tesss

This trip further drove a point home - no reservations, no talk. Particularly in a country called Japan. Do not get me wrong, I love the country and its food. And Japan possibly ranks tops for me if I had to return just for the food. Like it or not, the Japanese language is their main choice of language for communication. Whether or not its for historical or personal reasons, many of these restaurants are not just about to bend their backs forward and backwards just to accommodate intruders (read: tourists). The limiting power of the hotel concierge got us slots in restaurants that accepted reservations only and that was perhaps the best we could have done, anyway. The long grandmother's story is, I planned to do a walk in at a Japanese-speaking and obviously Japanese owned izakaya of some sort - the hotel concierge could not even get us a reservation which should already ring some bells. Found our way to the place and happily stepped in and gestured 2. The already frowny owner...

Cafe de l'ambre has been serving coffee since 1948 and what sets this apart from the hipster coffee joints is, it is so well hidden that I did not realise Ginza had such a hidden yet charming gem. Jars of different types of aged beans. Roasting is done on-site and the aroma was intoxicating. Snippets of accolades from the past to present. The whole cafe exudes a certain vibe that traps time, as if I got transported back in time to 1948. Perhaps it was deliberate, and perhaps it wasn't but everything was dated. Even this bar counter that had seats with a swivel. Suddenly, ordering coffee over a bar counter like that became very hip. A mishmesh of assorted pieces put together in this open concept kitchen. Hand dripped coffee was what we came for and it was very intense watching the bartender manually drip the coffee in a fascinating robotic manner. Was it the obsession with the craft? Or just a whole lot of passion that keeps him going.Well, maybe both. The coffee only menu sho...

This was my first time staying over in Kyoto and while I was really keen on booking a ryokan and soaking in an onsen, the prices during December put me off. Hence, the next criteria on the list was within reasonable distance from the JR station which would facilitate our city adventures. RIGHA Kyoto popped up as a recommendation and I was sold on how new the property was. I miss Christmas already at point of crafting this entry. Japan takes Christmas rather seriously with all the hotels in full support. The very spacious lobby and check in counter. A nursing room in the hotel! Until I became a mother, I never knew the importance of having such a facility. Plus, this was so clean and well equipped! Diaper changing stations. Very cosy nursing rooms. Double room. This tatami wall had a secret agenda, it met the purpose of the curtains without much fuss. Coffee machine for that late night cap. The very comprehensive amenities box that came with body towels too - a rarity given some big nam...

Whiskey lovers would be familiar with Yamazaki Station in Yamazaki region. Infact, most of the commuters who got off at this station were there for just one purpose - the Yamazaki Distillery, a Japanese whisky distillery which is Japan's first commercial whiskey distillery. Gluttony is real when I get tempted by the ichigo mochi en route to the distillery even! For the record, I succumbed to getting this too! House goals. The amazing thing about taking slow walks to attractions is, I get to admire people's houses. The walk to the distillery is very straight forward and signages are clear too - getting lost is not an option and when you see these barricades, the distillery is just across the road! I cannot help but have the tune "Train is coming, train is coming" ringing in my head! A life sized distillery vault. I had enough time to prance around their flower garden and snap pictures of these gorgeous blooms. So paid or unpaid? Online reservations are usually full so ...