I write something on my blog to improve my English skill.
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My husband and I traveled Japan during this New Year's holidays. As I mentioned in my previous entry, we flew to Tokyo from Los Angeles and finally arrived at Tokyo International Airport, Haneda Airport, in the early morning on December 28.
Bic Camera in Haneda Airport International Terminal
When we lived in Osaka, we sometimes went to Bic Camera Namba store, which was pretty huge. This store located in Haneda Airport was very small, but I was impressed that they had many small appliances including Healsio Gurie (Even though this store was small, there were all three colors of Healsio Gurie we could choose from!) and popular Panasonic Nano Care Hair Dryer. In addition, they carried many Japanese beauty items with pretty reasonable prices.
Quick Tax Free Service and 5% Off with Foreign Credit Card
Now, in Japan, some stores especially ones located in Tokyo offer Tax
Free Service. You need to show your passport with a valid entry stamp
at the store where you want to apply for a tax refund.
At this store, they offered Quick Tax Free service (8% off) and
an additional 5% off with paying with credit card issued in foreign
countries or bitcoin. Yes, Bic Camera allows payments in bitcoin at all
locations! We didn't pay it with bitcoin though. ;) Their Quick Tax Free service was really quick. Because we went there in the early morning, there was no waiting line. :) It took us only a few minutes or so to complete our purchase. Just show your passport, and they attach the receipt to your passport. That's it! You can check Japan's tax exemption program from here.
Healsio Gurie AXH1
is originally 32,500 yen, but it was on sale for 20,180 yen because Sharp
just released its newer model, Healsio Gurie AXH2, so AXH1 was on sale
there! ;) We purchased it for 19,171 yen with an additional 5% discount with our credit card payment.
It ended up being $170.45!
Did you know why it's the best time to travel
Japan? It's because the price of yen currency has been pretty low these years.
(While one US dollar is 108 Japanese yen today, it was 76 Japanese yen in 2011!)
When we traveled Japan, one US dollar was 112 yen, so I felt like
everything in Japan was bargain during our travel! Be sure to pay with a
credit card with no foreign transaction fee when you purchase something
abroad. You can check out my previous entry, What You Should Take to Japan - Japan Travel Tips, about it.
Japanese Electronics Are the Best!
I sometimes miss Japanese electronics so much such as a refrigerator and washer we used to use in Japan. A Japanese washer is incredibly quiet and works for so many years (It might work for as long as forever seriously.). However, we cannot bring heavily large appliances from Japan. Yet, we can still purchase small appliances in Japan and enjoy them in the U.S. ;) Next time, I want to get a high-end Japanese rice cooker in Japan!
Anyway, we enjoy using Healsio Gurie at home now! It was one of our best purchases in Japan. I'll write about our Healsio Gurie in my future entries. :)
As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I traveled Japan during this New Year's holidays. Because I love Muji products so much, Muji store is one of my must go to places in Japan. This time, I visited Muji Yurakucho (無印良品 有楽町), which is the Muji flagship store and the largest Muji store in Japan. You can check out my previous entry, Muji Yurakucho in Tokyo Japan - The Largest Muji Store!, for information about this store. Today, I'm going to share 13 Muji products I purchased in Japan with you. By the way, Muji has more than 480 branches in Japan now. You can find these Muji products very easily at most Muji branches in Japan. :)
When I visit Japan, I always purchase Muji Sensitive Skin Care Series Light Toning Water, which has been my favorite keshosui for many years, and it's their best selling skincare product indeed. Last month, my husband also started using Muji keshosui, so I purchased three bottles of Muji Light Toning Water for him and me this time. :) I found Japanese news related to men's skincare this year, and it read that 40% of Japanese men in their 20s and 30s use keshosui now!
I purchased this Muji Spray Head for Keshosui for my first time. I really really love this product! With using this spray head, it's easier to apply keshosui on your skin. Indeed, my husband told me that this was the best Muji product we've ever purchased in Japan. ;) This spray head can be used for Muji Light Toning Water Light (さっぱりタイプ) and Moisture (しっとりタイプ). You cannot use it for thicker texture keshosui such as Muji Light Toning Water High Moisture one (高保湿タイプ).
This spray head is perfect for their 400ml bottle of Light Toning Water. If you want to use it for Muji Light Toning Water 200ml bottle, you can cut the tube to 11cm long. Some people review that it's also perfect for 500ml bottle of Hatomugi Skin Conditioner.
