THE BEST PLACES TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN THE US

It’s that time of year again– the cherry blossoms (sakura; 桜) have begun bursting open in Japan. As I sit here staring longingly at all my Japan-living friend’s Facebook photos of the blossoms and hanami, I realize that this really is my favorite time of year. And I’m missing it. Or am I? Sure, there’s something magical about the […]

FOTO FRIDAY: THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN OF MONTJUIC, BARCELONA

Every Friday I’ll be sharing a photo from someplace in my travels. This week’s photo is of the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona. I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical of visiting anything with the word “magic” in it. When people kept telling me to visit the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona, I figured it would be just […]

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: SAKURA MOCHI

Spring is here!  This is always my favorite season. The cherry blossoms have already begun to bloom across Japan and soon they’ll be opening in the US as well. To celebrate, April’s recipe of the month is sakura mochi– a traditional Japanese sweet often enjoyed during hanami. This dessert is perfect for spring because it’s made with a […]