to drink this in spring or summer at a dinner / drinking party than any other time.Along with some Mojiko Banana Beer this would be fun for a Kyushu local drinks tasting party, or for souvenirs.Would you try it?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyyka-living_foodThu, 09 May 2019 09:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyyka-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNY4B-living_yame_shi_fukuokaThis year I got nine full days off for Golden Week - or one week plus a normal weekend. We easily decided not to venture too far because of the expense and crowds. Staycations are our usual during the Japanese holidays, while everyone else is out adventuring.Last year, we enjoyed a day trip into the town next door, Yame, for picking new spring tea. That was on my short list of day trips for the week, along with maybe venturing into the city for an art museum and bookstores and art supplies.It turns out we were both recovering from colds and resting at home sounded perfect. We don't own a TV or streaming subscriptions. We both went to the library to borrow a bunch of books (mine were mostly the type with a lot of pictures or in English). Other than resting at home - laying around reading (perfect for the first rainy weekend), all we did during our holiday was tea picking!Shincha Tsumi (new tea picking) 100 yen experience was three days long this year, starting on the Friday of the week off and lasting for the weekend. This time we planned to go to 'tea village' a lot earlier so we could get in on the 400 yen set lunch that was sold out last year. It included tea, carrot, and chikuwa tempura, yaki-onigiri, cucumbers, tea dashi soup, special kohaku mochi, and a tiny green tea ice cream. So yummy, plus of course there were both hot and cold tea available for free.Then we went and picked tea! Because we had arrived earlier in the day than last year, the availability of the perfect new leaves was a lot more abundant. This year there were lots of little white flies on the tea bushes, but also other critters helping out by eating them. I don't recommend tea picking if your fear of bugs is severe.Baby mantis, thank you.In the store we bought some tea salt just to be fancy.This year Ocha Mura didn't offer free tea tempura, but they also weren't out of the limited lunches while we were there. We collected more tea leaves than last year (and didn't use half for tempura) so I wasn't sure what to do with all of them.Last year I made a tea sauce (recipe provided by Ocha Mura) which is a lot like pesto but using tea instead of basil. It was really nice on veggies and fish. Again, I made a big portion of that the next day. I'm planning to use it to make a spaghetti sauce. There was still so much tea left. We didn't feel like roasting tea - the recipe said to use a hot plate which we don't have. It just seemed like too much trouble - steaming, rolling, and roasting the leaves. The other day I had picked some fresh mint and poured hot water over it for mint tea, so my husband thought we should make green tea like that. I guess we had just enjoyed a glass of wine with our dinner, so I thought it wasn't a bad idea and tried it.Spoiler: it doesn't work.With part of the remaining tea, after washing it and letting it air dry a little, I dried it better on the frying pan. Until it was dry like fall leaves. Then I added just a little coconut oil and fried up the leaves, similar to making kale chips I guess. When the leaves were nice and crunchy, I broke them up a little and put them in a jar with salt and sesame to use as furikake on my onigiri for work this week. There is still a little tea left that I think I'll fry the same way to eat as a sort of topping on eggs and rice for breakfast.In short, Golden week was spent resting and reading, an outing to do tea picking, and then making tea related recipes. (And then I caught another cold!) So glad we made it again - Ocha Mura has become our annual tradition for a super affordable Golden Week outing.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNY4B-living_yame_shi_fukuokaTue, 07 May 2019 10:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNY4B-living_yame_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1k8-livingHorrible picture, but I noticed all of our city buses had a couple of flags at the front around April 30th and May 1st to celebrate the changing era.There were also a few houses with flags displayed out front, which I had never seen before in Japan. It made me wonder, maybe Japan is patriotic, in its own quiet way.Did you notice anything patriotic where you live?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1k8-livingMon, 06 May 2019 16:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx1k8-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmyO-livingAs mentioned in the article here, this year(2019) Japan Post held an extra "Second Chance Otoshidama" drawing for the new era.The image above, taken from this site, shows the special stamps that around 10,000 winners can receive if they hold cards with all six of the matching numbers. The section in purple shows the winning numbers.I hope you saved your cards so you can check them!If you haven't checked for the regular lottery held at the beginning of the year, there is still time to claim prizes for those winning numbers as well.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmyO-livingWed, 01 May 2019 08:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmyO-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmxV-living_foodLast year I decided to only buy fair trade chocolate, which can be challenging in Japan.Years ago I saw this People Tree brand fair trade chocolate and thought the packaging was cute, but passed on it every time. Partly because of the cost and partly because the flavored chocolate isn't usually what I'm into.Yesterday I felt like treating myself. Started a new job, plus finally getting over a nasty cold that left me uninterested in sweet and spicy foods for over a week.I splurged on a couple of these 350 yen (plus tax) 50 gram chocolate bars. The staff asked me if I would be enjoying them at home and I was a bit confused, of course. Who would eat two bars of chocolate while walking around a station? I know this is probably a normal question staff has to ask, but also later realized that these are really sweet compared with what I'm used to buying. Some people could easily eat a whole People Tree chocolate bar at one time.I should have known better because I like around 80% cocoa, and the 'bitter pomegranate' says cacao 60% (the hazelnut doesn't even mention a percentage). The hazelnut is definitely more of a milk chocolate, so although I enjoy the combination of chocolate and hazelnut, I wanted to eat more than usual. On the other hand, I just tried the pomegranate and I like it better. It's also really sweet to me but a better balance. It's along the lines of the yummy Brookstone brand chocolate covered dried fruits.These are probably not something I'd get again unless I spotted another 'bitter' flavor I was in the mood to try. (Maybe the 75% Peruvian one is more my style.) The designs are pretty but they're expensive compared with the supermarket brand I've been buying.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmxV-living_foodWed, 24 Apr 2019 10:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnmxV-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6YqR-livingIt's still April and the vending machines have all gone cold.It's not even Golden Week yet. It's not cold out anymore, but yesterday was a gloomy rainy day so I wanted a hot drink. I unconsciously pressed the button for a cold can coffee and immediately realized the mistake, only to notice that there were no options for hot drinks.Zannen. Weather I like it or not, summer is coming again.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6YqR-livingWed, 24 Apr 2019 09:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6YqR-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyy6k-living_badexperiencesJapan is stereotypically a clean and tidy country without litter on the streets despite the lack of trash cans everywhere like you'd see in some other countries.I was sort of dismayed and surprised when I moved to my current home because there is no lack of litter in the empty lots, rice fields, or on the streets. Sometimes it looks like there is a regular deposit of trash from the same party as if they have a daily habit to litter in the same place. Other times there are bags of trash from snack runs just tossed in the street from cars. It's not the type of behavior I expected but it's possible it's cleaned up in bigger cities where here there is not frequent clean up.I know there are volunteer groups who regularly pick trash off the streets wearing fancy vests - we saw a group of them in the last week. I feel bad for the property owners who have trash dumped onto their property by people who I'd consider lazy and disrespectful, in any country. It's not right, for environmental reasons, but also for personal responsibility reasons.I hope that foreigners aren't automatically blamed for doing this kind of thing, although I'm sure they aren't always perfect. As the only foreigner in my apartment building, I've never had anyone bother me or treat me differently. I don't know if they're all secretly thinking what I'm thinking when someone puts the trash out too late on collection days.For our buildings, the trash collection area is a little caged space (newly remodeled) that was often a huge mess. Before it was too easy for the stray cats and crows to get into trash. In addition, several people would leave their trash out the night before or put it out too late, after the pickup was obviously finished. This gave the animals way more time to get into the trash. After we got a new 'trash cage' the space is a lot cleaner, but someone continues to put their trash out after the pickup. Every single pickup day. Which means it's 3-4 days before that trash is removed.I've tried to rationalize that some people work at night or oversleep sometimes. I have been guilty of just catching the trash truck in time once or twice myself. If I had missed the pickup time, it would be obvious because all the trash has been removed, so I wouldn't leave my trash there. I could keep it in my house (at worst on the balcony) for a few days until the next pickup day. I don't even leave for work before ten in the morning and I manage to get my ADHD buns up and out in time for trash pickup (and recycling) every week. If I can do it in pajamas and flip flops during winter before the sun is bright, then so can everyone else.On the way home from a walk this week I spotted the neighbors' spotless trash area.It reads:Today's trash collection is finished.Please take out your trash on Mondays and Thursdays by 8:00.Trash collection comes at around 8:30.I think this is great. It's gonna make anyone feel especially bashful about leaving their trash in front of the sign. The sign which is in the space where the trash would go.As I continued home, a couple minutes later I witnessed this.The built in sign on our apartment's trash collection area is too easily ignored I guess.In the same vein, it reminds us to take out the trash on the morning of the collection days. It even mentions that crows and cats will quickly scatter the trash left out at the wrong times.Sigh.Please don't blame it on the foreigner.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyy6k-living_badexperiencesMon, 22 Apr 2019 10:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyy6k-living_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0VVr-livingOther than the cats hiding out near restaurants where they get plenty of handouts, stray cats (nora neko) call public parks home a lot of the time. It's here that local residents might sneak them some food, despite signs saying it's illegal to do so.On a recent visit to Aobanomori Park in Chiba City, we found that there was a kitty volunteer who knew the cats well. He told us a few of the cats' names and knew which ones were friendly enough to want pets. He even knew how old they were and we found this one was 14 years old - incredible for a feral cat. On average I've heard they usually live only around four years.There is a small space reserved for the cats where they can escape from park visitors and rest. This safe 'home' including covered shelters and fresh water is probably the reason the cat has lived to be so old. It made me wonder if other parks in Japan offer this type of space for stray cats. I haven't ever seen one before this.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0VVr-livingSun, 21 Apr 2019 21:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0VVr-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gok4j-living_foodWhile omiyage shopping, I picked up a small bag of flavored peanut snacks. I love these and even though my husband is from Chiba, he says they aren't a popular way to eat peanuts. I really like the basic susume no tamagosoy sauce and nori savory peanuts as a drinking snack, but have tried a huge variety of flavored peanuts also.I guess because of the season, cherry blossoms sounded nice to try, but I should have known better. There was even an article recently posted here about how 'sakura flavor' is over-rated watered down cherry flavor. I don't even like cherry flavor.My husband and I snacked on them but felt very 'meh' about the flavor. The coating reminded me a little of a yogurt covered pretzel. There's a creamy, flowery, cherry flavor, but the crunchy candied peanut part is way better than that.I would recommend peanut snacks, but maybe not this flavor. At over 400 yen for an 80 gram bag (yet to be finished because they aren't great) they are also a bit too expensive for regular snacking. Check out "Fusa no Eki" brand if you're in Chiba - just try one of their many other flavors instead.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gok4j-living_foodSun, 07 Apr 2019 19:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gok4j-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9lp3-living_foodCountry Ma'am are tiny individually wrapped soft cookies, generally sold in vanilla and chocolate flavors. You've probably seen seasonal flavors temporarily available. If you live in an area known for some type of fruit or vegetable (as most areas in Japan are), there may be a unique flavor of Country Ma'am cookies available near you.In Fukuoka Prefecture, there are several local flavors, although mentaiko and tonkotsu ramen are hardly cookie flavors. The one above on the right is amaou strawberry flavor. The amaou strawberry grown in this region is fragrant, sweet, and huge.On the left is a Country Ma'am from a box of omiyage from Chiba City. Previously I had no idea that Chiba is known for biwa (loquat). I only knew that the region is famous for peanuts.In the past I've also tried Country Ma'am from Kumamoto Prefecture - kabocha flavor. Kabocha pumpkin flavor was essentially a slightly orange vanilla cookie without any obvious pumpkin flavor and I think the biwa flavor was similar. I didn't expect much as biwa doesn't have a strong flavor.On the other hand, the amaou strawberry flavor was more obvious.Have you tried any of the local flavors of Country Ma'am?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9lp3-living_foodFri, 05 Apr 2019 08:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9lp3-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmVKK-living_foodThese Special Black Thunder candy bars were spotted at 7-11 for 40 yen each. In some locations they're promoted with a special section, but I found mine in the usual Black Thunder location. I bought a few to share with a couple students.They use Uji macha and Hokkaido red beans according to the packaging.One student commented that it tasted like zenzai, which is understandable with the red beans and matcha. It's a weird wagashi flavored western snack for sure, which might be why it sounded good.I'm a fan of matcha flavored things and like red beans, but I didn't especially like this one. It didn't have obvious beans or red bean flavor, but the matcha was strong and sweet. It was too sweet - like a western sweetened green tea. That's not a good thing for me, especially because the sweetness tasted artificial somehow.In addition, I always forget that I don't usually like chocolate and matcha paired together.I recommend the standard Black Thunder or kinako flavor over this one.Has anyone else tried this flavor?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmVKK-living_foodFri, 29 Mar 2019 11:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmVKK-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z88jv-living_foodYou may have seen potato chips covered in chocolate, which is strange enough. I had the chance to try a couple and they weren't bad. Somehow the salty and crunchy chips fit with the sweet chocolate, but they were completely coated on one side, so it it was too much sweetness for me.I sometimes see other seasonal chocolate potato chips but have never been willing to try them. They fit into the weird snacks in Japan category for sure. The above photo is Calbee's weird Afternoon Tea Latte Chocolate Potato Chips. So strange and I guess I was in the mood to be adventurous. I think the bag was only about 80 yen.I brought them to my husband's parents' house and we were all curious about this weird snack. Everyone ate a few and sort of said, 'hmmm.' As expected, the amount of flavors is a bit much, but they weren't horrible. If four of us didn't want to finish a tiny bag, that's not exactly a win either.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z88jv-living_foodFri, 29 Mar 2019 11:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z88jv-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQm85-livingSpring Solstice 2019It's technically spring now and here in Kyushu it's been a mild winter so the cold days of the season are over. We'll enjoy a couple months of warm weather before the non-stop rain starts up.Maybe the above Sakura Nihonshu Kit Kat will be the perfect hanami snack this season? I might try that out.The sakura just started opening up yesterday, so about a week from now should be prime sakura viewing time around here. Enjoy the bittersweet changing of the seasons while it lasts!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQm85-livingThu, 21 Mar 2019 15:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQm85-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3ZgO-living_foodOne of the things that I noticed quickly when I visited Japan the first time was the weird 'sandwiches.' They are some foods in between bread, but not easily recognizable as what the western world would identify as a sandwich.A prime example in this season is 7-11's version of the fruit sandwich: All strawberry for the winter / spring, and because it isn't scary enough, pink bread.I will say no thank you to this tempting mess and stick with straight fresh strawberries. Similar fruit salad versions are available year round, for the interested.Next up is the too much carbohydrate version of the sandwich.These are available in the forms of potato croquette, spaghetti, and yaki soba, generally in a hot dog bun / roll. Not horrible if you're after too much carbohydrate, once in a great while.Sometimes you will get lucky and see the above in a pack of 'mix sandwich' with the regulars, egg salad, tuna, and ham & cheese. Mixing spaghetti with tuna in a 'sandwich' is enough to make me cringe in horror.I have never, once, seen a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3ZgO-living_foodMon, 18 Mar 2019 16:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3ZgO-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G095k-living_foodHave you ever grabbed some snack in Japan because it was a super weird flavor you hadn't seen before, then decided you didn't actually wanna eat it?I did that with this big bag of Tirol 'Yuzu Kosho Choco' the other day. First thought was, "Hey so weird, my students will love this!" Second thought was, "I don't wanna eat this. And it's so many. And expensive." Often these weird flavors are in tiny packs of 5-10 chocolates, for Tirol at least.(21 chocolates for around 300 yen.)The yuzu chocolate part sounds fine but the yuzu kosho cream with a biscuit inside sounds no thanks.Yuzu kosho, if you haven't tried it, is a sauce made from yuzu (citron) and pepper. It's good in tiny amounts on your chanpon or gyoza. With chocolate... it could taste fine. I don't wanna try it.If you had the nerve, let me know what you thought.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G095k-living_foodSun, 17 Mar 2019 19:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G095k-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZN5V-living_foodI had never seen one of these little bottles of Real Gold, or tried the cans or pet bottles I sometimes see in vending machines. I thought Real Gold was only a soft drink that looked weird.It says 'original' so maybe this was around before the soft drink. I was sort of feeling like a cold was trying to catch me.This was actually really cheap, about 70 yen, for 120 ml. I thought I'd try it so I could make it through the day - it has vitamin C and B.It has some other nice ingredients: honey, royal jelly, and (I think) ginseng.I don't see this vitamin drink in most stores, but I would use it again. It didn't make me feel like I had too much caffeine like some vitamin drinks, but I felt a lot better for the rest of the day.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZN5V-living_foodSun, 17 Mar 2019 18:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZN5V-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME5eP-living_foodSpring is around the corner, which means I'm a little frazzled.With the combination of spring allergies, changing work schedules (a new job as well), paying taxes, paying taxes back home, and just keeping up in general, I have some stress.Most of this is good stress, as in exciting new changes, but it's still hard. I reached for an old standby: Gaba Chocolate for the stress relieving benefits (if it is in fact effective).I bought it because of the new attached 'stress mikuji' or stress fortune with the funny pictures. So let's see what the stress fortune tells me.Ah, "cho lucky" great... I had trouble reading this small print and asked my husband, who also had trouble. The font is a little hard to read.Even after we figured out what the kanji said, (無縁muen and 捗るhakadoru specifically), the meaning is sort of confusing because of how it's worded. Something like being able to get over stress quickly and power through at work.Anyway, it's not that I take these things seriously, it's sort of just for fun. I think going for walks (when it's not super rainy at least) is more effective for stress relief. I hope everyone is dealing with spring stress better than I am.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME5eP-living_foodWed, 06 Mar 2019 13:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME5eP-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vXQ-living_medicalThis is the second winter in Japan that I've had frostbite on my fingers. I'll spare you photos of them, but the finger joints at the end of some fingers randomly swell up and have some minor sores. My thumbs are fine. I had no idea what it was last year. I thought my finger joints were swollen from using my hands a lot with drawing and painting. The thing is, my fingers would also randomly become super itchy. Early arthritis didn't make sense. It also didn't fit with carpal tunnel syndrome which mostly affects the base of the thumb. I was waking up with numb hands sometimes and it freaked me out a little.I did some Googling and besides arthritis, the symptoms sort of matched chilblains or frostbite. In Japanese, it's called shimoyake (しもやけ). I didn't think that made sense either because it doesn't get that cold where I live plus I've never had it in the past. It seems like chilblains is common in children on the fingers, toes, and ears. (Leave it to me to have all the child-like health issues.)When I heard an acquaintance say she had it and noticed her hands looked similar, I resolved that it was frostbite. But then I had no idea what to do about it. It's not something I've had before living in Japan and I didn't know there was anything we could do, other than wear gloves and try to stay warm.At this point I think mine is caused by not being outdoors in the cold, but by doing food prep and washing my hands in cold water.Last week my student noticed my hands and asked if it hurt. She said her daughter gets frostbite sometimes and recommended a medicine. She told me that most Japanese people use a product called Oronine (オロナイン) for frostbite. It's an ointment sold in a variety of sizes. She told me we can put it on anytime, but especially when our hands get itchy.I did a quick price check and the local super-drug is cheaper compared with Amazon, where it seems they only sell the 100 gram size.It's convenient that the uses are listed in English also. I also tend to get the chapped skin (ひび) and atopic dermatitis (アトピー) on my hands, so it looks helpful.Have you tried this or another ointment for frostbite or similar conditions? I'm interested to hear how it worked. Edit: After using Oronine one time on a spot where I'd had atopic dermatitis for months, it helped so much. I had both a rough and itchy spot on my finger plus a new patch of bumps on the side of the finger. I applied the ointment (small tube) before going to bed and the new bumps were gone in the morning plus the itchy patch became smoother and the itchiness went away.I will be depending on this in the winter months if I get frostbite again!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vXQ-living_medicalTue, 26 Feb 2019 18:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vXQ-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8Yb-living_food_moneyMy husband always says he doesn't want anything for Valentine's day.I know he just doesn't want me to 'waste money' but will happily eat anything I give him. (Also a waste when the fancy Valentine chocolates are too cute to eat.)This year I had a look at the mess of available Valentine choco at the mall and considered 'wasting money' on a treat for myself.This "Akita Inu" Pocket dogs package was the first thing that caught my eye. So cute, even though I'm a cat person, and it was nice to see dogs represented for once.I do like me some Hello Kitty but this kitty cat design was so retro and fun too. Some options in the 540 yen with tax range. But really, why do I need a cute box and fancy chocolates?This local amaou strawberry Mickey Alfort also tempted me... for half a second.And this homemade looking group of chocolate with nuts and fruits was also more my style. It got me thinking about how I do like homemade simple treats.But also... I love the alcohol filled chocolates. Hmmm.There was a homemade chocolate supply section which looked like it would be more expensive than buying a fancy box of chocolate and take too much time. (Plus probably turn out wrong, if I'm making it.) Much respect to all the women out there making homemade chocolates for everyone at work or in their class.This Tirol custom box section also caught my eye as an option to 'make' your own custom gift without attempting cooking.I gave up on buying anything because I decided to stick with my decision to only buy fair trade chocolate and I didn't see anything that was fair trade.What I did leave with is an idea.I've KonMari-ed my house and don't own any baking supplies. But I remembered this recipe for cheesecake that I still haven't tried. And that time I made cupcake size cheesecakes with students at an English camp. I have these side dish cupcake wrapper looking things and some leftover paper cups from last year's hanami. I think I'm gonna attempt making (no-bake) cheesecake, since my husband loves it.Technically I could make the crust and melt chocolate for a topping, but meh. I can't make these things complicated for myself. I'm already looking at minimum 500 yen for ingredients. (I hope I don't actually need a whisk. Saibashi should work.) If I actually make mini cheesecakes before Valentine's day and they turn out alright, I can share them with my students who always share snacks during our lesson. And use up some random stuff in the kitchen.If the cheesecake doesn't turn out well... my husband will eat almost anything. I'm not worried.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8Yb-living_food_moneyMon, 11 Feb 2019 12:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8Yb-living_food_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVRj4-living_food_moneyThis isn't about new year resolutions or diets at all.It's about saving money.My decision to save a specific amount by a specific date is my motivation. It doesn't hurt that I shouldn't snack on junk food. It's about hiding away any spare money to deposit into my bank account. This goal is not easy to reach. In fact, if I don't get a full time job / tons more high paying freelance work asap it's probably not gonna happen on time.I decided to work more this year because I love traveling and eating good food, but feel like it's been financially difficult to enjoy life. There are too many things I wanna do so it's time to buckle down.My weird solution to not buying snacks turned into taking pictures of what looks good. I still sometimes buy things of course, but if I don't need it, I'll take a picture. That looks good. Move on. All of these photos are from a recent stop by a supermarket. Maybe they're good reminders of what I can enjoy after meeting my goal.Another thing is I'm avoiding shopping when possible. If I don't go to a store, I can't buy anything. Not that I spend a ton normally, but this will cut down on the unintended purchases. Using that time to find work is more constructive.I just remembered. Also. We have so much food gifted from family. It's better to use that up. I'm thankful that we have all of it and some of it is snacks too!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVRj4-living_food_moneySun, 10 Feb 2019 20:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVRj4-living_food_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3E2-living_money_howtoRaise your hand if you use the messaging app LINE!In Japan, it's common to use LINE to stay in touch with friends, family, and work-related people. If you don't use it, I'm guessing you've heard of it, because someone has probably asked you to add them as your friend on LINE.If you don't have a LINE account but you live in Japan, I recommend it for staying in touch. Plus, you can use cute 'stickers' to communicate with your friends. There are LINE characters and free stickers available, but there are also stickers made by users (from professional illustrators to normal folks like you and me) that you can buy starting at 120 yen per set of 8-40 stickers. (Most stickers that you purchase are for unlimited use, although some of the free stickers are available for a limited time.)Interested in making your own stickers?I made mine (photo above, called "Googly Eye Candy") because I wanted to use stickers I made myself, but also because if I make some nice stickers and others buy them, I can earn a little 'passive income.' I like this idea a lot, although I have a long way to go in terms of learning how to market my products and will work on creating better quality stickers each time.Step One: Create your LINE account (via the app on your smartphone or computer). There is a PC version if you don't have a smartphone, but you can use both with one account depending on your preference.Step Two: Log in with your LINE account info on LINE Creators Market. Here's the link for the LINE Creators Market.Step Three: Design!The site will prompt you through all the info about how to design and set up your stickers. I used a freeware called GIMP, but you can design in Photoshop / Illustrator, or whatever you like. Check the specs but you'll want .png files, transparent backgrounds, a resolution of 72 ppi minimum, and sticker size 370 x 320 pixels (plus a 'main' image and 'tab' image with different sizes).Step Four: UploadWrite up your title and description, upload your images, test them out in the simulator and get all excited, choose your price, then hit that Request button.Step Five: ReleaseAfter the sticker - staff approves your files (up to a week later), you can go in again to Release your sticker set.Step Six: Promote!Finally, you can buy your own stickers to use (with some of those LINE Points you accumulated from my Side Hustle article?) and promote them for others to buy. You can also purchase stickers as a gift for someone else.I saw revenue of 31 yen for each (120 yen) sale in my account after purchases. This is before the bank transfer fee each time you request payment.If you get in on one of LINE's seasonal sticker promotions, you'll have a free marketing push on their end, but I'm not sure what kind of results it will get you. My first set of stickers was part of their Feel The Love promotion, for Valentine's Day this year. I created two sets - one with English text and one with Japanese text on the stickers. I'm enjoying using stickers I made myself.I also set up a sticker set on the site Red Bubble using some of the same (English) images.It was primarily for fun that I made these stickers - my background is in photography and design. Of course I appreciate any sales or smiles my designs bring to others.Are you gonna make your own now?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3E2-living_money_howtoThu, 07 Feb 2019 14:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3E2-living_money_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNxmZ-livingAfter a company lesson in my neighborhood, my coworker noticed and pointed out this van. I had never seen it before, but it was obviously a mobile library!The sign says Kurume City Idou Toshokan (移動図書館) and the sponsor happens to be the lottery company, hah.I decided to check it out - I had just written myself a note that this month I want to read in Japanese Every Day and planned to visit the library the next day. This would allow me to get started right away. It's part of my bigger goal to improve my reading and writing in Japanese. I love reading and would love to be able to read at adult level in Japanese. Currently I can read at an elementary school level but obviously not as well as the kids who grow up here reading and writing all day in school.The staff gave me a pamphlet showing the locations (more than 40 in our city) and dates and time the mobile library visits those locations. The location near my house gets a visit around once a month for only 40 minutes. The mobile library holds over 3000 books.I was instructed to go inside for the childrens books after explaining that's what I was looking for. There were shelves and boxes of adult books outside of the van.I was happy to find books divided into sections for upper elementary level, picture books, manga, etc.The mobile library has a special access lift entrance and skylights for nice daytime lighting, plus cute decorations.Does your city have this service? I've lived here for three years and just found out about it.It seems very helpful for those who can't easily get to one of the main library locations. Kids can easily stop by on their own if they want to pick up a book. In addition, the lending time is one month instead of two weeks as usual, but the usual book limit of ten is cut in half. Books can be returned to any library in town if you can't make it to the next neighborhood visit.My picks were an easy picture book illustrated by Gomi Taro and the first comic book in the Chibi Maruko Chan series. Reading is fun!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNxmZ-livingMon, 04 Feb 2019 20:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNxmZ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZxQ-living_moneyLucky or not, we might receive New Year Cards while living in Japan.If you hadn't noticed, at the bottom of most cards you'll get on New Year's day, there's a letter and numbers marked 'kumi' or group on the left, and on the right is a six digit number.These numbers are used to determine who wins prizes from Japan Post every year. Partly an insurance to get citizens to continue sending New Year greetings by mail, this campaign has been going on for a long time.This year the top prize is tickets to the Olympics next year!The second prize is a cash gift of 30,0000 yen!Most winners will receive a set of two limited edition stamps featuring the animal representing the year or other cute lucky designs.Check any cards you got against the numbers at this site (in Japanese) - numbers shown in red should be the ending numbers from the six digits on the right.If you have a winner, (congratulations!) take it into your local post office to claim it. You have until July to claim your prize, but why wait?Out of only eight cards in our household, we won the stamps. It's supposed to be three winners for every 100 cards, so that's better than average odds for sure!But Wait. This year is special because of the changing era.There will be another drawing (for a different set of stamps only) On April 20th, so hold on to your cards, even if they aren't winners this time.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZxQ-living_moneySun, 20 Jan 2019 19:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZxQ-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK9lV-livingAt Tsutaya I saw this "Sayonara Heisei" special edition writing (on a notebook or I forget what it was exactly) from 1989, when the era last changed.This lead me to ponder, "What will the next era be named?"I guess we won't know for a couple months (around April 1st is expected). It's kinda exciting to be living in Japan during the gengo, era changing time, for my first time. It will most likely be sort of uneventful for most people, but I heard we should watch the ceremony and news on TV.The only rules I know for choosing the name of the era are it must be a two kanji non-word in Japanese with an auspicious meaning and can't have the initial letters of the previous four eras. (This means it can't start with M, T, S or H. I would like to name it Houfu for abundance, if it weren't for these rules.) In addition, the kanji chosen are usually not too difficult as we will need to learn how to read and write them in everyday situations.What do you think the next era will be named? Any suggestions, if you were given the sole responsibility to name the new era?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK9lV-livingSat, 19 Jan 2019 16:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK9lV-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mg6JW-living_money_howtoIf you live in Japan, but want to get out of the country for a little traveling, you might want to exchange currencies.From Japanese yen to the currency in your home country or where you're traveling to, your bank is probably the best deal. If you wait to exchange currencies at the airport, it's likely the exchange rate is going to be higher.That being said, banks will carry popular currencies, but not all of the possible currencies. You may need to go to your bank and order in advance for currencies other than US Dollar, Euro, Chinese Yuan, or Korean Won. If you don't have the time to order a currency, the airport or tourist location exchange counters will have more currency options available, although the exchange rate won't be as great.First, you can ask the staff if you are able to exchange currency there. Bigger banks will surely offer this service, but smaller locations might not. Ask, ~ woryougai shite ii desuka?Ryogai suru= to exchange money.In my case it was Kankoku Won wo ryogai shite ii desuka?Can I exchange Korean Won?Just change out the currency name for the one you want.I was led to a counter showing daily exchange rates for the four commonly exchanged currencies. (This is always SO confusing to me. In the photo above, it's showing that 100 Korean Won can be bought for 10.73 Japanese Yen.)Using your own bank, bringing your cash card and bank book to deduct the amount from your account is an option. I was asked for mine and had to tell the clerk that I was planning to use cash.I wanted to exchange 5 man (50,000) yen to Korean Won.At this particular bank (a west Japan local type bank), Won is exchanged in packets. There are two options, 200,000 Won or 500,00 Won packets. Because the exchange rate was a little over the usual 10 Won to one Yen ratio, 500,000 Won cost 53,650 yen to exchange that day.I was asked if I wanted to exchange for one 500,000 packet or two 200,000 Won packets. I went with the 500,000 Won packet (which was way more than we spent, but good insurance anyway).I filled out a form with my name and address, the currency traded and amount. The clerk helped through this process and it was really simple. I paid in cash and received my Cash Pack. I was asked to open and check that the envelope contained ten 50,000 Won bills. One thing to notice here is that the 200,000 Won Cash Pack comes with smaller 10,000 Won bills - which are more commonly used and accepted by vending machines or train ticket machines.The bills were very crisp and new, as if I don't look enough like a tourist in South Korea already.As you can see, a lot of the info in the photos has English translations.This whole process took around ten minutes.*Remember - banks in Japan close at 15:00, so if you plan to exchange at a bank, you'll need to have a chance to get to one on a weekday while they're open!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mg6JW-living_money_howtoFri, 18 Jan 2019 19:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mg6JW-living_money_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORld-living_shopping_moneyThe tradition of Lucky Bags (fukubukuro) in Japan is a tradition that I've never participated in. I can sort of understand food related or character related ones - if the items are something that you would want regardless of the discount price. The lucky bags that sell out right away are the ones I'm guessing are really worth their value.I'm not interested in owning stuff that I'm not gonna use. I'm interested in saving money for experiences that I'm gonna enjoy.Well into the middle of January, I found one store still selling tons of lucky bags. There seemed to be little if any interest from shoppers.The photo above explains that the (lowest price) 1000 yen lucky bag contains 6000 yen worth of product. It also lists the contents: teddy bear, floor mat, toilet mat, toilet seat cover maybe? and compact mirror.I don't want any of that stuff. Why would I pay even a sixth of the price for stuff I don't want? This is why no one bought it in the first place.They sold a few price options, containing more useless junk that wasn't even cute. Most of the stuff this store sells is cute... but it's obvious they didn't have any takers on the items in the bags. They didn't even throw in something people actually wanted to entice them to buy the lucky bags.Happy bag... for your company, if you ever offload this stuff no one wanted to buy even when it was regular price or marked half off. Good luck?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORld-living_shopping_moneyThu, 17 Jan 2019 21:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORld-living_shopping_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8o8-living_food_kumamoto_aso_shi_kumamotoIf you've ever been to Kyushu, you might know what I mean...In Kumamoto prefecture, horse meat, especially horse sashimi is considered a local food. (While you might be curious to try it, know that it's one of those things you might want to be careful about sharing with people back home.) I have eaten 'basashi' or horse sashimi, as well as cooked horse meat while visiting the area (not far from where I live).I visited Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture a couple weeks ago and my husband couldn't join us, so I grabbed this bag of 'basashi chips' to bring him as a souvenir. I think it was 350 yen for the bag we easily finished between the two of us.Think shrimp chips in terms of texture and MSG saturation.Instead of a seafood flavor, there is a more meaty flavor. I couldn't identify this taste as basashi if I didn't know it.The package said they could be eaten along with the real thing. Basashi and basashi chips? I dunno, but I think they would be good drinking snacks at least.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8o8-living_food_kumamoto_aso_shi_kumamotoMon, 14 Jan 2019 22:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8o8-living_food_kumamoto_aso_shi_kumamotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za5lN-living_foodAs a kid my favorite at 31 Flavors was peanut butter chocolate! Peanut butter ice cream is kinda rare, so when I saw this Skippy ice cream bar, I went for the challenge.The verdict:Even if you love peanut butter, never go for the 'peanut cream' or 'peanut sauce' anything!The inside is too much like chunky peanut butter simply frozen.I wished my husband (who doesn't even like peanut butter) was around to finish it for me. If I hadn't also bought a hot coffee, it would have been impossible for me to eat it all.Never again!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za5lN-living_foodMon, 14 Jan 2019 22:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za5lN-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkpZA-livingDuring the New Year Holiday, I had two weeks off but we didn't even go anywhere. I thought I would relax a lot and instead I worked on professional development every day!I heard some positive words often starting around the end of last year, both in English and in Japanese. The two that stood out to me the most weretransform and gratitude. I decided to transform my life and be grateful in my every day life in 2019. This was confirmed all around me in the audio books I listened to, the people I talked to, even my students brought up these words.For several years I studied shodo and I love it, but I had a break for over three years. I decided it's important to me so I'm gonna study shodo again, along with studying reading and writing in Japanese. I have one of those 'beautiful handwriting' books you can find everywhere and I've been practicing my writing every day. It's so useful for life in Japan to be able to read and write, even at my elementary school student level. After writing inoshishi and gashou at the end of 2018, for my kakizome, I wrote (transform)henshin and (gratitude)kansha.In the first week back at work, I shared about the American tradition of making New Year Resolutions, and how they are rarely serious. The reason I never made New Year Resolutions is that they are often silly things like declaring to go to the gym, then forgetting and giving up less than a month later. This can be successful when we make a decision and a plan to put it into action, although I don't think most people take these steps and instead it's all talk.In Japan, there isn't a common tradition to make New Year Resolutions, but if we translate it, it's 新年の抱負 'shinnen no houfu.' I like this word houfu because it means ambition, but it sounds the same as this houfu, 豊富 which means abundance. If we are ambitious, we can have abundance.I downloaded some New Year cards a couple of years ago and like this exercise in teaching students about making New Year Resolutions. I teach them that, 'This year' can be changed to, 'In 2019,' and that the part, 'I want to' can be changed to, 'I wanna, I will, I'd like to, I'm gonna,' etc. Sometimes we make our own verbs and create our own resolutions after filling in the blanks. There are lots of fun resolutions I heard like, 'I'm gonna make foreign friends,' 'I'm gonna get a hot body' or 'I'm gonna get a girlfriend,' so I like to challenge my students even further. HOW are you gonna do that? Where are you gonna meet her? What's your plan for action? I think this is where most resolutions fail, and I don't want their resolutions to result in quickly giving up like the American tradition. In Japanese, they will call this giving up quickly, 三日坊主mikka bouzu, or literally a priest for three days, haha. With this phrase I can easily explain the result of resolutions with no clear plan for action.The other important piece of this puzzle is the WHY. I'm learning to ask myself why I chose my goal or resolution, and focusing on that why as my motivation.Did you make a New Year Resolution this year? Did you think about the how and why for choosing it?Mine are: In 2019, I will work and earn a lot more than in 2018. (I have to earn more to qualify for my visa and live comfortably here in Japan.)I'll go to Yakushima and visit the US in 2019. (For fun and to visit friends and family.)I will practice writing in Japanese every day. (I wanna be good at shodo and be able to read and write in Japanese.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkpZA-livingSun, 13 Jan 2019 12:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkpZA-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD05l-living_foodThe new year brings about a million special dishes in Japan, traditionally called osechi ryori. (If you're interested in the meanings of those dishes, check the link!) This article is not about those, but rather, the traditional foods for the new year in Japan which are generally not even eaten.Why would there be traditional foods not meant to be eaten?Well, I'm not gonna go into it that much, because I don't know and understand the culture from the same perspective as someone born and raised in Japan.Let's just say, they're decorative.Similar to the oranges we stabbed with whole cloves; candy canes, popcorn and cranberries strung onto the tree at Christmastime when I was a kid, these foods are merely for ornamentation.I wanted to talk about mochi. That's because it's yummy - in ozoni (the traditional new year soup), oshiruko (sweet red bean soup often served with mochi in it), or grilled and served with any number of toppings, nom. The packs pictured above are more expensive than in lots of supermarkets for one kilogram, but they were still soft. I was pretty tempted to buy some but not yet.In the last month I've heard about countless mochi-tsuki (mochi making) events, but sadly haven't attended one. It's sort of fun to watch the rice pounding and especially to eat the fresh mochi.One of the many mochi products traditionally used around the new year is the inedible number one. It's called kagami mochi (mirror mochi) which is a new year decoration placed in the home. It's written about in several articles elsewhere, but you've probably seen these for sale everywhere if you're in Japan in December.At the local yaoya (green grocer) we always shop at, they were selling huge (bigger than my head)kagami mochi today. At 1700 yen for the set of two round mochi, that's pretty serious ornamentation. I'm guessing this is used for bigger public spaces and not for normal homes, where they probably opt for the tiny 100 yen versions, if any.The reason this is number one in the inedibles is that kagami mochi is set in a special space in the Japanese room of the house, for a decoration. By the time the new year is over, the kagami mochi has become so rock solid (and sometimes moldy), that it's thrown out like a soggy jack-o-lantern after a rainy Halloween.That leads me to the next inedible: the dai dai, oftenkagami mochi's topper.Because it sounds like 'generation after generation,' the dai daitangerine sits proudly on the kagami mochi or as a main ornament of the shimenwa(door decorations woven with dried rice plants).The ones I saw in the yaoya were softball sized and still had stems and leaves, so these were probably for the door decorations, but they're also usually sitting on the kagami mochi.Using dai dai in your new year decorations is a lovely tradition because it's meaning connects both the older and younger generations and the passing and new year. Nevertheless, same as the reasons stated above, it's rarely any good to eat once the new year holidays are done.Last but not least is the alcohol.Not all the alcohol, because I'm sure lots of it is used around the new years. We have to stay warm and enjoy something nice with our meals. Otoso is what it's called if it's sake to enjoy with the osechi ryori. The inedible (or impotable?) alcohol is specifically the decorative sake. The one we don't drink is called Omiki.Have you ever been to a shrine or temple - especially around the new year (for hatsumode), and seen the huge barrels covered in what looks like long dried grass? Or the bottles and small cups left at gravestones, or in a family's kamidama(a kind of memorial shrine) with photos of lost family members? Normally, this sake is a kind of offering and never gets drunk (unless the spirits can actually get to it).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD05l-living_foodThu, 27 Dec 2018 17:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD05l-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glpq1-livingI'm not so into decorations. I enjoy them a little but don't get the idea of storing anything to use for one holiday a year.This year after writing inoshishi(亥) (for year of the wild boar) on my new year cards, I decided to write gashou(賀正) also. Just for fun.The meaning is something like 'Congratulations in the New Year' and we can see it written on some decorations. The first character is used in new year cards, nengajyou(年賀状), and the second character is used in the word for new year, oshougatsu (お正月).It's been years since writing with ink and brush (shodou). I missed it and will hopefully get myself into a class again soon. Looking forward to kakizome(first writing in the new year) in a week or so! What should I write? Hmmm...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glpq1-livingWed, 26 Dec 2018 20:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glpq1-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpVAL-living_foodAnother fun seasonal strawberry snack to look out for, this was an impulse buy from the cashier counter at Daiso!I haven't seen it sold anywhere else, yet.I think there were seven pieces inside, perfect for sharing the three flavors. Lots of strawberry, indeed - the flavors are strawberry jam, shortcake, and mouse. I only tried the shortcake one and it was yummy, with little bits of chewy dried strawberry inside I think.I don't buy Tirol brand often and it's not really for the serious dark choco fans like me. For a nice sweet treat, Tirol hasn't failed to provide interesting limited time flavors. They're always fun to try.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpVAL-living_foodThu, 20 Dec 2018 11:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpVAL-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaQo-living_foodI Love strawberries and it's unusual that strawberries are most popular in winter in Japan. I'm so used to them being ripe in early summer back home, but by then, they seem to be gone.Here we associate strawberries with the Christmas Strawberry Shortcakes and their festive color.It's not even technically winter here yet, but I got a pack of Fukuoka's Amaou strawberries the other day, yum! Also picked out a seasonal strawberry can chu hai by Suntory Horoyoi - ripened strawberry. (Look out for the seasonal strawberry chocolate by Look, strawberry snacks, and seasonal strawberry ice creams too!)There were a few options available in the strawberry chu hai category. I've tried the Calpis sours and they're so yummy - around 140 yen a can. For about 110 yen, the Horoyoi and Asahi versions looked nice. The one by Asahi might only be available in the Fukuoka area because it's Amaou strawberry flavor.The Horoyoi was a bit more artificially sweet and pink than I expected, but still yummy. I'll probably try the others later this winter.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaQo-living_foodSun, 09 Dec 2018 14:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaQo-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z88W8-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaThe first few days after I moved to Kyushu, in December a few years ago, I had a night in Hakata then a couple of days training elsewhere before going to my new home. I had my luggage while heading to Hakata Station to go to my new city one night, and decided to take the time to stop at the Christmas Market I had noticed at the open space in front of the station.The focus of Fukuoka Christmas Market is on all the European foods and wintery gifts popular around winter for us foreigners. The stalls (temporary wooden structures that look like little houses) are run by both foreign and Japanese staff, sharing products and culture from Europe. There were soups and meats and hot drinks like mulled wine and hot chocolate in addition to ornaments and handmade gifts. As usual, beer was a popular drink to enjoy with the winter foods, like a kind of winter beer garden.The lighting was also fantastic with huge lit stars hanging from the station building and a giant 'tree' that looked more like a wedding cake. I looked around and had a cup of creamy pumpkin soup before heading on my way to my new home (or hotel at least).This is a newer annual event, so I planned to stop by the Christmas Market this winter as well. The event lasts until Christmas day and is generally popular at night (open from 5 pm until 10 or 11 pm) and on weekends, although on holidays and weekends they start up at noon. The foods are pricey but also unique for Japan and nostalgic for foreigners. If you're craving a turkey drumstick (with cheese?), you can get one there. There are tons of yummy looking foods from Europe I haven't had the chance to try yet. Even if you aren't interested in a beer or mulled wine with your treats, the lights, the tree, and looking around is fun. There are a lot of foreigners in the city, so we can find a lot of them running these stalls, sharing about their culture. This year there are even be reindeer hides for sale! In addition to Hakata Station, there's another location this year, in Tenjin. Both locations opened their Christmas Markets in November, running daily until Christmas Day. They are outdoor events, but keep in mind that it rarely snows during December in Fukuoka.While in the Tenjin Station area (Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station, to be exact), I wanted to catch this year's Christmas Market and see the new location. Outside of the station is an area called Kego Park near the shrine. In the past I had seen the trees decorated with lights in this park. This year the illumination is much more than that. There's a structure lit up and named, Crystal Station, a few 'photo spots,' and a Love display where young couples were busy snapping photos. Where was the Christmas Market?Now that I look at the site, the Tenjin Christmas Market location is at the City Hall West side Fureai Hiroba, not so far from there, so we thought it was at the wrong place. Anyway, the illumination was fun. I recommend checking out the Christmas market and the illumination when you're in the area.EDIT: I went to the Tenjin Christmas Market! These photos are mostly from the Kego Park Christmas Illumination near the station (Tenjin Christmas) and a few are from the Christmas Market. (I couldn't find any photos from the Hakata Station Christmas Market from a few years ago.)We went on a Monday evening about ten minutes before they closed up, and there was still a good number of people there. There were TONS of life size Santa figures for photo ops, beautiful illuminations, and amazing smells. We had the 'tornado,' a spiral shaped sausage, and it was delicious. Highly recommended along with the park illumination in the same area for a quick date in the city.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z88W8-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaFri, 07 Dec 2018 11:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z88W8-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8vV-living_shopping_sustainablelifeIn light of the recent announcement about our planet's situation, I think it's best if everyone everywhere start to make / add to the small changes to our habits to create a big change for the environment. If we don't educate ourselves about what's going on, it's easy to be misinformed. Global warming and pollution have been issues the government likes to pretend don't exist. Starting with individuals, our every day choices can help companies and governments decide how to make better decisions for the planet.First of all, start small. We can't easily change our entire lifestyle without a lot of stress or just giving up, so one small change at a time is more effective. I'll offer a few eco tips you can use just on your Amazon.co.jp account if you need an idea of where you can start.In Japan it's a lot easier to get around by bicycle than it was in the US. There are other ways to help reduce carbon emissions - without giving up driving if that's not for you. One small change is to check the settings on your Amazon account to default send items in one shipment when possible. To do this (when you're logged in and have some items you're ready to order), on the Shipping and Payment page, check to see that it shows “Shipment 1 of 1” only. This shows you that the items are all sent from Amazon or the same sender (or you only ordered one thing). On the right side below Choose Delivery Options, you'll see Shipping Preferences. Make sure you have the top button clicked - “Group my items into as few shipments as possible.” This works well if you buy multiple items shipped by Amazon, plus you can qualify for free shipping without Prime. Most of the time, Expedited Shipping is unnecessary and causes more deliveries and more pollution. At least placing orders of several items from the same shop at one time can cut down on packaging waste and transportation. Selecting these options will also save you money in shipping costs.Place orders less frequently to reduce the number of trips delivery drivers make to your house. If you can wait, get a nice list of items before ordering. I don't use Amazon Pantry because it doesn't make sense for my household, but it can be cost effective and more efficient for some families who order a lot of items.Buy local products and products with less packaging. Not specifically for online shopping, but it's good to get out of the house too. Especially around the holidays, there are lots of handmade local items for sale. It's also a nice way to connect with your community and support local artists. I need to get myself to one of these before it gets much colder and find a nice thick knit hat. Farmers markets and other cultural fairs will usually showcase locally roasted coffee and locally made sweets so it's a fun regular treat if there's one near you. Buy less and use what you have efficiently. *This is my current challenge. Saying no to unplanned shopping when I don't need anything or to 'just look' saves so much time and money. If we think creatively, we often don't need to go buy another thing – there's something that will work already in your home. I often want more stationary items, but could probably go another year using what I already have (if I include tons of scrap paper printed on one side) without any difficulty. This week I needed to tie a stool I made at a wood market to my bike to get it home, but rather than buying a bungee cord, I used some jute string I already had and it worked just fine.It feels totally overwhelming to try to tackle environmental issues alone so making these little changes can give me a little peace of mind. Anything else you recommend?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8vV-living_shopping_sustainablelifeTue, 04 Dec 2018 10:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8vV-living_shopping_sustainablelifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7v5A-living_shoppingIt's not the primary question for me this year. It's more How to send cards.I'm kinda caught between two cultures and gift giving seasons (not too many Japanese people exchange Christmas gifts, what I mean is those gifts for the new year like Oseibo and otoshidama), so I'm not always sure what I want to bother doing. I'm curious if you exchange cards or gifts and what sort of tradition you're following. (If any!)I've done homemade versions of new years cards (nengajyo) in Japan, but this year, I'm focused on Christmas cards. It's been so long since I've sent any at all, and they were more like Chinese New Year cards by the time I sent them out anyway. Usually they were something random I printed up, because I've never been super into sparkly store bought Christmas cards.The reason I decided to go for it was that I thought cards would cheer up my widowed grandfather and my nephew who goes nuts over Christmas. I thought everyone else would be happy to get any mail, as usual. By everyone else I mean my parents and a few close friends. I'm not totally sure about the Japanese new year cards... I might send a few people Christmas or new year cards in Japan, maybe for some of my private students. (The plan was to make tiny terrariums with the succulents I'm propagating, but they don't look like they'll be big enough in time. If I get motivated, maybe homemade cookies? Does anyone do that? When I tell my students we don't eat Christmas cake and we exchange homemade cookies in the US, they think I'm an alien.)Before in the Q&A section, there was some discussion about finding greeting cards in Japan that are affordable and in English. Places like 100 yen stores are usually a good bet, but I prefer the Sanrio stores. The regular size Christmas cards I found (photo above) are 200 yen and there are a few good options in English at my local store. The pop-up variety is only 300 yen and they also have smaller and larger sizes of cards. Sanrio also sells Christmas postcards and cute character (think Hello Kitty and My Melody)nengajyostyle postcards (3-5 packs for 200 yen) that you can print your photos and addresses onto. Another place I like to check is my local recycle shop that has tons of new greeting cards for under 100 yen. I found one especially glittery Christmassy (Sanrio) card there for my nephew for 50 yen and a vintage Pokemon card set for my artsy niece (photo above). I have plenty of gifted souvenir cards and random cute postcards. I especially like the Jetoy / Choo Choo Cat Christmas postcard in the photo above, but have used it as decoration last season and it's time to pass it on. Also planning to send out the homemade postcards - one I made at a free picture postcard painting taiken at a cultural festival.Rather than going out to buy new Sanrio cards, using what I have for the most part sounds better. (I did get the Santa Claus Sanrio card for my grandpa.)I'm realizing that instead of buying new things and giving gifts that would become clutter, I'm using up things I already have, further decluttering my own home.My family hasn't exchanged Christmas gifts in a loooong time after realizing we all have enough. (They gave up on me buying gifts or giving gifts for any traditional reason before that.) It's not necessary when we'd rather enjoy each other's company. Shopping in the crowds seems insane to me. They've been content with a phone call in recent years, but will be happy to get cards this year.What's your usual and the plan for this year?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7v5A-living_shoppingSat, 01 Dec 2018 16:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7v5A-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNx37-living_shoppingI saw this advertisement at a local shopping center on Monday.It left me feeling confused. Why does Japan get to have 'Black Friday,' or more like, why would they? It's a (ridiculous) American tradition of Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving. What's worse, they often open stores as early as midnight, as if anyone wants to battle crowds while still digesting that huge dinner.Japan doesn't really celebrate Christmas or buy Christmas gifts, at least not most people and not in the way us 'westerners' celebrate Christmas. Plus, there is no Thanksgiving here on the third Thursday in November. There was a holiday on Friday. It wasn't Thanksgiving though.I've never seen Black Friday in Japan before this year. I don't think anyone here really gets it. I'm just confused. Did you notice anything like this in your area?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNx37-living_shoppingTue, 27 Nov 2018 21:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNx37-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mvv6N-living_workWhen a society needs a 'conditioning drink,' maybe we're working too much?I don't do asa katsu. I don't do mornings very well at all. This is everyone in my family and my whole life, so I decided to go with it. I gave up trying and don't even schedule leaving the house before ten am ever if possible. (The exception is leaving to go on an outing or out of town because that's exciting.)Asa katsu is 'morning activity' in Japanese. It's a fairly common practice among full-time employees who want to network or gain skills but have little time to do so. These lectures and conferences usually start at six am and last for about an hour, followed by around thirty minutes of socializing with a light breakfast. Some professionals do this every day or once a week.This may not be surprising to foreigners living in Japan as we understand how hard people here work. It would sound crazy to most Americans, even though we're known for putting in the overtime too. My student told me about her new boss living in the US, a Japanese American in her 60s who barely sleeps because she's so career focused.Living in a country where it's totally normal for full-time work to mean 60 hours a week, whether or not this is paid time, has taken it's toll on me. I've been through the time in my life where I worked like a maniac, multiple jobs and side hustles, never home, little sleep. I think by the time I reached 40 I was totally over that. It's not that I still don't have an urgency to do more, I just realize it's super bad for my mental health. When I saw that teachers work an average of over 11 hours a day, it was easy to believe. I felt guilty for working only as much as they work in overtime. But my problem with this is the comparing of myself with anyone else. It's a downward spiral for me and it's super hard to avoid. My students probably envy me for living abroad and having free time, but instead of focusing on that, I only see that they work full-time and fit in raising children and outings and even asa katsu. Some of the women I teach have their own businesses and no free time at all. While I might feel like I don't have free time, I have lots. I choose to cook all our meals at home with the exception of when my husband cooks something to give me a day off. I choose to volunteer and give myself time for working on what I love instead of focusing on a career. My teaching job is just that: a job. I don't want a career. I do love my job and it's lucrative, but every time I work full-time, I get super stressed out.I hope that our society gets over the competition of how many hours we worked or how little we slept. It's hard to watch my Japanese coworkers smile and say they are 'very sleepy' because they got two hours of sleep. I just wish they would realize now that they aren't getting that time back to spend with their kids and it's not worth it to work so much. I see a lot of foreigners living here who don't take a weekend, and work like crazy even into their forties. It's not a new concept that working more means you need to spend more to support that lifestyle, so you can't stop working.Several years after quitting his horrible job, my husband still struggles with the trauma his previous boss put him through. I think a lot of people feel so stuck in their jobs, so addicted to the regular income, so scared to quit. Society puts so much pressure on us to fit in and work a full-time job. Especially where workers are lacking in Japan, it's easy to get questioned for choosing not to work full-time (with the exception of mothers of young children, sometimes). The furita (those who intentionally only work part-time) are always being looked down on. I keep thinking I should find a seasonal job for my two week winter vacation. I need to stop it. It's not worth it. I need to take two weeks off to relax. Not travel in the crowds, but stay at home and sleep and lay around in the kotatsu all day. Of course I'll be bored immediately, but I'll have cleaning and cooking and so many projects I want to work on. I think we forget that we need to rest.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mvv6N-living_workWed, 21 Nov 2018 18:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mvv6N-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK9Rk-living_shoppingI like the Menturm (Omi Brotherhood) medicated chapsticks all year, and have seen several Moiscube versions for a while now. With a packaging change and a decent price, I decided to try the one above - Menthol with rice bran oil and camellia oil. The price I paid was 185 yen with tax included, but I usually see them for almost 400 yen each. Considering the regular medicated chapstick I use is under 200 yen for a two pack, it's on the fancy side for me.This product boasts 'high moisture veil' and I thought it would be appropriate during the dryer season.Metholatum brand - basically the same product as the Meturm version - above and moiscube below.As the name of the product implies, Moiscube is a cube shaped chapstick. At first it felt smaller or like it contained less product.Comparing the two, they're both 4 grams of product each.I haven't used the Moiscube for that long yet, but so far I don't feel like it's any different. I don't think I'd recommend paying more for it because of the fancy shape. It makes sense because this shape will take up less space during shipping - like cube watermelons.Another strange thing - the packaging is a resealable pouch like what some snacks come in. Why would you want to keep your chapstick in a sealed pouch and have to take it out every time you use it?(As usual) I'll stick with the cheaper and less glamorous one.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK9Rk-living_shoppingTue, 20 Nov 2018 20:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK9Rk-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqedW-living_foodHave you seen this too?Amazon.co.jp sells Osechi Ryori? Is this new?I know lots of people in my generation don't even like Osechi or only like a few kinds, so I've never bought one of these big expensive sets. But, every year, it seems sort of tempting and sounds fun to get one. (Same for the Christmas cakes being sold everywhere.) Have you ever bought a set to taste all the different kinds? Do you think they're way too expensive?Here's the Amazon link if you're interested. Right now they're offering 10% off for ordering early. It looks like each set is delivered in a cooler bag with an ice pack. I'm eyeing a cute Hello Kitty box for 10,800 yen, but not sure if I'll actually go for it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqedW-living_foodWed, 14 Nov 2018 15:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqedW-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3n6-living_foodSurprising maron and yomogi mochi editionFirst off, I don't buy these often anymore even though I love them. I love 'juice boxes' and don't drink milk, so the flavored soy milk is fun. I still don't understand why Japanese drink milk as much as they do, knowing that lots of them are likely lactose intolerant. There are tons of options for cafe latte in any supermarket or convenience store, plus strawberry and banana milk, but this brand (and sometimes a generic version) is about it for soy options usually. My husband said it's because it's not so popular to drink soymilk for Japanese. I await the day there's a good soy cafe latte sold in every store and think it will sell well here too. The main reasons I don't buy these often is cost (as much as 100 yen each for 200 ml), single serving packaging waste, and availability. In my neighborhood, the flavors I love (black sesame and green tea) are not sold and neither are seasonal flavors. So what's the fun.When I go to another supermarket sometimes I check. I finally saw the coconut flavor at our local Red Cabbage, and last time found these strange flavors too. I think I've seen the maron before but not the yomogi mochi. I like the wagashi so thought it was worth a try, even if it is a weird choice.It was surprisingly strong on the yomogi (mugwort) flavor. Usually these are mostly sweet soymilk and not strong on flavor, but this one isn't super sweet – only sweetened with powdered an or sweet red beans. The yomogi was borderline medicinally strong, which I kind of liked, although I don't think I'd get this again. I only recommend this one if you Really Like yomogi.As far as the maron flavor goes, I wasn't expecting it to be strong either, because I don't think the flavor of chestnut is normally strong. It shows a mont blanc on the packaging, so I thought it would be mostly sweet. In fact, the Japanese says, “surprising mont blanc style” on it, and I giggled about that. My husband and I didn't find the flavor surprising at all and it was as expected, a sort of sweet and mild chestnut flavor.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3n6-living_foodThu, 08 Nov 2018 21:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3n6-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOR2Q-living_foodI know it's better than several years ago, but it's really hard to find fair trade chocolate in Japan. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. I guess if I check the co-op market or go into the city, there are more options available, but generally of the fancy variety with nuts and fruits added in. I buy raw nuts separately for snacks and mix in a piece of chocolate. I'd love to try the People Tree brand some day as they look fantastic, but that's not an everyday chocolate for me. I'm just looking for a fair trade dark chocolate, comparable with the Meiji 86% brand I had been buying before deciding to buy fair trade. PS: I've heard that Kit Kat only uses fair trade chocolate, but am not sure that this is true, plus it's not my style to snack on candy bars.I found a nice option at Kaldi mentioned before, but it's just too far away (and crowded) for me to ever want to go there. My local The Big or Max Value (Aeon Group) used to have a fair trade chocolate, more like 70% cocoa, but affordable and easily available. I haven't seen it at all lately. I checked the bigger Max Value in town when I had like five minutes to spare and found a discounted fair trade 70% (regular price 626 yen for 100 grams!) which is fancy Libeert Belgian choco. But then noticed a new store brand (Aeon's Green Eye) fair trade option. It's both organic and fair trade, plus a bigger size. The previous one was I think 45 grams for at least 150 yen and this one is 85 grams for 267 yen (tax included). For reference, the 50 gram fair trade bars at Kaldi run around 200 yen each.So, how was it? The Belgian Libeert was a little fruity and so smooth (compared with other 70% cocoa chocolate I've had). I do like this Green Eye brand fair trade chocolate though – the taste is better than the Meiji brand I used to always buy, plus I don't need individually wrapped pieces so it also creates less waste. I hope this one sticks around and for those of you who prefer milk chocolate – there is a fair trade milk chocolate by Green Eye as well.If you know of another good fair trade choco sold in Japan but not so hard to find, please share!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOR2Q-living_foodThu, 08 Nov 2018 21:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOR2Q-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqeYW-living_educationSaw this fun book in the bookstore the other day.I like that it's focusing on the common phrases Japanese people use when they speak English, but that could easily be taken the wrong way. It's fairly entertaining, as someone who enjoys the Engrish found all over the country, but true that some things are lost in translation. I wish the correct meanings were taught to kids in school instead of adults needing to relearn the correct way.For example, in the top photo, it explains that saying you know someone is like saying you are good old pals. Very different from knowing of someone.The table of contents shows funny sayings like My Wife is Homely, which doesn't mean she's a stay at home wife. Reminds me of the song Homely Girl by Scott and Rivers.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqeYW-living_educationWed, 07 Nov 2018 10:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MqeYW-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Kr-living_foodI mean, when I get the wrong one.I write about Super Cup way too often on here - they should sponsor me.A while ago I was at the supermarket and wanted ice cream. The cheapest place for ice cream has sort of random and not always current seasonal flavors, but that's where I buy my ice cream.This summer, for a brief time, there was a flavor called Cafe au Lait Cookie (but in Japanese). I saw the ice cream above, which looks identical, and bought it without properly reading the label.It is Caramel Cookie, not Cafe au Lait Cookie. My fault for being lazy.I'm a big fan of anything coffee flavored and think caramel is okay but too sweet. There are at least three "~ Cookie" flavors I know of - the other one started out seasonal about four years ago and stuck around as a regular - Chocolate Cookie. Oh, I guess there's a Cookies and Cream one too.I won't be buying the Caramel Cookie again on purpose. It's not bad, I just like the coffee type better.Last week my student made the same mistake buying Tomato Pretz instead of Salad. The only difference is the color package.Have you noticed both of these (or other products) that look too similar?