Tag Archives: japan
Online Ninja Experience at Odawara Castle, Japan
What’s that lurking in the shadows? It’s Odawara Castle’s enigmatic ninjas ready to reveal their secrets to you in a new online tour. A couple of weekends ago, I attended an online virtual tour of the Ninja Hall at Odawara … Continue reading
The Story of the World’s Best Beef: How Kobe Conquered the Globe (City AM)
Wedged between the Rokko mountain range and Osaka Bay, Kobe is the sixth largest city in Japan with more than a million and a half people. Its namesake beef doesn’t come from the city itself but from the surrounding farmland of Hyogo Prefecture where Kobe is the capital and the key port. Continue reading
What to Eat and Drink in Hiroshima, Japan (Great British Chefs)
Wrapping up my time in Kobe, I hopped onto the Shinkansen (bullet train) en route to the other city on my Japanese agenda: Hiroshima. Here I divided my time between the city centre and Miyajima, a small island a few miles offshore … Continue reading
What to Eat in Kobe, Japan (Great British Chefs)
A week in Japan’s western inland sea region of Setouchi was a tasty tour of highly anticipated indulgences and unexpectedly delicious surprises. My days were split between two cities, Kobe and Hiroshima, with short trips to their outskirts and nearby countryside. To say I ate well would be an understatement. Continue reading
Best Hotels of 2018
Next up in my Best of 2018 series is a short list of hotels that impressed me most. I took rooms in lots of hotels over the course of 2018. Most were perfectly fine, and I would be cool with … Continue reading
Kobe Beef | #TCTalks Episode 50
Episode 50 of tikichris Talks features an interview I conducted in while in Kobe, Japan with Mr Tetsunori Tanimoto. Mr Tanimoto is Head of Kobe Beef Association and President of Livestock Division for Hyogo Prefectural Headquarters National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative. During our conversation, he dispelled a few myths about Kobe beef while explaining what sets it apart from other products and how to know if you’re getting the real thing. Continue reading
Kobe Beef | #TCTalks Episode 50
Episode 50 of tikichris Talks features an interview I conducted in while in Kobe, Japan with Mr Tetsunori Tanimoto. Mr Tanimoto is Head of Kobe Beef Association and President of Livestock Division for Hyogo Prefectural Headquarters National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative. During our conversation, he dispelled a few myths about Kobe beef while explaining what sets it apart from other products and how to know if you’re getting the real thing. Continue reading
Wine of the Month: Soryu Koshu 2010
Japanese wine … yes, by “wine” as in fermented grape juice. Who knew? Not me until very recently when I attended the fourth annual Koshu of Japan UK Trade and Press Tasting late last month at the Westbury Hotel. Continue reading
Photo Story: Tsukiji Market, Tokyo (Urban Travel Blog)
With 23,000 square metres chocked full of wholesalers peddling more than 400 species of edible marine life, Tsukiji is not only the busiest market in Tokyo but the biggest fish and seafood market in the world. Sightseers are certainly welcome, but catering to tourism seems to be the last concern for folks working here. Don’t wear your favourite open-toed shoes. And, unless your Japanese language skills are impeccable, strongly consider going with a guide. Continue reading
The Perfect Kyoto Souvenir: A Tenugui from Eirakuya (OneTravel)
A bit kitsch, but tenugui are gorgeous items for the kitchen and provide nice reminders of that special trip to Japan. They’re light weight and can be packed with ease. Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Visit Kyoto’s Amazing Food Market: Nishiki (OneTravel)
Known as Kyoto‘s kitchen, people have been buying and selling food and food related items in Kyoto’s Nishiki Market since the 1300s. A stroll through this mile long, covered food market is a must for gourmets, history buffs or anybody who … Continue reading
Visit the Mountain Resort of Hakone, Japan (OneTravel)
Whether as a destination to be thoroughly explored over a few weeks or one to consider for a relaxing weekender or quickie day trip from Toyko, Hakone represents an accessible opportunity to see another side of Japanese culture beyond the … Continue reading
Best Restaurants of 2012 – Everywhere Else
Yesterday I published my list of ten best London restaurants for 2012. Today, I’m sharing a list of some faves from trips beyond the M25. I didn’t get out of town as much as I would have liked during 2012. … Continue reading
Visit Kappabashi, Tokyo’s Kitchen Town (OneTravel)
You know those incredibly realistic plastic samples of menu items that you see in the windows of Japanese restaurants and other types of east Asian eateries? Well, there’s a street in Tokyo where the shops specialise in selling those plastic … Continue reading
Visit Tokyo’s Oldest Buddhist Temple: Senso-ji (OneTravel)
Senso-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple. Located in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, it is the oldest and arguably most important temple in the city. With more than 30 millions visitors a year, Senso-ji is also one of Japan’s top … Continue reading
