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Thursday, April 30, 2026

Last Meal in Japan: Yoshinoya Gyudon at Fukuoka Airport

Yoshinoya (吉野家) at Fukuoka International Terminal

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Japan last summer. After spending a few days in Nagasaki, we headed toward Fukuoka Airport for our flight home. Even though I really enjoy Japanese gyudon (牛丼, beef bowls), I hadn’t had any during this trip. Before returning to the U.S., we decided to stop by the Yoshinoya (吉野家) inside Fukuoka Airport and finally enjoy a comforting bowl of gyudon.

Yoshinoya Menu

As I always do, I ordered the regular‑size gyudon with a raw egg. It came to 792 yen. I’m pretty sure the price was a bit higher because it was at the airport, but I still felt satisfied with both the taste and the cost.

When I visit Japan, I can never skip raw egg. Japan is one of the few places where you can truly feel safe eating raw eggs without worrying about contamination. Mixing the egg into the warm gyudon is one of my favorite moments—the yolk melts into the beef and rice, making everything silky and comforting. It feels like a familiar comfort I can only experience in Japan.

These are my entries related to Fukuoka.

Top 3 Seafood Restaurants to Visit Around Hakata

Hakata’s Udon Gems: Two Must-Try Udon Restaurants in Hakata, Fukuoka

A Tempura Lover’s Guide to Hakata: Two Must-Try Restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan

Best Breakfasts in Hakata: 3 Must-Try Restaurants

5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

These are my entries related to Ramen.

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

Hakata Ippudo Ramen: A Culinary Stop on Our Fukuoka Journey

Exploring Hakata Noodle Street: Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin and Beyond

Savoring Taiho Ramen: Authentic Kurume Tonkotsu in Fukuoka, Japan

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

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You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Review: Hilton Nagasaki – De Vert Breakfast Buffet

De Vert in Hilton Nagasaki

As I mentioned in my earlier entries, my husband and I visited Nagasaki last summer. One morning, we decided to have breakfast at De Vert, the hotel’s all‑day dining restaurant on the second floor. The buffet is normally priced at ¥4,500 per person, but thanks to my husband’s Hilton Diamond status, we were able to enjoy it complimentary—a nice little ¥9,000 treat to start the day.

Because of my husband’s Diamond status, we were shown to a nice, quiet spot in the back. Diamond members can also pick a complimentary drink—everything from sparkling wine to other alcoholic options. We kept it simple and chose sparkling water.

When we walked around the buffet, I was surprised by how many options they had. There was a good balance of Japanese, Western, and a few Chinese‑inspired dishes, all arranged neatly and easy to browse. It felt like the kind of breakfast where you could take your time, wander from station to station, and pick whatever matched your mood that morning.

They also had several Nagasaki specialties, like Goto udon, kamaboko, and even castella. It was nice to see local dishes included in the buffet—it reminded me that we were really in Nagasaki, not just at a hotel breakfast.

Goto udon (五島うどん)

Goto udon (五島うどん) is a thin, hand‑stretched noodle from the Goto Islands in Nagasaki, known for its smooth texture and gentle springiness. The noodles are traditionally coated with camellia oil, which gives them a silky finish and helps them hold their shape when cooked.

Kamaboko (かまぼこ)

Kamaboko (かまぼこ) is a traditional Japanese fish cake made from pureed white fish that’s shaped and steamed until firm, giving it a mild flavor and springy texture. It’s especially popular in Nagasaki because the region has long been a major seafood hub, offering the fresh, high‑quality white fish needed to make really good kamaboko.

Castella (カステラ)

Castella (カステラ) is a simple, fluffy sponge cake that came to Japan from Portugal centuries ago. It eventually became a Nagasaki favorite, and now it’s known for its soft texture and gentle sweetness.

Hilton Nagasaki also had a made‑to‑order omelet station, which was a nice touch. The chef prepared each omelet right in front of you, and you could choose from a variety of fillings depending on what you felt like that morning. It added a warm, freshly cooked element to the buffet that balanced nicely with all the other dishes.

