Week 14: Mom and Aunt Trace's Visit

View from Uonuma no Sato 

A coupe of weeks ago my Mom and Aunt Trace traveled to Japan! It was great timing, both because of the pleasant Fall weather and me finally feeling somewhat comfortable in my surroundings. The two of them flew into to Tokyo, and immediately boarded the Shinkansen the following day to spend some time in Urasa. 

Uonuma no Sato

Although there isn't too much to do in Inaka, there are a few hidden gems in this area. One of them being Uonuma No Sato, located in Itsukamachi, which is just a town over from mine. Fairly new and modern for Inaka, this is a complex of gourmet shops and restaurants tucked away from the main drag. Mom and Aunt Trace went to town shopping for Omiyage, but I am happy they were able to find local foods and items to bring back to their friends, family and co-workers!

Crafts at Uonuma No Sato

All of the shops have their specialties, this one has a great assortment of gorgeous fabrics and special handmade cards and money envelops for special occassions, such as weddings and birthdays. Both Mom and Aunt Trace spent a long time deliberating which cloths to buy, but I'm happy they were able to buy new things for their home and others successfully!

View from Royal Park Shiodome Hotel

Aunt Trace left shortly after our shopping expedition to head off to work. The remainder of the week, I did my best to entertain my Mom with random excursions (admittedly most of which were also shopping related in preparation for the winter time) post-work and stay warm in the chilly autumn evenings. 

We finished off the trip with a weekend getaway to Tokyo, where we stayed at a magnificent hotel. The photos of Tokyo Tower were taken from our hotel windows!

Meal at Pignon

Mom and I got into Tokyo late Friday afternoon, before Aunt Trace. Earlier in the week we made reservations at a fabulous French Bistro called Pignon. Notably, I successfully asked the woman over the phone in Japanese if she spoke English and the conversation went smoothly (for once!). Upon my request to eat at some non-Japanese restaurants while we were in Tokyo, Mom did her research well and read about Pignon in the Japan Times. A Japanese chef, trained in France, my stomach and I were equally pleased. 

Chef Rimpei Yoshikawa's dishes were unlike any French restaurant I have ever been too. Like the article says, his menu items feature dishes from other cultures which was even more exciting for my foodie self. We followed the recommended specials and indulged in Yoshikawa's signature guacamole and merguez sausages with homemade harissa (the latter is not pictured because it was consumed too fast) which were both unbelievable. The guacamole was silky and tangy paired with delicious toasted bread, and the sausages melted in your mouth with a slight kick from the harissa. The meal's momentum continued, as what seemed like a simple eggplant and carrot salad turned out to be jam-packed with flavor, Mom and I kept "mmmm-ing," after each bite. Followed by a bacon-potato quiche, with a side of Japanese mushrooms was surprisingly light and not heavy despite its size. Last, we concluded with a cheese board. Even though I was tempted by desserts that had the words, "chocolate and pumpkin," in them, Mom and I were set on the cheese plate even before we ordered our main dishes. Simply because we both love cheese, and I also haven't had "real," cheese for the past three months. Needless to say, there were five cheeses, dried figs and even more delicious bread to conclude our meal. 

This place was stellar and the best non-Japanese restaurant I've been to in Japan. In turn, the servers were extremely patient and kind to us, and took the time to make sure they were translating the menu for us in English. Even if the food hadn't been amazing, their service and kind attitude to us foreigners would be enough to make me want to come back, luckily the restaurant had both. It is a must in Tokyo, and definitely worth another visit in my book! 

Shopping in Kagurazaka

The following day was filled with more shopping and food. A fun highlight was walking around Kagurazaka in Tokyo. This area looks like Kyoto and has a lot of great shops. We all appreciated this senbei shop, for its variety and fun packaging.

Obviously, we did a lot more than what is photographed in this post. Unfortunately, I was either too focused on what we were doing or didn't feel that everything needed to be photographed. Overall, it was great to see and spend time with family in a different part of the world. I think it was really important that my Mom see where I live now and have the chance to view my work place too. Not only do I think it will make it easier to explain stuff in the future, but now folks from home can ask her questions and she can relay a more accurate picture on my behalf. :)

I am expecting another visitor in less than two days, my boyfriend Patrick, and am equally as excited. I suspect the next blog post will be after his visit, so hold tight for the next two weeks for the next update!