Muji Paper Powder is kami oshiroi (紙おしろい), type of aburatorigami (あぶらとり紙), oil blotting paper. Oshiroi (おしろい) means makeup powders in Japanese, but this term is
probably only used for abratorigami now. Japanese abratorigami has two
types, abratorigami and kami oshiroi (紙おしろい). Regular one, which is
called abratorigami, is non powder. Abratorigami with loose powder is
called kami oshiroi.
As I mentioned in my previous entry, 3 Best Japanese Oil Blotting Papers, Aburatorigami, many Japanese cosmetic companies including Shiseido are selling kami
oshiroi, but Muji one is affordable and more popular in
Japan.
As I mentioned in my previous entry, Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products, I always keep oil blotting papers in my on-the-go makeup bag. I have purchased their regular abratorigami many times in Japan, but this was my first time to purchase their kami oshiroi. :) Actually, I really like it. It absorbs oil and leave a little powder on my face. I don't have to carry your setting powder around anymore. ;)
This is instant matcha latte powder. Its matcha was produced in Kyoto, Japan. Just put 3 teaspoons of this instant matcha latte powder and 120ml (4 fl oz) of hot water in a cup, and stir them thoroughly. You can add more powder according to your taste. I put milk instead of hot water. If you love matcha, you probably love this one. :)
This is instant hojicha latte powder. Hojicha (ほうじ茶)
is Japanese roasted green tea. Hojicha looks similar to black tea,
but it's more flavorful and savory. The taste of hojicha is not close to
black tea nor regular green tea. If you are a tea lover and have never tried hojicha
before, you should try it. I think everyone likes it. These years, hojicha latte has been popular in Japan. Indeed, Starbucks also serves hojicha latte in Japan. Last night, I finally tried this Muji hojicha latte for my first time. Just put 3 teaspoons of this instant hojicha latte powder and 140ml (5 fl oz) of hot water in a cup, and stir them thoroughly. You can add more powder according to your taste. Its hojicha aroma was so good! If you love hojicha, you should try it. :)
6. Muji Drip Coffee Original Blend (無印良品 ドリップコーヒー オリジナルブレンド)
390yen for 10 servings (7g x 10)
Muji Drip Coffee Original Blend
This Muji Drip Coffee Original Blend has 10 bags of fresh coffee. It's very affordable. One cup of coffee only costs 39 yen! Drip coffee bags have been common in Japan. It's not
instant coffee. Each bag has fresh ground coffee and a holder. You can
brew perfect coffee wherever if you have hot water and a cup, so these
were cleverly made to make perfect brewed coffee very easily.
Muji Drip Coffee Original Blend
I enjoyed this Muji coffee at home. It was pretty good. I would like to purchase one again when I visit Muji store in Japan next time. :)
Muji Drip Coffee Original Blend
If you are interested in Japanese drip coffee bag, you can check out my previous entry.
These are Muji Japanese Plum Crackers, which have been my favorite Muji snacks since I was a young girl. :) When I go to Muji store, I always buy one. These crackers are slightly sour and salty and have plum (ume, 梅) tastes. I don't know if you like these crackers. These might taste too Japanese to you. However, one bag of Muji Japanese Plum Cracker only costs 100 yen, so why don't you try it? ;)
Muji Mini Ramen Soy Sauce is also one of my favorite Muji snacks. You can make instant ramen noodles with it, but I like to directly eat it as snacks (no cooking). If you love Baby Star Ramen Sanck, you might like it. Muji has four kinds of Mini Ramen (Soy Sauce, Kimuchi, Chicken and Tom Yum Goong), and I always love their soy sauce flavor. It's actually browned soy sauce flavor (こがし醤油).
I love their chocolate coated strawberry series. They are dried strawberries coated with chocolate. Dried strawberries are sour and crunchy, and chocolate has just
the right sweetness (It's not too sweet!) I've tried white chocolate one before. This time, I tried matcha chocolate one and strawberry chocolate one. :) . If you find these chocolate
at Muji store in Japan, you should try them. :)
I purchased Muji Baumkuchen Matcha, which has many positive reviews in Japan. I haven't eaten it yet, but I think you might like it if you like matcha flavored confectionery.
I love Muji chopsticks which made of natural bamboo. I've purchased it so many times since I lived in Japan. Just keep in mind that you cannot wash these chopsticks with a dishwasher.
