I love to enter giveaways, I also like to send care packages. I think it is about time that I send something to you.So, to all my readers out there, I would like to send ONE lucky reader, picked at random, a boxful of....STUFF!
The contents of the box will be these tea cups and dessert plates for two (the plates are about 6-inches in diameter), along with some sweets. I hope what I put in the box will meet customs requirements where you are, and not be anything you may be allergic to, if not, I'm sorry in advance!
All you have to do to enter is tell me where in Japan you have been...what? you've never been to Japan? okay, then tell me where you'd most like to visit in Japan...oh no, you live in Japan? then tell me where in Japan you haven't been but would like to visit.
You have until Friday, December 12th, 11:59 pm (Japan time) to enter...what are you waiting for?
Thanks for entering, comments now closed.
UPDATE: to see what was inside the package, click here.
51 comments:
ooohhh, I'd love to see Tokyo. I took japanese for a year and I don't remember all of it anymore! But loved it! I've always wanted to visit. I hope I can someday.
I have never been to Japan but I would like to explode Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido.As a teenager, I think those place is cool. Because of snowing, cool fashions on the streets of Tokyo. On the other hand, I like sushi.
Never have been to Japan. Hubby and I would LOVE to at least visit there one day. We would like to hit Osaka and/or Kyoto. I read the book Children of Hiroshima, since reading that would like to visit that city as well.
Thanks for hosting a give away!!:)
Ooh! I love giveaways! :)
I have been to Tokyo and to Iida and much of the Nagano prefecture. I was lucky enough to travel as part of the Fulbright Memorial Fund and made some wonderful friends who I have visited since. My next trip, though, must include Kyoto, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and a hike to the top of Mt. Fuji!
Ciao!
I've only had the chance to visit Kyoto and Tokyo.... but my dream is to someday visit Hokkaido and eat delicious cheese and pick some fresh lavender.
Ok!
I've been in Kyoto, Nara, and also near Osaka a long long time ago..
And I'm going to Tokyo and Kyoto again next year.
:-)
hello! just wanna share with you, i love Tohoku! went there the first time in april 2007, alone. this little town, Miyako (facing the Pacific Ocean,part of Iwate-ken) was part of the Rikuchu-kaigan Coast. beautiful views of the sea, cliffs. so breathtaking. i know my pics is not doing the place justice, nevertheless, take a look when you have time. http://rudekawliflawa.blogspot.com/2008/10/tohoku-part-6-last.html
Hi K & S,
It's only been 3 months since my first trip to Japan, but I've been missing all the good eats every day! I love following your daily travels and culinary adventures. It almost feels like I'm back in Japan again!
The places I visited in September were Mie, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, Yokkaichi, and Kyoto. Mie holds a special place in my heart because that's where I stayed with a friend, who is currently participating in the JET program. I fell in love with the peaceful and picturesque town of Nakakomono, which is where my friend teaches.
Thanks for doing this giveaway and I wish you & S all the best, but especially more delicious eats!
Oooh I want to win something!
I've been to Japan. My problem is, I keep going to Japan! I get this urge to go every year and to be honest, it's getting tiresome because there are other places I want to see.......... but never as much as Japan apparently. Lol.
I've been to all the usual places: Tokyo, Yokohama, Himeji, Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Koyasan, Hakone and probably some other places but I can't remember off the top of my head now. You're lucky you get to live there :)
Hi
from Al... I was born in Fukuoka...back in 51 so I'd love to go there!!
Places I've been...
Tokyo, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara, Awaji Island, Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Himeji, and Osaka.
Pretty teacups!
Ok, well I used to live in Japan. I lived in Yamagata-shi, which I really loved. I traveled quite a bit, but didn't make it to Hokkaido. When I go back to Japan, it's definitely on my list.
Aloha from Big Island of Hawaii! I've been to Kyoto (my favorite city), Osaka, Nara, Okinawa, Tokyo (Tokyo Disneyland) and Saitama Prefecture (Ogawa paper village). I enjoy soaking in the hot springs and shopping for paper and tasty snacks.
Those are beautiful! And with my love for dinnerware, I couldn't help myself but to enter said giveaway.
The closest I've come to being "in Japan" is the Tokyo airport where I transferred to go to Beijing (one of many "homes" for me). My boyfriend studies Japanese and is getting a masters in Asian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where we are currently located. I've heard much about different aspects of Japan and took one year of introductory Japanese in Washington State.
