Disney time!

Junya and I have been to the parks in Tokyo a few times (including when he was in my tummy!), but this April was our first visit as a family all together!

Kanazawa, the capital city of Ishikawa prefecture, is best known to be culturally rich and its beautifully preserved historical townscape.

The most touristy of all, is probably Higashi Chaya (東茶屋街), a well-preserved traditional district that used to serve as tea houses in Edo period where the geisha performed.

When it comes to Ishikawa, most people know it by the city of gold – Kanazawa (金沢).

There are much more to explore on this prefecture located on the Japan Sea coast. The first stop for me was Wajima (輪島), a historical city known for its Asaichi (morning market) and lacquerware.

I could say that this is the highlight of my trip to Chubu-Hokuriku region in Japan. A registered world heritage site – Gokayama (五箇山).

When it comes to the Chubu region, the hottest tourist spot in recent years is perhaps Shirakawago (白川郷) in Gifu prefecture. When I first saw the travel itinerary, I was a little sad that Shirakawago was not included in this trip, but little did I know that we were in for a surprise, that is the same 250-year-old gassho-zukkuri farmhouses as the ones in Shirakawago, are also found in Ainokura (相倉) in Gokayama, Toyama prefecture. read more

Takayama is a city in Gifu Prefecture, which I think quite a lot of you are familiar with because is recently made known to the world by anime “Your Name”. There are a few other areas name Takayama in Japan, so this traditional city is usually referred to as Hida-Takayama (飛騨高山).

As the kanji of the name suggests, this city is made of lots of… high mountains.

This is a short post on the ryokan I stayed in Gero Onsen (下呂温泉), Gifu Prefecture. Read my previous post on Seki City Swordsmith. ^^

I loooove Onsen and I was so excited to visit Gero Onsen as it is one of the top 3 famous springs in Japan (I think rated based on the quality of the hotspring), along with Kusatsu onsen (草津温泉) in Gunma Prefecture (which I visited when I was 8 months pregnant with Junya in 2014!) as well as Arima Onsen (有馬温泉) in Hyogo Prefecture.

Continue reading read more

After our Udon making experience in Nagoya, our group departed for Seki city in Gifu prefecture to witness the craftsman skill of the world-renowned swordsmith in Japan – Hanomoya Cutler Sansyu 刃物屋三秀.

Quick filler post while I prepare for our family spring trip back to Japan.

My… yearly coordinate post😂. First and maybe last of 2018 😂. It is really because the danna was helping out every day with the kids, cooking and housework in the apartment that I get to play dress up… a little. People who think that I look like this every can’t be more wrong 😂. I usually go pick cheesiepetits up from school in Singapore in my pajamas hahaha.

Early March I spent 1 week in Japan on VisitJapan‘s influencer program. They have selected influencers from all over the world to visit different parts of Japan.

I was originally supposed to be on the Kansai trip but I couldn’t make it for that week so the organizer assigned me to Chubu & Hokuriku area instead. And I was soooooo happy and thankful because that was one of the regions left in my yet-to-visit #47PrefectureMission. By the end of that trip, I have visited 5 new prefectures, and now I have checked off a total of 36 prefectures, leaving only 11!!! read more

Last summer in August 2017.

A new prefecture conquered – Aomori, 青森 in Kanji, which means “green forest”.

I don’t know why but there’s something mysteriously romantic about the name Aomori, maybe because of the image of deep, mystical wildwoods, maybe I have remembered the mesmerizing photos I have seen of Aomori in the past… But it has always been very high on my visit list!

We took the Hayabusa Shinkansen to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The ride took only around 2 hours 45 minutes! read more

While I am busy discovering more #lazymama hacks, it is worth noting that it requires skill and effort to be “lazy”, as you keep yourself updated with new technology and innovations, which eventually sets you free from spending too much time to fuss over unnecessary things.

For skin care, I choose to go fuss-free too.

So everyone comes to Japan for cherry blossom viewing during spring seasons. Summer seems to be a less popular period when it comes to getting in touch with the nature, especially under intense heat.

But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t come to Japan during summer time!! (<start of brainwashing session> lolol) If you happen to visit Japan in the sunny season, other than Hanabi Taikai (fireworks shows), Natsumatsuri (summer fest), beach and sea, you may also want to go sunflower viewing! read more