Happy November Everyone! I apologize for leaving everyone hanging the past few months as summer heat wore me down and then I could Influenza A, which I feel like I still haven’t recovered from even though it has been a month.

There’s so much I’d like to update you on, such as my first trip abroad to South Korea, visiting America after 6 years,  my experience having lived in  jiko bukken property. and my daughter finally turning five! Let’s just say there’s also one more humongous life update that I’m so excited to share but would like to wait until the new year to share.

So, please stay tuned as there’s a lot more Japan life related content coming up ahead!

Having grown up with animals my whole life, I am not a stranger to veterinarians, but I never expected to find myself at a veterinarian in Japan. 

About a year ago, I decided to raise a hamster. I’ve raised two hamsters in America, so I was fairly confident going into it this time. I clean his cage every week, and I let him walk around in his ball a few times a week. He’s very friendly and lets you hold him and carry him around.

However, I noticed one night that his left eye was kind of glued shut. I just read online that it could be dried “sleep” and to just wipe it with a damp cloth, which is what I did.

I forgot all about that incident until a week ago, I noticed his left eye was extremely red and swollen. I had no clue what could have happened since nothing changed and I’ve been using the same bedding and materials since I got him.

After searching online, I read that it could be an infection similar to pinkeye and to see a veterinarian immediately. I was a bit hesitant but having taken responsibility of a pet, I thought it’s best to take care of it properly no matter how small or maybe even how near to end of life it is.

Now, there are tons of veterinarians around, but one thing I didn’t expect were “cat and dog” only veterinarians! So, while searching, I  repeatedly found offices that only examine cats and dogs.

Another road block was referral only veterinarians as well, and finally as a foreigner, there are even fewer English speaking veterinarians, especially in Yokohama.

I ended up contacting an office that didn’t have any immediate openings, but had an English speaking veterinarian. Despite that convenience, I decided to call another vet because I didn’t want to risk his eye getting worst.

In the end, I ended up calling the closest vet to me even though they didn’t speak English. I called around 4:00 while at work and they said they can fit me in today if I arrived by 6:15.

I sped home after work and packing up our little hamster. I didn’t have a carrier for him so I just brought him in his plastic ball.

The vet is about 15min walk away, but I didn’t want to take any chances and decided to ride the bus for 3 min. Despite him never having been outside before, he did really well! Only a few squeaks when I stopped swinging the bag. I didn’t know what questions the vet would ask, so I took pictures of his house, bedding, and food beforehand.

I walked into the clinic and was given two intake forms. The first one was to register with the clinic and give basic information about me and my pet. The second was a questionnaire about the current condition and past condition of the pet being seen today, such as any medical issues before, vaccinations, etc.

After that, I was quickly seen by the doctor. He asked me to take my hamster out of the ball and he examined his eye by picking him up. The doctor was very patient with me and very gentle with the hamster. He asked me a few questions about his eye, and concluded that maybe he scratched himself and it was bacterial infection.

He said he would prescribe an antibiotic and to give this to him for a week. If there is still no improvement, then bring him back.

The exam took all of 5 minutes and off we were. The vet assistant kindly explained the medicine and how to administer it. She also gave me tips on how to make the hamster take it.

She then gave me a medical card for him with his patient number on it and off we went! Overall, it was less painful time and money wise compared to when I used to take my cats to the vet. Overall, 10/10 experience even with no English involved!

The total cost was 4500 yen, about 1500 for the medicine, 2500 for examination and 500 to register as a new patient at their clinic.

I’ve been following the vets advice and deligently monitoring and administering the medicine each day. I definitely seen an improvement in his energy levels and his eye is getting a bit better!

I think if it doesn’t improve, I’ll try the English speaking clinic instead just to get a second opinion and also more experience!

But I definitely had a good experience at the clinic near to my house! Since I’ve only ever experienced the vet with a cat, which required blood draws and surgery, and 1000s of dollars, it was nice to walk with away having paid a reasonable fee and wasn’t so scary after all!

Now that my daughter is five, we have been to many play areas around Yokohama that I would like to share with you today as a foreigner! Although play areas and quite similar that aren’t created equally and have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look, and just a reminder that this is my own opinion and not being sponsored in any way. Plus, all photos are stock images and not photos from the actual play area in order to comply with copyrights. Therefore, please visit the homepage of each individual play area for further information.

 

Summer in Japan is in full swing, and while I’d usually rather hide inside with the AC blasting, I couldn’t resist heading out for a fun day in the sun down in southern Kanagawa, specifically, the city of Zushi!

Zushi is a laid-back seaside city on the Miura Peninsula, just about an hour from Tokyo and only 30 minutes from Yokohama. It’s known for its relaxed local vibe, wide sandy beach, and as a chill alternative to the more crowded Kamakura.