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Kr-living_foodSun, 04 Nov 2018 21:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Kr-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr37R-living_money_workIllustration by Kaoru from an old book with a story about room mates, Mr. Daikon & Mr. GobouTime to sit and enjoy my coffee without feeling rushed is so valuable.As a freelancer, I love the flexibility of working only when I'm actually working rather than being in a school wasting time without any lessons. Of course there are pros and cons about full time vs. freelance. The financial situation is both better and worse at the same time. For example, I don't have a monthly salary or schedule. When I work it out to hourly pay (or per 45 – 50 minute lesson), freelance pay is close to twice as much as full time. Instead of 40 hours a week at a school (as an ALT) with a monthly salary, if I teach 20 lessons a week, it's around the same income. Full time ALTs will often teach more than 20 lessons a week. The thing is, freelancers who teach 20+ lessons a week are rare. It can involve working in multiple places each day and a schedule from early morning to late night including weekends. (Not for me - I'm a part time freelancer with about 25 hours of available time for lessons, including travel, on weekdays.) By working freelance, I'm giving up a fairly consistent salary for freedom.Today I realized that my part time ALT job is usually consistent but almost like being on call. I sometimes get messages in the morning informing me that the lessons that day have been canceled. This is typical of working full time as an ALT too – schedules change. But as a full time ALT, when classes are canceled, you still get paid for sitting around.Recently my 'consistent' schedule was changed around because of student teacher visits and sports day practice. This week I found out students will go on a field trip when I was previously told I'd have lessons. The catch is, if it rains, students will postpone the field trip and I'll work. This is why I feel like I'm on call. A lot of people think the on call system is unfair. If you don't have to work, you don't get paid, but had to be available to find out. I can't plan something because I think I'm working, but then last minute I get a day (or morning) off. For this reason, I started to make a list of outings I wanted to go on when I get last minute days off. Sometimes it's a welcome day off, but for most people, jobs like that would cause financial worry. On call or substitute work is not a dependable job you can pay the bills on.I can't complain much. I'm just a part time assistant teacher. Plus, I don't get classes canceled that often. My other part time job and my freelance lessons are rarely canceled, if ever.Have you experienced something like on call work in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr37R-living_money_workSun, 04 Nov 2018 13:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr37R-living_money_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1Brv-living_foodOkinawan Flavor Shiquasa lime potato chips with Ishigaki Island sea salt (by Calbee) are better than I expected.Complete with a stereotypical Okinawan package design, right?I picked these up impulsively and decided they sounded great and were worth a try. Usually I'm not one to buy potato chips, but like probably every girl in Japan, I love them. The problem is I don't wanna buy them all the time, so in general I never do. Can't remember the last time I did. I may have gotten myself into a little trouble, but I think these Calbee chips are limited edition. I didn't see that printed on the package and it's not summer anymore, so maybe not.The 58 gram bag is big enough to share, or eat on your own if you're into that. It was under 100 yen including tax from our local supermarket.On first open, the smell was familiar – like salt and vinegar chips but slightly different. The appearance is the same as those or most potato chips and they feel oily as usual.There isn't a vinegar taste, but along those lines, the shiquasa lime flavor adds that acidic balance to the salt that makes it a perfect match. The crispy chips are typical of Calbee brand and a nice treat. The package says shiquasa lime juice powder is used along with the sea salt collected from the island of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture. Too bad they don't grow potatoes in Okinawa too.I'm not already looking for excuses to buy these again, but they would be perfect for camping, picnics, road trips, and parties. If you're already missing summer, the Okinawan flavor might be perfect. I'm a fan of the sea salt and pretty much any salty and crispy snacks. Nothing to improve on these for me. Maybe a bigger size? Have you seen any other Prefecture themed flavors for potato chips?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1Brv-living_foodThu, 01 Nov 2018 07:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1Brv-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORaO-living_medicalOn a day I had a migraine and only one painkiller left (brought from a visit back home), I stopped by my local super-drug store. I must have looked confused and unhappy and a store pharmacist asked if she could help me find something. I told her I had a migraine and muscle pain. She showed me the painkiller section and told me the product Ringl IV (Ivy?) was rated the best one for migraines. She even showed me the back of the package reading the symptoms I mentioned: migraine and muscle pain, in addition to menstrual pain and sudden fevers. In that stage I may have had trouble reading the small print. I thanked her and she left me to be indecisive for a few more minutes, considering the brand I know one student uses (Eve A).The reasons I chose this product were that it was recommended and it was the strongest dosage of painkiller available over the counter. The package shows 200 mg per tablet of ibuprofen. The other brands were only around 100 mg each. You may have heard Japanese painkillers are very low dosages compared with what Americans are used to, plus they're more expensive. Painkillers are one of the things that are good to stock up on if you visit home (or when moving to Japan for the first time). To compare, the generic (drugstore brand in photo above) naproxen sodium painkiller I brought back with me contains 220 mg per tablet. It's also a small bottle with 50 caplets that I paid probably $5 for. I'll be buying something like this again when I visit next time. That being said, the painkiller from the US is fine for muscle aches but does nothing for a migraine. The Ringl pack of 18 tablets cost me 1,680 yen. There's a larger pack for a better price per tablet, but I thought it would be best to test it out first. The size of the package seems ridiculous for only 18 tablets, especially compared with the bottle of 50 from the states. The reason is that it's packaged like a prescription medication in blister packs. First I used one tablet as recommended. Several hours later, I had felt no relief - my migraine was worse. I didn't feel like it helped with muscle aches either, but they weren't especially bad that day. So I took another tablet. This month has been especially bad with migraines nearly every day. I'm over it. It makes working a lot less fun. With a long day starting the next morning, I was hoping to end it that night, but didn't have high expectations. I don't usually bother trying painkillers as they don't usually help.The package says after taking two tablets it's alright to take a third if you don't have any relief from the pain. The maximum dosage recommended for age 15 and up is 600 mg per day. If this is too weak then a visit to the doctor is probably needed for something stronger. As expected, the second dosage did nothing and I just went to bed.Have any of you found dosages closer to what you're used to back home for a better price or more effective over the counter brands?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORaO-living_medicalWed, 31 Oct 2018 16:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORaO-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5j7o-livingsince June of this year I've seen rumors about a possible ten day long holiday in 2019.Heisei Jidai will only last until April 30th of 2019 (or Heisei 31, which will last only four months). The gengou or changing of the era is a new experience for me.The changeover and inauguration of the new emperor will be on May 1st and a bit of excitement and confusion has been going on about if this will become an official national holiday (shukujitsu) next year. The reason is that if it is, the days before and after will also be holidays (per the law that a weekday falling between two national holidays becomes a holiday). In that case, Golden Week in 2019 will be super golden – ten days off in a row, April 27th-May 6th. If May first is merely a holiday and not a national holiday, well the Golden Week will be a couple long weekends and a day off. April 30 and May 2 would be normal weekdays. Of course all of the calendars being sold right now are wrong as the new era's name hasn't been announced and the inauguration hasn't been entered as any specific kind of a holiday. I flipped through a couple calendars that show abdication (last day of rule) on April 30th and inauguration day on May 1st, only halfway indicating as if they are potential national holidays. There's another one time holiday (for an enthronement ceremony) in question for October 22. How many holidays will 2019 have? Does June finally get a holiday? Will we get any work done? It's too exciting!We might lose a holiday too. December 23rd is the current emperor's birthday. Won't that holiday change to the new emperor's birthday in February? Or will we get both days off? Maybe we will lose the Showa Day in April and get a Heisei Day in December? This seems highly unlikely as giving up Showa Day would mean giving up on the first holiday in Golden Week.There are a lot of questions and the tourist industry (as well as anyone else who works on weekdays) really wants details to plan ahead. There was a cabinet meeting this week to discuss these details but I have yet to find any news on the results. You can bet Golden Week will be ridiculously crowded and expensive either way they decide.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5j7o-livingTue, 30 Oct 2018 22:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5j7o-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQm9Z-livingWhile I'm not a fan of Halloween so much (sure the free candy, but not so much the dressing up), the special seasonal games I play with students are super fun. If there's something like trick or treating going on in the part of Japan you're in, I don't think it's the kind where kids will go to strangers houses asking for candy.This week I don't have any lessons on the 31st, mostly because the location I usually teach at on Wednesdays is closed on the last day of each month. Last week I was rather grumpy on the way to my Friday afternoon lessons, but as soon as I started teaching, the silly activities (this is an adult company class by the way) had all of us laughing our heads off. It's so healthy to get in some laughs because this week has been too stressful.Over the weekend, I played a simpler version of the scary face game with kids where I volunteer. The photo above is from one of the second grade students and I love how serious it is.I hope you get in some funny games and laughs, as a teacher or a parent of trick or treaters (or both).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQm9Z-livingTue, 30 Oct 2018 22:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQm9Z-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09Qr-living_shoppingMaybe you didn't know, but there are different types of earwax. I learned this when I was around 18. Asians and most of the world have a 'hard' crumbly earwax, while Americans or Europeans have a more soft and 'waxy' type. For the first time, I found an ear pick supposedly catering to both of these types.Let me back up a minute. For Years, I've been using one of the typical Asian bamboo ear picks, which is like a teeny long spoon with a fluffy feather or a little figure at the other end. You use the spoon end to (very shallowly – no bumping inside the ear because that hurts a lot) scoop out any earwax. I like it a lot better than using disposable cotton buds, which I grew up using. While my routine is using the mimikaki(literally: ear shovel) after showering and I get some water into my ears, there is mostly waxy earwax and it works just fine to scoop it out. One of my Asian friends actually uses tweezers to pull out earwax because it's that solid. Anyway, that's gross enough for now.My previous bamboo mimikaki was accidentally broken because it was sticking up while I closed a drawer on it. I set out to find a replacement from the local super-drug store and noticed that A: only packs of two were sold, B: they were made in China, and C: they were 250 yen and up (for two). I opted to check the Daiso instead. Sometimes Daiso actually sells products made in Japan and I thought they might sell just one individualmimikaki. There were way too many options (I think around ten?) for mimikaki. Most were made in China and almost all were in packs of two. (Why is this? Do people buy two because they are easily misplaced? I don't get it.) The mimikaki were mostly made of bamboo; some were lacquered in black or pink. A few options were metal (plated nickel) or plastic. I don't feel happy about plastic, but I decided on the plastic option (a two pack) I guess because that way they wouldn't break easily. They are made in Japan, and I like that they're shorter and more portable than the previous one.I think what may have sold me is the Engrish on the pack I chose. Also, this is the first time I've seen this design of mimikaki. One end is the traditional scoop I'm used to (for Asian hard earwax) and one is like a honey spoon design (for European 'small' earwax). I'm not sure what small earwax means or why they chose that shape. I didn't find it to be effective at all. To be honest, I don't really like the scoop end as much as my bamboo mimikaki either. It's a little more pliable, which may be kinder on the inside of my ears, but it isn't as solid or effective feeling. Have you ever used a mimikaki? Wanna try it out now? I have an extra I could give you...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09Qr-living_shoppingTue, 30 Oct 2018 19:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09Qr-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4r3x-living_transportation_badexperiencesIt has been illegal to use a smartphone / text on a flip phone while driving in Japan since 2003. This includes while you're on the road but stopped in traffic or at a red light. There's a good reason for that.Since 2016 the game Pokemon Go doesn't work if you're traveling over a certain speed. There are plenty of articles depicting fatal car accidents where the driver was using a smartphone. The usual punishment for drivers who cause accidents resulting in death is two years in prison. The same happens with those riding a bicycle while using a smartphone – there have been fatalities when pedestrians were hit by a bicycle.I can't even manage using a phone while riding a bicycle, so with a tinge of jealousy, I'm irritated when I see people riding while looking at their phones. After all, it's dangerous! The same with those walking while staring at their phones, crossing streets without looking, running into things and tripping. As someone who hasn't owned a car in over seven years, I hate seeing drivers using phones. I've taken to obnoxiously ringing my bike bell when I'm grumpy enough, signalling to the drivers (if they can even hear me) that they're doing something illegal and should pay attention. I also do this when cars drive or park in bike lanes and on sidewalks for some reason. It drives me nuts.I'm not sure why most Japanese cars have TVs installed on the dashboard, playing the news or something while the driver is driving. I thought these didn't work while the car was moving, but I heard that now they do. How is that safer than using a smart phone while driving? How can anyone watch where they're going with several things going on at once? Some drivers struggle with simply talking to passengers while navigating.The point is that phones and other things distract drivers.Distracted drivers equals dangerous drivers. Despite that Japan's drinking and driving laws are appropriately very strict and it's one of the safer countries to drive in, I still feel like drivers in Japan are often impatient and reckless. There's a reason I stopped driving before I even moved to Japan. I don't enjoy it. I feel anxious when I drive. It's also an extra expense and I wasn't in need of a car for getting to work at the time.When I had plans to move to Japan for work, I briefly considered an international drivers license, or even getting the motorcycle license so I could ride a scooter legally in Japan. I ended up not having enough time, but honestly, I already knew I wouldn't want to drive in Japan. I had seen the narrow roads with tiny cars whipping around curves. I didn't want anything to do with driving in Japan. I still don't.I live in a much more car centered city than I was expecting. Unlike bigger cities with tons of public transportation, most people here own a car and drive. There is air pollution from it too, compared with when we get out of the city a little. The thing is, our city has good public transportation. Besides two train lines there's a great bus system with frequent service.I don't like cars. A lot of other people do, and that's fine. My issue is with the fact that some people are so addicted to their phones that they will not drive safely and follow the law against using phones while driving. My suggestion is that they should take the train or the bus if they need to use their phones so badly while commuting. Everyone on the train already stares at their phone the whole time so they'll fit right in.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4r3x-living_transportation_badexperiencesTue, 30 Oct 2018 13:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4r3x-living_transportation_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaXO-living_saga_takeo_shi_sagaYou may have heard of the permanent TeamLab exhibitions in Tokyo. They are a group creating installations and digital projection art which is super popular for it's Instagram-ability. Despite low light conditions, everyone was constantly taking photos and selfies with their smart phones.I live in Kyushu, so I was happy to find out about a more local and natural version of their art. In the last year, there was a show in Fukuoka City, but I found out too late. Last fall there was an outdoor exhibit in Saga Prefecture called かみさまがすまう森 or God lives in the forest. This year, the same exhibit is repeated in the same season. I saw there is also a small scale exhibit temporarily in Oita Prefecture.The location I went to is called Mifuneyama Rakuen and is normally a beautiful park near a hotel in Takeo City. I commented that it must look nice during the day as well, especially when the leaves have changed in fall. For now, the leaves were brightly colored by artificial lights. It's a strange kind of artificial nature, and interesting as an art form. I found myself looking for the source of the projections and wondering how things were made and set up.It's accessible by train and bus, but we were able to go by car with friends. The entrance fee was 1200 yen per person. It runs until October 28th this year, but might be repeated again next year.Look for other temporary exhibits by Teamlab near you! I recommend it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaXO-living_saga_takeo_shi_sagaWed, 24 Oct 2018 22:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaXO-living_saga_takeo_shi_sagahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpVeY-living_food_shopping_sustainablelifeWhen I saw this notebook cover, I thought it was a zine from the city I used to live in and got excited. It's just a blank notebook, throwing around a couple of currently trendy words in Japan: sustainable and Portland. So what have I learned (from living in Portland before moving to Japan)? I don't think that all sustainable thinking was imported to Japan, for a start.I found some fair trade chocolate (which is a dark choco by my standards) at Kaldi Coffee Farm. I can't get there very often, so I thought I could find some on Amazon instead. I'm not sure if ordering fair trade online (products mostly shipping from the EU) will actually offset purchasing non-fair trade from a local store. I'm still looking for the best solution - which is maybe giving up chocolate for something more local.If I'm gonna buy something for regular use that's imported, I would love to at least buy the one that's fair trade. Fair treatment for workers globally makes sense to me. Otherwise it's those of us in countries with more money taking advantage just so we can eat too much chocolate and have a coffee addiction.This is something I want to improve for myself: to eat more locally and only buy local products. I'm reminded of this by my Japanese students who live this way. But coffee and cocoa are not products easily grown in Japan, if at all. The ideal solution is to replace my coffee addiction with green tea and snack on something local instead of chocolate.I'm starting a new challenge for the rest of the year. It's a no shopping challenge. No stopping by a bread shop or 100 yen store for convenience; leaving the grocery shopping to my less impulsive husband. The hope is that I'll focus and not waste time, but it will probably save money and help me to avoid snacking. I'm fine with shopping when my husband can't be bothered but I have time, or for other planned purchases. I just watched some videos that inspired me to be more conscious of how I shop. I enjoy grocery shopping and art supply / stationary shopping exclusively, but I tend to wander around wasting time and probably buying things I don't need. I love the idea of being content with what I have. I have enough.There are local handmade sales on a regular basis, so if I need something, I want to support local artists rather than buying something cheaper but mass produced. This isn't really a new way of thinking for me, but when I get overwhelmed with life, it's not as much of a priority. I've been composting since I was a preschooler and feel frustrated that I can't really deal with it living in an apartment. The photo above is a safety razor with disposable blades only (rather than the entire razor being disposable); a mimikaki or ear pick (rather than using disposable cotton swabs); and a refillable pen, all with a background of one of my tote bags I use instead of collecting plastic. Reducing waste is another part of sustainability.I get the idea that people in Japan are well aware of green options with varying levels of interest. Older generations are amazing at using what they have. Young people seem to want to choose the sustainable options and I feel like their curriculum encourages that. I recently watched a TED talk encouraging sustainable investing as well. As someone who hates smoking, this really resonated with me. Why would I invest into a tobacco company? There are sustainable retirement funds set up to avoid companies like tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and oil, the companies most people believe would be harmful to humans. I think most people agree that the sustainable option is better, but it's a matter of convenience, education, and creating a new habit. I hope we can make the default sustainable so it's an easy choice.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpVeY-living_food_shopping_sustainablelifeFri, 19 Oct 2018 11:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpVeY-living_food_shopping_sustainablelifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za58W-living_medical_badexperiencesIn our local Daiso, I noticed these signs, but mostly the lack of NO Smoking signs. I thought they might just be out of those, but on my next visit, things hadn't changed. From my experience, smokers don't need a sign telling them that smoking is allowed. In fact, I see people smoking right in front of No Smoking signs on a weekly basis. Since I can remember, I've hated smoking. Smoking regulations in Japan are so different from in the US. Since the early 80s smoking in public places and restaurants has been illegal in the state I grew up in. There's also a law against smoking near the entrance to public buildings and in a car with children now. I agree with these strict laws, seeing as smoking killed around 7 million people worldwide last year. About 130,000 deaths each year in Japan are a result of tobacco use, 11.5% of which are estimated to be because of secondhand smoke. There hasn't been proper anti-tobacco compliance, despite Japan's participation in The World Health Organisation's global tobacco treaty.Although the government is still intertwined with the country's main tobacco producer, some local governments are eager to curb tobacco use in public places. For example, in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo and in parts of Kyoto Prefecture, it's illegal to smoke while walking down the street. I do appreciate this because smoking outdoors is not so restricted back home. The thing that really gets on my nerves here is allowing smoking in restaurants.I kind of understand smoking in bars, izakaya or clubs. We can choose to avoid these places and they're meant for adults and only open late at night. The problem is the family restaurants. For restaurants intended for families and children, I can't understand the loosely defined 'smoking sections.'I've been seated in the non-smoking section of a family restaurant, but the table was literally touching a table in the smoking section. It made me upset that I still had to eat next to smokers when I was in a non-smoking section.I feel like restaurant design has been changing to make separated sections with walls and better ventilation for smoking areas, but I still don't enjoy going to restaurants with any smoking allowed. More and more, I'm choosing to speak with my wallet and avoid restaurants that allow smoking.Some restaurants entirely restrict smoking, and I enjoy my experience much more. They are mostly targeting women who want to go with young children or meet friends. Smoking is seen as a men's vice in Japan. About 20% of adults in Japan are smokers, but the group of men aged 30-50 years old are almost 30% smokers. They are the minority, yet the rest of us are exposed to secondhand smoke. It seems anti-smoking and health education for children has gradually helped to change the image of smoking here, but I'm concerned about the increasing use of e-cigarettes for young people. When I see women smoking in Japan, I feel it's a little rare and more disgusting somehow. I think this is mostly due to the fact that pregnant women who smoke can harm their unborn children, but any parent who smokes is a bad influence on their children.When I hear that some doctors tell patients they should quit smoking, even though the doctors themselves are smokers, it seems so strange. The same goes for teachers. Those two professions seem like such hypocrites if they smoke. The new ban on indoor smoking at hospitals and schools doesn't prevent doctors or teachers from smoking outside, barely avoiding the view of patients and students.The effort to increase tobacco free spaces before the Tokyo Olympics seems half-hearted, but the small change is welcome.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za58W-living_medical_badexperiencesMon, 15 Oct 2018 12:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za58W-living_medical_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD0py-living_foodFor the flipside, check Summer Japanese Cooking Styles.For minimal cooking style, winter version, there are a few key types of zc. Of course hot foods will help warm up you and the house, but it doesn't need to be complicated.As always, I'm keeping the focus on local and seasonal foods.Nabemono Nabe is literally 'pot' in Japanese, so it's any type of cooking heating everything in a big pot. Some people use a traditional donabe which is a ceramic pot, but any type will do. This is a type of cooking my husband does on the weekends during the colder season. I love when he cooks because he'll make enough for a few meals and I can take a break from cooking, yay! Plus it's so yummy. There's tons of variety, from lemon or soy sauce based broths to soy milk or cheese types of nabe. It's easy to buy the base in any store and follow their recommendations for what veggies and proteins fit with the flavor. The point is to use up what you have and seasonal veggies. (In that way it's like the Japanese version of a casserole, maybe?) My husband looked up a few recipes online and uses those for homemade nabe, which isn't a ton of work. It's a matter of finding the ingredients and is fairly straightforward. First you make a base soup similar to dashi and boil it. Next you add veggies and seafood or meat if you'd like. It's possible to add rice or noodles to the soup when you reheat leftovers, and a lot of people do this. We can also add more soft veggies when reheating leftovers to extend them. Miso soup can even be considered a nabemono, as there is a miso based nabe broth.Eeeew, eyeballs.Yakimono would be anything fried in a pan or on a grill. We don't do deep frying at home because it's messy and you end up with a lot of oil that is sort of a waste. Rarely, I'll do a little breading to fry in the frying pan. It's not as healthy and extra work, even if it is tasty. Usually we only eat deep fried foods in a restaurant. But... I love grilling veggies in season, and of course there's the option to grill fish as well. Foil is the perfect width for the grillMy super easy grilling technique is to cut veggies into bite size, depending on how fast they cook. I set some foil in the grill and lay out potatoes and garlic, for example. Next I pour some olive oil over the veggies and add spices like salt and pepper, basil and rosemary. Grill until the veggies are the way you like to eat them. It's one of those things that's easy to cook while you're prepping something else or if you have too much of something. Not exactly Japanese style, especially because I mostly make 'fried potatoes' then put some cheese on them.Another style of yakimono is using a frying pan. This includes so much, but one standard for us is to fry some chopped garlic, onion, ginger, etc. then add tofu and/or any vegetable that cooks quickly like spinach, cabbage, etc. mirin and tsuyu or soy sauce can be added for flavor and to steam the veggies a little. Once they are cooked enough, you can also add some scrambled egg. This is our everyday breakfast donburi.Kabocha and daikon starting out the nimono.Nimono is a winter standard in Japan. Oden is one well known example. There are a lot of other dishes that would be considered nimono that you may have eaten: kinpira, nikujaga, and bean salads. It's just a food boiled in dashi made from mirin and soy sauce or tsuyu, plus some kombu and katsuobushi if you'd like. I like to use a drop lid and cook something like radish or pumpkin plus a softer veggie like cabbage. It's very easy and makes a nice side dish. This is probably my favorite type of Japanese food to eat, so I love that it's easy to cook.Mazegohan(explained in the summer article) is also great for winter. My autumn favorite is collecting some wild chestnuts to make kuri-gohan. Yum!I'm going to add menrui to this list too, but hot noodles. Most people think of ramen when they think of Japanese noodles, but there's a lot of variety and cold versions too. Most noodles are originally Chinese cooking, like ramen and sara udon. Adding noodles to hot broth (or yournabe) is always welcome during winter. Besides ramen, try udon, chanpon, soba, somen, japche (Korean style), harume (bean based clear noodles popular in southeast Asia), etc. You can even find 'noodles' made from konyaku root or seaweed, if you'd like to avoid gluten.Any simple winter standards I forgot?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD0py-living_foodSun, 14 Oct 2018 19:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD0py-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkpO7-living_medical_healthFor those of us 40 and older, there is very good preventative care for anyone using Japan's national health care system or company provided health care.Each year, we can get a regular check up, but in addition, at specific ages for men and women, there are discounted or free screenings. Above are forms for several cancer screening tests I recently did. Women will have screenings for breast cancer (mammograms), colon cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer risk, and cervical cancer.In the last couple months I've heard about two Japanese women younger than me who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer. This isn't something to take lightly even if I want to ignore it. The discounted or free cervical cancer screenings start at age 20 in my city.In the photo above, there's a list of cancer screening tests offered at a discount to those living in my city. Other screenings available are for stomach and prostate cancer and osteoporosis.I went to my usual clinic to make an appointment in advance, received these forms (top photo), then could go home to fill them out with help from my Japanese husband. There was another form showing results of last year's blood test, and I forgot to fill out the information on the back for this year's test. I did that in the waiting room using a translation app for the vocabulary in some questions I wasn't sure about.No matter where you live, taking the time out of your busy schedule to take care of yourself and have these tests done isn't the kind of thing you get excited about. It's just a sterile medical procedure, paperwork, and sometimes paying fees. Luckily the cost for this in Japan is really low or free, depending on your age and income.Last year I also did a stomach cancer screening involving a barium swallow and did not like that one bit. The nurses weren't sure what to think when I was acting like a five year old through the process.It's sort of interesting doing these procedures for my first time in Japan. Still, I really have to talk myself into doing it and sometimes bribe myself somehow. I definitely have to give myself some extra time to do the screenings and maybe afterwards too, to take it easy after a busy day.I find pleasure in the little things. This is the mammogram machine that I affectionately called the 'boobie smasher,' but just as a joke. It wasn't that bad. I mostly entertained myself by thinking about the nurse whose job it is to wrangle boobies all day. It seemed like hard work.This poop target for collection of feces samples was also kinda entertaining, because this is Japan and everything has to be cute.I'm still waiting for the rest of my results after seeing the images right afterwards for my mammograms and lung X-ray. I haven't decided on any sort of reward for doing all of this, but I wanna make it somewhat fun for myself. If it's all just clinical and boring, I'm not gonna be so motivated to take care of myself.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkpO7-living_medical_healthThu, 04 Oct 2018 14:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkpO7-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ5AJ-living_food_shoppingKaldi Coffee Farm had these cookies that I've never noticed before. Usually I'm not into cookies or sweets but these looked good. As I wrote before, cookies aren't a huge deal in Japan, but more and more I find them in local supermarkets or convenience stores.A couple examples I've collected over the last few months:Aeon Group's cookie (photo below) is a 'nuts and salt' flavor. It sounds good, but this isn't a flavor I've seen back home. I haven't tried one, but I could get into it if I'm in the right mood. 105 yen each is about the standard at supermarkets for a good sized individually wrapped cookie in Japan.Below, some 7-11 convenience store cookies available. Matcha white chocolate chip, caramel, and chocolate chip flavors. 127-138 yen each, including tax. These seem really American style (except for the matcha flavor), big and soft, but I haven't tested them out. I bet they're not actually very soft - how could packaged cookies compare with homemade?Back to these Kaldi cookies for comparison.This pack of nine cookies was affordable (220 yen if I remember correctly) and not individually wrapped like so many cookies and snacks usually are (win). This makes it easy to eat more than one but cuts down on the unnecessary trash.These are around 8-9 cm across and the crispy type of cookies. The texture is like oatmeal cookies, but the flavor is what's unique. I've never seen cherry cookies before and thought they'd have dried cherries inside or something. There are no obvious chunks of cherries, but the cherry flavor is strong. More like an artificial cherry flavor, which normally I wouldn't like very much.They're really sweet for me, but I still didn't want to stop eating them. I thought they paired nicely with cold press black coffee to balance the sweetness. It took me three days to get through nine cookies, without sharing them at all. Once you open them, they're likely to dry out a little, so I put the package into a little plastic bag and they seemed to be fine.I'm not sure if I'll get these again, but if I'm feeling in the mood for cookies and near a Kaldi, they're a good choice.Have you tried out any of these convenience store or grocery store cookies (for reference the next time I'm in the mood for sweets)?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ5AJ-living_food_shoppingTue, 02 Oct 2018 10:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ5AJ-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQmQ2-living_foodSpotted this strange limited edition Lipton Creme Brulee tea. I wasn't impressed with the witch design because I don't associate creme brulee with fall or Halloween. I'm not French, so maybe it is somehow related, but I think this is a Japanese thing. Maybe this is only from my experience of finding kabocha pudding around this time of year. But again, I'm not sure if creme brulee and pudding are related either. I think it's just that a lot of people in Japan like pudding and creme brulee. Not sure about the seasonal part.In addition, the next day we went to a restaurant (Pisolino), where they had a seasonal pancake for the month of September. Would you believe it was a creme brulee pancake? It was sort of amazing and drippy and too sweet, but perfect with a black coffee. I forgot my camera that day, but it was more delicious than cute.Have you seen any other 'seasonal' creme brulee flavored things?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQmQ2-living_foodSat, 29 Sep 2018 22:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQmQ2-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP8DY-living_foodI mentioned English muffins hereand confirmed that in the UK they are simply called muffins. In the US, a muffin is a sweet cake disguised as something healthy we can eat for breakfast. It looks like a cupcake but instead of icing on top, there is usually something mixed into the batter. Blueberry and chocolate chip muffins are common. There are bran muffins and banana nut muffins as well. Not really healthy, but slightly better than donuts or cake, maybe?Costco sells the hugest muffins ever, in six-packs, for around 500 yen. I'll see these sometimes in the local (Yutoku) supermarket when they hold a “Costco Fair.” There are limited Costco products like too big pizzas and cakes, and I mentioned that before in this article.I have never bought anything from the Costco fair until now, because it's simply too big or too much for two people / our oven range. I bought muffins purely because of the unique earl grey flavor. I'm a total sucker for any coffee or tea flavored things. I justified it by having a plan to freeze four of the six muffins for later. Looking at the ingredients list, the earl grey muffins contain kocha (black tea) and look like they contain tea because there are little black specks throughout. This concerned me a little, but there was no strange texture and the tea flavor was mild. I was also happy that they weren't as sweet as expected – they must be toned down for Japanese taste. They were a bit oily and of course the size of each muffin is ridiculous. I ate one whole muffin, toasted, and felt like it was really filling. I'm not sure if they're sold in Costcos outside of Japan – earl grey seems to be a popular flavor here.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP8DY-living_foodSun, 23 Sep 2018 20:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MP8DY-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vdR-living_foodLiving abroad has a lot of food perks, but there were a few things obviously missing from the kitchen right away. I've written about cilantro here and am happy to see it fairly often these days.The weird craving I had within six months of living in Japan was black licorice. Love the stuff, but understand why Japanese think it tastes like medicine and it's not sold here.I never expected to see kombucha tea in Japan (other than the Japanese kombu-cha kombucha, of course), so this was a pleasant surprise. If I really need it I'll know where to look, but it's a nice treat when I visit family.Luckily, rice (more specifically pilaf rice) is my comfort food, and it's everywhere in Japan. I eat rice every day and make pilaf when I can make the extra effort.There's a group of other carbs that I wasn't used to eating back home but now they're strangely comforting on occasion.One that caught me by surprise is English muffins. (Is that what you call them in the UK, or are they just muffins?) There's something about the cornmeal that makes these nostalgic even though I almost never ate them back home. I've also seen (usually awful) bagels in Japan recently and one bakery makes decent blueberry bagels.I had mostly gotten out of the habit of eating cereal and in Japan there's so little variety compared with in the States. I'm loving that there's granola available everywhere now. I haven't been into trying cereal here, unless it's corn flakes on ice cream.Another strange one is cheap macaroni and cheese. I would rarely eat the box mac & cheese in the US, and when I did it was prepared with veggies and curry powder. I haven't seen that in Japan so I resort to cheese toast with curry powder when I feel the need for cheap cheesy carbs. There is plenty of creamy pasta and gratin, which is way fancier. I have a feeling I might miss that if I leave Japan.Can you find the comfort foods you were used to before living in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vdR-living_foodWed, 19 Sep 2018 20:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vdR-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4Lp-living_shoppingSpotted this Cactus Capsule gocha gocha in the middle of a chain home goods store's garden section. It seems funny to sell these 300 yen capsules in the shop, so they also have some outside of the little machine you can pay for at the register. I guess that way you can also choose the one you want.It says cactus or succulent seeds are included in the capsule.Maybe this is the strangest capsule I've seen, but if I think about it, all of them are weird.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4Lp-living_shoppingFri, 14 Sep 2018 18:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4Lp-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Z6W-living_food_shopping_shizuoka_fukuokaI live in Kyushu, in Fukuoka Prefecture to be exact. It takes a couple hours by train to even get to Honshu island, but way down in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Even then it's still quite far away from Tokyo and Shizuoka Prefecture in the Chubu Region. Some people I know fly off to Tokyo all the time for business or pleasure, but it's been years since I've been, if I don't include transiting through Narita airport.Back when I lived in the Kanto region, I was able to take a trip to the Tokai region. First it was on the way to the Kansai region via Nagoya by train. I went through Izu, past Mt. Fuji, and through Shizuoka, but without knowing that it was an area famous for tea. I don't remember seeing any tea fields at that time - probably the views of the ocean and Mt. Fuji were more distracting.I especially liked the area called Atami, where I stopped for a while to change trains. I had time to check out the omiyage from the area and don't remember seeing any tea at that time. I guess the city is more famous for onsen and the foods steamed by onsen.By comparison, the area where I live is also known for tea and onsen. This isn't super obvious to visitors, so I get it, that tea being famous in Shizuoka isn't obvious to anyone passing through. I think those living in the Kanto region have no idea, but Fukuoka Prefecture has a famous tea region called Yame, which is just south of the city where I live (Kurume). When I go to supermarkets, the tea section is almost exclusively teas from Hoshino or Yame in Fukuoka Prefecture. There is a smaller representation of tea from Ureshino in Saga Prefecture nearby. Until recently, I had never even seen Shizuoka tea sold in supermarkets here. I was only looking in the stores I usually go to and close to home. The other day I randomly stopped by and looked around in a supermarket that I don't usually shop in. The tea section was, as expected, Hoshino, Yame, and Ureshino Teas, represented in over 75% of what was being sold. In the photo above, it's all local tea, but to the right there was some more generic Japanese tea not specific to any region. I noticed something surprising though – one lonely variety of Shizuoka tea had made it's way to Kyushu (photo above). It must be popular if it's even sold in some supermarkets this far away.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Z6W-living_food_shopping_shizuoka_fukuokaTue, 11 Sep 2018 15:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6Z6W-living_food_shopping_shizuoka_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLbL7-livingThe first Japanese joke I learned was, "I'm sorry, hige sori." If you don't know this one, it's poking fun at the similar sound of sorry (most Japanese know and use "I'm sorry" in English from time to time) with the Japanese word sori.I had a student my first year in Japan who said this joke nearly every day. It wasn't until I asked a Japanese student while working in the US why this was funny that I understood the joke.Hige sori means shave (my) beard. (髭剃り)This is the nature of Japanese humor - it's like puns in English.Now that I understand more Japanese, I really appreciate Japanese humor if I get it.The other day I made my own Japanese joke. I went past this lovely rice field, almost ready for harvest, and unconsciously thought, 'iine.'Then it hit me. I laughed to myself as I thought, 'iine, ine.' I even told my husband later and he laughed. Iine is like saying, 'nice, isn't it?' Ine is the name for the rice plant. (いいね、稲。)Have any grandpa jokes of your own?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLbL7-livingMon, 10 Sep 2018 12:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GLbL7-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3bP-living_healthI noticed a pattern that I tend to get migraines when a typhoon is passing by the area. I wondered if that was a common occurrence and found that it is. One weather site even has a Migraine weather predictor. (I've found it to have no relation to my actual occurrence of migraines so far.)Other weather factors like extreme heat, cold, humidity, and dry weather can also cause problems, though most people with migraines will not likely have higher occurrences with each of these weather patterns. It's also likely that the usual triggers (stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, certain foods, etc.) are still the cause of the migraine, but the weather patterns just make it worse or more likely to occur. An obvious one this summer is dehydration. I can't seem to drink enough because it feels like I'm sweating all day and night.To help with the heat (every summer in Japan, not just this exceptionally hot one), I turn to the 'ice packs' or freezer gel that you can find in any 100 yen shop in cute designs, or get for free when you buy anything that should be refrigerated on a warm day. I have a collection of these free packs that I use when it's the middle of the day but time to ride a bike to work, for example. I wrap one in a wet bandanna and tie it around my neck and they help to keep me cool for an hour or two. (You can also buy something that looks like a thin neck brace but in cute designs like polar bear. They're expensive and I found them to be way too thick to wear during summer.)I've taken to using ice packs at home (wrapped in a small towel) as an icy pillow when I'm overheated or have a migraine. It does offer some relief, but isn't going to stop the migraine unfortunately. This would also be useful for sore muscles and bruises to reduce inflammation.While the ice packs are helpful, there are those days where it's worth it to just take the bus. Today there was some cloud cover and wind so I felt okay riding with my ice pack in 37 degrees for about 30 minutes. I think somehow I'm used to this heat by now. (Or I could just be severely dehydrated and not even feel hot anymore.)I'm not sure how long the heat will last this season, with usual warm weather lasting until mid October in most of Japan. I think the frequent typhoons will offer a little relief from the heat and humidity. Continue to stay safe and cool out there.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3bP-living_healthMon, 10 Sep 2018 11:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx3bP-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW6d8-livingI heard that the area around Mojiko Station (Kitakyushu City, Moji-ku) has nice Meiji era architecture, so I finally went out there to look around. It's a unique collection of buildings in Japan and gives the area a sort of European feel.The Dramaship, which is a fun building, was closed up the day I went. There's a nice view of the inlet separating Kyushu from Honshu and Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture.JR Mojiko Station is one of the few existing wooden stations, but it's undergoing renovations until early 2019.This Mitsu something or other building housed a little design shop and a small gallery for a local artist.In the Mojiko Retro area, there's a series of buildings near the water. I didn't enter either of these, but the tower supposedly has a nice view. The building I'm standing in front of is the old Customs building, and there is free entrance with some rotating exhibits and immigration related displays.Not sure what building this is, but the photo is taken in front of the train museum near Mojiko Station.The park was sort of lonely, but had an interesting mixture of design and plants for a southern Europe (maybe?) mood.I didn't stick around long enough for the night views, but it was refreshing to walk around and explore somewhere new, despite the really warm summer weather.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW6d8-livingSat, 08 Sep 2018 14:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW6d8-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09KZ-living_food_transportation_oita_oita_shi_oita_beppu_shi_oita_yufu_shi_oitaWe spent a weekend in Oita Prefecture in August, using the seasonally available JRSeishun 18 Kippu to get there and back. That means only the slow trains are allowed so it takes longer, but we can ride trains as much as we want for the days we use the ticket.The route for the first day was from Kurume Station via Hita Station to Yufuin first. Yufuin was crowded! Highlights were a Snoopy cafe, black sesame soy soft serve (we also had the golden sesame milk soft serve, but the photo was blurry), and the view near the tiny 'lake' (more like pond). There's a new info building near the station (Yufuinfo, hah) where they have free wi-fi and a little sitting area. There was a view of the limited express train Yufu no Mori too.After a few hours exploring Yufuin, we continued via Oita Station to Beppu Station, where we spent the night. (It took around three hours for the whole train ride. The view is really nice anyway.) We went to Toyotsune for the tempura again – the main restaurant is right next to where we stayed!Beppu Station has a statue out front (pikapika no ojisan) who is wearing a special rugby uniform because Oita is hosting the Rugby World Cup this year.Beppu City has tons of onsen, but we had one in the guesthouse we stayed at so we just used it instead of going to the other onsen areas. The water in the Beppu Onsen area is super hot and at the guesthouse in Kitahama, the water they use is 53 degrees Celcius! It feels really great after a little traveling, but we can't stay in for very long.While in Beppu City, we mostly walked around and ate at a buffet restaurant in Kamenoi Hotel. We used the Kamenoi City Bus Mini Free Pass (900 yen) to go to a viewpoint that has a good night view of the bay. It was just okay – the bus ride was around 30 minutes each way, but we only spent five or ten minutes looking at the view. I think it would be worth it to go before it gets dark out to see the daytime view too.We went into Oita City using the Oita Kotsu bus (280 yen one way) – just a few kilometers from Beppu. There we went to the Takasakiyama Monkey Park. Discount tickets (20% off) are in some hotels, but entrance is only 510 yen for adults. There's a new monkey museum near the aquarium UmiTamago on the other side of the highway. It's free to enter. We checked out the gift shop for the aquarium, but it was closing soon, we were tired, and it was so crowded!In Oita City, we visited the castle ruins where there was metal scaffolding in the shape of the original castle. I'm not sure when they did that, but when I went six years ago it wasn't there. We had a nice time feeding pigeons and koi, but it was really hot and the station area was super crowded. We accidentally were there for the Ice Wonderland event, so of course we had some ice cream. Even the toilets in Oita Station have these sort of onsen curtains decorating them.On the way home, we had a couple hour long waits at some stations with nothing at all around. It was hot and uncomfortable and we just wanted to get home. If you can get the timing right, the Seishun 18 Kippu is an affordable way to travel during the holidays.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09KZ-living_food_transportation_oita_oita_shi_oita_beppu_shi_oita_yufu_shi_oitaFri, 07 Sep 2018 10:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09KZ-living_food_transportation_oita_oita_shi_oita_beppu_shi_oita_yufu_shi_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9mj8-living_food_shopping_sustainablelife_oita_beppu_shi_oitaThere are worldwide efforts for ocean plastic cleanup and even a new plastic drinking straw ban in my home state. Maybe this recent news had me in a different mindset on a recent vacation even though I'm known to not be so fond of plastic. I went to Beppu City - I've been there before and feel a connection with the city - like a home away from home. This time we stayed in the Kitahama area, which I have spent some time at before. Instead of what I thought would be a morning meditation on "Beppu Spa Beach," I ended up doing 'cleaning meditation' the first morning. The beach is covered in (lots of bamboo) driftwood and the sound of the empty beach in the morning was great for fresh air and alone time. The amount of trash at the beach got to me quickly though. I wished I had a trash bag. I started to collect trash in plastic crates and buckets that were washed up along with everything else.Antique glass blown buoys are so majestic compared with the washed up heaps of styrofoam I saw here. I found myself wondering if future generations would make crafts from “beach beads” instead of shells. With vending machines and recycle bins at Matogahama Park less than 100 meters from the water, why were there so many recyclable bottles?I even saw a coffee can a 30 second walk from one of these recycle bins. I can be lazy but this was just frustrating.I feel a little better knowing Japan is one of few countries who incinerate garbage and have a good effort for recycling, but why is so much trash still on the beach? I know typhoon season washes up extra trash with higher tides than usual, but a lot of this was local and newer trash than that. I felt frustrated that I couldn't just enjoy my vacation and can't make a big difference on my own.This is my haul before I got burnt out.I didn't even know what to do with all this plastic other than pull it to the road hoping the wind and waves won't get it onto the beach again. I have no idea if city workers ever pick up trash here. As is the norm in Japan, there aren't any trash cans at the beach. I did see a couple of bags of trash near the vending machines as if someone made the effort only that far and gave up on taking their garbage back home or to a hotel.Without pointing any fingers, I want to ask all of you to be more mindful about a few things. There's no way I could clean up this small beach alone, and even if I could, it would be a mess again next week. What is going to make the biggest difference is lifestyle changes, no matter where you live. Pet bottles can be replaced with “My Bottle” most of the time for daily use. I love my thermos (maho bin). When you need to buy a bottle those can also be refilled. I know some of you are disgusted by plain water, but it's good for you. Be sure to responsibly recycle any bottles you buy and pack away any trash when you go out. Littering is something I didn't see too much in Japan at first, but I think it's cleaned up more quickly in cities.Think before buying. Buy only what you love and need. Avoid excessive packaging and bring your own bag or furoshiki. Let's make outdoor time more beautiful and enjoyable!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9mj8-living_food_shopping_sustainablelife_oita_beppu_shi_oitaThu, 06 Sep 2018 11:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9mj8-living_food_shopping_sustainablelife_oita_beppu_shi_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME5vP-living_foodHah, maybe around the northern hemisphere, we're all ready for fall after this too hot summer. I love seeing the signs of fall and actually the fall foods are starting to ripen too early this year.I saw this lovely display of 'sweet potato & chestnut fair' snacks at the store the other day.Seasonal flavors are the best!Looking forward to eating the fresh seasonal fall foods soon. Collecting chestnuts and making rice with them is so yummy.For now, I got this chestnut soy milk.It says chestnut and 'wasanbon' which is a fancy Japanese sugar. It was disappointing because it just tastes like sweet soy milk. I'll wait for the real thing and it should be in season soon.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME5vP-living_foodWed, 29 Aug 2018 16:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/ME5vP-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlpeX-foodI love Japan for their weird beverages, but sometimes I am just not interested, other than for the weird factor.First we have a seasonal peach ginger ale.While I'm glad that Japan does sell Canada Dry ginger ale (for those rare occasions when my stomach is upset or I want to skip on alcohol when I'm out), I don't generally drink soda or want to try a peach ginger ale. It doesn't sound good at all somehow. I saw a peach Coke also this year. Did any of you soda drinkers try these?Maybe it's this combination of flavors or just the fact that I don't like to mix certain flavors together (or too many flavors).(horrible photo, I apologize)Next is an Orange tea. I'm a fan of lemon tea (which started on a visit to Hong Kong, with Lipton Tea), although it's too sweet for me. This version of "CrafTea" (clever name) is intriguing, and I did try it once. I like it, but not enough that I'd buy it again. There are two reasons. First is the price, at 140+ yen for less than 500 ml from vending machines. Then there's the too sweet factor, but also it has a syrupy aftertaste that I don't like. It's twice as strong tea, which is great as I like tea and coffee strong. The orange flavor is a nice take on lemon tea, but why? When lemon is such a popular flavor during summer, why release an orange version of the classic? (I haven't seen any other flavors of CrafTea. I'd try a lemon salt tea or yuzu tea in Japan before using orange. I guess there are a ton of fruit flavored black teas available in Japan and I do like apple tea on occasion. I guess I think of orange as a winter fruit and an imported fruit, mostly.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlpeX-foodWed, 29 Aug 2018 16:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlpeX-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORNb-living_foodNamakemono beat me to it with a different perspective on all the melon flavors we can find this summer. I don't dislike melon (also known as cantaloupe), but it isn't my favorite and I get a sore throat if I eat the fresh fruit, so I mostly avoid it.Before I mentioned this local grocery shop in town, Melon Dome, and they had free samples of melon wine the first time I went! That was definitely a first. It was unique but half a sample was enough for me.Japan loves their melon.I found melon corn flakes and thought that was strange. Sometimes we can see strawberry or blueberry, which sounds more appealing to me.I also found Calpis melon cream soda. Gross. Sorry, I don't like soda. Melon soda is so popular in Japan – you've probably seen the scary bright green stuff if you've ever been to a drink bar.I can't get on board with the melon, so I'm on the no thanks to melon team.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORNb-living_foodThu, 23 Aug 2018 23:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORNb-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVRN7-living_food_oita_oita_shi_oitaIt's ending after this weekend so better get this out quick: In front of Oita Station, there's an ice cream festival. Great timing with the crazy hot summer made this event really popular the Sunday we were in town.There are booths selling ice creams represented by local shops from about half of the prefectures. Not a ton of Kyushu prefectures were represented, but Blue Seal from Okinawa had a booth.The longest lines seemed to be for the Hokkaido ice cream - which was sold out in the afternoon.We went with the booth selling ice cream from Aomori Prefecture. The most unique flavor was the garlic ice cream.Dracula is a hilarious name for garlic ice cream. It's something I had never seen or tried so I was happy my husband chose that one. Unfortunately it was disappointing - it tasted like a normal vanilla ice cream.I went with their "Aomori's Witch" fresh cheese ice with cinnamon and apple. Normally that would be way too many flavors for me, but I'm into cinnamon and apples. That was also disappointing as the best part was just a tiny bit of jam inside this sort of sandwich with cheesecake-like ice cream. The 'bread' part of this was so unnecessary and I would have preferred more of the ice cream with apple jam part.Ice creams were pricey at around 3-400 yen each. It's still a nice opportunity to try out some local foods without traveling. I'm not sure if this is a traveling event or if it has taken place in other areas. Have you seen this somewhere else?If you're around Oita and like ice cream, it's worth checking out.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVRN7-living_food_oita_oita_shi_oitaWed, 22 Aug 2018 23:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVRN7-living_food_oita_oita_shi_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8y4-living_foodA little late on this one, but a while back we tried out the new Meiji Super Cup Sweet's Blueberry Cheesecake flavor.The top layer is this crumbly stuff that rattles a little if you move the unopened cup around. The other layers are cheesecake, blueberry sauce, and vanilla ice cream.A review of their Strawberry Shortcake flavor is here, and by the way, we did try the Tiramisu flavor and liked that better.About 215 yen with tax if you get these in a supermarket and not conbini. As my husband loves cheesecake and I love blueberries this was worth a try. We split one on top of our kakigori.Of course it was good. I have no complaints. I think I feel happier picking and eating fresh blueberries, so I'll try to stick with that.PS: We also tried their new Cafe Au Lait Cookie flavor in the last week. I'm a sucker for any coffee or tea flavored sweets and this didn't disappoint either. Am I the only Super Cup addict here?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8y4-living_foodWed, 22 Aug 2018 23:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8y4-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go4rX-living_food_moneySome major Japanese brands have points on their products that you can collect and send in for prizes – usually that company's products or limited edition collaboration goods. Key Coffee, Kewpie, Bell Mark, etc. have points you can collect. This is specifically about the only product points I collect, UCC Coffee Coupons. I collected some other points for a while, mostly because a lot of schools collect them from staff and students. I think the PTA organizes this to buy school supplies and gifts for the staff from time to time. I think this is the way to go – unless a group of people is collecting the points, it will take forever to collect enough for anything.I began wondering if it's even worth it to collect these points. We usually drink coffee at home (2 people, a cup or two each daily) and we buy UCC coffee mostly because it's cheap but the quality is okay for packaged ground coffee. After more than two years, I've collected over 500 points (each 300 gram bag of coffee gets ten points) but it seems like that's not enough to get any great prizes yet. It's only enough to get more coffee or something like a mug. Based on the prices I'm familiar with, one coffee coupon point would be equal to about one yen, maybe more. For the coffee products it's a bit more than that, probably because they're able to 'sell' the coffee to participants for cheaper than retail price.The prize selection changes every year, but this year there are special Disney prizes – including pair tickets to Tokyo Disneyland if you save up 7,400 points. Considering the price of one ticket is close to 5000 yen the last time I checked, this is better than one yen per point. There are also 4 gift cards for Disney Resort worth 500 yen each for 1,400 points.If the points were cash value, I'd say it's around 3-5% cash / prize value back, based on the price we pay for coffee. But that's after doing all the work of saving up and redeeming your coffee coupons. And then you have to actually want one of the prizes you have enough points for. It seems too much like collecting tickets at game centers back home.It's really difficult to get a ton of points unless you use the product all the time and plan to be in Japan for a long time. Another downside is that it's kind of a pain to cut out the coupons and paste them to something, then send them in for your 'point bank.' Plus it could be too much trouble doing all of this in Japanese. I didn't search for it yet, but we might also have to pay a fee for shipping for any prizes we redeem.Do you collect any product points? What do you think - is it worth the bother?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go4rX-living_food_moneyWed, 08 Aug 2018 15:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go4rX-living_food_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZaE-living_food_tea_shizuoka_fujieda_shi_shizuokaGenmaicha with matcha teabags arrived in a cute green bag instead of the typical cardboard box or brown package. There was also a handwritten note thanking me for the purchase. Where I live there is tons of local tea and I can't even find teas from Shizuokain supermarkets. (There are some products using matcha from the Uji region available.) Even the big tea brands like Itoen make their versions of Yame Cha to sell in this region. I live just north of Yame, so it's easy to find these local teas.I have to order online to buy tea from Shizuoka Prefecture.I wanted to get some mizudashiteabags to make cold tea for the summer and decided to try one of the Shizuoka teas available online. I went with a pack of Marutou Nouen'sgenmaichawith matcha teabags for something a little different. Genmaicha is green tea with roasted brown rice. 40 bags at 1000 yen works out to 25 yen per 5 gram teabag.During the warmer months I make a liter of mizudashi tea almost every day. We've been enjoying rooibos tea, sanpin cha (jasmine tea) from Okinawa, and now a rooibos mugicha blend.There's something about the mizudashi / cold press method that's more clear tasting and refreshing. It's merely putting a larger teabag (usually 10g of tea) in a liter of water in the fridge overnight. In the morning it will be ready. I think I was hoping these teabags could be used for a liter of water to make cold tea, but they're only 5 grams per bag so they are more the size for one cup of tea or a small teapot. They're a typical teabag with a string, not the kind that usually come for making a whole liter at once. I guess I wasn't checking carefully about the amount of tea I normally use for making one liter. I removed the tags and put two teabags into the container to get the strength more appropriate for a liter. Like so:You can see the roasted tea in there. The mizudashi method was refreshing of course and the genmai flavor for cold tea was different, but we liked it. The flavor of green tea isn't very obvious with this type of tea because of the nutty genmai taste. That's what makes it special.I rarely see genmai tea served cold / as an iced tea. I wonder why - I like it! Maybe it's more popular during the winter months as a hot tea.The hot tea version of this genmai is good too. I doubt we'll have any left once it cools down. We'll just have to get some more I guess.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZaE-living_food_tea_shizuoka_fujieda_shi_shizuokaTue, 07 Aug 2018 16:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZaE-living_food_tea_shizuoka_fujieda_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZNrq-living_food_shoppingAfter reading this article about the Yuzu shioCraft chu-hai, I wanted to try it, but as we discussed in the comments, it's not available where I live. Why not offer the local flavors in other regions so we have the chance to try a specialty from somewhere else? I guess in Japan we're used to traveling around to buy local omiyage, so it goes along the same lines. This isn't the only regional product I wish I could find all over Japan. I guess there's just too much delicious local food to stock in every store. (And I suppose local food is better, but this is not exactly a fresh food / drink anyway.)In Kyushu, I've spotted three of these local Craft chu-hai flavors, but not the yuzu shio. We tried the Kyushu lemon and liked it, but it was sort of strong compared with what we usually split.Below are the (not salty) varieties I've seen: Kyushu Lemon, Sakurajima Komikan (Kagoshima Prefecture), and Okinawa Shikuwasa.What versions of this Craft chu-hai can you find where you live?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZNrq-living_food_shoppingTue, 07 Aug 2018 11:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZNrq-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Pe-living_foodThis can sour caught my eye because I like the design, but then I decided to give it a try. Kodawari is 'carefully selected' and the kanji at the top of the can reads Lemon Hall (lemon dou)– I had to ask my husband how to read lemon. No wonder we usually see it in katakana! I chose the honey lemon flavor. There are two other selections – regular lemon and salty lemon, which we haven't tried. I'm curious to see what they're like though, especially because lemon is a great summer flavor.The scent and flavor of honey is really delicious and overpowers the lemon taste. We really liked it – it's sweet and only 3% alcohol, so comparable to the horoyoi honey lemon chu-hai. The price is a bit more at around 140 yen a can. I'm not sure if this is a new product or more limited edition. I haven't seen it before this summer, but it doesn't say it's seasonal.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Pe-living_foodSun, 05 Aug 2018 13:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Pe-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4yY-living_shopping_moneyA while back I was wondering: What's the percentage off you're actually getting by using a point card? Is it worth it? In the case of supermarket point cards, it's fairly straightforward. You usually get one point for each 100-200 yen (plus tax) you spend, more if it's a special point day. Each point is worth one yen in discount once you get 500 points in most cases. Some supermarkets will sell 'sale' items with bonus points on a temporary basis. (For example: buy a pack of fish, get ten points above what you'd normally get based on price.)For supermarkets you're looking at 1% cash back most of the time. We try to do our shopping only on the "5 bai day"(5 倍デ―) or 5 times day for 5% cash back. (The nice thing about Youme Mart & Aeon company Waon point cards are they're great for the supermarket, but can also be used at Youme Town & Aeon shopping malls. That means if you need to buy some clothes, etc. and shop at that mall, you can also get points to apply towards grocery discount coupons. The mall also has 5 times points days!)Note: Some of these cards are prepaid (have to be loaded with cash to get points) and some offer an extra .5% if you load them with cash then make your purchase.I think supermarket point cards make sense only if it's a supermarket you go to often because it's convenient. Most of us do grocery shopping on a regular basis. One point (ahem) to remember is that it's really not worth it to buy one more thing you don't need just to get another point.Related: Deciphering Discounts in JapanConvenience Store Point CardsConvenience stores usually have point cards as well – Ponta, Nanoca, Tpoint, etc. give one point per 100-200 yen spent. This article explains all of these cards along with their benefits. The points can also be converted to airline miles, although the conversion rate is less than one percent.(I'm not using any of these or shopping at conbini regularly)Cafe Point CardsCafes and bakeries want you to use their point cards – probably because it encourages spending more when there's a minimum purchase price for each stamp.It makes sense to collect points at one bread cafe where I teach a lesson weekly, simply because I actually go there on a regular basis. If I spend 300 yen, I'll get one stamp. After 10 stamps I get 60 yen off. I don't always spend 300 yen, but I always get something since I'm using their space. This works out to spending at least 3000 yen for 60 yen off. Is it worth it? That's 2% cash back, if you spend exactly 300 yen each time, so it's similar to a supermarket point card I guess. This place also has a 5 times point day once a month.Another cafe point card I have also has a 300 yen spend for each stamp. With 30 stamps, we can get 500 yen off. 9000 yen spent for 500 yen off is 5.55% cash back! I didn't expect that to be so high. If you can wait that long / actually go often, that's awesome, but how long would it take to get 30 stamps if you rarely go?A local coffee roaster offers a card where the deal is one stamp for each 400 yen spent and 400 yen off when you have 30 stamps. 12000 yen spent for 400 yen off is 3.33% off after buying way too much coffee. I guess if you always buy their coffee it's a good deal.Other point cardsAnother point card we have is for haircuts. It's a cheap salon where you can get a different stylist depending on who's free first. Haircuts were 1000 yen but have gone up to 1300 plus tax. The card has 12 spots for stamps which are for each 1000 yen you spend. When the 12 are full, you can get a 500 yen discount coupon. It's half off a haircut after 12, if we're going with prices they had when I first got the card. So because the price changed, the cost is 12000-15600 yen for the 500 yen off, or 3.2-4.16% off. Again, it's not bad if you're going to use their services already.The glasses shop I use has a point card with 50 points (1000 yen each) to get 5000 yen off. That's a 10% discount - the best one I've calculated so far. If you wear glasses and like to get new frames sometimes, it's a good deal. The cheapest frames are 5000 yen, so this is essentially buy ten get one free. Plus they give you double points for recommending someone to their shop too.What do you think? Is it worth it to use point cards (if you consider what kind of discount it is)? Are there any point cards you use that are an awesome deal? (Please share with us!)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4yY-living_shopping_moneySat, 04 Aug 2018 14:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4yY-living_shopping_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gy6B5-living_transportationI spotted some of these tree bumpers in a small parking lot in the downtown area of my city. I'm not sure what the parking lot is for. There are some small tree branches hanging over into the paved area and I guess some of them are a little low (the trees are young or just small). When cars park in those spots, they could bump into the branches.This reminded me of the foam protectors we can sometimes see in the homes of families with small children. They might hit their soft heads on the corner of the counter, so it's insulated with some kind of a cushion to prevent too much damage.I thought this was quite thoughtful to protect the trees from being bumped into by cars. After all, Japan has a culture to care for all things - inanimate, living, or not.Then I realized: the cars will still bump the trees from time to time. This is why someone tied on some rubber bumpers. Yellow to signal caution as well. But the bumpers aren't there to protect the trees after all. The bumpers are there to protect the trees from scratching up any cars.I guess my way of thinking is leaning towards protecting the living thing rather than protecting the inanimate object from being damaged. I do ride a bike and often get frustrated by 'cars,' or I guess their drivers.I often feel like 'cars' are trying to kill me on my commute to work. I live in a sort of suburban city that has a lot of cars for what I imagined Japan to be like. What really bothers me is when I see drivers on their phones (just about every day) and they almost hit me or someone else. I've taken to ringing my little bike bell at cars when their drivers are doing something illegal or stupid.Tonight I really almost got hit. I was riding in a (rare) bike lane and thought the car coming out of a parking lot would stop at the stop sign (or before the sidewalk, or before the bike lane) but didn't stop until I was in front of his car. I had to swerve out of his way and luckily there was no car on the road I swerved into. The driver even opened the door and said, "summimasen." I was just pissed off and got back on my way. When I'm wearing white and have my light on, I'm surprised how often cars still can't see me. Sometimes I feel like I should really use a helmet - or even get a bunch of these yellow foam bumpers to make an obnoxious costume and protect myself. Think that would work?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gy6B5-living_transportationTue, 31 Jul 2018 23:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gy6B5-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNx1Z-livingHair oil was mostly new to me when I moved to Japan. I knew it existed, but had never used it and never had considered trying it.I probably should have, since my hair is wavy and always has a little frizz to it.Here in Japan I've seen a lot of Japanese hair oils which use a variety of natural ingredients (tsubaki, yuzu, and apricot, for example). Do you get frizzies from the rainy / humid season? Or does that just make the normal frizz worse like me?I guess the typical perfectly smooth and straight Japanese hair I see every day made me more self conscious about my frizz.I don't want to get a straight perm. My hair straightener works for about five minutes once the rainy season starts in Japan. Hair gels also worked for about five minutes to smooth out my hair. I give up on my curly bangs and clip them to the side. I'm tired of hating my wild hair all summer, but don't mind the curl. I'm trying to just go with it.The popular options - none of them very affordable.In the past I've used coconut oil as a hair oil, but right now I'm out and thinking about trying one of the popular hair oils in Japan. Tsubaki (I'm sure you've seen the brand - with the camellia flower) is probably the most popular here because this area is famous for them. Camellia oil is used for a lot of hair and skin products in Japan. Apricot seed extract might be a good option too. I'm a fan of the smell and flavor of yuzu and tried the sample at the store. I'm a little concerned that smelling like fruit during summer will attract wasps. (Maybe it's just me, but I already get cicadas flying into me more often than I want to admit.)What products actually work for hair that's probably dried out from using Japanese shampoos? For now I'm using just a couple drops of my vitamin E oil on wet hair, and it seems to help a little.