Isn’t she darling? Fujiya is a very old bakery/sweetshop chain in Japan– my dad always tells me that as a child, it was a super special treat to ever get a cake from Fujiya. This was the very last thing I ate in Japan, in Narita airport. Au revoir, Tokyo!

A field of aloe in Izu, peaking onto a breathtaking view of the sea. This was a center dedicated to just aloe, and sold anything from curative aloe candy, aloe soft serves, to magically healing aloe lotions.

Remember Yamahomo’s post on aloe yogurt?

PS: Sorry I haven’t been posting much- I’ve been crazy busy at work. If I see another order of eggs benedict, I’m gonna hurl! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Hope all your travels are going smoothly and you are drunk wherever you may be!

Got these clams from a roadside seafood guy that Naoko always goes to in Katsuura, Chiba. I remember he worked out of a ramshakle space, dotted with random trinkets for tourists and framed dust-covered posters from the 70′s. You would never think this were a place to get the freshest, top-of-the-line seafood. He must sell whatever he catches that very day.

This is the Sazae clam. The shell is thorny and colors, vibrant. See the hot pink? We had trouble trying to scoop the actual clam out of their shell with our chopsticks. Right when we were about to give up and let it be, we were able to get it! It’s all about angling the shell juuust right.

It comes out all curled up, like a chubby baby infant. The texture is like no other, at once bouncy and crunchy– in Japanese, you call this はごたい (hagotai).

The Sazae is a classic wintertime treat.

God, I get so excited when I look at this photo. The bowls and plates, of all different colors, shapes and sizes– it’s all so visually stimulating.

This was in a roadside restaurant in Izu, a seaside town known for their onsen (hot springs). In the middle there, that’s stewed fish, and to the left of that is tuna sashimi. Above that is a little trio of shiokara (fermented squid), my favorite.

The highlight is the individually-sized hotpot on the top right. Yes, this lunch set came with its own little cast iron pot filled with meats and vegetables, all brewing over a fire. Sign me up.

The bowl was literally wider than her torso– this is NOT an optical illusion. She looked this awkward the entire time she slurped her noodles. It was all a comical experience given the place was rather chic! Tim Burton would have appreciated the irony.

The actual portion of the udon was totally normal. Here it is with a simple piece of fried tofu. Nothing mind-blowing, but this wasn’t one of those lame “I dare you to eat the entire bowl!” contests or anything.

Is this just some bizarre Osaka thing?

A soba shop in the backroads of Katsuura, Chiba, Japan.

Apparently, this is how civilized people eat at buffets in Japan. Who needs plates when we can all just eat out of little glass cups and ramekins???

What a difference from the way we pigged out at the Wynn in Vegas earlier this year.

Come on, America! Get it together!!!

Will it be shoyu? Miso? Tonkotsu?

大もり= Oomori = Super Size Me?

Side of fried rice? Gyoza? An extra egg? Extra slices of roast pork?

Choose button carefully– there’s no turning back! Drop your yen into the machine and the ticket will print with your order. Take ticket to the dude behind the counter, who will personally assemble your lusty bowl of ramen.

PS: This is in ode to a RAMEN TRUCK that will be soft opening on the streets of Hayes Valley, SF this weekend. Follow the Shirohige Ramen-ya on Twitter here. HELLZYAHH!!!

Whole squid being hung out to dry, off the side of a major highway in Izu. I love their little feet hanging off the edges. Cute.

Japan’s country-wide home delivery service is probably the most efficient, speedy and convenient system in the world. You could literally get anything, ANYTHING, delivered to your doorstep in a matter of hours. It puts FedEx to shame, shame, shame. You can even get your suitcase delivered to your house from the airport! GENIUS!

My aunt received a box of these lovely maitake mushrooms from a friend, oh you know, just because. That’s another thing I love about Japan- people are always randomly sending each other FOOD.

Maitake is the essence of autumn in Japan. “Seasonal” is an understatement. They are delicate and smell of deep earth perfume. When they are carefully handled, they look like large pieces of flowering fans.

I prefer them in nabe (hotpot) or fried tempura style. Mmmm. Happy Autumn to all!