The Offical Stay Japan Traveler #1 Winter Edition

EDITOR'S
LETTER
he time we were all able to simply put on our
shoes and travel feels like a century ago.
Anything from visiting a new cafe to hopping to
another country was within our grasp. Now,
most of us are locked down to protect those
most vulnerable to COVID-19. Just because you
are staying home to flatten the panemic's curve Tdoesn’t mean you can’t explore new places. This issue
explores the refreshing appeal of winter in Japan (p.5) along
with a guide to spirituality (p.9).
S T A Y J A P A N : W I N T E R 2 0 2 0
Need more than text to get out of your headspace? Try this
simple Japanese recipe with ingredients you should already
have in your kitchen.
P I C T U R E : C O R Y R O T O L O
Omurice
Serves 2
Prep time 5 mins
Cooking time 10 mins
If you want some
hot, colorful
comfort, you can’t
beat omurice, a
word combined
from “omelette”
and “rice.”
RICE
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
100 grams or half of a small
onion
1 teaspoon of soy sauce
300 grams or 2 cups of white
rice
2 tablespoons of ketchup
150 grams or half of a chicken
thigh (optional)
100 grams of corn or carrots,
etc. (optional)
OMELETTE
3 eggs
1 tablespoon of cream (or milk)
(optional)
1 pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of butter
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make the rice.
Prepare by adding the
vegetable oil over mediumhigh
heat. Saute the onions
until tender. If adding chicken
and vegetables, stir-fry until
soft.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the
omelette.
Heat a small skillet over
medium-high heat, add the
butter until melted. In a
separate bowl, beat the eggs
with the cream (or milk) and
add a pinch of salt. Add the egg
mixture into the skillet until the
bottom layer of eggs is set.
Gently stir the eggs while
shaking the pan to create gaps
where the uncooked egg can
move to. Cook until 70% done.
The top layer should still be
runny.
Teresa Fong
3. Add the soy sauce with the
rice. Once the rice is heated
through, add the ketchup. Place
it in a bowl to shape it before
placing on a plate.
4. Try your luck in sliding the
egg off and over your
mountain of rice!
5. If you have a demi-glace
sauce, go ahead and top it off
with that! If not, drizzle some
ketchup on top as a final touch.
Doing something else to keep physically and mentally engaged? Let us know. @STAYJAPAN facebook.com/STAYJAPAN
iv

4 Reasons You Need to
Visit Gifu This Winter
L I L L I A N S E I L E R
Growing up in the sunny state of Florida,
I never had the opportunity to bask in the
snowy magic of winter. I remember
dreaming of cold weather, rolling around
in the pure white snow, and how I wished
for it when I blew out my birthday
candles. It was not until I moved to Japan
that I could make that dream a reality.
There are endless beautiful locations you
can travel within Japan to experience the
breathtaking atmosphere of winter.
However, the one place that topped all
the rest of my travels was the tranquil
prefecture of Gifu. Here are four reasons
why you should visit Gifu this winter!
1. 1. Walk Walk in in a a real real “Winter
Wonderland.”
The snow in Gifu is absolutely phenomenal.
We’re talking piles of feathery, soft snow
enveloping everything in eyes’ view. I went
during the middle of January, when snowfall
tends to be more significant. Not only was it
gorgeous to see, but also feeling the satiny
texture of the snow in my hands was an
enchanting sensory experience. I was able to
live out all my childhood dreams of making
snow angels, hearing the fresh snow crunch
underneath my feet as I walked, and being in
complete awe of my surroundings.
2

