Accessories Accede: Kyoto Kawaii Souvenirs Are My Favourite Things

Q &A in Kyoto, Japan/Helsinki, Finland 

Happy September! Tell us about your obsession wtih mini cute things. 

The song sung by Julie Andrews ‘My Favourite Things’ from Sound of Music(1965) inspired me to appreciate mini cute items. Perhaps I’ve been in petite figure, rather slimmer shape with clean-cut style ever; therefore, I am so in love with detailed design combining with eye-popping coloured souvenirs. My auntie travelled to Japan and brought some cute Japanese paper dolls to me when I was a little girl, I guess the image of family affection and floral prints have been imprinted onto me ever since. 

How do you search your favourite mini cute souvenirs while you are travelling?

While travelling in Europe, unless selecting postcards, I try to avoid those cheesy highly touristic souvenir shops; instead I prefer to visit some local bookstores, glare around and then pick a small book as a memory reminder (published in local language, such as the book about flower in Greek I found in Athens, 2017). This September travelling in Osaka, Kyoto and Kumamoto, since Japan owns a strong domestic market within its special culture, even at popular shrine area, such as Kiyomizu-Dera (清水寺), the shops along the roadsides provide various choices to excite my curiosity, appeal my attention to spend long time exploring.  Especially only in Kyoto, the Nishijin (西陣織) handcrafted textures with the prints of sakura, deer, pine trees, torii or maple leaves are intriguing me all the time. 

✔ KADOKUWA (角桑) and OSHIDO (櫻士堂)at Kiyomizu-Dera neighbourhood offers the cutest traditional Nishijin texture mini items, thus, the scented sacs, key chains or coin purses with jingle bell are all my collection now. At Kyoto Gion Matsuri Festival Gallery Bookshop, I spotted this calligraphy mini set wrapped beautifully in the floral-printed paper box, where placed the most micro ink slab I have ever seen! 

✔ Founded in 1904 in Kyoto, YOJIYA was named after the previous nickname of the store, derived from the toothbrushes called ‘Yoji’ sold at the shop floor. Besides the Top-One seller facial oil blotting papers, Yojiya releases paper facial cleansing foam, which is extremely easy to carry-on while on the road. I visit almost every Yojiya store if I ever pass by, and I discover the hand mirrors and plastic zip-zap bags for my next trip essentials.

✔ In Japan, at supermarkets or in the convenient stores, there are always the most delicious snacks awaited on shelves. Since 1897, Morinaga caramel has been serving numerous childhood memories for over a century; now the salty flavor is becoming my instant treat for my sugar craving moments. Lotte plum mint tablet wrapped in the pinky case, and with the fresh odor, is a quick oral remedy after lunch at work. 

✔ What will you do Today? This baby pink kitty cover agenda I found at Tokyu Hands is the cutest monthly diary ever! Not only the pointed ear pulled-out cover, but also the kitty’s fury tail is the string bookmark! The interior design is based on the hues of tiffany blue and hot pink, at every page turn there are unique illustrations reminding the prime holidays of Japan, yet another good way to learn both Japanese language and culture. 

✔ The drug stores in Japan supply the daily groceries and basic cosmetics, are the indispensable and must-visit spots for the locals and for we the shoppers. I am the fan of KANEBO Suisai beauty clear powder, due to the single use capsule (normally I would use half of the amount per washing) is one of my favourite travel necessities. ROHTO Lycée eye drops contains Vitamin B12, which helps me to release the itchiness and redness of eyes after the long-term of writing or reading at desk.  

✔ CHANEL CC logo earrings are my forever collector’s accessories. Bought this twisted spiral pairs at Chanel Osaka, the warm service of Client Advisor enhanced me to rethink of the luxury clientele. Goossens hand-made costume jewelry, that contains a blend of nickel free metals, and the lightweight mixture of resin, brass and strass formulate the shining trendy precious, never cause any allergy on my ear lobes. 

Cuisine Crush! GION TSUJIRI Matcha Dessert & HANANA KYOTO Sea Beam

September 2018, Kyoto, Japan

GION TSUJIRI祗園辻利founded in 1860, the Kyoto-based confectioner, serves for the best Uji tea in respect for over 800 years of tea tradition. Gion Tsujiri was founded in 1860 as a tea manufacturer in Uji宇治, under the name of the founder, Tsuji Riemon. Later the store was renamed to GION TSUJIRI after the reestablishment in GION, where has long been loved by the citizens and visitors for centuries, as a sacred approach to Yasaka Shrine八阪神社—the origin for matcha traditional culture—and as a teahouse and Geisha quarters. 