I ended up filling my plate with lots of Japanese favorites—kamaboko, mentaiko, and kimpira gobo.

I also added a few of my usual favorites—mozuku, miso soup and natto. Mozuku (もずく) is a thin, slippery type of seaweed usually served in a light vinegar sauce, making it refreshing and easy to enjoy.

Then, I enjoyed a bowl of Goto udon, which was light, silky, and surprisingly comforting in the morning.

Finally, we finished with a few slices of castella and some pastries, which made a light and sweet ending to the meal.

It ended up being such a satisfying morning meal, with so many small dishes that felt both comforting and fun to try. Since it was the last day of our Nagasaki trip, we left the restaurant feeling relaxed and grateful, happy we could enjoy a slow breakfast together before heading to the airport.

Overall, we really liked Hilton Nagasaki. The hotel felt clean, new, and comfortable, and the service and location were both excellent. If we have a chance to visit Nagasaki next time, we’ll definitely stay at this hotel again.

You can check out my Nagasaki entries here.

You can check out my Fukuoka entries here.

These are my entries related to Ramen.

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

Hakata Ippudo Ramen: A Culinary Stop on Our Fukuoka Journey

Exploring Hakata Noodle Street: Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin and Beyond

Savoring Taiho Ramen: Authentic Kurume Tonkotsu in Fukuoka, Japan

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♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan

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You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Review : Hilton Nagasaki Fitness Center and Public Bath

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Japan last summer. One of the reasons we chose Nagasaki for this trip was because we wanted to stay at Hilton Nagasaki. During our stay, I was especially looking forward to using the hotel’s fitness gym — exercising while traveling always helps me feel grounded.

Guests staying at Hilton Nagasaki have complimentary access to the gym area of the Fitness Center, located on the 6th floor. The facility is exclusively for hotel guests, so no outside visitors are allowed. For security, entry requires your room key, which made the space feel safe and comfortable.

Another feature I really appreciated is that the gym is open 24 hours a day. Whether you prefer early‑morning workouts or late‑night exercise sessions, you can use the gym whenever it fits your schedule.

Fitness Center (6th Floor)

Gym Area Hour: 24 hours
Guest‑only facility
Free of charge for hotel guests
Room key required for access

The hallway leading to the Fitness Center and Public Bath has a warm, modern feel, with wooden panels and soft lighting. Designed by Hashimoto Yukio, it ends with a blue geometric art piece that adds a nice, quiet touch.

A relaxing resting space with soft sofas was set up just outside the public bath and the fitness center.

Public Bath Entrance

The Fitness Center is located right next to the entrance of the public bath, which made it very convenient to move between a workout and a relaxing soak.

Fitness Center Entrance

The Fitness Center itself wasn’t very spacious. It felt similar in size to the fitness center at Hilton Osaka, which means it’s on the smaller side. However, when we visited, there was no one else there except the two of us. Because of that, the space felt comfortable, quiet, and easy to use — almost like having a private gym.

A water server was placed at the entrance, making it easy to stay hydrated before or after a workout.

The number of exercise machines is fairly limited. The gym has two cross trainers, three treadmills, a set of dumbbells, and one multi‑purpose strength‑training machine.

Because Hilton Nagasaki opened just four years ago, the training machines still felt very new and well‑maintained. I used the cross trainer, as I usually do at hotel fitness gym, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it supported Apple Watch connectivity. It made my workout feel seamless and familiar, even while traveling.

There were large windows in front of the exercise machines, allowing plenty of natural light to fill the room. As I exercised, I enjoyed a clear view of Nagasaki — a peaceful way to start the day.

I really enjoyed exercising there; the space felt calm and comfortable, and it was a nice way to reset my body during the trip.

Public Bath

Another relaxing feature of the hotel is the Public Bath, also located on the 6th floor. It’s a wonderful place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful, and the warm bath helps release any travel fatigue.

