Actually Angie

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

Every year, the company I work for gives us a few paid holidays to use anytime between July and September. Last year, I explored the beautiful cities of Sapporo and Otaru, but this year, I decided to stay closer to home in Yokohama. I knew I needed to balance relaxation with, unfortunately, a little work, so I wanted to be flexible and not over-commit myself.

I had just three solid plans this year, and the rest of the time I honestly spent enjoying the air conditioning at home. Yesterday was the second of my planned activities, and it was so much fun because we did an off-the-beaten-path date activity that I’d never done before in Japan—we made our own original scent in the form of perfume or room spray/incense!

I've always seen cute date ideas in Japan on TikTok and Instagram, but I’d never done anything structured like this before. I was super excited, especially because I've really gotten into perfumes and fragrances over the past few years. I was completely on board!

We booked at Gluck Yokohama, which is just a few minutes’ walk from Ishikawacho Station on the JR Negishi Line or a short stroll from the heart of Chinatown. It’s located in an office building, so a bit tricky to find if you miss the sign outside. The interior is tiny, so reservations are definitely a must.

As soon as we arrived, we were seated and given an overview of the experience. The host was really thoughtful, even turning on a fan for us because it was so hot. He explained everything clearly, despite not speaking any English, and made the process super easy to follow.

We both opted to create a room spray. We could choose from 12 different scents and combine up to three to create our own original fragrance. It was a bit overwhelming at first, smelling all the scents, but there was an explanation sheet with the top, mid, and base notes of each one. The host reassured us that you really can’t go wrong with any combination because all the scents complement each other. That was such a relief—I was nervous that I’d love three scents individually but hate them together!

Once you choose your three favorite scents, you start by combining two drops of each in a beaker to form your base scent. From there, you can add drops up to a total of 80. There’s a cheat sheet for the best ratios, but I loved all the scents I chose equally. I went for an herbal scent, a green tea and pear scent, and something sunlight-related that I’ve since forgotten—but I can only describe my final scent as a foresty blend with a hint of flowers and sunlight. I have no idea, but I just love it to death!

After combining your three scents into 80 drops (and there’s a handy sheet to track how much of each you’ve added), it’s time to mix in the ethanol, little by little, until you reach 50 ml. The scent does change slightly, but not drastically, which was a relief.

Next came the coloring! They give you three primary colors (red, yellow, blue), and you can mix them to create your own unique shade. There’s also a cheat sheet for making different colors. I wanted a foresty green, so I mixed all three colors together. It was so much fun—honestly, I felt like a scientist!

After that, you use a magnetic spinner to mix everything completely together. Then, you funnel it into a bottle, give it a try, and finally label and name it! I called mine "Forest Sun." They even have a cute photoshoot spot to take pictures of your finished product!

It was such a fun experience, and I LOVE my scent. I’m going to be so sad when it’s all gone! The price was 5,000 yen, which I think is totally worth it for the experience, but I kind of wish I could just order a refill of my scent for 3,000 yen without going through the whole process again. Still, if I make new friends, I’d totally invite them for this. It’s such a cute date or even a girls’ day activity!

The whole thing took about an hour, and since we were so close to Chinatown, we grabbed some delicious tea at a nearby café before heading to Hammerhead for dinner and dessert.

It was so romantic and healing, and I really want to explore the Hammerhead area more—it felt so picturesque for Yokohama! So, look forward to an upcoming post on that!

All in all, it was a refreshing mid-vacation activity, and I can’t wait to clean my apartment and spray my new room spray everywhere!

GLUCK YOKOHAMA

ROUROU CAFE

QUAY'S PACIFIC GRILL

VANILLABEANS THE ROASTERY

I can't believe it's already July! I planned to update in June, but the month turned out to be unexpectedly busy with closing old doors and starting new ventures. For the past 15 years, I've avoided a certain career path. While I've always been interested in the field, worked alongside professionals in that area, and even earned a certificate for it, I never really wanted to pursue the role. My preference was for something more creative and free.

Recently, I found myself in a situation where I was asked to take on that role. Although it's currently temporary, I have to approach it as if it's permanent. Surprisingly, I don't mind it as much as I thought I would. In fact, it has helped me regain a sense of productivity, and I feel healthily challenged each day. I enjoy learning new things and trying techniques and strategies I haven't used in a long time.

