It has grown on me!

Thursday, November 30, 2023

4 Must Have Products I Purchased in Japan

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I went to Japan last year and purchased a lot of Japanese products. Today, I'm going to share with you four must have products I purchased in Japan. These products listed below were the ones I really wanted to get in Japan. :)

1. Kao EMAL (KAO エマール)

Laundry Detergent for Delicate Fabrics

Purchased 500 ml for 199 yen at TRIAL in Japan

Kao EMAL (KAO エマール)

I really love Japanese laundry detergent for delicate fabrics. You can wash your sweaters, down jackets, coats, scurf and so on with using it. My favorite ones are Kao Emarl (エマール) and Lion Acron (アクロン), and this time, I purchased Emarl because it was on sale at the store. I use Emarl to wash my sweaty hat and Uniqlo UV cut jackets after hiking every weekend, and it makes these so clean and refreshing! I've tried Woolite Delicates before but I didn't really like it. That's why when I visit to Japan, I always purchase Emarl or Acron.

Kao Emarl (Kao エマール)

Lion Acron (ライオンアクロン)

2. IWATANI Ai Wrap (岩谷アイラップ)

Heat-Resistant Plastic Bags for Cooking

-30℃ to 120℃ / -22℉ to 248℉

Purchased 60 Bags for 139 yen at TRIAL in Japan

IWATANI Ai Wrap (岩谷アイラップ)

I really wanted to purchase Iwatani Ai Wrap (岩谷アイラップ). It's because it has been very popular in Japan. It's heat-resistant plastic bags and is made to use as a cooking tool at high temperature safely. I've often seen many Japanese YouTubers use these to cook foods faster and easier.

IWATANI Ai Wrap (岩谷アイラップ)

It was my first time to purchase Iwatani Ai Wrap, and I really like it. I use it when I want to coat vegetable or meat with potato starch.

IWATANI Ai Wrap (岩谷アイラップ)

I put vegetable and potato starch in the bag and shaked it.

IWATANI Ai Wrap (岩谷アイラップ)

How to Cook Easy Stir Fried Eggplants

I cooked stir fried eggplants with it.

3. Hexagon Shape Dishwasher Safe Chopsticks (六角食洗機・乾燥機対応耐熱箸)

Reusable Chopsticks

Purchased 5 Pairs of Chopsticks for 399 yen at TRIAL in Japan

Hexagon Shape Dishwasher Safe Chopsticks (六角食洗機・乾燥機対応耐熱箸)

Actually, this was the second time to purchase these chospticks. When I visited Japan in 2017, I purchased some cute dishwasher safe chopsticks at LOFT in Tokyo and I also purchased this one at TRIAL in Fukuoka. The chopsticks I purchased at LOFT were three times more expensive than this one. However, after using a few years, expensive chopsticks needed to be replaced, but this one was still as good as before. That's why we decided to purchase it again. When I visit Japan next time, I will purchase more of these affordable chopsticks at TRIAL. :)

4. Webcam Cover Stickers (カメラセキュリティシール)

Webcam Cover Stickers for Phone and PC

Purchased Two Stickers for 100 yen at Seria in Japan

Webcam Cover Stickers (カメラセキュリティシール)

I wanted to purchase webcam cover stickers for my PC and smartphone at 100 yen shop in Japan, and I found this one at Seria. Every morning, I watch YouTube with my smartphone while I was getting dressed and putting on makeup. I feel very safe with this stickers. :)

These are my entries you might like.

■Costco Japan Haul - What I Purchased at Costco in Japan

■10 Products I Purchased at Costco in Japan

■All Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan in 2022

■Japanese Snack and Candy Haul - 9 Products I Purchased in Japan

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

■My Shopping List for Japanese Groceries - What I Want to Get in Japan

■My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

■8 Japanese Snacks and Candies I Purchased in Japan - Japan Haul

■Japanese Grocery Haul - 7 Products He Purchased at Kitano Ace in Japan

■Don Quijote (Donki) Haul - What He Got in Japan

■Japanese Lawson Convenience Store Bread Haul

■What He Got at Drugstore in Japan - Haul

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

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

■Top 10 Most Popular Japanese Foods

■5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

■Top 3 My Favorite Delicious Souvenirs from Osaka

■My Top 10 Favorite Japanese Snacks

■My Top 10 Favorite Japanese Sweets

My entries related to Costco in Japan 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.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

La Jolla Kayaking Tour in San Diego - We Saw Dolphins from the Kayak

My husband and I really love La Jolla, San Diego. We used to visit there every spring to see spring wild flowers and marine animals. However, after COVID-19 pandemic began, we didn't go there for a long time. For the first time in three years, we finally visited La Jolla this month.

A week ago, I found La Jolla kayaking tour on Groupon and told my husband that I really wanted to join the tour. The One Double Kayak for Two with Guided Tour from Everyday California was originally $119 but was on sale for $79. We decided to go to La Jolla on the following weekend and booked the morning tour, which would start at 9 a.m., so we needed to arrive 30 minutes before the tour began. (This year, we've finally become morning people because we established our weekend morning hiking habit!)