You might know this. In Honolulu, there is an event in/near Chinatown called "First Friday" where different art events happen, the first Friday of each month. Last month (November), we attended a preview to a traditional folk dance, performed by a troupe from Okinawa. Sadly, as students, we did not have the funds with which to attend the full-blown performance, which would have been amazing, but the preview was, nevertheless, awesome! With that in mind, my current top pick if I were ever to visit Japan would be Okinawa - especially since that is one of the languages that my boyfriend is enamored with - hence, guaranteed translator/tour guide. :)
Somehow, this has unintentionally become a narration of my life story. Oops.
wow- well i've never been to japan, and if i ever managed to raise the money to get across (flights are quite expensive from here in england!) i think i'd probably want to visit everywhere! If there was only on place i could visit, as tempting as it would be to visit a large urban area like tokyo to do lots of shopping and experience and see some of the more bizarre things you hear about japan, i think i'd rather head further out and visit somewhere a little more serene- I've really enjoyed reading about your trips to places like Arashiyama and Shirahama. I'd love to visit some hot springs..
Hey Kat! This is so nice of you!!! Good luck to everyone~
I would love to travel to Hokkaido mainly because that area has an abundance of views and scenery. I would also like to visit the fish market there.
Also, I definitely want to hit Osaka along the way for the appetizing/authentic food. Thanks for the information, Kat.
Hi Kat,
I've been to Kurashiki, on a sister city exchange from Christchurch, New Zealand, and we also spent time in Kyoto & Hiroshima whilst there. I was only 14, and can't wait to return when our finances allow it! I love the culture & everything about Japan - and love reading your blog and adventures for the contact with it! Thank you so much for sharing with us all!
Rachel.
Kat, I love your blog, it makes for some very interesting reads! Thanks for posting. I have been to Tokyo, Osaka, and Hakone. I love the hot springs! Oh, and Okinawa also.
Kat, love your blog! Ive been to Osaka for a baseball tournament, it was August and HOT... :) Thanks for hosting!
When I was a young woman, I always wanted to visit Japan or China. I dreamed of someday adopting a child from Japan or China. I knew I would have to visit those places, if I were to ever be allowed such a blessing. Unfortunatley, it never worked out.
I did a bit of reading and instead of the big towns, where commercialism abounds - and in concert with my latest post of my love of water in its natural environment, I am going to have to go with Tohoku. A writer gave it an honorable mention and included references of its natural beauty, a hiking trail filled with spectacular trees and Lake Oriase. The writer also mentioned the history of this place, and featured some of the more historical buildings. It is not busy and maybe that is what calls me to it over the other places.
What a sweet idea and a great way to read comments and see how many wonderful places are in Japan worth visting.
Oh, wow! Very generous of you. I've never been. My brother lived and worked in Kobe, does that count for something? ;-) I'd like to visit there someday.
Paz
i live in japan now, in saitama. :)
i have been to many places in japan, and the most recent place i visited was nagano and it was beautiful. i went to tsumago, magome, matsumoto, etc.
i would like to visit shikoku prefecture. it is very off the beaten path for most tourists, but i heard it is extremely beautiful.
I love your blog and seeing what it is like in Japan now. I lived in Kyoto for a few years in the late 1970s, and then in Tokyo in the early 80's. So much has changed. I loved eating donburi and okonomiyaki. It took me awhile to like Japanese food, but then it was a lifetime love affair! (And I would love to win)
Hi!
Just wanna share my experience... :) I went to Japan on a school exchange trip in 2004 when I was 14. Interesting thing was, our school 'exchanged' with a small town called Fuchu, near Osaka. There was only two middle schools, and we attended a day of class with one school and stayed with students of the other school for a weekend. It was cute because the whole town welcomed us warmly and our arrival was also in the newspaper! My host's family name was Kimura, and at that time I can only think of how close I was to Kimura Takuya. HAHAHA! With my host family, it was the first time I tried beef tongue. I didnt know it when I ate it at first, and it tasted soooo smooth and good. But when my host grandmother explained, I was @*&*($& !!