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNx1Z-livingTue, 31 Jul 2018 23:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNx1Z-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1BKD-living_food_yamaguchi_shimonoseki_shi_yamaguchiThis was an unexpected lunch stop at a famous place I didn't even know about. Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture is connected to Kyushu by tunnel, which I knew about from reading this blog on City-Cost. We're hoping to do that on our next visit to Yamaguchi Prefecture, but this time we got to go with friends by car. (There is a parking garage available there.)If you go by tunnel or train, there are a lot of scenic spots in Shimonoseki, and a lot of tourists. Usually on a weekend, Karato Ichiba would be so crowded you can barely walk, from what I was told. Because it was rainy and a typhoon was on the way, it wasn't too terrible. I don't think I'd go again if I had to battle crowds any worse than this. I did love being able to catch scenes like this - from the second floor where it wasn't crowded.There is a fishing port nearby meaning the fish comes in fresh and is sold very early to restaurants. The ichiba or market shops serve up fresh fish dishes that everyone goes crazy for until they sell out, or maybe 2 pm. There are the typical sashimi and nigiri sushi, plus seafood donburi (rice bowls) like the top photo for around 1000 yen. In addition, there are lots of fried seafood like ebi fry and even fried fugu. In fact, puffer fish sashimi orfugu is the specialty in this market. (It's referred to as fuku here and my husband said that must be the local dialect.)I picked out just five beautifully presented nigiri - at 100 yen each. I also got to try fugu sashimi for the first time too. It wasn't my favorite texture as I like soft fish like salmon the best. It's true there isn't really any flavor to it, but the spicy sauce it's eaten with is nice and gives it a fresh taste.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1BKD-living_food_yamaguchi_shimonoseki_shi_yamaguchiMon, 30 Jul 2018 12:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1BKD-living_food_yamaguchi_shimonoseki_shi_yamaguchihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go4gv-living_yamaguchi_nagato_shi_yamaguchiHave you ever been in the middle of nowhere in Japan? I feel like most people consider Tokyo the image of Japan, but when I go to inaka, I feel like it's the real Japan. I guess because we can see the real culture of Japan and not only modern and imported ideas. Nature is also a big part of it, but it's mostly the people that seem more real to me. The elderly rice farmers are the heart of Japan more than the salaryman of Tokyo.We got a chance to go to this kind of place when we tried to go to Tawarajima in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This place is literally off the beaten path. Nagato City isn't a big city to begin with, but then getting to the beach where this island (sometimes peninsula?) is accessed was not easy. GPS had us go down very narrow old roads through a town of damaged and abandoned beach houses. When it instructed us to go down a steep narrow road, we asked a local if that was the best way to go about getting to the beach. The 80+ year resident of the neighborhood told us to park the car and walk, and it's a good thing we asked. The road got narrower and more broken up until it was only wide enough as a foot path. We went through the stepped rice farms where she worked.The beach was covered in black smooth rocks instead of sand, so the waves made a nice sound. There were piles of uni that had been farmed and tons of seaweed on the narrow shore.Unfortunately, we didn't know that Tawarajima can only be accessed in low tides. The path to the island wasn't very close to the path to the beach and even walking along the shore without getting wet was impossible. We quickly had to forget about getting on the island that day. It was disappointing, but the experience of getting off the beaten path was nice anyway.The local also told us to go the other way around to get back into town because the road was better. She said she's got two rice farms and a garden where wild boar and tanuki come to eat sometimes. She said it's okay because they look skinny so they must be hungry. It sounds exactly like something from an old Japanese fairy tale!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go4gv-living_yamaguchi_nagato_shi_yamaguchiMon, 30 Jul 2018 11:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go4gv-living_yamaguchi_nagato_shi_yamaguchihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3ZRP-living_yamaguchi_nagato_shi_yamaguchiWe went camping in Yamaguchi Prefecture over the weekend with the goal of visiting this unique shrine in Nagato City.Motonosumi Inari Jinjya is like Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, in that it has a tunnel of red torii gates. I read that they are mostly from the parent shrine in Shimane Prefecture (Daikodani Inari Jinjya) and that there are 123 gates total.The Inari part means that there will be kitsune or fox images because Oh-Inari-sama (a fox god) is protecting the shrine. At the entrance gate, there are a couple foxes painted on boards with a hole cut for faces as a photo opportunity. There are also little fox statues near the shrine and decorating the upper gate.The view of the gates against the lush plants during summer and the ocean is really beautiful.We read a sign saying if you can get your coins into the offering box at the upper gate, your wish will come true. The offering box is supposedly the most difficult in all of Japan to make an offering in. It's mounted at the top of the gate. I didn't know that at the time and didn't make an offering, but two of my friends could finally do it in the end.There were a lot of jokes about how the staff could take the money out of the offering box and how often they had to bother collecting it. Getting one yen in is almost impossible because the coins are so light, but heavier coins are easier - especially on very windy days like when we were there! Anyway, there is a much lower box (on the right in the photo) which I referred to as the 'give up' box.There isn't an entrance fee, but if you drive there, using the parking lot is 300 yen for an hour. It's long enough for most visits, but an additional hour is 100 yen. I saw buses in the area, so public transportation is probably an option.We even saw some shrine character "Torii-neko" goods at the nearby convenience store, but not at the shrine itself. I think the gift shop was closed / not open yet because we went early on a Sunday.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3ZRP-living_yamaguchi_nagato_shi_yamaguchiMon, 30 Jul 2018 11:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3ZRP-living_yamaguchi_nagato_shi_yamaguchihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8Br-livingI heard another typhoon is coming in this weekend.September is typhoon season in Japan, but they start as early as June and can continue into October, depending on the part of Japan. Usually they're at their worst near the ocean, so if you're inland, you might not get more than some rain and wind. A Typhoon Day can be a normal day or a day when everything is closed and canceled because the weather is too extreme. When you have an unexpected day off because of a typhoon, it can be a welcome excuse to stay home and get caught up on your chores or relaxing.If you use any weather app, there will be warnings of typhoons on the way. It's best to be prepared for those, but how should we prepare? I put together some tips.Go out before the storm starts if you're bound to get restless from a whole day spent indoors. Get in some exercise before the rain starts and pick up any food you might need for the stormy day. If you aren't stocked up on snacks that don't need to be heated or refrigerated, those are convenient to have in case of power or gas outages.If you have anything outside, like laundry, make sure you take it down. Also take down sudare (natural grass shades) hanging over windows or they could be knocked down in the strong wind. Plants are usually fine if they aren't hanging and are in sturdy containers. The rain will weigh down the soil too. Hanging plants should be put onto the floor or brought inside. They don't mind being battered by wind and rain at all, but after the storm make sure any drainage dishes you're using are properly drained so the plants aren't drowning. There are even typhoon nets for sale that help prevent any belongings on your balcony or porch from flying away.Power outages are sometimes a problem during storms, so if you're concerned about that, a flashlight with fresh batteries is useful. Maybe food and water are not a huge problem for a typical typhoon, but we don't usually keep those around for the potential unexpected event like earthquakes and maybe we should.If you have work planned for the day a typhoon is expected, make sure you know how to find out if work will be cancelled or delayed. If you feel it will be difficult to get to work or home, arrange for finishing early or a day off, etc. when possible. Research and plan on another mode of transportation if that will be easier in heavy rain and wind.The day after a typhoon is generally sunny and beautiful. You can see rivers and irrigation canals filled up more than usual. Make sure you get out and enjoy it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8Br-livingSat, 28 Jul 2018 15:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/we8Br-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go40v-living_foodIn a country that loves its daizu or soybeans, why is it that there is virtually no soy yogurt? I don't think I've ever seen it in Japan until this week, but back home we can find soy, rice, almond, coconut versions of most dairy products and in even normal supermarkets.Almond milk seems to be catching on, and of course soymilk is awesome in Japan, but not soy cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.Pokka Sapporo brand Soymilk yogurt, or 'yogurt made from soymilk' if you wanna be specific. Not super cheap, but available in plain, aloe, and blueberry.(One thing I have never seen back home is aloe yogurt - in any form, but I like it!)I haven't tried this out yet so I can't explain what it's like or compare it to what I'm used to at home. One thing that was a little frustrating when I checked the ingredients, is that it is not actually vegan. (I'm not vegan, but any vegans who just got excited about this are probably disappointed.)The ingredients list above shows gelatin. The annoying thing is, it also mentions the thickener kanten, which is vegan. Why not use only kanten to thicken the yogurt?I get the idea that Japan is 99% unaware about veganism. I have met vegans living in Japan and don't know how they do it. I know they cook almost everything at home, can only eat things like rice if they need something from a convenience store, and get a lot of trouble for their choice in diet. For that reason, I don't recommend moving to Japan for anyone who wants to maintain a vegan lifestyle. (It also means they can't really experience the culture if they can't enjoy the local cuisine.)The problem isn't the availability of vegetables and grains in Japan - it's that they are generally prepared with non-vegan ingredients. Even the soymilk I used to drink (Kikkoman) contains ingredients derived from dairy products. I've switched to a locally produced unsweetened soymilk with only soybeans in the ingredients.Is there a vegan soy yogurt available at a Japanese supermarket not specifically for vegan / health foods?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go40v-living_foodWed, 25 Jul 2018 22:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Go40v-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnavj-living_foodThose of you who have lived in Japan for a while probably know that Halloween here is very different, although it seems to be gaining in popularity all the time. One aspect of Halloween that Japanese aren't so familiar with is the pumpkin carving tradition. If you ask anyone in Japan, they have probably never carved a pumpkin, but might enjoy trying.The pumpkins in Japan, or kabocha, are dark green and thick with fruit (is that what it's called? meat?) so they wouldn't be easy to carve. They're already hard enough to cut when you want to cook them. (Insider tip: microwave or boil kabocha whole for a bit first to get them soft enough to cut.) The ones grown specifically for carving really aren't meant to be eaten - they have thinner walls so they're easier to cut through.I've been to Halloween parties here in Japan where guests "carve pumpkins" or whatever we can find that would work. Anything from persimmons, oranges, orange bell peppers (or capsicum) , to small pumpkins or squash that can be found. Orange pumpkins aren't really sold here. Every once in a while you'll see one as a decoration somewhere, uncarved, probably with a face drawn on it. If you can find them in October at places like Costco they are often sold out quickly.(Why are these in plastic bags?) I was a little surprised to see some of these tiny orange pumpkins, and in July. I think kabocha is a fall food, after all it's warming and goes well with soups. It needs to be heated so I never cook it in summer. I don't remember seeing them during summer, but lately I see small ones all the time. Maybe they are just being harvested too early? They say kabocha, but they're orange, so maybe they're one variety that isn't as popular for eating. In the US we eat all kinds of squash that I've never seen here. Good thing kabocha is easy to find and yummy.I also saw these super discounted pumpkins along with some green kabocha. They're small for carving standards, but would make nice decorations at least. The timing is a little off, but maybe orange pumpkins are catching on for the Halloween season. Can you find them where you live?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnavj-living_foodWed, 25 Jul 2018 21:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnavj-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09oK-livingDanger Face!I've been looking at this danger face for a couple weeks now and can somehow still laugh. It's supposed to be 36 degrees again tomorrow. Oh boy.The Yahoo weather page shows this sad and dead looking face when the weather is at a dangerous level. It also reminds us to stay indoors in a cool place today (again). It says heat stroke (nettsushou) information, but I guess that's the only information they want to tell us. Actually that's on my phone, but on the laptop it shows 'heat stroke index' instead. That makes a lot more sense.I checked the English version of Yahoo Weather and they don't even have a heatstroke index. No danger faces for English speakers?Actually, this is serious stuff and we should take care during this time.Supposedly, the worst of the heat wave should be over this week. I guess that means the mosquitoes will be back?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09oK-livingTue, 24 Jul 2018 22:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G09oK-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZNeR-living_foodToday after making copies in the Aeon supermarket (Max Value in these parts), I looked around and got lunch before heading to work. This is what I decided on for lunch: Unagi OnigiriI haven't seen this before and was a little excited because A.) I love unagi, B.) I rarely eat unagi, and C.) it was marked 98 yen.Turns out I didn't read what the 98 yen thing under this actually was, but it wasn't 98 yen. I asked at the register and confirmed the actual price was okay - 170 yen with tax included.About unagi and why I don't usually eat it. Eel is quite popular in this area, specifically Yanagawa and Ookawa near here, and we can go to restaurants that specialize in it. It's even unagi season? (I checked the supermarkets the 21st hoping for discounted unagi, but it was still So Expensive.)I can't rationalize spending 2000 yen for something I'll have to eat by myself. Unagi is one of two or three foods that my husband doesn't like. (It's the tiny bones that bother him, although he eats tiny fish bones all the time. I don't really get it.)We go out for sushi once or twice a year, so I'll eatanago then. The saltwater anago is probably what they serve in mostkaitenzushi restaurants instead ofunagi, since it's been on the endangered species list in Japan since 2014 and is expensive. There have been recent attempts to farm unagi, which seems to finally be successful, but not easy enough to replace the wild supply at this time.Back to this unagi onigiri, or why don't they just call it unagiri?I thought the way the unagi was prepared was more like anago - soft and not grilled with sweet sauce added. It was yummy, although I felt like I was eating anago nigiri sushi, but with way more rice. When I can get two anago nigiri at Sushirou for about 150 yen, that sounds better.Anyway, this onigiri fulfilled my summer unagi craving for today at least. I might try out the much cheaper saba or other fish prepared like unagi next time. (And maybe my husband would eat it then.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZNeR-living_foodTue, 24 Jul 2018 21:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZNeR-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8j8-living_moneyThis is our gas bill for the second half of June and the first half of July. 4342 yen for two people, quick showers with the water heater set at the lowest temperature (37 degrees Celsius) and cold water exclusively used or mixed in. (Dishes washed with only cold water.) Minimal cooking on the "gas conro" (stove) to keep the temperature in the house to a minimum. No boiling water on the stove because we have an electric hot pot - not that we boil water much during the summer.It will be a little lower for the next two bills, but not much. So why is it that expensive?The type of gas is more expensive than what's used in cities.Toshi Gas (or city gas) is natural gas (and that affordability is probably the only good thing about living in a city, imho).We're looking at a gas bill for LP Gas, and many of you probably are too. Liquefied Petroleum Gas is also known as propane back home. Yes the stuff you use for a BBQ.Japan doesn't wanna bother to pipe the rural parts of the country for natural (toshi) gas, even though it's way more affordable for consumers.Anyway, back to the point.For the period billed, we used 2.4 cubic meters of gas.At the top right, you can see "this month's price adjustment is +168 yen per square meter." (There are fluctuations in the cost of propane gas, and potentially getting it delivered too.)Below that, you'll see the largest portion of our bill. The base rate, or 基本料金 / kihonryoukin, is 2376 yen. More than half, just for having the service turned on. Yipes. I don't think there's any getting around it though.Next is the gas rate (ガス料金 / gas ryoukin) of 1,530 yen for 2.4 cubic meters, which works out to 637.5 yen per cubic meter.With the added price adjustment (原料費調整額 / genryou hichou seigaku) this means we're paying 805.5 yen per cubic meter.You can imagine, if the price adjustment doesn't change, but the amount of gas used goes up to about 5 cubic meters, as it does during winter, that the price is much higher. It would change the cost based on gas used to over 4000 yen, plus the base charge, which means we're paying at least 6000 a month in the coldest months. (It doesn't get very cold here, so I know this is less than half of what some of you pay during winter.)I do love using a gas cooking range as opposed to electric, but would love to be heating water with solar instead! Someday...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8j8-living_moneyMon, 23 Jul 2018 20:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8j8-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vAe-living_foodDon't wanna turn this on at all during the summer.All year I'm a fan of minimal cooking, just a few ingredients and a short amount of prep time. During summer, I do my best to stay out of the kitchen except in the early morning, when I prep everything for the day if possible. For drinks, we switch from hot coffee and tea to mizudashi.Here are some super simple Japanese recipe ideas for leaving the stove off this summer.Summertime is the best time for raw foods. I'm calling this section namamono or raw stuff.Salads are so nice. Cold tofu on a salad or on its own works too. Miso cucumber(as easy as it sounds) is one of my favorites, but this summer I heard another fresh cucumber recipe: slice cucumbers into golf pencil size, sprinkle a little of your favorite salt, and tear some aojiso /ooba (green shiso) into little pieces. It's ready to eat right away.Sashimi, also technically a raw food, is another fantastic cold food. Of course other types of sushi are equally cold if you want to cook rice and make them at home.Likewise, there's sunomono. Vinegar stuff, similar to raw foods, but technically refrigerator pickles. Cucumbers, a little vinegar, and sugar in the fridge for a couple days and it's a refreshing side. This can be done with daikon, carrots, bell peppers, etc. Sunomono are great because if you make a lot you can eat a little as a side for several days. It's the best way for me to use cucumbers if I have too many to eat fresh.GohanmonoRice is so easy because the rice cooker does all the work. I love mixing in veggies or seaweed (mazegohan) to our rice to make it an all-in-one simple meal without turning on the stove. I measure rice and water as usual, then add some bite size veggies plus a splash of tsuyu (soy sauce, bullion, or salt works too). Then cook as usual. Bonus Okinawan / ethnic food: I found a tacos rice recipe for rice cookers and adapted it to our level of spicy. (We eat brown rice or genmai at home, but this works with white rice of course.) Here's how we do it: two (rice cooker) cups rice and water as usual a quarter cup or so of chopped onion a teaspoon each of garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne powder*one tomato bullionWe don't have this in Japan (to my knowledge) so I brought some from the US last year. Now that we're out I use the consomme I can find here, but adding a fresh tomato might get the flavor more accurate. Salted vegetable broth instead of the water will probably work too.Add cilantro, avocado, tomato, lettuce and cheese if you like that.Menryui(Men is noodles in Japanese! Menryui is types of noodles) For cold noodles we stick with zarusoba (basket soba) most of the time. Boiling the noodles is the only hot part. A lot of people prefer somen noodles or hiyashi chuka. Toppings are also cold and fresh, depending on what's available in the season. Green onions, shiso, or anything in the balcony garden works.Next (or in the fall), some hot Japanese cooking to heat up the house when it's cold.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vAe-living_foodSun, 22 Jul 2018 16:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vAe-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Wg-living_fashionMy first year in Japan I felt like a homeless person, and not only for the two weeks before I got into my apartment. Where I'd been living, on the west coast of the US, clothing is extremely casual compared with the Tokyo area. I also got the majority of my clothing from thrift stores and clothing exchanges because I had been mostly unemployed for a few years (2009-12, after being laid off during the recession). I got the feeling that Japanese people all looked perfect all the time. So tidy, smooth straight hair, all super thin. On time is fifteen minutes early. Plus I felt like a baby in my Japanese ability. Thankfully things were a little more relaxed in the countryside in the west corner of Ibaraki Prefecture. The principal at the school where I worked dressed like a farmer (and was hanging out gardening too) unless he had a meeting. When I visited west Japan, it was even more laid back. People arrive only about five minutes early, or right on time. There are of course still suits and ties, but the requirement to wear them is more relaxed. Instead of a matching suit, it's more like business casual with a jacket a lot of the time. I feel living in this part of Japan suits me so much better than the Kanto region.Even living in the more relaxed part of Japan, I have to remind myself to just relax, especially during the summer. Physically, I just can't maintain the energy to do the same things when it's around body temperature outside. It's not that I need to be told to slow down, I know that now, but I need to stay busy with things I can handle or I'll get restless. I'm the type who can't go on vacation and just relax. I prefer working holidays.As someone with ADHD, migraines, and sometimes mild depression, I have to be extra careful about the balance of busy. Sometimes I need reminders not to compare myself with others. Maybe some of you can relate - I feel so lazy compared with Japanese people! I need to be patient with myself, especially while living abroad and trying to do everything in Japanese. Being far away from friends and family is also a difficult thing.Staying home in the air conditioning and watching videos or reading seems perfect, but I feel too restless if I do that. I feel guilty for not studying or going on an adventure.My workload just got cut in half for the summer vacation, for about six weeks. It's great because I don't have to go out in the heat on my bike as often, but I can't handle staying home all day on my days off.What's your solution for staying just busy enough during summer vacation without melting or getting restless?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Wg-living_fashionSun, 22 Jul 2018 14:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr3Wg-living_fashionhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8n8-living_foodA review of the Horoyoi chu-hai seasonal (summer 2018) flavor, Shio Suika.This one was released along with Hiyashi Pine, reviewed here by genkidesu. Chilled pineapple is one of those things you can find at the summer festival yatai along with a cold beer, so it makes perfect sense. Salted Watermelon is not something I've seen at a festival, but it is a food I've eaten during summer in Japan.And watermelon sounds so good with the crazy hot weather we've been having! But at around 1000 yen for a huge watermelon that won't fit in my fridge, I've only had it when one was sliced up in the staff room at the school I worked at years ago. That was the first time to try salt on watermelon, and I was skeptical at first, but it fits so well.Japan is super big on cooling summer fruits or at least foods flavored like them. It's also popular to add salt to those fruits. Part of it is that the taste is improved; part of it is maintaining your hydration and electrolytes during the summer.The other fruit-salt combinations I've seen are lemon and salt of course, but I had an amazing salt grapefruit Horoyoi last month, and this salty yuzu drink sounds great, if I could only find it here.It's no secret that I like my weak and sweet drinks on occasion. (Or half of one, most of the time.) This was no exception. I hope they will bring this one back every summer. It lists only watermelon, spirits, salt, saccharides, flavor, acidifier, and carbonation as ingredients.The watermelon smell isn't very strong, but the drink most definitely has the taste of watermelon juice. I almost wish it was a stronger watermelon taste. It made me want to eat a real watermelon even more. (I'll get one of those mini ones soon.) The salt flavor isn't strong enough to really notice it, but it makes it too easy to drink. Refreshing is what you want during summer, and that it is.This is the perfect addition to any summer bring-your-own-drink party. (But maybe bring a real watermelon too?)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8n8-living_foodFri, 20 Jul 2018 22:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj8n8-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za5JN-living_foodIce cream for breakfast?! Is this a kids' dream?We made our annual visit to Saga Prefecture and a hotel buffet lunch while we were there. This particular restaurant has a unique dessert option - a freezer full of ice cream bars.The ice cream bars are from the same company that makes Black Mont Blanc (Takeshita) and today they had some options we've never seen before. In addition to the Yame matcha ice cream bar (our favorite), they had "Kore de Choshoku Ice," or "This is Breakfast Ice Cream." Oh really? I was super curious.There are two varieties - first the Banana Milk with Chia Seeds:Visible minimal chia seeds are in the outside coating only. These things remind me of the weird plants (pets?) that were trendy in the 80s but they aren't bad. The outside coating is actually banana flavor. But it's not really, it's like the flavor of banana candy, and even my husband thought that was not a good thing. I was thinking it would have pieces of banana or banana flavored ice cream. It's much more like the drink banana milk, from what I imagine (because I don't drink milk). The inside is just milk flavor ice cream. I tried just a bite of this one and it wasn't my kinda breakfast.Next was the one I really wanted to try out. Granola. This one actually sounds like a western breakfast. Inside is vanilla flavor ice cream with raisins and dried apples. Outside the coating is chocolate covered in granola. Which is almost exactly like the outside coating of a Black Mont Blanc, if you've ever had one of those. In the same way, the granola fell off all over the place. I liked it, but wasn't terribly fond of the random raisins. At first I thought there was chocolate on the inside too, but looked at the package and saw the part about dried apples and raisins. I don't recall tasting any dried apples, just yucky raisins.I don't think eating ice cream bars for breakfast is the actual intention of the makers of these ice creams, or that anyone would do so, but this was a fun experiment. This is the kind of 'breakfast' that could be popular in America, not terribly different from a Pop Tart or cereal bar. It's not a bad idea for unique flavors, but is one of the unique things that we'll only try once.Have you ever seen these in a store? Maybe there are other varieties. What breakfast ice cream varieties would you create?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za5JN-living_foodFri, 20 Jul 2018 20:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/za5JN-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaPq-living_galleries_fukuokaWhy do I enjoy the decay and destruction of manmade things by plants so much? Maybe this is not something I got the chance to see back home, but I love it. Anything that can't move will be taken over by the vines during summer. Sometimes we grow the vines on purpose. Elementary school first graders are growing asagao or morning glory. Adults are growing goya or bitter melon to act as a “green curtain” over south facing windows and reduce cooling costs.The ivy and wire plants gone wild and all the other wild climbing things grow quickly around the rainy season and humid summers. They climb up the wires and light posts. They cover the windows. They slowly eat abandoned houses until they collapse. And somehow, it's beautiful.I feel like this is even more so in southwest Japan or Kyushu. When I lived in Kanto I didn't notice this kind of overgrowth. When I visited Beppu in Kyushu that summer, it looked prehistoric and wild. The steam rising from the onsen added to the effect. I haven't been all over Japan yet, but I love Kyushu.Living in a smaller city with an aging population also means there are more abandoned homes (and bicycles and cars) to be eaten by the vines.I don't even get a chance to take photos of all of the monster plants I see, but I have a growing collection of homes and other things enveloped by wild vines. Sometimes the plants look anthropomorphic – looking into neighbor's windows, with balcony mouths, or growing in the shape of a beard. They jump over to the neighbor house like a fire.Once fall and winter come, the vines change color and die back a little. They're cut down and sprayed with poison. They're removed to make room for new homes.It still seems to me that in the end, the plants will win.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaPq-living_galleries_fukuokaWed, 18 Jul 2018 20:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnaPq-living_galleries_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBgyA-livingSpecifically for US Citizens, as that's what I know, but possibly similar for others.First go to this link to check for your closest US Embassy (Akasaka Tokyo) or Consulate. (Mouseover on Embassy & Consulates on the top right then select for details.) There are only five consulates in Japan, but they're centered around the biggest cities and spread among regions. They're located in Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka/Kobe, Fukuoka, and Naha. Keep in mind that these offices will be closed on both Japanese and US national holidays. Appointments (booked online) are required for passport services and are not always easy to make. There are limited spots available, especially at Consulates.The nice thing about US passport renewal is that it can also be done by mail if it's too far or too much trouble to make an appointment at a consulate. By mail can be faster than going into an office unless you're in the same city, but you'll need additional paperwork and a trip to the post office. The processing time is 3-4 weeks either way.The link for passport services. You'll want to click on renewals if that's what you need, but there's also a link to replace lost or stolen passports.From the renewals page, you'll need to click on 'by mail' or 'in person.' There will be a checklist of everything you will need. You can find the details or links to them on the passport services pages.The quick list:Your current passportProof of ID (US Drivers License for example)A passport photo (check for specifications)A self addressed JP Letterpack for delivery of your new passportThe passport feePayments can be made in US cash in an office, but check if credit cards or yen are accepted at your closest office and have a back up option. If your name on the passport doesn't match your current ID, you'll need proof of a name change too.If renewing by mail, you'll need to fill out a form as well (link to the form on the webpage). You'll need to pay by International money order and there are instructions on the site for how to get one from your post office. Note that the address to put on the money order is different from where you will send the renewal documents to. You'll send the package off to your closest Embassy or Consulate in Japan. Use insured and tracked mail and don't forget to peel off the tracking number before sending the package, like I did.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBgyA-livingTue, 17 Jul 2018 17:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBgyA-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnaro-living_shopping_fashionI'm a little strange in that I'm a woman who doesn't enjoy shopping. I like it to explore for strange things and Engrish and get out of the heat or cold, mostly. When I need something, I tend to just go get it then leave, as long as I'm not distracted and can find what I want quickly.Maybe the annoying greetings are my least favorite part. It's definitely not one of the parts of Japanese culture that I've gotten used to. It drives me crazy that shop staff use the polite high pitched and nasaly voice. (It catches me off guard when I sometimes make polite comments in Japanese with a tiny bit of that in my voice... it becomes unconscious I suppose.)I'm lucky in that things actually fit me better in Japan than back home because I'm of the average height for Japanese women. It took a little time to get used to the measurements and to learn what size I am in the metric system. These days, the clothes for women are quite on the large side too, so I often feel like my size would be too big. I guess I just don't like the current style of flowy oversized clothes. They feel either too bulky or like they're going to slide off. Of course some items are still a challenge for my height, which is strange. For example finding pants that fit the length of my legs is always hard. I find that when I try on any 'cropped pants,' they are about the right length for long pants on me. I'm guessing tons of Japanese women have this problem as well, so maybe they shorten the pants? Maybe it's a proportion problem in that I'm short but not a size xs or small.I wish I could shop online, but I feel a need to touch the fabric and see the actual color before being confident I want to even try anything on. I also find that my age is a little tricky. Clothes are usually marketed to teens and women in their twenties, maybe thirties. Other than that it's something a grandmother would wear. There isn't a lot of clothing marketed towards women in their 40s or even 50s. I end up sticking with my favorite, Mujirushi, for neutral tones, natural fabrics, and not crazy prices for quality basic products.These days I think there is more flexibility for womens' clothing sizes. Do you have any luck with Japanese clothing or are the sizes impossible for you? Do you just wait for visits home to do clothes shopping?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnaro-living_shopping_fashionMon, 16 Jul 2018 14:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnaro-living_shopping_fashionhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ5OY-living_foodIt's important to stay hydrated this time of year, so I always bring my thermos with me, filled with some iced herbal or green tea, or just water. I try to avoid buying anything in vending machines if I can, but it's so fun to check what they have if I'm waiting around for a train or something. I'm an Engrish Hunter, and Engrish is not too hard to find in a vending machine. Sometimes the drinks have super funny Engrish names. Sometimes they're what I'd call “bad idea beverages.”Here's one I spotted the other day called Tough-Man Refresh. I didn't see the Tough-Woman Refresh, but could have used one. At least a Tough-Mam Refresh? It has ginseng in it! Sounds great during the summer when I've got the natsubate. (What's natsubate? Check this out.) I kind of wish ginseng was as ubiquitous here as it is in South Korea.Next is the jelly in a can. This was a first for me. I'm thinking it's a new product? (It's not jelly like what you'd put on toast, it's like kanten jelly, the cold dessert. Something like Jell-o in the US, but not as crazy sweet.) I could only think, eeeewwww. My husband said grape jelly (on the left) didn't sound bad in a can, but the 'Teleets Crush Jelly Vanilla Flavor Coffee Jelly' sounded gross. I could only imagine the cream part would come out first and the coffee jelly part would be left at the end. Plus the part that says, 'creamy sauce?' No, not on my drink. Normally I really like coffee jelly, but no. Not out of a can while waiting on a train platform.Has anyone tried these? Would you try them or is drinking a semi-solid repulsive? I like the tapioca and nato de coco chewy drinks, but the drinkable jelly just isn't appealing.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ5OY-living_foodSat, 14 Jul 2018 21:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ5OY-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbKP0-living_fukuokaNow that the rainy season seems to be over here at least, I'm finally introducing a plant I often see this time of year. I'm not sure if it grows all over Japan, but it seems to be native to Asia in general. The name tsuyukusa literally means "rainy season grass" but I've seen it translated as "dew herb" and "Asiatic dayflower" also. When I first saw the plant I thought it looked familiar, but it wasn't rau ram (also known as Vietnamese coriander) like I thought. It didn't have any strong smell. I read that the plant is used as a medicine and food in China and India, but I've never seen anyone growing it as a food in Japan.The most characteristic thing about the plant is its unique flowers. They are blooming from the rainy season into the summer, but each flower will only stay open for one day. The small flowers are a blue violet and have only two petals, but if you look carefully, there is one smaller white petal at the bottom. The blue petals used to be collected to use for pigment-making for woodblock printing. I've seen preschool students paint with ink made from akajiso, or red shiso, and asagao, or morning glory. It seems like it would be a similar process.Tsuyukusa grows like a weed around here – in vacant lots or on the side of the road. I first saw it growing thickly inside of the runoff and irrigation canals leading to the river. It's a plant I associate with the rainy season and summer in Japan, much like dokudami (known as heart leaf and so many other names), which also grows like a weed everywhere. They are both plants you'll see featured in summertime illustrations, along with hydrangeas of course. Have you seen tsuyukusa growing in your neighborhood?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbKP0-living_fukuokaSat, 14 Jul 2018 21:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbKP0-living_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4Yv-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokaWhy are some places just struggling, while everyone likes the same things that are just okay? I know Japanese people tend to all like the same thing and go to the restaurants that are full of people or where there's a line. I feel like I need to make it my mission to make some places popular, because they seem cooler than the chains for sure. I guess it's all about marketing and word of mouth. In one (week) day, I went to several places that were so crowded on a day trip to Dazaifu. First was the Kyushu National Museum's special exhibit which was hard to walk through and get a glimpse of the art. Then I went to a super crowded Starbucks, for the unique design, not mediocre coffee. I waited in line for the best umegaemochi in town. Later I found this adorable new cafe, Cafe Taniku Club, which was totally empty. I thought the murals covering the walls and tons of potted cacti and succulents were just as unique as the Starbucks design and took even more photos. The whole place was full of character and cuteness, but it wasn't on the main touristy street, so no one noticed maybe. I had to go in and look around, even though I didn't have time to stay for a drink. The menu was things like sweet pancakes and coffee. Some items were even displayed on a signboard outside with a discounted price to bring in customers. It wasn't lunchtime or anything, but cafes are usually crowded in the afternoon. I kinda felt bad for the owner because I could tell she had worked so hard on the place. She said she opened six months ago. It's open for ten hours a day. I imagine she's there the whole time waiting for someone to come in.There are tons of creatively potted cacti and succulents for sale. You can even choose a hand painted pot and the succulents you want to plant in it. I couldn't stop saying it was Super Cute. I recommend Cafe Taniku Club instead of the crowded chain cafes on the main road!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4Yv-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokaThu, 12 Jul 2018 22:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GR4Yv-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY7XL-living_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokaI had most of the day free yesterday and it was supposed to be 35 degrees again, so I thought finally visiting the Kyushu National Museum sounded nice.I had been through the rainbow tunnel (the lighting gradually changes colors) before, but never went into the building. It looked beautiful from the outside, like a mirror reflecting the lush trees surrounding the space. When I checked online, I found they have English, Korean, and Chinese versions of their website. It showed prices for different exhibitions and everything on the first floor is free: a tiny cafe, an interactive exhibit which is perfect for kids, and a gift shop.I visited for the Buhrle Collection special exhibit because it was ending soon. A couple of my students had mentioned wanting to go or going. It's supposed to be the last chance to see Monet's Water Lillies in Japan, along with the collection of mostly impressionist art.Unfortunately the exhibit was super crowded, even on a weekday, as it is the last week it's open. I kind of went through quickly and mostly checked the pieces I'm interested in. I recognized a lot of pieces I had studied about before. There were only two by Picasso, but a nice collection of Van Gogh's work. It's so dark in person. Museums are sort of visually overwhelming for me so I can't take in everything most of the time.Special Exhibition tickets included the Cultural Exchange Exhibition. At that time the cultural exchange exhibition had just opened the “Feature Exhibition: Thousand-armed Kannon (Sahasrabhuja) and Followers in Ninnaji Temple” in room 11 until early September. Normally these are on display at the temple in Kyoto. There was way too much to see - a lot of National Treasures and historical pieces from Asia.There is also the SP Hi-Vision Theater with 8K resolution video on a 320 inch screen. It made things look more real than real life. They showed a short film about Okinoshima and it was in Japanese. I didn't realize until later that I could have asked for a headset that can play the audio in other languages. Audio Guides are available for free, but I didn't take one because I wanted to see the exhibits quickly to leave time for the first floor.Last but not least, I got back to the first floor. The interactive exhibit is called Ajippa. Set up for families to enjoy, it looks like an old market showcasing the countries which had a big influence on Japan – as neighbors or traders. There are interactive activities and traditional instruments you can try playing. This space is a lot smaller than the other exhibits and it wasn't crowded, so I liked it the best.One really special thing about the museum is that people with disabilities can enter for free, including one caretaker. There is an access tunnel to the main entrance which will lift anyone in a wheelchair or who has trouble using stairs or walking up an incline. In addition to the lift and stairs, there is also a winding path you can use if that's easier. The museum is fully equipped with elevators and wheelchair accessible restrooms, which is not a given in Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY7XL-living_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokaThu, 12 Jul 2018 21:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY7XL-living_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORWX-livingWhat's so different about keishi gomu (erasers) in Japan?I'm used to a pink eraser at the end of "number 2" pencils back home and that's it. Maybe the extra knobby eraser you can add to a pencil when you've used up the eraser it came with. Sometimes fun character erasers as party favors, but they never work well. Sometimes those old school pink erasers or the kneaded ones special for drawing classes are also spotted.*Side note * In elementary school, I was OBSESSED with the pencil dispenser in the school library where we could buy two random pencils (with erasers attached) for 25 cents I think. I collected way too many sparkly and colorful pencils until my parents made me stop.In Japan, there usually aren't erasers at the end of pencils.Erasers are attached to only mechanical pencils, but are super tiny (to match the fine lines of the pencil) and can be replaced when they are used up. We can buy little packs of the tiny cylinders that fit perfectly into the back of mechanical pencils.There are really functional and affordable erasers which can be bought in several sizes in Japan, from white to black, rectangular cubes to cute 3-D animal shapes. My favorite might be the erasers that are shaped like a pencil so they always have the ability to erase just a small space. Currently I have a Rilakuma design white block eraser, a backup mono eraser, a strawberry shaped eraser, and a poop-shaped cylinder eraser.Some kids collect the cute erasers, and I don't blame them. Even at 100 yen shops, sets of erasers that look like sushi or traditional sweets are available. They're more like toys than a functional school supply. I also understand not wanting to use them because they're too cute to ruin.The tiny erasers in the picture above are so colorful they look like candy and need to be labeled so kids (adults?) don't try eating them. They're so cute I wouldn't mind getting one of each. But I'll restrain myself.Japan even has erasable pens in a variety of colors and point sizes. (I'm exclusively using Pilot Frixion .5 pens because I often make spelling errors.)What are your favorite erasers to use?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORWX-livingThu, 12 Jul 2018 11:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORWX-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj871-living_foodIs it super strange that some of the foods I miss in Japan are vegetables?Japan is known for having healthy food, but there are some veggies I'm used to being able to find just missing from the local yaoya. I don't understand why they haven't caught on in Japan.BeetsI was able to order some fresh beetroots on Amazon which are grown in Nagano Prefecture. They are probably mostly produced for their juice or use as a natural food coloring in Japan. Beets aren't so different from Japanese white radishes called kabu, but the flavor is much sweeter and earthier. When I mentioned I can't find beets, my students didn't really get what they are. I brought some seeds over and the seedlings didn't get enough sun I think. They never got past little leggy sprouts. The sprouts tasted good anyway. I'm gonna try again in fall.I recently saw some peeled and packaged baby beets in an Aeon group store called Max Value, imported from New Zealand. I guess that's not a bad option if you want to make soup with beets. I do like using the greens as well, and they're also really healthy.KaleKale is a healthy vegetable that I would think Japanese people would eat. I've only seen kale included in aojiruor green juices. It's really popular as a fresh vegetable back home, used for salads, frying, and even in homemade smoothies. Decorative kale is a popular garden plant during winter, and I would think it looked delicious every time I saw it my first year in Japan. Sometimes I see chard or other similar leafy greens with various names that aren't familiar. Maybe I'll totally miss komatsuna when I leave Japan?Oh, I also tried growing kale. It was sort of sad compared with supermarket versions, but I put some in soups from time to time.Romaine LettuceI think I saw it once in a supermarket. I wasn't going home for hours and didn't even buy it. Every once in a while I see something almost the same called sanchu, which is like a wonderful Korean version of romaine. I really miss the American style Caesar salads here, so if I can find sanchu, I make my own dressing. It's also awesome with a Korean style dressing of course.I used to miss cilantro but now I know where to find it. It's much more rare and expensive in Japan than in southern California, where I'd buy a big bunch for the equivalent of 50 yen on a regular basis.What veggies do you wish you could find in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj871-living_foodMon, 09 Jul 2018 20:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wj871-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vEA-livingAfter the rain stopped, in one of the higher parts of the river. This is the small river. It overflowed in several places a little. The big river flooded the north part of the city too.You've probably heard the news and had some heavy (or big) rain where you live as well. We had some heavy rain (as usual for the rainy season in Kyushu) and even some flooding in our city. It's not unusual for train lines in this region to be blocked by water or mud and have closures or delays in the schedule. In fact, mudslides are a big problem in rural areas that get heavy rain. This time I feel lucky the damage was no problem in our neighborhood and not terrible in our city. Especially after seeing photos of the Osaka area, right after they had an earthquake too.Last year one of the nearby towns had heavy flooding and mudslides that caused deaths and displacement of a lot of people. I heard a long siren on July 5th and didn't know what it meant. I thought it may be an evacuation notice because of the heavy rain. (We sometimes hear shorter sirens that signal volunteer firefighters that there is a fire. It was pouring so I didn't think a fire was the reason.) Looking it up online didn't really help and I didn't have an evacuation notice on my phone or anything.After talking with a couple students later that day, one said she was also confused about that siren and was scared that North Korea had shot a missile. She was working in a school at that time and heard that the one minute long siren was to remember (close your eyes and pray for) the people in Asakura last year. My other student said every year the city hall does the same thing to remember the atomic bombs that hit Hiroshima at 8:15 on August 6th and Nagasaki at 11:02 on August 9th. It's a little odd to me, coming from a country who remembers unfortunate events with 'a moment of silence.' We wondered why there was no reminder to remember the earthquake in Kumamoto two years ago, then I remembered that it woke us up in the middle of the night. I don't think we need to remember that at the accurate time.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vEA-livingSun, 08 Jul 2018 23:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7vEA-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnam4-living_foodThis isn't something we really have back home. If you go to a buffet restaurant, it can be set up that way with the meal or for an additional price, but there is usually an expectation to leave after eating.In Japan, you could sit in a family restaurant all day if you feel like it, and no one will really bother you. You might see a businessman reading the paper and students 'studying' (chatting, mostly). I don't know why, but the idea of sitting in a family restaurant and binging on coffee and tea for a few hours is so perfect for thinking time. I can't sit still and focus for long if I try this at home. If the restaurant is noisy or smoky, this doesn't work out for me. The fact that the quality of the coffee is mediocre doesn't matter. The soft drinks are mostly irrelevant. The tea is great but I usually stick with black coffee and the occasional fancy coffee if they have them, but in moderation - to avoid drinking milk mostly. I like to bring something to write with, a notebook, and a sketchbook. I'll go when I have two or three hours between lessons and space out, plan out some ideas or lessons, and schedule in some tasks. If I go to a Joyfull in the morning, I can get breakfast and drink bar for around 500 yen. For lunch it's a little more for most meals since they've changed the menu. Of course there's the option for just drink bar (around 300 yen), drink bar with soup bar, or a simple set of rice, soup, salad, and drink bar. The food isn't why I go. Most of it is just decent. I love beverages. Beverages with calories work too if I'm hungry. I like the super fancy drink bars at restaurants like Baby Face Planets. There are lots of herbal and flavored teas, vegetable juice, fresh iced teas, and fancy juice in addition to the usual coffee machines. It's more expensive, but if you get the drink bar with guava, mango, and pineapple juice included, it's so yummy! It's not watered down or fake stuff and it's a big glass of juice. The problem with that is that it's hard to have more than two glasses of it without becoming full.I think ideally, I'd do this almost every week or once a month at least. In reality, it happens 3-4 times a year. Usually I wander around a supermarket, go to a convenience store, or bring a lunch to a park when I have a long lunch break. It's almost in the same price range to get to sit down and have something to drink vs. buying lunch at a convenience store. I kind of hate standing outside of a convenience store and eating. Sometimes I forget and it takes a rainy or hot day to remind me to find a place to sit and take a break. Going to a cafe for one drink is usually the same price as drink bar too, so if you need a lot of caffeine, it's cheaper. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnam4-living_foodSun, 08 Jul 2018 23:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mnam4-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORRQ-livingIt seems to be known around the world that Starbucks offers free wi-fi at their locations. You can log in with Facebook or Gmail and it connects easily. A couple years ago we had to go to one of two Starbucks in town for the wi-fi until ours was set up. Now it seems to be catching on. Train stations, Tully's, Joyfull, Gusto, and several other places in our city have started offering free wi-fi. They're closer and less crowded so that was helpful when we changed our internet provider and had a gap without internet at home early this year. I've had limited success getting the Travel Japan wi-fi app to work .I wish our libraries were connected, but sadly they aren't at this point. Is the library where you live an option?If you have a free (unlimited) data plan for your smartphone, this probably isn't a concern. It might only be useful for when you're setting up internet for your place. For visitors, information on where to find free wi-fi might be invaluable. I have a haunch that Japan is getting wired in preparation for the 2020 Olympics, to convenience the huge number of tourists who are likely to need the internet to help. With maps, translation apps, sharing photos and videos, or just checking your email or chats, free wi-fi will help out those who don't want to borrow a SIM card or pay extra for roaming fees. The expense of visiting Japan is already high, so if you can get online at your accommodation plus at several hotspots outside, it might be okay to skip spending more to get connected.Plus a recent discovery is that 7Spot at every 7-11 is free!It seems that it's been available for years, but used to require registration. Now it's super easy to connect and there's no need to register on the Japanese interface. I'm not sure how long this has been going on, but I only figured it out in June. A couple weeks later I was sitting in a restaurant across the street from a 7-11 and the wi-fi worked from there. (This might be a good strategy to avoid setting up wi-fi at home if you live near a 7-11? )Where are your favorite hotspots in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORRQ-livingFri, 06 Jul 2018 21:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GORRQ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G099O-living_fukuokaI don't think I noticed them while riding through the rice fields in Saitama Prefecture, but I notice them every year here in Fukuoka Prefecture.Can you see the pink / red-orange spot on these rice plant babies?They kind of look like raspberries from a distance, and I see them on rice plants or on the side of canal or rice field walls during the rainy season.I thought they were frog eggs. Today I had a strange memory of going on fishing trips with my family as a kid and using something pink-orange as bait that looked sort of like that. It was salmon eggs though, and these are definitely not salmon eggs.I looked up frog eggs, but all of the images I found and articles I saw said frog eggs are laid in a chain, not in a cluster, and they are white or transparent. Not frog eggs.So what are they then?For a minute I thought they were cricket eggs or tadpole shrimp eggs, but that wasn't right either.They're the eggs of the 'golden apple snail,' surprisingly.They're a type of snail from South America introduced to Japan as a potential food. It turns out they ended up becoming rice farming pests instead. The snails eat the young rice plants and can take out half a field overnight. They can't get through the leaves once the plants are mature enough.There is a series of steps rice farmers have to go through to try to keep the number of snails down. The way the rice is planted as a young plant rather than as a seed, the level of water, the speed in planting after filling the fields with water, are all part of the prevention strategy. You might see ducks in rice fields sometimes, and that's because they love to eat snails and slugs. It all makes sense now.Can you see these snail eggs where you live too? Did you know what they were?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G099O-living_fukuokaFri, 06 Jul 2018 21:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G099O-living_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1BA6-living_foodThank you Royal Host, for your garlic toast. An obviously green garlic pesto sauce is spread on the toast, and is so lovely. Super salty and oily, it tastes like garlic bread from back home. The biggest difference is the portion size.There are foods in Japan that I've completely given up on. For example “Caesar salad” that doesn't use romaine lettuce. You're doing it wrong. Wikipedia said it's made with romaine.There's sometimes confusion about where garlic bread and Caesar salad are even from. Italy right? Nope, they're American. So I think it's okay if I say they're doing it wrong.It seems the foreign foods in Japan are just prepared differently than foods in the US. Sometimes the Japanese version is healthier, uses more readily available ingredients, or is different but still yummy. Sometimes I disagree that it is even the food that they call it.I can say the same exact thing for the “Japanese food” in the US. Almost always, they're doing it wrong. (I refuse to eat at most Japanese restaurants there because they think the only thing we eat in Japan is sushi. They also love to feature makizushi with rice on the outside, cream cheese, and avocados. I mean I love avocado, but that's some Bourgeoisie sushi.)In a lot of ways, it's fun to try the Japanese version of Thai food for example. Or the Hong Kong version of Thai food, as opposed to the US version – but only because I haven't been to Thailand yet to try the real thing. Once I do, I might feel like our imitations are horrible.What food from your country does Japan not usually get right?*Please share with me if you know a restaurant in Japan that gets Caesar salad right. I can almost never find romaine lettuce, so growing that and making my own seems to be the best option. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1BA6-living_foodThu, 05 Jul 2018 13:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1BA6-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glpkb-living_transportationIshibashi Mansion, seen from the 20th floor of Kurume City HallI've heard that while living in Japan, you should go out every day in spring and fall. This of course depends on where you live - where I lived before had a spring and fall of approximately two weeks a piece.In some areas, winter or summer will be more mild (I'm looking at you, Okinawa and Hokkaido prefectures), or the seasons will be more balanced. Of course, when it's freezing, or super rainy or stormy, or freakishly hot and humid, we prefer to stay cozy at home.I don't know about you, but I have a long list of places I want to visit, and some of them are in my region or in the same city. There are plenty of places I still haven't been that are close to home, and visiting those places would be appropriate for day trips.I also kind of hate staying home all day when the weather is nice. But I get lazy about doing anything quickly, like deciding what to do and how to get there without wasting half the day getting distracted while researching. I'm not good at making plans.I started to prepare outings in advance for the unexpected days off (that aren't typhoon days). Of course it also works when I know I have a day off and wanna get outside without much effort.I still have a lot more outings to plan when I have the motivation, but here's what I usually plan out, in three steps.1. Norikae for when you'll need to leave and come back if by public transportation (more so if you're going to or live in a rural area). I like this app / site but it's all in Japanese. Most people use some other app that lets you do everything in English. For some reason, I never liked that.2. Check the location's open dates and hours first, and make sure you don't need a reservation (like the Ghibli museum). Sometimes there isn't a website showing this info and you take one of two buses a day to get to a restaurant which is closed that day. Time to just go with it and explore something else.3. Also check the budget for round trip transportation and entrance to anything that isn't free. Set a budget for what you expect to spend on food and souvenirs. Make sure that budget is not going to be a problem before you decide to go there. Pack a lunch and/or skip souvenirs if you need to.Bonus Tip: If this information is neatly recorded somewhere convenient for you (on the phone or in a file, sometimes with flyers or tickets attached), it will be so much easier to go for it. I don't know when I'm leaving Japan, but I want to experience everything that looks interesting while I can. I don't want to be disappointed in all the times I was too lazy and stayed home or in town instead of having an adventure.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glpkb-living_transportationWed, 04 Jul 2018 23:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glpkb-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD069-livingI heard about these steam eye masks on some vlog and was curious. I've actually never seen them in the drugstore nearby and never seen anyone buying them, but the vlog assured viewers that they're the most popular 'beauty / health' item and they're wonderful after working at a computer for too long. Do you know about these? Are they really that great?On a trip to the local Don Quijote, I saw some and reluctantly paid around 1000 yen for a pack of 14 lavender scented eye masks. I thought they might be useful for those nights when I can't fall asleep because there's too much on my mind or when I have a migraine. I'm not planning on a long flight soon, but it sounds like they might help for sleeping on an airplane too.The photos make the people look so blissed out to be using the eye masks. Packaging says they get up to 40 degrees Celsius and give you about 10 minutes of heat. I thought it sort of sounds like a hokairo but with an herbal scent and in an eye mask shape.The idea is to imitate a hot moist towel, which is supposed to be used to relieve tired eyes. The masks are individually packaged inside the box and are super thin, so you could easily put one in your pocket or bag for a flight or long train trip.Because I thought they'd help with falling asleep, I decided my husband and I would try them out at bedtime. I had a migraine and couldn't even settle down for a nap and he had a lot going on with an upcoming business trip, so it was good timing. Maybe. It's July, so that 40 degrees doesn't actually sound that great. They might be better during winter. Anyway, the results... I wonder if I'll become a believer and bring them as gifts to friends back home.The verdict: meh.For that price I won't be buying them again, but I will say, we both fell asleep quickly (maybe from exhaustion?) and slept soundly, with the cooled masks cast off in our sleep. We both felt like they were awkward to put on without being able to see. The scent was really strong and also seemed to have a lemon smell in addition to lavender. They heat up immediately after opening the packs, and the ten minutes went so fast. I kind of wish they worked for a few hours.I think lavender aromatherapy oil might be just as effective at a fraction of the cost, but there is also actually heating a towel if we really need the 'hot moist towel' method. I guess if you didn't want to or couldn't mess with a hot towel while away from home, these could be convenient. Maybe the next time we try the masks will be when we want to sleep on a flight. Did I make you curious to try these out?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD069-livingWed, 04 Jul 2018 22:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zD069-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZBe-living_foodCrazy limited edition flavors in Japan are not new to me. Not even the Doritos versions I've seen, like salt and pepper BBQ or sour umeboshi. I'm not sure if "Tacos" flavor is a real flavor in the US, but I imagine it could be. I only remember Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch.This limited time special flavor is a promotional flavor for Jurassic World so it has a scary velociraptor on it, yay. (Yes, I had to look up how to spell that.) At first when I saw the word "BLUE" and saw the picture, I thought it was blue corn tortilla chips. These aren't very unusual back home, but here in Japan (other than Doritos), tortilla chips are rare in general. Sometimes that sounds really good with some guacamole, but plain tortilla chips are no where to be found. By the way, these aren't made with blue corn. It's food coloring.Under the word blue, it says, 'wild meat flavor.' Whoa! Dinosaur flavored chips!A quick check of the ingredients list was disappointing. I don't think that dinosaur tasted like pork. Not even wild boar(inoshishi). Probably more like chicken.Anyway, I took a pass on these, even at 55 yen for a small bag. The blue food coloring scares me a little. Is it because dinosaurs were blue? Or dinosaur meat was blue?There are way too many of these weird limited edition snacks in Japan to try them all. I'm always tempted to, but sort of limit it to the flavors or snacks that I'm sure I like. Weird snacks are so perfect for an easy way to please any kids you might visit on a trip back home. Especially Star Wars and Jurassic World promotional stuff. So if you have nieces and nephews or young siblings back home, I recommend this sort of thing. Cheaper than traditional omiyage, light, and a flavor that won't be too scary. (Just say it's made with velociraptor meat. Because we eat that in Japan.)Don't open that bag -the dinosaur will escape!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZBe-living_foodTue, 03 Jul 2018 17:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G6ZBe-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Qjb-livingThe rainy season and summer storms in Japan are shown by cute illustrations of snails, frogs, raindrops, hydrangeas, umbrellas, and rain boots on everything. Maybe that's Japan's way of being optimistic about an uncomfortably hot and humid season.Here are my Rainy Day Positives and NegativesPositivesThe rain relieves some humidity. The clouds make June mostly cool compared with the sunny and humid days during July and August. After a good rain, the humidity lets up a little, for a while at least.Don't need to water the plants and I actually get scared they'll get too much water during storms. The balcony is covered, but if the wind is going the right way, the windows get washed and the plants get watered. The plants seem to like rain water way more than tap water too.The rain makes everything super green. I love the lush green spring and summer landscapes here in Kyushu. The rivers also fill up and it's interesting to walk along the river path near where we live.Summer storms are a little fun. The kid in me sort of enjoys watching pouring huge raindrops and listening to the thunder. (That is if I get to stay at home. And if the loud rain and / or thunder isn't interrupting my sleep.)It's a good excuse to stay at home and read or get other things done. And it's not usually rainy all day. I often find the night and morning are the most humid times here, so I get out after it cools down in the evening if I can.NegativesWe still have to go out when it's pouring sometimes, even when we don't drive. This is one of the times I sometimes rationalize taking the bus, if it's a convenient time to go by bus. It's usually easier to grab my umbrella and put on my rain boots or wear a kappa and ride a bike. I think it's sort of hilarious and pointless to go out when it's dumping 30+ mm an hour rain, but it doesn't usually last that long so it can be worth it to go early or wait until it lets up. When I have to go out, there's no getting around it and I sort of pout and get in a bad mood when I know I'm about to get drenched.We need to be prepared for the spontaneous storm. It's best to always have an umbrella or towel and be prepared to take cover in the event of a sudden downpour. It's fun as long as you aren't on the way to work and trying to look professional. I tend to look more homeless and grumpy on rainy days when I'm out trying to get to work without getting too wet.Crazy humidity. It's just uncomfortable. I feel grumpy most of the summer season for lack of sleep and alternating between air conditioned indoors and humid outdoors. We are of the keeping the windows open all the time home, rather than using the air all the time. We do use it for the afternoon during the days that get up around 35 degrees. I think this summer we might use it more often, for our sanity, but haven't turned it on yet as of July 2nd.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Qjb-livingMon, 02 Jul 2018 11:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Qjb-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjpee-living_shoppingHave you noticed? At the hair salon, a restaurant, or at school, there is a place to put your stuff.In addition to shoe lockers for some establishments, there are umbrella stands at the entrance to most buildings in Japan. The genkan, or entrance room, is a wonderful transformation space to change shoes and take off rain jackets or coats. This is a welcome designated space as I grew up taking my shoes off at home, but there wasn't a space to neatly store shoes near the door.When you go to any service type location, there will usually be a small cupboard or a basket to put a bag into so it doesn't need to be directly placed on the ground. During winter this is especially helpful for all of the coats, mittens, hats, and scarves that don't need to be worn inside. If there isn't a basket, an empty chair is often used, or sometimes women carry a special hook to hang their purses under a table. This is something else I've never seen back home, even at fancy places! I think we could learn from this kind gesture. I remember awkwardly hanging things on the backs of chairs most of the time.I thought this looked like something out of a tiny house tour or smart storage for utilizing unused space in a car. It's a fancy under bench seat storage area for any belongings, conveniently used in a mall restaurant – in case you have already done some shopping. The chairs in the same restaurant had a great design with a platform below the seat where a bag could be kept. Some shopping malls also provide free storage lockers for your items, and some of these are even refrigerated. Of course paid storage lockers are sometimes available in busy stations which is convenient for those traveling but not checking into hotels.This is a way better solution than keeping a shopping cart with you while you try to sit down and eat after shopping. Even small Japanese shopping carts take up all the isle space and drive me crazy.It took a little practice for me to notice the baskets and shoe lockers, but the culture in Japan seems to be that there is a proper place for everything, most of the time. I wonder if this will catch on elsewhere, as the lonely umbrella stand and coat rack don't really work for shopping bags.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjpee-living_shoppingSun, 01 Jul 2018 13:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjpee-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MvP1V-livingFor those who have been wanting to visit Japan for a long time, the first visit can be magical, but it can also have its disappointments. Here are some of my memories from my first visit (which was eleven years ago).GreenLanding at Narita Airport, my first impression of Japan was that there were lush green hills, with bamboo and conifers thickly growing. (In another article, I'll comment more on my obsession with the greenery eventually taking over any inanimate objects.) I didn't see this as a huge difference from living in Oregon, US, but it was a huge difference from living in Southern California where the plants look brown and dead most of the time.OrganizationArriving at the crowded airport was inviting and crowded, but well organized. I didn't remember having any issues with the language difference despite my limited ability. Now the airport is redesigned with the 2020 Olympics in mind, but at that time there were still payphones in the lobby. ConfusionI mean a lot of confusion and a super quick acceptance that I didn't know what was going on 90% of the time. But I was in Japan! There was so much asking for help. And apologizing. There was also lots of giving gifts to everyone who helped us out. We had a few friends in Tokyo who helped us so much. From hosting us in their homes to inviting us to go sightseeing, it made the experience a lot more special than staying in a hotel would have been.ShoesThe first day we walked past shoe lockers at the entrance of an onsen and at the check in desk were politely asked to take our shoes off. Silly foreigners.MoneyI believed my grandpa when he told me I wouldn't be able to use a Debit Card. I don't blame him, but I should have known better. I didn't bring it and couldn't get cash at an ATM the whole time I was in Japan. I had to pay with a credit card (not set up with a pin for cashback) and borrow money from my friend the whole time. Not that many places accepted credit cards and back then most people paid cash for everything. DesignI've always loved Japanese design and knew I'd be blown away by all the cute. I took lots of pictures of architecture and scenery. I don't think I had a digital camera yet and I definitely didn't have a cellphone. My eyes were wide open and took in all the new sights.LeavingI was so sad to go, but knew I'd be back. There's something about Japan for me and I'm guessing most of you have a strange place in your heart for the country as well.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MvP1V-livingSun, 01 Jul 2018 00:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MvP1V-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1A9V-livingI still get weirded out by people leaving their phones and wallets on the table in restaurants while they use the washroom or get food.When my husband told me he had left his laptop on a table to use the washroom in a family restaurant, I felt uncomfortable. He uses his laptop for work and would be devastated if anyone took it. If he did the same thing in the US, it would take five minutes at most for someone to run out with it.This is probably the number one great thing about living in Japan - we don't have to worry about pickpockets or cars being stolen. I don't recommend leaving your belongings on a table if you're leaving for more than a minute, but you're not likely to have anything stolen in Japan. People often leave their bags to hold their spot in a crowded place.I really appreciate this aspect of Japanese culture. I haven't seen much evidence of it changing, but I think Japanese people don't generally want something that belonged to someone else.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1A9V-livingWed, 27 Jun 2018 20:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1A9V-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glkl2-living_medical_healthThere's no shortage of choices for vitamin drinks in Japan. I think a lot of foreigners don't bother with them, but at the same time, we wonder how Japanese people can work so hard and never take a sick day.I think it's the weather changing so often between seasons, but I keep getting headaches and sore throats and feeling like I'm catching a cold off and on. I feel like my lymph nodes are sore, plus this weekend I have a special work event, so I really can't get sick. Because I often feel tired by the end of the week and have a busy day on Fridays, I got an “Oronamin C Drink” for Friday morning. It was just 74 yen at a supermarket, at the low cost end of the vitamin drinks (top left in the photo). Most vitamin drinks usually contain caffeine (or something similar), so I didn't want to drink one in the evening. After my usual cup of morning coffee, I drank the little bottle of sweet but sort of vitamin-tasting juice. I wasn't feeling tired in the morning somehow, despite not getting a very good night's sleep. The Vitamin B and caffeine in the drink wasn't gonna hurt my energy level once the lack of sleep caught up with me.I felt a lot more energetic than usual for the morning, but also more focused than usual, even if I take a multi-vitamin.Work went by quickly and easily in the morning with only a little trouble focusing during an unexpected planning meeting. After lunchtime I got ready for the afternoon's work. Usually I don't feel like going out again when I can come home for a break, but I was actually ready to go early and didn't feel like I wished I could stay home and relax instead. Work went smoothly again and felt fun and effective, which is my goal. After getting home I got straight to some follow up work and actually noticed the time to stop and prep dinner at the right time. It was around dinner time that I started to feel sleepy. The too much caffeine, can't really relax, wide eyed version of me went away. It was a little while later that I got a headache and had no motivation to go out for a walk. In fact, going to bed way too early sounded great. I think the effects of this vitamin drink lasted around 8-9 hours, so maybe it's perfect when you aren't feeling well and just need to get through a work day. I wouldn't recommend drinking these on a regular basis, but when I feel like I might be catching a cold, it sounds good to pick up a couple of these in case I would otherwise be missing work. In the case of fevers or the flu, I'm not sure they would be as effective, but for flip flopping weather or feeling worn out, it was perfect.