It has grown on me!

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

What I Ate Around Abeno Harukas in Osaka, Japan

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Osaka in December 2019. After we enjoyed seeing Osaka skyscape from Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス), the Japan's tallest building, we decided to have some foods around Abeno area. Because we used to live in Osaka for years, and my former workplace was located in Abeno-ku, I really know this place. When we lived in Osaka, we sometimes went to this area and enjoyed shopping and dinning.

Today, I'm going to share what I ate near Abeno Harukas with you.

Abeno Hoop (あべのフープ)

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん)

Takoyaki Store

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan Main Store (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん本店)

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan Main Store (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん本店)

1-2-34 Abenosuji

Abeno-ku, Osaka City

Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Open : 11 a.m. Through 11 p.m.

3rd Thursdays and January 1st are closed.

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん) is one of the most famous and popular takoyaki stores in Abeno-ku, Osaka. When I lived in Osaka, we really loved their takoyaki. That's why we decided to have Yamachan takoyaki. There were two Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan branches in Abeno-ku. The photo above was the main store of Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan. Their main store doesn't have tables, so some people were standing and eating takoyaki around this store. We wanted to sit and eat takoyaki, so we decided to go to the other branch, Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan 2nd Store (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん２号店). It takes only one minute by walk from the main store to the 2nd store.

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan 2nd Store (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん２号店)

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan 2nd Store (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん２号店)

2-3-53 Matsuzaki-cho

Abeno-ku, Osaka City

Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Open :

12 p.m. Through 11 p.m. on Weekdays

11 a.m. Through 11 p.m. on Saturdays

11 a.m. Through 10 p.m. on Sundays and Holidays

January 1st is closed.

Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan 2nd Store (あべのたこ焼きやまちゃん２号店)

We ordered 6-piece takoyaki for 520 yen. You can choose sauce and topping from their menu. We chose Young (ヤング), which are takoyaki sauce + mayonnaise.

Best (ベスト) : without sauce and topping

Young (ヤング) : takoyaki sauce + mayonnaise

Regular (レギュラー) : takoyaki sauce + aonori (seaweed flakes)

Karakuchi (辛口) : takoyaki soysace + Mayonnaise

Gomaabura Shio (ごま油塩) : sesame oil + salt

Karashi Maynnaise Nomi (からしマヨネーズのみ) : spicy mayonnaise only

Kansaifu Shoyu to Mayonnaise (関西風しょうゆとマヨネーズ) : Kansai soysauce + mayonnaise

Kansaifu Shoyu to Aonori (関西風しょうゆと青のり) : Kansai soysauce + aonori (seaweed flakes)

Assari Shio Ponz to Mayonnaise (あっさり塩ポンズとマヨネーズ) : ponzu soysauce + mayonnaise

Assari Shio Ponzu to Aonori (あっさり塩ポンズと青のり) : ponzu soysauce + aonori (seaweed flakes)

Yuzu Sauce to Mayonnaise (ゆずソースとマヨネーズ) : yuzu citrus sauce + mayonnaise

Yuzu Sauce to Aonori (ゆずソースと青のり) : yuzu citrus sauce + aonori (seaweed flakes)

Umezu Sauce to Mayonnaise (梅酢ソースとマヨネーズ) : Ume liquid + mayonnaise

6-Piece Takoyaki with Young (Takoyaki Sauce + Mayonnaise ) at Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan 2nd Store

Their takoyaki tasted so good! These were crispy on the outside and melty inside. If you are planning visiting Abeno Harukas, I recommend you to try these takoyaki at Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan. It takes a few minutes by walk from Abeno Harukas to Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan.

Manneken Belgian Waffle (マネケンベルギーワッフル)

Belgian Waffle Store

Manneken Belgian Waffle - Kintetsu Abenobashi Branch (マネケンベルギーワッフル - 近鉄阿部野橋店)

Manneken Belgian Waffle - Kintetsu Abenobashi Branch (マネケンベルギーワッフル - 近鉄阿部野橋店)

1-1-43 Abenosuji

Abeno-ku, Osaka City

Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Open : 10 a.m. Through 9 p.m.