 

I choose the matcha softy ice cream with crispy cookie cone. Made from finely selected tealeaves originating in Uji, Kyoto, GION TSIJIRI’s signature matcha UME NO SHIRO means “the white of plum blossom”, which combines an impeccable balance of sweetness and bitterness for a soothing taste. It is characterized by a fresh, smooth and subtle flavor, healthy and tasty for the daily consumption. For matcha tea contains Theanine, catechin and epigallocatechin gallate, for these antioxidant are able to mildly prevent cancer, chronicle diseases, skin aging, weight gain and stress trigging. Enjoying my must-have dessert in Kyoto strolling, now the adventure begins. 

 

After our walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, we enter the Zen garden of HANANA for the family lunch. During our Tour de Japan, we opted to not make reservations at any Michelin Star or 懷石料理 restaurant, namely because there is almost no way to go very wrong with food in Japan, additionally the reservation systems are highly convoluted and restrictive, therefore, since we all love seafood, TAISHOU HANANA is the perfect spot.

 

We love the cuisine with sea bream, and HANANA offers two lunch sets that features Japanese ways to enjoy—grilled or raw served OCHAZUKE, which, is pouring tea or dashi over rice, and together with savoury side dishes. We chose the both for the sharing; therefore, the sea beam banquet proceeds as raw sashimi with the sesame and wasabi sauce, served with fine cooked Japanese rice and OCHAZUKE style for the fulfilled and satisfied finale. 

 

Special Thanks: Family Yuan & Family Chui

Fashion Fun OSAKA! Zimmermann Jumpsuit & Chanel Sling Back At Osaka Castle

September 2018 in Osaka, Japan 

Japan is always the most fascinated destination to visit; therefore, Osaka and Kyoto are chosen the best twin city to celebrate my father’s 70^thbirthday. Taking a long haul from Helsinki to Kansai Airport invokes my party mood, hence, how to pack fashion items wisely and spare enough spaces for later shopping trophies is no doubt requiring strategy in experiences. 

In September, Osaka is still warmly humid. Packing silky pants and jumpsuits not only save weights of luggage but also an easy way to mix and match as either casual or glamorous look. Black washed silk overall jumpsuit from Zimmermann can be worn as single piece, or more a layer with Guess? silk blouse, in order to cover the bare arms while visiting shrines in the neighbourhood of Osaka Castle. 

Osaka Castle is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks, together with Castle Nagoya and Castle Kumamoto, it plays a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one square kilometer, by using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat, is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by cut rocks. The central castle building is built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupations from attackers, now on the 8^thfloor is reformed as a popular panorama observation deck. On the top of Osaka Castle, the view of Osaka city is clean and modern, the green land underneath of our feet seems a piece of soft carpet at reachable distance. When I was visiting Osaka Castle in 2002 with my college mate Millie, it was humid and windy at observation desk, the whole Osaka bird view was rather plaque and grey. The interior of the Osaka Castle was reformed as a exhibition museum of Azuchi-Momoyama Period of Japan.  

The Osaka Castle Museum is yet too post-modern at the aspect of the design of interior, while the shrines in the neighbourhood are the true treasures of the whole Osaka Castle Park. We visit the quiet shrines and nail several natural looks of the day. The Guess? blouse and Zimmerman silk jumpsuit are in dark blue, therefore, wearing Chanel beige and black sling back shoes gives a feel of summer days. As for jewelry, layering shorter 18K gold choker together with Vivienne Westwood silver necklace to contrast the low deep-V of jumpsuit. About accessories, my favourite Chanel 2017 Cruise collection flap bag with the touch neon-evergreen pops the whole outfit and Prada pink leopard acetate sunglasses inspires the whole flowing look, echoes the aristocracy elegance of Japanese fashion. Walking and striking poses on the pebble roads, the sound of grits resounds one of the eventful history trip during the Tour of Japan. 

TOP TIP 1: Packing silk pants or jumpsuits for the easy outfit idea to save the weights of luggage

TOP TIP 2: Always bring the elegant leather flats while on the road

Special Thanks: Yuan & JMH