More Funky Japanese stuff

When visiting Japan, if you have time to kill we highly recommend visiting a movie theater. Ironically, the best time to see a show is in the evening after 8pm when they go on discount. As many people in Japan live by way of the subway, most people make their way home by 11pm so that they don't miss the train.

The best part of the movies is these fabulous little popcorn and drink holders!

Popcorn also comes in two flavors, regular butter and carmel. You can either have it mixed or use a divider to separate the two. Unlike the U.S. popcorn and other snacks are of reasonable prices, and they often sell beer on draft! 

Best Parts of Christmas in Japan

A very popular part of Christmas (at least in Kyoto) is Christmas cake. Many of the hotels, bakeries, and small shops sell a variety of cakes. As you can see in the photos, they sort of look like what was once a traditional style cake (the two above being a yule log and cheesecake), but with their own Japanese twist. 

Christmas is also the Valentine's day of Japan, so it was common to see hearts and romance marketed through the seaon. 

A little service gift from the bakery. A petite, gingerbread cookie, complete with rock hard icing. 

The other equally tasty, best thing of Christmas in Kyoto was our amazing dinner with H-san. He brought an amazing bottle of 2002 Robert Mondavi wine (this is generally a no-no in restaurants, they do not usually allow outside wines, plan to offer to pay a corkage fee to get a yes)

 A small Italian restaurant in Nishiki market, Nishiki Matsumura was excellent and willing to adapt the menu to non-mammal eaters! They request a day or two notice, but happy to oblige. 

Toji Temple Market

 A few photos from our recent trip to the Toji Temple market. This once a month market is not to be missed by tourists! Many tourist goods are sold along side tasty Japanese stall food (like the mochi balls being made in the photo). There was a large asortment of bonsai, house plants, fabric for yukatas, and all kinds of other things. many websites warn you to go early, and they are right! We went around 10am and it was a mad house!

*The market is on the 21st of every month

This is the first time we have see pine nuts for sale at the markets. I'm sure they were not any more cost effective than in the U.S. 

We know what the fox says...Ohaiyo! Samui desu ne! 

Amidst the bustle of the market, temple men walk through the crowds, reminding everyone of why the market is happening. 

Training kids to love pachinko! These antique pachinko machines are for kids to play for prizes. 

bonsai for sale, some of which were in the $150+ range! 

Colorful spray painted succulents for holiday decorations

Funky Japanese Stuff

Not surprisingly Japan is full of weird stuff. Just like in the movies and on t.v., people here just like things to be a bit funky. A recent freebie that some of the green tea (ocha) companies have been giving away, are these bottle socks. Most Japanese people do not carry water bottles, so the sleeves are meant for your disposable bottle of tea. They came in small bottle and large bottle sizes. Here are a few shots of the small bottle series. 

*The water bottle is by Takeya and it is awesome! If you are in the market for a glass water bottle, we highly recommend these. 

Kyoto should be known for its weather!

Just a quick blog post about Kyoto's wacky weather. In the summer it was 100 degrees and 100% humidity, and now we have these weird threats of rain. Hopefully we don't end up with another full blown typhoon!

Photos booths in Japan

When you walk around shopping areas in Kyoto, you will see a lot of funny looking photos booths. In the states photos booths are really popular, but very different. In your home country, they may be the same as the states: just a booth with a small camera, and generally pretty dingy. Sometimes at events in the states (weddings, and such) there may be some props provided to hold or wear in your photo. Your photos may come out something like this:

In Japan, not surprisingly the photo booths do so much more than just take a photo. This weekend we had a miserable typhoon hit Kyoto, and we were stuck mainly indoors. The bowling alley we like to go to (next door to the Hub) has a couple photo booths. After minimal amounts of begging, Kev agreed to try a booth with me. We really didn't know what to expect as the outsides look like makeup advertisements. With images of too-much-makeup-wearing, cute girls posing for photos. The inside of the booth looks like a photographer's worse nightmare with a wall of gigantic lights, and a small video/touch screen.

Even if you don't speak any Japanese, you can fumble your way through the directions. When you start seeing numbers flash you know a photo is about to be taken. The screen will give you suggested poses as you take photos, let you pick a color theme, and give you a few other options. Almost every step is timed, so be prepared to think fast. When it asks for your name(s) in Katana, just let the time run out if you don't know Katana and it will move on.

After you take your photos, it will tell you to move out and to another screen. This is where the real magic happens. The booth has a second cubby where you can add all kinds of little graphics, words, and stamps to your photos. Each person gets their own screen, so you can tag team the photos. After adding to your photos, you can go to the print screen on the outside of the box, opt to get digital copies (which you may have to pay for...) and get the printed copies of your photos. Here are the shots from our recent photo booth experience:

Just in case it wasn't obvious, Kev has full length eyebrows, does not wear pink lipstick, and no his eyes are not naturally that large. Mine are naturally pretty big, but definitely not shaped like that. 

 You would never know these gems came out of a machine that looked like this: 

Tempura Yourself!

You have probably heard that Japan has a lot of unique restaurants. Although we have not done any of the really obscure places yet, a fun lunch or dinner outing can be had at one of the many do-it-yourself Tempura restaurants. The one we tried was in Yodobashi on the top floor. If you are from the states you will likely be floored by this dining experience. You are actually sitting at a table with a mini-deep fryer built into your table (hoping to god not to have an earthquake!). 

These restaurants are generally all you can eat, so be prepared to leave quite full.