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Welcome to Bradcat's Baka Blog (ブラッド猫のバカブログ), where I will keep you up to date on the wonderful happenings from Japan.
Sunday 18 May 2014
Friday 16 May 2014
Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week...Setsu
Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week (今週の言葉) is "setsu" (せつ) (節) which means "Save" or "Economise". This links with my previous blog post about the word mottainai (もったいない)
It can be combined with the word "yaku" (やく) which means approximate, or roughly.
Therefore "setsuyaku" (せつやく) (節約) is a way of describing cutting corners, or to economise.
It can be combined with the word "yaku" (やく) which means approximate, or roughly.
Therefore "setsuyaku" (せつやく) (節約) is a way of describing cutting corners, or to economise.
Sunday 4 May 2014
Bradcat's Personal Focus... Getting Around Japan - Places
I think it's safe to say, that any topic I post about visiting Japan will be heavily biased, because I'd like you to see it all. However, with such a big place, and the average holiday only lasting two weeks, I'm here to share some of the best places I visited during my time in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. This way, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Japan, you know these places are the best of the bunch (That I visited at least)
Fuji Ramen is located in Kyoto on Gojo Dori. It's a fairly small shop so it's easily missed, however that doesn't mean it's not popular. Depending on the time of day, it'll be either very quiet, or at capacity. It's fantastic value for money because the chef is very generous with the portions. Speaking of which, the owners were very friendly and welcoming to gaijin (we were complimented on our Japanese speaking a few times)
I foolishly had eyes bigger than my stomach and ordered a large pork ramen and chicken karaage, which I couldn't finish. It was easily one of the biggest meals I ate while in Japan! If you're in Kyoto, be sure to visit this place.
ラーメン藤 (Fuji Ramen)
15-1 Gojobashihigashi 2-chome
Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0846
Website: Fuji Ramen
The award for the tastiest meal I ate in Japan, goes to Chitose restaurant in Osaka. The chef here serves some world class Okonomiyaki, as many Japanese celebrities have visited here over the years and signed his wall leaving messages of praise.
For those who are unfamiliar with Okonomiyaki, try to imagine all your favourite meat, and noodles, sandwiched between two giant omelettes, and topped with delicious sauces and seasoning. Also, leave those chopsticks at home, true Okonomiyaki is eaten straight from the hotplate using a small spatular and shovelled straight into your mouth.
I'm unsure if it's just my Western expectation of portion sizes, but the chefs in Japan seem to be very generous for what you pay. This incredible meal set me back ¥750 which is roughly £4, and I'm not even exaggerating when I say it was one of the best meals I ate. Bob will back me up on this one, as he isn't a fan of food with eggs, but he adored this meal.
The chef was very welcoming and spoke English very well, which is a sign he is accustomed to gaijins visiting him on a regular basis. The restaurant also has it's regulars who will happily sit next to you and drink a beer. We encountered an elderly lady during our visit who announced herself as "Grandma" or "Obaasan" (お婆さん) and gave us some sweets, explaining that Grandmothers in Japan ALWAYS carry sweets.
The atmosphere was fantastic, using my broken Japanese I was able to ask if April was a busy time of year for him, with Sakura in full blossom and many people coming to see it. He laughed and said "Every time is busy for me!"
You may have a hard time finding this restaurant as it's tucked down a few side alleys, however if you're in Osaka, please take the time to find it!
ちとせ (Chitose)
Osaka City Nishinari Taishi 1-11-10
Website: Chitose
We had an awesome time in Osaka during the evening, many bars are open quite late including this gem which our friend Hana took us to; "Cherry Bomb". It's an American themed bar located on the fifth floor of a building just off of Europa Dori. It's fairly small, it's cozy, and most importantly, it's awesome. Jesse and Monica, who are from California, set up this bar a few years ago, and it's been going from strength to strength since with events like "Taco Tuesday" and "Fryday Fry Up" attracting lots of customers from around the world.
Because of it's warm and friendly atmosphere, you'll likely find yourself talking to a total stranger as though they're your best friend. It's like something ripped straight from the sitcom "Cheers". You'll find a mash of cultures in this bar, with Japanese people who want a taste of the American style bar, while at the same time, some Americans go here to feel at home. It's a culture swap paradise, so there's always someone to talk to.