If you are planning on shopping at Muji store in Japan, I also recommend you to try their retort curry. According to Muji, the most popular selling item in 7000 kinds of Muji products is Muji Butter Chicken Curry. This time, I didn't purchase any Muji curry because I purchased some retort curry pouches at another store in Japan. I'll write about it next time. ;)
My husband and I traveled Japan during New Year's holidays. I'll write about our Japan travel on my blog sometimes. :)
We decided to purchase airplane tickets four months in advance (It was in August!). We booked ANA, All Nippon Airways, flights this time. The reasons why we visited Japan were to have a complete medical checkup, to enjoy traveling Tokyo and to see our families who live in Japan. We took an appointment for the medical checkup, but other than that, we didn't make our travel schedule. Although we booked hotels in Tokyo for five nights. "We don't know what we will do in Tokyo, but we can decide where we go after arriving Japan". :)
Headed Toward LAX
On December 26, we headed toward LAX, Los Angeles International Airport. We used Hilton LAX Parking this time. We arrived at Hilton Hotel Valet Parking at 8 p.m. Then, we waited for a shuttle bus for over 30 minutes.
When we arrived at LAX, the ANA check-in counter had problem with its computer system. There was a very long line for flight check-in. The line didn't move at all for about an hour. I think most people in the line were waiting for the flight to Tokyo Haneda Airport. It was very late night, so some people looked tired and a little upset about it. However, the line moved a little by little an hour later. Our flight was delayed for about an hour, but we didn't mind it at all because it happens sometimes and safety is always the first priority. ;) Our airplane finally took off around at 1:30 a.m. on December 27. (After arriving in Japan, I was surprised at the news that ANA flight from LAX to Tokyo Narita Airport ended up turning around about four hours after takeoff that day. I guessed that that's why the ANA check-in counter had problem that night.)
Star Wars ANA Jet
Our airplane was Star Wars ANA Jet Boeing 777-300! We didn't expected that! :) It was so cool!
Star Wars ANA Jet B777-300
Star Wars ANA Jet B777-300
Paper cups, napkins and airplane headrest covers had Star Wars ANA Jet design! The flight attendants were wearing Star Wars ANA aprons. Moreover, the in-flight announcement was made by BB-8, a character in the Star Wars. :)
Star Wars ANA Jet B777-300 Drink Cup
In-Flight Meal (from Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda)
The qualities of ANA in-flight meals (from LAX to HND) were very different from ones (from HND to LAX).
The First In-Flight Meal (Snack)
ANA Economy Class In-Flight Meal (Snack)
The first in-flight meal (economy class) was ciabatta sandwich (with
roast beef and potato salad), onion potato chips and fresh banana. I had
expected that economy class flight meal wasn't so good. Frankly, the
ciabatta bread from the sandwich was the worst I've ever had. :(
The Second In-Flight Meals (Breakfast)
For the second in-flight meal, my husband chose this one, rigatoni bolognese, Japanese cold udon noodles, Greek yogurt and fruit. Rigatoni bolognese was pretty good.
ANA Economy Class In-Flight Meal (Breakfast B, Rigatoni Bolognese)
I chose this soboro don one, which was salmon fakes over steamed rice, Japanese cold udon noodles, Greek yogurt and fruit. Soboro don tasted so so. The udon noodles tasted very Americanized. The firmness of noodles were too soft to me and didn't taste like udon. It tasted more like somen noodles.
ANA Economy Class In-Flight Meal (Breakfast A, Soboro Don)
Arrived in Tokyo!
Star Wars ANA Jet B777-300
We finally arrived in Japan at 5:30 a.m. on December 28. I will write more about our Japan travel next time. :)
It's been over a year since I updated DIY video on my YouTube channel, Ringo and RINGO'S Coffee Channel last time. Today, I've finally updated new video, How to Make Coffee Marble Ice Cream.
Actually, this video was recorded in my previous apartment before we
moved into our current home. I was going to edit the videos and upload it
on my YouTube channel, but my husband and I became busier than we
thought after moving into this home because we needed to work on
renovating our home. This week, YouTube announced new eligibility requirements for the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube channels with fewer than 1,000 subs or 4,000 watch hours will no longer be able to earn money on YouTube. If you have read current news related to YouTube, you know that YouTube has many problems they need to deal with, but I thought that YouTube is telling me that I am not working enough on my channel. We haven't finished our home renovation yet, but I will updated more videos on my coffee channel sometimes. :)
As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I traveled Tokyo from December 28 through January 2.