A little further down the coast is Hayama, a small upscale resort town famous for its beautiful coastline, yacht harbor, and even as the site of the Imperial Family’s summer villa. The whole Miura Peninsula is actually my favorite area in Japan, so I knew whatever the day had in store would be right up my alley.

We started off strolling along Zushi Beach around 10 AM. It was just waking up, with only a handful of people scattered about. The sea was calm, so not many surfers yet, but mostly swimmers and folks lounging on colorful floaties.

Our first real stop was Hayama Marina. We drank some beers and chilled out by the lighthouse pier. There was practically no one else there, so we had an uninterrupted view of the water, which was slowly filling up with paddle boarders and jet skis. Super peaceful.

After that, we took a short walk over to Marlowe, a well-known restaurant and café famous for its glass jar puddings. Just before going, I had been talking about how much I love mitarashi dango (sweet rice dumplings covered in a sticky soy sauce glaze (both sweet and salty)), and what do you know, Marlowe was offering a limited edition mitarashi dango pudding that day!

We were seated at a cozy window seat looking out over the ocean. The place was this perfect mix of chic and relaxed. We split a seafood ajillo made with super fresh local tobiuo (flying fish), plus a gorgeous steak with roasted veggies. Everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and honestly came out so fast I barely had time to sip my drink.

Then came the pudding, which was chilled, smooth and absolutely delicious. The mitarashi sauce was spot on. You can even order pudding to take home, which I 100% recommend if you live nearby.

On the way back to the station, we passed by Zushi Beach again, now totally packed with people of all ages. We stopped at one of the many little beach shacks for some shaved ice and just sat under the shade, watching the summer chaos go by.

If you’re looking for something a bit more relaxed than the busy beaches of Kamakura but still want all the summer fun, I’d totally recommend checking out Zushi and Hayama. It’s the perfect little escape without going too far from the city.

Lately, I’ve been falling in love with handmade things. I’ve made my own room spray, a temple stamp book, and even started painting classes. So when I was invited to make my own nail polish in Kamakura, I couldn’t help but feel excited.

The day started quietly, wrapped in gentle rain as I made the one-hour journey to Kamakura, the kind of trip that feels like an escape. Somehow, Kamakura feels even more beautiful in the rain all misted over and full of charm that feels just a tad bit out of focus.

We stopped for breakfast at Garden House, a cozy restaurant tucked away from the wet streets. The rain tapped gently on the windows as we sipped coffee, awwing at the quaint latte art, and settling into the peaceful rhythm of the day.

After breakfast, we wandered through Komachi street, lined with small food stalls and shops, tiny but bustling with energy. By 11:00, we arrived at the nail polish studio, welcomed with kind smiles by the staff. Payment was made upfront, and the atmosphere already felt good.

At a standing table set with neat tools and little bottles, our instructor guided us through a brief introduction to color theory and the concept of water-based, peel-able nail polish. Then we were left to create freely, with no set formula.

I wanted to make a soft lavender, something calming and elegant. But as I mixed, the colors shifted unexpectedly—grey, then green. The staff didn’t correct me, gently encouraging me to follow my instincts. Still, I felt a bit lost. You’re only given a small amount of base to work with, so once you veer off track, there’s no starting over.

While I wasn’t completely satisfied with the color I accidentally created, something about the process, the gentle clink of bottles, the quiet companionship, the soft rain trailing down the tall glass windows made it a moment I genuinely cherished.

In the end, I named my nail polish “Dewy Moss.” It wasn’t the lavender I imagined, but it felt honest like something born of the day itself.

We were given time to take photos, placing our little bottle among the props in the shop. I also ended up buying another bottle in the color I’d originally hoped for, along with a top coat. Before leaving, we were given a simple lesson on how to apply the polish well. There were no frills, just honest care up until the last moment.

Afterward, we visited Hasedera, one of my favorite temples in Kamakura. The rain had softened into a mist by then, and the grounds felt especially serene. We wandered quietly, pulled fortunes and wrote our wishes on a wooden block, letting the peaceful atmosphere settle into us.

Later, we found a little café nearby and spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about our goals and future over dessert and coffee. The windows fogged slightly as the rain continued to fall outside, and we lingered there until evening, unhurried, warm, and content.

The whole nail polish workshop was conducted in Japanese, so some understanding of the language helps. But honestly, color mixing is its own kind of universal language. If you’re looking for a quiet, thoughtful experience on a rainy day in Kamakura, this is one I’d recommend.

I haven’t worn my polish yet, as I’m waiting on a quick-drying top coat, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Store details are below just in case you’d like to try creating your own Kamakura memory too!

Store name: L'instant joli / CausetteJoli KAMAKURA

Address: 2-12-37 Komachi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 248-0006

Phone number: 070-2297-9995

Business hours: 11:00-17:30

Link to Workshop information page: https://www.causettejoli.jp/view/page/lpc-ws