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glkl2-living_medical_healthSun, 24 Jun 2018 17:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Glkl2-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPX2-living_foodThis limited time "every day refreshing acerola" flavored sour by Suntory caught my eye with its fun illustrations. No purine (if you're looking to avoid any uric acid), 50% off saccharides, and 5% alcohol content.Contains citric acid, plus acerola is known for its vitamin C superpower. A little more expensive than the Suntory Horoyoi at around 140 yen a can.It's a little funny when alcohol pretends to be healthy, but I like it in theory, if there are no fake sugars involved and the taste is still good. In fact I usually love the sours that have real juice and less sugar in them. Healthy enough for 'every day?' Probably not for me.I remember not even knowing what acerola was about ten years ago. I thought it was some kind of cherry and left it at that. Now that I've tried it and know it's a great source of vitamin C, sometimes I'll buy the juice when I need some C in my life.This sour was a similar taste to the juice, which I think is too sweet, but less sweet. It tastes like a lighter carbonated acerola juice with alcohol, which was super mild for 5% because I didn't notice it. As expected, it was really refreshing and fun to try. I wouldn't mind if they had this all the time.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPX2-living_foodWed, 20 Jun 2018 20:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPX2-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdJLk-living_foodMy favorite dagashi (cheap candy) is Apollo... which I only treat myself to from time to time. Of course, these fancy heart-shaped giant Apollos are individually wrapped in a box that makes it look like you're gonna get way more. There are only seven giant Apollos inside the box, which costs around 170 yen. The heart shape is cute and everything, but am I even gonna notice or look at that? I just wanna eat the yummy strong flavored strawberry and chocolate candy. Even though the flavor isn't as yummy as these 'deep flavor', there's more value in the little boxes of the original candy for around 100 yen.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdJLk-living_foodFri, 15 Jun 2018 21:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdJLk-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1Ayj-living_howtoI don't mean those fun photos you take with friends in arcades that can be printed as teeny stickers, sorry.If you've been in Japan for more than a week, you'll know you need recent 3 x 4 cm photos for so many things. First the residence / zairyu card, maybe the resume, then the visa renewal later for the new ID card. If you haven't arrived yet, here's what to expect when you live in Japan.Maybe you're using a smartphone app to take your own photos and print them in the nearest convenience store. I find it's tough to get good lighting when taking the photo myself. There's also the problem that one shoulder is obvously higher while taking a selfie, and finding someone to take a good photo isn't always easy. If you're not taking your own, you can find one of these photo booth machines in random places all over the country. If you want to print them before moving to Japan, just be aware that the size and / or backgrounds may not be what they're looking for in Japan. Look for this: shomei shashinThe shomei shashin or resume photo comes in a few sizes, but the smallest, 3 x 4 cm is common. Always check what size you need before stopping by your local booth. You'll usually get at least four copies of the small size, sometimes seven or eight. They should have the date printed on them so you know if they are recent enough the next time you need a photo. Most departments require three or six months new photos, with a white or light colored background, looking straight at the camera, and not wearing sunglasses or a hat. I always take off my glasses for good measure. I get the idea that one should not smile in these photos. Or rather show any emotion at all. Wearing a nice shirt is recommended.The PriceThe set of photos will cost you from 500-1000 yen depending on size of city and proximity to a station. Some booths will offer 'kira kira' effects to make you 'more beautiful' for an extra fee, but that's not exactly what we're going for on the resume. Considering that printing your own is under 100 yen, it isn't the absolute cheapest way to go, but if it takes you up to an hour to get a good photo on your own, the photo booth is more convenient.The MachineStep inside, you'll probably be greeted and asked to put money into the coin / bill slot to get started. If there is a language option (sometimes shown as available on the outside for easy reference, like in the photo), choose that to keep things simple. Make sure you close the curtain to block out any strange lights (or people staring at you). The machine I use has a stool which can be spun to adjust the height. There are buttons to adjust both your size and position: up or big and down or small. The up and down is mostly just for selection of language and size as the stool should work well enough for your position. There's also a selection button marked 決定 (kettei)or decision. There's another big button for taking the photo. Images will show on the screen to guide you about which buttons to use. That's about it.The ProcessAfter adjusting the height of your stool so your eyes are level with the marks shown, you can sit down and add your money. This is where the language selection should be. Down to select and press the 'decision' button. Next you will choose the size, same thing. There will be a couple of horizontal lines to center your head between. This is where you can use the big / small buttons to fit your head into that space on the screen. Also check to make sure you're centered in the screen vertically. Once things seem right, there will be a prompt to click the green button to take your photo. This is where there can be some differences between machines. It's possible to get a decent shot on your first try, but sometimes we blink or just don't like the shot. Most machines will give you at least two tries and let you choose the better photo. The reason I like the machine I use is not only that it's the cheapest I've seen, but also it lets you take pictures forever until you like one (but has no option to compare between photos).After taking your photo, most machines will let you take one or two more and compare, then select the shot you want to print. The machine I use just prints the photo if you don't take another one within 30 seconds or something.You'll pick up your photo from the outside of the machine. They print super fast, usually less than 30 seconds later.You're set! But the photos will be on one card, and you'll need to cut them out for using them. I recommend using a papercutter for this if possible, rather than scissors. I also recommend bringing something with you (like a file or big envelope) to keep the photo safe and flat.Happy residence card getting and job applying!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1Ayj-living_howtoThu, 14 Jun 2018 20:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1Ayj-living_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gypbb-living_galleries_fukuoka_oitaI'm really not sure when it started, but the first town I lived in after moving to Japan wasn't full of cats. I saw some, but usually only briefly before they ran away. Maybe it was during the summer that first year, when the cats became too hot and sleepy to run away, that I started snapping their photos. It was probably first in Beppu during summer vacation that I developed any true collection of cat photos, although I have a few from previous visits to Japan.There were so many that I started a photo blog of the cat photos, primarily cats here in Kyushu, although I haven't been managing that much these days. Now I sometimes put them on my Instagram account (@hello.alissa) along with the Engrish photos and random seasonal and landscape pictures in Japan.I studied film photography in school, so even though these are almost all digital snapshots, I wish they were perfectly lit and cropped portraits of the cats in a beautiful Japanese setting. I chose some of my favorites to share in the gallery.I hope you enjoy these cat-napping, lazy cat days of summer, curious cat photos.Unless otherwise noted, photos are taken in Kurume, Fukuoka. Photo pictured above: Staying warm in a tiny shrine, somewhere in Kyoto maybe?In the gallery: Catnap in the shade at a temple in Osaka, taken with a film Lomo camera; behind a stone fence in Beppu, Oita; enjoying hanami at a park; a cat gang who also like to ride bikes; enjoying the hydrangeas from a tree; gobbling up maguro handouts from the sushi chef preparing to open shop; an unusually warm February day in the garden; cats who live in the cycle park; waiting outside the shop in Ishigaki, Okinawa; hiding from the rain; near fallen camellia petals; and guarding the grave.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gypbb-living_galleries_fukuoka_oitaTue, 12 Jun 2018 14:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gypbb-living_galleries_fukuoka_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr813-living_foodI thought the design was familiar, but don't think I've ever bought this candy before. This small box of Hyourokumochi candy surprised me because it has a nostalgic taste. When I ate it, I realized the candy inside is wrapped with oblat, a starch wrapper that melts in your mouth. I think it's so smart because it produces less waste, but also it reminds me of a candy also wrapped in oblat that I used to buy sometimes in high school: Botan Rice Candy.In the states, this was one of the only Japanese things I could find in our supermarket. I loved the colorful packaging and that it came with a sticker of something utterly ridiculous, like a tiger driving a race car. After moving to Japan, I thought it was so weird that there was no Botan Rice Candy. (I was distracted more than enough by all the other candies Japan does have, so no worries.) I did a little research to see what the connection was between Botan and Hyourokumochi.Botan means peony. Bontan means pomelo. In Japan we can find Bontan candy, which is supposedly the same as the citrus flavored Botan in America. I haven't tried it yet, but now that I know, I might get it next. The difference is mainly in the ingredients and flavor, as the Hyourokumochi candy is flavored with kinakoand green tea. The package design and size is also different, and the Japanese version might not include a sticker.At under 100 yen per pack of 14 candies, I think I need to buy some Bontan candy to bring back as souvenirs for those friends who I know have tried Botan there.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr813-living_foodSun, 10 Jun 2018 14:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr813-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxaY-living_foodThe saying “gokaku no iyokan” sounds like 'the scent of success in exams.' It makes sense that Iyokan flavor Kit Kat was used for the exam season flavor, with quotes like, “Hang in there!” Printed in English. Below says, 'Face your dreams and fight!'The fruit is a mikan and tangerine hybrid primarily grown in Ehime Prefecture. I found these in Fukuoka prefecture for only 154 yen at an Aeon group supermarket. I'm guessing they're left over product from the spring season.Of course the color is a light orange and there's a nice citrusy smell and flavor. It reminds me of a creamsicle with the citrus and cream combination.I recommend these if you're into Kit Kat with seasonal flavors, if you can find them!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxaY-living_foodFri, 08 Jun 2018 20:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxaY-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxX9Z-living_shopping_fashionFirst off, I'm a natural type and don't wear lipstick everyday; never anything too bright. I took it to the City-Cost Q&A to find out what to get for my work lipstick, rather than not wearing any.Majorica Majolica was recommended as the brand is a cheaper subsidiary of the Shiseido brand. I bought Pink 405,a tiny sheer stick for 800 yen plus tax at Don Quijote. I went a shade up from the lightest, which was super light and hardly visible on the back-of-the-hand color test. I thought, this is a real lipstick (although marketed to teens) so I might as well have a visible color. While wearing it, the color is not obvious, and because it's so sheer and light, it wears off fairly quickly. It feels fine at first but my lips feel really dry after an hour or two when it's already completely worn off. I usually apply my regular chapstick (Mentholatum medicated) before I put this on.I was disappointed when the Majorica Majolica lipstick melted the second it got humid and broke apart from the tube. It isn't connected inside the tube anymore but I still use it carefully. Maybe it needs to be kept in the fridge. It's also such a tiny amount. I don't think I'll buy this again because I like the more affordable tinted chapsticks better for everyday use.I also picked up Kate brand CC Mode Pinklip cream at 400 yen plus tax at Don Quijote. Goes on like a chapstick and feels moisturizing; sheer mild color compared with what's shown on the packaging. Like a grown up chapstick. It's also 8 SPF for minimal everyday coverage.As I'm an avid fan of the brand, I bought Metholatum Tone Up CC Rose Pinkfor 198 yen at Cosmos Drugstore. The other discount drugstore in town has it for closer to 150 yen. This brand is under 200 yen and has 20 SPF. Color is subtle but visible. I tend to layer this on top of my regular medicated chapstick, but the color is more obvious if I don't. This brand has several affordable and high quality lip glosses with an SPF, some waterproof for the rainy season or summer. This is the only one I've tried, but as I like this brand and they're the most affordable as well as the most moisturizing, I will probably stay with the Mentholatum brand. This one is especially good for the summer with the higher SPF.Those of you who normally wear make up might prefer a real lipstick, but I'm going for the inexpensive tinted chapsticks with sun protection.These clear lipsticks and Sailor Moon lipsticks were tempting as well! Have any of you tried them? I think they would make really fun souvenirs, at least.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxX9Z-living_shopping_fashionThu, 07 Jun 2018 12:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MxX9Z-living_shopping_fashionhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAWd0-living_foodCan cocktail drinks are so perfect for drinking at home if you aren't the izakaya type, although sometimes they're served in restaurants as well. Chu-hi, highball, or sours are sweet, have alcohol content up to 8% for the 'strong' brands, and perfect when you want to relax but stay aware. They often contain vodka as their alcohol, but sometimes the label shows 'spirits' or 'western alcohol' meaning not based on rice or traditional alcohol. The ones which are actually made with rice based liquor (nihonshu) or brandy for example are much nicer, and usually more expensive. Likewise the type made fresh in the restaurants (fresh grapefruit!) are tastier compared with those poured from the cheapest can into your glass. The store brands are a little cheaper but don't taste as nice, where the Suntory Horoyoi(a little drunk) and Kirin Hyoketsu(freezing) brands are affordable but don't have such an obvious cheap alcohol taste.As I'm a cheap date, these can chu-hi (especially the weaker Horoyoi brand at 3% alcohol) are perfect for me. I think I was turned onto them from my side hustle at the occasional international party where beer, horoyoi chu-hi, and snacks were provided. Back then I could even drink two cans of the sweet horoyoi and not feel nervous talking to strangers without too much of a buzz. These days, if I share one can with my husband, I'm feeling good. One can on my own is almost too much, which proves what a lightweight I am.Horoyoi has a newer premium line, and I just tried their white sour which contains brandy and vanilla. It was so nice and smooth after a week of work. The fruit flavors contain up to 26% juice, depending on the flavor, which is impressive. Even their regular fruit chu-hi has a super fresh fruit taste.I've also tried Suntory's Kokushibori kiwi flavor (10% juice) and the flavor is spot on fresh fruit. It's so welcome in a country where fruit is seasonal and expensive. I miss having tons of it around all year. (Yesterday I was looking for the owner of a tree I spotted on a walk, full of what appeared to be ripe apricots, ready to pay cash to be allowed to pick some. I never found out which property the tree was on and didn't see anyone to ask, but will go back. Otherwise it's the seasonal Horoyoi apricot flavor.) I'm the type who's fond of the strangest and rarest flavors I can spot, to try out the local taste or experience something unique. Seasonal is also perfect. Photos in the gallery are winter mikan, Wakayama plum sour from Kaldi, and the 8% kabosu highball from Oita Prefecture.I hope you've had a chance to enjoy these can cocktails in Japan too!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAWd0-living_foodWed, 06 Jun 2018 14:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAWd0-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO0pv-living_food_fukuokaI grew up with an apricot tree in the backyard and love them, but the season is short and it's not so easy to find them in Japan. It's a nostalgic taste so I end up buying bulk dried apricots on Amazon sometimes.After seeing what looked like a tree full of ripe apricots (on someone's property), I thought I should keep an eye out for them. Especially the 'yaoya' or little fruit and veggie stands which often have local produce might have them if the timing is right. I think late May - early June is a little early for the season, but that's how things are moving this year.I spotted this net for 350 yen, next to some ume(the tiny green plums used for umeboshi) for making umeshu and umezu and that made me so happy. They are a bit smaller than what I'm used to in supermarkets and were picked a little unripe, but have softened up. I then found out that making wine from apricots is not uncommon in Japan. I guess anything with a short growing season but a lot of fruit would be likely to be preserved in some way. Considering I usually paid around $3 US for around six of them (bigger probably genetically modified ones), I thought this was a good deal.If you like apricots, look for あんず oranzu, which is what they're called in Japanese. They're a lot like ume, but turn orange when ripe and are safe to eat fresh, plus get bigger than ume.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO0pv-living_food_fukuokaMon, 04 Jun 2018 14:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GO0pv-living_food_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk7r7-living_food_money_healthI don't do diets (especially not the low calorie / sugar substitute ice creams), and naturally my winter "puni puni" (chubby) belly usually slims down a little during Japanese humid summers. I'm feeling a little more cautious about eating healthier these days, which means fewer snacks and cutting back on the ice cream and shaved ice this summer.Normally, I can easily finish off a 200ml Super Cup ice cream on my own. If I'm being nice, I'll split one with my husband.Ice cream bars and servings seem a lot smaller here than where I'm from, but I know it's still not healthy to eat them all the time. Soon it will be so hot I'll want to eat them all day.These coffee flavored Pino are way too good. I can't just eat one.There are a few ideas I have but I'm not sure if my self control will work out. One is to simply stop buying ice cream. Another is to stick with the tiny ice cream bars or ice creams like Pino that come in tiny bite size servings. While technically it might be easier to just have one bite, I could still easily have 'one bite' a few times a day.There are a few non-ice cream options that might be healthier, and cheaper too. Of course there's shaved ice, and depending on the toppings, it can be a lot less sugary than ice cream.Also mentioned in the above shaved ice article is 'frozen yogurt' and ice pops. I accidentally discovered that if you put a small cup of yogurt into the freezer for an hour or two, it's just as cold and creamy as ice cream. I'm not going to guarantee that it's any healthier, but it's a different option with other flavors for sure. We have one of the 100 yen shop 'ice candy' molds and a tiny blender. I've been making smoothies sometimes and using the same mix for the ice pops. My recent favorite is a blend of frozen ripe banana, soy milk, a little honey, and powdered Shizuoka green tea. I really like this option because I can save money and use soy milk, as dairy isn't something I like to have much of.The last option is these little konnyaku jelly mini cups, but frozen. The magical thing about konnyaku is, it's high in fiber and has almost no calories. You can find it as a fake sashimi or in oden and niku jaga sometimes. I don't care about it much in that form as it doesn't have any flavor (and doesn't absorb flavor the way tofu does). It's made from a sort of root vegetable called konjac, (not to be confused with the alcohol). The photo above is pink grapefruit 'Konnyaku Batake' with a little illustration warning kids and older people especially to chew carefully to avoid choking. There are a variety of fruit flavors available in just about any supermarket or drugstore, a bag is usually under 200 yen. Because it's filling but low calorie, one of these frozen will satisfy my need for something cool to refresh me, but the 'one bite' theory actually works more often.Staying really hydrated is probably always a good idea too, so I've already started on making a liter of iced tea overnight in the fridge this year. What are your favorite healthier summer treats to stay cool?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk7r7-living_food_money_healthThu, 31 May 2018 12:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk7r7-living_food_money_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3l3O-living_money_familylifeThe days of the super expensive long distance phone call are long over. There are more than a few ways to keep in touch with family and friends around the world for free. The hardest part is setting up a time that works for both parties.A lot of family still appreciates the random handwritten letter from abroad - who wouldn't? But... it's been so convenient to have a virtual cup of coffee with my mom or other family and friends using technology.Here are the services I use to stay in touch for free.Six years ago I made sure to get unlimited data on my smartphone plan as I didn't own a computer. I used email (too many long emails written on a tiny smartphone screen) and Skype calls to talk with family and friends. It wasn't the most convenient thing, but the thing that everyone else used and was free. I averaged only one call to my parents every two or three months at that time. Maybe it's that I was working in the mornings or that Skype was primarily used for overseas interviews at that time. It's still a perfectly valid and free option if those who you want to stay in touch with are online and use Skype too. Skype calls can also be an affordable way to call landlines if the person you want to reach doesn't use the internet or Skype.My grandpa is definitely not online. He has a flip phone which is either turned off or out of battery power at all times. He also has a landline.I got set up with a Google Voice number before I left the US (the second time) for the specific reason to be able to call landlines for free. I use this the most now. If you have a Gmail account and still live in the US or a country that allows you to set up a phone number, I recommend it. Using the GoogleHangouts app for chatting is convenient for staying in touch with those who also use the app.The Google Voice number is a local number where I'm from. I can use it to call digitally to landlines for free, and in many cases, to mobile numbers as well. I use it through the Hangouts app in my Gmail account to call to my contacts or enter in a phone number. It's been extremely convenient to be able to make calls to offices when I need to confirm something, get a code via text to verify an account, and just call to landlines. All voicemails are converted to email if you choose that option. You can receive calls too, as long as you're logged into your account and have the ringer notification turned on to catch the call.I primarily use Hangouts to make Google Voice calls, especially to call my grandpa on his landline a couple times a month. I also use it to catch other family members on either their landline or mobile phones. If I had to choose only one app for international communications, it would be Hangouts.I also use a gaming app called Discord to talk to one friend who says it has more consistent quality than the other apps we've tried.For those who use Line in Japan, good luck convincing anyone overseas to use it so you can call through the app. (Similarly, Whatsapp,KakaoTalk in Korea or WeChat in China.) A lot of people in Japan use the Line app to call each other for free. If you're staying in touch with family who happen to be in Japan and use Line, that's an easy one.There are tons of other apps you can use to stay in touch at no cost. I hope you make time to call and appreciate your family and friends. I think it helps me stay a little more sane while living overseas. I'm still looking forward to being able to teleport.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3l3O-living_money_familylifeTue, 29 May 2018 17:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3l3O-living_money_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2ELX-living_transportationWhile Japan is a super safe country in many ways, in other ways, I feel like there are lots of accidents waiting to happen. Japanese people aren't crazy about suing anyone for accidents like in the US, so things like open ditches along the side of the road are common.I was once warned by a longtime expat to be careful about the rice fields in town, as each year it seemed like at least one student rode a bike into one of the fields on their way to school. There aren't usually fences around the deep rice fields, which are sometimes full of water or mud too.The above photo is near my house, a narrow path or shortcut if you will, which many of us in the neighborhood use on a regular basis. There are both drains for excess rain water (shown) as well as a deeper ditch used to fill nearby rice fields with water during the growing season.Last week, on my way home, I was distracted by one of many bugs flying into me that day, and rode my bike into the ditch above. Luckily I just got a few scrapes and bruises and my bike was fine. It's a bit embarrassing and I already feel like I'm about eight years old most of the time. Anyway, be careful around these kinds of things while walking or on a bike. I don't want the same thing to happen to you!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2ELX-living_transportationSun, 27 May 2018 20:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2ELX-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7jgW-living_food_shopping_money_tea_kakegawa_shi_shizuoka_yame_shi_fukuokaWe are daily green tea drinkers, although I'm too lazy to deal with loose leaf teas anymore.We typically use Itoen brand's O~i Ocha which is a powdered green tea with matcha and it can be easily dissolved into hot or cold water. It's super convenient and not cheap at about 800 yen for an 80 gram pack, but much cheaper than constantly buying bottles of watered down tea. I looked into it, and their website says their tea is from all over Japan, so it isn't necessarily from any one of the well known tea growing regions in Japan. To be honest, before living in Fukuoka Prefecture, the only tea growing region I even knew of was Uji, near Kyoto. I think this is only because so many green tea flavored products (Super Cup ice cream...) use Uji Matcha. After moving to Kurume City, we found out our neighbor town Yame, is famous for their tea as well. Sometimes we see products using Yame Cha and it's really tasty, so we recently went there for new tea picking. Since our region is saturated with Yame Cha, it's not common to find other region's teas in supermarkets.I didn't know Shizuoka is a region famous for tea, and I've barely been there before. I thought it might be nice to try some of their green tea powder to compare it with what we currently use. We're a fan of going to kaitenzushi restaurants where we can drink lots of instant green tea. I thought it sounded nice to try a powdered tea which can be used in sushi restaurants. I expected it would be stronger than the Itoen brand, which uses a teaspoon per cup, as opposed to a teeny weeny spoon or two needed per cup of tea at a sushi restaurant.The tea I chose is from Kakegawa City in Shizuoka, from the Mikasaen farm. I bought a "business use" sized 200 gram bag of instant powder tea for 878 yen including free shipping, from Amazon. The product name in Japanese is 業務用の粉末緑茶（粉末 パウダー）which translates to "business use powdered green tea (funmatsu powder)." As funmatsu means powder it's a little redundant.My first reaction to the tea after opening the bag was that the smell is really fresh and strong. Especially as I'm used to no smell at all from our powdered tea. That really impressed me and the aroma continued after the tea was made.This brand boasts that their tea leaves are steamed two or three times longer than normal sencha, resulting in a darker colored tea with a deeper taste. We definitely found this to be true, as the taste is thicker without using as much powder as we would for the Itoen powdered tea.The only downside I've found to this tea so far is that it doesn't dissolve into hot or cold water as easily as what we're used to - just a swish of the water in the cup would dissolve the Itoen tea. I had to use a spoon to mix in the powder for a bit before the hot tea was visibly smooth. Cold tea mixes up the same - slightly lumpy, but still tastes great and refreshing. The thick taste makes me want to try this in a smoothie because it reminds me of aojiro.If we consider that the price is almost the same for 2.5 times as much, the KakegawaShizuoka powdered tea is a way better value for a fresher taste.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7jgW-living_food_shopping_money_tea_kakegawa_shi_shizuoka_yame_shi_fukuokaWed, 23 May 2018 10:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7jgW-living_food_shopping_money_tea_kakegawa_shi_shizuoka_yame_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8QJW-living_food_fukuoka_omuta_shi_fukuokaOmuta City (大牟田市) in southern Fukuoka Prefecture is famous for their small kusakimanju(草木饅頭) filled with white sweet bean paste. The local whom I received them from said they call it shiroi azuki - a white version of red beans, also calling it endo mame, which is a string bean. When he translated it, he said it's a white kidney bean.The manju were wrapped in plastic in rows of five and the box contained 30 pieces.We enjoyed eating these with tea. The outer part has a kokutou (brown sugar) flavor and the white bean paste is very sweet.I recommend this meibutsu (local famous food) if you ever find yourself in Omuta City!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8QJW-living_food_fukuoka_omuta_shi_fukuokaThu, 17 May 2018 11:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8QJW-living_food_fukuoka_omuta_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxO9-living_foodTirol is an inexpensive small square-shaped chocolate in Japan, individually wrapped with a variety of designs available by season. The company often sells small bags containing a variety of flavors or Japanese sweets flavors like kinako mochi or green tea flavored chocolate in addition to their usual chocolate biscuit and strawberry flavors. I saw this unique flavor set in a bag of seven chocolates and had to try it. It contains three kashi-pan flavors: croissant, curry bread, and cream bread. On opening the small bag, I could actually smell a sweet bread smell, although not freshly baked, more like mass produced type. I thought this would be fun to try with a couple of my students who I usually share sweets with during class. We each tried one and shared our reactions. I tried the croissant flavor and my main impression was that it has a strong buttery (or margarine) flavor. It also had a crispiness to it that I didn't expect.Next, my student tried the cream bread and seemed to like it, excitedly saying it was like custard cream bread. The other student tried the curry bread flavor and couldn't stop laughing about it to tell us what she thought. Finally she said the taste was sweet, spicy, and confusing. It was also a little crispy.After tasting the curry bread flavor later at home, I could understand why my student said the taste was confusing. There's a little bit of crispiness to it, almost like the outside of a curry donut. It's quite sweet while maintaining a strange savoriness. For sure not a flavor combination you would normally get even with a sweet and spicy candy. Although I wouldn't call these chocolate, they are interesting sweets for sure. Not my cup of tea, but still entertaining to share and try. There are so many chances to try strange flavors like this while living in Japan, and I think these might make a fun souvenir. The pack was under 100 yen at our local Max Value (AEON group) supermarket.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxO9-living_foodFri, 11 May 2018 10:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxO9-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk7ZZ-living_food_education_fukuokaMaybe it's happened to you. You pass some random plant growing out of the cracks in the sidewalk or taking over the riverbanks and wonder, that kinda looks like it's edible, but I don't feel like testing my stomach today.I saw these berry-looking plants a couple years ago and wondered what they were, but didn't see anyone eating them, including the birds. I assumed they were poisonous or something. They looked like a wild raspberry - not quite the same as what I'm used to.Today there was a whole bunch of it growing along a street and up a hill. I saw a couple people picking and eating, and even collecting the red berries. So I thought, it's time to find out, let's ask!Taberaremasuka?Hai! Oishii dayo!I even asked what they're called. Ki ichigo, or tree strawberry, is what those folks know them as. I looked that up and it turns out that it means raspberry, although it includes over 80 varieties from all over the world, like blackberry and boysenberry.The taste is closest to raspberry, but slightly crunchy. I feel like it's similar to eating ikura but with a totally different flavor. At first I kept taking the darker berries thinking they were ripe, but they were actually overripe and often had bugs inside them. The bright red ones were perfect.If you often feel like the cost of fruit in Japan is too expensive, maybe it's time to get out into the countryside to find some ki ichigo to snack on! (As long as it's growing in a public area and not on someone's property.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk7ZZ-living_food_education_fukuokaSat, 05 May 2018 23:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk7ZZ-living_food_education_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPEe-living_food_fukuoka_yame_shi_fukuokaEver since I heard about the new tea picking tradition in the next town from our city, I was interested to try it out. There are new tea picking experiences which range from a short time on your own to a full day including lunch and learning the process of how green tea is made. 'New tea plucking' is 新茶摘み (shin cha tsumi) in Japanese.We don't have a car and most of the tea farms are in the mountains and far from any public transportation. We found one shop in Yame City offering a new tea festival and inexpensive tea plucking experience. It's about two kilometers from the closest bus stop, but still not bad compared with taking a taxi into the mountains.The tea farm is called simply Ocha Muraor Tea Village. Beside it is a little shop called Ocha Mura Hon Ten or Tea Village Original Location.When we arrived, we paid just 100 yen for the tea plucking experience. We walked over the bridge into the tea farms, then were given small plastic bags to collect the tea in and a super quick demo on how to pick the proper leaves. The new leaf buds or shinmeand the next two leaves are the best part for high quality tea making, although for tempura, we use the top four or five leaves. The tea bushes were already well picked as we arrived in the afternoon.The tea bushes are quite close together, but still I could fit my big buns into the walkway and collect the tea. It was quite peaceful and they constantly played a song about picking tea that sounded like it was sung by elementary school students. Some of the bushes were still covered by black tarps to protect them from the sun.After collecting enough in our bags, we went back to the tents near the shop and gave them one of the bags of tea. That was enough for two servings of tea leaf tempura, fried in coconut oil, included with the experience cost! We got to take home the other bag for roasting our own tea or using the fresh leaves for tempura or sauce. We were also given samples of cold and hot new tea, which was so refreshing. They offered a tempura lunch set for only 400 yen, but it was sold out before we arrived.I recommend this experience if you live in an area with a tea farm. We had fun as a couple and there were a lot of families with young kids enjoying themselves as well.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPEe-living_food_fukuoka_yame_shi_fukuokaSat, 05 May 2018 23:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPEe-living_food_fukuoka_yame_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBOpD-living_shopping_moneyOn a recent visit to a bookstore, they had redesigned the stationary section and had a special weekend sale of 20% off all stationary products. I also had a Quo card, so I decided to stock up on some items I use on a regular basis and treat myself to some products I've heard are good. One recommended product in particular is the MD or Midori brand series of notebooks.I've been using a regular 'jiyucho' kids blank notebook for drawing and even watercolor painting, but it's just not cutting it. The paper is too thin so it quickly soaks up water and gets warped. I really needed an upgrade on my sketchbook, and not just something from the 100 yen store. I did pick up a B5 size Sketchbook (also locally made by the Maruman company) which I like because it's spiral bound so it will stay open flat while working. The sheets are thicker and have a texture like watercolor paper, but the retail price is only 250 yen.The Midori brand cotton paper product was so nice and soft, so I had to get one of the A5 size blank notebooks (retail 900 yen) to try drawing and watercolor painting in. It has an attached ribbon bookmark and is a whiter paper than their other notebooks. I also got a pack of three A6 sized grid paper notebooks, as it's easy to bring that size everywhere and use as a bullet journal when I'm ready for a new one. The covers are made from cardstock, so they aren't as sturdy as most notebooks. The company also sells notebook covers for this reason. As I have some Kurume kasuri, I decided to make my own book covers for the notebooks.MD paper is made in Japan and the cost is a little higher than what I'm used to. I think the quality is worth it, and it's still cheaper than a lot of the high end notebooks that are imported. I'm excited to start using it and hopefully it will be a better fit for watercolor than the cheap paper I've been using.How to use booklet pictured above is available in the shops & shows their product line, including blank, lined, and grid sheets in different sizes of notebooks.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBOpD-living_shopping_moneyMon, 30 Apr 2018 13:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBOpD-living_shopping_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVO44-livingWhere does the name Golden Week come from?Anyway, for me it's a Golden Opportunity to stay at home, avoid the crowds, and get some projects done. That's why this year I'm joking that it's Goal-den Week. I had made a list of goals I wanted to accomplish on my three day weekend and again on the four day weekend.As fate would have it, on my last work day of the week, I woke up at four in the morning with a sore throat and fever, my voice was almost gone and I was unfit for getting out of bed. Why is it that we tend to get sick during the only times we get a break from work?My Goals for the weekend quickly changed to getting some rest and sorting out the fact that I would not be in at work on Friday but would make it on Tuesday (I hope). The nasty cold in addition to a migraine didn't allow me to get a thing done on Friday. By Saturday I had cabin fever from being home all day when the weather was so perfect outside, but had no energy. After a pain killer and some coffee took care of the migraine (finally) I felt so much better but no not well enough to go out. It became a day to try to rest my busy mind, do a few easy little things, and spend some time thinking. That night, the throbbing earache started up. I only slept for a couple hours between the coughing and overall being uncomfortable, but all I could think about was how I wished I could just go for a nice walk to the library. After feeling a lot better in the morning (although unable to sleep past five am) I still decided to use the full arsenal of medications I had at home. I'm so over this infection. I'm afraid the next couple days will also be full of boredom stuck inside, but maybe I'll be able to manage some of the tasks on my Gold-den Week List. Hopefully next weekend will be back to normal as there are a couple outings already planned. So have you made some Goals for your Goal-den Week this year? There's nothing wrong with just getting some extra rest, if that's what you need. Take care everyone!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVO44-livingSun, 29 Apr 2018 10:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVO44-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn5QR-living_shoppingAs soon as you arrive in Japan, the plastic shopping bags quickly start piling up. Maybe you have a stash somewhere that looks something like this?I don't like all the plastic. A lot of people use theirs for trash bags, especially in smaller cities where we aren't required to use the city bags that need to be paid for. We use plastic shopping bags for our nama gomi or vegetable and food scraps that tend to get stinky quickly during the warmer months. We still accumulate bags faster than we use them.I started out the year really trying to bring a tote bag or my bag in Japanese English. Of course I didn't always plan ahead, and then we started to run low on the bags for our nama gomi. All this reminded me of how I didn't know how to tell the store cashiers that I didn't need a bag for a long time after moving to Japan. Now I use the phrase all the time, although awkwardly, while showing them that I brought my bag.Some shops really embrace this and the Waon / Aeon group supermarkets usually give you two yen off your purchase if you don't need a bag. Other places don't really get it; they think true service is providing you a bag for your bagged products which are already in a box and shrink wrapped. You might get a beautifully designed paper bag in some high-end stores and you will notice that these are often reused in giving gifts or carrying items. It seems to have replaced the traditional use of wrapping fabric, or furoshiki, which I absolutely love.Often you might hear a phrase asking if putting a piece of tape on an item you buy is alright. (Usually used on items too big for a bag or when you only buy one or two small items, like something you're about to eat.)The conversation in a store might go something like this:Cashier: shi-ru / te-pu wo haite ii desu ka?Is it okay to put a sticker / tape on your item (instead of putting it into a bag)?You: Onegaishimasu! / Hai. / ee.Please! / Okay / Sureor You:Fukuro wa irimasen.I don't need a bag. (The variation "Fukuro wa iranai" is possible if the cashier is obviously younger than you, but it's better to be polite.)Cashier: Yoroshii desu ka? Is it okay?You: Hai. / Unn. Yep.You could also go with "Fukuro motekita" (I brought a bag), or "Fukuro wa fuyou desu" (there is no need for a bag), but I think that usually confuses the cashiers. By the way, plastic bag is purasuchikku (pura) fukuro and paper bag is kami bukuro.Some places (like the above mentioned Aeon group stores) will have cards at the registers which you can put in your basket while waiting in line. They say, 'There is no need for a bag.' You won't have to say anything if you use one of these. (Assuming you can read the cards at the register, as some say something different like that you're paying with the store's credit card.)EDIT:Here's what the Aeon group 'no bag cards' look like. They say, "Rejibukuro wa fuyou desu." Literally, There is no need for a register bag. The cashier will scan one to get you the two yen discount, which is even available when you buy only one item.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn5QR-living_shoppingTue, 24 Apr 2018 14:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn5QR-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr8g0-living_medicalJapanese cough drops are called nodoame, literally meaning throat candy. About half of the nodoame are just that, hard candy in a variety of flavors, but that you would hardly consider when actually suffering from a cough. Flavors like cafe latte or royal milk tea sound yummy, but not soothing to the throat.The other end of the spectrum is full on herbal. In addition to tons of citrus flavors loaded with vitamin C, there are mentholated types. Some lozenges are loaded with ten or more herbs beneficial to the lungs and throat. As I can expect back home as well, all the flavors tend to be really sweet, although there are sugar free types too. As a teacher, especially if I teach in a classroom (as opposed to one on one or small classes), I tend to get sore throats too often. I always keep at least one lozenge with me in my pencil case while I'm off teaching lessons.I quickly discovered my favorite type is anything with eucalyptus in it. I once got some eucalyptus candy from Australia and love that stuff. I tend to go for this brand pictured above (I think it's read Mikakutou). It includes eucalyptus, Japanese elder, salvia, licorice, peppermint, thyme, and anise.I couldn't find the Mikakutou the other day, so I went with the only other herbal type of lozenge I could find, Herb and Milk, instead. I don't really understand why fresh cream would be beneficial for anything other than the taste.As a kid we always had these black licorice flavored lozenges for some reason, but they worked really well. Licorice root is really beneficial for your respiritory system as well as your adrenal system. Important if your immune system is weak from overwork and stress.I like to get lozenges with propolis when possible too. If I'm feeling a little low energy, Daiso has a propolis and royal honey supplement that helps a lot. Propolis is derived from honeybees and is antibiotic as well as anti-viral. For some reason it is not sold in the US, so I always brought some supplements back when I went overseas while living there.Of course getting a huge dose of vitamin C (lemon or grapefruit flavored) is always welcome when my throat is sore, and karin(Asian quince) and lemon is nice as well. The ginger flavored cough drops are so nice during the dry winter season, if you like the taste.Lozenges are sold in bags of individually wrapped or unwrapped pieces; or individually wrapped in smaller boxes. They can be found in any convenience store, drug store, or 100 yen shop in Japan. What kind do you usually go for?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr8g0-living_medicalMon, 23 Apr 2018 10:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr8g0-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOy4-living_shopping_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaOn a recent stop into a 7-11, I noticed they now offer a small but colorful selection of stationary products from Loft. As Family Mart stocks Mujirushi brand products, this was a logical choice. I'm a fan of the Loft stationary, although the selection at 7-11 is tiny and of the really standard variety. Since we don't have a store in my city (there are locations if I go into Fukuoka City or Saga City) it's nice to have some convenient options, although I'm not sure if the selection includes anything I'd want. It's definitely not the same experience as shopping in the huge Loft stores.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOy4-living_shopping_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaSun, 22 Apr 2018 11:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOy4-living_shopping_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1ApD-living_educationKanji Pict-O-Graphics is the book I used to learn how to read and write in Japanese while I was in high school. I didn't actually learn all of it, but it was a great introduction, and I was fascinated by the images. I can say now, I still remember some things from the illustrations used to help readers remember the meaning of kana and kanji. What I have trouble with more often is the yomikata, or how to read the kanji, because some have several ways they can be pronounced.When I was around 15 I was given an old Japanese magazine by one of the students at my school, who I guess was from Japan. I was never totally clear on that but we had art class together. I became obsessed with the Japanese writing. I think it's because of the design quality and complication, but I decided then that I wanted to learn how to read and write in Japanese. There was a Japanese class at the high school in the city, but after asking my mom, she wouldn't agree to drive me there every day or let me change schools. I found Kanji Pict-O-Grahics in the library and I'm sure renewed it and checked it out multiple times. I still remember the pages and the sometimes sort of inappropriate images to show women or body parts. It has over 1000 kanji which could be the 1000 or so kanji taught in Japanese elementary schools, or just random ones that easily fit into the root characters which he uses to organize the book. This book was a great primer for learning hiragana & katakana before I could finally study Japanese in college.I feel like some of the kanji taught in the book are rarely used or have bad translations, but overall it's helpful for visual learners for the easier characters at least. Some of them are stretching it a bit and I wouldn't say it helps me remember how to write. That still takes good old fashioned practice.Now I've got my kanji drill and tons of authentic materials to work through while living in Japan. For me that's the most practical way to learn more. I'm feeling like just reading a ton in Japanese, the same way I read a ton (in English) as a kid and picked up vocabulary before learning it in school. That's what really gets to me while living here. I love bookstores and libraries, but I can't read novels yet, and I'm past the picture book level. I'm learning to be okay with not knowing exact meanings and guessing rather than looking everything up. While conversation is for sure more useful while living in Japan, I'm a big reader, so I want to be able to read in Japan too.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1ApD-living_educationThu, 19 Apr 2018 10:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z1ApD-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gox5v-living_food_shoppingI'm not a huge cookie person, but cookies in Japan tend to be of the English style, from what I can gather. They tend to be small and crisp, also often referred to as biscuits. I sometimes ate tin butter cookies around Christmas back home, but in general American cookies are big, soft, and way too sweet.There has been some talk of which cookies in Japan are the closest to American style ones. Really, the only way for me to eat cookies is homemade, but my one attempt at that made me feel like it's not worth it here. (Different measurements than I'm used to, smaller ovens, finding ingredients, etc.)I'm a fan of the Bourbon coffee & chocolate biscuits. Biscoff are also so nice with a coffee. TimTams are on a crazy sweet level so I could barely tolerate them when I tried, now that I'm used to Japan's sweetness standards.The Country Ma'am cookies are nice and soft and fairly sweet for a Japanese cookie, but SO tiny. (And individually wrapped - so wasteful!) I haven't tried the American Soft, but hear those are good as well. (I just noticed these are choco macadamia nut...oooh, maybe I will try them.)I saw some American size (about the size of my palm) cookies claiming 'Softな' which made me smile. But they're Snoopy cookies! At least the packaging is, for Snoopy's 50th year in Japan. So I decided I needed to try Bourbon's Soft Choco chip Cookie, for 98 yen including tax at the local Cosmos Drugstore. (Also available in chocolate choco chip.)They do have a familiar taste, but definitely not nearly as sweet as a store bought American cookie. They are soft, about the same softness as the Country Ma'am cookies. Not anywhere near the softness of homemade and freshly baked cookies. They really don't have anything like a fresh taste. The size is what gets me. It's like... almost enough to share one. Since I'm not such a 'cookie person,' I guess I should really keep my curiosity under control and avoid buying all the different cookies and biscuits I've never seen back home. I don't even look in the cookie section back home now that I think of it!But look, pumpkin cookies!? Come on Japan. I can't help but be curious.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gox5v-living_food_shoppingWed, 18 Apr 2018 14:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gox5v-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOZJ-living_food_moneyOh sometimes, when I'm hungry and anything weird and cheap looks good, I buy some stupid kashipan. Japan has such good kashipan (literally sweet breads) that I need to stop even trying the factory made packaged type. They are cheaper, but never actually good. The tiny freshly baked bakery type is always better.I was super curious about this one though. Is there a New York style donut? I don't think it looks like this if there is.I had to research. This might be a weird hybrid super dense (cake type) twist? It isn't anything like images I could find with a Google search.The taste was substandard: stale or just too dense, not at all sweet, mildly chocolate flavored at best. Still what fills the stomach for a brief time does it's job I guess.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOZJ-living_food_moneyWed, 11 Apr 2018 22:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOZJ-living_food_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wemRr-living_shopping_educationYou may have heard of Marie Kondo, as she’s quite famous in Japan for her "KonMari Method" for 'sparking joy' in your home and life. I even saw her as an awkward guest on the Ellen Show while watching clips on Youtube. Maybe you know her slogan, Spark Joy, and belief that everything in our homes should give us that warm fuzzy feeling.When I visited my local library’s English section, I found the English translation of KonMari’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Somehow, I was curious, so I borrowed it.I didn’t really have any intention of finishing the book or using her method. I didn’t think I had much in terms of belongings compared with her clients, after all, I’ve only lived here for two years. I haven’t had a lot of time to collect things and am naturally someone people refer to as a minimalist. But, no matter how much I get rid of, I feel like I have too much stuff. I guess I move and travel too often to hold onto things. I could live out of a backpack and be fairly comfortable.Even so, the book was interesting and extremely Japanese culturally. It was a good way to understand the Japanese culture of appreciating inanimate objects as if they also have feelings. Something a little tricky for westerners to understand, even if we’re familiar with this way of thinking from movies like Spirited Away. I was surprised to find that KonMari had worked at a shrine in the past, which helps to explain her way of thinking even more.I sometimes had the feeling that KonMari was being OCD or crazy, or that her method was So Japanese while reading. Before even finishing the book I was definitely interested in trying her method, using the book as a resource. The point is to select the things you love instead of focusing on the things you want to throw away first. Like I mentioned, I don’t have much, so it only took me a weekend to go through everything the way she explains in the book. I still got rid of 3-5 bags, mostly recycling and donating things to the nearby recycle shop. I have some things at my parents’ house that will get sorted through on my next visit, as KonMari mentions storing things at home isn’t an acceptable solution. This is really tricky for those of us just temporarily living abroad for work, so I’m not sure what KonMari would say about temporary storage for that reason.What I got out of the book the most was her method for organizing paperwork. I always felt like I had too many folders of papers. Work stuff, important stuff, stuff I just didn’t know what to do with… (I also recently started using the Bullet Journal method to stop my habit of scribbling notes on scrap paper all over the place. This is helping so much.) She explains how to store only important documents that you need and to keep other things that will be used soon just temporarily. Not that my life is perfectly organized now, but it’s so much easier to find anything I need with KonMari’s method.I think the book is also really for people living in small apartments in Japan, with no yard and no car. There is no mention of tidying up your car or your yard, but I think even in Japan, those places can be worse than inside the house. There is also no mention of tidying digital files in the book. I started to do this on my own even before reading this book. Keeping a neat desktop, organizing types of files, archiving / backing up … all these are also helpful to feel less cluttered and to ‘spark joy.’I already recommended the book to several people, even though I understand everyone has to make the choice on their own to ‘tidy up.’ KonMari says her clients take an average of six months to sort through everything, and that’s doing it quickly! My best friend is in process and loving it. I have a feeling I didn't do it right (the stuff back home maybe), but I still did get some benefit out of it. I've found myself to be even more careful about what I buy.I'm sure some of you have read this book. What did you think about it? Did it really change your life?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wemRr-living_shopping_educationWed, 11 Apr 2018 20:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wemRr-living_shopping_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPZq-living_moneyWhile living in Japan as a foreigner, there are little things you can do to earn some kind of credit at least, doing a type of side hustle online. You'll just need some spare time and a computer or smartphone with an internet connection. I'll introduce three techniques that I use, but I'm sure there are tons more.Use City-Cost.com of course!If you aren't already aware, City-Cost is a cozy site for foreigners living in Japan to have a community, share experiences, ask & answer questions about life here, plus to review the places they visit. All of these will earn you a little credit, more if the blog articles are on one of the monthly themes. There are occasionally easy surveys which will earn you credit too.Plus, there is a referral bonus if you get your friends to create an account on City-Cost. If you use my link and write one article for the City-Cost blog, you'll earn 400 points, which translates to 400 yen in credit. My referral link for City-Cost is here. Onegaishimasu!This is my biggest side hustle right now. I consistently earn at least a couple thousand yen in credit each month, just for blogging and the occasional review when I feel like it. Payment is in Amazon.co.jp credit, so it's only useful if you live in Japan and want to order something online. Of course if you don't live in Japan yet, you can still use the site to ask questions and learn about living in Japan in the future.In addition, City-Cost sometimes (maybe once a year?) has special campaigns where you can earn prizes in addition to Amazon credit. Prizes I have earned so far include a big box of apples and a Quo card. (Quo cards are a type of gift card that can be used in convenience stores and bookstores. I'll probably share my bookstore stationary haul bought with my Quo card sometime soon.)e-gaikokujin.comThis is a survey and product review company, connected with a magazine called Hiragana Times (their now discontinued monthly photo contest won me a little cash as well). e-gaikokujin.com will offer a survey or review only to members who meet the qualifications for that survey, so it might be more lucrative for some age groups, for students, or depending on where in Japan you live? I really don't know.I have been offered only one survey in a few months. It took me about 20 minutes to complete the survey and as payment, they provide a 500 yen Quo card. The link to registeris here (no affiliation).In general, I turn down requests for surveys online unless it's in return for some kind of credit. I kind of hate them. All of the surveys offered on this site are paid and easy enough to do if you have a little free time.Line PointsI didn't notice this until recently, but if you use Line for messaging already, you can earn points (or free stickers) for adding company accounts to your friends list or watching advertisements, among other things. That isn't so appealing (especially at 2 points per ad), but there are sometimes ways to get more points for buying products in stores as well. I happened upon some tags attached to tea bottles in a supermarket saying '50 Line points will certainly be awarded.' The idea being, buy the tea, get 50 Line points. Some people had bought tea and taken off the tags, as they probably don't have smartphones or use Line. I grabbed a few of these and got myself 150 points, thinking I could get some cute stickers I'd have to pay for otherwise.Then I found out Line points can be exchanged for so many things. I had no idea. From gift cards to coupons for a coffee in a convenience store, they translate to about 1 yen per point. It takes a little effort but they are valuable. I might get into this. The Coca-Cola campaign ended at the end of May 2018, but I'm sure you canfind similar campaigns for Line points.EDIT: Now, at the end of 2019, I've started using YOLO Japan's Survey page. It's a site for finding jobs in Japan (I think they offered referral bonuses too) but I only use it for applicable surveys and have already earned 1000 yen in Amazon credit. Surveys are sometimes based on where you're from and how long you've lived in Japan. A lot of them don't pay anything unless you're a winner of a drawing, but then the payout is 10,000 yen or something. They take around ten minutes to complete in English or in Japanese.For teaching related side hustles, check here!Please share other decent online side hustles if you know of them!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPZq-living_moneyTue, 10 Apr 2018 10:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPZq-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wN93A-living_fukuoka_yanagawa_shi_fukuokaShortly after moving to Fukuoka Prefecture, we heard about the "Venice of Japan" and the elaborateHina Matsuri in the south end of the prefecture - Yanagawa City.Every spring from around February 11th- April 3rd, Yanagawa City becomes a crazy display of sagemon and hina dolls. It sounds like some weird Pokemon, but chances are you've seen these if you live in Japan. Sagemon are hanging decorations (in fact each one has 49 decorations) usually with lots of reds and bright colors. The decorations are usually handmade in shapes like dolls, flowers, and animals. Hina dolls are a doll set of an Edo - era royal family; the largest sets are displayed on seven steps including court musicians and furniture.Even Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station gets into the celebrationI was mostly interested to see the colorful sagemon and the canals with their 'punts,' or motor-less boats giving tours of the moats that once surrounded a castle. I have a mild fear of dolls, so it was definitely not to see the hina doll displays. I'll describe my top three locations to see the sagemonduring the festival, but we didn't go very far from the station as we walked, so keep in mind that there is so much more to see. We went for the tail end of this festival, so we didn't go on a day with special events like canal processions and live doll reenactments. There weren't any parades going on, but still plenty of decorations, in almost every mom & pop store we passed. We also waited long enough for nice weather and cherry blossoms, win!After arriving in Yanagawa (a rapid train stop on the Nishitetsu Omuta Main Line) for the Sagemon Festival, we walked towards the canals or moats on the west side of the station. We came to the first canal which has a lovely bridge leading to a huge gate to Mihashira Shrine. We could see rows of cherry blossom trees, so we went that way to check it out.There are actually a few shrines in that neighborhood, after walking down the road for a while (and enjoying cherry blossoms, if you go in the right season).On the way to the shrine on the right, we stopped by a house (I'm pretty sure it's just someone's house) which has a sign inviting guests to enter and see the hina matsuri and sagemon decorations. It's one of many locations in town that are over the top decorated with the red, white, and pink sagemon hanging from the ceiling. This is my number one for places to check out. Free entrance and talking photos is no problem. In fact no one else was there.After enjoying the cherry blossoms, we walked along the canals taking pictures of the willow trees, which the city is named for, and the boats. I kept an eye out for the pink flags showing that there would be a display of sagemon (although even the liquor stores have several displayed). There is a special map available each year with special points of interest noted as well.Walking along Tachibana Street from Yanagawa station was the best area to see sagemon. My number two recommendation is Kamikyu, which specializes in these decorations, including boys day helmets and flags. After we entered the shop, we were encouraged to go into a back room, densely filled with decorations. There were costumes for both kids and adults and we were encouraged to take photos. This was verging on creepy but we didn't spend too much time in the room.Next we went to a location I had seen on a the map because of the name, Daikyo Sagemon, implying that it was a huge display. This is my number three recommendation, because it's actually an outdoor display. There isn't any interaction with the displays as they are enclosed in a sort of temporary tent in case of rain, but still it's possible to get photos.I encourage anyone to check out this festival if you like to see unique traditions in Japan. The vintage dolls and decorations were for sure similar to what you might see in other cultures during Christmas - at least if you have relatives fond of collecting decorations and passing them on to their children.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wN93A-living_fukuoka_yanagawa_shi_fukuokaWed, 04 Apr 2018 15:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wN93A-living_fukuoka_yanagawa_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY4Jo-living_educationIn spring of 2011, 5th and 6th grade elementary school students in Japan began studying “Foreign Language Activities” or English conversation lessons. Starting in April of this year, third and fourth grades will join them (at the rate of 15 lessons a year), with an increase in the number of lessons (up to 50 this year; 75 by 2020) for the older students. This has raised more than a little concern from the busy elementary school homeroom teachers. They don't have confidence to teach English most of the time, despite the training being hastily provided to them. I'm not sure if I want to sit back and watch the sinking ship from far far away, or work in public schools as an ALT (assistant language teacher) again. A ton of schools have already squeezed in some lessons with first through fourth graders when they have an ALT with a free period and some flash cards. The addition of elementary classes as a required subject when it was intended as extra-curricular is not well thought through. In addition, the texts will possibly have overlapping materials when the students move to the existing junior high school curriculum, if the budget doesn't provide for updates to and replacement of texts. Where does this leave the foreign teachers who come into each elementary school maybe once a week as ALTs?There will be a need for more foreign assistant teachers, but the conditions for those teachers is not likely to improve (more likely the opposite). I'm guessing the number teachers from the countries other than 'native' English speaking countries will grow. This is a great opportunity for teachers who have been disqualified based on their nationality in the past. In fact, a lot of the teachers I've met from outside of the UK and North America are much more qualified for teaching English.Maybe more new ALTs will actually be experienced / interested in becoming teachers back home some day. I think that would be better for everyone when compared with those who are taking on a teaching job just to temporarily play in Japan. Personally I don't think 'native' English speakers are essential or should be selected just because of where they're from. Especially for the elementary school ALT work, teachers with a good grasp of English from all over the world will be a great opportunity for the kids to spend time with someone from outside of their worldview. This is the whole point, I think, with the upcoming Olympics to be held in Tokyo in just two years.When Japanese people travel, they sometimes comment to me that people from ~ country can speak English, but it's difficult to understand their accents. This won't be such a big issue if young students are exposed to English spoken by people from around the world.In my opinion, we can complain all we want about the existing / changing education system, but it won't help. We can only demand fair working conditions by not accepting positions that violate working laws, as most ALTs are now working through dispatching companies and not directly through the schools. We can have a good attitude and enjoy our work, creating fun lessons for the students, and helping the overworked homeroom teachers.In addition, we can continue meeting people from all over the world while living in Japan!If you're currently working with a dispatch company at a public elementary school, I welcome your comments about your views on the current changes to the English education system.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY4Jo-living_educationTue, 27 Mar 2018 13:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY4Jo-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRv7k-living_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaOne of the larger shrines in town, right on the river and 500 meters from JR Kurume Station, had a little festival this weekend (with free entrance). Similar to the bigger toumyou festival in Hakata, the shrine decorates it's grounds with lanterns made from paper bags holding some sand and a tealight. It has the feeling of Halloween (but not spooky) and the lanterns are set up to create cute designs like our city's mascot, Kuruppa. Last year we went to Hakata for their event, but it was rainy so a lot of the locations had canceled. In our own city, it's just one shrine, but the grounds are covered with the lanterns as well as bamboo lantern art. Even the river bank has some lantern art set up. Students from the nearby elementary school and kindergarten decorated some of the bags with their drawings. This years event, held on March 24, had a 'maruche' market, then a concert in the evening. We went early enough to see the lanterns and shrine in the daylight briefly, then watched the taiko performance for a while and walked around again to see the lanterns in the dark. Taiko was preformed by a children's group, then by the group Hakata Dokuraku, who was amazing. They're a brother and sister who have obviously studied taiko, but play them in a unique western style, similar to a dual drum solo in a metal band. A few other groups played that night, but we did't stay.Kurume.co.jp/suitenguTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRv7k-living_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaSun, 25 Mar 2018 19:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRv7k-living_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyp79-living_shopping_fashion_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaAbout 200 years ago, a 12 year old girl living in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, started experimenting with a unique technique of tying cotton threads with hemp before dyeing and weaving with them in order to create patterns. Den Inoue may have created the first 'tie dyeing' using the traditional indigo dyeing in the area, and devoted her life to developing and teaching the method of creating designs before the cotton is dyed. These days in the city, I often see locals wearing this mostly indigo-colored type of fabric, called kasuri. In the beginning it was made to produce kimono, but now kasuri is used for all kinds of products, from accessories to modern dresses. (Pictured: skull design shorts)There are sometimes kasuri studio tours in the area, although I haven't made it to one yet. I have only briefly tried weaving on a shuttle loom, but as a kid I often used weaving toys and have done a little lap weaving as an adult. When I moved to this city, I had no idea about the history of weaving here, but from what I hear it's no secret in Japan.Indigo Love Meeting Festival (藍・愛・で逢いフェスティバル) is an annual event held on March 17th and 18th this year, all about Kurume Kasuri. It includes a fashion show and locally made kasuri products. I appreciate the craftsmanship and design, so I was interested to see the products.As I left the house the morning was still cold, so I decided on my lightweight kasuri scarf, wondering if it was ironic to wear it to the event. After arriving I knew it wasn't a mistake as almost everyone was showing off their kasuri fashion.After I entered, a volunteer translator let me know she could explain things for me if I needed it and handed me an English leaflet and questionnaire. (I opted to go on my own, somewhat shocked there were translators available.) I didn't see any other (obvious) foreigners the whole time I was there, but they had prepared English materials for plenty to show up.There was loud and inappropriate hip hop music in English playing and I realized the fashion show was going on when I arrived. I have never seen one before, but wasn't especially interested and checked the original products displayed nearby which we were meant to cast votes on. The categories separated the handwoven items from the machine woven items and I noticed a difference in my feeling of appreciation towards the machine woven fabric.It was interesting to see the vendors but crowded. Tons of grannies who sew and make crafts were pushing around in the bargain scrap bins like they were in a department store with everything half off. I couldn't get near the popular booths or into the narrow aisles and went to the second floor after being shoved aside a few times. Upstairs there's a regular display with looms and historical data as well as amazing kasuri works made to represent woodblock print designs. In addition to kasuri products and hand-carved wooden buttons to be used on kasuri clothing, there are other local products and foods represented. I found it to be a lot quieter and less crowded than the first floor. When I went back downstairs I could see the vendors a little better and picked up a few small pieces for making into handkerchiefs later. There were some beautiful shirts and other clothing I was interested in, but the quality items were easily 20,000 yen each. I feel like because I live in Kurume now, I want to proudly wear kasuri products when I can afford it, especially back home and when traveling overseas. They're beautiful and unique durable fabrics – recommended as omiyage if you visit Fukuoka Prefecture!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyp79-living_shopping_fashion_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaFri, 23 Mar 2018 15:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gyp79-living_shopping_fashion_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxyW-living_familylifeI recently saw a poster in a community center showing data on the topic of household chores and child rearing duties as divided by gender. There was a considerable gap in the number of hours Japanese men spent on household chores (82 minutes a day) as compared with the closest country, France (150 minutes a day). The poster urged Japanese men to 'step up' their household chores to help balance the amount of work done by their partners. I find it interesting that the poster urges men to do more housework and child care, even if they only have some time on the weekends or holidays. This is in addition to the stereotypical long working hours in Japan.In September 2017 a Canadian study was published showing that women consistently do more housework than men (in the case of heterosexual couples living together). Age didn't play an important role in the amount of housework done. Time and resources are motivators for how chores are divided, but gender, income, working hours, and child care are the most important factors, the study found.I feel like the data for Japan on that poster is based on couples where the man works full time and the woman stays home to raise children and take care of the home. But what about career women? Why should they spend so much of their free time cleaning if they work just as much as their partners outside of the home?Here's the other side of that poster - the data for women.Articles related to the study bring up the economic downside to women spending so much time on housework and argue it should be divided more equally. If women feel they are responsible for too many chores, they will be less likely to have time available for working outside the home, even if they'd like to. Women are more likely to work part time than full time, and this contributes to the wage gap we still see around the world. This is especially significant in Japan where there is a shortage of workers.Are women more likely to want their homes to be clean? I think this depends on the person more than gender. Are full time housewives cooking and cleaning more than they really need to because they have the time? The household chores alone supposedly take an average of 7.5 hours a day for Japanese women. So it's a full time job. But this seems unrealistic to me. I've never calculated how much time I spend on chores, but I think it's usually limited to a few hours a day including cooking all the meals at home. (Is this data consistent with how much time you're spending on chores? Maybe I'm just lazy?)Back home and in Japan, I've seen and heard plenty of examples of busy husbands who do almost no housework at all, to the frustration of their wives. The women I talk to in Japan are usually shocked and call me lucky if they hear that my Japanese husband does his own laundry or washes dishes. In my family, I feel quite fortunate that my husband does any household chores at all, as he works nonstop. I don't feel that I do an unfairly larger portion of the chores. When I worked full time, he took on more of the responsibility at home.How about your household? You might feel like the household responsibilities fall unequally between partners, Japanese or otherwise.