Warming Miso Soup

One of my favorite rituals in Japan was beginning each meal with a small bowl of miso soup. Especially when served with breakfast, the elixir had a special way of warming and opening up my chest, getting me ready for the day. It was the best feeling. Miso soup was never served with a spoon, just chopsticks. To get the broth, you’d lift the bowl to your lips and sip. The whole time we were in Japan, I was excited … Continue reading

Miso-Cured Black Cod: A Taste of Japan

As soon as I opened the oven and got a whiff of this fish, I knew it was perfect. It brought me right back to Japan. I first encountered broiled, miso-cured black cod on the airplane, and afterwards it appeared as a component of several other meals throughout our trip, including breakfast. The fish is plump, rich, and incredibly savory. I love prodding it with the end of my chopstick, sliding the layers of fish apart from each other, and … Continue reading

Train Tripping from Kyoto

One of the best parts about traveling in Japan is the train system, which is so efficient and convenient that day trips are an absolute must. Kyoto and Osaka are surrounded by a bunch of fantastic day trip destinations, but my absolute favorite was Nara. The enormous population of peaceful, friendly, fearless, free-roaming deer make Nara one of the most special places we visited during our time in Japan. Unlike the monkeys that came with scaryish rules, the deer were … Continue reading