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Boulangerie Etretat in Yamazaki - A call for us to wake up and do what is right

Mana Itoh and her husband Tomohiro Furuta have a wonderful pastry shop a stones throw from the Yamazaki train station, a short trip from downtown Kyoto. We were at the Yamazaki train station for a very different reason. We had eaten a hearty and amazing breakfast. Sated our sweet tooths with wonderful (brilliant really) French toast prepared by Shaun Keenan at Hyatt Regency Kyoto. And still, the discovery of Etretat and the treats within, made us hungry, happy and sad, all at once.

Dotonbori Marketplace in Osaka - Time Square it is not, but to some in Japan, it is that...

Lee Anne Wong loves to eat and drink. And she enjoys that pastime as much as the best I have known indulging that passion. As we were planning our trip, and ever since our landing in Japan, she had been mentioning Dotonbori and how it would charm us instantly. Above, you see Lee Anne all smiles, as she convinces us to spend a few hours tonight with her in Dotonbori, as she brings her trip to Japan to a close.

A home for retired priests, for plum bonsais, and a garden of peace

As we arrived at Kyu-chikurin-in (home for retired Buddhist priests) in Otsu in the hills, we were greeted by an amazing garden, gentle rain, and wonderful blossoms. The above photo is of plum blossoms being thrust down with raindrops, inducing me to cry inside, and drop my own tears. Tears that are dropped in awe of Japan. A country that ceases to never stop amazing us as we travel through it.

A lunch I could eat often and never tire of the enjoyment

Suezawa Yoshikatsu (outside) and Suezawa Toshiko (inside) big us goodbye after we are lavished to one of the most beautifully simple meals ever. A lunch of mixed Okonomiyaki (mixed with oysters, clams, shrimp, octopus, squid and bacon), Tompeiyaki (pork), Nikupeiyaki (beef) and Yakimeshi (fried rice). Of course brought to an end with beautifully big and red strawberries. The restaurant is called Okonomiyaki Hikari.

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