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxyW-living_familylifeTue, 20 Mar 2018 10:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxyW-living_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxyA-living_food_medicalIn the U.S. I had heard that foods like local honey and stinging nettle could reduce symptoms caused by hay fever, in addition to drinking green or rooibos teas. I've used antihistamines like Allegra, prescribed by a doctor in Japan, then purchased over the counter. I may buy the generic version (Without the guy from Arashi in a purple wig) soon as I've been sleepy and congested with itchy eyes for the last week off and on. It's not that bad, so I almost want to avoid buying any medications, but I'm not sure how long I can last.How about trying to reduce hay fever symptoms in a natural way, through local and seasonal foods?I just heard that tsukushi, or horsetail, was also good for preventing allergies in spring. We had foraged for a handful of the tan colored new shoots a couple years ago after seeing some people collecting them near the river. We cooked them in the frying pan with mirin and tsuyu, but they weren't amazing, so my husband didn't seem interested to try them again.After some online research, I found a list of foods supposedly beneficial for relief of allergy symptoms. Anything that is an anti-inflammatory (likewise avoiding inflammatory foods like meat and sugar) or that has anti-histamine properties is great. Ginger, turmeric, garlic, and onions are universally regarded as beneficial. Colorful fruits and veggies, as well as seeds and fish high in omega 3s are also recommended. In general, foods high in vitamins A and C should be helpful. Foods containing the flavinoid quercetin (including apples with the peel) and beta-carotine are beneficial. Some sites recommended fruits like mango and pineapple, which aren't exactly available everywhere during spring. I think it makes more sense to stick with winter or spring foods like parsley and kiwi which contain the same vitamins.There was a little conflicting information. More than one article stated that oranges and tomatoes are beneficial, then others said that there is histamine in oranges, tomatoes, cheese, chocolate, and red wine, so they should be avoided. It's hard to believe that oranges would be bad for you, but if you have allergies, they might be? In addition, cheese, chocolate, and wine are fermented, but not regarded as the healthy fermented foods that we should eat to help with allergy symptoms.Switching to recommendations on Japanese websites, several things were in agreement, but I wanted to find more Japanese foods that would be hard to find back home. One thing that matched was aojiro, as it usually contains kale, one of the many leafy greens recommended on sites in English. Oily fish like sardines are also mentioned, although referred to as 'blue' fish in Japanese. Similarily, egoma oil (made from ohba or perilla) is high in omega 3s. Fermented foods like miso and natto are also recommended.I found that horsetail contains quercetin and is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, as well as good for the respiratory system. As allergies are related to the respiratory system, foods that benefit our lungs should also help. I found that green leafy vegetables and grapefruit fit this category, although grapefruit is most likely imported to Japan. Licorice teais an expectorant, helping to clear the lungs and airway, but is hard to find in Japan. (I've ordered a blend on Amazon in the past, but it's rare to find any Japanese who like licorice.)This article (Japanese) is about the condition of the body during the change to the spring season. It recommends using foods like green onions, spring chrysanthemum, and mint to help our bodies through the change. Other materials I've recently read (Seitai Method) explain that hay fever is caused by an imbalance in the body during the change of seasons rather than only from pollen. It says treating the symptoms with medicines only makes the problem worse and we need to solve the source of the problem.I decided I needed to go out foraging for horsetail again, and at the same time pick up someyomogi(mugwort) and na no hana (easy to find because of their bright yellow flowers in spring). I think eating the local spring foods should be healthy, as long as they are properly identified and grown in areas with no pesticides. (Be sure to do your research if you decide to forage!)If foraging isn't your style, check your local yaoya, as I've seen na no hana and horsetail (tsukushi) in the right season. Have you heard of any other foods that help with hay fever? *Update: after cooking and eating a small amount of horsetails (as a kind of tamago-don), in addition to a na no hana side dish, it didn't make an obvious difference in my mild hay fever symptoms. It's been rainy so it's hard to know for sure. I'm still medicine free this season, with the exception of the occasional kakkontou.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxyA-living_food_medicalMon, 19 Mar 2018 18:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoxyA-living_food_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb200-living_food_shoppingSnack addict that I am, how could I resist the topic of food & drinks in Japan. In fact there are far too many things I could choose from for this topic.I'm guessing if you've been to a convenience store or supermarket in Japan, you've seen the shiny red package which is a caramel corn peanut snack called Tohato Caramel Corn. For around 100 yen a bag, there are quite a few seasonal varieties also available throughout the year. I love trying the seasonal flavors, and more importantly, seeing what new flavors the company comes up with. (Not to say I dislike the original flavor at all, it's also yummy!)I think the first seasonal Tohato Caramel Corn I ever bought was back when I lived in Ibaraki Prefecture and it was Tochitome Strawberry during the winter, when strawberry everything is available.This winter I got the local version of that same Tohato flavor – strawberry milk with Amaou Strawberry – Fukuoka Prefecture's most famous strawberries.This week I got a Hina Matsuri inspired peach tart flavor, in two colors (which seem to taste the same to me). It seems perfect for peach blossom viewing on girl's day, with plenty of cheery pink blooms all around. (Of course it works just as well as a snack during board game time, with a hot cup of green tea.)I also saw there is a matcha milk flavor available now. This is usually around every year during early spring, in time for the new tea picking season.See how many flavors are available on their (Japanese) website if you'd like: http://tohato.jp/products/caramelcorn/They are currently promoting cheese, curry, and kinako with syrup which I will be on the lookout for. I honestly thought their almond caramel corn was a regular flavor, but it says it's new on the website. I've seen the gateau chocolate flavor with the cute cat design, but haven't seen a lot of the new flavors they're promoting.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb200-living_food_shoppingFri, 16 Mar 2018 17:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb200-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3lWj-living_money_educationMy first year in Japan I didn't even get a library card for some reason. I'm a huge library fan and usually that's a priority when I move somewhere new. I guess I just assumed the library in Japan didn't have anything to offer me as an essentially illiterate foreigner. You'd be surprised though, from picture books to magazines, even beginners can find something they can look at.When I moved to our current city, I did get a library card right away. It was probably because even before moving here I had been to the library while visiting the 'culture center' in the middle of a big park. Recently I was pleased to find out that location - the biggest library in town - has a really good selection of books in English, although it took me too long to figure that out.Most of the English books are related to Japanese language and culture, but there also lots of English translations of books written by Japanese authors. There is a whole collection of classic English literature that I might get into as well. It isn't possible to borrow the books on my to read list, but if I just want something to read in English, I can borrow books at no cost, which is always a plus. Lately I'm enjoying getting into fiction again.I had been ordering books on Amazon.co.jp from time to time, plus bought a couple when I visited the states. It's so nice to have something to read in English that's not on a screen. Now that I figured out that I can borrow English books at the library, another plus is that I don't have to deal with a bunch of books I'm done with but that no one wants. I tried to sell English books to the Book Off in town, but they weren't interested. Foreign friends didn't want to read the books I had. In the end I did the Japanese thing and recycled them, because I'm not going to bring them back to the US when I visit or move back. (That extra space is reserved for lots and lots of snacks to share, always.)If you're living in Japan and don't have a library card yet, I encourage you to get one. You'll just need a residence card or other proof of your address in the city. Some libraries have free lessons or community events as well as books. At the very least, you might be able to use their internet while you're getting yours set up at home after a move.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3lWj-living_money_educationThu, 15 Mar 2018 12:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3lWj-living_money_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9p49-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaIn the southern part of Japan, camellia japonica is the hot pink flower we can see blooming even while it's still snowing between January and March. The kanji for tsubaki (camellia) is made up of the symbols for a tree and spring, signaling to everyone that the spring is on its way. They are pollinated by the Japanese white eye bird, or mejiro,a cute little green bird with a white outline around its eyes.In Honshu, you may have seen camellia rusticana, blooming from April to May. This type is known as yuki-tsubaki because it grows in areas with heavy snowfall.In Fukuoka Prefecture, Kurume City is famous for itstsubaki, camellia flowers and products. Different varieties are grown in the east side of the city, primarily the region called Kusano Town, which was recently absorbed into the city. It's still very countryside feeling, with fields as far as you can see and occasional single story agricultural factories and warehouses.Every year in late winter there is a Tsubaki Fair held in the city. Even in the central city, there are tons of camelia bushes and trees lining the roads, but the fair is to showcase the many hybrids from the region. Of course a lot of the camellia species grown in this region are originally from other Asian countries or even cultivated in the US. The specialty hybrids from this area are a mixed red and white (Masayoshi) large flower, appropriate as Japan's national colors. At the Ishibashi Cultural Center and park, we can see over 250 of these hybrids growing, but during the fair many kinds of potted young camellia plants are sold at an affordable price. I definitely saw one called Otome which is of the camellia rusicana species, so even without a lot of snow, yuki-tsubaki grows here too.This year is the ninth year the festival is being held and it's from March 10th-18th. From the Ishibashi Cultural Center, as well as from JR Kurume and Nishitetsu Kurume Stations, there are free shuttle buses on the weekend every hour, so we used those to get over to Kusano Town. There we could visit the 'World's Camellia Building' with its glass house and the nearby 'Kurume Camellia Garden.' Both locations had set up vegetable stands, the usual fair foods in small numbers, flower arrangements, and other local products. (I somehow missed it, but there was camellia tempura!) Mostly camellia potted plants and camellia products were being sold. Of these camellia products, an interesting one is camellia oil. It's used in beauty products (you may have seen it in your shampoo) and for cooking. We tried the camellia gelato, which is a locally made ice cream containing camellia oil. The white color of the ice cream is accented with some strawberry jam to look like the red and white spotted camellias popular in this city.We really enjoyed walking around the garden and got to see a lot of blooming plum and peach blossoms in addition to the camellias. We also stopped by the nearby Kyoho Winery and got to sample several of their locally made wines (which may have been one of my favorite parts). There was even a stamp rally so we collected the three stamps to spell tsu-ba-ki in the three locations and there will be a lottery to win camellia products.This was a great free outing for a beautiful day and I recommend it to anyone in the area, or in town at the right time.Kyoho Winery: Kyoho-winery.comKurume World's Camellia Building: https://www.kurume-tsubakikan.jp/To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9p49-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokaMon, 12 Mar 2018 10:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9p49-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_kurume_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgPL6-living_money_transportation_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaI had some frequent flyer miles with United Airlines, not a ton, but some that were going to expire with no activity soon. I researched a bit about where we could go from Japan, thinking about escaping to somewhere warm during the winter months. Traveling within Japan, especially the Kyushu region, is a priority for me while living here. Within Japan is quite low when redeeming mileage rewards. We had talked about getting to Okinawa some day, but I realized using mileage to get there was a great opportunity. While it's in the same region, getting to Okinawa from Fukuoka isn't a long flight, but paying cash for the flight is at least 30,000 yen per round trip. I found that using the United miles was just 5,000 miles one way per person. (Using American Airlines miles for partner JAL's flights are also a good deal at 7,500 miles each way.)As someone who used to nerd out on frequent flyer miles (getting several 'free' flights between the US and Asia) this is a great deal. It's well worth it to pay around 10,000 yen round trip to go to Tokyo for example, and use frequent flyer miles for getting to Okinawa instead, as the cash value is so much better for the same number of miles.The great thing is that the mileage rewards are the same for a flight to Naha as for a flight to Ishigaki (Panuishima Airport).We used United's partner ANA Wings to get from Fukuoka to Okinawa Hontou, then connected to Ishigaki Island. This winter is so cold, so I was looking forward to going somewhere much warmer during winter. It's one of those things I always think about doing when it's too late to get any cheap flights in the direction of warmth. It was a lot warmer than at home where it was snowing, but still colder than usual for this time of year. Unfortunately we were in town entirely during a gloomy and rainy spell so we didn't do any swimming. Even so, we really enjoyed Ishigaki Island. Almost immediately my husband started talking about living there after retiring, only half joking. It felt deserted and empty for a resort island, most of the locals were over 60, and the mostly single story buildings looked beaten down from harsh weather. We got around by bus and there were definitely Chinese speaking tourists in addition to Japanese and English speaking tourists visiting even during this winter season. The Yaeyama Islands' close proximity to Taiwan makes it perfect for international travel from there without going too far.Because January and February travel to Ishigaki Island is taking a chance, I knew we could get warm and sunny weather or gloomy and rainy weather. The locals wore down coats and commented that it was especially cold (between 10-15 degrees Celsius), but it was still a good 10 degrees warmer than Fukuoka. The wind was especially strong and cold, but the rain was mostly light and off and on. This just made us want to go back in a nicer season. October-May is the best time to go I hear, avoiding the rainy season, very hot and humid summers, and typhoon season with the chance of cancelled flights and ferries.We were there in early February, but it looked so green and lush, similar to November in Fukuoka prefecture. Tropical fruit trees and sugar cane looked like they were growing wild. We saw banana, papaya, and guava trees, although they weren't ripe yet.Ishigaki Island has tons of "shisa" decorating gates and rooftops and there is a feeling of Japanese but also a very different island culture. Similar to Hawaii or other island areas, it's a lot more relaxed than Tokyo and you might experience a late bus on occasion.The gloomy weather didn't stop us from taking a bus to Kabira bay where we saw amazing clear blue-green water and strange tiny islands the size of houses. We walked on the empty beach for as long as we could in the cold wind and light rain. Boat tours for around 1,000 yen per person shuttled tourists around the tiny islands to better views of a secret beach and probably coral and fish. In a warmer season, there would have been lots of swimmers and snorkelers, I'm guessing. Then we took a loop bus around the rest of the island to enjoy the view from inside the warm bus and even caught a quick nap. On another day, we planned to take a rare bus up to Akaiishi on the northeast peninsula to eat at Akaiishi Shokudo. When we arrived the shokudo was unexpectedly closed for the next two weeks and we were stuck waiting in the middle of nowhere in the rain for over an hour until the bus came back around. No taxis were in sight. We had planned to walk almost two hours to another area for the view after eating, so we headed in that direction, enjoying brief glimpses of the ocean along the way. By the time we made it to the next bus stop an hour later, we were wet and ready to call it a day; fortunately the bus arrived ten minutes later. It was a disappointing day, but still an interesting adventure. Ultimately we found the beach was beautiful and always nearby and the local areas were better than the touristy downtown. We enjoyed the trip in spite of the weather. I'd say it was a success because we didn't get sick during travel in the midst of a flu epidemic in Fukuoka. (Thank you masks.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgPL6-living_money_transportation_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaMon, 19 Feb 2018 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgPL6-living_money_transportation_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb2B2-living_money_transportation_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaNaha Airport (OKA) is the busiest airport in Okinawa Prefecture, in Naha City. My husband thought that Naha seems like any city in Japan so maybe it's not such a relaxing place to visit.He had been to the Yaeyama area in elementary school and liked it, so we decided to try flying into the less popular Ishigaki Airport (ISG) instead. There are some limited direct flights there from Fukuoka, Narita, and Chubu, but plenty with a stopover at Naha Airport.Once you arrive in Ishigaki, you could get a rental car or join a tour, or even take a taxi to your hotel. If you're traveling on a budget, there are buses on Ishigaki Island for a great price. If you buy the day pass (1,000 yen per adult) or 5 day pass (2,000 yen per adult) from the bus driver, you'll save a ton on transportation costs. Even if you're only in town for two or three days, the five day pass is cheap compared with paying for each trip, which can add up quickly. (From the airport to the ferry terminal downtown is 540 yen one way for adults.)As is the issue in all rural areas, the buses in Ishigaki are not frequent and in some areas you will not find any bus lines. Between the airport and downtown there are about four bus trips an hour during the day, so staying in the middle of these two areas, Shiraho, was convenient. The #10 bus even goes directly from the airport to a few of the larger resort hotels, making it really convenient for tourists without renting a car. For getting to Ishigaki's beautiful Kabira Bay (pictured above) from downtown, buses run every hour or so, but if you want to go to the northeast peninsula, there are only a few buses each day. It's possible but will require planning ahead and having a backup plan isn't a bad idea.From the downtown ferry port you can access several small islands in the Yaeyama group without a car. I heard you can get a ride on a wagon pulled by a water buffalo on Iriomote Island, so I guess that counts as public transportation, but I don't think any of the islands besides Ishigaki have a bus route. Some of these islands don't have any permanent residents and are very small.It doesn't seem uncommon for Japanese people to visit Okinawa without renting a car, even if they normally drive back home. It really depends on where you want to go and how much you want to fit into a day. I hear renting a car is reasonable on Ishigaki Island and it would be necessary for access to some areas. Some people also rent a road bike or mountain bike (2,000-3,000 yen per day) and even bring it along on the ferry to one of the other islands for an additional fee. Bike tours are even available if that sounds like a fun way to go sightseeing. Ishigaki Island isn't especially flat or small, so unless the weather is good and riding around 35 km in a day is easy for you, bike rental might be good just for exploring around the downtown area (although it's small enough to walk). Biking could be a good option for getting to those areas where the bus doesn't go frequently or at all, especially if driving isn't an option. We had the option to use bikes at our guesthouse but found they weren't in good enough shape to go very far. The ocean air had made them a bit rusty and they didn't have any gears, but they were perfect for short rides to the beach or market.We especially enjoyed using the bus route which is a loop around the main part of Ishigaki Island. It was cold and rainy, but we could get a nice view of the beaches through the lush landscape from inside the warm and dry bus.Instead of visiting Naha, I recommend beautiful Ishigaki Island instead. A little out of the way, but perfect if you want the beach to yourself, and definitely possible without a car.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb2B2-living_money_transportation_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaWed, 14 Feb 2018 15:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb2B2-living_money_transportation_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9pyn-living_food_education_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaThe first thing I noticed about food on a recent trip to Ishigaki Island, Okinawa was that it was a little hard to come by. The place is mostly 'inaka' – the middle of nowhere feeling. Rather than supermarkets and convenience stores every 20 blocks or less, there are sometimes neighborhood vegetable stands or yaoya and local markets or shoten. If you visit the other islands in the Yaeyama group, there might not even be any of these little shops.This caused slight anxiety that I might not be able to eat conveniently and become grumpy or headachy.My first experience with food on the island was at one of these shoten, a five or ten minute walk from the guesthouse in Shiraho. About the size of a convenience store, the staff barely acknowledged me as I walked in and said good morning, although I was the only customer. I checked out what was available and the prices, knowing they would likely be higher than on the mainland or at a chain supermarket. I was especially curious about any unknown and local foods they might have.The first regional food (or drink) I noticed was actually at the airport in a vending machine. A bottled tea called sanpin cha, which I had never heard of before, was also in the shoten. I saw tea bags for 'mizudashi' like mugi cha was also available and noted the price for potential omiyage. Sanpin cha is Jasmine tea, likely introduced to the area from Taiwan & China.In Ishigaki there is plenty of the Okinawan local alcohol made from sugar cane, awamori, as well as habu shu, the awamori containing habu snake venom. There wasn't tons of fresh fruit juice available during the off season, but I imagine during summer there is plenty of fresh mango, banana, papaya, sugar cane, and pineapple juice. I saw a lot of papaya and banana trees, growing wild, with their fruit still green. Of course you'll find Orion beer all over Okinawa prefecture.In that same shoten I watched a local come in and take a couple of the handmade onigiri I had considered before. I watched him take one of the kara-age onigiri, so I decided to try it. I've never seen that anywhere else and it was tasty. In addition to the kara-age, there was some omelette inside, and it was much fresher than onigiri you'd find in a convenience store. I also picked out some shio senbei, locally hand fried salt crackers. For four senbei at 220 yen, I wish they were cheaper because I could eat them every day. Simply made with just flour, salt, and vegetable oil, these are way better than the other salt senbei I found in the supermarket later. I liked those too – they reminded me of rice cakes in the US, but they strangely contained no rice, just cornstarch. I bought the locally handmade salt senbei a few times.There are a couple things people might think of asomiyage from Okinawa Prefecture: kokutou and chinsukou. Kokutou is brown sugar produced locally from the sugar cane and sometimes flavored with local fruits or salt. Chinsukou is a fairly boring butter cookie sort of snack, sometimes in local flavors like beni imo (or just 'plane.') Ishigaki Island also sells these products everywhere.One of the more local snacks I saw and decided to try is calledsa-ta- andagi- andlooks like a donut hole. The brown sugar flavor isn't very sweet and contains some nice subtle flavors. The homemade ones we bought on the street in the public market downtown were really good with some hot tea.My husband had researched a little about local food and heard about something curious called onisasa. The guesthouse owner also mentioned a shoten nearby that sold onisasa, so we went there and the friendly owner showed us how to make them. Onisasa is simply a thinly sliced and fried chicken breast (sasami), mayonaise and sauce, and an onigiri (without nori). These are piled into a small plastic deli bag, then the onigiri is smashed down to form an easy to eat sandwich-like meal. Not beautiful, but a tasty, simple, and interesting local food. (I imagine onisasa were created by accident.)One local food everyone might know is Yaeyama Soba. This 'soba' is actually made from only wheat, so it's more like udon or thick ramen noodles, cooked al dente, and served in a broth made of tuna, kombu, and pork bone. The noodle soup called so-ki soba is served with pork short ribs and I believe made all over Okinawa prefecture.Ishigaki Beef is also a local food, but it's just the local version of 'wagyu.' Local people supposedly eat goat meat on special occasions and we saw some people keeping goats. We tried yagi jiru (goat soup) but I have to say that restaurant wasn't very tasty so I can't give a good opinion on goat meat based on it.Satoukibi means sugar cane, not sugar cone, but okay.For dessert, you'll see Blue Seal brand ice cream everywhere with local flavors like sugar cane and mango sorbet. We tried several from the (Aeon) Max Value supermarket in town. In the airport and one original location on Ishigaki Island, you can find a gelato shop using local milk, Miru Miru gelato. The guava and sugar cane flavors were really good! It's such a tiny amount for the price, but so rich and satisfying.In the end, as long as you know where to look, there is plenty of food on Ishigaki Island. I'll bet during summer there is an abundance of fresh fruit being sold on the street everywhere as well.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9pyn-living_food_education_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaTue, 13 Feb 2018 16:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9pyn-living_food_education_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mqr0W-living_food_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaEven though it's winter, we had a lot of fun tasting unique flavors of ice cream available in Okinawa Prefecture's Ishigaki Island.Here are the kinds we tried, found in the local (Aeon) Max Value supermarket, from Blue Seal and special flavors distributed by Meiji.Chinsukou (salt cookie) and beni imo (red yam) tart flavors.Blue Seal's shiquasar sorbet, mango, and 'sugar cone' which is actually sugar cane. Meiji's acerola cherry and milk ice cream.We also tried the locally made gelato by Miru Miru in sugar cane, guava, pineapple, and beni imo. Yum!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mqr0W-living_food_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawaSun, 11 Feb 2018 16:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mqr0W-living_food_okinawa_ishigaki_shi_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9pv0-livingIn our city, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, but out in the rural area, there's a festival we meant to go to last year. One of my students lives in that neighborhood and invited me to check it out. It sounded really interesting and we decided to go and invite a couple friends along. Unfortunately it was rainy so at the last minute we decided not to go. Our friends went anyway and said it was worth it for the unique experience.On the night of January 7th every winter, men (and even lots of small boys) volunteer to wear traditional loincloths to run around with torches. We finally went to Tamataregushrine in the Daizenji Neighborhood this year for the Oniyo Fire Festival. I heard it's one of the three most important fire festivals in Japan. I'm not super clear on the meaning of it all, but it has something to do with good luck for the harvest in the next season.It's free to enter, but you will have to battle the crowds and cold. I agree that it's worth it as long as the rain isn't heavy.The shrine is right after a red pedestrian bridge, a five minute walk north of Daizenji Station from the west exit. Tamataregu is a beautiful old shrine with carved wooden structures, most famous for the Oniyo festival. Like most festivals in Japan, there were tons of food stalls and we could smell the yummy festival smells as we arrived. We could also smell a sort of campfire smell because of all the torches.Luckily my student was there with her family and saw us in the crowds. She grabbed me so we could chat and also so she could be our unofficial guide. They go almost every year (if it isn't rainy like last year) so they know the shrine well, although her son & husband don't participate. She is the one who showed us the bonfires where the participating men go to take a break before lighting the huge torches. She also explained some of what was going on to us and we watched with her family as they knew where the giant torches would be moved to.In addition to the familiar campfire smell, you will probably get some ash on you if you get close enough. Stepping on the burning embers and pieces of wood is supposed to bring good luck. Men shouted, 'o-isa!' while running around the shrine, then after a break to warm up near seven bonfires in back, they went to the center where the seven giant torches were lit. They then carefully lift the giant torches with long 'pokers' (as my student explained, like a giant wiener cookout) and move them through the crowds to the back of the shrine. We didn't stick around for all seven to be moved as the rain picked up around then. It was interesting to see and looked dangerous as well! I wouldn't want to try it.Postshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9pv0-livingThu, 18 Jan 2018 17:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9pv0-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn5VV-living_food_fukuokaStrawberry everything is available during winter in Japan, sometimes in large displays labeled 'Strawberry Festa' or something similar. Not only strawberry shortcake for Christmas, but also strawberry mochi (ichigo daifuku), wine and chu-hi, strawberry chocolates, strawberry Tohato caramel corn and popcorn, strawberry ice cream, strawberry soda and alcohol... It's great, if you like strawberry flavor, but real strawberries are also so good!Strawberries are grown through winter in greenhouses in Japan from November until May or June, so there are plenty for your Christmas cake. As spring arrives, the prices for fresh strawberries go down, and the need for pink or red things increase. Thus the strawberry flavor everything you can think of.Growing up in the US, strawberries were grown nearby, but I had no concept of different kinds of strawberries until living in Japan. The two popular kinds of strawberries and regions that I know of are Tochiotome grown in Tochigi Prefecture and the huge Amaou (sweet king) in Fukuoka Prefecture (where I live). Amaou strawberry flavored sweets are available all over Fukuoka Prefecture as omiyage. From giant Amaou Pocky and KitKats to Amaou 'Nanban Ourai' cakes they can be found in bigger stations in the prefecture. We even have Amaou 'Ilohas' bottled water, for a steeper price, of course. Other varieties include Hatsukoi no Kaori - the lovely white strawberries used for fancy deserts. There are tons more and more varieties being introduced all the time. Several varieties are available if you go strawberry picking, which we hope to do in the spring.Strawberry KinokoyamaAs for those strawberry snacks, here are some yummy seasonal strawberry snacks I've seen and tried this season. Look chocolates had a seasonal flavor called 'Four Kinds of Strawberry' featuring some of the strawberry varieties.Special white chocolate and strawberry ApollosStrawberry parfaitThis was 280 yen at Sushirou and really sweet. It had cut frozen strawberries on top and strawberry and vanilla ice cream. I split it with my husband who especially liked the shortcake part at the bottom. Strawberry Pocky and strong (5 times) strawberry Apollos. Apollos are my favorite Japanese snack I think. These are super good because the chocolate is darker and the strawberry flavor is stronger. It's such a nice combination.Strawberry 'Cheese Stick' (strawberry cheesecake) ice cream and locally made Amaou ice cream by MorinagaThese were both just okay to me, but my husband loved them. The cheesecake had more of a strawberry flavor than a cheesecake flavor, but not bad. It says it has three varieties of strawberries used. The Amaou ice cream reminded me of Cool Whip – it's very airy and soft, with a delicate strawberry flavor from the mixed in pieces of Amaou strawberry. Strawberry AlfortI'm usually happy with Alfort and this flavor wasn't a disappointment either. The smell is strong and reminds me of a kids cereal with berry flavor, like Crunch Berries. These aren't as cheap as the boxes of Alfort you can find (12 pieces for less than 100 yen) because they're individually wrapped. A bag with 15 pieces was about 250 yen. Still they are easy to share with others that way.Also recommended is anything strange like strawberry Cheetos or Tohato which is available from time to time (and also make good gifts to share with family back home). Strawberry sours or chu-hi are also always welcome during the winter. Kampai!What variety of strawberry grows in your area? Have you tried any great strawberry flavored snacks this winter?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn5VV-living_food_fukuokaThu, 11 Jan 2018 11:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn5VV-living_food_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK7BA-living_moneyKurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture is a fairly normal (or so Japanese people have told me) city of around 300,000 people in Japan. People from here like it because it's in the 'center' of Kyushu and has easy access by shinkansen.In addition to the free resources most cities of this size have to offer (parks, shrines and temples, and libraries), there are a few which are unique to Kurume City. (I've previously reviewed or mentioned some of these, so I'll link to them where appropriate for additional info and photos.)A little history lesson first: Kurume is an old river community which was mostly rice fields until recently developing as a suburb city of Fukuoka. It's most famous for tonkotsu ramen, Kurume-gasuri (traditional fabric weaving), and the Bridgestone Tire Company which was founded by Mr. Ishibashi from Kurume City. There are a lot of public spaces and parks named after (and funded by) the Ishibashi family.The center of the city lies between JR Kurume Station and Nishitetsu Kurume Station. That's where we'll start.On a clear day, I recommend a visit to Kurume's City Hall. If you don't have any business to do, head straight to the 20th floor for a great view of Chikugogawa(the big river flowing through the city) and the surrounding area, including Ishibashi Mansion. If you'd like, stay for a snack at Aozora Cafe. In addition, at the southern end of the city, there's a famous temple called Narita San, where we can find a Kannon statue so tall she can be seen holding a child from nearby cities at a high enough elevation. With an entrance fee (500 yen), there's a great view from inside the giant Kannon from what I hear. If you don't want to venture to that part of town, you can see the statue from the city hall on a clear day.In January there is a unique festival held at Tamataregu shrine in the area called Daizenji. Oniyo is held in the first weekend after the new year, on the night of January 7th and is an old rice farming tradition involving men in traditional loincloths setting things on fire.In June there are a few areas with hydrangeas in the region, but we often enjoy the ajisai on the nearby mountain Korasan while hiking up to the shrine. This is free, unlike some other ajisai festivals which are bigger but charge an entrance fee.In August the biggest event is the ChikugogawaFireworks Festival along the river. For about two hours, we can enjoy a great fireworks show. The autumn leaves are nice in the Ishibashi Culture Center Central Park as well as on previously mentioned Korasan, but both places are lovely year round.Near the Kurume Youme Town Shopping Mall, there's an always free museum called Kurume Usu, along Chikugogawa. This is really fun for kids, but also adults who enjoy culture, history, or aquariums. It doesn't take long to check out, but it's easy to combine with a walk along the river (Chikugogawa or the smaller Koragawa) or a trip to the mall.If you check the local announcement papers found in a library or public space, there are often other free events and occasional free entrance to local museums and parks that normally charge entrance fees.For example, in 2017 we could visit the Kurume Bird Centerfor free when they reopened the newly reformed penguin habitat. At that time, we learned about a local stamp rally. We participated (collected all five stamps) and got some fun prizes.We also attended an open house at the Japanese Special Defense Forces military base in town for an interesting display. Plus, they usually have their own fireworks display during summer.There's a lot of free events held in the Kurume City Plazayear round, often for free. They host plays, concerts, craft fairs, and rummage sales. Most recently, we went for an international fair and got to try some Latin cuisine and watch dancers in traditional costumes from around the world. The City Plaza is right in the center of town and next to our local 'shotengai' or shopping street. Behind the shopping street is a canal or small river which we often walk along. We can see koi swimming and during spring the trees are full of fluffy pink yaezakura, which is my favorite of the sakura blooms.If you're so inclined, you can collect free food because there are quite a few ginkgo trees in Kurume. In addition, in February you can find pop up shrines for Valentine's day in the local Iwataya Department Store (next to Nishitetsu Kurume Station).If you visit Kurume City, you can experience a lot of history and culture within a fairly normal Japanese City in the Kyushu region.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK7BA-living_moneyFri, 05 Jan 2018 16:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zK7BA-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7jrP-living_foodOn the expensive side, this Japanese but 'Belgian style' beer had me curious. Mostly I'm fond of the cute design on the can. It's called Suiyoubi no Neko, or Wednesday's Cat. Hmmm.I heard from a couple beer drinkers that it's good, so I wanted to try it, even though I don't usually drink beer anymore (it makes me sleepy). I bought a can from the nearby Hello Day supermarket for 286 yen including tax. It's not so popular that you can find it in any supermarket.We concluded that mostly, it's just cute. It's not especially amazing. At 5% alcohol content, it tastes like a light beer, but was still tasty. We enjoyed it with some dried squid and cheese and crackers.A couple other drinks, just for the fun design.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7jrP-living_foodSat, 30 Dec 2017 20:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7jrP-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVO1k-living_foodOsechi ryouri: Kazu no koTraditional new year food includes herring roe, or kazu no ko. It sounds like, 'number of children.'A couple of my students have told me their favorite new year food iskazu no ko so I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. As nigiri zushi.I've been told it's very salty, but this one wasn't especially. The texture is more what threw me off. It's really crunchy in an unexpected way, but not in a way I would call pleasant. I didn't really like it, but am glad I got the chance to try it out at a reasonable price (100 yen at Sushirou).More about osechi and their meanings here!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVO1k-living_foodWed, 27 Dec 2017 21:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVO1k-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wemyO-living_food“Sweet's” Super Cup's seasonal and extra expensive flavor, strawberry shortcake, is available during winter.I had seen these last year and wanted to try one, but they're over twice as much as normal Super Cup, and they're a smaller amount! The size of the packaging is the same, but the amount in ml is less, for over 200 yen each. I finally found some for a little under 200 yen so splurged for our Christmas dessert. I'm not really into cake (although they're awfully cute), so I'd rather have cake flavored ice cream. My husband would rather have 'rare' cheesecake than a (super expensive) Christmas cake. We both love ice cream, so why not?The top of the ice cream was bright red strawberry sauce, then there was a layer of whipped cream flavored ice cream, (there is supposedly another strawberry layer we didn't notice) and the bottom was cake flavored ice cream. It was nice and I felt satisfied sharing it with my husband, even though I can usually finish off the full 200 ml size super cup. I wasn't blown away, but also expected to like this. I haven't met a super cup I didn't like. Yet.Anyone else try these?(I also saw that 'Sweet's' makes a tiramisu version now, but haven't bought it.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wemyO-living_foodWed, 27 Dec 2017 21:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wemyO-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPm8-living_moneyMy reasons for preferring hostels are: cost, kitchen, and built in community.If you just need a safe place to sleep and don't plan to spend much time there during the day, hostels in Japan usually cost a lot less - about half the price of a hotel. Most have dorm type rooms, but if you can't handle potential snoring room mates (or if you are the snoring room mate), they usually have private rooms. A private room for two in Tokyo is sometimes just big enough for one bunk bed.Some hostels and business hotels in Japan have women's and men's dorm rooms, mixed dorm rooms, and even women's floors, depending on how big they are. I've seen signs posted that a quiet time is expected after 10pm, but depending on the guests, this isn't always observed (especially on weekends or when guests have been drinking) and it can be annoying.Hostels usually have a living space with a kitchen, TV room, sometimes a manga library, etc. They all have wi-fi included and most have a couple shared desktop computers guests can use for free. They let you keep your luggage there during the day after checking out if your flight is in the evening, etc. Some hostels have limited check-in and check-out times. If you arrange in advance, you will be fine, but the check-out time might not start until 8am for example. This could be a problem if you're traveling for business.Plus, there are a lot of people from other countries - usually young and friendly and able to get by in at least a couple languages. It's a nice place to meet people to go sightseeing with, talk about experiences, share a meal, and practice another language, etc. I feel like there are more older guests at hostels these days – traveling alone or older families. It used to be almost all college-aged backpacker types, but maybe they grew up and continued going to hostels. Note that if you're traveling as a couple, a hostel isn't always the best option because they might only have private rooms with a bunk bed or two single beds. Alternatively, your travel partner might be just a friend but the only option could be a room with one big bed. I've had both experiences. It's best to check photos and ask / make a note when you book the room when you're not traveling alone. A dorm room is usually bunk beds, but private rooms could have options like futons or king size beds.Usually hostel staff in Japan are decent to proficient at English and possibly other languages. In hotels, even business hotels with a lot of foreign guests, the staff doesn't volunteer to speak English in my experience. I think most front desk staff are required to have taken English exams to qualify for the job, but they might not be confident in conversational ability.From my experiences in Japan, hostels are often close to stations and in more convenient locations than hotels a lot of the time. Of course that's not always true, and if the hostel is far from a station, it might be next to a bus stop, cheaper, or less popular. Some hostel's staff will pick you up from a station or airport. In general, hostels have had really good directions on their websites so they are easy to find. Hotels are usually a lot bigger and have a visible sign, so finding them isn't as much work.You might be able to borrow a bike or a car from your hostel for a reasonable price. Hostels will frequently have either self serve instant coffee and tea, or that plus a basic breakfast (make your own pancakes or toast). This in addition to having a community kitchen is really convenient if you're staying a while and don't want to eat out for every meal.Hostels don't usually provide bath towels, but most of them in Japan will rent you a towel. Another negative is you will probably be sharing restrooms and showers with the other guests, rather than having a private one attached to your room.A hostel can make your travels in Japan more affordable. Usually dorm rooms are around 2000 yen per person, but it depends on the area and how new the building is. I think it's affordable to travel in Japan now, especially if you can travel during the off season.Have you had good experiences staying at hostels in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPm8-living_moneyWed, 27 Dec 2017 17:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GWPm8-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ94J-living_money_transportationMotenai! Don't let that bike go to waste!I am not fond of driving.This includes in the US and in Japan (even if I have only driven in left hand traffic while on a bicycle and at the Indy 500 ride at Tokyo Disneyland).In the US, I really had a hard time getting away with not owning a car or driving. I have a drivers license there, but sold my car when I was living in Portland, OR, unemployed, and in a good location for taking a bus or riding a bike downtown for any temp work. I was able to get by with only a bicycle in San Diego, CA. I lived close enough to work but it wasn't easy on my social life. It requires an intentional plan about where you live and work if you want to use public transportation or ride a bike so you can live car free.Don't be scared of biking in Japan!I'm pleased to say, in Japan for the most part, we don't need a car and are not generally expected to own one. This really depends on where you live and your daily routine, but as the majority of the population lives in cities, it's not a problem. In the countryside, it's almost necessary, just because public transportation isn't as frequent or close, if it exists nearby at all. Sometimes if there isn't public transportation nearby or running on a convenient schedule, a bicycle is a valid means of transportation. During the rainy season and winter months, or if there are steep hills involved, this isn't as easy. It's a matter of convenience vs. cost of maintaining a car for some people. In the public transportation vs. bicycle debate, sometimes public transportation isn't an option between point A to point B. This was the case in my first position working in Japan. Bicycle or 50 minute walk, if it wasn't by car. The bicycle obviously wins in this contest.The minimum age to get a drivers license in Japan is 18, so all drivers are done with high school, or close to it by the time they can drive. In Japan, elementary school students usually walk and junior high school students usually ride bikes to school. High school students sometimes bike and sometimes ride public transportation, depending on how far their school is from home. Schools crowded with moms dropping off the kids are not even an issue here, like in the states. In a lot of cases, I've found it's faster than taking a bus to get somewhere by simple Dutch style bicycle with no gears. I live in a mostly flat city, although it's more of a car city, maybe due to the frequent rain compared with the Tokyo region. I prefer going by bike to get exercise and save money. I also feel it relieves stress where sitting in a car (especially in traffic) just frustrates me.Another bonus if we walk or ride a bike when we are reimbursed for transportation costs at work, is that we can keep that cash for something else. Bikes in Japan are cheap and often abandoned.Maybe I'll save up for a nicer bike with gears? Most basic bikes cost around 10,000 yen, what you might get for one month of transportation reimbursement while working full time. (Or save in transportation costs each month if you switch from taking a train to riding a bike!)I do feel it's a pain sometimes to use a kappa (rain suit) and go by bike on rainy and cold days, but this is only recently. I think I will either find a nicer and properly fitting kappa or just allow enough time to walk with an umbrella or take a bus on those rainy days.Even if you don't need a car most of the time, if you want to go for a road trip or buy bulky items, renting a car can be an affordable option.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ94J-living_money_transportationTue, 26 Dec 2017 15:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MJ94J-living_money_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb2eJ-living_education_workCorporate and Test Preparation Lessons are an option as well!There are several types of teaching work here in Japan, with the most commonly known being teaching in public schools with the JET Program or through dispatching companies which place foreign assistant language teachers (commonly called ALTs) in the schools on the behalf of the board of education for that area. The next category that seems to be very popular is working in private language schools like the infamous NOVA and Gaba, mostly small classes of children, but sometimes adult lessons, after they are finished with school and work for the day. These are otherwise known as Eikaiwa lessons.In addition to these two categories, there are other, sometimes more lucrative, types of teaching work available in Japan. They are of the variety that we usually need experience for, or to at least know the right people to hear about. Of course, freelancing and picking up some private or small group lessons is an option, even for most teachers in Japan with full time work. We sometimes are asked to get the approval of the company providing our work visa, but legally we don't need to ask as long as the side job doesn't interfere with our day job.Similar to the public school positions, there are private schools, some of them English immersion schools, who will pay more than dispatching companies do, to hire foreign teachers - especially those with teaching degrees from their countries. Corporate lessons are generally set up by a dispatching company who hires out language teachers for company lessons. They may offer services by Japanese teachers to help with explaining a foreign language or culture as well as foreign teachers who teach their native languages. Some corporate lessons are presentation preparation, mostly building confidence and helping with English pronunciation for the presenters. Other corporate lessons are private or small group lessons for employees who work with international clients or those who will be going to work overseas. These are business-English type lessons, and textbooks could be used (instead of the presentation print out).These lessons aren't too different from teaching business English to a class or teaching a private student. The main difference is the level of professionalism expected, which also varies with the company you are sent to and the area. Working for a company equals using their paperwork, and some of them include quite a bit of it. Another note, these can be short term lessons. There are different situations and some company lessons would meet almost every week year round, but the corporate lessons I've taught were less than two months long in preparation for a deadline. Teaching test preparation has a lot in common with company lessons, that is, if the course is organized under a company who hires language teachers.The TestsInstead of throwing around some confusing letters, let’s list these tests you could be teaching the preparation for first.In Japan, the popular ones, for English proficiency at least, are:Eiken(and junior Eiken) which is an abbreviated form of Eigo kentei (English language test). The junior high schools in my city require third year students to take this test, which means if you’re a JHS ALT, you could be helping your students prep for this already. There are sort of five levels, with the lowest set at level five and the highest at one. There is also a ‘pre-two’ and ‘pre-one’ level, so I guess there are seven levels really.TOEICis probably the next most popular one. (Test Of English for International Communication) It’s mostly used to put on resumes, with some companies requiring a minimum score to qualify for positions. It is supposed to show ability to work in international environments and abroad, so it’s essentially used for business. Scoring for the Listening and Reading TOEIC test will be between 10-990 points, with higher points showing better ability. There is also a Speaking & Writing TOEIC test, which is not popular in Japan or S. Korea.TOEFL(Test Of English as a Foreign Language) is used primarily for study abroad in English speaking universities. It is not terribly popular in Japan, as most students will take regular ESL courses first or together with TOEFL test prep courses abroad. It is generally an internet based test, or iBT, with a score of between 0-120 points.A similar test administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) is theIELTS(International English Language Testing System), which is more widely accepted by universities in the UK and Australia.The Approaches(to teaching test preparation courses)There are several tests that students could be studying for, so if you think you’d like to become a test prep teacher, it’s best to see which tests are popular with your target students.One approach is to tutor in your native language to others who are also speakers of that language and taking a test that you did very well in. They will respect your score and ability to help them get closer to their goals. This can be lucrative as a freelance side hustle, if you’re someone who got a great score on the GMAT, for example.The other approach is to learn about a test in something (like English language proficiency) that you’re good at by default (like because it’s your native language) but not necessarily a super genius at. This is the approach I took. I teach English, so I got convinced that I can teach English proficiency tests to Japanese students, even though I have never taken an English proficiency test in my life. (That’s not true. I think I was forced to take a couple when applying to teach English.)I once substituted for a TOEFL test prep class in the states. I had to do observations and online training to learn how to substitute. If I mention that I once substituted for the TOEFL, people in Japan think it means I’m qualified to teach that and the TOEIC test, when it doesn’t really mean anything.The thing about test prep is, the test is really hard for the students, but not for the teacher. The teacher just knows how the test is set up and presents that information, along with any test taking tips gathered from their own experience (or collected on websites about the test). The test prep material (in the students’ language) is setting them up for how the test works, in all its parts and types of questions it asks. The teacher’s job is to help the students to be familiar with the material and get used to the patterns they’ll see while taking the test. They usually hold no responsibility for the students’ scores or improvement in scores. The students will be spending a lot of their time outside of class preparing even more if they’re serious.Thinking about teaching English in Japan? What type of lessons are you hoping to teach?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb2eJ-living_education_workFri, 22 Dec 2017 16:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gb2eJ-living_education_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAWk8-living_shoppingIn Japan, one of the cultural differences I often notice and appreciate is the background music, or BGM. It creates never ending entertainment or frustration. There is of course, background music of another style in the states as well, too much it seems.(I feel like the background music played in restrooms in the US is just too much, but I guess we don't have the fake trickling water sound effects we get in Japanese restrooms, which I also hate.)I chose three strange categories of background music played in retail stores in Japan.Muzak: From Keyboards to Music Boxes Step into just about any supermarket in Japan, and you're likely to hear the cheesy 80s style instrumental keyboard renditions of pop songs, which you may or may not recognize. Some are so different it takes a while to pick up on which song you're hearing. My favorite of these experiences is when I was picking up groceries and heard a way too happy sounding rendition of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, with the vocal melody blazing in on the keyboard.In fancier establishments (think museum gift shops or high end stores) I've often heard a lovely grandma style 'elevator music,' where the pop songs sound like they are coming from a music box. When you realize that music box song is Celine Dion or the theme song from Totoro, it's a strange experience. (When the elementary school where you work plays these tracks during cleaning time, it's also a weird experience.)Scandinavian Indie Yep, who would have thought that Scandinavian songs in English would be so popular in Japan. If you are at 100 yen shop Seria or Fashion shop Shimamura, this is likely what you'll be listening to. I don't mean pop artists like ABBA that most people would know, but artists from Sweden and Norway are especially appreciated in these stores. Usually the tunes are relaxing and sometimes enjoyable, but not quite recognizable artists. Some of the songs are covers, but unless you normally listen to The Cardigans and The Kings of Convenience, you probably won't know who the singers are. (I have sometimes heard songs I really liked, but been unable to figure out what they are without asking staff in the moment.)Looping Special TracksThis category is branded songs you can hear at stores like Book Off and 7-11 (Daydream Believer). If they think it is pleasant to hear one song non-stop, I feel so bad for their employees. I either go crazy and leave immediately or go into a strange zombie-like mood where I can't escape the store. I don't understand why they want you to get their song stuck in your head or be super annoyed while shopping, but maybe some stores want you to purchase and leave quickly.(I will spare you an example from this category, but you can easily look up the song played at Don Quijote if you feel like hearing something annoying.)If possible, I want to capture some of the songs I can hear at home from passing trash and propane gas trucks, as well as the occasional tofu or yaki imo sales trucks. This is something I couldn't 'enjoy' back home, strange and fun to me, if only sometimes alarming or obnoxious. Some people also love the songs playing at stations as trains prepare to depart. I enjoy how the songs are slightly different at each station, but the same tune along each line. What is your favorite background music in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAWk8-living_shoppingWed, 20 Dec 2017 17:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MAWk8-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G63R3-living_foodHave you noticed? Japanese people usually hesitate to take the last anything off the plate, and if they do, always ask first and apologize before doing so. It does seem polite to ask first, to make sure someone else didn't really want to eat the last one. We just don't have the custom to do this in the US.Foreigners never seem to take notice that it's the polite thing to do, and I don't want to seem greedy, but why leave good food to waste? It's also unusual to take home leftovers in Japan, which seems weird, as it doesn't seem right to waste uneaten food.I thought it was smart when I noticed a fellow foreigner brought a container with her when she went out to restaurants. She knew she would have leftovers and didn't want them to go to waste. As long as we aren't eating in a buffet restaurant, I don't think anyone would mind.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G63R3-living_foodMon, 18 Dec 2017 19:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G63R3-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk737-living_foodCacao 80% chocolate Acai & Blueberry by 'Royal Beauty'I'm addicted to these. Not cheap but so good and they feel healthy, although that's questionable. I found they can be purchased on Amazon as well as the store down the street (around 350 yen for an 80 gram bag), but also tried a similar product on Amazon. Brookside brand 'Dark Chocolate Acai & Blueberry Flavors' is strangely similar. I think I had tried them in the states, and thought they were amazing then too. At 799 yen, each Brookside package is 200g instead of 80g, so they will last longer. These are great to mix with raw nuts and dried fruits for a snack with a cup of tea.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk737-living_foodMon, 11 Dec 2017 20:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wk737-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgPNA-living_foodI tried these chocolates a while ago and enjoyed the texture or chewiness so grabbed a package of the 'bitter' chocolate again. Gaba is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel relaxed when we're stressed out. I'm not sure how effective it is and how much we need to feel any change, but it seems to work. The chocolates have gaba powder mixed in. At around 150 yen for a little bag, it's not bad for a tasty & sweet snack anyway. (One bag contains around 25 pieces and the suggestion is to eat five as a serving.)When I was especially stressed about preparing for a new course, I ate some of these. My mood went from feeling anxious to not really caring about the situation. I know part of the reason I felt better was from getting exercise, but maybe the gaba really helped. If I'm feeling hyper and can't just relax and enjoy my weekend, I wonder if it will help me calm down. Sometimes I need a cup of hot tea and some aromatherapy, or to just wear myself out so I have to stop. If I want to relax sooner than that, enjoying some of this chocolate might do the trick.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgPNA-living_foodMon, 11 Dec 2017 19:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MgPNA-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2EBX-living_foodI spotted these 100 yen snacks and wondered if they were basically Ritz Crackers with chocolate frosting inside. (There was also a vanilla frosting version.) In fact they are crackers which taste just like Ritz brand, with a sweet thin chocolate layer. Strangely tasty and addictive. I usually stick with savory foods with my crackers, but this somehow works.I found it funny that the wrapper said “World Sweets” because where else in the world would you find these strange cracker-cookies?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2EBX-living_foodSat, 09 Dec 2017 21:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w2EBX-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G63AW-living_food_money_fukuoka_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaKyushu Japan, Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City (Hakata) and Kurume City. Fukuoka's local foods include mentaiko, motsu nabe, and 'Hakata Ramen' (which is essentially tonkotsu ramen). If you take a stroll anywhere in Fukuoka Prefecture, you're bound to smell a strong tonkotsu aroma when you pass a ramen restaurant or yatai (the famous food carts in the area). When I get asked what Japanese foods I like, my honest answer is tsukemen (つけ麺) or 'dipping ramen.' To please the locals, now I adjust my answer to ‘tonkotsu ramen’ (豚骨ラーメン) which is also really nice. I asked some of my students where to get the best ramen in town, and I heard Taiho Ramen, (the original location or honten), was the place to go. Before even asking, I had a suspicion, as I had seen Taiho Ramen featured in a Japanese drama based on true stories that took place in Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡恋愛白書). Tonkotsu / Hakata Ramenuses a milky white pork bone broth (originating at Taiho Ramen in Kurume City). Tonkotsu literally means 'pig bone.' The collagen in pork bones is said to benefit joints as well as the digestive and immune systems. It is made by boiling the bones for over eight hours to create the tasty broth. Another difference is that the noodles are on the thin side, compared with ramen you might eat in Tokyo. It is often served with slices of pork belly, char sui pork, and miso tamago (miso seasoned boiled eggs). Other toppings like pickled bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, green onions and nori, plus spicy or garlicy oil, togarashi pepper, and pickled ginger are popular for Hakata Ramen. For around 1000 yen, you can get a big bowl of Hakata Ramen, plus kaedama (変玉 refill noodles).Mentaiko is cod roe, usually spiced. It can be found just about anywhere in Japan, but for some reason, this is one of Fukuoka Prefecture's famous foods. You may have had mentaiko in onigiri or combined into a creamy pasta sauce.Another way you can see mentaiko, specifically in Hakata (Fukuoka) is as a spicysenbei. The name of this local food is cleverly shortened to 'menbei.' Menbei is a super popular gift as a box of the individually wrapped rice crackers is affordable and light.Nabemono (food boiled in a pot, or nabe) is a popular winter food all over Japan, but in Fukuoka Prefecture, the Hakata style of nabe is motsunabe with 'hormone' meaning the 'offal,' or leftover parts of meat. Usually this is beef or pork tripe, including organs like the heart or liver as well. This makes for some potentially chewy meat, but there can be some tender meat included.Usually motsunabe also contains cabbage and nira as well as other seasonally available veggies. It is considered to be a low fat dish, but is often eaten along with other dishes and drinks. It's also popular because of high protein and collagen content. The soup base is usually a garlic shoyu or miso flavor with chili peppers. There are other broth flavors, the same as every nabe ryori, for example salt or yuzu. Some people add chanpon noodles to the broth when there is room in the pot after eating some of the veggies and meat.This is the soul food of Hakata, so it can be found in just about every izakaya and restaurant during the cold season. Some people love to eat it during the summer. You might even find motsunabe with mentaiko!If you’re in Kyushu, you can usually get tonkotsu ramen, although chanpon might be more popular in Nagasaki Prefecture. Of course a lot of regional Japanese foods are available in other parts of Japan, especially in Tokyo at the 'satellite shops.' (There is a Fukuoka Prefecture, Kurume City satellite shop in Tokyo now: Shinbashi 2-19-4 NT Building. Has anyone been there?)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G63AW-living_food_money_fukuoka_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaThu, 07 Dec 2017 13:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G63AW-living_food_money_fukuoka_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXq44-living_transportation_okinawa_naha_shi_okinawaMaking up the majority of the Ryukyu Islands, south of mainland Kyushu and Kagoshima Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture is made up of about 160 islands. How do you get there?By PlaneFrom JapanMost people visit Naha and Okinawa cities on the main island, or Okinawa Hontou. Accordingly, there are mostly domestic flights to OKA (Naha Airport), although if you want to visit the remote islands, there are more limited flights and connections from there.There are technically 13 (non-military) airports in Okinawa Prefecture, although some of these have very limited service - via chartered helicopter only.Domestic flights to Naha Airport are available with JAL and ANA, as well as discount providers, from Fukuoka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Ibaraki, Iwakuni, Kagoshima, Kitakyushu, Komatsu, Kumamoto, Matsuyama, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Nagoya (Centrair), Osaka (Itami, and Kansai with Jetstar), Sendai, Shizuoka, Takamatsu, Tokyo (Haneda, and Narita with Jetstar or Vanilla Air) and seasonally, Niigata and Sapporo (Chitose). (Excluding Airports within Okinawa Prefecture)In addition to Naha Airport, the other two busy airports are Ishigaki (ISG) and Miyako (MMY) airports. JAL Group's Transocean Air and Ryukyu Commuter operates the majority of the inter-island flights.Ishigaki Airport is closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan. There are direct flights from Fukuoka, Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya (Chubu) , Naha, Miyako, and Yonaguni.Miyako Airport, located on Miyakojima between Ishigaki and Naha, is accessable from Haneda, Kansai for the summer season, Naha, Ishigaki, and Tarama.Remote airports include: Kumejima (via Naha only), Kitadaito (via Naha and Minamidaido), Minamidaito (via Naha and Kitadaido), Tarama (via Miyako), and Yonaguni (via Naha and Ishigaki).From Overseas There are 10 direct flights into Naha from S. Korea and China, Taiwan, & Hong Kong (Seoul, Busan, Taipei, Taichung, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Kaohsiung, Tianjin, and Hangzhou). Honestly, there are more connections if you use small or discount airlines, including a flight from Singapore on Jetstar Asia Airways.To get to Ishigaki from outside of Japan, you can fly from Taoyuan (Taiwan) and Hong Kong.Miyako Airport is not accessible directly from outside of Japan at this time.It's quite possible to fly into Naha and transfer if you're hoping to get to a remote island from overseas. In fact, this is usually faster than using a ferry or boat to get to remote islands, depending on the distance.By FerryStarting from Kagoshima City and throughout the islands which are part of Kagoshima Prefecture, one can get to Naha by ferry. If you're interested in a leisurely island hopping trip, stopping at all of the 19 or so ferry ports within Kagoshima might be fun, but flying into Okinawa Prefecture is going to save you a ton of time. There are three island groups within the prefecture, and these are not connected to each other by ferry.On Okinawa Hontou, there is a port on the northwest side called Motobu. From there we can go to the nearby Ie Island as well as to Naha City and Yoron Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. There are also some small islands connected to the big island by bridge in this area. One of these smaller islands is Kouri – bridged to Yagaji Island. Between these, there is another port going to Izena and Iheya Islands.From Naha, there are four areas we can get to by ferry. First is Aguni Island, then Kumejima and Tonaki to the west (in addition to between the two islands). Tokashiki and the Zamami area is accessible, passing Maejima on the way. Miyakojima has only one ferry line to Tarama. There is another island very close to Miyakojima, Irabu Island (connected to the barely separate Shimoji-shima). You might wonder why there are no ferries going there. There is no need as the islands can be accessed by car as there is a bridge called Irabu-ohashi connecting the islands. There is also a bridge connecting the tiny Kurima Island to Miyakojima.From Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama area, the group of Japanese islands nearest Taiwan is accessible. Six of the larger islands in the group are connected by ferry to Ishigaki City. Yonaguni, the closest island to Taiwan, can be accessed by ferry. There are two ports on Iriomote Island, on the north and southeast sides. Kohama Island and Kuroshima are also accessible from Ishigaki City. It takes only ten minutes to Taketomi Island. The small island in the south of the area is Hateruma.If you have some JAL frequent flier miles saved up, you can get to Okinawa (Naha Airport) for 15,000 miles round trip per person from Fukuoka or Tokyo, and for 20,000 miles, you can go to Ishigaki Airport from Tokyo or Osaka. Check here for the full JAL Group Domestic frequent flyer Award Ticket Chart.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXq44-living_transportation_okinawa_naha_shi_okinawaWed, 06 Dec 2017 12:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXq44-living_transportation_okinawa_naha_shi_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm5q8-living_foodKameda brand senbei(pictured on left) are yummy, I've also had their limited seasonal sour ume flavor. I wanted to try the Kuriyama brand (pictured on right) because they're age-senbei, which I usually love for their extra crispiness. The Kuriyama brand shows weight and not number of senbei, like Kameda brand. There are twice as many individually wrapped Kuriyama senbei, although they are around half the size.Kameda Yuzu Salt Senbei 9 individually wrapped crackers, 155 yen.Kuriyama Yuzu Salt Senbei, 18 individually wrapped crackers, 129 yen.On levels of crispiness, saltiness, and yuzu flavor, I'll compare the two.I'm thoroughly satisfied with the crispiness (or rather, crunch) of the Kameda Senbei. Kuriyama's age-sen have a soft crispiness and airiness. They feel very light in the mouth.Saltiness is a similar level, although the Kuriyama ones might be a little saltier. They boast their salt is from 瀬戸 (setou, the area between Honshu and Shikoku), so the salt flavor is different, but I can't say one is better than the other.Kameda's yuzu senbei have a almost vinegar like sourness to them. They don't have much of the sweet and citrus flavor that you find in a fresh yuzu fruit. The yuzu flavor of the Kuriyama Senbei is very similar to the taste of yuzu ponzu or yuzu flavored fried chicken, if you're been lucky enough to try that. It isn't super strong, but recognizable as yuzu, for those familiar with the citrus flavor.I'm surprised to say, I think I like the Kuriyama senbei better, as long as they are just a nice snack, appropriate for kids. For something a little on the fancier side, with some hot green tea, the Kameda senbei might be more fitting and are still very tasty.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm5q8-living_foodSun, 26 Nov 2017 20:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wm5q8-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8QZd-living_foodThese are a limited seasonal product, sold every winter along with the Rummy (rum raisin) and Bacchus brandy chocolate liqueurs. I don't think I need to convince anyone. If you like chocolate and a little alcohol, you'll enjoy these. They're really sweet and use a lighter chocolate than I would normally eat, but that's the worst thing I can say about them. (Except maybe that they're a little too addictive and I don't need to be eating more than a couple of them at a time.) The packs of 12 chocolates are affordable for something slightly fancy. They aren't individually wrapped like some of the chocolate liqueurs for sale for the new year or Valentine's Day, but the quality is similar. I've only bought them when they're at around 150 yen or less, but some stores sell them for over 200 yen each.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8QZd-living_foodSun, 26 Nov 2017 16:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8QZd-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Qdd-living_foodI randomly chose a discounted yakisoba at the supermarket the other day because that sounded good. There was a discount sticker covering part of what I later noticed was a flavor. While cooking it back at home, I noticed it said 'tomato and cheese' and was confused.If I had looked closely at the package, I would have noticed it says, 'Italian.' I only glanced at the back to see the recommended veggies to add and thought it was weird they suggested green peppers. As we had some of the veggies they suggested, I went with those.The taste was 'Japanese Spaghetti' we decided. It was not the taste I was looking for. It was edible and a little interesting to try. I've never seen a yakisoba flavor - they're always just yakisoba sauce flavor. This was slightly pink instead of the usual brownish color. Have you ever seen a flavored yakisoba? Would you try it on purpose?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Qdd-living_foodMon, 13 Nov 2017 15:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Qdd-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRvXY-livingGum, like snacks and food packaging in general, can be really entertaining in Japan. It's not all bizarre, but some names and flavors are unique.Mint is the most popular, probably like elsewhere around the world.Flavono, it does not mean 'no flavor,' it's a ’breath refreshing' mint gum.Green gum, which you may have seen, is also mint flavored.No Time, as in no time to brush your teeth. There are also lots of fruit flavored gums. Some of it seems weird to me, but I almost forgot the watermelon bubble gum I loved as a kid.Now that I think of it, there was some bizaare gum I tried when I was young, like strong cinnamon, clove, and maybe black licorice flavors. I'm sure there aren't ume and blueberry flavored gum in the US though, that's really unique to Japan.Other unique fruit flavors I've seen are apple pie and peach.These little pots of gum have different (sponsors?) characters associated with different flavors. (Fruits and Blueberry again.)What's the strangest gum you've tried in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRvXY-livingMon, 13 Nov 2017 15:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GRvXY-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gypk6-living_foodI was not displeased with the Tiramisu variety of Crispy Oreos. As green tea / matcha is one of my top five favorite flavors, how could this go wrong? First of all, chocolate with green tea flavor isn't something I've had often, but I've had it in one example where it fit well: chocolates with fresh cream matcha filling, both Melty Kiss and Furuta (nama cream) brands with the same sort of concept. I do not like chocolate with coffee flavor a lot of the time, but in these cases, chocolate with matcha flavor was great.I'm not 100% if I like these or not, but they are good, especially the crispiness. They aren't as good as matcha ice cream or the fresh cream chocolates, but it's fun to try something different. I guess I wouldn't go out of my way to buy them again, but that's also true of biscuits / cookies in general for me.I hadn't seen any flavored Oreos in the states the last time I was there / living there, but researched online and found there are over 50 (really weird) flavors they have released there. I saw strawberry and chocolate Oreos for the first time in Japan. I'm so glad we only get basic and Japanese taste flavors here. Peanut butter flavor might be good, but some of the flavors available in the states sound too sweet and full of food coloring for me. P.S. Top five favorite flavors: coffee, matcha, strawberry, kinako, and black sesame. What are yours?