In short, I'm enjoying this new experience for now. However, it has been overwhelming because I have many incomplete and ongoing projects in my other role. Essentially, I'm juggling two roles, which means coming home and working to keep up.

There's not much free time, and I'm constantly thinking about how to adjust to this new role and stay ahead. It's exciting but also draining!

Last weekend, on Tanabata, I took a morning trip to my favorite spot, Yuigahama beach in Kamakura. I love going there around 6:00 and just watching the waves, surfers, and dog walkers while eating snacks. I tend to FaceTime my family, and we all have a good time. It is one of my favorite things to do, and it refreshed my mind and heart a bit. I tend to head back around 9:00 before the people rush.

This time, I mainly went for research for work, but after collecting some samples and stuff, I read a book and just wanted to take a nap! Recently, my weekends have been packed because that is the only time I can be social, meet people, catch up, and spend time with my daughter. However, it was really nice to take that time for myself!

Hopefully, I will update again soon

Hello Everyone! I have been really MIA lately, partly because logging onto the PC, transferring all of the photos, residing and editing them, and then writing and composing post are a bit time-consuming (Plus, I have been introduced to the world of BL dramas and dare I say, I am addicted), I haven't really had the motivation to blog lately.

But, while I am still logged on and motivated, I wanted to share my experience visiting Yasukuni Jinja in Tokyo. One lazy Saturday, my friend suggested we go visit this shrine. I had never heard of Yasukuni Shrine and was very intrigued, so we made the drive up to Tokyo.

While in the car, I did some research about the shrine. This shrine was built in 1869 to honor and remember soldiers who died fighting for Japan. The word "Yasukuni" means "peaceful country." and over the years, it has become a symbol of national pride. The shrine houses the spirits of around 2.5 million people, including soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for Japan, dating back to the Boshin War in the late 1800s. However, Yasukuni Shrine is also a source of controversy, especially for neighboring countries like China and South Korea, because some of the individuals enshrined there were involved in wars that caused suffering to their people. Despite this, many Japanese people continue to visit Yasukuni to pay their respects and honor those who died for their country.

As an American, I did feel a little "off" at first about visiting, as there were political trucks parked outside, and as a foreigner in Japan, it is often not hard to detect xenophobia at times. I found myself having the same feeling when I saw a Confederate flag in the States. But, I pushed through and tried to show my respect because the name “Yasukuni,” was bestowed by Emperor Meiji, and is a means to preserve peace for the entire nation. Therefore, Yasukuni Jinja is intended as a shrine to “bring peace to the homeland” or “build a peaceful nation.”

Also, as an American, especially as a parent of a Japanese child, I felt that it was a good opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and history. Yasukuni Shrine is not only a place of remembrance for those who died in wars, but it also serves as a symbol of Japanese identity and nationalism, which is a very important key to understanding Japanese people.

Additionally, visiting Yasukuni Shrine, could offer an opportunity for me to reflect and offer empathy. While the shrine's history may be controversial, it also represents the human cost of war and the profound impact it has on individuals and societies. My friend's grandfather, who fought in the war, told his comrades that when they died, they would meet again at the shrine. I felt that this shrine is important to Japanese people despite the perspective they hold about the war. Therefore, by paying respects at Yasukuni Shrine, I could express solidarity with the universal desire for peace and reconciliation.

When we pulled up, it seemed like there was a graduation nearby, so there were hundreds of students in suits and kimonos. It was very festive, but I was a bit intimidated by the large metal Torii gate. It seemed militaristic indeed.

After praying, we visited the Yushukan, a military and war museum. We saw some old artifacts of war, and it was very interesting to read about history from another point of view. I think this blog here has a wonderful write-up about the shrine.

After obtaining a goshuin or shrine stamp, we walked along grounds, which were lined with food trucks but also cherry blossoms. There are over 400 cherry blossom trees of varying species, but there is also one special cherry blossom tree of the Somei yoshino species, which has been designated by the Japanese meteorological agency to mark the beginning of Spring and chery blossom season! Once this tree blooms at least five flowers, it is the start of cherry blossom season. This tree is not hard to miss because it has a live cam pointing at it and is fenced off!

After eating and enjoying the mild weather, I left with a sense of having learned something and I hope to visit again one day cherryto see the cherry blossoms in full bloom!

