Paella lunch with Marc of @norecipes and chef & creator of @cookingwithdog! I had to pinch myself to believe this is happening! It's so cool meeting these YouTube/blog stars who continuously inspire me in person! #ginza #tokyo #jocinjapan

I used to read @thejapantimes as a way to learn English back in high school and college. I had never imagine myself being featured on their Sunday newspaper! This was a true honor for me. Thanks JJ for the awesome article and for Marc @norecipes for your kind note! ☺️🙏💕#thejapantimes #jocinjapan

#GingerPork #生姜焼き 🐷 at #Ootoya #大戸屋. What's your favorite #teishoku #定食 (japanese set meal)? #yokohama #jocinjapan

My favorite local Kurogoma #Tantanmen #黒胡麻坦々麺 (cold noodles in front and hot in back). Omg so good!! 🙌 #Yokohama #jocinjapan

Having #matcha #cheesecake with K, who is my first JOC team member and helps me with my Facebook activities. Thanks to her, you always have my recipes coming your way on Facebook! ❤️ #shinjuku #tokyo #jocinjapan

#Tonkatsu #とんかつ for lunch! 🐷 Very reasonable price ($11) for thick juicy Tonkatsu with bottomless rice, Tonjiru, and cabbage! #tonchinkan #Shinjuku #tokyo #jocinjapan

We heard that Yoshoku Sakurai's #KatsuSando is one of the best. While we wait for takeout (to eat for breakfast), we decided to sit down for dessert. 😄 Ha! We got these emoji desserts! 🍧🍮 ☺️ #Ueno #Tokyo #jocinjapan

Love #yakitori restaurants in Japan, more unique parts/choices and quality is amazing! And there are many good Yakitori restaurants we can choose from!👌 #Ueno #Tokyo #jocinjapan

Switching #Shinkansen at #ShinOsaka station. What to do in 15 minutes? Picking up #Takoyaki! 😃 #くくる #kukuru #jocinjapan

When in Fukuoka, you have to try the #Yatai #屋台 outdoor food stalls on the street. We found a stand nearby and had #Yakitori and #Oden (boiled egg and mochi kinchaku - deep fried tofu pouch with mochi - are my fav). 🍢It was our first time dining at Yatai and it was fun! #Fukuoka #jocinjapan

As a dessert we had Japanese shaved ice #kakigori. 🍧 My daughter and I shared our favorite #Matcha Milk (抹茶ミルク) flavor - shaved ice with matcha syrup, condensed milk, shiratama dango, and red bean paste. I have this recipe on my blog too. 😉 #Fukuoka #jocinjapan

#Kyushu is the origin of #TonkotsuRamen! 🍜 Unlike Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen we eat in the US, the original one seems much simpler and lighter and we love it! Here we have Black Sesame Oil Takana Ramen (Takana is another Kyushu specialties) and Seared Chashu (Fatty Pork) Ramen. We searched Tabelog for most review in Fukuoka city and this shop #HakataDaruma came #2. #Fukuoka #Kyushu #jocinjapan

Sitting at #sushi counter and ordering #omakase #おまかせ. Amazing quality and so much fun watching the expert chef crafting mini masterpieces!! 😍🍣 #Sushi #Kappo #Yamanaka #割烹寿司 #やま中 #hakata #fukuoka #Kyushu #jocinjapan

#Umegaemochi #梅ヶ枝餅 is a must eat when you are in #Dazaifu #太宰府! Hot mochi filled with red bean paste. So delicious! 👌#kyushu #jocinjapan

Getting some breakfast at local bakery in #Kumamoto station. Here we got #CurryPan, #Anpan, Lemon #CreamPan, #MelonPan, sausage pan, pizza pan, and bacon cheese panini for our train ride to #Hakata #博多. #jocinjapan

Trying out #Kumaoto regional specialties at #Izakaya called #negibouzu #ねぎぼうず. Here it's called #hitomojiguruguru #人文字ぐるぐる. It's regional green onion #ワケギ #分葱 that's rolled up and seasoned with vinegar miso (sumiso). So delicious! #mentaiko #tempura #明太天ぷら & #KarashiRenkon #からし蓮根 - another #Kyushu speciality! We ordered so many small dishes but the cost here is very economical compared to Tokyo or SF! Ingredients are amazingly fresh! 👌#jocinjapan

We are now in #Kumamoto #熊本! Taking a break from Japanese food, we are having (Japanese style) Indian Curry for lunch! #八木カレー #YagiCurry #jocinjapan

Our dinner was at #irori #囲炉裏 (sunken fireplace). This was an appetizer. We are very impressed by all the dishes served. #KurokawaOnsen #黒川温泉 is not easy to get to, but the excellent meal and attentive staff made it all worth it. #Shinmeikan #新明館 #jocinjapan

#Matcha Pudding from #Milch #ミルヒ. 🍵 p.s. You might think I'm eating all these food I share but we actually get one and share with entire family...in most cases. 😉 #yufuin #jocinjapan

First time trying #Cremia #クレミア. So rich and creamy! Sprinkle of slightly bitter #matcha balances and enhances the entire experience. 👌 #yufuin #kyushu #jocinjapan

On hot summer days cold soba noodles hit the spot. This dish is called #OroshiSoba #おろしそば, oroshi refers to daikon oroshi (grated daikon). The texture and flavor is refreshing! This restaurant serves real wasabi for guests to grate and use. I don't like wasabi except when it's the real wasabi #本わさび. ☺️ #yufuin #kyushu #jocinjapan

#Korokke #コロッケ is my favorite Japanese food! 💛 Hard to pass by a popular korokke stand without getting one. 😆 Korokke recipes on my blog. #yufuin #kyushu #jocinjapan

#dorayaki + #purin = #dorapurin #どらプリン 🍮 😍👌 Really yummy!!! #yufuin #kyushu #jocinjapan

After soaking our body in Onsen (hot springs ♨️), it's time for Japanese style breakfast. When you come to Japan, I hope you try #Ryokan as your accommodation instead of hotel. Visiting ryokan to enjoy Onsen & food is what I look forward most when I come back to Japan. #musouen #yufuin #kyushu #jocinjapan