Hamarikyu Gardens: A Green (Tea) Oasis Amid the Bustle of Modern Tokyo (OneTravel)
Hamarikyu Gardens is bucolic swath of ancient parkland and ponds on the site of the 17th century villa of the Tokyo’s first Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Surrounded by Tokyo’s towering modern skyline, a wander round the gardens offers a relaxing opportunity … Continue reading
#Soupsearch Continues … in Leeds
I spent yesterday with Ainsley Harriot and crew up in Leeds at the Symington’s factory (where Ainsley Harriott Foods products are produced and packaged). We chatted about my #soupsearch adventures, trial-and-error-ed our way through all sorts of concoctions based on … Continue reading
Foodie Fun in Japan (Great British Chefs)
During my visit, I hit bright and buzzy Tokyo, the mountain resort town of Hakone and the ancient capital city of Kyoto. Everything I tasted along the way was gorgeous. Indeed, I got the impression that it’s actually pretty difficult … Continue reading
Shinbashi: Blade Runner Lights and Yakitori Delights (OneTravel)
Even though the air is thick with super modernity and elements of cutting edge urban living abound with backlit signage and advertisements for everything everywhere and trains zipping past overhead, there was still something age-old and village-y about the place. … Continue reading
Tokyo’s Tsukiji: The World’s Largest Fish and Seafood Market (OneTravel)
With 23,000 square metres chocked full of wholesalers peddling more than 400 species of edible marine life, Tsukiji is not only the busiest market in Tokyo but the biggest fish and seafood market in the world. From fresh-off-the-boat tuna to freshly made … Continue reading
Visiting and Staying in Tokyo’s Shiny Shiodome (OneTravel)
Set on the edge of Tokyo Bay and located near the narrow noodle-shopped lanes of Shinbashi, fashionable and upscale Ginza, ancient and green Hamarikyu Gardens and the super bustling Tsukiji fish market, the central Tokyo neighborhood of Shiodome provides an … Continue reading
Japanese #SoupSearch: The Adventure Continues
I spent last week exploring Japan in search of the next great flavour for Ainsley Harriott’s World Kitchen range of soups. Now back in London, the next step of my #SoupSearch Challenge is to meet up with Ainsley and crew … Continue reading
Japanese #SoupSearch Day Four: Kyoto
I spent last week exploring Japan in search of the next great flavour for Ainsley Harriott’s World Kitchen range of soups. What a fantastic opportunity! Japan has been one of my dream destinations ever since I was a kid learning the importance … Continue reading
Japanese #SoupSearch Day Three: Hakone
I spent last week exploring Japan in search of the next great flavour for Ainsley Harriott’s World Kitchen range of soups. I had so much fun! Japan has been one of my dream destinations ever since I was a little kid rushing … Continue reading
Japanese #SoupSearch Day Two: Exploring Tokyo
I spent last week exploring Japan in search of the next great flavour for Ainsley Harriott’s World Kitchen range of soups. I had so much fun! Japan has been one of my dream destinations ever since I was a little … Continue reading
Halloween in Japan
So yep, I was in Japan last week on an Ainsley Harriott #SoupSearch. There’s a lot of content about it here on the blog. This post is just a little supplement to that soupy series and is about something else … Continue reading
Japanese #SoupSearch Day One: Tokyo!
I spent last week exploring Japan in search of the next great flavour for Ainsley Harriott’s World Kitchen range of soups. I had so much fun. For me, Japan has been a dream destination since I was a little kid watching episodes … Continue reading
My Japanese #SoupSearch for Ainsley Begins!
Yep, I’m all packed and ready to go, just sitting here waiting for a car to take me to the airport. The next several days are going to be awesome as I zip around Japan (Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto to … Continue reading
I’m Going on a Japanese #SoupSearch. Slurp!
Guess what? I frickin’ won that trip to Japan. Obviously, I wouldn’t have won without help from good people like you. So, if you voted for me or even took a moment to consider it and wish me well, thank you. … Continue reading
One Last #SoupSearch Request. Am I Going to Japan?
Looks like I still have a decent lead in Ainsley Harriott’s #SoupSearch Challenge. But my margin’s eroding bit by bit each day. The contest ends tomorrow, September 25th, at 11.59pm … which seems like an excruciatingly long time away for … Continue reading
Going Offline for Awhile but Thanks for the #SoupSearch Surge!
Just a very quick word of thanks to everyone who’s been voting for me in Ainsley Harriott’s #SoupSearch Challenge. I have a definite lead over the competition with 33% of the vote at the moment (not bad considering there are … Continue reading
Woke up Last, Went to Bed First! Thank You So Much! #SoupSearch
Thanks to everyone who’s voted for me thusfar in Ainsley Harriott’s #SoupSearch Challenge. I started yesterday morning in a distant fifth place (out of five contestants), and I now have a slight lead over the competition. But there’s still quite … Continue reading