That aside, another memorable experience was the common bath, first at a Japanese-style inn and the second time at a camp, meant for young students. For us conservative South East asian 13-15 years old students, that was a pretty horrifying thing. Now that I think of it, it was so funny, and we had took it too seriously!! We didn't dare to bath together, but because of time restrictions, our way of solving the 'problem' was to take the furthest four corners of the large square bathroom. And then bring our towels in when none of the Japanese did. Ahahaha we made so much exclamations that it probably disturbed everyone in the camp!!
Everything was so memorable about Japan; the vending machines selling everything possible, the different bins meant for different rubbish (I have not seen that in SEA), wearing kimonos and going for tea ceremony while trying to kneel for long.... We saw snow on the mountains in May! And felt the rush in the train stations. Oh! And the food was great! I have never seen such thick slices of white bread as given out in school lunches, and it was the first time I had furikake (in cute packets for kids) and natto! We ate at a lot of rest stops on the highway because we traveled a lot. While there are much more good memories, there is also a pretty bad one. In Disneyland, a man (in twenties) hit my friend on her head when she tried to apologize because she accidentally splashed water at them on a ride. Maybe it was cultural/language differences, because our action of saying sorry is putting our right hand to our head. I don't know whether that is what the Japanese do as well....
All in all, it was a really really good experience and I would love to go back again (minus the language and money part AHHAH!)
:)
Kat,
I read your blog regularly due to the fact that I lived in Japan and had a lot of experiences there. I reading all the responses to your query, I was amazed at how little attention the beautiful island of Hokkaido got. I lived in Sapporo, Iwamizawa, and Asahikawa and each of them had a variety of things to offer. The greatest of all being the Yuki Matsuri in the winter. They take the Kaimono Koen all the way from the Telebi Towa until they run out of room and fill it with snow sculptures. They even have an international competition involving a team from my home state of Oregon.
I would love to return to Hokkaido and renew relationships with my friends there as well as visit Saitama, Okinawa, Tokyo, and Yokohama. I would love to hike to the top of Fuji Yama as well as do the one thing I didn't get a chance to do in Hokkaido and that is bathing with the snow monkeys in the onsens.
Jef
I'd love to visit Tokyo and Osaka. I know they really love to eat in Osaka, which of course is right up my alley!
I want to AND AM going to Kyoto for New Years. I want to go there so I can find a geisha and coax it back to Taipei with me. Then I would always have some inhouse entertainment in my apartment.
Fun! I've been to Niigata, Fukushima, Sado Island, Tokyo, Chiba and Yokohama. Would love to someday visit Hokkaido, Kyoto and Osaka. Oh and Okinawa too.
i was in Tokyo for 3 days a few years ago but it was all for work and i hardly had time to take a breath & explore. i'm planning a trip (for fun!) next year and intend to spend more time in Tokyo. i also plan on Kyoto, especially since i have my heart set on going to the International Manga Museum.
fun post, fun drawing! thanks!
Hi K and S!
I just read your blog! :D
It was so cool and I do love your adventures in Japan.
Hope to talk with you soon.
Bye
<3 Amy.
xx
Hi,
I have never been to Japan despite my interest in Japanese items. On my next holiday (not 2009 but in the future). I heard might be visiting Japan for one day, the place I would like to go is Harajuku, Tokyo because have an interest in Gothic Lolita fashion and if you were wondering I do have English and Japanese Gothic & Lolita Bible. Although would like visit some Shinto Temples or any gardens.
I've lived in Japan twice and been a visitor twice! Actually, since moving back to the US this summer I think I make daily visits in my memory and imagination. :-) Hmmmm, the list of places I've been is pretty typical, but probably a little long. So a basic list? Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Hakone, Kamakura, Nikko, and Matsumoto.
I've never been to Japan but not too long ago it was possible we were moving there and we got very excited, but things changed and now we're disappointed because there is So Much To See! The thing I was most keen to be a part of is the Snow Festival in Sapporo. My kids have never seen deep snow and a festival of lights looks so wonderful with the ice sculptures and parades. So one day, I hope we'll get to go and see it - preferably while my kids are still small so they fully appreciate it all.
Good luck to everyone!
I'd love to go to Japan. I'd certainly want to see Tokyo and the Tsuji Fish Market, but I'd like to get out in the country a little bit too. Osaka and Kyoto also sound really interesting.
