Category: Japan

The Japanese term for Castella is カステラ, and in English, it’s Castella
It is said that the original term カステラ comes from Portuguese, introduced to Nagasaki in the mid-16th century, and later spread throughout Japan.
In Taiwan, it was previously known as “Honey Cake” or “Nagasaki Cake”.
Currently, the most well-known Castella shop among Taiwanese travelers is Fukusaya.

Ippudo Ramen has opened hundreds of branches throughout Japan and even collaborated with 7-11 to launch a co-branded instant ramen. However, if you want to enjoy authentic Ippudo Ramen outside of Japan, your only option is to purchase their instant noodle packs. After going through customs at Kansai Airport, I bought a pack of Ippudo Ramen instant noodles and chose the “Akamaru” flavor. Don’t underestimate this small box, as it is priced at ¥550, which is the same as the regular ramen sold in stores.

At midnight, I wanted to go eat ramen, but I found the ramen shops too far away, so I had to choose a nearby option. Since I live near the Hachijoguchi exit of Kyoto Station, Nakau is the most convenient choice for me.

Marugame Seimen (Japanese: 丸亀製麺) is one of my favorite chain noodle shops in Japan. Personally, I prefer noodles that have a good texture and elasticity. Compared to other chain udon shops, it’s not just the udon that tastes good. The side dishes are also quite good, and the best part is that it’s cheap.

Gyoza no Ohsho originated from Kyoto, while Osaka Osho originated from Osaka. Both restaurants specialize in Chinese cuisine and offer Japanese-style dumplings. Interestingly, both restaurants have the word “Ohsho” in their names, which has led many people to mistakenly believe that they are part of the same company. However, which one is better in terms of taste? It ultimately depends on personal preference, as everyone has different taste preferences.

Three of the most well-known gyudon chain restaurants in Japan are Matsuya, Sukiya, and Yoshinoya. Yoshinoya has been operating in Taiwan for many years, but I personally find Matsuya’s taste less to my liking. That leaves Sukiya, which I prefer. Although Sukiya has also opened stores in Taiwan, the prices there are considerably higher than in Japan, and the menu offerings are slightly different.

On this evening, we dined at the popular “Okagesan” izakaya, which is located near the famous “Miroku Yokocho” in Hachinohe. Miroku Yokocho is like a food stall village, similar to Taiwan’s night markets, but it consists only of restaurant establishments. Although the cuisine at izakayas is generally similar, here you can enjoy Hachinohe’s local specialty – Senbei Hotpot.

When traveling to Japan, besides beautiful scenery and delicious food, there are also many experiential activities to participate in. This time, we will be joining a soba noodle making experience. The main steps include kneading the dough, rolling it out, and cutting the noodles. Finally, we can taste the soba noodles we have made ourselves. It’s a pretty good experience activity.

Why is Ichikura Ramen appearing again?
Wasn’t I in Sounkyo, 60 kilometers away, in the previous article? How did I end up in Asahikawa?!
That’s because Sounkyo was too boring, the weather was hot, and I didn’t feel like soaking my feet.
I arrived at the hotel at 1 PM, but they insisted on a 3 PM check-in.
Moreover, every restaurant in Sounkyo looked unappetizing.
So, I drove 60 kilometers to Asahikawa to eat ramen…

When it comes to Obihiro cuisine, the most famous dish has to be butadon (pork bowl).
Although I’ve had butadon before and even bought butadon sauce to make it at home in Taiwan,
I’ve never actually eaten butadon in Obihiro itself.
So, this trip to Obihiro was solely for the purpose of eating butadon!!
Since I arrived in Obihiro at 7 PM, the original butadon restaurant was already closed,
so I went to this highly recommended place inside Obihiro Station called Butahage.