We left our home before 7 a.m. and arrived there around at 8:20 a.m. We were able to find a parking space on the street easily.

Everyday California

2261 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Tips for Kayaking at La Jolla Beach

・You will be completely soaked, so you should wear swim suite or wetsuits. You can also wear light weight waterproof windbreaker jacket to keep you warm.

・If you want to bring your smart phone, you must need a waterproof phone pouch to protect your phone from water.

・If you wear eyeglasses including sunglasses which tend to be lost in the sea, you need a glasses strap to prevent loosing your glasses.

・Wear sunscreens on entire body to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.

・You can wear water shoes in the kayak, or you can take off shoes at the beach.

・There is a public shower area at the beach.

Waterproof Phone Pouches

We brought these waterproof phone pouches to the kayaking tour, and my husband purchased this orange glasses strap at Everyday California. The staff told us that 60% of people lost glasses in the ocean without wearing a strap.

Glasses Strap

My La Jolla Kayaking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

I use Under Armour MapMyWalk App to track my kayaking.

My La Jolla Kayaking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

After checked in at Everyday California, we put our belongings in the locker, which was $6. Then, we received life jackets and helmets near the locker. There were two changing rooms if you need to change your clothes. I was wearing t-shirt over swim suit, and put on the waterproof windbreaker jacket to keep me warm in the ocean. You can rent a wetsuit there if you need it.

We were waiting around the benches until everyone has arrived.

There were two tour guides and 12 people, six parties, participating the tour. At around 9 a.m., we started heading toward the beach.

At the beach, there were more staffs handing us paddles, and they taught us how to properly use a paddle for 3 minutes or so.

Finally, we headed toward the ocean with a kayak .

Getting into the kayak and getting through the waves were pretty hard but staffs helped us. We were completely wet already at the beginning of the tour.

The beginning of the kayak was so intense, but the ocean was very calm offshore.

Our tour guide shouted and let us know there was a group of dolphins swimming very closed to us. I was even able to see a blowhole on the dolphin!

The tour guides were so knowledgeable and helpful. We were able to learn marine ecosystem in La Jolla Shores. They said that pregnant leopard sharks come to La Jolla Shores for warmer water in every summer, and green sea turtles are living in La Jolla year-round. I thought that I should come back to La Jolla for snorkeling in summer.

Because of the safety of the condition, we were not allowed to enter the Emerald Cave this time.

After 90 minutes the tour began, we finally learned how to get off the kayak. The staff helped us and pushed the kayak back to the beach, but the waves were pretty rough, and we eventually fell the kayak, which hit my head, but I was totally fine. I understood that's why we needed to wear the helmet. If I hadn't worn the helmet, my head would have been injured. My husband said that I was always so lucky.

After using the shower at La Jolla beach, we walked back to the Everyday California. We returned the life jackets and helmets, and we changed our clothes.

We left Everyday California around at 11:45 a.m. Then, we headed to Nijiya Japanese supermarket for fresh sushi lunch. It took us 20 minutes to get Nijiya from here. It was probably our first time to leave La Jolla without seeing sea lions because we were really craving for fresh sushi.

Scallop and Salmon Bowl for $11.99 at Nijiya

Negi Toro Tunal Rolls for $8.49 at Nijiya

Even though we couldn't go into the caves, we really enjoyed kayaking the ocean. We could see wild dolphins very close from the kayak, and I enjoyed paddling and floating calmly on the surface of the ocean. I really would like to try snorkeling here in summer.

It was our third time to kayak. Our first kayak was a sea kayaking in Okinawa, Japan about 20 years ago. The second one was a harbor kayaking in Huntington Beach in 2014. The harbor kayaking was pretty easy because of calm water, and we enjoyed seeing luxury beach houses from the kayak. I thought that our third kayak at La Jolla shores was the best kayaking we've ever tried.

These are my entries you might like.

■【Hike】Vernal Fall via Mist Trail - Yosemite National Park in California (2023)

■La Jolla Cove in San Diego (March 2019)

■The Sunny Jim Sea Cave and Coast Walk Trail in La Jolla, San Diego (March 2019)

■Swimming with Wild Dolphins (Big Island, Hawaii, January 2015)

■Dolphin Watching in Dana Point (July 2017)

■Our Whale Watching Trip (Dana Point, August 2013)

■La Jolla Cove - Beautiful Spring Wildflowers and Wild Animals (2018)

       My entries related to wild animals can be seen here.

       My entries related to La Jolla can be seen here.

   My entries related to hiking and walking can be seen here.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

How to Cook Chicken Nanbanzuke, Japanese Deep-Fried Chicken and Onion Marinated in Nanban Sauce

I've watched this YouTube video and decided to cook this chicken nanbanzuke (チキン南蛮漬け), Japanese deep-fried chicken and onion marinated in nanban sauce. Because nanban sauce is made of vinegar and soy sauce, chicken nanbanzuke lasts long in the refrigerator, so you can cook large amount and enjoy it for a week. :)

This tasted so good! The chicken was nice and moist and onion was fresh and crunchy. The vinegar makes chicken tender. :) Today, I'm going to share how to cook chicken nanbanzuke with you. You can also cook deep-fried fish nanbanzuke with this recipe by using fish instead of chicken.

