Our Kaiseki Meal in Hakone

We stayed at a Japanese-style room whilst we were in Hakone, a two-hour train ride from Tokyo. It was a cultural experience staying in a traditional room, wearing a yukata, sleeping on the ground and chatting with naked strangers in an onsen pool whilst admiring the magnificent view of Mount Fuji.

Ichiran Ramen – Shinjuku

Ichiran is a popular ramen noodle chain in Japan and we went based on the recommendation of our friends, Jason and Gloria. The one we visited was in Shinjuku Tokyo and although we couldn’t work out how to read the address, we were able to find it by walking towards the shops once getting out of JR Shinjuku Station’s Higashi exit.

This store is open 24/7 and they specialise in one product – the classic tonkotsu ramen.

Eating through Asakusa, Tokyo

A trip to Asakusa was a great way to escape modern-day Tokyo and get a taste of Japanese history and their traditional culture.

I anticipated a day of sightseeing but instead I was in for a surprise. The paths leading up to the temples and shrines were filled with Japanese gift shops and lots of street food!

Disney Sea – Tokyo

We spent a day at Disney Sea Tokyo during our trip, this was my first time at a Disney theme park so it was all very exciting. Disney sure knows how to make you feel like a kid again! There’s so much to see and do that one day was simply not enough.

Here are some snapshots from our day at Disney Sea. Enjoy 🙂

Daiwa Sushi – Tsukiji Fish Market

We visited Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market – the world’s largest fish market twice. The first time we got there was on a Wednesday and the market was closed. They are closed on certain days of the year, so check their website before you go!

Since we had familiarised ourselves with Tsukiji Fish Market on our first attempt, we knew exactly how to walk to Building 6 which houses two of the most famous sushi bars in the fish market – Daiwa Sushi and Sushi Dai. Our eyes were set on the kanji characters 大和寿司, Daiwa Sushi.

Muse Kitchen – Hunter Valley

Foodsaurus is finally back from an extended break. I hope you are enjoying 2014 so far! To be honest, I haven’t been eating out much since mid-December when I took the plunge and invested in a Thermomix, an awesome kitchen gadget that has made home cooking quick, easy and fun.

Since I still have a few Hunter Valley posts from last year, thought I’d start off with this post on Muse Kitchen, sister of the hatted Muse Restaurant in the Hunter. Muse Restaurant was closed for a private function on our last day so we drove to Muse Kitchen which is located at the beautiful Keith Tulloch’s winery for lunch.

Robyn Drayton Wines – Hunter Valley

We visited Robyn Drayton Wines one afternoon in the Hunter, this place is not only a winery but a museum filled with historical photographs of the wine region as well as a cafe that serves Devonshire Tea, raisin toasts and cheese platters all year round.

Cafe Enzo – Hunter Valley

I recently went to the Hunter Valley in regional New South Wales for a holiday with Peter, this was my first time visiting this amazing area only 2 hours north of Sydney. The Hunter Valley is filled with breathtaking views and Aussie wildlife can be seen at your doorstep. With over 150 wineries, the region is best known for its wines and vineyards. So even though I am not much of a drinker, we joined a wine tour and visited multiple cellar doors to sample their wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Where there is wine, you’ll also find good food. So over the next few posts, I’ll write about the restaurants and cafes we visited during our short stay.