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gypk6-living_foodSun, 12 Nov 2017 20:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gypk6-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBOqn-living_transportationStrange signage is just the beginning. Let's say it's a ... hobby of mine to take photos of Engrish I see on a regular basis.I think 'Kiss My Nagasaki' is a reference to a group called Kis-My-Ft2 or something. This poster is advertising seven new trains from Hakata to Nagasaki. We like Nagasaki too, but ... okay.Super cute posters in the Iwataya Department Store.Smart Wrapping must be what kangaroo pouches are. Or trains are ... these posters would make good wrapping paper. 'My Bag' must be like 'My House.' Got it, bring your own bag to the department store. Use public transportation too while you're at it. Let's save energy and reduce global warming, right. And let me use these posters as wrapping paper when you take them down.DOES. We are not talking about medication here.I see there is a holiday season mentioned. Thank you (I think) for writing the date two different ways. The simple way to say this is 'NO SERVICE (from Dazaifu Station) January 1st-3rd, 2017.'That time is coming up again. I think I'd better go there to help them.Shuttle Bus, got it. Please wait IN here? Where?Wait in the station? That's where I want to go yes. In the shuttle bus? Oh, in the lobby?"Please wait here" will do the trick.I'll be right here. Next to this sign.I think you get the idea. There is maternity in the car. Maternity is safety. But are you?Now I understand. Prams, strollers, trolleys, whatever you call them in English, are called 'baby car' in Japanese English.BABY IN CAR is too easy. But this is an unfinished baby, so it's maternity. For a little while longer - she looks ready. Then it's time to get one of those BABY IN CAR signs. (And ask others to drive safely.)Please, keep my baby. I don't want it anymore.We don't really need any text here. Many forms of these little gender stereotypes are used all over the world to represent toilets for some reason. The powder room must take women into the past (where she still had arms) and I hope resto isn't short for restaurant. Why do we say rest room anyway?On a local bus. Step Attention might be the literal translation.I always wonder about the circumstances leading up to the need to label obvious things. STEP. I'm a 'space cadet' but I still sorta look where I'm going. If someone has their face in their smartphone, they aren't going to look up to see this sign any more than they're going to notice a step.Her's hair? I'm so confused.There are a surplus of store signs / sign names where I just play a game guessing what kind of store it is. This is a fairly obvious women's hair salon, probably, but I could be wrong. Dog grooming?I still regret not buying this sweater. I would feel embarrassed to wear it, but it makes me tired of laughing. Laughing is not satisfactory I think. I'm satisfied by laughing. It's not funny anymore.Comment if you want the multiple choice 'What Kind of Store is This?' game.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBOqn-living_transportationFri, 03 Nov 2017 13:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBOqn-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G08vR-living_shoppingIf you pay attention, you might notice people using chap stick every now and again. Did you notice what kind it is? I've seen a lot of people using a dark green and plain looking chap stick called Menturm. I tried it after moving to Japan and have used it ever since, going so far as to stock up on some when I moved back stateside for a while. There's another brand which is almost identical, Mentholatum.Strangely enough, even these colorless chap sticks are called 'lip stick' in Japanese.Both Menturm and Mentholatum brands are a very similar design and can be purchased for around the same price – under 100 yen each usually, or a two pack for even less. These are both medicated chap sticks which contain menthol of course, as well as other extracts like camphor and eucalyptus. I love that stuff, but it's not a priority for everyone to use medicine smelling chap stick daily.I've noticed a lot of options, from color tints like Mentholatum's 'Tone Up' to UV, for around 200-300 yen each. One kind from Menturm even boasts using soy isoflavones. The Tone Up doesn't have an herbal smell, and just a hint of color with a good moisturizing quality. It isn't thick like a typical lipstick.If you aren't a fan of chapped lips, I recommend drinking lots of water and getting one of these medicated chap sticks during the winter in Japan. If medicated isn't for you, the other varieties by these two brands are worth a try, even if they are different from what you're used to from back home.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G08vR-living_shoppingThu, 02 Nov 2017 20:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G08vR-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOPJ-living_foodNovember 11th is Pocky (& Pretz) Day. (Can you guess why?)“Share Happiness” is Pocky's slogan and they want you to share Pocky with everyone. This unofficial holiday is one of many in Japan based on the date (or at least the sound of the date).The four ones in the date 11/11 look like some Pocky or Pretz, ready to share with a friend.It's obvious Pocky Day is about marketing Glico products, but they want you to remember to share happiness and 'appreciate the important people in your life.' (Shouldn't that be every day?)Anyway it's a good excuse to try a weird new Pocky flavor with some friends, right? (Be on the lookout for some special packaging in the next couple weeks.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOPJ-living_foodWed, 01 Nov 2017 22:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zVOPJ-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr83g-living_food_shopping_moneyWe all need to eat, and finding the time and money to do so is sometimes a challenge. Everyone has a different situation, but as it's a pain in the buns to bother feeding myself consistently, I'm currently working on some systems so I don't have to make so many decisions. I'm not the type to form habits, but at least knowing the best practices in my situation might help. We're going for cost and time efficiency here.Part of my research was to borrow a cookbook from the library promising to provide easy ten minute recipes. There's a three week meal plan, consisting of around 50% prepared foods that can be found in any supermarket and in lots of convenience stores. I promptly prepared one of the 'ten minute' recipes: miso peanuts. It took me over ten minutes to shell the freshly boiled peanuts we had (a popular food in Chiba Prefecture), and probably 30 minutes minimum to make the dish. Anyway, there were some good ideas in the cookbook. Best takeaway points: Don't be put off by buying some prepared items, as it's around the same price and saves timeCook simple side dishes that can last for a few mealsUse leftovers to make bento lunchesBut then I thought, this is really for families and people who have time (and an interest) to cook. What about all those other people?There are so many full time workers who are single, probably living alone, with a tiny excuse for a kitchen. These people might not hate cooking, but probably don't have time to cook or patience to try cooking in a limited space with limited in kitchen resources.I've totally been here. Working 'full time' (still less than typical Japanese full timers) as an ALT, eating school lunch on weekdays, and constantly wondering why I keep trying to cook at home. They key here is super simple and minimal at home, as you might have no counter, maybe a microwave and a mini-fridge, and one or two burners on a stove. I only recommend a rice cooker if you aren't eating school lunch or outside every day, or if you really want to makebento every day and eat rice at least twice a day. A saucepan is enough to boil water for instant coffee, soup, and noodles. Don't bother even trying to make real miso soup. Just get the instant stuff. Don't bother trying to cut vegetables or really cook anything with a kitchen like this. It's probably cheaper to go out to eat. I recommend a container that fits in your fridge that can be used for powdered sports drinks or mugi-cha during summer. One deep frying pan with a lid or a saucepan is enough. The money you save by refraining from buying any fancy kitchen stuff can be used for eating out. It's best to sort of eat the same thing every day, but variety will come with the seasons. Different fruits will be cheaper depending on the season and you might make all your drinks iced for the warm part of the year. Eat what you love and what's convenient and healthy. If you keep those basic foods in stock, you can save money and avoid last minute trips to the convenience store. Simple.Basics to have on stock: drinks like instant coffee and tea bags, alcohol (much cheaper than in a bar), and juicesinstant ramen and soups for when the weather is bad and you don't feel like eating outsnacks or simple meals like yogurt, cereal, fruit, breadsimple meals that can be microwaved (niku-man?) maybe rice to cook in a saucepanmaybe eggs and a frying pan (can be used to toast bread, if your microwave doesn't do that)prepared side dishes, snacks, and frozen treats if you like those(Note: This is not what I did when I lived alone, but what I would do now if I were in this situation again.)Even with my more typical kitchen, I'm trying to keep things simple. The special menu / experiments can wait for the weekend.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr83g-living_food_shopping_moneyMon, 23 Oct 2017 10:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr83g-living_food_shopping_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdJ8e-living_foodI haven't bought a snickers bar in at least five years (the checkout area candy bars are tempting after shopping for too long). Randomly I went into a 7-11 when I had a few spare minutes before work, but these days I stay clear of the convenience stores to save money when possible. I noticed there was a fancy Snickers bar along with the normal ones. It's called “Snickers Kiyami Mugi” or 'fancy oats' basically. I was interested, as I'm a fan of the oats and granola, which aren't so popular in Japan. At 140 yen each, they run slightly more than the regular Snickers bars. I found them at Family Mart discounted to 120 yen each, tax included, and haven't seen the snack size versions yet.At first I thought the bar had broken in half when I opened the package, then I realized there were two smaller bars inside. A la Kit Kat, they can easily be shared with a friend. The taste was great – as the Japanese website says, “American level sweetness chocolate” is right. They reminded me of the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I used to always make back home. I don't think they're available outside of Japan, so I might need to set aside some to bring as a present the next time I visit. I'm not sure how long they'll be available for. Maybe until October 23rd? Or long enough to share for Halloween treats?Consensus = Recommended!Here's the Japanese Snickers product page for these: http://snickers.jp/product.htmlTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdJ8e-living_foodSun, 15 Oct 2017 15:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MdJ8e-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkN6G-living_food_shopping_howtoFirst off, to avoid confusion, let's explain the other names for coriander used in Japan.Most common is the Thai name: パクチー (pak-chi, pakuchi)The Chinese name: 香菜 (shan tsai)The English name: coriander (or cilantro)(I haven't seen 'cilantro' used in Japan as it's the Spanish word and only used on the west coast of the US from what I can tell. Where I'm from, we usually say cilantro for the leaves and coriander for the seeds used as a spice.)There are also the similar looking mitsuba (三つ葉, wild chervil) and parsley (パセリ) sold in Japan, so you'll want to smell and make sure that distinct coriander smell is there.The stuff is not for everyone, I know, but if you like coriander you'll understand the struggle to find it in Japan. I've lived over half my life close to Mexico and love cilantro with Mexican food, but also in Thai and Vietnamese food or whatever else. When I first came to Japan in 2012, I really missed cilantro being available in every store for less than a US dollar.I saw fresh cilantro in a supermarket exactly once the first year I lived in Japan, so of course I bought it, even though I think it was over 200 yen. It wasn't called cilantro at all, but I thought it looked like it, and it definitely had the right smell. I don't exactly remember, but I think it must have been labeled with the Chinese name for cilantro, 'shan tsai.' It is slightly different from the Mexican cilantro I'm used to, but basically the same. Never saw it again, so I assumed it was only available seasonally.I went to a garden store and found 'coriander' seeds – the stuff of cilantro! So I decided to grow my own, in my little apartment with no balcony. I even shared the seeds with another Californian who I knew missed cilantro, and he was excited to try growing it also.Unfortunately, I totally failed at growing cilantro. I think summer in Japan is too humid and the humidity levels in my apartment were more like a sauna than the dry regions where it's grown in Mexico and California. Back in Japan a couple years ago, I bought some seeds and decided to try growing cilantro again. This time the seed packet was labeled pakuchi, the Thai name for coriander. It could be another variety which is better suited to humid summers, but it still tastes amazing.This time it worked, but the plants were tiny and once they went to seed, the cilantro was done. They were also attacked by aburamushi, or aphids that first summer, even on the second floor balcony. I found the plants grew back in the fall and actually did a lot better. The seed packet shows it can be grown both during summer and fall in part of Japan. I also did a little research about how to grow cilantro, and most people plant it every 2-4 weeks during the planting season to ensure they have it for a while. A lot of people use an indoor hydroponic system to grow coriander without soil, by adding nutrients to water. I haven't tried this yet.Pakuchi is a lot more popular in Japan now than it was five years ago and I'm delighted that people know what tacos are and have even tried them. In even normal small cities in Japan (mine is around 300,000 people) there could be a Thai restaurant and a Spanish or Mexican restaurant. They have to get their cilantro somewhere.I started growing some cilantro a few weeks ago, but it's still tiny. I made Mexican rice (in the rice cooker) and had plans to make some taco meat with a taco seasoning packet, so I really wanted to find some cilantro to eat it with. I did a little research which suggested trying bigger supermarkets, so I went to one called 'Max Value,' which is in the AEON group. In the fresh herb section, along with mint and parsley, there was cilantro!For 200 yen, they sold small bunches of coriander growing in tiny pots. Growing in dirt so they can even be planted if you want a kitchen garden, as the S & B name suggests. It's great to know that there is somewhere in town I can go to for cilantro when I don't have it growing. I'm not sure if it's sold year round, but it looks like it probably is. This packaging had all three of the names used in Japan for coriander. Can you easily find coriander where you live?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkN6G-living_food_shopping_howtoThu, 05 Oct 2017 10:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wkN6G-living_food_shopping_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZPON-living_transportation_fukuoka_shingu_machi_fukuokaWhen you're feeling the urge to get away but only have one spare day and limited cash, the field trip style day trip is perfect. Pack yourself a lunch, get outta town, relax, and come home. For just the price of transportation and maybe a souvenir it's still refreshing. Even when you live in Tokyo, there are so many options for day trips that don't require an entrance fee.I'll walk you through a recent excursion, a day trip to "Cat Island."Cat Island is the nickname for several islands in Japan, so to clarify, I'm writing about Ainoshima in Shingu Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. A fishing village home to around 300 people and around 100 stray cats, Ainoshima is way more interesting and relaxing than a cat cafe. From Fukuoka City, this trip costs under 2000 yen per person.Get ReadyIt's recommended to bring a lunch and drink with you as there is only one cafe restaurant on the island (although there is a little yakitori take-out place which is not seeking out tourists as customers). There is at least one vending machine near the port once you arrive.Do not bring food (esa) for the cats on Ainoshima, as they are not supposed to be fed. This doesn't stop some people, especially the locals, but it's more to keep the number of cats under control. When the number of stray cats is too high, local bird populations can be depleted, so it's a matter of keeping the ecosystem in balance. You'll see cats hanging out with fishermen who share scraps or running after the locals who they know often feed them. There are also some food and water dishes set out near the houses, although there are probably some collar-wearing pet cats who they belong to.Check the bus and ferry schedules in advance: (Japanese only) Route 1 bus schedule from Fukodaimae Station, including ferry schedule: http://www.town.shingu.fukuoka.jp/index.cfm/1,21110,284,191,htmlFrom Shingu Port, ferries leave only six times a day between April and September: 7:50, 9:20, 11:30, 14:30, 16:40, and 18:10. During the rest of the year, the afternoon times change and there are only five ferries a day.Riding the ferry can get cold and windy, so be careful with any loose items and wear layers if you want to look out from the second level. It does get a little bumpy on the short ride, so if you might get seasick, make sure you take medicine for that.Get SetFrom Hakata Station, take JR Kagoshima Main Line to Fukkoudaimae Station (15 minues and 280 yen). Exit to the West side and you'll find a bus stop in front of the Family Mart.Take Community bus 'Ai-land Line Route 1' to Shingu Port. Fare is 100 yen and the announcement for the stop is in English (As well as the return announcement that you've arrived back at the station). You will also see the ferry port and the ocean by the time the stop comes up. (From Nishitetsu Shingu Station, take 'Route 2' to the port.Buy a ticket (one way only) from the machine inside the ferry building. The top left button shows “Adult ticket, one person” and the fare is 460 yen. There are toilets in the building and vending machines nearby. You can throw away any trash right before boarding the ferry, as there are a couple trash cans in front of the loading dock. Trash must be carried back from the island with you as there is limited trash pick up on the island. (Exceptions are if you buy something to eat on the island.)The ferry takes about 17 minutes each way. You will give the ferry ticket to staff after exiting the ferry on Ainoshima. Ferry tickets to get back to Shingu port can be purchased from the machine in the store in front of Ainoshima port. This is also where the only public toilets on the island are.Go CatsOnce you arrive, the “aisatsu cats” as I like to call them, will be waiting to greet you. Or maybe they'll be napping. But they are friendly for stray cats. You can pet them and most of them will love it, hoping you brought food with you. (But remember, don't feed the cats!) Most of the cats get along and sleep in kitty puddles together. When it comes to food, there are more dominant cats who will growl and try to prevent the other cats from eating. I saw a local swatting at some of these boss cats when they protested as she was trying to give all of the cats some food.One thing a lot of people commented on was how small and young the cats are. Stray cats don't live as long as pet cats, averaging only 4-5 years. Plus they are not all getting food in the same quantity as pet cats, so some of them are quite thin. A lot of the cats have drippy eyes, so be sure to wash your hands before eating.We spent around four hours on the island, which was plenty of time. There is a 5km walk around the island with several viewpoints, but we opted for the random trails through the middle of the island, where we could. Some of these trails were really overgrown and if they weren't, the mosquitoes and huge spiders bothered me enough. We did get to several of the viewpoints and walked along part of the main trail. Almost all of the cats we saw were near the water along the port. We saw tons of huge carnivorous birds called tonbi (black kite) floating above us, which I'm guessing would snatch up any cats that went into the woods. They seemed happy enough fishing away from the tourists.I had fun looking through rocks and shells near the port. There isn't really much of a proper beach unfortunately. I didn't see anyone swimming, but the water looks clean and if it was much warmer I would have at least put my feet in. We ate our lunch behind a seawall in the shade along the water and surprisingly the cats didn't come looking for handouts.There's a little gift shop where we got a mikan sherbet, but we didn't eat in the restaurant. It was fun looking around the small neighborhood, taking pictures, and petting cats. Ainoshima is a great getaway close to the city for some fresh sea air and if you want, fresh seafood in the restaurant. Total transportation cost from Hakata return trip is 1680 yen if using JR trains.Ainoshima 相島Shingu 新宮Fukkoudaimae Station (Fukuoka Institute of Technology) 福工大前駅http://www.welcomekyushu.com/event/?mode=detail&id=9999900048745&isSpot=1&isEvent=To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZPON-living_transportation_fukuoka_shingu_machi_fukuokaTue, 03 Oct 2017 15:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZPON-living_transportation_fukuoka_shingu_machi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9qOM-living_foodYou may have seen, heard about, or even eaten whale meat in Japan.I have not eaten it, and am sort of on the fence about it, as it’s unique but also feels wrong to me. I can find whale meat, or kujira, in a local supermarket on a regular basis for around 700 yen per 100 gram pack. Sometimes restaurants serve it as sashimi.Culturally for foreigners, it sounds strange to eat some of the meats which are common in Japan and around the world. Pork, whale, and horse meat are the first ones that come to mind. In addition, I’ve heard of many other meats eaten around Asia: snake, frog, dog, cat, and bear. Even rabbit, deer, and moose seem strange for me, although in some parts of the US, it’s completely normal to eat these.As a former vegetarian, maybe I’m a little more sensitive than some people, but I’m also interested in trying new foods, especially as part of a cultural experience. If someone is feeding me, I would rather be polite and not so picky about what they are providing. (For example, in general I would avoid eating duck, but it was served as part of a fancy meal while I was working in Korea, so I tasted it.)The world’s supply of fish is decreasing and I don’t think it’s healthy or sustainable to eat meat all the time, so we usually only eat it once a week at home. When it comes to animals I think of as pets or endangered animals, I have to draw the line. In addition, I really like whales and bears, so it seems too sad to eat them. (If I think about it too much, I still feel bad eating animals at all.)So what do you think about eating whale and other ‘culturally different’ meats? How do you make that choice (as long as you have it) and where would you draw the line? What’s the weirdest meat you’ve tried? (I have eaten basashi, which is horse sashimi, in Japan and crocodile meat in the US.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9qOM-living_foodFri, 15 Sep 2017 14:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/M9qOM-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpXBM-living_shopping_money_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaIt's Rally TimeYou may have heard about stamp rallies in Japan. Some are only worth doing if you don't have to spend tons of time and money to go to a lot of different locations. These are popular during summer at train stations, to help entertain all the kids traveling with their families on summer vacation. Not only for kids, stamp rallies offer prizes like train company brand products or character products. They're usually sponsored by companies and have some marketing and promotion going on, but there isn't usually any requirement to buy anything. The common train company stamp rallies are perfect if you're already planning on touring around to a lot of popular stations, especially with a Seishun 18 Kippu and lots of free time.Usually, we'll find instructions and a card or sheet to collect stamps on, along with a unique stamp at key points in stations or convenience stores. Even if you don't think you'll collect enough stamps to get any prizes, the stamps themselves are sort of interesting and fun to stamp as a souvenir. There are a lot of varieties in size, shape, and ink color.A lot of tourist area stations and public spaces like shrines and museums have their own stamps all year. Some people like collecting the stamps in a special book, to remember a trip or appreciate the different designs. (I recommend Mujirushi's 'passport' style blank notebooks for this.) Characters exist for a lot of cities and tourist areas in Japan, so the stamps often feature unique characters. Maybe cute characters aren't your thing and you just want to win free stuff.Stamp rallies are even used as promotional events for some shopping malls. There are tons of varieties; I've even seen stamp rallies where we stamp onto fabric to make a unique hand towel. I was recently in Tenjin (Fukuoka) and saw that Mitsukoshi shopping mall had a cat event going on. After a meeting near there, I had a little time and got excited about a promotional event where guests could collect interesting cat stickers.Cats are quite popular, so a lot of people were interested to participate in this event. After collecting a postcard and five cat stickers (which can be stuck onto the postcard), guests can get a free cat shaped cookie. The postcard showed the areas in the shopping mall where we could collect the stickers and where to collect the prize.I was super tired before finding this, then suddenly became an excited child, running up the escalator to get the next cute cat sticker. Each floor had a display with cat design products and there were some photo spots including a huge cat sculpture. On the final floor, where prizes were collected, they had set up a small gallery showing cats and lions in similar photos and tons of cat products. Guests could print their own cat photos from their smartphones using the (sponsor) Peco app and tape them to a mini cat gallery wall. Unfortunately, the cookies are limited to 100 per day, so they were all out. (Zannen) I had so much fun collecting the cat stickers that I didn't even care. It didn't cost me a thing and I got a cute postcard and five stickers.Did you participate in any fun stamp rallies this summer?Edit: A stamp rally in my city gave fun prizes this year. Here's the completed postcard with the required five stamps.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpXBM-living_shopping_money_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaThu, 24 Aug 2017 07:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpXBM-living_shopping_money_fukuoka_fukuoka_shi_fukuoka_chuo_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrbRw-living_food_fukuoka_kurume-shiAfter thinking about the best place to eat outdoors for over a month and always answering, “no where,” finally I have an answer. It's way too hot during summer in Japan, so eating outside is not at all appealing to me. We don't see outdoor seating everywhere as soon as the weather warms up in spring, the way I do in the US. Somehow, eating outdoors never caught on here. I blame it on the high humidity and bugs that are abundant during the part of the year that's warm enough to be outside on purpose. Camping and outdoor BBQs are popular for some people, but a lot of others would rather avoid the inevitability of sweating and bug bites. Even covered areas and gazebos are hot and don't keep the bugs out. Indoor patio spaces are a nice compromise, with the comfort of air conditioning and the functionality of outdoor furniture.I found my answer for the best places to eat outdoors when I went out to the countryside to go blueberry picking. The best place to eat outdoors is on a farm – in other words, picking and eating fruit.It's been a really long time since I've done this, and I'm excited to do a lot more of it in the future. In fact, we had a great time blueberry picking and decided to go there every year. In this particular case, we paid an entrance fee (700 yen) to an organic (pesticide free at least) blueberry farm, and there was no time limit. Link to the farm review here. We were given baskets to collect the blueberries in, from both an outdoor area and a green house. There was outdoor seating in a covered area, which is where everyone went to eat their berries (not including the berries immediately eaten after picking). There's a small 'stream' shallow pool for kids to stay cool in and a place to wash our hands before eating. I was happy to see a lot of young children, making that connection of where food comes from. We were alone while in the green house – probably because that's where the mosquitoes were hanging out and we didn't get the wind so it got too hot quickly. We heard the blueberries grown inside can get as big as coins, but didn't see any that big.At this farm there was also a 'cafe' and gift shop indoors, in an air-conditioned space with plenty of seating. There was a small pond inside with huge goldfish and I saw staff letting some kids feed them. The cafe sold items like blueberry soft cream and smoothies. But everyone ate outside. I'm not sure if it was because of potential messes (there were tons of dropped blueberries which eventually got stepped on) or just because no one really thought to go inside. (I know with small kids it's easier to clean up if we eat outside in the warm seasons – my mom used to literally hose off my brother and I after we ate popsicles as kids.)We had called in advance to ask if it was alright to bring outside food because it sounded good to add blueberries to a salad. We got the okay and while eating thought that yogurt would be a good choice next time. They were also yummy on their own of course.Have you gone to a picking farm in Japan yet? We're hoping to do this a lot more in the future. So glad it finally worked out to go.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrbRw-living_food_fukuoka_kurume-shiThu, 27 Jul 2017 10:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrbRw-living_food_fukuoka_kurume-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0aEw-livingSeven Methods for Not Dying During Summer in Japan, as loosely interpreted from Paloma free paper.*The actual title is more like 'Seven Ways to Protect Your Body When it's Hot Out.' I needed this reminder to take care of myself, as I'm not going a very good job lately. (The daily kakigori only helps so much.)The article is divided into two sections: Indoors and Outdoors.Outdoors1. First, use a 'cool towel' or similar product to keep the back of your neck cool. There are a couple big blood vessels on the back of the neck that provide blood to the brain. Keeping those cool helps us feel cooler. A wet handkerchief or an ice pack (we can get them for free when buying cold foods sometimes, or at 100 yen stores) wrapped in a towel work great as well.2. Avoid wearing clothing with dark tones, but cover your arms and legs with lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. When the sun hits our skin, it makes us feel hotter. It also sometimes results in sunburn. Lots of women in Japan wear 'bike sleeves' and cover up well. If you're going for a tan, be careful and don't forget the sunscreen when you have exposed skin.Another reason I prefer long sleeves and pants during summer is because when you step inside, it's easy to feel cold after a while if stores or trains are strongly air conditioned.3. Wear a hat or use a parasol to avoid direct sunlight. Find hats with ventilation, like the woven straw 'basket hats' that are popular now, or partially mesh ball caps. Parasols are versatile during the wet season, but I've never seen men using them, and they're no fun when you need both your hands free.4. Fourth, drink plenty of water, but also get enough salt. There's a balance of salt and water that the body likes to maintain, so if we don't have enough salt, in correlation, we don't keep enough water in our bodies. This is why some sports drinks contain salt and you can see salt lemon candy during summer. Indoors5. Next, block sunlight coming through windows with an outdoor filter or curtain in a dark color. Some people use affordablesudare(rattan blinds) and tie them up so they can have a shady balcony and keep the house cooler. Others plant fast-growing vines like goya or morning glory under a net angled over their windows for a natural curtain. This helps to keep the indoors cooler by absorbing the heat before it gets inside.6. Then, air-con and fans can be used moderately, to reduce the temperature inside when it's uncomfortable. A large difference in temperature between indoors and outdoors can shock our bodies, but when it gets up to body temperature (37 degrees Celsius) outside, we have a risk of heat stroke. I've found that using the air-con just to remove humidity helps a lot, without having a super low setting. In fact, the highest setting for our air conditioning is 30 degrees, and it feels really comfortable compared with around 35 degrees plus high humidity.7. In the early morning, spread water on the ground outside outside the entrance to your home or on your balcony. I see people hosing down the streets sometimes and know this helps, but it also seems wasteful. Keeping it to the area just outside of openings makes a little more sense, so when there's a breeze, the water will act as a natural air conditioner. (I haven't tried this, although I do water my balcony plants in the morning, so could give it a try.)Did you learn anything new? Do you use any of these methods? Which ones work the best for you?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0aEw-livingMon, 24 Jul 2017 14:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G0aEw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOJnz-living_food_saga_ureshino-shiFor the first time I saw Morinaga Caramel in Okinawa Pineapple flavor, so I gave it a try.It was good, like the regular caramel, but with a nice pineapple taste that sort of lingered. My husband said it tastes the same as the normal caramel flavor - the pineapple isn't overpowering for sure.I got this for 108 yen including tax.Have you seen this or any other local Morinaga Caramel flavors?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOJnz-living_food_saga_ureshino-shiFri, 21 Jul 2017 16:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOJnz-living_food_saga_ureshino-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW99M-living_food_fukuokaOne of the chain supermarkets in our area, Yutoku, sells limited Costco food products. Without going all the way to a Costco location, and for the same price, we can can buy some Costco items without a membership card.There are usually packaged things like tons of kitchen towels, hot cocoa packets, and teas available. In addition I've seen huge(normal in the US) two-packs (1.36 Kilograms each jar) of Skippy peanut butter – for about 2000 yen. I'm tempted to get this because I like peanut butter and it's so cheap compared with buying tiny jars (the 340 g size is usually around 500 yen). The problem is, it's So Much peanut butter, and my husband doesn't really like it. I'd be on my own and it would take forever to use it all. (Or I'd eat a ton of it and gain weight, which is what I'm scared of when I see most of the products from Costco). I'm considering finding someone to split the two-pack with. It's not on a normal schedule that I know of, but one time, I saw some extra Costco products in the bakery section. I was a little shocked to see six packs of giant muffins, bags of dinner rolls, boxed croissants, a giant cheese tart, big tiramisu and berry cakes, and 'Round Pizza.' So... the Costco pizza they were selling was too big. It was take and bake style, and if you don't even have an oven in Japan, that's sort of normal. If you do, chances are it's the size of a dorm microwave in the US. I measured the inside tray in our convection oven / microwave and it's 20 cm across. These pizzas were 40 cm. They were not a bad deal at all, but it would be impossible for me to bake them without cutting them into quarters first. Maybe that would be the perfect amount and we could freeze the rest? How do normal people do this? In conclusion, it's kinda cool that I can buy Costco products at the local store. But... I probably won't because: A. They're way too much food / too big, and B. I don't want to get fat.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW99M-living_food_fukuokaMon, 17 Jul 2017 15:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GW99M-living_food_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wePPG-living_foodThere are so many snacks unique to Japan, often with a western, but not quite feel. Pie No Mi means 'fruit pie,' but strangely contains no fruit. I've seen this Lotte brand snack with chocolate filling and green tea filling in the past, but recently saw a 'Premium Cheese Cake' filling and thought it sounded nice to try. For between 100-150 yen for a small box (one or two adult servings, depending on how snacky you feel, around 16 pieces), Pie No Mi is also available in bags of smaller packs (each pack a kid size serving).The bite sized snack is made up of a crispy (margarine based) baked pie crust type outside with a bit of chocolate (or other flavored) cream inside. It's somewhat nostalgic, considering pie is not popular in Japan compared with the states.The cheese flavor was super mild and barely noticeable unfortunately. I wasn't interested after eating around half and shared the rest of the box with my husband. (Note that the picture on the box is just to illustrate the flavor, there is no cheese cake inside each snack.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wePPG-living_foodFri, 30 Jun 2017 20:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wePPG-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKK3z-living_transportation_saga_ureshino-shiWhen I think of water in Japan, the first thing I think of is Onsen!Sure, during summer, a lot of people are busy trying to cool off in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans. There are plenty of those too. Just because it's hot out doesn't mean all the sento and onsen empty out during summer. Quite the opposite in fact. A lot of people have more free time to travel during summer and onsen are still relaxing and a nice excuse to escape into nature. If you can't handle the heat, go into the water for a shorter amount of time, and if there's a cold pool, take breaks in it. This is actually quite healthy and a lot of onsen have either a cold pool or a cold fountain with buckets to refresh yourself in between the hot pools.We recently made a trip out to Takeo Onsen, which is hardly famous, even for people living in Kyushu. Most people will think of Yufuin and Beppu as the popular onsen in Kyushyu, and rightfully so, as the area produces more hot water (over 130,000 tons of water, just in Beppu) than any other place in Japan.I was surprised that even on a weekday, there were visitors to the onsen, and it was sort of set up for foreign visitors as well. From the English announcement at Takeo Onsen Station (on JR Sasebo Line) to the English, Chinese, and Korean announcements on the 30 minute local bus ride to Ureshino Onsen (the last stop).From Takeo Onsen Station, take a bus from the south exit to Ureshino Onsen. From there you can walk (2-3 minutes) down Onsen Street" to Taishoya, a fancy ryokan with onsen. In the big tearoom, you can sit and enjoy the ceramics displayed while waiting for a shuttle bus to their sister hotel, the more down to earth Shiiba no Yu, in the mountains. Staff might bring you a hot cup of Ureshino-cha, the locally grown tea you can see on the way up the mountain. There is also a gift shop selling tea and other local products in the hotel.The view up to Shiiba no Yu is just beautiful, winding up the hill past tea farms, a lush green this time of year. It takes about five minutes, but the shuttle bus runs infrequently, with no rides after 10:00 until almost 15:00.After getting our towels, we parted ways and I walked down a long hallway towards the women's bath.Lockers are provided as well as hairbrushes, hairdryers, face soaps and lotions, etc. for women at least. I heard the men's bath didn't even have a scale.After washing I went straight for the rotenburo, a large pool outside shaded by a roof in a small area, as well as trees. If we look out from the bath, we can see woods and a small river below. I imagine there would be fireflies there if we had gone late enough. The water is 41-42 degrees, so it was a little warm to stay in for very long this time of year, although it wasn't very hot out and there was a cool breeze. There are plenty of rocks perfectly placed to sit with only your bottom half in the water and cool off a bit. I had a hard time just relaxing because it was exciting to be in such beautiful nature.There is also an indoor pool, which I went to next. There were only a few other people in the bath while I was there, on a weekday afternoon. It might get more crowded during weekends and summer holidays, especially in the evening.In under three hours by train and bus from Fukuoka airport, you can be in the Ureshino Onsen area. It will cost you almost 4000 yen each way. There is a shinkansen line (to Sasebo, Nagasaki Line I believe) being built now, and we crossed under the new bridge several times on the local bus. It was really nice to go somewhere new and we were already in Saga City, but I feel like it's not totally worth the trip out this way unless you are visiting Huis Ten Bosch (an amusement park in Nagasaki Prefecture) or something nearby. (Beppu Onsen is The Best in Japan, in my humble opinion.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKK3z-living_transportation_saga_ureshino-shiThu, 22 Jun 2017 10:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKK3z-living_transportation_saga_ureshino-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/weZPM-living_foodOne of the perks of living in Japan is all the weird snacks we get here that are a spin off of familiar snacks, but they aren't available back home. It's not the healthiest of hobbies, but I'm often curious about these when I'm snack shopping. Sometimes they're so good I wish they weren't seasonal or hard to find.Today was one of those days where I didn't want to do anything at all, including eating any of the usual snacks. I was in that only-a-pet-store-will-cheer-me-up mood on the way out of the house. Anyway, at a quick stop to the best snack store in the area, I found these beauties.Crispy Oreos in Tiramisu flavor, sure I'll try that. Next to them was an empty space labeled Crispy Oreo Vanilla Mouse. Not so interested but hey they're out anyway. It says, "Oreo 30th Birthday in Japan," maybe the reason for the fancy flavors?These are quite thin wafers compared with the usual, plus the filling is thin. But it's yummy, which is what counts!The box contains three packs of eight cookies, and at the super cheap place where I found them, were around 170 yen.The 'normal' Oreos (which includes chocolate and strawberry flavored filling) are only slightly less for a similar size box.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/weZPM-living_foodWed, 14 Jun 2017 22:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/weZPM-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GREKz-livingThe local free paper cover article says something like, 'It's rainy, but keep your beautiful hairstyle!'The article is mostly about using treatments (before and after blow drying) and how to correctly point the blow dryer down and not up while drying your hair. Anyway, It made me think about how people in Japan seem to look perfect all the time, despite the rainy season.I moved to Japan from a rainy region (Portland, Or.) and it doesn't compare. People back home rarely use umbrellas for the generally light rain, opting instead for rain jackets or hoodies. You can see people on bikes in rain gear, but never riding with umbrellas. Just because Portlanders don't mind getting a little wet, it doesn't mean they look especially great – more like a cat who just got a bath if the rain gets a little stronger. The rain can be a lot heavier in Japan, and we get a lot of it where I live in Kyushu. When foreigners in Japan complain about not wanting to go out during the rainy season, I have no sympathy. It's not even cold out anymore. How hard is it to buy an umbrella and maybe rain boots? It does take a little more work to put on the kappa to stay dry during my bike commute, but as long as I can show up mostly dry, that works. My rainy season (and typhoon season) survival kit is my kappa (jacket and pants), a hooded rain jacket, an umbrella, rain boots, dressy Crocs for when it's too hot for socks and rain boots, and a towel. For me, the worst part is that my glasses always need to be dried off and cleaned after a bike ride, so I can see again.Usually it's also windy (especially during typhoon season) so I opt to ride a bike in kappa instead of walking with an umbrella. At least in our city, it's illegal to ride bikes while holding an umbrella, but that doesn't stop a lot of people from doing it. I don't think I could manage it but have never tried. The bus is an option, but one I've only used when I'm a little more dressed up or it's more important to stay dry. I guess I don't want to get used to taking the bus and get lazy.The choice to go out or not (besides the required stuff like work) is up to you. If it's pouring and you're not up for braving it, there are so many options to stay busy at home. I'm the introverted type so it's no problem to stay indoors and read on a rainy day. At a certain point (one day indoors or more), I'll get restless and want to go out anyway, maybe during a break in the rain. Sometimes I burn off my energy inside by organizing, cooking a ton (stocking up on homemade frozen treats!), balcony gardening, and cleaning. There's always studying, catching up on sleep when it's cloudy so the sun doesn't wake you up too early, and making your summer plans in advance.Rather than socializing outside, having friends over for a game night is planned. There are tons of other indoor options if you want to leave the house, including an indoor version of a firefly habitat in Fukuoka at Hakata Station. If you want to embrace the wet weather outside, I recommend going to a rotenburo style (outdoor) onsen. It's really peaceful to sit in a hot bath outdoors while it's raining. (It's also not usually crowded if it's rainy.) It's also ajisai (hydrangea) season at the same time as the rainy season. For the most part, I'll be nerding out indoors as usual, with frequent escapes while there's a break in the rain. And looking for rainbows! That is, once the rainy season starts. As of now, we've had a couple weeks of beautiful mostly dry weather in late May. Getting outside every day and enjoying it while I can!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GREKz-livingTue, 30 May 2017 10:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GREKz-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Dvz-living_foodWe recently 'taste tested' a couple flavors of limited time snacks, from Cheetos and Doritos (which I associate with junior high school lunches and parties in the US). The usual flavor for these would be cheese, and I haven't seen a ton of variety in flavors for these snacks in the US. Cheetos come in a red "Spicy Hot" variety, and Doritos are generally “Nacho Cheese” or “Cool Ranch.”In Japan I sometimes enjoy the “Tacos” flavor Doritos, which are sort of generic taco seasoning flavor and not anything like real tacos, but still tasty. We also tried a flavor this winter which I only saw in one store: "Ume Strong!" It was a little strange to eat sour umeboshi chips, but not bad at all. I tried to find it again for souvenirs, but didn't have any success. This was my first time buying Cheetos in Japan. I have seen yogurt and some other seasonal flavors here.The flavors I got were Cheetos "BBQ" flavor and Doritos "Royal Beef and Pepper" flavor.We both liked both flavors, with no particular favorite. The Cheetos were still slightly cheesy, the Doritos had a nice pepper flavor but not too strong. They were both overwhelmingly salty and MSG flavored. They made us thirsty so we enjoyed them with some cold mugi-cha. Maybe these were meant to be enjoyed during a BBQ? Or just when we feel like eating meat but can't actually afford it? Either way, not bad for an every once in a while kind of snack. And with the flavors of upcoming summer BBQs, they should be around for a while longer.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Dvz-living_foodMon, 29 May 2017 16:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8Dvz-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpZYG-living_food_shoppingIn Japan, there are little French style bakeries in most stations and shopping areas. For a country that doesn't eat very much bread or sweet foods, they keep a lot of these bakeries in business. It isn't limited to Japan. I know Paris Baguette is on every corner in Seoul and in several locations in the US.Most likely it's because of the culture to be rushing off somewhere and need something inexpensive to go, or to meet with friends for a light meal. Bakeries are a nice option if you aren't in the mood for a fast food burger, or for a bigger meal, but they serve the same function as a fast food restaurant. It's tasty and relaxing to enjoy some bread with a coffee, maybe a sandwich or slice of pizza. The uniquely Japanese breads like 'melon pan' and 'anpan' are also excellent choices. So just how do we do this?It's not difficult at all. First get yourself a tray and your very own tongs near the entrance. Next, take a look around, maybe even try a free sample, and decide what you want. Items should all be labeled with prices, in Japanese, sometimes also in English or French. Use your magical tongs to pick up anything you want and put it onto the tray. Leave your tongs on your tray.At a more high end bakery, there may be a case with cakes and items to be kept cool. You'll have to ask staff for those, and they'll be put onto plates or into to-go bags for you. (The same goes for the omiyage shops like Ishimura that sell cakes in addition to local sweets for your gift needs. These sometimes have small seating areas with complimentary tea and coffee as well.)Finally, go to the register and pay. You'll have an option to eat in most stores, or get your baked goods to go. If you opt for to go, the pastries will be individually placed into small bags, then into a bigger bag. If you eat in the shop, your items will be put onto plates and some cutlery might be added along with napkins.Some bakeries have a refrigerated section of drinks you can pick up (usually milk, coffee, juice, etc.) and some have a coffee machine, usually 100 yen or less for simple coffee drinks. Others will have more of a coffee shop availability for coffee and tea, so if you want a drink, you'll order it while paying for your bread at the counter. The only thing left to do is enjoy your selections and then find the area to return your tray when you're done. One thing to note is that unless it seems very busy or you go at a crowded time, you'll notice no one minds if you take your time and sit a while. This is a great way to refresh yourself when you've overdone it while shopping and need a place to sit for a while. You might notice that bakeries are often full of women, enjoying a chat with friends, or taking a break from a shopping day.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpZYG-living_food_shoppingMon, 15 May 2017 09:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpZYG-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPZdG-livingSelf Introductions are a big deal in Japan.The first time you meet someone anywhere, you have to introduce yourself, but usually you are expected to give a slightly more elaborate self introduction to everyone when you start a new job in Japan. Introducing yourself in Japanese can be nerve wracking the first several times, but don’t let it cause any problems. If it’s really too hard, someone you work with can probably help or even translate for you at first.You’ll be able to do an introduction in Japanese with your eyes closed like it’s nothing after a good month in Japan, maybe less. The self introduction is something you’ll need to put a minute of effort into at first, but then you’ll have it prepared for all the other times you find out last minute you need it. Most of the time, you’ll be introducing yourself in English, if you’re teaching English at least.Here’s how to prepare an awesome self introduction.Use technology, but only if you’re confident with it and you know it’s available to you. In some schools, you’ll have a huge TV or ‘smartboard’ you can use with a tablet or laptop to show your photos or even video. Students absolutely love being able to see pictures about where you’re from and are more engaged that way.Keep the size of your audience in mind. If you make flashcards on A4 (close to 8 1/2 x 11) paper, it might be big enough for a class of 4o students, but maybe hard to see in back of a classroom. Visual aides are great, but small ones only work for very small groups.Think in terms of what they want to know about you. Name and country are the big ones, and keep it simple by telling students and staff a couple things you like about Japan – or the reason you ended up there.Make them laugh. It’s appropriate to make jokes, although no guarantees your audience will get them. Pay attention to your audience and if they are being silly (asking weird questions), then turn up the silliness by joking back. Get them to interact with you by asking them to guess where you’re from or what your favorite color is.Have a ‘super easy version’ memorized in English and in Japanese. You can add to this as you feel more confident and your students have more ability to understand. After introducing yourself (in English) to ten classrooms, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable with what your students can understand. Gesturing and speaking at a reasonable pace helps for lower level students.Allow questions from students (or coworkers) when you’re done. The point is they want to get to know you. You can get to know them by the questions they ask you. This series of articles is all about questions your students ask you.Here’s a super easy Japanese profile template:Hello! (Good morning, etc.) おはようございます / こんにちわ / こんばんはMy name is _________. （わたしは）＿＿＿＿　です / ともうします。I’m from ___________. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿　からきました。I like ___________. (food, color, etc.)＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿　がすきです。Thank you. (I’m counting on you.) よろしくおねがいします。After you fill in your information, you can use it to read and memorize your self introduction. Good luck and remember to have fun!Profile templates are available here in English (three levels) so you can use them for teaching English lessons and getting to know your students. Templates can be downloaded and printed out on A4 paper, then folded into an eight page zine (instructions included).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPZdG-livingThu, 16 Mar 2017 21:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPZdG-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx2PG-living_transportationSpring break is almost here.After a year of nonstop work, maybe it's time for a break.While living in Japan, there are several clear travel seasons when students and working people often get a break from their busy schedules. To travel during the busy season or not is up to you, as it's good to get in a break, but will cost a lot more to travel during this time. In addition to an inflated cost, popular areas are much more crowded. If we plan ahead, it's not a bad idea to get in a vacation while you have time off, but if you have the chance to travel during an off season, it can be worth it to do so.The most popular and busy seasons for travel in Japan are:1. The New Year (December 31st-January 3rd or later) when people often visit their hometowns.2. Obon / summer holiday, usually in mid-July or August, when students have a holiday and visiting hometowns is common.3. 'Golden Week' (Seven Holidays over four days from April 29th until May 5th)4. Spring (late March-early April) when the school year has ended and there is sometimes a week or two off before restarting.5. 'Silver Week' in September, when there are two holidays within a week, and on occasion they coincide with a weekend or an extra day off between the two holidays.During the new year, summer vacation, and spring vacation, there's an option to buy a special JR ticket called Seishun 18 Kippu. It's a good way to offset inflated costs if you have some extra time and want to travel by train within Japan during those seasons.Above is a special discount ticket if we buy four one way tickets for the Nishitetsu Highway Bus in Kyushu.There are several ways to relax during the holidays, but some of us can't just relax. Maybe it's because we get bored or restless if a vacation is just lying around on a beach, or because we feel pressured to fit in all the sightseeing and experiencing a new place possible in a short amount of time. In that case, maybe a working holiday is a better fit? From a hostel work exchange to working on an organic farm, there are options. Homestays and educational tourism are another option. Maybe the tour package resort or cruise ship vacation just isn't for you. Maybe you're more into Couchsurfing or Airbnb.Then there's always the need to visit friends and family back home (or around the world). Maybe there's another country you'd rather see and spend your hard earned money on getting to instead of grudgingly going to your hometown. Some of us aren't so lucky when it comes to family and friends coming to Japan to see us, so we have to be the ones to get back home if we want to see them.There are a few main types of travel for those of us living in Japan, and each has it's pros and cons, of course.First off, we can stay in Japan, and see somewhere new. I like this option for it's cost effectiveness, plus if we live in Japan, might as well take the opportunity to see the country, as it has so much to offer. After living in Japan for two years and grabbing up little chances to travel around the country when I can, I still haven't seen Hokkaido or Okinawa, plus so many places in between. It might be your goal to visit each prefecture or just to see a few of the famous cities Japanese people often visit. Either way, keeping your head buried in Tokyo the whole time you live in Japan gives you a limited experience of the culture, although it does provide endless opportunity for city life and there's always something new to discover. That leads me to option two, 'The Staycation.' When there's always so much to do, leaving home can feel just as stressful as work. From planning, packing, and getting caught up when you return, it doesn't always feel like a vacation if you're just thinking about what needs to be done back home. Staycation can mean catching up on sleep, cleaning and organizing (Marie Kondo-ing the whole house?), moving house, getting caught up on work (lesson planning, accounting, or doing taxes maybe?), and exploring your own city like a tourist. Of course if your friends are also in town, they might actually have some free time to get together for once. Staycations are really nice during peak seasons if you don't want to deal with the crowds, but it's also fun to think of long weekends spent catching up on sleep as a mini-vacation. No omiyage to buy or vacation photos to show off, but maybe time for cooking at home. Sometimes I need a mini-vacation from getting dressed and leaving the house.Then there's leaving the country. Either going to where you're from or visiting somewhere else outside of Japan, this can be the most costly. While living in Japan, a lot of people enjoy going off to another nearby country that's a lot closer from Japan than it would be while living back home. There are popular tour packages from Japan to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea, in addition to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, etc. Because of the close proximity, it's possible to get away to another country just for the weekend, which many people do. Sometimes there's just no way to take days off of work, but we can still leave the country if we've got plenty of energy to get the most out of a short trip. There are a handful of discount airlines ready to sell you a tour package or at least discounted flights to somewhere new.Be careful if you travel during the new year holidays in Japan, as you might find yourself stuck with nothing open and limited transportation services.This spring I'll be embarking on an overseas trip because I need to visit elderly family, plus see some friends and family. It's a multi city trip which was stressful to plan. It always sounds like a good idea to squeeze in seeing everyone while you're nearby (or at least in the same country), but it's not always so easy to do. I think the next time we go overseas, New Zealand during Japan's winter sounds really nice. Keeping it simple, purely sightseeing. Of course there will be plenty of staycations and quick local trips in between. There's still so much to see in Japan. Then there's all the other nearby countries that would be nice to visit... It's neverending.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx2PG-living_transportationTue, 07 Mar 2017 09:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mx2PG-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8RYw-living_food_fukuoka旬 Shun, or season, is used to refer to foods being best in their season.I love seasonal and local foods in Japan!If you're lucky enough to live in a part of Japan famous for one of your favorite foods, you can enjoy it in everything from cheap dagashi to high end ryokan dishes. I want to focus on the seasonal flavors we can find in snacks or sweets like senbei or ice cream. If it says Seasonal Limited Edition (季節限定) on it, sounds good to me.Maybe a nice way to look at this is by season? Let's start with spring, as it's right around the corner!(Has anyone tried one of these? Tempting, but they're SO expensive, right?!)First off, I think of sakura when I think of spring flavors. The cherry blossom is the symbol of things which only last a while, the sort of bittersweet, short spring season, when everything is ending and beginning again. It makes perfect sense to flavor limited edition foods with sakura flavor. Sakura is different from cherry flavor, although it is often confused as it's a cherry blossom. The delicate flavor is used to flavor everything from ice cream to rice balls in spring, and the blossoms are even pickled to place on top of high end custards and other desserts, just to look pretty. Prepared cherry leaves are also used to wrap some sweets, or sold as a powder, although I've heard the taste isn't that great.Another popular spring flavor is strawberry, especially here in Fukuoka prefecture (where we have amaou strawberries) and in Tochigi prefecture. Starting in winter, strawberry is one of my favorite flavors for can chu-hi and crunchy snacks – I've tried strawberry Cheetos, Pocky, and Tohato corn snacks. The strawberry is the perfect red winter fruit for decorating both Christmas cakes and Valentine treats, but is grown in 'vinyl houses' for that purpose and naturally ripens around late spring in June. For that reason, we can enjoy strawberries for a longer period, although they start to get cheaper as it gets warmer out.Ume fruits are collected in spring before they ripen. They aren't eaten as fruits because they are toxic in their unripened state, but instead are used to make into umeboshi, umezu, and umeshu, usually enjoyed after some time during the summer. I've been enjoying umeboshi flavored senbei when I can find them, so ume is not limited to use for sweet or sour foods. Umeboshi is a little more popular during spring, probably because of it's pinkish color (which is actually from using red shiso in the pickling process).What a lot of people might not know is that in late spring or early summer, green tea is in season. The most popular regions for green tea are Kansai area Uji, near Kyoto, and Yame in Fukuoka prefecture. I'm excited to try tea picking this year, but also looking forward to eating lots of Yame-cha flavored foods. Green tea ice cream or soft serve is probably my favorite flavor, and I usually stick with the Super Cup brand. I've tried a Yame-cha Monako ice cream and the flavor was amazing. The locally made Yame-cha Shirokuma (ice cream bar, see photo below) wasn't nearly as nice.(sakura, Fukuoka amaou strawberry, and chestnut flavors)In summer there are more fruits readily in season so of course we can find peach, watermelon, grape, mango, and Japanese pear flavors. As it's kakigori and ice cream season, a lot of the seasonal foods are used to flavor our frozen treats. Miyazaki prefecture is famous for their mangoes and I'm looking forward to visit there and try them when I get a chance. Check out the limited edition concentrated Calpis flavors available in addition to local kakigori and ice cream shops that use seasonal flavors.Peanuts are harvested in late summer or fall, so if you live in or near Chiba prefecture, you can enjoy their local food, boiled peanuts, as well as lots of flavored coated peanut snacks. These are so nice with a drink.Fall is my favorite season, and the food available during fall is one of the reasons.First off I think of kuri (chestnuts)! Fun to collect if we can find them and cook ourselves, these are everywhere in fall and on desserts like Mont Blanc (see photo below) all year in candied form. Last fall we often got the Super Cup 'Maron' seasonal flavor, and I was so sad when they stopped selling it.A super popular fall food, sometimes available all year, is yaki-imo. Kyushu is known for purple sweet potatoes, and I used to love them as a kid, but unfortunately have an allergy to any sweet potatoes now. The sweet potato flavors lots of sweets as it's naturally sweet, but is also used often for savory and salty snacks, like sweet potato chips/crisps.Another sweet fall vegetable is kabocha, or Japanese pumpkins. There are tons of ways to cook pumpkin and use all of the vegetable, including it's seeds and skin, and it's quite popular. Kabocha chips are so nice but this one is also often used for sweets like tarts or ice creams. Mmmm.Winter season would have to be a mochi and azuki flavored season, with roasted soybean flour or kinako thrown in. As there isn't much growing, the popular flavors are foods which are harvested in fall then processed for lasting through the winter. Oshiruko is so yummy on a cold day, so of course we can also find snacks with the same flavors. If you haven't tried kinako mochi, I recommend that as well – either homemade by boiling mochi to soften it then adding kinako and sugar, or in the snack form. The packaged snack kinako mochi literally melts in your mouth it's so nice. Tirol also makes a kinako mochi 'chocolate' (see photo below) that's really good. Of course these foods can be eaten all year, and the first time I experienced kinako, it was in spring in the form of a kinako sauce dipped mochi kinako ice bar. I was smitten since then and enjoy kinako on my kakigori too.Winter is also the season for citrus fruits, so mikan and yuzu flavors frequently pop up at this time. There are so many other citrus fruits, depending on where in Japan you are. Kinkan, or kumquat, is one that's popular, like grapefruit, although they are usually grown in warmer regions. Locally grown kiwi becomes ripe during winter, and don't forget about the amazing apples northern Honshu is famous for.If you live in Japan, what are the local seasonal flavors your area is famous for? Hopefully they're foods you like and can buy in the form of omiyage to share with family when you visit.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8RYw-living_food_fukuokaThu, 02 Mar 2017 09:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8RYw-living_food_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mpl1M-living(My Home)This is a phenomenon that happens all over the non-native English speaking world, in many varieties. Of course there are tons of words loaned to the English language that are pronounced or used incorrectly, for example, the way we pronounce karaoke or tsunami, anyone? (Can we call that English Japanese?)There are a handful of English words you'll see or hear in Japan that aren't Engrish. They are English words, but the way they are used here is sometimes a little different. These range from tons of 'katakana English' loan words like 'teburu' for a western table and less recognizable words like 'pi-shi-' or PC (for personal computer) to words and phrases we use like, “Let's go!”Here are just a few examples of Japanese English I hear often, and in these cases I'm under the impression that Japanese people think they are correctly using English integrated into their language.Don't mindIn English this phase is missing a subject, assumed to be “I” as in, “I don't mind.” This is not what Japanese people are going for exactly when they use this phrase. The meaning is more like, 'never mind' or 'don't worry about it.'(Pronunciation is more like, 'done mine, done mine.')Come onI first heard this in a Japanese junior high classroom as a student beckoned me to help with his handout. Within the context I completely understood that he meant as, 'Come here (please),' but didn't realize until later that 'come on' is used in this way in Japan. Come on can have a lot of meanings in English, from the phrasal verb meaning to flirt with someone, to expressing frustration when the other team scores a goal.Said in a sort of friendly and inviting way, as if to say, 'why don't you join me!' Ironically, one of the meanings of the phrase in English. Maybe this meaning is the origin of the usage in Japan.My homeThis seems simple enough, my house, right? Not exactly. This is used to mean a new home built for the person or family on land they bought. It's common to have your own house built here (new and modern, with the details you choose) rather than buying a home someone else has lived in. It's more like prefab - picking which designs you want from cookie-cutter options and not as expensive as building a custom home could be in some countries. 'My home' in Japan doesn't mean the same thing as my house, as in the place where I live, an apartment or the house I grew up in for example.There are so many others, so what is another Japanese English phrase you've heard?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mpl1M-livingMon, 27 Feb 2017 11:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mpl1M-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z18oM-livingLast year we happened upon a special mini-shrine set up in Hakata Station for the Valentine's Day season. It was a pop-up shrine (for lack of better names) for the Chikugo City shrine known for love and finding the perfect match, Koinoki Shrine. We could write messages on paper cards called eema (usually wooden) and hang them up there for free.This year, I found another pop-up shrine in our city of Kurume. Inside the Iwataya near Nishitetsu Kurume Station, at the entrance to the main floor omiyage and chocolate sales section, the temporary shrine was set up.This one has a box of 'koimikuji' for sale and a big heart shaped place to tie them after reading. There are also eema to write messages on and hang up. The eema read 'shin koinoki jinjya,' or "New Koinoki Shrine."As women love this romantic shrine, setting one up outside of the popular place to buy Valentine chocolate makes a lot of sense.Have you ever seen a temporary pop-up shrine? I'm guessing putting one (known for studies) near a school during exam time would also be a good idea. I also saw this sort of handmade message writing area inside JR Kurume Station. Heart shaped pink paper is prepared to write your messages on and hang up.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z18oM-livingThu, 09 Feb 2017 13:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z18oM-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY3mG-living_food_shoppingIt's about that time of year again – Valentine's Day in Japan.So the story goes, a while back, a western advertisement for chocolates was misunderstood and the tradition was started for women to give men chocolates for Valentine's Day. (As we all know, that's not exactly how it goes back home, but some of us don't mind at all. )In the 70s, the holiday called White Day (March 14th) was started with the intention being for men to respond to the gifts women give by giving white chocolate (or flowers, etc.). It was more of a push from sweets companies for even more sales during this time of year. From what I have seen and heard, this return gift rarely happens.It brings to mind the elementary school Valentine's Day tradition back home, exchanging small character cards and cheesy heart shaped candies. In Japan, it's not at all uncommon for girls to give chocolates to male classmates, even at a young age, in addition to moms giving their sons chocolate. We can find cute chocolates targeted towards small kids in addition to the super fancy variety.These kinds of Valentine's Day gifts would be considered “Giri-Choco,” meaning there is an obligation to give a gift to classmates or coworkers. This isn't as easily translated as that - plenty of women choose to opt out of this 'obligation.' Sometimes opting out of giving giri chocolate to boys who aren't so popular, students and employees give chocolates to only the classmates and coworkers who are more pushy (or have some power over their jobs). It's more a matter of obligation to those who are... superior to you, I suppose. Men are supposed to return the favor on White Day, but I haven't seen it happen in the workplace or in schools, and they pretty much just enjoy eating lots of chocolates if they're popular with women.There are character themed chocolates, nerdy chocolates (planet shaped?), beautiful chocolates, raw and organic chocolates, etc. I get the feeling that women buy chocolate for themselves as often as (more than?) for men. It seems that anywhere we go, some sort of chocolate is being pushed on us starting from the middle of January until White Day has passed. Even normal bars of chocolate are seen as something special, if just for a moment. We can go with boutique style handmade chocolates (tool shaped? Yes we have those!), tins of chocolate cookies with our favorite character on them, a box of Melty Kiss or bar of Ghana, or why not a handful of the cheap stuff, chocolate dagashi? Any of these work as Valantine's gifts, as long as they are appropriate for the recipient.Chocolates are sold in every department store, and supermarkets will have a little section to promote their choco snacks with special packaging for the occasion. There's no way you can miss it or forget that the Chocolate Season is coming. One thing I haven't seen (yet) is the ice cream companies getting in on this with special packaging for chocolate ice cream. I guess it is winter and ice cream melts too quickly to give to someone at work.These days I see a lot of other Valentine's Day gifts in Japan, ones that men might even like more than chocolate. I see a lot of seasonal or limited edition alcohol filled chocolates, in addition to alcohol. I've heard some men prefer a bottle of whisky to a box of chocolates, so there you go. There are also items like handkerchiefs and underwear packaged for Valentine's Day in some stores. These might be more along the lines of “Honmei Choco,” meaning true feelings or romantic chocolate, which is given when women have feelings for someone or are giving a gift to their partners. Back home cards are a very common gift (both the handmade doily heart shaped type and store bought), in addition to flowers, candy (often heart shaped boxes full of chocolates or conversation hearts), jewelry, and lingerie. I can see alcohol catching on any time now, for the adults at least. Wine or a fancy dinner is definitely a good thing for couples as well, but in Japan, going on a date isn't really a Valentine's Day thing (yet).Frequently women enjoy making homemade chocolates, if they have the time and interest to do so. We can find a lot of chocolate making kits, baking supplies, and packaging – even at 100 yen shops.All of the chocolate and snack companies want to get in on this spike in sales, so we can find special packaging, gift wrapping, and amusing items from regular snack companies. After all, Over Half of all annual chocolate sales in Japan happen in the week before Valentine's Day. That's intense.Below are a handful of photos of cute kids chocolates I saw in a supermarket recently, as well as some funny packaging for Pocky products. Last year's Valentine's Day article can be found here, with more photos. I'm gonna go get some chocolate.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY3mG-living_food_shoppingTue, 24 Jan 2017 09:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY3mG-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEXDw-livingIf you got any new year cards this winter, be sure to keep your cards and check to see if you won any prizes in the lottery. Most nengajyo are purchased with postage and a lottery number printed on them. The lottery numbers are six numbers long and usually at the bottom of the postcard along with the words, お年玉 (o toshi dama, the same name as the red envelope new year gifts kids receive with money in them).Japan Post is giving three types of prizes for the nengajyo lottery. The most common one (one chance in 50) is a set of two stamps, which is awarded to anyone with the last two of the six numbers matching either of the two numbers picked. The winning numbers for 2017 are both45 and 51.The middle prize (1 winner in 10,000) is a 'furosato' or hometown prize, which is something like products made locally in Japan, sometimes for each specific prefecture. These are awarded to people with the (last four) numbers6470this year. The grand prize (one in a million) is 100,000 yen cash or a vacation set, awarded to those who have the numbers 293633. Winning numbers are announced around the middle of January (usually between the 15th-the 19th) and are shown on the Japan Post website here (Japanese only). You'll have around six months to take any winning nengajyo to the post office to claim prizes.Did you win anything this year? I won stamps! Woo, and that's only out of four postcards received, quite lucky.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEXDw-livingFri, 13 Jan 2017 14:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEXDw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrKeM-livingThere are lots of firsts in Japan following the new year. Hatsumode and getting omikuji are just an example of common new year traditions in Japan.There are many more, so let's look at a few of the popular new year 'firsts' to start off your 2017 in Japan.HatsumodeWhat it means:This is the one you've probably heard of, if you've only heard of one of the 'hatsu' for the new year. Hatsumode is the first visit to a temple or shrine in the year.When to do it:As early as midnight on the new year, some people go and ring the bell at the temple, buy good luck charms, and pray at the shrine or temple of their choice. It's bound to be very crowded the first day of the year, and resembles a festival because there will be vendors selling not only good luck charms, but also festival foods (although cold beer is not something I've seen, probably because it's winter). Busier shrines and temples that are super popular for hatsumode are: Meiji Jingu (Tokyo), Shinsoji (Chiba), and Fushima Inari Taisha (Kyoto). I have been to the shrine (Fushima Inari Taisha, famous for its hundreds of red wooden tori, or gates) in Kyoto on New Year's Day, and although it was crowded, it was a lot of fun because of the extra festival type stalls. If only once a year, maybe it's worth it to brave the crowded trains and wait in line to bow and clap.Not everyone does this, of course. Plenty of Japanese people don't bother going to shrines or temples at all, and many more just aren't into it enough to go during the most busy time of the year. There is no deadline for hatsumode, so if you end up going in March in time to pray for that new job, you can still call it hatsumode.HatsuhinodeWhat it means:First sunrise of the year.This one has to be done on the first day / sunrise of the year, and lots of people would rather sleep in than be up all night or wake up early on one of the coldest mornings of the year. If you're able to get somewhere with a great view like Mt. Fuji or a beach with a spectacular view, this is supposed to be really lucky. It's sort of nice to do every once in a while, so why not the first morning of the new year? I'm interested to give it a try this year if I can figure out getting to a decent place. There's a sunrise from just about anywhere, but waiting until it gets over the nearby houses and apartment buildings isn't the same. The best part about just watching from your balcony or inside your apartment is not being out in the cold. We used to go prepared with a thermos of hot coffee and some donuts when I did this as a kid. (That works better when one of the adults has been up all night.)HatsuyumeWhat it means:First dreams of the year.Sort of a weird new year tradition that I like, even though I think it's sort of silly.There are specific things that are lucky to dream about in the new year, so consider yourself lucky if you have a dream about these three things in the first week of the year.1. Mt. Fuji: the tallest mountain in Japan, Fuji san symbolizes high aspirations. 