Summer Days

It's been hot lately, but that hasn't kept from getting out and about. Sometimes when the heat is too much I just hole up inside, but this year I'm trying to embrace it. So far it's been working, but let's see how that attitude lasts in August.

Lately we've been trying to make a point of going new places on the weekend, be it hiking or just exploring little neighborhoods in unfamiliar parts of Tokyo.

John's brother and his wife are out visiting now. Yesterday we went out to Kamakura and then continued along the coast to a hot spring. While we were out there we saw one of the best views of Mt. Fuji I've ever had.

My newest furoshiki - I love the panda with sunglasses

A rainy shopping street in Nakano

Green tea at a bamboo temple

View of Mt. Fuji from Inamuragasaki

Father's Day Visit

John's dad has been out here visiting for the past week, conveniently falling over Father's Day. I can't believe how quickly his visit has come and gone (I think I say this every time) but it really was wonderful.

We've visited lots of temples and shrines where we were even able to see two weddings, and about a million blooming iris and hydrangeas. We also went to an afternoon baseball game, had dinner with Shiori, their exchange student from years past, got in some World War II history, and ate tons of delicious Japanese food.

In less than three weeks we'll have more visitors, and my sister just bought a ticket to come out too, so the fun is just going to continue all summer.

I love the red and white bowls at this ramen shop

The Imperial Palace is full of iris in June

The perfect Father's Day

Every time they get a run, the Yakult Swallows fans do a dance with umbrellas

Early June

Rainy season officially begins today, though the weather is actually looking nicer than yesterday. I can't believe it's already June and already rainy season. I've done a terrible job of blogging for the past month, but I'm still here - and intending to do better.

It's finally starting to feel like summer, and this one's going to be a busy one. My father-in-law is coming to visit next week, and next month my brother-in-law and his wife are coming out. I absolutely love having visitors and getting the chance to show off the Tokyo I love. I guess that's a lot of the reason I'm still blogging too.

A couple weeks ago the G7 Summit was in Japan and the security was intense. Even though the meeting wasn't in Tokyo the train stations were flooded with police, the streets filled with local security, and even vending machines and trash cans closed up for the duration.

But now, I'll let some pictures do the rest of my talking.

Hokkaido ramen - toppings include corn and butter

Braided headband

Vending machines closed for the G7 summit

The hydrangeas are out

Hanging out with my littlest friend

Loving the summer produce that's finally available

Pho Dragon in Nishi Azabu

Looking for authentic Vietnamese food in Tokyo? Pho Dragon is your place.

Before visiting Vietnam last year, I knew nothing about Vietnamese food. There just wasn't any where I grew up, and I'd only had it once here in Tokyo. The general attitude seemed to be that there isn't much good Vietnamese food in Tokyo, and I'm not aware of any Vietnamese communities the way Tokyo has Chinese and Korean neighborhoods.

But Raku found out about a little place, very close to Roppongi, run by a Vietnamese woman. She can be a little brusque at first, but she's actually really sweet. By the end of our meal we had heard all sorts of things about her family and her life. As more people came in, we realized they were mostly regulars as she asked about their recent trips and caught up with each person. She speaks Vietnamese, English, and Japanese and is eager to explain all the condiments and how to eat your food. 

Which brings me to the delicious food. At lunch time the menu is mostly pho sets which come with a spring roll and salad. The spring rolls were so fresh and bursting with herbs. Raku thought they were some of the best she's had in her life, and she's had a lot so I trust her. We both got the beef pho (an aromatic soup with rice noodles and meat), which we enjoyed immensely, though next time I might try the spicy beef. She serves them with a house made pepper paste, hoisin sauce, and another sour sauce, as well as sriracha which she makes sure to mention is from America and not as good as her homemade sauces. The dinner menu is much bigger, and it's posted on the walls, so you can drool over it while you eat lunch. We were so caught up in eating that neither of us thought to take a single photo of our food, but if you get the chance you should check it out. And if you're not in Tokyo, I hope you can find some pho wherever you are! 

Pho Dragon

Hours: 11:30-2:00, 6:00-10:00, closed Sundays

Phone: 03-3479-0658

Address: 1-11-13 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Map

Golden Week and a Visitor

It's hard to believe that we're already a week into May. Golden week has come an gone, and so has John's mother's visit.

We had such a great time with her. It's always fun to show off our favorite places and introduce people to Japanese food and culture. One of the highlights of her trip was meeting up with an exchange student she hosted six years ago. Shiori was only 13 when she came to the US, and now she is a beautiful self-assured college student! We went to her hometown and had a beautiful lunch at the restaurant where she has a part time job.

When we mentioned that we were going to Kamakura, one of the ancient capitals of Japan about an hour from Tokyo, Shiori recommended a temple that I'd never heard of - Hokoku-ji, which might just be my new favorite. It's a beautiful zen temple with a bamboo grove, a little tea house, and caves carved into a mountain - totally deserving of it's own blog post. I really think it rivals the beauty of Kyoto.

We fit so much into just a week, I think we're all still recovering from it. But I'm so glad we had the opportunity!

Gorgeous Japanese Lunch

Hokoku-ji in Kamakura

Afternoon Tea at The Mandarin Oriental

Our favorite yakitori place

Nighttime in Shinkjuku

Fiberwig Mascara

I'm pretty low maintenance. I don't wear very much make-up, so I'm not able to blog about cosmetics very often. More's the pity, because my understanding is that Japanese cosmetics are really great quality and very popular.

I do have one Japanese product that I love however: Fiberwig Mascara by deJavu. Isn't that an amazing name? I never would have picked it up on my own, but Raku recommended it to me. You can find it at any drug store, and it is the best mascara I've ever used.

As funny as the name is, it actually makes sense. Fiberwig creates long thin fibers that extend past the ends of your eyelashes. When you wash it off, it actually comes off as little strings, not just dissolving color. This is a major bonus if you, like me, are a crier - no fear of streaky raccoon eyes or waterproof mascara that is really hard to get off. 

If you're looking for a good mascara, or a good souvenir for a make-up lover I highly recommend it!

Before: no mascara

After: fiberwig mascara

Seriously, it's the best!

In Praise of Dekopon

Have you ever heard of dekopon? They're my new obsession. Dekopon are a type of citrus fruit developed in Japan that look like oranges with a funny bump on top. I never knew what they were until I read an article about a month ago that mentioned them - in the US I think they're marketed under the name Sumo. So I got curious and picked some up. My only question now is why did I wait so long to try them?

They taste a lot like clementines, but imagine every dekonpon tastes like the best clementine you've ever eaten. They're large, and they're easy to peel. If you see them, trust me, you should buy them! Unfortunately their flavor breaks down pretty quickly, so don't let them linger in the back of your fridge or save them for a special occasion.