It might seem odd to some people to visit an American style bar when visiting Japan, however sometimes you just need a few hours break from the chaos of Osaka. The guys behind the bar are always asking if you'd like more drinks, so your glass is never empty. Because this bar is cash only, they will let you set up a tab and just pay at the end of your evening... providing you can still stand after all those White Russians...
Rock Bar Cherry Bomb
Chuo Ku Higashishinsaibashi 2-4-8 5f
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0083
Facebook: Rock Bar Cherry Bomb
Places
Khaosan Tokyo Ninja - Tokyo
Myself and Bob with the crazy staff of Tokyo Ninja
Khaosan Tokyo Ninja was by far, the best hostel we stayed in during our three weeks. They were incredibly helpful when our plans changed last minute when we needed to change a date of check out. While most hostels (and even some hotels) would find this a pain to arrange, these guys made sure we were looked after.
As you walk into the hostel you have to remove your shoes (as with all homes in Japan) and announce "TADAIMA!" (ただいま) (Not if it's after 10pm though, as some people may be sleeping!) to which at least one member of staff will shout back "OKAERI!" (おかえり) The main desk is almost always manned except for early hours of the morning, so if you encounter any problems or need to request to borrow something (e.g. a towel, or washing powder) there is always someone there to help. There is also a suite of PCs that can be used at any time.
A spotless shared bathroom, four sinks and three showers
The entire hostel is exceptionally clean, as they offer an exchange of accommodation for cleaning. So they always have a team of five to six people on hand, to help tidy the place, which is great with the volume of travellers they have staying with them on a daily basis.
You can rent a number of items from reception, from the basics such as a towel, to the more advanced personal Wi-Fi hotspot, which is handy if you're trying to navigate around Tokyo. The hostel is located just three minutes away from the JR Sobu line, so you'll find yourself being able to access most of the big areas of Tokyo with ease.
The main team of Mi-ne, Erina, Hiroko, Rico, and Yutaka are genuinely interested in hearing about your exploits while in Japan. Each morning we were asked what we were doing that day, and on our return we'd bring them a small omiyage to which they were incredibly grateful. They showed us fantastic hospitality (Omotenashi) (おもてなし) for which we were insistent on returning the favour if any of them ever visit England (Which Yutaka will be in August, so let's make him feel welcome!)
KHAOSAN TOKYO NINJA
2-5-1 Nihombashi Bakurocho,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Website: Khaosan Tokyo Ninja
Fuji Ramen - ラーメン藤 - Kyoto
Fuji Ramen is located in Kyoto on Gojo Dori. It's a fairly small shop so it's easily missed, however that doesn't mean it's not popular. Depending on the time of day, it'll be either very quiet, or at capacity. It's fantastic value for money because the chef is very generous with the portions. Speaking of which, the owners were very friendly and welcoming to gaijin (we were complimented on our Japanese speaking a few times)
I foolishly had eyes bigger than my stomach and ordered a large pork ramen and chicken karaage, which I couldn't finish. It was easily one of the biggest meals I ate while in Japan! If you're in Kyoto, be sure to visit this place.
ラーメン藤 (Fuji Ramen)
15-1 Gojobashihigashi 2-chome
Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0846
Website: Fuji Ramen
Chitose - ちとせ - Osaka
The award for the tastiest meal I ate in Japan, goes to Chitose restaurant in Osaka. The chef here serves some world class Okonomiyaki, as many Japanese celebrities have visited here over the years and signed his wall leaving messages of praise.
For those who are unfamiliar with Okonomiyaki, try to imagine all your favourite meat, and noodles, sandwiched between two giant omelettes, and topped with delicious sauces and seasoning. Also, leave those chopsticks at home, true Okonomiyaki is eaten straight from the hotplate using a small spatular and shovelled straight into your mouth.
Adding the seasoning...