Ingredients (2 to 3 Servings)

3 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce

2 Tablespoons of Mirin

2 Tablespoons of Sugar

3 Tablespoons of Vinegar

1 Dried Chili Pepper (Sliced)

1 Clove of Garlic (Grated)

1 Onion (Sliced)

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Lb of Chicken Breast (Sliced)

1 Tablespoon of Soy Sauce

1 Tablespoon of Sake

All-Purpose Flour

Oil for Deep Fry

1. Mix soy sauce, mirin, sugar, vinegar, dried chili pepper and garlic in a bowl. Microwave the mixture for one minute. Put sliced onion in the container, and add the heated mixture in it. Then, pour olive oil in it.

2. Marinate chicken with soy sauce and sake in the container for over 5 minutes.

3. Coat chickens with all-purpose flour. Deep-fry them until fully cooked. (In order to deep-fry them, you only need 1/3 to 1/2 inch of oil in the pan.)

4. Put deep-fried chickens over the onions with the mixture.

5. Mix chickens and onions thoroughly. You can enjoy now, but you can also let them rest in the refrigerator over night, so that it can absorb the flavor.

6. Serve and enjoy!

These are also my entries you might like.

■How to Cook Best Chicken Teriyaki

■How to Cook Quick and Easy Fluffy Mushroom Omelettes

■ICHIRAN Instant Ramen - The Best Instant Ramen from Popular Japanese Ramen Restaurant (How We Cooked!)

■All About Marutai Kyushu Local Ramen! Must-Try Japanese Instant Ramen

■Myojo Chukazanmai Ryanmen - The Best Hiyashi Chuka Instant Noodles

■Top 3 My Favorite Ramen From Marutai Kyushu Ramen Series

■How to Cook Yakisoba with Instant Noodles, Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein

■How to Cook Omurice, a Japanese Omelette Stuffed with Rice (Cook Like a Pro!)

■How to Make An Easy Egg Toast (Japanese Sliced Bread + Japanese Mayonnaise = Deliciousness)

■Don Quijote (Donki) Haul - What He Got in Japan

■What He Got at Drugstore in Japan - Haul

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

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

■How to Make Japanese Deep Fried Chicken, Kara-Age

■How to Cook Miso Soup

■8 Interesting Japanese Kitchen Gadgets!

My entries related to cooking can be seen here.

My entries related to my favorite recipes can be seen here.

My entries related to foods my husband cooked can be seen here.

My entries related to Japanese noodles can be seen here.

My entries related to Japan Haul 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.

★You can find my recipe entries through my Pinterest.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Nakau, Japanese Fast Food Bowl Restaurant - What I Ate in Japan

Nakau (なか卯)

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Japan and stayed in Tokyo last year. We found that there was Nakau (なか卯), Japanese fast food bowl restaurant, located near by the hotel we stayed at. As I mentioned in my previous entry, How to Order Gyudon, Japanese Beef Bowl, at Matsuya, In Japan, there are four major gyudon restaurant chains, Yoshinoya (吉野家), Matsuya (松屋), Sukiya (すき家) and Nakau (なか卯). I love beef bowl from Nakau. Yet, Nakau's most popular menu is oyakodon (親子丼), Japanese chicken and egg bowl.

Nakau Menu

They also have some kinds of Japanese bowl dishes, Kyoto style noodles and more.

Nakau's Oyakodon (親子丼), Japanese Chicken and Egg Bowl

If you are planning on visiting Japan and love oyakodon, you should try Nakau's Oyakodon.

Oyakodon Topped with Sauteed Butter Mushrooms + Side Dishes (Chicken MeatBall Soup and Salad)

My husband ordered this oyakodon topped with sauteed butter mushrooms (3種きのこの親子丼) for 650 yen. He added chicken meatball soup and salad with sesame seed dressing for 200 yen. This set was 850 yen in total, which was equivalent to $6.

Oyakodon Topped with Sauteed Butter Mushrooms (3種きのこの親子丼)

This had three kinds of mushrooms, maitake mushrooms (舞茸), shimeji mushrooms (しめじ) and eringi mushrooms (エリンギ). These were sauteed in butter, so they had nice and rich taste.

Wafu Gyudon (和風牛丼), Japanese Style Beef Bowl

I ordered this Wafu Gyudon (和風牛丼), Japanese style beef bowl, for 490 yen and added a raw egg for 80 yen as I always do. This was 530 yen in total, which was equivalent to $3.75. I love Japanese beef bowl!

Nakau changes their menu sometimes. The mushroom oyakodon he ordered was seasonal menu, so it's not available for now. I was surprised that they have stopped serving their popular Wafu Gyudon! Instead of that, they started serving Gyu Suki Don (牛すき丼), sukiyaki style beef bowl.