Category: Slice of Life

Kobe and Yakitori

Thursday, February 19th, 2026Tuesday, March 17th, 2026food, Japan, Japanese food, postaday, yakitoriFood, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/125 sec, ISO50
“Ikuta Shrine” Kobé, 2026

Today we traveled from our home in Tatsuno to Kobe using the Kishin Line to Himeji, then switching to the JR Kobe Line to Sannomiya. It took about an hour and 20 minutes and cost ¥1,340 (about $8.40 USD) 🚃. Tomorrow I have a health check-up in Kobe, and after that we’ll be heading to Osaka to meet up with Mariko’s mom.

Walking around Sannomiya Station was a lot of fun. There were so many people compared to Tatsuno, and so many places to shop! 🛍️ I bought a jacket and scarf at Uniqlo, and Bay picked up a new pair of glasses 👓. I also spotted some really cool Seiko watches, but they were way out of my price range! 😅

After shopping, we met up with Mariko and headed to Trattoria Bamboo (トラットリアバンブー) for yakitori 🍢. We ordered the classic negima (green onion and chicken), tsukune (chicken meatball), and kawa (chicken skin), plus tori sashimi — raw chicken. It sounds unusual, but it was actually delicious! Other standout dishes included tofu, risotto, foie gras, and karaage. Everything was incredible 😋.

Since my health check was scheduled for first thing the next morning, I wasn’t supposed to eat anything after 8 pm or drink any alcohol 🙅, so we wrapped up dinner and headed back to the hotel for an early night. What a fun day! 🌟

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO1250
“Tarisashi” Kobé, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO400
“Negima” Kobé, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO160
“Tsukune and Kawa” Kobé, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
“Karaage” Kobé, 2026

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO1250
“Soft Drink” Kobé, 2026

Osanpo Snaphots

Wednesday, February 18th, 2026Monday, March 9th, 2026postaday, snapshots, TatsunoSlice of LifeLeave a Comment

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/4, 1/1100 sec, ISO800
“Tombo Cover” Tatsuno, 2026

Here are some snapshots from my walk around the neighborhood today!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO80
“Bicycle” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/12000 sec, ISO80
“Late Afternoon” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec, ISO1250
“Osanpo Snapshot” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/3.2, 1/20 sec, ISO1600
“Shoyu Ad” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO800
“Town Vibe” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/4, 1/2900 sec, ISO800
“Cool House” Tatsuno, 2026

Himeji Shopping and Shabu-Shabu

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026Monday, March 9th, 2026food, Himeji, Japanese food, postadayFood, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100
“Muji Stationery” Himeji, 2026

Today we headed over to the city of Himeji to do some shopping at Muji, one of my favorite stores. I love everything about that place!

Although they have a respectable sized stationery section, I resisted buying anything. I admit to having a mechanical pencil and notebook in my basket, but I put them back since I don’t really need them. My collection at home is already overflowing! However, I did find a couple of shirts that fit perfectly, so I bought those. They were at a great price too, at around ¥1,200 JPY ($7.50 USD) each. Such a steal!

After shopping, we went to Shabu-yo, an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant. It was delicious and we stuffed ourselves! By the time we left the restaurant, it was full of high school kids. We later saw the sign outside that advertised a special price for high school students. No wonder! I’d be eating here all the time if I were still in high school! 😄

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
“Shabu-shabu” Himeji, 2026

Seaside Oysters at Tsudau-Suisan

Monday, February 16th, 2026Sunday, March 8th, 2026food, Japanese food, oysters, postaday, TatsunoFood, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/160 sec, ISO100
“Kaki Section” Tatsuno, 2026

Today we headed to the seaside for lunch at Tsudau-Suisan, this amazing seafood restaurant perched right on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The views were absolutely spectacular! 🌊 We had reservations and they gave us one of the best tables in the house. I was so excited when they showed us to our spot! ✨

One of the specialties here (and the area in general) are the oysters, so naturally I went a little crazy. 😅 I ordered a whole bucket of oysters to be steamed at the table, some rice with oysters that were also cooked tableside, and oyster roll sushi. It was all delicious! We also got sashimi and gratin, plus I had a nama-biiru to wash it down. Such a memorable meal. Definitely recommended! 🦪

Afterwards we stopped at Road Station Mitsu to do a bit of shopping, and that’s where I saw the largest daikon I have ever laid eyes on. And it was only ¥160 JP ($1 US)! Unbelievable! 🥕

Lastly, I was happy to get my first stamp in my notebook. It’s so funny because it has an oyster and daikon on it! 📓

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/1000 sec, ISO50
“Seaside Beer” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/280 sec, ISO40
“Oyster Sushi” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100
“Oyster Bucket” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/200 sec, ISO40
“Yummy Beer” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO125
“Oysters on the Half-Shell” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/670 sec, ISO80
“Fresh Shellfish” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
“Enormous Daikon” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/120 sec, ISO64
“Mitsu Stamp” Tatsuno, 2026

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/2800 sec, ISO80
“Fishing Harbor” Tatsuno, 2026

Another Afternoon Osanpo

Sunday, February 15th, 2026Sunday, March 8th, 2026Japan, postaday, snapshots, TatsunoPhoto Life, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec, ISO200
“Ume Blossoms” Tatsuno, 2026

I went for another afternoon osanpo after wrapping up work for the day. There’s just so much here in Japan that catches my eye and makes me want to pull out my camera! 📸

I’ve realized I kind of gauge how much I like a place by how many photos I end up taking. The more shots, the more I’m loving it. ✨