When I lived in Osaka, I also loved Belgian waffles from Manneken, which started selling the Japan's first Belgian waffles in Osaka Umeda in 1986. There are many branches of Manneken Belgian Waffle, and many branches are located inside of train stations and depachika (デパ地下), which is delicatessen on underground floors of departmentstores. (Depachika have the finest foods from many famous restaurants, confectioneries and etc.)

Manneken Belgian Waffle - Kintetsu Abenobashi Branch (マネケンベルギーワッフル - 近鉄阿部野橋店)

There are many types of Belgian Waffles you can choose from. I chose Plain (プレーン) Waffle, which is rich in honey and butter taste, for 130 yen.

Plain Waffle from Manneken Belgian Waffle

I enjoyed their freshly made waffle! It's nicely sweet and good. It was crispy on the outside and soft inside. If you are Belgian or are from Belgium, I want you to try Manneken Belgian Waffle, and please tell me how different taste is between authentic Belgian waffle in Belgium and Manneken Belgian Waffle in Osaka.

If you are planning on visiting Abeno Harukas, I recommend you to try Manneken Belgian Waffle. It takes a few minutes by walk from Abeno Harukas to Manneken Belgium Waffle.

Then, we walked around Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai, the longest shopping street in Japan. I'll write about it next time.

These are my entries you might like.

♥Abeno Harukas in Osaka - The Tallest Building in Japan

♥ The Mint Museum in Osaka - You Can Touch the Huge Bars of Real Gold and Silver with Your Hand!

♥What I Ate at Snack Park - Hanshin Umeda Department Store in Osaka, Japan

♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Conrad Osaka - Osaka, Japan

♥16 Best Japanese Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan - Drugstore, Discount Store, Daiso and Amazon Japan

♥Japanese Snack and Candy Haul - What I Purchased in Japan

♥Japanese Grocery Haul - What I Purchased at Supermarket, Department Stores and Kitano Ace in Japan

♥10 Products I Purchased at Costco in Japan

♥Japanese Bread Haul - Shokupan, Melonpan, Anpan and More

♥7 Products I Purchased at Muji Store in Japan - Muji Haul

♥ Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Tumbler - Osaka

♥ Top 3 My Favorite Delicious Souvenirs from Osaka

♥Top 5 Breakfast Restaurants around Tenjinbashi in Osaka, Japan

♥ The Best Places to Eat in Tenjinbashi in Osaka

♥ Must Go to Places in Namba - Our Traveling in Osaka, Japan

♥10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan

     My entries related to Osaka can be seen here.

     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Starbucks Japan Spring Sakura Collection 2021

Starbucks Japan releases Sakura, Cherry Blossom, series in spring every year. Because Japanese people love cherry blossom, Starbucks Sakura Collections have been very popular in Japan.

Today, I'm going to share Starbucks Japan Sakura Collection 2021 with you.

Starbucks Japan Sakura Collection 2021

Starbucks Japan 2021 Sakura Series Part 1 "Sakura Breath"

This year, Starbucks Japan has released many sakura tumblers, mugs, ceramic containers, cards, campus notes and so on.

Starbucks Japan 2021 Sakura Series Part 2 "Spring Bloom"

Starbucks Japan Reserve Sakura Collection 2021

Starbucks Japan Reserve 2021 Sakura Collections

You can find these Starbucks Japan Reserve 2021 Sakura Collections at Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo and Starbucks Reserve stores in Japan.

Starbucks Japan Reserve 2021 Sakura Collections

Starbucks Japan 2021 Sakura Collection Gift Cards

Starbucks Japan 2021 Sakura Gift Cards

They also released some Starbucks card 2021 Sakura collections this spring.

Starbucks Japan Sakura Drinks 2021

Sakura Drinks 2021 (Sakura Fuwari Berry Frappuccino & Sakura Fuwari Berry Milk Latte )

Starbucks Japan also releases spring limited Sakura menu every spring. This year, they served Sakura Fuwari Berry Milk Latte, and they are still serving Sakura Fuwari Berry Frappuccino.