This
time, we booked our hotel two months in advance. For the first three
nights (12/28 thorough 12/31), we stayed in Mitsui Garden Hotel Shiodome Italia Gai (三井ガーデンホテル 汐留 イタリア街). From December 31 through January 2, we decided to stay in Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Hamamatsucho (ホテル ヴィラフォンテーヌ東京浜松町) because Mitsui Garden Hotel was too expensive during New Year's days, and my husband had told me that this hotel served pretty good breakfast for free. Actually, I really enjoyed this hotel. :)
Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Hamamatsucho
It took us about 15 minutes to this hotel from Mistui Garden Hotel by walk. (By the way, it takes 10 minutes from JR Hamamatsucho Station to this hotel by walk.) When we arrived this hotel, it was about 11:30. It was too early for hotel check-in, so our room was not ready yet. We asked a front-desk clerk if they could store our luggage, so we were able to enjoy shopping and sightseeing in Tokyo. :) When we checked in to the hotel at that night, they had already moved our heavy luggage to our room. You know there is no tipping in any situation in Japan. ;)
The Room (Standard Room)
We booked the Standard Room which had a semi-double bed (140cm wide), which is smaller than an US queen-sized bed but large enough for
two people. The room was smaller than the previous hotel we stayed in, but it's still spacious enough for us. At least, we could open up our suitcase on the floor. ;) The room looked a bit dated but was nice and clean.
There were a small writing desk and a compact refrigerator. There were two servings of instant green tea and hojicha powder in the drawer.
The bathroom was also nice and clean.
There were Mikimoto Cosmetic shampoo, conditioner and liquid body soap! Mikimoto is a Japanese company making and selling pearl jewelry. Mikimoto also makes high-end beauty products in Japan. You can find Mikimoto Cosmetics products at some department stores in Japan.
There was a bottle of foam of facial cleanser / hand soap of Kracie. Their free toiletries included bath salts (forest scent!), toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower caps, hair brushes, Q-tips and razors.
I also got this set of skincare samples when I checked in to this hotel. A front-desk clerk told me that they were giving away the skincare samples to all female guests. I was happy that it was Minon products! :)
New Year's Eve
On December 31, they gave away Japanese instant noodles, Nissin Donbei Kitsune Udon and Nissin Donbei Tempura Soba, to guests at the hotel lobby. On New Year's Eve, it's a Japanese traditional to eat soba noodles, which are called toshikoshi soba (年越しそば).
We enjoyed instant udon and soba in our room. :) Eating toshikoshi soba and watching NHK Kohaku Utagassen were perfect for Japanese New Year's Eve! ;)
New Year's Day
On January 1, they also served Japanese sake to hotel guests! They did Kagami Biraki, which is a Japanese traditional ceremony to break the lid of the sake barrel and drink sake for good health and good fortune for the New Year.
It tasted pretty good and had woody aroma. :)
Free Breakfast
The reason why we decided to stay in this hotel was that my husband told me that this hotel served pretty good breakfast. :)
I was surprised that they had Balmuda toaster oven! These years, high-end steam toaster oven has been more and more popular in Japan. The most popular ones are Balmuda and Sharp Healsio Gurie. I was glad that I could try Balmuda in this hotel!
I toasted croissant with Balmuda. It was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. :)
They have three kinds of pilaf and serve one of them each day. They also have 6 kinds of soup and serve two of them each day. On the first morning, it was Japanese chicken pilaf, and I chose pumpkin soup. In addition to the salad, they have 10 kinds of salad toppings you can choose from. Their scrambled eggs were so fluffy and moist.
On the second morning, it was Japanese vegetable pilaf. I chose minestrone for the soup. Their breakfast was so good! I ate a lot in the morning.
Soup (They serve two kinds of them each day.)
Pumpkin, Bacon and Carrot Soup
Zucchini, Eggplant and Tomato Soup
Sausage and Cabbage Pot-au-feu
Vegetable Beef Stew
Chicken and Okura Curry Soup
Minestrone
Pilaf (They serve one of three kinds each day.)
Chicken Rice
Vegetable Pilaf
Curry Pilaf
They had many kinds of bread, drinks, cereals, and some yogurt. In my opinion as Japanese, the quality of their breakfast was very good. Their soup had a lot of vegetables and looked like it was cooked by a professional chef to me. Pilaf tasted great as well. Coffee was fresh by the way. ;)
Overall
I really liked this hotel because of their free breakfast. I also loved Minon Amino Moist samples! Because it was New Year's Days, we could enjoy toshikoshi soba and Japanese sake for free. Their hospitality was beyond my expectation!
