Hara Museum of Contemporary Art near Shinagawa

There is something very special about visiting small unique museums. It is like a detox for your soul and you come out totally refreshed. Hara Museum is this sort of place. It is a small contemporary art museum in a residential area about 15 minutes away from Shinagawa station.

It opened in 1979 by renovating a private home of Toshida Hara which was built in 1938. They have created a one-of-a-kind space there. The former bathroom and restroom are also transformed into exhibition spaces and you feel like you are on a treasure hunt for little nooks.

The museum is petite so you can stop by even if you have just a little time but try to reserve time to relax at their cafe, Cafe d'Art which overlooks a well-mended courtyard. Try out their Image Cake, which they create especially for the exhibition. It is a beautiful art that you can actually eat.

Unfortunately photos are not allowed inside the museum so it is hard to explain the sophistication and calmness of the place. This is a must-visit museum for art lovers who want to spend a nice quite afternoon.

  
Hara Museum of Contemporary Art

Eating out: Tonkatsu? No, Gyukatsu!

I love tonkatsu, the breaded deep-fried pork cutlet. I also love steak and roast beef that is done rare or medium rare. Combine both, and voila, you've got gyukatsu.

Gyukatsu has become popular recently and thought I should have a go.
I went to Katsugyu in Takebashi Palaceside Building on a Saturday and
I ordered the beef sirloin (160g) with grated yam and it was ¥1580.











(http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130201/13188561/)



You are offered so much sauces to dip your gyukatsu into!
Grated yam, curry sauce with dashi, Japanese pepper and salt, soy sauce and wasabi and gyukatsu sauce.

If you want something different, give this one a try!

One plate dish: Japanese turnip, bacon and carrot pasta with soy sauce and butter sauce

I love simple one plate dishes especially when it is healthy and satisfying.

This one uses Japanese turnip and its leaves with carrots but you can use almost anything in the fridge.





I think you have seen these Japanese turnips in supermarkets.




Japanese turnips can also be eaten raw. It does not even have to be peeled. You can add it in salads. I like to slice it thinly, sprinkle salt and leave for 5 minutes so the turnip can sweat. Yum!!



Okay, back to the pasta.

Ingredients for the pasta(for 2-3 people):

1 Japanese turnip cut in to thin fan-shape
1/2 carrot cut thinly
3 strips of bacon cut into 1 centimeters
All the leaves on the turnip, cut in 3-4 centimeters
Boiled pasta of your choice (I used spaghetti)
Olive oil
One packet of Kayanoya vegetable dashi (as in my previous article)
Soy sauce
Butter
Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Saute the bacon in a little olive oil.
Add the carrots in the pan and cook until tender.
Add the turnips and leaves and flavor with the vegetable dashi.
Add the cooked pasta in the pan.
Flavor with some soy sauce and butter.
Add salt and pepper as desired.

That's it! Enjoy!

Bucket list idea: Handmade washi experience

Washi is a type of paper originated in Japan. Compared to ordinary paper, the fiber is longer, making it is tougher even when it is thin. It also has a very unique texture.

The word 'washi' comes from 'wa' meaning Japanese and 'shi' meaning paper. They are mostly handmade using a traditional method.

It uses variety of fibers such as the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub or the paper mulberry but it can also be made from bamboo, hemp, rice and wheat.

As washi is long-lasting and durable, it has been used to many traditional arts.


(http://washi-shokunin.com)


There is a workshop where you can make washi!

It is at Ozu Washi, 5 minutes near Mitsukoshimae station.
3-6-2 Nihonbashi-honcho Chuo-ku Tokyo, 103-0023

http://www.ozuwashi.net/english/en_workshop

It allows you the experience handmade washi and offers a demonstration of the entire paper making process.

 
(http://www.ozuwashi.net/workshop)

Below are details on the website.

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Open:　 Monday to Saturday (Closed on Sundays.)
Monday – Friday　 10:30-・11:30-・14:00-・15:00-・16:00-
Saturday　 10:30-・11:30-・14:00-・15:00-

Duration:　 1 unit class would be 1hour duration.

