What are you waiting for? Book a nonstop Delta flight from PDX to Tokyo!

Photo credit: Kabacchi, Francisco Diez, MrStaticVoid, Takeshi+81, kevinpoh, Andurinha, InfoMofo, wallyg, just.in, UnholyKnight, Madjock, JM Rocher, ykanazawa1999, diebmx, Suviko, Dr Snafu, nicolacassa, scottmark, Bill McIntyre

Photo credit: matsumoto castle, ricoeurian

Essential tools:

• A bamboo mat (this looks like a small place mat and can be found in grocery stores. You can also use a clean place mat and cover it with plastic wrap)
• A pot or rice cooker

Ingredients:

• Sushi Rice (this is not regular white rice… and nothing can really substitute sushi rice. The grains have a combination of starches that make the rice stick together)
• Rice Vinegar
• Nori Sheets (seaweed paper)
• Avocado
• Crab / Imitation Crab
• Japanese Mayonnaise (regular mayonnaise will also work)

1. Sushi rice is the key ingredient! Sushi rice needs to be soaked and rinsed until the water runs clear (at minimum, not cloudy). While soaking, the rice is absorbing water and preventing the rice from cracking. Don’t skip this step! Follow the cooking instructions on your sushi rice bag – typically 2 cups rice to 3 cups water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer and cover. While the rice is cooking, you can prep the other ingredients.

2. Halve your avocado, cut in long slices and then spoon out. Put aside.

3. Tear your crab and mix it in with a dash of salt and 2 tbsp. mayonnaise.

4. When all the water is absorbed in the rice pot, empty into a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap.

5. To make the rice sweet, you have 2 options:

• Take ½ cup rice vinegar and ¼ cup sugar and heat in a pan until the sugar dissolves. Stir into rice.
• OR, stir in ½ cup rice vinegar and ⅛ cup agave to rice

6. Keep rice covered and let cool.

Time to roll the sushi!

Lay a nori sheet on top of your mat (bamboo or place mat with a sheet of plastic wrap). Spread rice on 2/3rds of the nori sheet creating a thin covering, leaving a little bit of room around the ends. Helpful tip: wet your fingers first so the rice doesn’t stick to your hands, making flattening the rice out much easier! Flip the nori sheet so that the rice is now on the bottom (this will create an “inside out” roll).

Take your crab mixture and spread over 1/3 of nori sheet nearer to one end. Top with sliced avocado.

To roll your sushi, take one end of the nori over the crab and avocado and tuck it tightly underneath, using the rolling mat to help tighten the roll. Continue tightly rolling, lifting the mat as you go until the whole nori is rolled. Cut into six pieces and serve with soy sauce and wasabi or pickled ginger.

Remember, you can make many variations such as adding cucumber slices or substituting the mayonnaise with cream cheese. You can sprinkle sesame seeds or tobiko (flying fish eggs) on the rice side of the nori before rolling or you could even put all the ingredients on one side of the nori. The options are endless!

Did you know?

• Sashimi (raw fish) is a typical appetizer and is meant to showcase the quality of fish being served.
• In Japan, it is considered taboo to mix wasabi into soy sauce! Smothering your sushi in soy sauce will mask the taste and quality of the fish, therefore it is recommended to dip lightly and sparingly.
• Dip your sushi in soy sauce seaweed side down so that you do not absorb too much soy sauce and overwhelm the taste of the fish.
• Pickled ginger is meant to cleanse your palate between different types of sushi.
• It is considered rude to put your chopsticks into a bowl of rice as it resembles the incense burned at a funeral. Instead, lay your chopsticks on the holder or on top of your bowl.

What are you waiting for? Get cooking!

Photo credit: Veggie California, loozrboy; Sushi, AMagill; Cooked Sushi Rice, FotoosVanRobin; sushi, grendelkahn.

Curiously enough, Japanese microbrews have only been legal since 1994. Prior to ’94, only uber-large breweries were granted permission to brew. Do the names Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin sound familiar? That’s because these are some of the few macro-breweries in Japan that were granted permission to produce beer. After the legislation was lifted, sake brewers from far and wide began experimenting with brewing. With high-quality equipment and careers worth of knowledge about the production of alcohol, they quickly began reaching deliciousness.

Add ‘tasting Japanese microbrews’ to your list of to-dos once you get to Tokyo. Here are four of the best bars to get your tasting on: Ant ‘n’ Bee, Popeye, Ushi Tora, and La Cachette. If you don’t speak Japanese, don’t worry. There’s only one word you need to know for this tasty experience: “oishii!” (delicious).

Photo credits: Japanese beers at Meno Mosso, craigemorsels; Japanese Beers, foilman;

Thanks to Insulinde on Flickr for this great photo.

Japan is a nation filled with a unique cultural mix of modern society and ancient tradition. This small country is also home to some of the most spectacular natural sites in the world. This is no secret to visitors, and they flock to Japan in the summer for its mild coastal climate. However, while some areas in northern Japan are still snow-covered during the springtime, the early blooming of Japan’s flowers are the first sign that warm seasons are on the horizon.

The spring season means one color is loud and clear in Japan: pink. The spring season in Japan awakens millions of bright, vibrant cherry blossoms. If you stand in front of the average cherry blossom tree during the wintertime, its beauty is hibernating. Leafless, spindling branches trick you into overlooking the majesty the tree will bring in the springtime. The intense pink shades of these beautiful trees will inspire you come spring.

When should I go?

Generally, the best time to see these beautiful blossoms at their best is late February through May. This varies by region. In southern Japan and the Okinawa area, the best time is February until March. In the colder north nearby Hokkaido, April and May are best. Delta Air Lines offers nonstop flights from PDX to Tokyo to take you there.

Where should I go?

1. Areas around Mount Fuji: This beautiful area is complete with historic castles and rivers. It’s a must-see for every spring traveler.
2. Kakunodate Street: This remarkable street in Tokyo is world famous for its blooming cherry blossoms.
3. Ueno Park: One million people per day passing the 620,000 square-foot park all agree – the park turns into a natural paradise during the spring season.
4. Hirosaki Castle: 5,000 cherry blossom trees were cultivated in order to demonstrate the castle’s beauty every year around May.

For more information about Japan’s cherry blossoms, click here.

Photo credits: Cherry Blossoms Ueno, AlexanderMensa; Mt. Fuji, and Cherry Blossoms By Night, skyseeker; Sakura at Kumamoto Castle, JoshBerglund19.

1. