Honey Butter Chips and Christmas!

Posted on by Jamie Liew

if you follow Korean news or some idols, or live in Korea, I bet you know about this recent craze over this bag of 1500won chips called the honey butter chips. how did it started becoming so famous? well I’m not sure. but one thing I’m sure of is that Calbee is doing a good job in persuading everyone to long for it by making it a sacred item at the moment.

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but is this bag of chips really something new? well no it isn’t! guess what? it was on the Japanese shelves in 2012 as a limited edition item. it somehow got to Korea and that craze over it started. I have a feeling that it is just another marketing scheme made by the Koreans but yeah, it is successful every single time. they started selling these bags of glorious chips once again in Japan and I heard it will be on shelves only until.. March. so if you’re in Japan (these chips are just sitting there on the shelves. not very popular really. the Koreans are the ones buying most of them I guess haha.) you might want to try some and see what’s all that craze about. since getting it in Korea is nearly impossible for foreigners like us. Continue reading “Honey Butter Chips and Christmas!” →

[Osaka: Tenjinbashi] Owl Cafe

Posted on by Jamie Liew

if you’re a bird person then you should have heard about how Japan’s taken over by these owl cafes. not only is owning an owl (very very expensive pet) becoming a trend, stores don’t just sell owls anymore but they are earning by letting you pet very softly on their owls and shower them with human love!

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there are quite a number of these owl cafe’s but I decided to go to the one with the MOST owls! although it’s located literally at nowhere, we were practically their last customer of their day. since it was raining cats and dogs that day, it wasn’t so full. I’ve read reviews how you have to come here and put yourself on a list (they don’t accept over the phone bookings) a few hours before you actually get a place since they limit like.. 6 or 8(?) couples of 2 in only. Continue reading “[Osaka: Tenjinbashi] Owl Cafe” →

[Kyoto: Hanamidori] The Famous Kinana Ice Cream, Gion

Posted on by Jamie Liew

Gion is perhaps my favourite place in Kyoto and I would only like to complain that there’s too much to see. there are not just a lot of places to visit but also a whole lot of places to eat at! other than my Jouvencelle, I visited the famous Kinana which were reviewed by many Korean bloggers. I have a friend whom had passed me their card and tell me that I must go there when I go back to Kyoto.

it’s some health ice cream I heard.

so how to get there?

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first, get to Hanami-koji! literally mean place to see flowers. I guess it’s a metaphor for a place to see Geishas hahaha. Continue reading “[Kyoto: Hanamidori] The Famous Kinana Ice Cream, Gion” →

[Osaka: Shinsekai] Kushikatsu Daruma, an Osakan specialty.

Posted on by Jamie Liew

there are a lot to eat in Osaka, and I wouldn’t lie about it. but other than the normal Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki which could easily be found worldwide, let me introduce you to Kushi-katsu, a stick of almost anything deep fried. and it is not easy to find anywhere outside of Japan.

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Kushikatsu can be found in many places in Japan but the famous (with chain restaurants!) one is kushikatsu Daruma. it is easy to spot. just look for an angry looking cartoon character outside the store! Continue reading “[Osaka: Shinsekai] Kushikatsu Daruma, an Osakan specialty.” →

[Kyoto: Gion] Jouvencelle, a one of a kind cafe.

Posted on by Jamie Liew

after reading about this amazing cafe on kyotofoodie where he said is his favourite cafe, I told myself that I HAVE to come here one day despite how expensive it looks. Jouvencelle, which I believe means young (girl) is a cafe located at Gion, it isn’t located at the brightest place but because it is next to Yakasa Jinja, it makes it a little bit more easier to find.

Directions : basically, just get into Yasaka Jinja (or Yasaka Shrine) and head right and look for an exit on the right side. upon exit, walk straight and you’ll see Jouvencelle.

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Jouvencelle is located on the second floor to this pottery/porcelain shop. see that green cloth? that’s the entrance to Jouvencelle. Continue reading “[Kyoto: Gion] Jouvencelle, a one of a kind cafe.” →

[Osaka] Dotonbori

Posted on by Jamie Liew

what’s coming to Osaka without visiting Dotonbori? since where I was living was pretty near, Dotonbori’s now my favourite spot despite the crazy amount of tourists and sky-high food prices. but I am sure those of you on budget are smart enough to dodge the tourist traps and hunt down for the cheaper ones.

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the famous street of Dotonbori. with the huge crab. there’s two huge crabs by the way. this one’s just more central and and attractive. there’s also a humungous REAL crab inside which is the hugest king crab I’ve ever seen in my life. just pop inside and take a picture. I had a picture with it but my face was awful so.. Continue reading “[Osaka] Dotonbori” →

[Kyoto] Popular Japanese Cafe in Gion Shijo

Posted on by Jamie Liew

you’ve got to admit that the cafe is a popular one when locals tell you they are and when the whole cafe is packed with local Japanese people waiting in line to get seated.

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this cafe is located on the left row of shops beside the Shijo Dori road towards Yasaka Jinja Shrine. Continue reading “[Kyoto] Popular Japanese Cafe in Gion Shijo” →

[Kyoto] Ryoanji, the Zen temple near Kinkakuji

Posted on by Jamie Liew

just a short bus ride away from the famous Kinkakuji is the most famous zen temple, Ryoanji. Also listed as one of the UNESCO wolrd heritage sites, this was put on my list when I first went to Kyoto.

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the whole area is very calm to begin with. despite having a lot of tourists (mostly from visiting Kinkakuji), the beauty of the area did not subside. Continue reading “[Kyoto] Ryoanji, the Zen temple near Kinkakuji” →

[Kyoto] Kinkakuji, The Golden Pavilion

Posted on by Jamie Liew

there are so much I’ve heard about this place. while most say it’s spectacular some commented that it’s far too over-rated. but being already here in Kyoto, I had to check it out right?

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Kinkakuji was one of the first tourist attraction I’ve visited in Kyoto and I was already taken aback by the beautiful landscape outside the attraction. the green moss (?) grew so beautifully I thought a magically deer was going to pop out of somewhere. Continue reading “[Kyoto] Kinkakuji, The Golden Pavilion” →