Sakura Drink 2021 (Sakura Saita Berry Frappuccino)

In addition to the Sakura Fuwari drinks, Starbucks Japan started serving Sakura Saita Berry Frappuccino, which has more intense berry taste than Sakura Fuwari Berry Frappuccino, today. If you are in Japan, you can order this Sakura Saita Berry Frappuccino at Starbucks today through April 13.

Starbucks Japan Sakura Jelly

(You Can Find at Convenience Stores in Japan)

Starbucks Japan Sakura Vanilla with Strawberry Jelly

You can also find Starbucks Japan Sakura Drink at most convenience stores in Japan. This is Starbucks Japan Sakura Vanilla with Strawberry Jelly and is 219 yen.

Starbucks Japan You Are Here Collection Mug - Spring

Starbucks Japan You Are Here Collection Mug - Spring

If you are in Japan, you can probably find Starbucks Japan You Are Here Collection Spring Mug at Starbucks. You can see the pictures of cherry blossoms and petals in this mug.

Starbucks Japan You Are Here Collection Mug - Spring

These are my entries you might like.

■Starbucks Japan Finally Released New You Are Here Collection Mug! - Japan Spring Edition

■Japan and US - Starbucks 2017 Cherry Blossom Collection

■Starbucks Japan Finally Released You Are Here Collection Mug!

■Japanese Spring Flowers

■Top 10 Most Popular Japanese Foods

■My Top 15 Must Eat Foods in Japan - My Favorite Japanese Foods

■Top 10 Products You Should Buy at Daiso

■Top 10 Products You Should Buy at Japanese Supermarkets (for Beginners!)

     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

   My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Monday, March 22, 2021

Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming in Japan

Yesterday, my mother-in-law e-mailed me and sent these photos from Japan. She said cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Japan!

Cherry Blossoms in 2021 (photo from my mother-in-law)

If you have ever been in Japan during spring, you might know how much Japanese people love cherry blossoms, which are called sakura (桜, さくら) in Japanese. :) If someone asks me, "When is the best season to travel to Japan?", I will definitely say, "It's spring." Spring is the season when sakura starts blooming, and you can see sakuras everywhere in Japan. Sakura blooms and falls gracefully in a short period of time (It's usually less than two weeks) in spring.

Cherry Blossoms in 2021 (photo from my mother-in-law)

2014

When I visited Japan during sakura blooming season in 2014, I took Chappy, my family's dog, for a walk with my brother. I enjoyed seeing that sakura petals were falling from trees. Beautiful pink petals were flying in sky like butterflies, and the ground underneath sakura trees looked as if it were a gorgeous pink carpet. In 2018, my family told me that Chappy had passed away from cancer. I cannot see Chappy again, but when spring comes, I remember that we walked together underneath fully blooming beautiful sakura trees in 2014.

This is the video I recorded in Fukuoka, Japan in spring in 2014.

These are my entries you might like.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Japanese Beauty Haul - Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask, Best-Selling Japanese Face Masks!

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask (毛穴撫子お米のマスク)

I've recently purchased these Japanese face masks, Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask (毛穴撫子お米のマスク), on Amazon US. It was very affordable and contains 10 sheets each.

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask (毛穴撫子お米のマスク)

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask has been one of my favorite Japanese face masks since I first purchased it in Japan in 2017, and I sometimes wrote about it in my previous entries because it has been very popular and won beauty awards in Japan many times. If you haven't tried this face mask yet, you really should try one. In the U.S., Amazon is currently selling this face mask for $7.88. If you are in Japan, you can purchase this face mask for 650 yen at most drugstores and discount stores such as Donki.

These are my entries related to Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask.

■10 Best Face Masks Won Beauty Awards in Japan

■16 Best Japanese Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan - Drugstore, Discount Store, Daiso and Amazon Japan

■3 Best Japanese Facial Sheet Masks (No.1 Facial Sheet Mask on @cosme, Amazon Japan and Loft)

■3 Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan

■14 Best Japanese Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan - Drugstore, Discount Store, Daiso and Loft Haul

■3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

■10 Best Affordable Japanese Facial Sheet Masks You Want to Use Every Day

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask (毛穴撫子お米のマスク)

・Apply on dry skin, after cleansing.
・Leave on for 5 minutes.
・Use daily.

