French in Japan!

Homemade cereals bread and artisanal natural cheese from Komagata cheese factory in Isumi.

There is a cheese factory very close to our house in Ohara. Yes yes! a cheese factory in Japan! and not in Hokkaido!  But, sadly it is impossible to just go there and buy cheese... At least all my trials didn't success.
But, at last, I have found a place where to get some: Na no hana local products shop!!!

They have a selection of cheeses from Komagata and so far what I've tried was really good. A perfect match to my cereal favorite homemade bread!
A French girl, even in Japan is still French!!!

Winter sport in Japan

The valley of Hakuba

Why traveling to Japan for winter sports when you have pretty snowy mountains in your country? I reckon that wouldn't be worth the hassle, the jetlag, the exhausting travel even if recently magazines have been spreading the word that Niseko is a must destination! But when you live in Tokyo it's quite easy to go skiing and there are closer places than Niseko. Nagano prefecture and Niigata prefecture offer nice slopes with good snow and welcoming infrastructures. After trying several destinations, our favorite is definitely Hakuba and La Neige hotels, both the "honkan" and the "higashi kan".

La neige honkan

While the former is a lovely place, a bit retro Japanese-western style (Taisho and Showa period), if your primary purpose is winter sport the latter is really amazing and offers incomparable services. Both are nested in the forest Wada no mori and a 5min walk from the lifts. Great!

Lobby of La Neige higashikan

Hakuba is also a genuine place for delicious local food and restaurants. My ultimate favorite is the Hummingbird, which over the past years has been quite popular　and now reservations are absolutely needed!! Rumors say also that summer and autumn are beautiful in Hakuba... Can't wait to see that too because so far I've only seen it covered in white!!

The valley of Hakuba

Waiting for Hanami

During my stay in Tokyo, at the end of February, I could enjoy plum blossoms as a premise for sakura blossom later in March, in all the streets and park, and also in every shop for candy, dessert, kimono even for Daruma...

Kappabashi dori - 河童橋通り

If you like cooking and tableware, Kappabashi dori is a must go when visiting Tokyo. This street between Ueno and Asakusa is the home of many shops selling cooking gear and tableware for professionals. Most of the shops sell also to individuals (but it's better to ask before being disappointed). There, you can find pretty much anything from metal sakura shapes to amazing laqueware bowls. Crazy knives and delicates bamboo baskets. With Prunellia we spent a few hours there the other day, and got plenty of new things to cook with!

Alternative greengrocery shopping in Tokyo

There is something really amazing in Japan, and I believe it is what we could call "trust" (or may be laziness!). For example in many places you can book without paying in advance (hotels, car rentals...), you can shop and pay later (it may not work everywhere though, and this also happens elsewhere)... Yet there's something like Japan got stucked in the 50's or the 60's. And what I love most it's when it comes to fresh vegetables and fruit shopping!

It is not unusual in the country to see stands by the road with freshly picked fruits and vegetables and no one there. It's not that it is closed... There is a box someplace: you pick-up what pleases you and put the money in the box. The deal is simple: super fresh resources for a super price!

I have the chance to have such a system on my way to the lab, close to Higashi Koganei station in Tokyo. When there are crops on the shelf there is a red flag floating and you just have to help yourself. Depending on the season they have daikon, cabbage, cucumber, potatoes, etc... Usually for 100yen. It's grown on the plot behind, and they use no chemical or whatsoever. It's fresh, natural and local! You just have to be quick to catch something, first in first served!