Rate:　 JPY 500- per person (including session, taxes)
Payment:　 Cash Only (Japanese Yen)

*Maximum persons:　 5 in each term

Our studio has an English speaking staff. You will be able to communicate in English for your questions during the session. However please be acknowledged that our session is designated for Japanese language only. Therefore in case you have any concern for language, we are strongly recommended to arrange an interpreter on your end.

[Email] info@ozuwashi.net

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LEGO party in LEGOLAND!

If you are searching for a birthday party venue for your little one, how about a party at LEGOLAND?





LEGOLAND Discover Center Tokyo is located on the third floor of Decks Mall in Odaiba.

They have a private party room for you to enjoy for 60 minutes or 90 minutes according to the plan, and can be used for parents to relax when the kids are out playing in the facility.




They have a very good English site.
https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.jp/tokyo/en/parties-and-groups/celebrations.aspx

You need to call them for availability, book the date, decide on food orders and confirm the booking.

On the day of the party, a staff will meet you in front of the entrance. The staff will give a paper crown to all the children and take the group to the party room. For the 90 minute party, the staff will then hold a special LEGO class and the children can all bring home their work. After the celebration, the kids are free to play in the discovery park as long as they like. The party room is only available during the 60 or 90 minutes so the parents have to leave the room, but there are plenty of tables and chairs just outside the room.

The cost is ¥2,200 to ¥3,200 per child according to plan and day of the week and ¥1,800 for adults.

A museum pass for art lovers

This is a great deal for art lovers living or staying in Tokyo.

The "Tokyo Musuem Grutto pass 2016" is a convenient ticket booklet that provides admissions as well as discount coupons of 79 museums in Tokyo.
The price is ¥2,000 and valid for 2 months since your first time of use.

More information on this English site but this is a really good offer considering it is usually around ¥1,000 for a one time admission!

https://www.rekibun.or.jp/grutto/english.html



Check out the list of 79 venues where you can purchase the booklet and use them!

The only dashi you will ever need

Dashi (broth) is one of the most important ingredients in Japanese cooking.

It usually involves a long process of boiling dry kombu and adding bonito shavings and straining it. While the end product is quite satisfying, it is too time consuming for weekday cooking.

But fear no more, with dashi from Kayanoya, cooking is actually fun again.
They have an English site for their products and shop locations so check this out for their lineup. The diary page has beautiful pictures, too.
http://www.kayanoya.com/en/

If you do not cook Japanese food, the vegetable dashi, the right product in the picture, is perfect.
























This consomme style dashi is made from five powdered vegetables: onion, garlic, celery, carrot, and cabbage. They contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. You can use it to season soups or pasta or fried rice or stir fried vegetables or... the list goes on. It has no Japanese flavoring in it which makes it useful for everything.

They are in convenient little paper bags that you can drop in boiling water or rip open to add to your ingredients. 

Enjoy!

Old Navy to close stores in Japan

One of the best shops to buy children's clothes will close down all stores in Japan by January 2017.

Gap, Uniqlo and Old Navy are perhaps the favorite brands among expats.
Hurry in to stock up. Most of their items are now 30% to 50% off!

Their stores in Tokyo are: Diver City Tokyo Plaza, Granduo Kamata, Kichijoji, Ito Yokado Musashisakai, LaLaport Tachikawa Tachihi and Grandberry Mall.

Dance costumes in the most unexpected location

If you want something fancier for halloween than what they offer in Don Quijote, take a look at the shopping arcade in front of Food Show in Shibuya.

There are abound ten of these 'Dance shops' with the flashiest dance clothes you can find.

It is located in Shibuchika Shopping Road near the exit of the Hanzomon line. It is so bizarre to find such shops in such a prime location.

But and then, it's Tokyo...




http://shibuchika.jp/shops/yamada/index.html

Tasty summer vegetables: cucumbers

Japan may be famous for its cuisines but vegetables should not be overlooked.

One of the best during the summer months are cucumbers!
The long and slender ones are good but if you find these small curly ones, give them a try. They are crunchy and less juicy then their siblings which makes them great for eating with dips.

Try mixing half miso and half mayo as a dip. It is gorgeous and serves as a great snack. Bon appetite!