2. A Hawk, or Taka: If you see a hawk flying high in your dreams, it means you can achieve the high aspirations too because they are so clever. And 3. An eggplant, or Nasubi: Sort of odd, but the old name for eggplant sounds lucky, like (成す) achieving something great.PS: I have never heard of anyone ever dreaming about these things. They are sort of weird things to dream about, don't you think? Hatsu uriWhat it means:First 'buy' of the year.With sales of 'happy bags' or 'lucky bags' becoming more popular (because you can get some good deals for good products), this is a 'hatsu' tradition, but it starts before Christmas. Maybe the first thing you buy will be days later, after the stores open, but more of the retail establishments are opening on January second or third, even on New Year's Day. Not much of a holiday for the employees, but I guess that proves everything is becoming commercialized.I think this one's a little funny, because I feel like we should buy something meaningful for the first buy of the year. It's probably something more normal or boring like a hot cup of coffee in reality.KakizomeWhat it means:First writing of the year.It's not any writing, but the ones done with a brush and ink, or shodo. Students will often do special practice and write something auspicious in January, as part of their kokugo, or Japanese class. The words we write should have a meaning about a new year, dreams, or spring coming. Usually students are given a word or phrase to write for each grade, then they will enter a contest for the area to win ribbons for the best writing. Look for these being displayed around your schools if you're a teacher, or in public areas in your city later in the year.(In the photo above, I wrote, 'Saitama no Haru' or 'Saitama's spring' which was the kakizome chosen for first year junior high school students that year.)My final pick is:HatsuyuWhat it means:First onsen bath of the year.Maybe not so common, but a nice onsen bath at the beginning of the year (or any time) is relaxing and refreshing.There are quite a few others, maybe not so commonly practiced these days. Tell me about the others you know in the comments! Which firsts do you try to do every new year?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrKeM-livingSun, 01 Jan 2017 18:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrKeM-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY0mw-living_food_educationNow that we have refrigerators and a lot of places are open around the new year, there isn't a huge necessity for osechi, the traditional new year food in Japan. It's eaten for the first few days of the year, sort of as a break from cooking for the usual chef, but translating into tons of prep work instead. I've heard the new year season is taxing for housewives in Japan – they often host friends and family and have to keep the home tidy and make sure everyone is fed. Meanwhile everyone is at home enjoying some time off and making a mess. Traditionally the new year was supposed to be a break from using the stove for a few days, but I welcome the heat from the fire this time of year.I haven't been able to try all the different foods commonly eaten on the first few days of the year, but they each have some sort of meaning - the reason why they are lucky to eat for the start of the year. Here I've listed all of the osechi foods I can find out about, sorted into the reasons they are eaten.As a wish for children:Because it sounds like generations, daidai is a type of small tangerine which we can often see on top of two round mochi (kagami mochi) during the new year season. These are sold everywhere in simple versions or super fancy versions. I think some people make their own and use whatever mikan they have handy. A lot of the store bought ones have a plastic daidai. The kagami mochi (mirror rice cakes) are mostly decorative.Kazunoko sounds like number and child, meaning a wish for several children. It's yellow herring roe, similar to the pink-red mentaiko. I guess roe is eggs, so it's sort of fitting for symbolizing offspring. I finally tasted this one.Sato imo or taro roots symbolize children because there are so many from each plant.As a wish for a long life:This might start with the toshi-koshi soba usually eaten Before midnight on new year's eve. Some people say the long soba noodles symbolize longevity, but some say they are simply easy to prepare when the cook in the family is already busy making several osechi dishes to prepare for the new year. Soba is tasty, nothing wrong with that.Ebi is shrimp, and it's supposed to look like an elderly grandpa, bent over, with a long beard – meaning he's lived a long life. Doesn't make it sound tasty.Hoshigaki is dried persimmon, a sweet food eaten in winter. It is said to mean longevity because the skin looks wrinkled like elderly people.As a wish for financial success:Dried sardines (niboshi or tazukuri) are said to mean a good harvest, which is related to success or provision. They are usually boiled in soy sauce, although they can be eaten in their dried crunchy form.Nishiki Tamago is an egg dish made from boiled eggs with the white and yolk separated, then prepared and steamed into a shape. When the egg white and yolk are separated, they appear gold and white, representing gold and silver. An obvious reference to wealth.Kuri kinton is a dumpling made with chestnuts and sweet potatoes, and as kin sounds like gold, it's eaten for good finances. Dumplings also look like tiny coin purses.As a wish for health:Kuromame, or black soybeans, are a tasty side dish called nimono, one of the more traditional types of osechi. They are boiled with soy sauce and sugar or mirin, and usually sprinkled with sesame seeds. I heard mame (bean) sounds like hard work and good health, but am not sure what word that's referring to, unless it's 'blister.'Gobou (burdock root) is also eaten for good health and good harvest. I know it's a very healthy plant, but didn't know it represents a crane (another symbol of a good year). Kinpira gobou is a common dish made with gobou, and kin sounds like gold, so that should be good.Because it sounds fancy:Yorokobu (joy) sounds like kombu, I guess. Kombu is a type of seaweed commonly used to make broth ordashi, but it can be eaten as a cooked vegetable too of course. They are usually found in little bundles in osechi dishes.A commonly boiled fish (but also yummysashimi), tai (sea bream) sounds like Medatai (omedetou). I'm sure you've heard 'omedetou gozaimasu' (congratulations) but not sure if it's made you think of a fish. Because it looks like something else:Kamaboko is a fish cake formed into a half-tube, then sliced into half circle shapes. It is usually pink (red) and white, like Japan's flag, so it represents the rising sun (which we commonly watch on the first day of the year and call hatsuhinode).Datemaki is a sweet omelette cooked with shrimp or fish paste and rolled up (sort of like yaki tamgo). It supposedly looks like a scroll (more like a comfy sleeping bag?), so it's meaning is good culture and education.Vinegar lotus root, or subasu (su is vinegar and basu comes from hasu, the word for the lotus plant that the root, or renkon comes from), means we can see the future clearly, because of the holes in the roots. Some people just make a kinpira or nimono from renkon, maybe because sunomono dishes are more summer feeling. The nice part is it's easy to prepare ahead of time and doesn't require using a stove.Nontraditional osechi!I haven't seen much besides the sweets versions, but there are many nontraditional osechi to be found these days. If Pokemon osechi or all meat osechi is more your style, you can get some ideas by reading this article.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY0mw-living_food_educationFri, 30 Dec 2016 21:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MY0mw-living_food_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z84dz-livingDid you know: In Japan, Beethoven's “Symphony no. 9” (specifically the fourth and final movement, performed with the vocals from Ode of Joy) is often performed and played as the new year song, instead of what we'd expect in the western world, the traditional Scottish “Auld Lang Syne.” The Japanese song “Hotaru no Hikari” (Light of the Firefly) is set to the same melody as “Auld Lang Syne,” which helps explain things. I have often heard “Auld Lang Syne” (instrumental) played in shops which are about to close for the night and wondered why. The Japanese song is frequently used at graduation ceremonies and as a symbol of endings. (Not to be confused with the Japanese drama “Hotaru no Hikari,” although that's a great one!)Happy New Year everyone!(Monkey year is changing to a Rooster year)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z84dz-livingThu, 29 Dec 2016 22:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z84dz-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmWvz-livingIn case you didn't know, you can get mail delivered on New Year's Day in Japan.(Not just any mail, only special New Year's Day postcards.)Nengajyou are new year cards (postcards) in Japan. In late fall until the new year, there are cards being sold everywhere. You'll also see art supplies because a lot of people make their own new year cards. This is a traditional exchange, maybe like mailing Christmas cards with photos in western culture. In fact, lots of New Year cards have family photos printed on them. Any store that does photo prints onto products is likely to be selling photo new year cards as well. Most people like this option when they're showing off their kids or a new family member (although I haven't seen nontraditional photo shoots for these, yet).There is usually a theme of the Chinese zodiac correlated animal on new year cards. In 2016, the animal is monkey, but 2017 will be a rooster year, so a lot of the designs will have chickens or roosters on them. There are usually lots of gold and red colored images, as these are the traditional lucky colors for the new year in Asia, but sometimes we see colors associated with the new Chinese zodiac animal for the new year. (2017 lucky colors are gold, yellow, and brown.) You might see a lot of small figures and charms with the Chinese zodiac animals on them being sold, because some people like to collect the animal for the year they were born in or display the year's animal.We can buy the nengajyo postcards just about anywhere during the season. The best deal might be at the post office, which sells postcards decorated for new year use with postage already printed on them, at the cost of the postage. There are special post boxes to put these postcards in, which is to let the post office know it's a new year card, so they will be delivered on new year's day. Great service, but I feel bad for postal employees who have to work a lot on a holiday. The tiny local post office near my house also has a little new year card station complete with rubber stamps with a variety of greetings and images for the rooster year. In a world where everything is becoming digital, it makes sense that they want to make it easy and affordable to use their new year postcards.I almost forgot! If you buy your postcards for nengajyo at the post office, they also include a lottery number. Anyone you send them to might win a prize, from postage stamps to cash. Be sure to check the postcards you might receive for these lottery numbers – after a specific date, you can check online to see if you're a winner.The post office is also selling special Kit Kat Otoshidama this year. (Otoshidama is another fun new year tradition that kids look forward to, because they get cute envelopes with money in them from parents and older family members. You've probably noticed these, even at 100 yen stores. I call them “lucky envelopes,” for lack of another proper English translation.)If we buy new year cards at the local stationary shops or make our own, we can hand write or use rubber stamps and stickers to decorate the cards. 100 yen stores usually sell some items like stickers and stamps for the new year cards, in addition to plenty of blank postcard packs (to watercolor paint onto, for example) if you make your own cards.(Some of my own homemade cards for this winter)Most people write 元旦 (gantan) on the cards, meaning 'New Year's Day,' as a new year greeting. Other common greetings for the new year are: 明けましておめでとうございます! Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (Happy New Year!)今年も宜しくお願い致します。 Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu (I'm counting on you this year as well.)If you send new year's cards to someone, they will usually feel some obligation to return the favor. If you and your acquaintances are the type that like to send and receive mail, it might be a fun holiday tradition for you. This is a tradition a lot of young people don't enjoy as much, plus some people can't really be bothered to do it. It's a nice way to stay in touch with old friends, but maybe not necessary for those you see all the time.In the event that a family member has passed away, that family should not give or receive new year cards on the next new year day. Instead, around November or December, they will usually send 'mochu hagaki' which is to let friends know that they will not be sending a new year card and should not get one.It might be a fading tradition, but if you enjoy sending and getting handwritten postcards, why not? Have you ever given or received nengajyou? Do you want to give it a try this year?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmWvz-livingThu, 22 Dec 2016 09:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmWvz-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNpZz-living_foodWhat do Japanese people do for Christmas?It used to be, "Nothing special."More and more, I can hear Christmas music in stores and see Christmas lights on bushes outside of homes, and even Daiso sells little Christmas trees and ornaments. I think things are changing, but the way Christmas is celebrated in Japan is less of an old tradition and more of a cool ethnic holiday. We can sing Christmas songs and have Christmas parties and even exchange gifts. Is it just another way to sell something? Just another shape (stocking shaped of course) to sell lucky bags of snacks in. One more expectation to spend money on gifts right before the new year gift giving time?In Japan, I can consistently expect a few traditions on Christmas Eve and Day, not including maybe working when it falls on a weekday. This is what Christmas in Japan is to me, not that I celebrate in any of these ways, but it's fun sometimes.1. Illumination, or Christmas light displaysLarge scale commercial light displays in Japan usually start around the end of November and go until the end of January. Maybe they help compensate for the lack of light during that time of the year. Illuminations are usually some sort of promotion by a corporation to get visitors, be it a shopping mall, theme park, or hotel. In the season when a lot of people are already traveling for the new year and have a little time off, visiting a place with illumination during the Christmas and new year season is a popular tradition. Best of all, most of the time we can view illumination for free.These illuminations are the ideal setting for a romantic date, which is another Japanese Christmas Eve tradition. What could be more romantic than a fancy dinner, then standing out in the cold, holding hands (with gloves on), and looking at Christmas lights?2. Christmas cake everywhereIn Japan, Christmas cake means strawberry shortcake, pretty much. Far from the traditional English Christmas cake (a dense and nutty cake, probably without frosting), Christmas cake in Japan comes with magical fresh strawberries during winter. We can find booklets advertising Christmas cakes (to be ordered in advance) everywhere from the community center to the post office. Of course, we could probably go to any supermarket and buy a couple slices of affordable strawberry shortcake more easily. Christmas cakes also come in other random flavors, which makes them nothing more than an overpriced normal cake with special decorations, in my opinion. Score! My husband just brought home a couple slices of half off strawberry shortcake, with holiday decorations, for under 200 yen. Sure beats paying over 1500 for a tiny cake.In the US, cake is not even a thing on Christmas. We stick with too many kinds of cookies and probably some pie.3. Fried Chicken. Really.Is it a tradition to eat turkey on Christmas? I always thought that was Thanksgiving. It seems a little too soon to have turkey again a month or two later, so I don't think Americans eat turkey on Christmas, but correct me if I'm wrong. I heard it's normal to eat roast chicken on Christmas in the UK, so where does this turkey story come from?Back in the 70s, a foreigner supposedly wanted some turkey on Christmas and couldn't find it in Japan, so opted for some fried chicken from KFC. This info got to the managers who had the bright idea to commercialize Christmas by promoting fried chicken as the thing we should eat. I had never eaten chicken on Christmas until living in Japan, but this fried chicken thing somehow caught on in Japan. Now if we want to eat KFC's fried chicken on December 23rd, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, we need to place an order ahead of time. Not that everyone does this, but lots of families enjoy this tradition from what I hear. We can order a holiday meal set (even including a Christmas cake and champagne!) for 3000 yen or more and see Colonel Sanders in a Santa suit. That is if you don't mind waiting in line. No thanks, I'd rather make sushi for Christmas. (Do they really think Colonel Sanders looks like Santa Claus? I guess he's a chubby foreign guy with some white facial hair?)(We can also order a roast chicken and lots of other holiday foods from the post office for about 3000 yen, if you aren't fond of queuing up.)Sounds like the perfect Christmas Eve in Japan is enjoying a fancy dinner date followed by an illumination viewing after work, then going home to eat some fried chicken and Christmas cake with the family.Do you celebrate Christmas in a Japanese sort of way, make your own traditions, or find a way to celebrate the way you did back home?Notes: My family back home prefers eating lamb and/or honey-baked ham on Christmas (along with lots of pilaf rice of course, if they eat anything fancy at all). I started my own Christmas tradition as an adult in the US – my friends and I would make sushi and watch The Godfather (first one, maybe the second one sometimes). That's something I have no trouble continuing in Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNpZz-living_foodFri, 16 Dec 2016 11:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNpZz-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3rPM-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_fukuoka-shi_hakata-kuIf you don't feel like spending money but want something sweet (or otherwise) in Hakata Station, I've got a recommendation. Actually this is ideal if you're shopping for omiyage, but even if not, if you have some time to spare, this is sort of fun. On the North side of the first floor of Hakata Station, there are restaurants and tons of stands selling omiyage. You'll notice there are several locations with the same products, and often the same free samples. Not every area gives out samples, but most of the samples are large and sweet. Several savory samples and even samples of local alcohol exist as well, especially towards the back where you can try out dashi and of course the local specialty, mentaiko. These are mostly the same exact stores that are everywhere in the region, selling just about the same products, but most of the bigger stores don't give samples.Another local specialty is "menbei," or mentaiko flavored senbei.It might be tough to avoid spending money or getting yourself into a sugar coma. I recommend trying only the things you know or think you like, and when you feel yourself hitting saturation, head for the nearby Kaldi Coffee Farm for a sample of coffee. Better yet, to start off get a nice hot black coffee to go and carry it with you to cut the sweetness of the samples. Don't take samples of the same product more than once, even if you see it five times. There is plenty to get your blood sugar high enough without it.This was my favorite sample - huge Hakata amaou strawberry flavored treats. Most of the omiyage in Japan are beautiful and come in beautiful packaging. It's also fun to just look at all the pretty cakes and manjyu. Depending on the season, there will probably be decorations. I saw a Santa recently and close to Valentine's day they had a pop up romance shrine where couples could leave messages written on heart shaped papers.Have fun & if you're not in the area, I'm sure this type of omiyage parade exists in most larger cities.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3rPM-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_fukuoka-shi_hakata-kuThu, 15 Dec 2016 14:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3rPM-living_food_shopping_fukuoka_fukuoka-shi_hakata-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr70M-living_foodOne of the perks of working in Japan is being invited to Bounenkai, a type of enkai that occurs at the end of the year. Restaurants will start to fill up with reservations all throughout December. The Bounenkai season is upon us.While working as an ALT, at least a few times each school year I'd be invited to join the enkai, or work party, to celebrate the start or end of the school year for example. The first time there was a cute hand written note on my desk with info about the party that said, “Sorry, just expensive.” These are usually around 5000 yen per person, but include a meal at a fairly fancy place you might not otherwise have a reason to go to, as well as usually an open bar. They range from traditional Japanese cuisine to Italian or other ethnic restaurants that are large enough to reserve a room for at least 20 staff. They are usually somewhat private, sometimes in smaller restaurants which close entirely to other customers for a few hours. If you're lucky, your company just might be taking care of the bill for this one, yes! This is a great way to relax with coworkers and get to know them outside of the serious work mode. This does not mean enkai are causal dress, in fact that depends on what you'd normally wear for work, but most people will be in business attire. This is partially because it is a work event and partially because a lot of staff come directly from work to the restaurant. Depending on the location and mood, it may even be slightly more formal than usual work attire. Examples of times to dress it up more are when the enkai is meeting in a fancy hotel restaurant (as opposed to a bar restaurant) or the principal is retiring so there is more than one reason for the party. (I have on more than one occasion been a bit too casual for the party, but being the charming foreigner, this usually doesn't cause more than awkwardness. Nothing new here, right?) Stay on the safe side or ask someone if you aren't sure how to dress. You might be taking shoes off or sitting on the floor, but if you don't take your shoes off in the restaurant and you wore trainers with a suit... yes, I have done that. I do a lot of walking.Be prepared to look good in the group photos! (By good, I might mean not ostensibly drunk, or just dressed appropriately.) You might have kind staff giving you prints of the photos you're in soon.After finding your seat, possibly with a handmade name card or elaborate seating game, make sure to have fun at enkai. Try to join in on the songs and games that you might not understand at all. There is bound to be an element of entertainment going on at most enkai. My first experience was a lot of confusing clapping and yelling, once there was a kanji quiz game, and another one involved one of the teachers in a cat costume giving a tree as a gift. (Long story.)Pour your boss or principal a drink and enjoy a chance to see them act a little less serious, like saying, "I'm just tired," when they're drunk.Oh, by the way, after the enkai there might be a 'bonus round' in a smaller bar which is not usually included in the price, but you're free to skip out if you're tired or don't still have a full wallet after paying for an enkai. This tends to be almost exclusively men in my experience and I have only joined in once, as it was the day before moving back to the US. But the bonus round could be coffee with mostly women as well. Maybe there will be two teams splitting off.So just what is a Bounenkai?It's a special enkai at the end of the year which literally means, “forget the year party.” Yep, this year was that bad. Let's drink a lot and forget it ever happened. Sounds good to me! I'm not so much of a drinker, but this seems like a nice excuse to have a couple drinks with a nice meal and spend time with students or coworkers.Besides a few famous musicians and lovely pets passing away this year, Brexit passed and Donald Trump was elected president of the USA for some absurd reason. That's enough for me to want to go to at least two or three Bounenkai this year!Have you ever been to a Bounenkai? How many Bounenkai do you expect to go to this year? (How many times will it take to forget? Haha) What do you want to forget this year?PS: Be sure to arrange a safe ride home if you're drinking!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr70M-living_foodWed, 30 Nov 2016 16:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wr70M-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyJ5w-livingWhen we hear seasons, we usually think of the four seasons of the year, and how Japan mostly has only two of those: Too hot & humid or cold and dry.There are some other seasons in Japan that you will experience when you live here. Some of them are weather and season related but some are more gift giving or travel related.1. 花見 (Hanami / Flower Viewing) Season Spring (or early April) is the start of the new fiscal and school year. During the spring season we can see sakura or cherry blossoms blooming and enjoy hanami with drinks and food. This is a bittersweet symbol for endings and new beginnings in Japan.2. Golden Week and 五月病 (Gogatsu Byou / May Sickness) SeasonThe end of April and beginning of May have five national holidays falling within one week. Right after everyone gets used to the new school year or new job, we get a nice break or frantic traveling holiday. Then it's back to life as usual. Some people get a bit depressed at returning to work or school, and this is called Gogatsu Byou, or May sickness. Not a serious depression, more just a dissatisfaction with the current life.3. 梅雨 (Tsuyu / Rainy) SeasonThe rainy season in Japan is around early June until mid July and the amount of rainfall is not always much to say anything about. Sometimes it rains a ton, daily downpours, but sometimes it's only around once a week. It's a good idea to have rain boots, an umbrella, plus a towel with you at all times during this season. All this rain gets the plants really going in time for summer.4. かき氷 (Kakigouri / Shaved Ice) SeasonSummer vacation for students is from the end of July through August for the most part. It's just hot and humid and people have the urge to eat lots of shaved ice. Kakigoiri is sold everywhere from family restaurants and cafes to summer festivals. This is also, not surprisingly, fireworks, travel and beach season. It's also the time when gifts called Ochugen are given.5. 台風 (Typhoon) SeasonThe back side of the rainy season in late summer and early fall that comes with heavy wind. Varies from year to year and depends on your location in Japan. Usually not a big deal unless you're fairly close to the ocean, although that is most of Japan. Typhoons can do some damage but are rarely cause for businesses or schools closing.6. 紅葉 (Kouyou autumn leaves) SeasonBy mid October it usually starts to cool down and at least the humidity is under control. Depending on location, the leaves start to change and we can see brilliant cherry red maple leaves and gold ginkgo leaves. Here's another opportunity for traveling, to see the leaves in beautiful parks and in nature of course. There is a quick break in late September (silver week) but unless you're in Hokkaido that's too early for autumn leaves. Kouyou is sort of an autumn version of hanami.7. イルミネーション "Illumination" Season In the fall it starts to get cold & dry (and dark), but after the leaves start falling, we get a different colorful treat. Illumination is popular in Japan, more of a large scale Christmas lights decoration, usually done by large companies. These can be seen around shopping malls and at theme parks for promotion. I don't really see individuals putting up lights around their houses, but illuminations are bigger and make for a great place to go on a Christmas date.8. クリスマス Christmas Season Not that Japanese people usually celebrate Christmas – it's a work day and you won't see live Christmas trees for sale. I usually see decorations and hear Christmas music in stores, as it's a commercial holiday. In Japan, Christmas is a day to eat KFC (Kentucky), go on a date, and eat Christmas cake (sponge cake with strawberries - not at all like real Christmas cake). People are shocked when I tell them we don't eat fried chicken or cake for Christmas in the US. This might as well be Nabe Season. All winter, Nabe, or hot pot, is the yummy meal that keeps you warm and never gets old.9. 大正月 (OShogatsu New Year) It's traditional to visit family for the new year, eat traditional new year food (osechi), and get some much needed time off from working. Almost everything will be closed for a few days or more, thus the need for the special food prepared or purchased in advance. There are tons of new year season traditions in Japan, like Hatsumode. Hardly the wild drinking party it's become elsewhere, it's a very quiet holiday. The new year begins with ringing the bell at the local temple and eating really long noodles at midnight. One more thing I'll mention is Oseibou, an old gift giving tradition just like Ochugen during summer. 10. バレンタインデー Valentine's Day or Chocolate Season Valentine's day is funny in Japan. Girls give boys chocolate. But as the tradition goes, one month later, on March 14th, boys (rarely) return the favor with white chocolate, for White Day.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyJ5w-livingMon, 28 Nov 2016 13:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyJ5w-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjYmG-livingMost native people in Japan fit the descriptions of:A: Avoid talking to me because I'm a foreigner, therefore we can't communicate at all.B: Just talk to me in Japanese like I should be totally fluent. I'm in Japan after all.C: Speak to me in English or mix English and Japanese. (With varying levels of comprehension on both ends of the conversation.)My favorite is type B. Especially when they understand they should keep things simple and speak slowly. I like that people don't feel scared to talk to me this way, as they are often nervous about using English. I think this is the best way for me to learn Japanese in context. It's common for staff in stores to use Japanese normally with all customers unless there's an obvious lack of understanding something essential. In contrast to this, in the case of filling out forms, usually staff assumes I have no ability to write in Japanese and offers to help. I've even had staff clearly write down kanji for me to copy from when I'm supposed to fill out a form and they aren't sure if I know how to write it. (While this is helpful sometimes, let's hope I can at least remember how to write my name and address.)It's also much more common for people to speak to me in Japanese when I initiate conversations in Japanese. They can hear that I have an accent and might notice I use elementary school level vocabulary, but will know it's okay to talk to me in Japanese.The funny thing is, I sometimes get asked for directions in Japan, by Japanese people. I'm guessing they don't notice at first that I'm not Japanese, or I'm the first person they see. I haven't ever known the place I was asked about, so I always have to say, sorry, I don't know where that is.Once I got comfortable asking about or explaining around vocabulary I don't know, conversation in Japanese got a lot easier. There is still nervousness about how to say something new or starting conversations with strangers.As an English teacher, I often hear that my students feel nervous speaking in English or asking for help when they can't understand. Letting them know I have the same problems when I speak in Japanese is reassuring and gives them some confidence.One additional scenario is the awkwardness when I come across someone who isn't Japanese looking and don't know if I should use Japanese or English. Using Japanese with someone new who speaks English better can be funny or just plain uncomfortable.How do you deal with the language barrier in Japan? Do you mostly avoid talking to anyone? Can you get by in Japanese alright? Do you feel nervous talking to strangers and making new friends (in any language)?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjYmG-livingFri, 18 Nov 2016 14:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wjYmG-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mq3kG-living(By author / illustrator Gomi Tarou.)Before moving to Japan, there are some things you might want to be aware of.One. People speak Japanese in Japan.Get used to Japanese or get used to not understanding most of what is going on around you. It's not a super difficult language to speak, but the reading and writing will take a while to get down. If you do get really great at using Japanese, it opens up opportunities for work and socializing, but it's also just nice to understand what's going on around you.Two. If you're a native English speaker, you're fairly unique here.You might get special treatment, will be able to be paid well for just knowing English, and lots of people might want to hang out with you (for free English practice). If you're nice and respectful, you will probably benefit from very generous English learners who befriend you. You could get some freelance English lessons or just regular free snacks from coworkers and students. It can be nice but don't feel like you have to be friends with everyone who wants to try out their English on you. Most people won't just start talking to you, but the frequency of this happening depends on where you are in Japan. You can meet a lot of great people from all over the world while living in Japan.Three. Sushi?Sushi is really different in Japan compared with the American version, and from what I hear the respective other versions of sushi. All Japanese people don't like sushi, and they don't eat it every day, but some people love it. You won't find “caterpillar rolls” and cream cheese in the sushi in Japan. That being said,Food is really good here.It might take some getting used to and there are a few things that you might never like. It's okay, even Japanese people don't ALL like natto, for example. There is really good quality food in Japan with attention to seasonal foods and more of a focus on vegetables and seafood than western foods. Some foods are imported from all over the world, but it seems like the majority of food in Japan is from Japan, meaning it's fresher and better for the environment. If you are scared to try new foods, you're missing out on a huge part of Japanese culture. If you're committed to being a vegan in Japan, you'll miss out on a large fraction of food options, although it isn't impossible.KamakuraFour. There is more to Japan than Tokyo.Much more. Tokyo is fine, but real Japan is in the countryside. Try to at least experience the other parts of Japan if you live in a big city. Go out and explore so you get some good experiences and stories to tell friends and family about.Five. Engrish is really entertaining. There is quite a bit of Engrish, if you keep an eye out for it, and like that kind of thing. If you're teaching English, you get the opportunity to hear cute Engrish on daily basis, which is arguably one of the best parts of the job. You'll soon be fluent in Engrish as a second language.Six. Pay attention to the shoes.When to take the shoes off is not always instinctual, but there's a lot of taking shoes off and wearing slippers going on. Also special shoes for different places (school shoes, toilet shoes, cleaning the bathtub shoes...), and a whole world of cute house slippers and socks.Seven. Buying clothes could be a challenge.The majority of Japanese people are sort of small compared with most western people. You may have heard this before, but finding shoes and clothes that fit is sometimes troublesome. If you're very tall (and/or have red hair), you might stand out in a crowd. And hit your head on doorways.Eight. You might not need a car.In cities in Japan, there are good reasons to not have a car, mostly that you won't need it. There's great public transportation even within smaller cities. If you're in the suburbs or need to get to several neighborhoods for work it might be useful, but getting around by bike is usually an option as well. The costs for owning and driving a car are only worth it if you need to drive because of where you live or work.GPS is helpful, especially because of the address system in Japan, but not needing to use GPS is a nice feeling.Nine. Teaching English is not really a career.For a year or two in your early twenties, teaching at Eikaiwa or as an ALT is a great experience, as long as you like the job and like living in Japan. Once you want to settle down with a family, the salary is not so great, and you start to lose free time to work on your next plan. If you want to stay for a while or make a career out of teaching English, it's a good idea to work really hard on, A.) Learning Japanese well and, B.) a master's degree or other qualifications that will get you into a better position. Once you have great Japanese, you can find work in other fields, and side hustles are never a bad idea.Ten. It's gonna be rough when you go back home.If and when you make the move back to your country, you will have a bit of adjusting to do. While this is different for everyone, 'reverse culture shock' ranges from having trouble relating to people who haven't lived abroad to not being able to qualify for housing because of lack of recent rental history. Finding work might be hard (even if you want to continue teaching ESL); finding full time work or a similar salary might also be near impossible. In many places, the cost of living will be higher than where you lived in Japan. Everything might look huge to you.Planning ahead will cut back on the stress of relocating and starting over, but the reverse culture shock sometimes takes a while to set in.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mq3kG-livingFri, 18 Nov 2016 13:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mq3kG-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZjRw-living_foodYes Halloween Candy!It's October and if you come from a country like the United States, it's the time of year where you start the downward spiral of eating way too many sweets. This lasts until New Years day or even potentially Valentines Day. Children get giddy at the thought of collecting candy for Free! There are unspoken contests about who can collect the most candy and some children fill pillowcases. Nevermind those pesky plastic buckets – too small! After the collecting is done, the sorting process begins, and trades ensue, to confirm the largest possible quantity of well-liked candy. Most of the time the results of this much candy are frequent sugar rushes and sugar crashes, sometimes lasting for the remainder of the year. To the chagrin of parents and dentists all over America, limiting to one piece (or even three) of candy a day rarely happens.Er, Japan didn't quite get it right.I see a lot of effort though, much more than a few years ago. The costumes and halloween parties are caught-on in Japan. I don't imagine going to the neighbors' for some free candy will ever catch on in Japan. It's a bit intrusive to our privacy and also just seems rude. Even in America, I've always thought it was a strange custom, but hey, free candy?SweetnessOh the sweetness, it's a bit more intense in the US. Maybe it's the high fructose corn syrup, the artifical colors and flavors, the sheer quantity... It makes for some good crazies and sugar addictions. In Japan it seems a lot more mellowed down, but still satisfying. Candy barsCandy bars are not such a big thing in Japan. In the US I feel like we have candy bars and granola bars (which are the slightly healthier version) everywhere, and these pass for valid nutritious snacks for when you're hungry between meals. Anyway, besides the odd Snickers or Black Thunder, the main candy bar I see in Japan is the Kit Kat.But, Kit Kat in Japan is so much better! It's almost always seen in the mini (teeny tiny) versions, in bags unless you're at a convenience store. And the flavors! In the US I think there's an option for milk or 'dark' chocolate now, but that's about it. A standard in Japan is Matcha Kit Kat, anywhere from about 200 yen at discount supermarkets to 400 yen at Kaldi Coffee Farm for a mini-pack of 11 or so. Exciting seasonal flavors are usually available for a short time only, for example, sakura, pumpkin, and sake flavored Kit Kat. Whee! Jealous much America?Snacks. Just Halloween snacks.One thing I see tons of this year are Halloween themed seasonal snacks and Halloween packaging for things that are exactly the same. Entertaining flavors like “Yogurt Cheetos” which doesn't sound appealing or like a seasonal flavor just confuse me. White Cheetos would be white cheddar flavor in my world... yogurt... hmmm. Then there's the Oktoberfest "curry werst."One thing Japan gets so right is seasonal foods.Pumpkin / KabochaObviously, we must have the pumpkin flavored things in fall. Starbucks probably has their pumpkin spice lattes, I know Tully's and other places have similar pumpkin lattes. No pumpkin Jamba juice, but we can find kabocha Haagen Dazs. Pumpkin pudding snack sandwiches anyone? I remember being able to find yummy Pumpkin pudding all the time before, but I guess that's not a thing in Kyushu. Pumpkin roll cake was just meh. I've seen teeny pumpkin tarts but haven't tried one yet and I'm guessing pumpkin pies are available at Costco?MapleSeasonal "maple custard cookie" Haagen Dazs sounds exciting and even maple granola is available now. My Canadian friends would agree, maple is awesome, year round. Kaldi Coffee Farm has amazing maple cream cookies, maybe all year.Persimmon / KakiMore orange food please! I usually see persimmon flavoring high end treats like yokan, maybe dried pieces in granola, but not much for other sweets. I guess it's just really good fresh so there's no need to eat it any other way. It has a mild flavor, but I wouldn't mind trying persimmon flavored ice cream if someone made it. Hint hint.Chestnut / Maron / KuriAnother fall favorite! These are also used for high end sweets, to autumn - up anything possible. I haven't seen so many candies with chestnut flavor and it's not as popular in the US, at least on the west coast. Images of roasting chestnuts over an open fire seem more like a Christmas tradition in the UK that Americans don't usually bother with. Still this time of year kuri-gohan is really nice. Plus being one of the foods we can gather up ourselves makes chestnuts special.Sweet Potato / ImoYams and sweet potatoes are something we see often on the Thanksgiving table (candided yams covered in marshmallows) but not so much in candies in the US. In Japan we can find yaki-imo sold by street vendors and in every supermarket. Of course there are imo flavored Kit Kat and granola too! I've heard of sweet potato pies in the states, but here it's more sweet potato pound cake.Slapping a Jack o' Lantern face on just about anything makes things festive, but I dunno. I like the seasonal fall flavors available in Japan more than American sugar overload. Did I miss one of your favorite fall flavors?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZjRw-living_foodTue, 25 Oct 2016 17:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wZjRw-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDLQz-living_fukuoka_fukuoka-shi_hakata-kuThe 22nd annual "Hakata Toumyou Watching" or Lantern Arts Festival in Hakata was unfortunately rained out for the most part this year. In several locations in Fukuoka (Hakata-ku), we can see Halloween-style temporary lights: usually tealights nestled in sand in a colored paper bag. These are arranged into beautiful designs that can best be seen from above. The images from last year were great. Too bad about half of the participants canceled because of rain this year.We were able to see the set up and lit design at Hakata Station as it was done under a covered area. From there, the paper bags were lined up like a yellow brick road to lead us to the nearest watching location. Even outside in the light rain, the lanterns held up alright but stopped short of the next participating location: Tounagaji. There were different lanterns lighting the path to Tounagaji temple and yatai selling some snacks, but we didn't see an arranged lantern design there. Instead, they had a handmade lantern contest. We were given ballots to vote for our top three lanterns out of the twelve original designs. They were dimly lit so the photos aren't great. After this we called it a night, although there may have been a couple other locations still participating. We hope to have good weather and go again next year.Www.hakata-toumyou.comTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDLQz-living_fukuoka_fukuoka-shi_hakata-kuSun, 23 Oct 2016 16:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zDLQz-living_fukuoka_fukuoka-shi_hakata-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQRlw-living_foodHave you ever eaten the seasonal fall food, ginkgo nuts? This spring I became curious about how to collect and prepare them myself, since ginkgo trees are growing all over Japan, and we could already see green ginkgo fruit on the trees then. I heard Japanese people like to eat ginkgo nuts while drinking beer or in chawan mushi.Ginkgo trees are often planted along streets, in parks, and at temples and shrines. If you go collecting, I recommend wearing gloves and mosquito repellent, plus bring a bag or something to keep the nuts in. It's October - the season is right. I checked online about the process and headed out to collect ginkgo nuts, orginnan(銀杏) for the first time. They are stinky fruits or berries and during fall they turn golden and fall off the trees. The fruit is not edible (and too stinky to want to eat), but we collected the almond shaped nut inside. The fruit was squishy so the nuts slid out easily, but the stinky fruit was difficult to get completely off. I read it's easier after the fruits dry out a little. After bringing the nuts home, I spent way too long trying to wash off the stinky fruit part. I'd recommend doing this outside if possible. I put the nuts on some newspaper to dry out for a day or two. The stink reduced as they dried out. Ginnan can be boiled (about ten minutes) or pan fried (in their shells, sort of like popcorn), but shouldn't be eaten raw. Pop the smooth shells off and use the nuts in cooking or eat with some salt and a beer. You'll be able to find lots of info in English about collecting and preparing them. There are some health benefits but also warnings that some people have trouble if they eat a lot of ginnan. I read that 30 per day for adults and 5 per day for children is the limit, because they somehow stop our bodies from absorbing vitamin B6, despite having a lot of protein. I fried my ginnanwith a little olive oil in a nonstick pan with a lid. They made loud pops and some of them flew out of the shells. There is a bronze papery layer under the shell and the nuts are yellow-green. After sprinkling a little salt on the nuts, we ate some with a drink. They are chewy but don't have a strong flavor.I felt the process was sort of fun and sort of a pain. It's exciting to be able to go out and collect food – old fashioned gatherer style. It takes a bit of effort and tolerance of the stink to collect ginnan, but might be worth it if you know you like them and have a lot of time. I might stick with less stinky and time intensive gathering from now on, but am glad I finally tried it out. There's an option to buy prepared ginnan at a store (usually still in their shells), which might be the best option, if you want to enjoy this fall food without the smell.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQRlw-living_foodWed, 12 Oct 2016 15:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GQRlw-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyK9M-livingWe skipped getting omikuji (おみくじ) during our new year visit to a shrine nearby, or hatsumode, this year. I guess getting omikuji is only something I do, once a year or so. Omikuji are the thin strips of paper, usually folded, that we can find at shrines and temples and is translated as 'omen' or 'fortune.' There are varying degrees of luckiness or unluckiness, and a few comments about where you are at in your life, something to think about or focus on, suggestions for improvement, etc. Most omikuji are in Japanese only, and in sort of old fashioned sounding Japanese at that. Each shrine or temple has slightly different ones. They are usually 100 yen, unless they are a fancy type that comes with a keychain or something like that. I have gottenone with a heart shaped bell cellphone strap, for example. To me omikuji is for entertainment only, and sort of like gacha gacha, there are a variety we can find. I'm mostly interested in unique omikuji, like "Koimikuji" (love fortune), or ones with charms. They're more like getting toys along with the fortune, usually something cute. There are a variety of types ofomikuji vending.Vending machine type Post box red vending machines for fortunes are charming I think. If it's old fashioned - Put 100 yen in a box (sometimes with a coin slot) and take a random omikuji from another open box. If it's a little more high tech – your coin goes into the slot and there's a little door to take an omikuji, although some aren't going to limit taking one only after putting in the correct change each time. They are usually more honor system type vending machines. Sometimes you can find omikuji for free in a box also.Gacha gacha typeThe omikujiare usually more fancy (come with a strap or something) and more expensive in this case. I rarely see them in capsules, but sometimes the machines they come from are similar to gacha gatcha.Lottery typeUsually at temples, like Sensoji in Asakusa, Tokyo. Take a random long chopstick looking bamboo stick from a tall box after shaking it. There are 100 bamboo sticks in each box at Sensoji. Read the number on the stick. Find the drawer with that number. Open the drawer to take a sheet of the omen you drew. This is an unfolded type and a wider shape than most omikuji.Buy from staff type Usually this is reserved for huge shrines on busy days, but only for very special omikuji or other items for sale.Most are folded paper only. We can also get charms with some omikuji. The 'fancy' and more expensive omikuji come in a few varieties.1. Charm - usually a tiny charm is folded inside of the paper. This can be a character or Chinese zodiac animal – with twelve different boxes to select from, so your fortune is based on your zodiac animal or the year you were born in.2. Special shape or color, usually seasonal or more expensive design. I've seen flower shaped designs with a different fortune category on each petal. I saw little umbrellas in different colors at Asami Jinja last time, with the fortune on the umbrellas. Some places will have colored or patterned paper, for example during the hydrangea season, Daizenji has purple paper.3. Strap – comes with a keychain / phone strap. This can be a bell or something in one of the other categories, sometimes going along with a theme at the shrine or temple where they are bought.Or some combination of the above.Lucky or Not?There are several types of 'luck' that you could end up when you draw an omikuji. The traditional ratio (practiced at Sensoji in Asakusa) is 30% bad luck, but even that much of a chance is considered too easy to get bad luck these days. Here's a quick guide to the luckiness: 大吉 – Great fortune (Daikichi)吉 – Good luck (Kichi)中吉 – Middle fortune (Chuu Kichi)小吉 – Small luck (Shou Kichi)半吉 – Half-fortune (Han Kichi)末吉 – Future fortune (Mi Kichi)末小吉 – Small future fortune (Mi Shou Kichi)凶 – Bad luck (Kyou)小凶 – Slight bad luck (Shou Kyou)半凶 – Half-bad luck (Han Kyou)末凶 – Future bad luck (Mi Kyou)大凶 – Great bad luck (Dai Kyou)Especially for unlucky omikuji, it's common to tie them to a wire or tree near the temple or shrine, “tie the paper” 紙を結ぶ (kami wo musubu), and maybe say 'itadakimasen' (I don't receive it). This is a sort of way to reject the bad luck or leave it behind. Lucky fortunes can be kept with you as a reminder.Good Luck!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyK9M-livingSat, 08 Oct 2016 22:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyK9M-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z155z-living_shoppingSince the first time I visited Japan, I was introduced to some unique toothpastes and became interested in trying out different ones. The first and probably strangest one I've tried is Binotomo brand “Dentifrice Jet Black” nasu (Japanese eggplant) ash toothpaste, which is black and slightly salty. Most people would freak out a little at the idea of using black toothpaste, or even one that isn't sweet, but I sort of liked that one and have bought it a couple times. It's a little hard to find and one of the more expensive toothpastes.I tend to try a new and strange toothpaste when I visit another country as well. I've tried bamboo salt and charcoal toothpaste in Hong Kong and South Korea. Other than vitamin C (orange flavored) toothpaste that made me drool too much, there are lots of other 'healthy' flavors. Herbal flavors are popular and my current toothpaste is a sweet apple chamomile.In department stores and Tokyu Hands, I found tiny tubes of toothpaste called “Breath Palette” in about 50 different unique flavors. It's pricey but I love that I can get green tea or lavender flavored toothpaste. I think I also tried cinnamon, but espresso seemed like a bad idea.People in Japan usually hate licorice flavor so they'd probably hate one of my favorite toothpastes in the states, a fennel flavored one. I feel like the typical mint flavors get a little boring and have been trying out different toothpastes as long as I can remember, because my family uses Crest and I always hated it for some reason. I have heard of but never seen miso, wasabi, and takoyaki flavored toothpaste in Japan. Would you try it? I wanna hear about the weird toothpastes you've seen and tried in Japan! Which ones do you recommend (or recommend avoiding)?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z155z-living_shoppingSat, 08 Oct 2016 21:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z155z-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnAjw-living_education_fukuoka_kurume-shiWe live a walkable distance from a Jieitai (自衛隊) Base, or a Japanese Self Defense Force Army base. Jieitai has a navy and air force as well. I think a lot of foreigners don't realize this exists in Japan. (I only found out about it in the US when I could meet some visiting members of the Japanese Navy while volunteering at a Japanese school.)The base in our city is a good size with a school, several dormitories and other buildings, and a big open space. They have their own little walking track inside the premises. Civilians are generally not allowed to enter the space. Last month we were allowed to enter for the special Hanabi Taikai the Jieitai puts on every August. There were lots of yatai and information tables, performances by a local hula dancing club, and of course fireworks. We were able to watch fireworks very close to where they were set off and it seemed liked they exploded directly above us. This was a better experience than the more popular Hanabi Taikai in town, as it was closer and not as crowded.This month, there was an open house event at the base to allow civilians to come in and see demonstrations and exhibits of the military equipment they use. I heard this happens at least once a year. We arrived while the demonstration was in process. It wasn't very crowded, but families were standing and even sitting on mats near the large roped off demonstration area. Most of the visitors seemed to be family members of the staff. We got to watch the servicemen demonstrate throwing grenades, shooting machine guns, and shooting huge cannon guns called kahou. They drove around in various tanks and helicopters flew overhead. There was a demonstration of a war scenario, where each side shot at each other and threw grenades (all blanks, I'm sure), then one side advanced and the other waved their little white flags to surrender. When the cannons were fired, signs were held up and an announcement was made to be careful as there would be a loud noise. It was surprisingly loud and ground shaking. (I think I had heard them practicing a day or two earlier and was a little concerned at hearing gun shots. They usually give advance notice in the neighborhood announcements if there will be shots fired at Jieitai.)We were also allowed to enter some of the buildings, including the store selling military goods and souvenirs. There were a surprising number of US military items there. Next to that there was a convenience store for the Jieitai staff, quite similar to a normal convenience store. Some yatai sold food or toy guns and there were a few tables for kids to get snacks and try shooting toy guns. Outside we could see several types of military vehicles the army uses as well as the different hand held weapons. All the tanks have a white sakura emblem painted somewhere, sort of a delicate touch to such heavy machinery.Military demonstrations aren't something I'm especially interested in, but I like field trips and it's still very exciting to have the chance. Your area might have a Jieitaior a US military base as well. There are some cultural events put on by both groups – I heard Sasebo's US Naval base has a Fourth of July (US Independence Day) event open to the public. It's worth looking into what's offered in your area.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnAjw-living_education_fukuoka_kurume-shiMon, 19 Sep 2016 12:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MnAjw-living_education_fukuoka_kurume-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrNDw-living_educationMost cities in Japan offer free Japanese lessons to foreigners living there. Kyoshitsu is classroom, so these are called Japanese classrooms, although they meet in public areas and community centers more often than in a traditional classroom. They’re usually taught by retired volunteers with some English ability and lessons are around one hour once a week. Textbooks are usually recommended if you don’t have your own and can be purchased from teachers or on your own. I used "Genki" and liked it for a textbook, but recommend supplementing lots of authentic materials (manga, anime, movies, books, magazines, music, etc. in Japanese) in addition to conversation with native speakers. You can study on your own of course, but it helps a lot to practice speaking in an environment where you can be encouraged. I’ve gotten some good study tips to use for the times I do study alone.If we check local announcements in free papers or ask around, we can get connected with a Nihongo Kyoshitsu. It’s a good way to connect with the locals while studying Japanese for free.They sometimes have events and group tours that you can choose to participate in. When I lived in Ibaraki Prefecture, our classroom hosted a group tour on a Sunday for about 1000 yen. We went on a bus to a bonsai museum, doll museum, and train museum in nearby Saitama Prefecture. I could meet a lot of other foreigners living in my city, as well as some Japanese volunteers.The group I currently study with is very small, currently with only two or three students. Volunteer teachers use primarily JLPT study materials but are flexible. I’m not interested in taking the JLPT, but they had a vocabulary textbook (photo above, for N2 Level) that’s good review and new material for me. I’m also free to bring in my library books, bring up vocabulary and phrases I need help with, or just chat. There are at least two other Japanese lessons in town, one of which is a little more formal and has a small charge.If you prefer to study in a classroom with a textbook, it might be a better option for you to join one of the Japanese language schools with a fee or find a kyoshitsu big enough to accommodate group lessons for different levels. If a community center atmosphere with tailored study materials is a better fit, it’s usually an option to get a free private lesson with a local group of volunteers.It seems like it’s difficult to consistently attend lessons for most students, but it’s a nice opportunity to learn Japanese and socialize. Most Japanese Kyoshitsu take a break during holidays, but don’t require regular attendance. The quality of lessons varies and volunteers usually rotate.I recommend thanking your teachers and bringing them omiyage when you go out of town. But I’m a teacher too, so I believe in appreciating our teachers!(Another way to learn is participate in a conversation language exchange with Japanese people who want to practice English, or just make Japanese friends who don’t mind your non-native Japanese.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrNDw-living_educationSun, 11 Sep 2016 13:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wrNDw-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyAjG-living_moneyBefore moving to Japan, I lived in a land of free boxes called Portland, Oregon. On every curb or corner, you might find a box marked FREE and filled with old clothes and other used items. The thinking there is that someone might be able to use some free used clothes or repurpose them for some sort of project. Same goes for furniture and other items which a sign can be taped to. It's kind of like a fun treasure hunt where you might find something great for free.In Japan not so much. The idea of a garage sale in Japan is absurd and even swap meets and recycle shops are approached with caution. This mentality seems to be slowly evolving, because getting the thing you need for less isn't such a bad idea. (I still don't expect to see free boxes on the side of the road in Japan any time soon.)この(ハンガー)は ご自由に お持ち下さいませ。kono (hanga-) wa go jiyuu o mochi kudasaimase. Please take these (hangers) freely.When a box says this, it means the (hangers/what's in the box) is free. Need some hangers? Check a dry cleaner. Clothing stores might have extras from time to time also, and some locations seem to always have a free box of hangers. They're a little nicer than what you'd find at the 100 yen store too.There aren't lines of people picking up the free hangers, but I'm happy to see that it's an acceptable way to pass on perfectly useful items.From my perspective, Japanese people usually take good care of things and are incredibly resourceful. Especially the older generations who didn't always have the 100 yen stores to rely on. I don't encourage hoarding, but reusing things instead of throwing them away then buying something new makes sense financially and environmentally.At the same time, I see a lot of trash and recycling from the neighbors every week when I take mine out. I sometimes have to resist looking through things in the recycling piles so I don't look like the crazy foreign lady. Used clothing, books, magazines... kind of want to look through but... it isn't really something most people do here. I have a feeling it does happen, but only when no one is looking (I've seen clean 'trash' disappear before the pickup time). (Back home, peeking at what others have thrown out is a side hustle for some - picking up deposit recyclables or broken items that can be repaired and sold.)What about when you're moving and have some still-useful items you don't want anymore?Putting out your own free box in Japan is prolly not going to go well. Proper disposal in Japan is tricky, even for the things you want to throw away that don't fit neatly into the usual trash and recycling routine. A lot of foreigners use the “Sayonara Sale” free advertisements online, but that only works if you live in an urban area. 'Giving' or selling items to the recycle shops sometimes works, although I was asked to pay a fee for each (working) item 'recycled' when I asked someone driving the truck around collecting items. If we put larger items into the trash area, usually we have to pay a fee and schedule a pickup. Maybe it's best to keep in mind how we'll dispose of things and the cost to do so before even buying them?For anything in good condition, I've found the best way to pass it on was find a friend who wanted it. Preferably a friend who lives nearby and owns a car. With some jobs, the housing and some household items are provided, so they are passed on to the next employee and you won't have to worry about this too much.Recommended: Author of "Everyone Poops," (五味太郎) Gomi Taro's awesome picture book, (正しい暮らし方) "The Correct Way of Living," in which the correct way to separate your trash is discussed.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyAjG-living_moneyTue, 06 Sep 2016 15:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GyAjG-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNn4w-living_foodHave you ever wondered what 'rare cheesecake' is? (In Japanese, it's レアチーズケーキ.) I've seen this name on some products in the supermarkets in Japan, which made me curious about how it's different from normal cheesecake.Rare as in well-done cheese cake? Extinct cheese cake? It seems more like common cheesecake to me.I'm no expert in cheesecake, but have made a simple version once and have tried it a few times. The cheesecake I've eaten in Japan so far was called 'cheese souffle' or just cheesecake and more along the lines of a mildly cheese-flavored crust-less sponge cake. (Cake in Japan is sort of like what Americans call 'angel food cake' – a soft and airy sponge cake, because it uses lots of whipped egg whites.)It seems like it's hard to find cheesecake in Japan similar to what you'd get at the Cheesecake Factory. That super heavy and dense, creamy and cheese-flavored 'cake.' It's kind of like biting into a block of sweet cream cheese (the stuff we spread on bagels sometimes). It turns out that this is what's meant by 'rare' cheesecake.We did a little research. Cheesecake can be prepared a couple different ways. One is to bake your ingredients and get a sort of browned cheese and crust. The 'rare' version on the other hand, is not baked at all - the 'No-Bake' variety of cheesecake. After the ingredients are mixed, they are chilled in the refrigerator until firm. It's technically a 'raw' cheesecake, other than the heating of ingredients on the stove top before filling your cake or pie pan. Ah hah.It seems fitting in Japan, where most people don't own an oven, that we would make our own rare cheesecake. We found a recipe video for berry cheesecake that looks amazing... Interested to try this out soon, but if you get to it first, let us know how it is!I don't recommend these supermarket 'Cheese Souffle' cheesecakes. The cheesecake at One Million Bakery was better and much more affordable.Cheese tart doesn't sound good to me, but I've seen long lines at a fancy cheese tart shop in Fukuoka.What started it all - the "Rare Cheesecake" flavor super cup. At first I wondered if the Japanese meant 'layer cheesecake' and why cheesecake would be rare.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNn4w-living_foodSun, 04 Sep 2016 14:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNn4w-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G00VG-living_foodNot so Giant.Just because summer is ending doesn't mean we can't still enjoy ice cream.Ice cream in Japan is just better in my opinion. Maybe the quality is better than a lot of brands of American ice cream, but it doesn't seem as syrupy sweet. Plus, way more fun flavors. Of course, matcha, also yuzu, kabocha, kinako, and rare cheesecake. Don't you like the Japanese ice cream flavors?I recently observed that ice cream bars in Japan are around a quarter of the size of the ones sold in the US. (Laughing to myself at the people who wonder why they gain weight in the US after living in Japan.) I did a tiny bit of research to see how accurate that observation was, plus got a few pictures of funny ice cream brands here in Japan.Deka! It means HUGE.Just What is a Serving Size of Ice Cream?In the US, a serving of ice cream was a half cup or around 118 ml (about one scoop), until a couple years ago. The FDA decided that no one actually eats only a half cup of ice cream, so they changed a serving size to one full cup on food labels. They wanted “a more user-friendly version,” according to the FDA Commissioner. More like a 'more chubby-friendly version.'To be clear, the changes made by the FDA simplify labels so we know what we're really consuming (if we eat an entire small package of something), instead of calling one can of soda 2.5 servings, for example. While this does make more sense, working on consuming less of these sugary foods would solve the country's obesity problem more efficiently, wouldn't it? Like smaller sized soda cans and ice cream bars maybe? This year, some British ice cream companies are reducing the sizes of their single serving products so they are at 250 calories or less.Sixteen of these in a box = they can't be very big, can they? And wrinkly?Let's Look at Ice Cream Sizes in Japan (in milliliters)Häagen-Dazs in Japan: 110 ml (mini) - 473 ml (pint, rarely seen)Meiji Super Cup: 90 ml (mini) – 200 mlGlico Sorbet: 85 mlDeka Bar('Huge' ice cream bar): 115 ml eachBlack Chocolate Ice Bars: 53 ml (box of seven) - 83 ml (individual)(Their website...what?? http://www.akagi.com/brand/black/index.html)Giant (ice cream cone): 60 ml eachMy personal favorite lately.Compared With (often-overeaten) Ice Cream in the USHäagen-Dazs in the US: 106 ml (mini) – 414 ml (pint)Ben & Jerry's: 120 ml (mini) - 450 ml (pint)Big Stick (Popsicle): 103.5 mlFudgesicle (chocolate ice pop): 74 mlMagnum Chocolate Bar: 120 mlA Black Ice Cream Bar, from the box of seven.They're not so different after all, but I did compare mostly Japanese products with 'big' sounding names.Never mind that Japanese women might eat only one spoon of ice cream at a time to maintain their figures. (After all, the Haagen Dazs is slightly bigger in Japan!?) I could eat half of a Super Cup, but to be honest, I usually eat the whole thing. I guess I am an American.Now let's be honest, how much ice cream do you eat at a time? Do you think the sizes in Japan are too small & eat more than one portion? What's the biggest size ice cream you can buy in Japan? I think around here it's about 450 ml, only in vanilla or vanilla / chocolate.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G00VG-living_foodFri, 02 Sep 2016 15:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G00VG-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPDWM-livingThese are a few of the accidental habits I brought back to America after living in Japan for just one year. There are lots more, but for now let's focus on these three habits. These are different from feelings of reverse culture shock – they're small positive lifestyle changes influenced by living in Japan.Carrying a small hand towelI started to carry a hand towel most of the time to use after washing my hands in public places. A lot of public bathrooms in Japan don’t have electric hand dryers. I've never seen paper towels for drying your hands in bathrooms in Japan. Way to be environmentally friendly, Japan.I see most women carrying their own towel and most men carry a handkerchief for the same reason. By hand towel, I mean washcloth size (about 33 centimeters square), not the larger rectangle-shaped American hand towels. If you work in a school in Japan, there won’t be anything for drying your hands, so bringing a hand towel is a good idea. They're easy to find in 100 yen stores in a variety of designs.Brushing after lunchIn my previous school, there was a time designated for brushing your teeth right after lunch time. It was in the schedule – five minutes to take care of your teeth. They even played the same song every day so we knew when it was time to brush our teeth. (It wasn’t a song about brushing your teeth either, it was an old pop song in English. I wish I knew what it was, but I only know it’s sung by a woman who is probably Swedish, according to the Vice Principal.)At other schools I've worked in, students aren't expected to brush their teeth after lunch, which is a little disappointing. I've noticed most teachers in Japan brush their teeth and some students at least rinse with the water used to rinse out their milk bottles.I think this is a good habit for obvious health reasons, plus when we work with others, it's better not to have bad breath or food stuck in our teeth.Air drying laundryThis is normal, even in America for a lot of families, but unfortunately can be seen as lower class in the states. I think it makes a lot of sense and clothes dry quickly when the weather is good.In Japan, I don’t know anyone who owns a clothes dryer. We have a washing machine with a dryer function, which has never been used, even during the rainy season or winter. It’s seen as a waste of energy to use a clothes dryer - Japanese people use less than half the energy of Americans, per capita. (Again Japan wins for environmental friendliness.) There are all kinds of cute laundry items(I have this octopus from IKEA & love it), like mesh bags with Hello Kitty designs and hanging clips for small items like socks. On nice days in Japan, you can see laundry hanging on balconies everywhere. On colder or wet days, clothes can be dried on hangers inside open closets or hung from the curtain rods over windows.For me, it was a waste to spend money on the dryer when it was always sunny in southern California. I didn’t have a balcony but used the closet or the backyard for drying clothes.These aren't huge changes, but simple cultural differences which became completely normal to me, after just one year of living in Japan. They're not specifically Japanese habits either. I feel like they're positive and environmentally responsible habits that could be followed in any country.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPDWM-livingWed, 31 Aug 2016 10:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPDWM-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpDLM-living_transportation_fukuoka_kurume-shiI often see bikes parked in a way which blocks other bikes from moving. There's a stereotype that Japanese people are all nice, but to me, this seems so selfish and rude. I hate it when I have to move someone's bike so I can unlock mine and move it.I think there is a culture acceptable of people just moving each others' bikes around. But why park your bike in an annoying or inconvenient place at all? 'Double parking' bicycles so they stick out into the sidewalk or street should be an obvious no, especially for a country as organized as Japan. Sometimes there are parking lines painted on the ground for the angle to park bikes at, and it's completely disregarded. I often see rows of bikes parked right in front of signs that say, "Bicycle Parking Prohibited."In front of the main station around here, there are older men (maybe volunteers) patrolling the bike parking, some of which is technically not allowed to be there. They like to move the bikes around if they're in a walkway or crammed too close together. Once they moved my bike at least three meters to a new row, and for a few minutes I thought it had been stolen.I feel like this is a case of a drunken driver or just someone in a really bad mood. Maybe both.I do really like that riding a bicycle as your primary means of transportation is so common in Japan. There is usually somewhere to park a bike and we don't need to look for something to lock it to because the Dutch style built-in locks are enough most of the time. Even in the more car centered suburbs, a lot of people still use bikes, which means it's a safe way to get around.Bike parking laws vary in strictness around the country. Obviously it's not so strict here. How's your area?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpDLM-living_transportation_fukuoka_kurume-shiTue, 09 Aug 2016 18:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpDLM-living_transportation_fukuoka_kurume-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoDWw-living_foodMy brain gets real colorful/stupid during summer in Japan. Thanks for the rad design, Uniqlo.It’s so humid and hot in Japan that there’s a Japanese word meaning Summer Fatigue: Natsu Bate.Not everyone gets summer fatigue, but those who are frequently in and out of air conditioned spaces or outside in the heat can get these symptoms. My main symptom is that I want to eat ice cream or sleep all summer. And grumpy. Tired-hungry-grumpy-face.SleepSleep cycles change because of the extra daylight, waking some of us up as early as 4:00AM. Good curtains or an eye mask will probably have you covered for a little while, maybe. It quickly becomes hot early in the day, and doesn’t cool off much at night. If you’re thinking about living in Japan and the heat and humidity scares you, there’s always Hokkaido. (I’m not sure how much dark they have on summer nights, but I hear the humidity is more under control.)All this to say, you might want to try to fall asleep earlier or take naps, if you want your usual amount of sleep / sanity.Lemon plus brown sugar kakigori, like icy lemonade.Ice CreamMMMMM. Cold foods (like hiyashi chuka, mmm) help us feel cooler, but cooling foods help us feel better as well. Think cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplants which help with the extra sunlight, and watermelon. Lemon, cucumbers, and / or mint in your water is fancy and cooling. Maybe try eating somegoya – there must be a reason it’s so popular in the even-hotter-all-year Okinawa. Unagi? What do you like to eat during summer?Too much cold food can leave us feeling sick as well. It’s a shock to the stomach, along with the change in temperature when you go between outside and air conditioned spaces. This stress to our bodies is part of the reason we get tired more quickly.LiquidHydration is key for summer in Japan and avoiding the Natsu Bate. Don’t leave the house without a beverage, and when it’s empty, refill it. Coffee and alcohol can be tasty, but take it easy and make sure you’ve had some water in between other drinks.I hear if we're thirsty, we can feel hungry. This is probably why I don't lose my appetite during summer. In fact I want to eat everything. Right now.Drink some mugi cha, herbal tea, sports drinks, juice, and duh, water. All the time.Ice plus Super Cup's new Rare Cheesecake ice cream (recommended) plus brown sugar plus instant coffee = What? Am I eating a blended cheesecake latte right now?Sweating is good for us and helps us feel cooler. Don’t be scared of sweat, but make sure you’re getting enough liquids. Get some of the cooling ice type 'deodorant body paper' by Gatsby or Biore to use before work if you’re feeling stinky.But hey, have you noticed a lot of Japanese people don’t even use deodorant and don’t stink? It could be related to diet?If we don’t want to waste money or want to be more environmentally friendly, there’s always going to public air conditioned places when you aren’t working. I've found staying in an air conditioned space during the hottest time of day helps me to feel less lazy and more rational.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoDWw-living_foodFri, 05 Aug 2016 12:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GoDWw-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmNxM-living_food_shoppingPerfect for summer, like iced coffee, cold press coffee is a yummy way to make your cold coffee. It’s a simple process of making coffee that most likely originated in Holland and came to Japan in the 1600s when they started trading here. We don’t need some fancy test tube looking contraptions like Kyoto / Dutch coffee makers. The concept for mizu dashi(水出し) coffee is the same as making mugi cha(麦茶) or other cold teas. We can even buy coffee grounds in a tea bag to use for one liter of cold press coffee, just like mugi cha. (Unfortunately it’s not nearly as cheap!)Making cold press is cheaper than a fancy Malita / pour over set up. All we need is a glass jar and a way to measure the water and coffee. Using a French press works well (photo below, from Nitori), but those are a bit expensive and a mess to clean up. There are some expensive designs like the wine bottle shaped cold press bottle (photo above, by HARIO), but the best one I found is under 1000 yen at Nitori (photo at the bottom). It has a built in mesh filter that can be emptied from the bottom (still kinda messy). Alternatively, if you have a filter and pour over cone, put the coffee grounds in a normal glass jar in your fridge overnight, then pour through the filter in the morning to keep the grounds out.Glass French press designs without the plastic frame can be an accident waiting to happen.It’s less bitter and acidic and takes less effort than boiling water to brew your coffee this way, plus it’s already chilled.I went with the Mizu Dashi from Nitori, made in Japan by HARIO. 