I would like to go anywhere in Japan where they have huge manga stores. I know I would like to go to Tokyo because they have a lot of anime conventions and electronics conventions there but I know I'd be intimidated by the vastness of a huge city(I'm a small town girl). I would also like to visit a place that has a lot of temples and history to it because that kind of stuff facinates me. If I could ever afford to go to Japan I would just be happy that I have been to Japan period. It's my dream to visit some day ^_^
I usually go to Machida (outside of Tokyo) to visit relatives every year- haven't been in a while though, your blog makes me nostalgic for all the great food in Japan!
Kat-san Hajimemashite.
I like to read your blog. Every time i look at the pictures of Japan and Hawaii, I miss them so much(We also had lived in Hon.HI for four years).
When I have the chance to visit Japan, I would like to go to Kyoto. I have been to Kyoto for school trip. I could not see many places because of tight schedule.
I love traditional Japanese culture,design and food.
Very cool! Love the blue and white of course. I have been to Tokyo (many times), Yokohama, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and several other small outlying areas of Tokyo. As much as I love Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto were my favorites. Some day i will return!
Oooh, awesome!
I'd love to check out Akihabara in Tokyo, so I can be a geek in public =). Or may just Tokyo in general.
Shikoku sounds real interesting, too.
I lived in Okinawa and the other times I've been to Japan is for a layover in Narita and cooped up in the Nagoya Airport.
When I was a little girl, I had a very clear dream of being in Japan...it was an impossible trip that time. Then, 20 years later, my dream came true. I visited Kyoto and stayed with a Japanese family and it was a very memorable time.
Hi,
I've been following your blog for some time and I really enjoy reading it. love your pictures. I have not been to Japan and it's one of my biggest wish to go there some day. :)
I'd love to visit Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto and Okinawa. I go all dreamy envisioning how sakura flowers look like when they bloom. hee.
All the best to everyone~
I would love to visit Japan and see Tokyo, Osaka etc.
But I would really love to visit Nara. I have read about the tame deer that roam the city and was absolutely charmed. I know I would enjoy feeding them.
Thanks,
Winnie
I have never been to Japan, but it is a lifelong dream. #1 on my list of places to go, definitely. Although I want to see it all, I most want to visit Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto. And, I would love to take one of those rural month-long meditational retreats on a mountain somewhere in Japan...I can't think of anything more spiritually enlightening that the combination of yourself and the beautiful nature of Japan. One day!
I visited Osaka and Kyoto when I graduated - it was in the middle of the summer and so hot! I basically lived off shaved ice and vending machine iced tea. I must have lost 5 lbs in that one week alone. Since then, I've been to various places in Hokkaido, but have yet to go to Tokyo.
HI Kat! I went to Japan this year in April on a Tour from Hawaii with my husband for our Honeymoon. We LOVED it there and hope to visit again next year! We wont' go on a tour but a Package deal through a travel company. We'd love to stay in Tokyo for about a week and really soak up that area. The tour was great, 14 days, but we felt rushed since we were city hopping from day to day!
So many comments! See what we'll do for free stuff? *wink*
As for me, I visited Tokyo as a small child and all I remember was crowds and a lot of legs (since I was so little)!
I would love to go back and visit someday. I think I would like to visit the street markets, especially anything involving food. It's been my experience that these down-to-earth venues are where you find the real pulse of a city, not just what they tell you in the travel programs. When I visit a new area, I like to eat where the locals eat, listen to the conversations, interact with those around me (with involves me pestering them with a million questions and they're always so good natured about answering!) and soak in the atmosphere. THAT'S my favorite part of travel, even more so than the scenery or history of an area, although those are important, too.
I have never been to Japan, but I really want to visit Niigata. The reason is because my boyfriend's mother is from there and she says it is really beautiful and still has a lot of nature. I heard from many people that it is very cold, though, and I am used to hot weather so I don't know how I would handle it (hehe). I am currently studying Japanese in college, so hopefully I could go soon. ^^
First, I enjoy reading your blog for while now so~ thank you for this
I've been to Chiba, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto but I'd like to see much more, especially Fukuoka since some friends live there.
Hi Kat,
I've been to Tokyo but would love to visit Osaka,
Jo
Thanks for all your great comments. The winner is JENSTER, please email me your snail mail address.
Thanks again for entering!
Kat
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