Public Bath Hours

Morning: 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Evening: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Public Bath Entrance

After working out, I headed to the public bath around 5 p.m. There was no one there except me, which made the space feel calm and private. I was delighted to find Sekkisei (雪肌精) skincare products at the vanity area, along with a Panasonic Nanoe hair dryer — my favorite Japanese dryer that always leaves my hair shiny and beautiful. After soaking in the large public bath, my whole body felt deeply relaxed.

Next time, I will write about breakfast buffet at Hilton Nagasaki.

You can check out my Nagasaki entries here.

You can check out my Fukuoka entries here.

These are my entries related to Ramen.

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

Hakata Ippudo Ramen: A Culinary Stop on Our Fukuoka Journey

Exploring Hakata Noodle Street: Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin and Beyond

Savoring Taiho Ramen: Authentic Kurume Tonkotsu in Fukuoka, Japan

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Thursday, April 9, 2026

Review : Hilton Nagasaki Executive Lounge - Cocktail Time

Hilton Nagasaki Executive Lounge Cocktail Time

During our trip to Nagasaki, my husband and I stayed at the Hilton Nagasaki, as I mentioned in my earlier entries. One of the highlights of the hotel is the Executive Lounge on the 11th floor. Guests staying in Executive Rooms or Suites—and Hilton Honors Diamond members—can enjoy this lounge, where complimentary food and drinks are served during tea time and cocktail time.

We visited the lounge during both tea time and cocktail time. In this entry, I’ll share our experience during cocktail time, when the atmosphere shifts from quiet afternoon relaxation to a warm, early‑evening unwind.

🕒 Executive Lounge Hours (Hilton Nagasaki)

Breakfast

Weekdays: 6:30–10:00 a.m.
Weekends & holidays: 6:30–10:30 a.m.

Tea Time

Weekdays: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. / 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Weekends & holidays: 10:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. / 7:00–8:00 p.m.

Cocktail Time

Daily: 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Food and alcohol service ends at 7:00 p.m.

We stopped by the Executive Lounge around 6:30 p.m. on a weekday. The space was calm and never felt crowded—there were a few guests scattered throughout the room, but plenty of open tables, which made the atmosphere peaceful and relaxed. A staff member let us know that the food and alcohol service would end at 7:00 p.m., but the Executive Lounge itself would remain open until 8:00 p.m., so we still had time to settle in and begin exploring the evening offerings.

The lounge offered a wide selection of alcoholic beverages.

They also had a few kinds of Japanese yogurt available. I picked the Megumi ガセリ菌SP株ヨーグルト, which contains the probiotic strain Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055. Since I’m always interested in probiotics, I was curious about the specific cultures used in this yogurt and how they support gut health.

Salmon Pie and Vermicelli & Chicken Salad

Steamed Chicken Breast & Cod Roe and Potato Salad Sandwich

Caramel Moose, Chestnut Cake, Lychee, Banana, Grapefruit, Orange & Pineapple

Nagasaki Panmen

There were several hot dishes available, including steaks and noodles.

Sirloin Steak with Gravy Sauce

Rice Croquette

The rice croquette was one of my favorites.

Curry

My husband especially liked the curry.

White Rice

Bouillon Soup with Vegetable

Baguette

During cocktail time, they offered a fairly wide selection of food and alcoholic beverages. We don’t usually drink alcohol, but this time we decided to try a glass of fresh draught beer. It had been many years since I last had beer, so it felt a little special to enjoy one together in the relaxed lounge atmosphere.

We really enjoyed the food, desserts, and drinks here. I ended up feeling pleasantly full after trying so many dishes. Compared with other Hilton properties in Japan—such as Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka—the Executive Lounge at Hilton Nagasaki felt surprisingly good. The selection was generous, the atmosphere was calm, and the overall experience left a very positive impression.

Next time, I’ll write about the Fitness Center and the Public Bath.

You can check out my Nagasaki entries here.

You can check out my Fukuoka entries here.

These are my entries related to Ramen.