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask (毛穴撫子お米のマスク)

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask contains Japanese beauty rice serum such as rice fermented liquid, rice bran extract, rice bran oil and rice ceramide.

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Series

There are some Keana Nadeshiko skincare products, and Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask is the most popular one in their series.

Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask

Keana Nadeshiko also has Baking Soda series.

Keana Nadeshiko Baking Soda Series

Keana Nadeshiko also has men's skincare products, but women also can use these.

Keana Nadeshiko Men's Skincare Products

These are my entries you might like.

♥10 Best Face Masks Won Beauty Awards in Japan

♥10 Best Sunscreens Won Beauty Awards in Japan This Year

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     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.

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Saturday, March 6, 2021

Abeno Harukas in Osaka - The Tallest Building in Japan

Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス)

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Osaka in December, 2019. This time, we went to Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス), which is located in Abeno-ku (阿倍野区), for our first time. Abeno Harukas is a 300 meter tall skyscraper, and it is the tallest building in Japan.

Actually, we used to live in Osaka for years, and we often went to Abeno-ku, Abeno ward, for shopping and dining at Tennoji Mio (天王寺ミオ), Abeno Hoop (あべのフープ), and Kintetsu department store (近鉄百貨店). You can check out my previous entry, Must Go to Place in Japan - Tennouji Mio. Moreover, I used to work for a university hospital located in Abeno-ku before I worked in Kita-ku, so I really know this place. When I heard that Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス) opened in 2014, I thought that I really should visit there some day. My dream of visiting Abeno Harukas finally came true. 😊

Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス)

1 Chome-1-43 Abenosuji

Abeno Ward, Osaka

Japan

Open : 9 a.m. through 10 p.m. (Last Entry at 9:30 p.m.)

Admission Fee :

1,500 yen (Ages 18+)

1,200 yen (Ages 12-17)

700 yen (Ages 6-11)

500 yen (Ages 4-5)

Free (Ages 3 and under)

60th Floor (Observatory)

Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス)

On the 60th floor, there was the huge observatory which offers breathtaking 360-degree views of Osaka.

Glass Flooring

You can stand on the glass flooring. It was a bit scary though.

Glass Flooring

Osaka has many high-rise buildings, which are hotel, hospital, office buildings and etc. Moreover, some of them are high-rise condominiums, which are called tower mansion (タワーマンション) in Japanese. The tallest condominium in Japan is located in Osaka and is a 209.4-meter tall building with 54 floors.

JR train

I used to commute by train in Osaka city every day.

Tanimachi-Suji

You can find the Tennoji Park (天王寺公園), Tennoji Zoo (天王寺動物園), Osaka City Art Museum (大阪市立美術館) next to the Tanimachi Suji (谷町筋), one of the main streets in Osaka.

Shitennoji

You can see the five-storied pagoda, goju-no-to (五重塔). This Buddhist temple is Shitennoji (四天王寺).

Cemetery in Osaka City

You can see the huge cemetery, Osaka Shisetsu Minami Reien (大阪市設南霊園).

Osaka City University Abeno Campus and Hospital

58th Floor (Open Space/Restaurant)

58th Floor

On the 58th floor, there is a open space to get fresh air. There is a restaurant, Sky Garden 300, to enjoy foods and drinks.

58th Floor

Public Bathroom (59th Floor and 58th Floor)

Oddly enough, I was amazed at the public bathroom of Abeno Harukas. Because of the floor-to-ceiling windows, it's so bright and beautiful. 　

This was the most beautiful and interesting public bathroom I've ever seen! If you visit Abeno Harukas, you should also see their public bathroom.

Abeno Harukas

I really enjoyed seeing Osaka from the Japan's tallest building, Abeno Harukas. If you are planning on traveling Osaka, you really should visit Abeno Harukas. 😊

Next time, I will write about what I ate around Abeno Harukas.

These are my entries you might like.

♥ The Mint Museum in Osaka - You Can Touch the Huge Bars of Real Gold and Silver with Your Hand!

♥What I Ate at Snack Park - Hanshin Umeda Department Store in Osaka, Japan