Myself with the number one Osaka Okonomiyaki chef (spatular in hand of course)
I'm unsure if it's just my Western expectation of portion sizes, but the chefs in Japan seem to be very generous for what you pay. This incredible meal set me back ¥750 which is roughly £4, and I'm not even exaggerating when I say it was one of the best meals I ate. Bob will back me up on this one, as he isn't a fan of food with eggs, but he adored this meal.
The chef was very welcoming and spoke English very well, which is a sign he is accustomed to gaijins visiting him on a regular basis. The restaurant also has it's regulars who will happily sit next to you and drink a beer. We encountered an elderly lady during our visit who announced herself as "Grandma" or "Obaasan" (お婆さん) and gave us some sweets, explaining that Grandmothers in Japan ALWAYS carry sweets.
The atmosphere was fantastic, using my broken Japanese I was able to ask if April was a busy time of year for him, with Sakura in full blossom and many people coming to see it. He laughed and said "Every time is busy for me!"
You may have a hard time finding this restaurant as it's tucked down a few side alleys, however if you're in Osaka, please take the time to find it!
ちとせ (Chitose)
Osaka City Nishinari Taishi 1-11-10
Website: Chitose
Rock Bar Cherry Bomb - Osaka
We had an awesome time in Osaka during the evening, many bars are open quite late including this gem which our friend Hana took us to; "Cherry Bomb". It's an American themed bar located on the fifth floor of a building just off of Europa Dori. It's fairly small, it's cozy, and most importantly, it's awesome. Jesse and Monica, who are from California, set up this bar a few years ago, and it's been going from strength to strength since with events like "Taco Tuesday" and "Fryday Fry Up" attracting lots of customers from around the world.
Because of it's warm and friendly atmosphere, you'll likely find yourself talking to a total stranger as though they're your best friend. It's like something ripped straight from the sitcom "Cheers". You'll find a mash of cultures in this bar, with Japanese people who want a taste of the American style bar, while at the same time, some Americans go here to feel at home. It's a culture swap paradise, so there's always someone to talk to.
Jesse and Monica
It might seem odd to some people to visit an American style bar when visiting Japan, however sometimes you just need a few hours break from the chaos of Osaka. The guys behind the bar are always asking if you'd like more drinks, so your glass is never empty. Because this bar is cash only, they will let you set up a tab and just pay at the end of your evening... providing you can still stand after all those White Russians...
Rock Bar Cherry Bomb
Chuo Ku Higashishinsaibashi 2-4-8 5f
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0083
Facebook: Rock Bar Cherry Bomb
King Emon - きんぐえもん (金久右衛門 阿倍野ルシアス店)
We visited this ramen shop twice during our stay in Osaka, both times we received a friendly welcome and excellent service. This is actually a part of a small chain of restaurants dotted around Osaka. Like most ramen restaurants you order your type of noodle, broth, and meat, however from there, you can pay a little extra for your extras. I opted for more pork, and the serving was quite substantial, not to mention delicious. The pork was very soft, so you could easily separate the larger pieces with your chopsticks with ease.
The member of staff on "pot wash" was sporting a Steins;Gate t-shirt!
The staff speak a little bit of English, and also understand my terrible Japanese, so you shouldn't have a problem communicating. We caught the attention of the one member of staff when we mentioned popular anime Steins;Gate (click for my blog post on this anime) and I flashed my personalised business card featuring the logo from the opening credits.
The restaurant is fairly small, but not cramped, though during busy times, don't be surprised if you can't sit next to your friend. Due to where we sat (right in the middle of the bench) a small group of high school boys played a game of janken (じゃん拳) to determine who would sit next to their friends and who would sit next to the gaijins due to the lack of seats, quite amusing.
Look at that bowl of golden deliciousness
The food is really good value for money too, with two big bowls of ramen with extra pork setting us back only ¥1,800 which is roughly £10. As I already mentioned, the pork is delicious, and the broth is nice enough to drink at the end without being too sickly.
1-5-1 Abenosuji, Abeno Ward,
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 545-0052
Website: King Emon
So there you have it, just a small selection of my favourite places I visited during my three week stay in Japan. If you've visited Japan and would like to share your favourite place, please leave a comment below. Have you visited one of these places? If so, please share your experience!
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