Japan Photo Guide

Nectar has been around for a long time, in fact, so long that it is becoming more and more rare to find it in vending machines. Nectar is a peach “juice” drink made by Fujiya. I say “juice” because well, it isn’t really juice. When I was doing study abroad there was one machine in my dorm that had Nectar and if we were at the machine together, we would have to play paper, rock, scissors to decide who would get the first one because a few times, somebody took the last one. Nothing was worse for us than feeling the summer heat and humidity in Tokyo, in a dorm, with no air-conditioning, watching your buddy drink some Nectar that you missed out on. So what makes Nectar so good that we would actually care so much?

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I already wrote about Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, but when I went last time, the wholesale part was closed and I only took photos in the consumer market. Unfortunately, from April 2008 the market has apparently restricted tourist access during the peak hours and for the Tuna auctions and only allow tourist in certain areas, so I went in March to get some photos…By the way, I have heard that they have not been too strict so far, anyone recently go? If you have been since April 1st, please leave a comment about your experience…

After going, I understand why they want to stop tourist from coming as no matter how hard I tried, I always felt I was in the way. I went with a friend of mine and he probably saved my life a couple times because the workers drive this mini reverse forklift things around and don’t seem like they would stop if you were in the way… Especially since they might not always be paying attention!


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I have been posting about different kinds of food I will miss after I leave Japan and decided I needed to add one drink to the list: Koiwai Brand Milk Coffee. This is the most delicious coffee I have ever had (not that I am an expert). I usually drink one of these bottles of goodness a day. Anyone who has been to Japan can attest to the fact that there are about 2395802 kinds of coffee drinks you can buy from convenient stores and vending machines; while it would be impossible for me to have tried them all, I have tried a lot of them. Hands down Koiwai is the best.

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Chashu is “Chinese” style pork that is usually boiled or grilled, and served sliced or sometimes in chunks. I used quotes because I have only had it Japan, so for all I know it could be different in Japan, you know like how in America, Chinese food isn’t really Chinese food and Japanese food usually is not really Japanese food (in my 3+ years I have never eaten or even seen teriyaki chicken). Anyway, chashu is usually served atop ramen, but sometimes you can order it as a side dish, or as my favorite, Chashuman. Chashuman comes in a couple different variations, but the one that is the best is this one that you can get from Family Mart. Don’t be fooled by impressions, notice the unique shape of this one (hint: it is not round)!

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Like pizzaman and chocoraman, gyozaman combines two things that I love, gyoza (which is the Japanese version of Chinese dumplings. In the USA often they are called “pot stickers”) and the fluffy, warm, doughy goodness of nikuman. So you might think that I am all about the gyozaman…

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I have already brought you chocoman and the run of the mill nikuman, now I present to you their Italian cousin, pizzaman! I love pizza and I live these doughy balls of goodness, so… See more photos and read the rest of this entry »