Tofu pudding is a sweet, creamy dessert, sometimes served plain, sometimes with fruit flavours such as mango, and sometimes as an ingredient in a sundae or a bubble tea, or with toppings such as sago (tapioca balls). What is it actually? Sweetened soy milk, that’s been steamed so it sets into a jelly, just like a leche flan or dairy … Read More
What is a Pork Chop Bun?
A Pork Chop Bun is literally a pork chop, in a bun or bread roll. What is it actually? A bread roll, usually either a normal bread roll or a chinese variant such as a Pineapple Bun, containing a grilled pork chop. Some vendors may offer sauces or cheese or other toppings like grilled onions. We recommend putting toppings when … Read More
What is a Melon Pan?
A Melon Pan is a kind of Japanese bread roll. What is it actually? A bread roll, with a sweet, crusty yellow topping. There is no filling, unless you put one there yourself. What does it taste like? It’s a bread roll, ever so slightly sweet due to the crusty topping giving it a cake-y taste. To be honest, if … Read More
Western celebrities denigrate themselves in Japanese TV commercials
If you’re familiar with the plot of the film Lost in Translation you’ll remember Bill Murray’s character Bob, an out of favour Hollywood actor approaching retirement, is in Japan to film a whiskey commercial, to earn a fee big enough to pay for some home refurbishments and a nestbed for his retirement. The inspiration for this is that it’s actually incredibly … Read More
Airlines don’t want you to know this trick to get the cheapest flight prices
Here’s a legitimate hack for getting the best flight prices online that really works. Using this method, we got a round trip from London, to Beijing, to Tokyo, back to Beijing and back to London, over the course of a month, for less than £490 per person. The same flights booked directly on the airline’s website, were quoted at £1900! In … Read More
Why are Japan’s ticket barriers always open in railway stations?
It’s true that on Japan’s railway network and especially in major cities, the ticket barriers are always open. But try to go through without buying a ticket and you could be in for a nasty shock! The ticket barriers are designed to only close if someone attempts to pass through without having already presented a valid ticket (a paper ticket, … Read More