2. 2. It’s It’s a snowboarding/skiing
heaven!
Gifu is wonderfully peaceful, but that does not
make it any less adventurous! For the sports
lovers and thrill-seekers, Gifu is a must for
snowboarding or skiing. Out of every other
place I’ve snowboarded, Gifu was the best for
the most satisfying snow and smooth sailing
down the mountain. At Nagareha Resort Ski
Park, there were no wet, slippery patches of
snow during the entirety of my time on the
slopes. It also was not nearly as crowded as
other ski parks I have been to. These traits
made my time all the more worthwhile, as I
could snowboard freely and recklessly to my
heart's content.
The high quality of the snow in Gifu makes it
safer and easier for snow sports, but due to
my general clumsiness, I still managed to
have a few wipeouts. The cushiony snow
came in very handy for that! I fell face-first
into a giant pile of snow, but it was the most
painless and gentle fall I’ve experienced in my
life. Grab a few friends to help you out of the
snow piles and enjoy the slopes!
Want to read the last two tips? Read the rest
at Stay Japan Media
LILLIAN SEILER
3

S T A Y J A P A N : W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

S T A Y J A P A N : W I N T E R 2 0 2 0
GOOD EATS
FOUND BY (SELF) CERTIFIED FOODIE PROFESSIONALS
9

CUISINE
01
03
01
03
02
04
06
04
05
07
09
08
RANKED FOR
Your cnsumption pleasure.
10

09
The "baby tap-pi" finally hits northern Hokkaido.
11

02
A beautiful and quiet cafe in southern Asahikawa
13

CUISINE
04 03 02
Tempura Udon |
¥800
An old-fashioned udon
shop with a HUGE friendly
cat and a nostalgic feel in
the Nashitama District of
Tokyo.
Dessert Plate |
¥2000
A delicious restaurant in
the fashion hub of Shibuya,
this amazing restaurant
offers delectable dining
options, with both English
and Japanese menus.
Biei Latte |
¥630
Amazing place to grab a
fashionable latte. Baristart
offers a drink with a rich
and smooth flavor. The
delicious milk they use
comes from Hokkaido,
leaving you with an
exquisite example as to
why Hokkaido has a
reputation for some of the
best dairy in Japan.
TSUNAGI -DOKORO EN
MARU-GIN
BARISTART COFFEE
RANKED FOR
Your consumption pleasure.
14

Ask the Expert
Your questions about living in Japan as an expat answered by me or our
team of experts!
05
What is a fun weekend
anywhere in Japan?
The best advice that I can give
for a fun time anywhere in Japan
is to find a local cafe and chat up
the owners! Some of the greatest
people I have met, I met in a
dive bar or a tucked away cafe .
What is your
experience as a black
woman in Japan ?
My experience comes with
ups and downs, but
I love where I live. Both my
students and the locals have an
overwhelming curiosity for both
me and my culture. I couldn't
be more happy to share!
04
ASK ME
ANYTHING
Hey! I'm Shantell and I have
been living and working in Japan
for about 3 years now.
Throughout my time, I've
learned a lot about Japanese
culture, what it means to be an
expat in Japan, and most
importantly, I learned about
myself. In this column, it is my
goal to answer the questions
that come my way and hopefully
give you a reason to STAY
JAPAN.
03
How's life romantically
abroad? Do you find it
difficult to connect with
people?
Yes! Living in a very rural part of
Japan, connecting on a deeper,
more romantic level, is definitely
difficult. Cultural difference,
language difficulties, among
other things, make it a tough
time. Still, it's definitely possible
to find love!
17

Ask the Expert
Your questions about living in Japan as an expat answered by me or our team of
experts!
Is living in Japan all you
thought that it would be?
I am glad you asked. It totally isn't! I know
that sounds bad, but honestly, it has
exceeded my expectations. Both the people
and the culture are so fulfilling. Being able
to live and work in the place of my dreams
has been a blessing!
02
01
Can you survive only
speaking English and what
are the safe places for
tourists?
Language honestly just
depends on where you are. I
want to say that if you are on
the main island, or stick to the
big name cities like Tokyo,
Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka, it
is totally possible to get by with
just English. In more rural place,
Japanese becomes more
necessary. As far as safety, in
my experience, Japan is an
incredibly safe country. Japan
is like any other place; practice
safe habits and you’ll be fine!
18

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