This is a blog post on tips to self-drive in Japan!

Last December, our family went on a road trip and toured around Kyushu. I received lots of questions asking me about renting a car in Japan. Japan’s public transport is beyond amazing, and to be honest, I would pick a shikansen ride anytime because it’s super relaxing.

We did consider whether we wanted to rent a car or take public transport to move about in Kyushu. For me I wanted to take the train because I didn’t want the danna to be too tired driving (he’s not very good with sitting for long hours considering his job requires him to be standing most of the time). But he insisted driving because it was the best option for our family. read more

Junya turns 43 months today and Sakura is 20 months old! (I can’t believe she hit double digit that starts with “2”! It makes her feel closer to 2 years old than 1.5!😱)

#Tokyolife! Everybody in camouflage. ^^

#KLlife

We spent almost a whole month away from Singapore (back to KL then Tokyo), cheesiepetits also skipped school for the entire month.

Here’s the update for the past month!

For Junya

1st month , 2nd month , 3rd month , 4th month , 5th month , 6th month , 7th month,  8th month, 9th month , 10th month , 11th month , 12th month , 13th month , 14th month , 15th month , 16th month , 17th month , 18th months , 19th month , 20th month ,21st month , 22nd month , 23rd month , 24th month , 25th month , 26th month , 27th month , 28th month , 29th month , 30th month , 31st month , 32nd month , 33rd month , 34th month , 35th month , 36th month , 37th month , 38th month , 39th month , 40th month , 41st month and 42nd month here. read more

My love for Japan needs no further explanation (as this entire blog is made of it, haha), and I believe that a lot of you reading this probably also relate to things that write about Japan, be it travel, culture, food, etc.

Many Malaysians too have an affinity to Japan since a long time ago, even if some don’t realize it. We have put our trust in Japanese brands and technology for decades, we have Japan-made products in our home probably since we were born, and many of us would love to continue using and buying Japan-quality goods to better improve our lifestyles. read more

Ok so the last post I published was 11 Dec 2016, I think I broke my own record again for being absent here.

We just returned to KL a few days ago from our 2-week stay in Japan, flew to Bangkok straight away for a day trip, came back to KL midnight and drove all the way back the next morning back to Singapore. So… please grant me a small break haha.

Anyway I thought about chilling my last day of 2017 away, but then I went to read my year end blog post on 2016, and I thought, damn, I can’t lose to the me in 2016, because I AM ONLY ALWAYS BETTER. Staying in Singapore really makes me more kiasu now hahaha. read more

Junya turns 42 months today and Sakura is 19 months old!

Sibling ootd^^

Haha fashion show.

Hello Kitty Jinbei and Baby Ape Jinbei.

Yukata ^^

So here’s what happened in the past month. ^^

For Junya

1st month , 2nd month , 3rd month , 4th month , 5th month , 6th month , 7th month,  8th month, 9th month , 10th month , 11th month , 12th month , 13th month , 14th month , 15th month , 16th month , 17th month , 18th months , 19th month , 20th month ,21st month , 22nd month , 23rd month , 24th month , 25th month , 26th month , 27th month , 28th month , 29th month , 30th month , 31st month , 32nd month , 33rd month , 34th month , 35th month , 36th month , 37th month , 38th month , 39th month , 40th month and 41st month here. read more

To continue my Tobu Nikko Pass journey! Read the first post on the passes ,the second post on Tobu World Square and the third post on Nikko.

This post is about Oku-Nikko, a region located in the northwestern part of Nikko in western Tochigi. If that sounds a little confusing, just know that Tochigi is a biiiiiig prefecture.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (on this blog, on social media, on my sharing sessions at JR cafe), I must repeat again that Tochigi is full of sightseeing wonders. On just Nikko area alone it took me 4 blog posts to complete, and I have YET to cover many other nearby attractions and popular spots like the famous onsens in Kinugawa, Edo Wonderland, and other parts of Tochigi such as its capital city Utsunomiya, and also the one place I really really wanted to go – Nasu Alpaca Farm! read more

To continue my Tobu Nikko Pass journey! Read the first post on the passes and the second post on Tobu World Square.

Don’t miss out the nostalgic steam locomotive SL Taiju train ride on your way to Nikko!

Yuba Lunch – ZEN (日光湯波巻き)

A cute store front with a unique entrance!

Beautiful autumn scenery in Nikko.

This yuba specialty restaurant ZEN is located pretty close to the famed Toshogu, you can take a leisure walk to visit after lunch.

ZEN is a cosy, stylish restaurant renovated in modern taste from a traditional farm house. If you love Japanese tea such as matcha and sencha, they serve a variety of really premium tea selections. read more

Christmas is coming and we are all busy shopping for that perfect Christmas party! What could be your Christmas dish of the year this time?

For me, I decided to make something cute and kids-friendly – a Christmas Party Tower!!

It’s a snack/hi-tea tower platter for simple home party. It looks cute too so it’d be a hit with the kids!

I actually got the inspiration from FairPrice Finest’s E-catalogue this year.

I’m feeling the jolly season already!

You may order your Culina Christmas set from Fair Price for a fuss-free party at home, or you can also cook up a feast all from scratch! read more

Two years after the opening of Number76 Singapore, this time I was at the opening of the latest branch of Number76 at the newest and biggest shopping mall in JB – Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru.

Right now there are 5 branches in Malaysia in total, 4 in Kuala Lumpur, including Midvalley, Bangsar, Starhill Gallery and Publika, and the latest in Johor Bahru, as well as one in Orchard Gateway, Singapore.

I was there since the first ever opening of Bangsar 1 back in 2013, when I still wore false lashes, was borderline gyaru, and had no idea how it was like to be a mother. read more

To be honest, I didn’t have very high expectation when I visited Tobu World Square, an open-air architecture museum/theme park located in the Kinugawa Onsen area, Tochigi Prefecture.

I have never heard of this theme park before prior to this trip, and the name of the park itself doesn’t give much of a hint, so for me it was more like a by-the-way visit since it is just right across the brand new station “Tobu World Square” en route to Nikko.

But I was blown away by the experience. And I want to recommend every one who is visiting Tochigi to make this a compulsory stop on your itinerary, especially if you are someone who loves taking Instagram-worthy photos! read more

How many of you have been to Tochigi Prefecture?

It is not a super well-known prefecture in Japan, but I bet some of you have been there without even knowing! If you have been to Nikko, a town best known for its breathtaking landscapes during autumn, then you have been in Tochigi.

I’m writing a series of Tochigi blog posts in hope that more people can discover this nearby prefecture to Tokyo, and to travel more in-depth instead of the usual day-trip to just Nikko, because there are too many things to do and one day is never enough! read more

No matter how many times I come to this city doing the same things, I never get tired of it.

Just look at this. How could I ever?

Nagasaki is one of my favorite cities in Japan (and I have visited soooo many!), because you will just fall in love before you even realize, and of course, it is extra special because this humble little city holds all my danna’s childhood memories.

We were back to Nagasaki to visit his family this past summer, and the hotel/ryokan that we booked this time was the most amazing, family-friendly hotel I’ve ever stayed in. read more