925 yen plus tax, simple design although the plastic is only in brown, and makes one liter of coffee. My only problem with this one is, if I want to make Less Than one liter, the coffee grounds aren't covered by water. I have to make one liter each time, but that means I don't need to make coffee as often (or drink way too much).Give it a try and see if you like the taste better.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmNxM-living_food_shoppingWed, 03 Aug 2016 07:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmNxM-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3aYw-living_foodA lot of us are not working much and getting in some travel time during summer. Any way to cut back on expenses without cutting out the fun sounds good to me.An inexpensive かき氷 / shaved ice machine(hand cranked) is less than 2000 yen most of the time. (Ours was 700 yen. The more expensive machines will get you less exercise and a softer ice.) Why not get your own and deal with summer in Japan by eating shaved ice every day? Or three times a day, if that’s all you feel like eating.During summer in Japan, I get the summer fatigue. That means I want to sleep or eat ice cream all the time. That’s a separate article. When we go out we can see shaved ice everywhere, but a tiny one is gonna be at least 150 yen. Mister Donut has them too, but not for under 500 yen. If you really like the stuff, and you’re spending any time at home, it’s probably worth it to buy a shaved ice maker. It will also cost less than buying ice cream all the time and you can create your own flavors.The downside is, we can’t make shaved ice at home, then bring it in our bento or to the nearest 花火大会 / Hanabi Taikai. Or maybe we could try, with a good cooler full of ice packs.Part one: IceMost of the shaved ice makers, even the super cheap ones, can shave normal ice cubes. If you have an ice cube tray and can remember to refill it a lot, you’re set. Your shaved ice maker will probably come with a plastic container for freezing a big ice puck that perfectly fits into the machine. If you use both of these, you could cover at least a couple big shaved ices every day.Part two: Not IceIn the plastic container and/or ice cube tray (and/or other random containers of appropriate size) you can freeze other things to shave. I recommend juice, coffee or tea, and yogurt. These can be mixed with normal ice in your bowl if you want both. Part three: ToppingsThere is the typical flavored syrup – 氷みつ / kōrimitsu, the ones you’ll see at any matsuri. But why not make your own? Simple syrup is just equal parts of sugar dissolved into water. Easier than homemade syrup and healthier than kōrimitsu, we have concentrated Calpis (including many flavored varieties) and drinking vinegars (黒酢 / kurozu) are common. Citron tea jam (ゆず茶 / yuzu cha) and fresh or canned fruits (lemon & salt?) are also an option. Traditional toppings are green tea and ice cream or sweet red beans (あんこ / anko), maybe sweetened condensed milk. Cream can also be added, especially with coffee shaved ice, for an iced coffee with cream sort of taste. Why not try ice cream, yogurt, maple syrup, natta de coco, mochi, whatever looks good on top of your ice. I got a packet of lemon flavored sports drink powder to sprinkle on our shaved ice. I’ve had roasted soy powder (きな粉 / kinako) and brown sugar syrup (くろみつ / kuromitsu) shaved ice, which I’ll have to make this summer.The genius around here suggested adding in some plum sake (梅酒 / umeshu) for a shaved ice cocktail. I want to try a shaved ice mojito next. Try simple syrup and any liquor (in moderation), or the shaved ice version of your favorite drink and let me know how it goes.Other cold options - if shaved ice isn’t your thing‘Frozen Yogurt’ as in putting a small container of yogurt in the freezer for an hour or two, mixing it up, then eating. Super yummy and healthier than ice cream.‘Beer Float’ for a cold creamy beer. Japanese people hate root beer anyway. Vanilla is good, but try with different flavors of ice cream.Homemade frozen pops, if you can’t find frozen pop molds, there are always paper cups. If fruit wasn’t so expensive here, I’d be making smoothies and homemade ice pops all the time.Also homemade ice cream. I saw a mini ice cream maker at Nitori, but it makes about enough for one little scoop. If I’m gonna make homemade ice cream, I wanna make at least enough for two servings, plus more for later.寒天 / Kanten jelly. It’s not frozen, but refreshing and fun to experiment with flavors and add-ins.Stay cool out there!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3aYw-living_foodFri, 29 Jul 2016 21:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z3aYw-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOeXM-livingI like learning the animal sounds or ‘giseigo’ in Japanese, so here are a few of the summer animal/insect sounds.Frogs (kaeru / カエル) say ケロケロ or ゲロゲロ (kero kero or gero gero)This spring, I was kept up at night by strange sounding frogs, confused that they sounded more like monkeys or what you hear in films about Africa. I got used to it within a week or two, then the number of noises declined a little after the rainy season ended. We could see reddish frog eggs in the rice fields and then sometimes tadpoles and tiny new frogs swimming in the shallow water.Cicadas (semi / せみ) say ミンミン (min min)Then the cicadas started up in July. I like to describe the sound of semi as tiny motorcycles. This starts up after the sunrise and the air warms up a little and continues into the evening. They are great at waking us up in the morning if we aren’t already up early with the sun. When I’m close to trees I need to cover my ears sometimes because they can be so loud. Cicadas are the loudest insects and use a hallow chamber in their bodies like an amplifier to make their song louder.Sometimes we hear them flying around, into walls and windows. Crazy buggers. I was recently asked by a neighbor to help sweep up a dead cicada. I guess a lot of people are scared of them. They're harmless but can play dead and move unexpectedly. Cicadas are interesting creatures – after years underground, they come above ground and only live for around a week. After male cicadas sing their song One Time, they die. Yet we hear them All Summer. There are so many of them.Crickets (suzumushi / 鈴虫) say リンリン (rin rin)In the late summer and fall, crickets come out to play. They have a bell sound (suzumushi = bell bug) which has not yet been captured, as it is not even August yet. Edit: I can hear a lone cricket rin-rin-ing right now, in late July.Now you can talk with the animals in Japanese.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOeXM-livingFri, 29 Jul 2016 17:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GOeXM-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEJpz-living_foodNeba-neba (ねばねば) is the word you'll hear describing these three foods in Japan.Neba-neba is sticky, gooey, or slimy. These are foods that people tend to either love or hate.NattoOf course, the stinkiest of the sticky foods to start us off. Fermented soy beans that have sticky strings of goo when mixed or picked up with chopsticks. (Aptly named "String of Strength" in the featured product above.) I love soy products, Except natto. It smells like dirty socks and after trying several times, I usually can’t make myself take more than a bite. As a fermented food, it’s supposedly very healthy, but I’ll stick with kimchi. If you like the stuff, these little packages are affordable and everywhere.Yama Imo OR Naga Imo “Mountain Yam” and “Long Yam” (of Chinese origin but almost the same thing, maybe crispier) are root/tuber foods. Not so much related to potatoes, they are probably more like burdock or lotus root. These are peeled and can be sliced (especially for tempura) for a not so slimy serving, or grated. When grated (とろろ), yama/naga imo becomes wet and sticky. It’s sometimes mixed with natto or added to tsuyu, the dipping sauce for zarusoba (cold soba). It doesn’t have a strong smell or taste.Sato Imo is also slightly slimy, but usually served in soups so we don’t notice it as much.OkraI was a bit surprised that okra (オクラ) is popular in Japan, but it makes sense. Okra is popular in the south of the US, where it’s often deep fried. That region is also humid during summer, so okra must grow well in humid conditions. Okra is healthy and can be eaten raw in salads or with hiyashi chukka. Perfect during the hot months when it's in season. It can also be cooked in lots of dishes like soups or fried with tofu. When sliced, okra has a super slimy texture, especially the white seeds and surrounding liquid. It can be mixed with foods for a natto-like texture, and is commonly eaten with natto. I’ve heard the seeds can be dried and roasted for a caffeine free coffee substitute, but have never tried it.I found a special prepared dish in the store today, conveniently titled, ねばねば丼 - "gooey rice bowl." I can see the natto & okra, plus some sashimi (chewy ika for good measure). This was the last one left at around noon. There you have it. Japan's obsession with slimy foods is complete.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEJpz-living_foodWed, 27 Jul 2016 22:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MEJpz-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlNqM-living_food_shoppingOchuugen (御中元) time has arrived.For those of you wondering what's going on, the department stores all have seasonal gift boxes right now, as July & August are a traditional time to give gifts of appreciation to family, bosses, and important clients. Everyone doesn’t exchange gifts, but there are still plenty of options to choose from. It’s mostly practiced by companies schmoozing each other and seniors.As foreigners, no one really expects us to buy this kind of gift, with the exception of those foreigners who are very well paid business people, maybe. Save your money for some Omiyage when you get out of town (if you can) this summer.The items in the gift boxes are not usually anything special or limited edition. They cost a little more than buying the items separately would because of packaging and gift wrapping. Plus a lot of the time, shipping within the country is included.During December we can see a similar tradition (Oseibo/ お歳暮), similar to Christmas gifts (which are exchanged between some friends and families even in Japan) and Otoshidama – envelopes of money given to children as a new year gift.Some common gifts for Ochuugen:Processed meats (with images of popular actors).Drinks: juice boxes, fancy apple juice, concentrated Calpis, coffee, and of course, alcohol.Sweets: jams and jellies, senbei, pudding, mochi, etc.Normal cooking items: oil, sauces, dressings, etc.Arranged flowers and potted plants; boxes of expensive fruit.And even household cleaning items like laundry detergent. Maybe this one is to show appreciation to mothers or house cleaners?This store even came with a fake hologram (projected onto a person shaped screen) of an Asahi salesperson. I think alcohol is the popular gift for bosses.Since you probably have no obligation to buy one of these gifts, you can always look for fun and check for discounted items which are time sensitive. These can be around half off and are labeled something like, “for personal use” so they aren’t given as a gift too late. Some stores might discount items at the end of August and in early September as well, once the gift giving season has ended.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlNqM-living_food_shoppingWed, 27 Jul 2016 19:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GlNqM-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPgJw-living_fashionFashion isn’t my thing, but from the first time I visited Japan, I noticed something funny. It seems like most people wear solid colors, maybe mixing in a pattern here and there, but some people wear some crazy combinations of patterned clothes. They also seem to act like this is normal or even stylish. (Maybe it is stylish, I wouldn’t know.) The first time I saw a businessman on the train in a plaid suit (different patterned trousers and jacket) with another plaid for his tie, I remembered the way I dressed in all the patterns possible as a joke in high school. This can be really cute for kids under ten years old. They can get dressed by themselves and be super stylish. On adults… I kinda wonder what’s going on. It’s a mini version of what happens to my brain when I go shopping: visual overstimulation. If anyone can enlighten me, I’d be happy to understand. I have an irrational fear of accessories and patterns.To protect the innocent, I didn’t take photos of random strangers’ outfits, although I kinda wish I could without being rude. In no way do I want to look down on pattern clashers – they have a unique style plus the confidence to pull it off.First we have the “stripes and stripes match” theory. Same goes for polka dots with other polka dots, plaid with other plaids, florals and florals. That last one might be pushing it a little. (But they both have butterflies?)Then we go a step further with this. When I see something like “Hawaiian print plus Hawaiian print,” I cannot help but just stare. It makes sense to wear the Hawaiian floral shirt with the coconut tree shorts right? Some people want to look like a landscape?Last, the one that makes my head so confused, is crazy patterns with other crazy patterns. I took a photo of two patterns in a store that at least use a similar color scheme, but usually what I see is completely random. Green and white plant pattern skirt plus navy and white boat pattern T-shirt plus purple and blue zig-zaggy pattern shirt. Sure.This type of pattern combination could be related to the fact that kimono are patterned and worn with a different pattern obi (plus sometimes other items like geta and bag). This is a rather complex matching process from what I hear from kimono-nerds, with each pattern having a unique meaning and era where it has become popular.Purely to reduce my decision making and for lack of interest in fashion, I’m a minimalist and stick with about five solid colors and the occasional simple polka dotted or striped item. I sort of cringe at most women’s clothing so I stick with the basics at stores like Muji and Uniqlo. This probably makes me more sensitive to all the pattern clashing. Or you can call me a color/design snob. That's okay too. Don't take it the wrong way, just tell me why this is alright. Does it hurt your eyes too?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPgJw-living_fashionTue, 26 Jul 2016 17:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MPgJw-living_fashionhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbW9w-livingThe sink drain. Yep, the kitchen sink drain in Japan.What I was used to in the US: A.) a shallow basket to catch debris before filtering water into a narrow drain (old style), and B.) same as A. with a garbage disposaland larger opening to the drain (garbage disposal style).Old styleWhile still commonly found in older homes in the states, this type is slightly less convenient because we really have to throw away any stuff left on our dishes before washing them. It’s not a terribly different drain, just more likely to get clogged or stinky.Garbage disposal styleSome people peel potatoes and run the peels down the garbage disposal. They are chopped into little bits and mixed with the water supply. Some people mostly filter out any big bits of food the way they would with an old style sink drain. Either way, there is bound to be some gunk and leftovers that end up getting through the little filter basket. By running the garbage disposal, these are somehow magically whisked away.(Not that either of these is better or really makes more sense than the Japanese design.)Japanese sink drainsAs you have seen on Mario, all pipes in Japan lead to Koopa.In Japan we have a large (14cm) drain opening for most sinks, although there is a smaller size for mini-kitchens with itty-bitty sinks. Under a flappy cover/filter, we have a deep basket (or strainer) with tiny holes.What I thought was the reason for the Japanese design:When I first moved to Japan, I was laughed at by a coworker when I asked if this strange sink basket was designed to keep cockroaches from climbing up through the pipes. That was really my only idea as to why sink drains would have a weird basket like that.The real reason for the Japanese design:The obvious reason is to catch food debris (and random things that slip through the flappy cover/filter). I could have lost a potato and probably some chopsticks just in the last few months, down the drain, if it weren’t for the basket. There are always small bits of food that find their way into the (sometimes huge) sink, then into this basket. We then have to empty the basket’s contents into the trash. (I don’t think the depth of the basket indicates how full it should become before emptying.)After living in Japan for a little while, I realized that the reason for filtering out even little bits of food is related to Japanese culture. If you’ve ever seen Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” you might understand that Japanese culture respects nature and water very much. To pollute the water with all these little bits of food is just not right. Still, I wonder why the standard sink drain and basket is so wide and deep. In the 100 yen store, I saw some replacement baskets which are about half as deep. Usually Japanese design is so minimal and beautiful. Not so much here. We do have the option of a pink replacement floppy cover/filter.I think regardless of how tiny the holes in the basket are, food gets stuck in them, and is sometimes there forever. It’s usually difficult to scoop out all of the gunk, and it’s always a disgusting chore.Cleaning (or not)There is a lovely slime that likes to form in the drain, on the basket, and all around it. There is usually a smell that comes with it. Slime is called numeri (ぬめり) in Japanese and you will see this word on products promising to remove the slime and smell from your sink.There are chlorine tablets (aka "Slime removing agent for drains") that can be placed into the basket or even in a special not-flappy drain cover. Some are yuzu scented or repel bugs too. I don’t remember the results being fantastic.One solution I used for a while is to buy thin mesh bags (normally used for the often triangle shaped kitchen waste baskets found in many sinks in Japan). These not only filtered out even more gunk, they also made it easier to remove the gunk and throw it away. The logical solution would be to have a sponge or cloth reserved for cleaning the drain and scrub it on a regular basis. Preferably while wearing rubber gloves and using a friendly but abrasive cleaner like baking soda (重層). Maybe bleach? I prefer to mostly avoid thinking about (or smelling) the sink drain.In conclusion, the topic of how to clean things in Japan could be a never ending story. Are sink drains different where you’re from? How do you clean yours & how often? Have you looked inside the drain near your bathtub yet!?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbW9w-livingWed, 20 Jul 2016 17:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GbW9w-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gleqw-living(My husband and I were already planning to get married a few weeks later when we were advised to apply for the Spouse of National Visa for me, asap. Let’s just say we’d like to avoid any Imperial entanglements, if you know what I mean. We then had less than two weeks to complete a process which people advise to allow Three Months for.) I advise at least three months to prepare for applying for the Spouse of National Visa.The first step to getting a spouse visa in Japan is getting married to a Japanese person. (Only do this if you want to get married to that Japanese person. Don’t get married because you want a visa. That’s evil.)FIRST: Check with Your City in Japan and Your Country’s requirements before you prepare anything.As a US citizen, I needed to prepare a “Single Affidavit for Marriage” and my official birth certificate, as well as bring our 婚姻届 (marriage form), my passport and 在留カード (gaijin card). 1. The AffidavitThis is fairly straightforward – just a form with your info, parents’ names, and statement that you are either divorced or have never been married. It must be notarized by an official at a US Consulate or Embassy. I almost didn’t bring the Japanese translation with me, but the consulate stamped something and signed that as well, so good thing I brought it. I made an appointment at the nearest US Consulate. The earliest appointment I could make was about a month later, but after checking the site again, an earlier appointment opened up and I was able to change it.I showed up to my appointment with the affidavit form in English and the translation in Japanese, and prepared to pay with credit card, US dollars, and yen. The notarization fee was $50.2. The Official Birth Certificate I heard it depends on your city if they require it or not. I found out at the last minute that I needed this and unfortunately a scan was not acceptable.It looked like a total pain in the buns to order one. (This might be easier in some states.) Thankfully my mom had a couple copies somewhere, so she sent those.I translated the birth certificate to Japanese and in the end, because we mentioned it’s hard to get birth certificates, the nice city hall employees let me sign a copy of the original so I could keep it. Most of the time they will keep it.3. 婚姻届 (Marriage Form)The husband got a 婚姻届 (Marriage Form) at the city hall for us to fill out, sent it to his parents to sign as witnesses, then they sent it back and we were ready. Note: as a foreign woman who married a Japanese man, I can’t change my name. It’s not allowed for the foreigner to change her family name on his family register. We were disappointed by this, but I think it would be possible to use his name on IDs if we got married in the US first (and maybe if we change my name in the US after proving I got married in Japan). If my passport and IDs already had his family name on them, then maybe the family register would still use Alphabet or katakana for his name.Getting married at the city hall was super anti-climactic. No one even said congratulations. More like, you still need to fill out these forms so wait at the next window.We got a form saying he is the head of the household that day, but had to wait 3-4 business days to get A.) His new 戸籍謄本 (family register), and B.) 婚姻届受理証明書 (A Marriage Certificate). The second step to getting a spouse visa in Japan is lots and lots of paperwork.Fortunately for me, the husband did almost all of this. All of it needs to be submitted in Japanese, meaning he primarily did the writing and I did everything else possible to help. He worked on it for hours a day for at least a week.1. Marriage Certificate / 婚姻届受理証明書2. Application Form (has English translations but to be filled out in Japanese; attach ID photo)3. Question Form (Including statement of history as a couple)4. Photos and other evidence5. Passport and ID Card (to be copied and returned to you that day)Take these to the 入国管理局 (Immigration office), along with any other documents you might possibly be asked for. When you submit the application, it’s safe to include evidence of anything mentioned in the history of the relationship section (proof of income and tax payments, emails, etc.) to avoid slowing down the process or potential interviews. Tip: Do Not go to the biggest, most crowded, most foreigner saturated area immigration office near your house. There is probably more than one office you can choose to go to. We went to the slightly closer and more rural area office in Saga City, and there was literally No One there waiting, only five staff, and we were outta there in thirty minutes. The officer who helped us was super friendly and positive. We think this is because that area has a low incidence of fraud compared with the immigration offices in big cities.For the non-identification items, they will keep everything, so make sure you have a scan/other copies. You will write your address on a postcard which will be sent to you when you should return to get your results. You will also get a receipt showing the application was submitted and a stamp on the back of your ID card.Good luck!Now go out and celebrate. Treat your partner for all their hard work preparing the materials.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gleqw-livingWed, 06 Jul 2016 11:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gleqw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7PAw-livingAnother of the common questions you get from Japanese people as well as friends and family when you’ve decided to make Japan your home away from home. So how long will you be in Japan?What they mean is: "Are you gonna bail on me / Am I ever gonna see you again?"I usually say forever (when students ask), unless I’m being honest (at interviews for example), then I say at least two or three more years.Of course, it depends on some factors, but if nothing crazy happens, I’ll be here a while. It’s way too expensive to move back and forth or even to another place in Japan. Not to mention all the paperwork, changing addresses, and starting over in a new community.I feel like I’m just starting to meet people with similar interests living in my new city, after being here for almost six months. When I moved to Japan the first time, it took longer, but by then I was preparing to move again. It takes some effort to leave the house and try to meet people. Making those contacts is important for staying anywhere long term. When we can’t make friends or connect with anyone, life can get depressing.It’s in your best interest to stay put for those connections, but also so you aren’t leaving just as you’re getting used to things in Japan/people are getting used to you being there. It really makes sense that employers can benefit from less turnover (cost of finding, hiring, and training good people), plus students probably don’t like their teacher changing all the time. It takes small kids a little time to get comfortable with new people, and even longer for adults to warm up to new people. (Please don't take this to mean that teaching English in Japan is a stable and/or long term career, because it's not. At all.)If possible, you want everyone to think well of you and be willing help you out in the event that you need help. If your neighbors are scared to say good morning to you and everyone seems shy and avoids talking to you, they’re probably just worried you can’t speak Japanese. More likely they’re scared you’ll speak to them in English and they will have to use English (scary). When we initiate conversations and practice the Japanese aisatsu (greetings), this helps show that we understand the culture.At the same time, be yourself (and also respectful).Don’t force yourself to act like an extrovert when you’re not (guilty).When people hear that you aren’t ~ (insert generic stereotype about foreigners from your country) but love ~ (insert something you love that Japanese people know well), they’ll want to meet you!So how long are you in Japan for? Have you decided? How will/did you find a community of friends in your city? Are you open to changing your mind when the unexpected happens? (It probably will.)PS: More random ajisai (hydrangea) photos as it’s the season.Originally published on my helloalissa blog here.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7PAw-livingWed, 22 Jun 2016 18:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/G7PAw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8O8M-livingOf ALL the places in the world, what is so magical about Japan?It’s one of the common questions Japanese people love to ask foreigners living in Japan.What’s so awesome about my country that you wanted to live here? Tell me how awesome my country is? (What they really mean?)I’m happy that Japanese people have a sense of pride about their country. It’s almost as if they want to know who let the foreigners in on their secret and what sold us on coming.I feel as if I could make up plenty of funny answers for this question:I couldn’t get a job in the US. No really. Sushi in the US just isn’t the same.Police officers in Japan are so kind!Anyway, the reasons for moving to Japan are usually complex and hard to explain to someone either in Japanese or in English (when it’s not their first language). Usually I stick with random answers like:I love onsen.I like teaching English to Japanese students.I had Japanese exchange students stay with my family as a kid.You will, inevitably, be asked the same question from most of your friends and family.It’s helpful to understand this question when you hear it in Japanese, and know how to answer it in Japanese. Your task, if you’re planning on moving to Japan, is to come up with a good answer. It might take a while, and after living in Japan your answer might change (maybe to “I’m not sure anymore”).Maybe you discover the awesomeness of tsukemen or yakiniku… (why is it always about food?) Maybe you love the moment when something clicks in your students’ minds and they get an ‘Aha!’ look on their faces. Maybe living abroad in itself is just a radical experience. What's your reason?PS: Random ajisai (hydrangea) photos as it’s the season.Originally published on my helloalissa bloghere.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8O8M-livingThu, 16 Jun 2016 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8O8M-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKNkM-living_food_shopping_money_transportationTips to Save Money in Japan (or what I’ve learned from my kechi Japanese boyfriend, edit: husband)It is possible to save money in Japan.Here are some tips on spending less without depriving yourself:Housing:Live close to work, but not so close to a station. Apartments next to stations are generally more expensive, so if you don’t use the train every day, find a place at least a 15 minute walk from a station. If you drive, have access to a bus, or ride a bike to work anyway, this is a no-brainer to save every month. Living close to work means less transportation costs and more free time. Duh. In some rare cases the cheaper cost of living outside of the city is worth the extra time, cost, and stress of commuting (but it probably isn’t).A newer apartment is better than an apartment close to a station or a bigger apartment. A nice area (quiet and convenient for getting to work and supermarkets/where you hang out) is important, if you know the area. PS: This information isn’t so useful for someone moving to a new city (especially for someone who has their new job arranging housing without much of a say in it), but you can talk with your real estate agent about what you’re looking for so they recommend a good fit.Transportation:Owning a car/driving can be a big expense, so I recommend avoiding it when possible. Invest in a bike.You can get a used one or a cheap new one for about 10,000円. It will save you exponentially more in bus and train fare (for the decently close places you need to get to) over time, plus, free exercise. In my area, it takes just as long to take a bus as it does to ride a (mama-chari) bike to anywhere in the main part of the city. It’s great to have an option to take a bus on the days where you can’t be bothered to ride a bike (rainy season, way too hot/cold, too lazy), but with a rain suit and a good attitude, I think it’s better to go by bike. I’ve found my mood is improved and I show up at work energetic when I ride a bike, but when I drive, I feel sleepy and stressed out.Alternatively, walk everywhere. It takes longer, but another good alternative that many people opt for.Food:Plan ahead. Beverages are my favorite. Bring a water bottle (even a pet bottle you refill) everywhere – especially during summer. This will help you avoid the call of the convenience store/vending machine overpriced drinks. If you love sports drinks, you can get powdered packets or concentrated bottles in supermarkets, then make your own at home for a lot less. A thermos can carry some hot coffee or tea made at home. If you need a refill, you can bring some instant and find a hot pot in a convenience store/at work.In addition, if you’re going to be out during a meal time, bring a bento or some snacks. Avoid snacking altogether for best results, but never turn down free samples or generous sharing.Buy yourbento, onigiri, etc. at a supermarket instead of a convenience store. If there’s a supermarket close by, it’s a waste to spend more at the convenience stores. Buy your prepared meals in the evening when they’ve been discounted. Better yet, cook at home.Cook at home – and stick with healthy veggies. Sure, there are some great discounts on meat and fish sometimes, but if your usual meals are rice and veggies, plus some eggs and tofu, it’s possible to spend very little on food. Shop around a little to find the supermarket with the best prices and sign up for their point card to get some money credited when you have enough points. A lot of the supermarkets give bonus points/５倍 (five times the points) for example on some days so you can reach the point goal a lot faster if you only shop on those days. If you eat kyushoku, take the chance to bring leftovers home when you like something. Free food is always nice.Yes to Tonkotsu Ramen.Eating out is really fun, but can be a huge expense if it’s all the time. If you love it, put it in your budget, otherwise try to keep it to a minimum. It’s not fun for everyone to eat out alone, so unless you like it, might as well eat at home. I always have a list of places I want to try, but save it for every once in a while as a special treat.Garden?I miss Mexican food, so I'm growing cilantro.If you enjoy it and have the time and space for it, gardening (or collecting and foraging for food out in nature) is another way to cut back on food costs, although not a ton. It will improve the quality of your food. Lots of apartment dwellers have little kitchen gardens by regrowing veggies - cutting the bottoms off their green onions, komatsuna, etc. If you have a sunny balcony, that's a great container garden space.Entertainment:Everything in moderation. I think the primary reason a lot of people have trouble saving in Japan is A.) They go shopping for things they don’t need, and/or B.) They drink and/or smoke. Yes, Japan has lots of cute stuff. Yes, I get suckered into buying cute things I don’t need sometimes. I do know to pay attention to quality when buying something at the 100 yen store vs. any other store, and I don’t even look when I don't need anything or have no extra budget. Smoking is terrible for you (and me) and a waste of money. Drinking in moderation is fine, especially when you’re trying to make contacts and be social. If you budget for it and don’t drink all the time, it won’t be a burden on your savings plan (or liver). It’s best to drink at home if you aren’t doing it for social reasons (after work stress relief anyone?) and as much as I love a can chu-hi, the price of a reasonable bottle of liquor (preferably a local one) is much friendlier to the savings account over time.Traveling is my hobby, so I set aside a budget for it. If you go out to movies, stay in hotels for fun, visit theme parks, buy clothes often, etc. then just make sure you aren’t spending money you don’t have. It really depends on your salary, cost of living, and lifestyle, but I estimate most of you without debt should be able to save at least 50,000 yen a month if you’re working full time. (I was carefully budgeting, but my first full year working in Japan with a low salary, I traveled a lot and still saved over 1,000,000 yen.)There’s a balance here though. If you’re living abroad, the point really isn’t to deprive yourself of any fun just to save a bunch of money. (I try to convince my boyfriend to live a little all the time.) You have to enjoy your experience here too. If you have specific goals you’re saving for, that’s great, but it’s nice to at least treat yourself to something when you reach a milestone.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKNkM-living_food_shopping_money_transportationTue, 14 Jun 2016 17:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/zKNkM-living_food_shopping_money_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBdWM-living_shopping_money_transportation_tokyo_mitaka-shiHow Much Does it Cost to Visit the Ghibli Museum? It's not so bad for a wonderful experience!The Guardian Soldier (from the movie Laputa Castle in the Sky) watches over the museum.As long as you plan ahead for it, going to the Ghibli Museum is a great way to spend your day in Tokyo. It isn’t always easy to reserve tickets, and the museum is currently closed for maintenance until July 15th.The museum is inside Inokashira Park in Mitaka city, about 20 minutes west of Shinjuku Station. It is between Mitaka and Kichijyoji stations on the JR Chuo Main Line. The park is also accessible from Inokashirakoen Station on the Keio Inokashira Line. Guests can take a bus to the museum, but I think it’s nicer to walk through the quiet neighborhoods and the park to add some space between your daily life and the world of Ghibli. There is no parking available for museum guests.This is a great experience to make you feel like a child and inspire you with creativity. There are so many little details to see. If you’re familiar with the work of Miyazaki Hayao, you’ll understand that he wanted the museum to be as magical as his animations. You’ll see tons of references to Ghibli movies in everything from the architecture to the ticket design – which includes a film frame from one of the movies.The Central Hall, full of charming elements, just like in Studio Ghibli movies.It is still only 1000yen for adults, which is a great deal for any Ghibli fan.Ghibli museum is even cheaper for students up to high school, and free for children under four years old. The museum really strives to make the experience of children special, by treating them as important guests. Plus, only elementary school kids can play on the almost life size cat bus. You’ll need an advance purchase reserved ticket to get into the museum, good for a two-hour visit plus time for the museum shop. The ticket price includes watching a short animated film which can only be seen in the museum’s Saturn Theatre. Tickets can be purchased from machines at Lawson convenience stores, but are generally booked out far in advance, especially after scheduled museum closures. Be sure to check the schedule of open museum days and have several options of available days and times that work for your visit. (Check the website for how to buy tickets outside of Japan.)It’s a very good idea to read this page for information about rules at the museum and to know what to expect there.On nice days, you can also enjoy being outside and see red pine trees and the pond in Inokashira Park. If you don’t want to picnic in the park, it’s allowed to bring a picnic to eat on the patio, or you can eat in the Mugiwara Boshi Café at the museum. Be sure to set aside time to visit the local galleries and shops around Kichijyoji before or after your time at the museum.This is a fun trip to enjoy with friends, a date, or your family. You might want to bring visiting friends and family for an excuse to go to the museum again. The exhibits change from time to time to incorporate elements from new projects by Studio Ghibli.The budget: After purchasing tickets, your only required cost is transportation (Shinjuku-Mitaka one way is 216 yen). You might want to plan for eating out during the trip or shopping in the area. Bring some spending money for the museum shop, Mamma Aiuto. There are several items you won’t see in any other Ghibli stores, and you might want some souvenirs. Enjoy your visit!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBdWM-living_shopping_money_transportation_tokyo_mitaka-shiTue, 31 May 2016 12:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/GBdWM-living_shopping_money_transportation_tokyo_mitaka-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5LWG-living_money_tokyoOriginally Published by helloalissa HereAll Photos by helloalissaWant to live in Tokyo?A lot of people LOVE Tokyo! Great nightlife, tons of people and things to do, your friends and family back home have actually heard of it…There is really nothing wrong with living in Tokyo. I want to be up front about why I have always personally been against it, but you need to decide for yourself.Here are my Top Five Reasons to NOT Live in TokyoNumber FiveEarthquakes are common in Japan, specifically on the eastern side of Honshu Island, where Tokyo is. If you don’t mind the occasional earthquake (like once a week) this isn’t a big deal. I didn't think I was scared of earthquakes until I moved to Japan, but there have only been probably 3-5 scary-to-me earthquakes in the one and a half years I've lived in Japan. (I moved to Kyushu expecting NO earthquakes, but obviously that wasn't what happened.)Number FourTokyo is the biggest urban area in Japan and the most expensive place to live in the smallest spaces. Current prices in New York and San Francisco are probably close, but your salary usually won’t be higher because you accepted a job in a more expensive place.Number ThreeNoisy. I don’t mind crowded noisy cities that much, but trying to sleep when there’s a train station next door and a club downstairs isn’t something I want to try. No thanks. There are definitely more quiet areas in Tokyo proper. I find those are the parts of Tokyo I enjoy the most, and everything else is still close by.My number two reason for not living in TokyoRandom strangers talking to you in English, (looking for a free English lesson or just being rude). I don’t really get this happening to me like Grace does, but then again I don’t live in Tokyo. I rarely even get random strangers talking to me in Japanese.Number One reason to Not live in TokyoHow are you going to learn Japanese in the city with the most foreigners?Learning the language will help you to understand the culture and feel so much more comfortable living in Japan. I know people who have lived in remote areas of Japan for one year and become very conversational. If you are required to use Japanese every day because no one speaks English (including your students who may have no motivation to learn if they will live in a small town forever), you will learn so much faster. I also know people who have worked in Tokyo for over ten years and still can’t speak Japanese. I think that’s so disappointing. There are so many foreigners in Tokyo that you will easily be able to find someone to hang out with and speak in English. This is my number one reason to NOT live in Tokyo.My goal for living in Japan was improving in Japanese. I told my company to put me in a small but convenient city. Most people want to work in Tokyo, so that was not a problem for them. My first year living in Japan, I was less than one hour away from Tokyo by rapid train, but still working in an area full of rice fields. I wrote an e-zine based on sent emails and photos about that experience of working as an ALT if you want to learn more.Tokyo is a great city to visit, there are a lot of job opportunities there, and of course you can live where you choose to. If you live in Tokyo, you can have a great social life and never run out of things to do. (PS: Tokyo Disneyland is not in Tokyo.) There is so much more awesome in Japan, so I encourage you to explore (and deal with everyone back home having no idea where you live).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5LWG-living_money_tokyoTue, 24 May 2016 10:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/w5LWG-living_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmrOM-living_educationIf you’re here, you’re probably wondering if teaching English as a second language is a good way for you to live in Japan. Teaching English overseas isn’t for everyone, which is why a lot of people who try it go home after a year (or less). Even for those of us who love it, teaching English in Japan isn’t exactly a long term career. Most ESL teachers I’ve met, even in the US, are working part time and have multiple jobs.Teaching English might be the most common way for foreigners to live in Japan, but maybe you’re better off going to Japan to study Japanese or work as a video game designer. Maybe teaching in S. Korea is a better option for you.Use this flowchart to help you decide, along with the articles I’ve written about becoming an English teacher in Japan.PS: This is not a professional consultation and is for entertainment purposes only. Deciding how you can make your life more awesome is something only you can do.NOT to be republished without permission.More articles on the topic on the helloalissa blog.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmrOM-living_educationWed, 18 May 2016 13:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wmrOM-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4LLz-living_food_money_transportation_oita_oita-shi_beppu-shiKnown as The Onsen City, 別府 (Beppu) can be translated as 'Another World.' It looks like there should be dinosaurs roaming around in the hills because of the steam rising in so many places from all the hot springs. I was amazed at how beautiful it was. There are steep hills that remind me of Hong Kong, but the the buildings are low and set apart. It really does feel like another world. Japan has over 27,000 hot springs, or onsen, but Beppu City alone has around 2,900 hot springs and Oita Prefecture has about 4,750. Yellowstone National Park in the USA releases the highest volume of hot spring water in the world, followed by the springs in Beppu City. In all of Japan, the Beppu City onsen release the highest volume of water. This makes Oita Prefecture the best place to go if you love onsen.Access:The closest airport is Oita Airport, about 40 minutes from Beppu City. For a single round trip/return bus ticket to Beppu from the bigger Fukuoka Airport (about two hours), you'll pay around 3000 yen each way. Not cheap, but less than the train, and faster. There is a special deal if you buy four Nishitetsu bus tickets, so it works out to about 2000 yen each way if you're traveling as a pair or group. There is also a deal like this for train tickets, so a round trip/return ticket is less. This page has all the details plus tons of info on Beppu.When I went to Beppu, it was during my summer vacation while working as an ALT, so I decided to do a four week work trade at (then) Spa Hostel Khaosan Beppu/(now) Cabosu Hostel. (Kabosu is a lime-like fruit which grows in Kyushu.) I worked as temporary cleaning staff 15 hours a week in exchange for accommodation (and sometimes being treated to awesome food). It was a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world and have lots of time to explore the area. The hostel has onsen inside and ashiyu (footbath) outside for guests, a manga/TV room, a bar, a big kitchen, and comfortable dorm or private style rooms. Hostels are an affordable option and Cabosu is my recommendation, but there are also some high end hotels and a couple other hostel/guesthouses in town.The Onsen:There are far too many onsen in the area to try even a fraction of them in a short trip, but there are eight main onsen areas (from different geothermal spots) in the city you can try out, called Beppu Hatto (別府八湯). Beppu and Kanagawa onsen were a bit too hot for me, if they didn't have cold water mixed in. An older woman and I were the only ones in a tiny Kamegawa onsen when I went. She asked if I had been there before and I answered no. She warned me that the water was hot. I asked if it was too hot and she laughed and said yes. She showed me how to fill up bowls with water and wait for it to cool down before using it to wash myself. She also showed me the coolest (still super hot!) corner of the bath. She actually got inside for several seconds, but locals are more used to this hot spring water without cold water mixed in. I thought I'd try it but only got my legs in for a second before I felt like I was being boiled alive. I thought it was really funny anyway. She said if you can manage the heat, it's really good for sore muscles. Besides the too hot water and lots of mosquitoes in the space, it was fun for me to go there and talk to a local. At Takagawara Onsen in the Beppu Onsen area, guests can enjoy sand baths, where they are buried in hot black sand and forced to relax for a while. A little bizarre, but I felt great afterwards. The Kannawa area has a unique ashimushi (foot steam) station for anyone to enjoy for free. My favorite was "Hoyo Land" in the Myoban Onsen area, because of the white mud rotenburo (露天風呂) with an amazing view of the mountains. Nearby is Yunohana (湯の花), where the minerals in the water are collected for bath products. Here's a hilarious ad for Beppu Onsen, showing 'Shinfuro,' Synchronized swimming in hot springs in each of the eight areas.Nature:Outside of Beppu City, in Oita City or Yufuin, there are even more onsen and more sightseeing to enjoy. South of Beppu City along the bay, is the mountainTakasakiyama (高崎山), and Takasakiyama Shizen Doubutsuen (高崎山自然動物公園) - a Macaque monkey park in Oita City. For a reasonable fee, watch and take photos of the monkeys, while they run around and collect yams at feeding time. Volunteer guides who can speak English/other languages are sometimes there to help to explain what's going on.I got there in time to witness the intense yam snatching time. There are two big clans of monkeys living on the mountain that show up separately to eat at the zoo area after scavenging the mountains all day. They wait patiently... then the staff runs through there with a wheelbarrow spilling a path of yams and the monkeys go for it.Across the highway from the monkey park is an Aquarium, right on the water. The Aquarium and monkey zoo are around two kilometers from Higashi Beppu Station, but a beautiful bike ride along the water from the hostel/Beppu Station.Check out the Sitting Tree near Beppu station.As Beppu City is between the sea and the mountains, there is always a nice view. Beppu even has its own little tower. The ocean in the city is mostly docks, and the beaches are rocky so unfortunately not good for swimming. The mountains are nice for hiking and we can view Otobaru Waterfall after a short hike.Culture:There is a thriving art scene in Beppu City, and every three years there is an arts festival called "Mixed Bathing World." We can also visit a bamboo museum and see traditional bamboo products being made by artisans on the shopping street. Each station features a huge basket woven from bamboo.Nearby Oita City is bigger and has a lot going on, although for a city of about 120,000 people, Beppu has a lot of shopping and everything you would need. Locals are very relaxed and friendly, as you might expect.At Hachiman Asami Shrine, there's a Cedar Couple at the entrance. It is said that if we walk between the trees together with our partner, we will get married.In addition to tonkotsu ramen, Beppu has a specialty soup dish called dangojiru, with doughy noodles. There are plenty of sweets and foods to sample, especially those made from local citrus fruits like kabosu and yuzu. Beppu station and the small shops under the tracks have a lot to offer. There's local food in Beppu cooked by onsen steam, so you can try steamed pudding, boiled eggs, and even take an onsen-steam cooking class.Beppu City is my favorite place in the world so far, so I hope you take a chance to visit there the next time you're looking for a place to get out of town. I was there for four weeks and still didn't run out of things to do.Note: After the earthquakes in Kumamoto in mid April, a number of transport services were disrupted. Whilst rail services between Beppu and Oita/Fukuoka seem to be operating as normal, there may still the possibility of service disruptions in other parts of Kyushu. The JR KYUSHU website has a special notice about changes to services. To the best of our knowledge, government foreign offices are not advising against travel to Kyushu. Please check for yourselves. Earthquakes remain a possibility (as in most areas of Japan), so be aware of earthquake safety measures and procedures.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4LLz-living_food_money_transportation_oita_oita-shi_beppu-shiMon, 16 May 2016 16:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z4LLz-living_food_money_transportation_oita_oita-shi_beppu-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNBkw-livingAll this talk about the US presidential candidates is scary as usual. I recently heard about some things Trump said that are not exactly understanding towards Japan. It makes me feel like he has no understanding of Japanese relations with the US for the last 50+ years.All this gave me motivation for looking into how to vote while living in Japan. Here is the link for US citizens. If you have an address back home, an address here, and a US drivers license, you're set. It should take you all of five minutes to register to vote from overseas by email, mail, or fax (really, why does anyone still use fax?) for the presidential primaries and elections coming up.Do it, like the future of your country (and Japan) depends on it (it kinda does).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNBkw-livingSun, 15 May 2016 11:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wNBkw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MELyw-livingMy friend Shogo told me his theory on why people move to Japan to become English teachers. He speaks English well and made a lot of English teacher friends. This is what the English teachers had in common.They were all obsessed with: Video Games, Manga and Anime, and/or Japanese Language.English teachers in Japan are obsessed with these things. Do you like how I spelled Anime & Manga ‘wrong?’There were three main categories of obsession, from Shogo’s perspective. All related to different aspects of Japanese culture, and respectfully leaving out the category of ‘obsessed with Asian women’ because hopefully they didn’t make it to Japan as English teachers (or at all).Video GamesThe best video game consoles and the ones most of us grew up with are from Japan. Everyone knows Mario,but not everyone knows Momotaro Dentetsu.There are people who like video games, and there are people who are obsessed with video games. Collecting vintage and hard to find games, rebuilding arcade games, and spending lots of time in noisy game centers are good indicators that you fall into the obsessed spectrum. Have you studied Japanese so you can play games only released in Japan? Ah hah.Anime & MangaNausicca, Valley of the Wind, by Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki HayaoSure, you know Pokemon,maybe One Pieceand Naruto. Do you own a Studio Ghibli DVD box setor all of the Doraemonmanga, in Japanese? Does it bother you when people pronounce anime and manga incorrectly? You could be obsessed with Anime and Manga.Adachi Mitsuru’s amazing manga, TouchA good indicator of obsession is when you read a good manga, and need to watch any related anime, drama, or movie spin-offs. (my obsession: ハチミツとクローバー) If you read the fan-drawn manga, or doujinshi, inspired by the original, that would be a clear, “Yes, you’re obsessed.”Japanese LanguageIf you study Japanese so you can play Japanese video games or understand anime & manga in Japanese, you fall into this category. Same if you majored in Japanese, or took Japanese classes even though you could have taken something easier (like Español) to graduate. Actually study kanjion purpose? Want to take the JLPT for fun? In a Japanese conversation Meetup club? Yeah, obsessed with Japanese language. There are also people who really want to teach English as a second language and chose Japan as a (well paying, compared with some options) place to try it out.What about you?Of course, these are not the only reasons people come to Japan to teach English. Why do you live/want to live in Japan? I’m guessing it isn’t because you like your sushi without cream cheese. It’s definitely not because you like earthquakes, right?I can fit into the Japanese Language and Manga & Anime nerd categories, but I also love Japanese design and culture, traveling here, and onsen. Video games are alright – especially Momotaro Dentetsu and Doctor Mario.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MELyw-livingWed, 11 May 2016 09:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MELyw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gbp2M-living_food_shopping_moneyFor those of us who like to save a little money (who doesn’t?), knowing the secrets of the discount stickers in Japanese supermarkets (any store, actually) can be a useful skill. One of the super fun things about living in another country is tryingbizarre foods you might never see in your home country. (Even more fun when they don’t cost a lot and taste awesome.)Discount StickersAny time of day, it’s possible to see the magical discount stickers, although they are most commonly seen starting a few hours before closing time. If you pay attention to when the stores you shop at start to discount the items, you can be like the thrifty Japanese people who get their dinner bento for less on a regular basis.You can see people stalking the supermarket employees who are checking food with stickers ready to discount. It’s entertaining, but you might become one of those people once you learn to read the stickers.‘Discount’ is waribiki (割引) in Japanese. The stickers will usually have a number (1-4 are most common) plus the kanji, “割引” (sometimes only one of the two…) to show a percentage off. 1割引 is 10% off, 2割引 is 20% off, etc.Examples2割引 candy. This one shows that the discount is taken at the register (レジ), so you have to do the math yourself.(160 yen plus tax is prolly not worth it.)Sometimes you will actually see 20% instead of 2割引, for example. Here is a 50% off (引) 198円 eggy tofu, which shows the sale price, 99円 +税 (plus tax).The best is when you can find those 50% off and hangaku (半額) stickers. This is also half off. It’s possible to see more than 50% off, but not common.Some half off salmon, not the best quality, but not bad.Be sure to check dates and freshness of any discounted items you buy. I would recommend only buying discounted foods you will eat right away.A rare 70% off clothing sign (grandma style warning).In conclusion, have fun with your new skill and feel a little more confident with how much you will pay for those discounted items you’re curious to try.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gbp2M-living_food_shopping_moneyThu, 05 May 2016 09:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Gbp2M-living_food_shopping_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpnBG-livingAn entertaining thing about living in Asia is how safe people (mostly men) feel sleeping in public places. And how culturally accepted this is. I rarely see this in the US, although in Hong Kong (pictured above), Japan, and S. Korea, I see it quite a bit.I suppose there are many reasons for this and it’s a fun cultural difference which I have done a bit of thinking about in the past.Theory OnePeople in Asia actually work really hard. They’re tired.When you don’t own a car, more time commuting by bus or train equals less time in bed. I think anyone in Asia learns to immediately fall asleep while riding public transportation.Theory TwoAsia is safer than the United States, it’s safe to take a nap in a public place.Or, in the case of S. Korea, spend the night in a big slumber party style jjimjulbang (an onsen/sauna with an option to stay overnight in a big shared room). After enjoying the sauna and changing into special pajamas, men and women are in the same big sleeping room (some jjimjulbang have separate womens’ and mens’ rooms as well). Your stuff is all in a locker in another room, and despite American expectations, it feels totally safe. I stayed in two different jjimjulbang and had no problems.Theory ThreeToo Drunk. Can’t stay awake anymore.In addition to the above last-train incident, I have literally seen a guy sleeping in a gutter in the street in Japan. Usually people just leave them alone. Maybe a police officer will wake them up and take them home so no one takes their wallet.At least for men, it’s also more socially acceptable to be publicly drunk in Asia. This could be related.What's your theory?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpnBG-livingMon, 02 May 2016 16:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/MpnBG-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8mxG-living_moneyThe other day I asked if there was an HDMI cableI could use for my self introductions in classes. It took less than five minutes for a teacher to go find the HDMI cable and it to appear on my desk. And I was almost too scared to ask.The English teacher in Japan job is really funny sometimes. It’s really based on attitude and willingness to try. My small ability in Japanese is a huge help as long as I’m not scared to explain around things I don’t know how to say, which is a lot. I find Japanese people are super nice and helpful if they see I’m making an effort. Their hard work rubs off on me and I feel like I’m being lazy if I don’t put in a little effort too. Somehow I’m able to work a lot harder when I live in Japan than when I live in America.Sometimes I think of this as the “immigrant factor” which is probably a real social phenomenon documented by sociologists, but something I have never looked into. I think the entrepreneur inclination is stronger for the generation immigrating to a new country.For example, when you’re new to a country, you can have a fresh perspective on things and see opportunities in a different way. Maybe there’s more motivation to hustle to avoid failing miserably. As Seth Godin said, 100 years ago, no one had a job. Things are cycling back in the freelancer direction.This might be a way longer conversation than I have in mind, but I want to ask current foreigners living in Japan (and elsewhere) what they do as side jobs. All the long term ALTs / English teachers I’ve met have side jobs. This is most likely a result of needing to provide for a family, because a (technically) part time ALT job probably isn’t going to pay the bills if you’re supporting a partner and child. There are several options for side jobs as a native English speaker in Japan. A part time Eikaiwa job is definitely a popular choice, but I’ve met people who do something like exporting on the side.The first time I lived in Japan as an ALT, within two months of arriving, I had a side job – I occasionally worked at an Eikaiwa. Most of the time I only worked at their “International Parties.” All I had to do was show up for a couple hours, eat snacks and drink can chu-hi (my favorite), and chat with other guests. It was easy money as long as I showed up, and a nice way to meet people who might want to hang out sometime. I also worked there a few times at their conversation cafe which was kind of a tea house format. It was a lot more difficult because you never knew who would show up – sometimes no one, sometimes people who were a little too friendly, sometimes people who had really different levels of English. The point was to get all the guests having a conversation where they were speaking equally, which is impossible even within the same level. It wasn’t hard to find something interesting to talk about, but it still feels a little forced at first.This time I felt the urge to find a side hustle right away too, but didn’t have much energy to put a lot of effort into it after work. During the spring break, I got an opportunity to work at a small camp in the area for a couple days, which was super fun. I love ESL camps and had never gotten the chance to work at one in Japan before. Now I’m putting more effort into finding students to tutor.With an instructor visa, usually your company wants you to ask for permission before doing any other work. I think it’s mostly so you don’t get into trouble with illegal work, taxes, or bad performance at your primary job.Most native English speaking foreigners living in Japan work as an ALT or at an Eikaiwa, as an English teacher. There are some who work as programmers or translators, etc. but they can pass JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) level N1 or N2 to qualify for that type of work. See this great podcast series, Making Money NOT Teaching English, for some examples.If you are living in Japan and working as an English teacher with a side hustle, what do you do? How much time do you spend on the side job and how does it fit into your schedule? Why do you have a side job? Do you hope to be able to quit your day job and have your own business someday? Have you already turned your side job into your primary job?Helloalissa BlogTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8mxG-living_moneySat, 30 Apr 2016 12:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/z8mxG-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn6OM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokaWe have to take advantage of the perfect spring and fall weather in Japan when we get the chance. Winters are sometimes too cold and summers are too hot to spend tons of time outside, so it's good to get outdoors every day during spring and fall in Japan. This year, spring came a little early and has been unusually long, but I'm not complaining about the perfect weather we've been having.I decided to make sure we get out of town (at least for a nearby day trip), once a month while living in Japan. Kyushu has so many amazing places and we love to travel and explore. We also like exploring in our own city, and it’s new to us, so we haven’t done much yet. Once a week or so, we try a new-to-us restaurant, go for a walk somewhere new like a park (bonus: this is free), or go to some kind of event in town. There are free cultural events all the time in and aroundFukuoka and Kurume, in addition to free exhibits, libraries, and natural spaces. Temples and shrines are often in the midst of a park or open space, and entrance is usually free.The first out of town field trip of the year was to nearbyDazaifu city, in Fukuoka Prefecture. It’s around halfway betweenFukuoka city and Kurume city. If you visit and stay in Fukuoka, it’s less than thirty minutes by train, so it’s an easy day trip.FromNishitetsuFukuoka (Tenjin) Station, you can take a rapid train to 二日市駅 / Futsukaichi station on theNishitetsu Tenjin Omuta line, then transfer to theDazaifu linefor a whole five minutes / two stations to Dazaifu station. If you take the rapid train onTenjin Omuta line(Tokkyu), this takes 27 minutes including transfer time. It takes us longer to walk to the station in our city than time on the train, but it’s still a quick trip.On the main path from the station to the shrine, there are lots of traditional shops selling (photo above)umegae mochi(a sweet red bean jam filled rice cake with anumeblossom design printed on it) and menbei, which is a short form ofmentaiko-senbei(spicy cod roe crackers). Warmumegae mochiis perfect when it's a little cold and is easy to stand and eat (tatchikui) or even walk and eat. Many of these shops have free samples of snacks andomiyage. I love free samples. Restaurants and gift shops line the street, which is crowded with people going to and from the shrine. You can find a Starbucks on this street with a unique entrance design. Not far from the station there is also an award winning local barista's cafe (珈琲蘭館) and a local JA produce market."Three tastes of soba" at a local restaurant.The main shrine, orhondenatDazaifu Tenmangu.There are thousands of flowering plum trees, orume, nearDazaifu Tenmangu. Usually they bloom in January, but it was a little too early when we were there.Dazaifu Tenmanguis a popular shrine for the burial place of Michizane Sugawara, who is known for literature, calligraphy, and studies. A lot of students go there to pray to do well on tests like entrance exams, so February-March is a busy season, in addition to the New year visitors plus blossom viewing visitors in January and February. We went in early January, which is probably not the best idea for a temple or shrine, due to the crowds duringHatsumode(first visit to a temple or shrine in the new year) season. It was crowded, but the weather wasn’t too cold, and we enjoyed walking in the hills where there are small hidden shrines.Crazy steps behind the temple, near the traditional tea houses.There are several statues of cows or oxen next to the shrine, and lots of people want to touch the lucky statues or have their pictures taken with them. The shrine space is a big area with several bridges over ponds, lots of open space, and other things to do nearby. There is the Kyushu National Museum, southeast of the shrine, which can be accessed by walking east of the shrine area ponds then up an escalator in the "access tunnel" with fun changing colors. On the north side of the shrine area, there isyoenchi- an amusement park. The shrine and shopping area can easily be done in a couple hours, or you can make a day of it by exploring the hill and tea houses, maybe the museum.If we walk up the hill behind the shrine, we can see redtorishowing the entrance to theInariShrine. There are twelve bells for each year in the Chinese zodiac - so you should ring the bell for the year you were born in before praying.Dazaifu Tenmanguis a great place to visit on a nice day. There's something for everyone, from shopping to history and architecture. If you live in the area, it's an affordable place to bring visitors and show off some of Japan's nature and culture, because you don't need to pay an entrance fee. Budget for traveling costs, (400 yen one way from Fukuoka), snacks/meals, gifts, and maybe some change for praying at the shrines.My Wordpress BlogTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn6OM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokaWed, 27 Apr 2016 15:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/Mn6OM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fukuoka_dazaifu_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wroRM-living_money_educationDo you need a TESOL/TESL Certificate to teach English as a second language?Nope.Article over.Haha… Here’s the details:What is a TESL certificate anyway?What it means: TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language or, TESOL: Teaching English as a Second or Other Language.What you will learn: Teaching methodology, Classroom management, Lesson Planning, ESL skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), and a Teaching Practicum, for example. The practicum (practice) is what really prepares you for being in the classroom.Certificates are valid forever and recognized in most countries.Be CarefulI see a lot of websites and blogs trying to ‘help’ people who want to teach ESL in another country. They are trying to make a living, but don’t need to lie and say, “You need a TESL certificate to teach in (insert country), so get one with our great company.” They are getting referral fees from TESL schools, so they are trying to trick you into getting the certificate to make some money.I don’t know of ANY country that flat out requires a TESL certificate to get an ESL job. Some regions in S. Korea now require in-classroom/ practicum TESL I’ve heard. If you know details/countries which require TESL, please comment. (I recently found this article about people in China scamming English teachers into getting expensive and unnecessary TESL certificates for jobs that don’t exist.)The truth is, there is usually no need for a TESL certificate.If you are just getting started teaching English as a second language, and want some experience, a TESOL certificate is not a bad idea. If you know you can get paid more or the specific job you want requires a TESOL certificate, that’s a good reason to get one. Don’t believe anyone who tells you a TESL certificate is required to get a job teaching overseas. Most of the time it’s not a job requirement, and even if you have a TESOL certificate, it doesn’t mean you will be paid more. Sure, employers might say they prefer teachers who have a TESOL certificate, but they are not always willing to pay more for it.In the end, experience and good performance wins over education.In my case, I worked/volunteered at a camp in S. Korea first, as part of a TESL practicum class. I loved it, so I got all serious about finding an ALT job in Japan. While I taught at the camp, I had no idea what I was doing, but am really comfortable just making stuff up. Somehow at the end of camp, all the students thought I was wonderful and said I was a good teacher. I think they were just being kind, but I know they had lots of fun at camp.I thought getting a TESOL certificate made sense, as I had very little teaching experience, plus I majored in art. I didn’t exactly have a good grasp of grammar, how to teach pronunciation,or um… spelling things correctly without spell check. Most of us can tell when something sounds funny in English, but can’t explain why it’s wrong. Getting the TESOL certificate helped me to feel more confident in these areas, and it was a really convenient way to do so quickly.If you have time and focus, you could do some reading and research on your own and learn grammar rules, phonics, spelling rules, etc., but it’s hard to learn things like classroom management without experience. Like many ESL teachers do, you could start teaching and learn from experience. With experience, you know what to expect, and you can answer random questions without even being completely awake yet.(If you are interested in getting a TESOL certificate, the affordable online one I got is from Midwest Education Group. MEG also helps their students with job placement and has volunteer opportunities if you need a place to do your practicum. If you choose to go with MEG for a TESOL certificate, tell them ‘hello alissa’ sent you and use the code “Tesol@Chicago” for $20 off the 150 hour TESOL course.)The most prestigious TESL certification you can get, apart from a masters or PhD in TESL, is probably the CELTA. It’s an intensive in-person month-long program, and the cost is way more than an online TESOL certificate. This is focused on teaching adult students and therefore rarely requested for teaching in public schools. Private schools or universities would most likely require teaching certification and/or a masters degree, unless it’s a private ESL only school like Kaplan International. I think the CELTA is most useful if you want to teach in one of the private ESL schools in the states/your home country, but don’t want a related masters degree.I taught “The Art” at camp.Teaching in JapanI want to be honest with you, because that’s who I am. If you work as an ALT, you don’t even need to know grammar rules. ALTs are Assistant Language Teachers. If you can speak English, spell most things correctly, and have a bachelors degree, you’re set. You’ll figure out the rest as you go. Lots of resources are available online if you’re motivated to become a good ALT.When you work as an ALT, the Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) is the one who is qualified to teach English grammar. It’s not your job. If you understand a little Japanese, it’s quite possible to learn grammar during classes. Simply pay attention while you’re in classrooms during grammar lessons.Side story: My first year as an ALT, I learned past perfect form, but I learned it in Japanese. I went back to the USA, got a job teaching English at a private ESL school, and didn’t know how to say ‘past perfect’ in English. Not kidding. I didn’t know what ‘present continuous’ meant and had to teach it. That first ESL job in the states was a rude awakening to how bad I am at English grammar and I spent a lot of extra hours studying so I could teach it. Too bad I skimmed through the grammar definition material when I got the TESOL certificate. I downloaded all the TESOL materials and still refer to it as needed. Now I love teaching grammar and pronunciation.If you want to teach in Eikaiwa, you might do a lot more teaching grammar rules, although students are usually quite good at it already. The little Eikaiwa experience I have had was conversation based, although most Eikaiwa offer general English lessons as well. I could see more use for a TESOL certificate if you want to teach in Eikaiwa or private lessons, although the teaching methodology is definitely useful for ALTs as well.I hope this was helpful and saved you some money too!My Wordpress BlogTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wroRM-living_money_educationWed, 27 Apr 2016 11:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wroRM-living_money_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXPvw-living_educationWhat qualifications do you need to teach English in Japan?This is probably the most common question I get.I’m going to break it down for you in three simple answers.A. EnglishYou need to speak English as your native language or at native level. Schools are looking for citizens primarily from The US, Canada, The UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and anyone else who is a native English speaker or has studied in an English speaking school for at least ten years.This is not super strict as it depends on the company you work for and your ability to qualify for a work visa. The case with mostly English speaking South Africa is difficulty to qualify for work visas – usually based on political reasons.I have met teachers (with greatEnglish) from Jamaica, The Philippines, India, Nepal, Kenya, and Zambia working as English teachers in Japan. The school or level you want to work at, your education, and your experience can be bigger factors. Most jobs teaching in Japan atpublic junior high or high schools prefer native English speakers with a North American accent. You have more flexibility teachingstudents in elementary school or younger, at English conversation schools, and with more education or experience.B. Bachelors DegreeYou need a bachelors degree. This is a requirement for getting a work visa with Instructor status so you can legally teach in Japan. There is no getting around this if you want a ‘full time’ job in a public school.You Can apply for jobs if you plan to graduate soon, although you will need to provide proof of graduation or expected graduation to get the visa.Conversation schools sometimes requireHumanities (or student) visas, although they do not always sponsor visas or provide full time work with a one year contract. This may be a good option if you want to try teaching English but do not want a one year contract.Many countries (unfortunately not the United States) participate in a “Working Holiday” program with Japan, so you might be able to live in Japan for a limited time and work part time in various positions without a degree.C. FlexibilityAll positions teaching English in Japan will expect you to be healthy and flexible. I don’t mean they want you to be able to do gymnastics. I mean that moving to another country is stressful, plus, to be a good teacher, being adaptable is really helpful. If you get really upset or stressed by things getting changed on you last minute, this may not be a good job for you. If you have never left the country you were born in, you might be okay, but be prepared to be open minded.Your whole world will be different after you move to another country, so little things like being willing to try different foods(and living without familiar foods) will help you adapt to your new life. Having a good attitude and being open to try new things is VERY IMPORTANT.Currently US citizens do not need a background check for a work visa in Japan. You don’t want to have anything on your background check, so be good, they may start to require it in the future. (Working in S. Korea requires a National FBI Criminal Background check.) Jobs with some companies, like theJet Programme, do require a background check after you are hired.Additional Notes:You Do Not want a tattoo if you want to live in Japan or Korea.If you currently have hand, face, or neck tattoos, this isn’t the job for you. If you’re thinking about it, I wouldstronglyadvise against it.Keeping atattoo hidden means you haveto be careful even outside of work during hot summer months. Plus hot springs in Japan are amazing and most of them don’t allow tattoos.Professional positions don’t allow visible tattoos and you will most likely lose your job if you have one that is seen. Some young people don’t mind them as much, but you can’t work with students with a tattoo showing, no matter how innocent it is. Partially because teachers have a high status (and are held to higher standards) in Asia and partially because tattoos are associated with gangs and criminals, they will be frowned upon. This is drastically different from many places, so I want to warn you: it’s possible if it can be hidden, but not fun, if you have a tattoo in Japan.By the way, to work overseas you needa passportso you can travel outside of your country. If your passport is going to expire during the time you would be working, you need to get it renewed before applying for the work visa, which will be placedin your passport.Good Luck!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXPvw-living_educationTue, 26 Apr 2016 12:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/helloalissa/wXPvw-living_education