Although the cherry blossom season has long ended, I wanted to share a beautiful Shrine here in Yokohama that I could visit for the first time since I came to Japan nearly 6 years ago! The shrine that I would like to talk about today is a hidden gym right in the heart of the Minato Mirai neighborhood of Yokohama called Iseyama Kotai Jingu. Before I jump into it, I would like to give a little explanation of the difference between shrines and temples here in Japan because it could be confusing!

Shrine vs. Temple

Famous Ryoanji temple in Kyoto

In Japan, shrines and temples are two distinct religious sites that many foreigners use interchangeably but do in fact unique characteristics and purposes. Shrines, known as "jinja" in Japanese, are primarily associated with Shintoism, a religion native to Japan.

Shrines serve as places of worship for kami, or spirits, and are often marked by the big iconic torii gates at their entrances. Shrines typically feature structures like honden (main hall) and haiden (hall of worship), where rituals and ceremonies are conducted to honor the kami. You can also obtain fortunes called omikuji!

On the other hand, temples, referred to as "tera" or "ji" in Japanese, are closely linked with Buddhism. They are centers of Buddhist teachings, meditation, and rituals, and house statues of Buddha and other revered figures. Temples often boast distinctive architectural features like pagodas, wooden structures, and beautifully landscaped gardens.

Iseyama Kotai Jingu | 伊勢山皇大神宮

Although I've always enjoyed exploring shrines and temples, my adventures often took me beyond Yokohama because Yokohama seemed a bit too local. However, upon a friend's recommendation, I decided to finally visit Iseyama Kotai Jingu as she promised that all my wishes would come true.

After some research, I discovered the shrine's reputation as a "power spot." Despite working just a short 15-minute walk away, it took me nearly two years to finally make the visit. One lovely spring weekday afternoon, I embarked on the journey to Iseyama Kotai Jingu. Despite initially feeling distant on the map, the walk turned out to be quite manageable. Though there was a bit of a trek up the hill, the discreet entrance to the shrine grounds, tucked off to the left, seemed to beckon me.

Ascending the steps, I encountered a cleansing area and a tranquil pond, with few visitors around due to the weekday. After purifying my hands and mouth, I climbed further to the main grounds, greeted by an open area and a stunning view of Minato Mirai. Discovering such a quiet sanctuary amidst the bustling Minato Mirai district was unexpected!

I headed to the goshuin reception area to obtain a temple stamp, which was swiftly completed in about five minutes. After securing my stamp and fortune, I spent the rest of my time leisurely exploring the small grounds, surrounded by cherry blossoms in full bloom, swaying gently in the breeze.

I want to visit again during sunrise or sundown, as I believe the view would be even more beautiful. And of course, I prayed and made a wish before descending the cherry blossom-lined stairs back down to reality.

From the bustling streets of New York's Little Italy to the vibrant districts of Chinatown in San Francisco and Koreatown in Los Angeles, ethnic enclaves offer glimpses into diverse cultures thriving within foreign countries. As a resident of Japan for the past six years, I have been struck with homesickness more times than I count, often relying on the foreign import store Kaldi or the famous or infamous Don Quijote to get a taste of back home.

However, tucked away in Saitama, Japan, lies a hidden gem that may surprise many – Johnson Town. Yes, you read that right, Johnson Town is an American town nestled in Iruma, Saitama!

History of Johnson Town

Johnson Town is a unique blend of American heritage and Japanese ambiance. Originally known as Isono Housing, this quaint town has a captivating story that dates back to the tumultuous years following World War II. In the aftermath of the war, the US military seized control of the area, transforming it into Johnson Base. Over the years, it served as a home for American military personnel and their families, giving rise to the iconic "US military houses" that still stand today, echoing the architecture of suburban America.

However, as times changed and military operations shifted, Johnson Base was returned to Japan in 1978, paving the way for a new chapter in the history of the town. With the departure of American military personnel, the houses lay vacant, leading to a period of neglect and deterioration. Yet, in the spirit of resilience and renewal, efforts were made to revitalize the area. Therefore, in 2004, a comprehensive reconstruction plan was put into action, aimed at transforming the dilapidated housing into a vibrant community known as Johnson Town.

Since then, a remarkable transformation has taken place, with Heisei Houses – modern low-rise homes – blending seamlessly with the nostalgic charm of the original US military houses. Today, Johnson Town stands as a testament to the enduring ties between the two nations, offering residents and visitors alike a glimpse into a truly unique cultural fusion.

From its humble beginnings as a military base to its current status as a thriving residential enclave, Johnson Town embodies the spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. As you wander through its tree-lined streets and quaint neighborhoods, you can't help but marvel at the harmonious blend of American history and Japanese hospitality that defines this remarkable community.

Day Trip to Johnson Town

Feeling a bit homesick lately, I confided in my friend, who decided to surprise me with a spontaneous trip to Johnson Town to lift my spirits. After a drive of about an hour and a half, we arrived to find the streets lined with American flags, a surprising sight that instantly reminded me of home.

Upon parking, we stepped into a scene that blended elements of an American suburb with a touch of nostalgia. The houses, many repurposed into shops filled with Americana, stirred memories of childhood—Lucky Charms boxes, cans of Sloppy Joe, and vintage McDonald's toys adorned the walls, was a trip down memory lane.

The weather was beautiful so we wandered through the maze-like streets lined with houses so similar yet distinct. As we wandered, admiring the vintage military housing and capturing snapshots of English street signs, we couldn't resist having in a meal at Blue Corn Café, known for its American fare.

Inside, the décor boasted license plates from nearly every state, alongside vintage Americana and Disney memorabilia. We ordered burgers and nachos, and unexpectedly, the nachos were topped with jalapenos—a delightful departure from the ordinary! After eating, we took a leisurely stroll through the nearby Fujimi Park, where cherry blossoms were in full bloom, transporting us back to Japan.

Regrettably, due to the long drive, we had to leave sooner than we'd have liked, but our hearts were content with the day's adventure. As an American, I found Johnson Town endearing, albeit more reflective of a Japanese interpretation of American culture rather than a town specifically tailored for Americans, like Chinatown or Little Italy. Yet, amidst the absence of American grocery stores or brand-name clothing outlets, I couldn't help but appreciate the Japanese embrace of my culture—from cowboy hats to vintage knickknacks, a testament to their admiration.

While I might have been the lone American wanderer that day, the experience left an indelible impression. Though Johnson Town may not replicate the familiarity of America, it offers a unique lens through which to appreciate the cross-cultural exchange. Perhaps next time, I'll venture there alone, eager to delve deeper into its charm and history!

Your journey to Haneda Airport will now be a breeze with Japan Airlines' (JAL) simple baggage delivery service. We can now say goodbye to heavy luggage and crowded trains – this guide will show you how to effortlessly send and receive your suitcases from the comfort of your home in the Kanto area! Please note that this service will deliver your bags to Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (International)!

Step 1: Since a reservation is required in advance. I recommend making a reservation at least one week before departure but you can make a reservation up to a month in advance! Navigate to the JAL baggage delivery service website HERE and fill out the form.

Step 2: Fill out the form. Things to be careful of when filling out the web form.

Gather the important information about your flight, such as flight number and departure time
Be precise regarding your departure date and the time you will be at the airport to pickup your bags
For those coming back to Japan, will you be needing baggage delivery back to your home?
Please note that if you select Yamato as the delivery service, the maximum size is 160 size and 25 kg. If your bag is above that size, make sure that it isn't over weight.
If you would like to send 10 or more bags, you will have to call.

Step 3: Choose your payment method. You can choose to pay beforehand by credit card online or at the counter when you pickup (cash, e-money, JAL coupons, credit card).

Step 4: Select your desired shipping company and pick-up time and date. Take note of when your bags will make it to the airport. Many people mistakenly think it is the same day or next day, but often times it will arrive at the airport two days later.

Step 5: Print out all of your materials and prepare your luggage for pick-up

Step 6: On the day of pick-up, you will receive a confirmation slip. Please bring this with you to the pick-up counter.

Step 7: Navigate to the pick-up counter on the day of pick-up. Please give the staff your confirmation slips. And the staff will have you pay. For two suitcases, it was 5,300 yen. And that is it!

Although it can be a bit expensive (About 2,500 yen per suitcase), I feel like it was worth the price to send my luggage to the airport, especially when navigating buses and trains. It was so seamless and easy, that I think this will be the only way I travel to the airport if I have more than one piece of luggage!

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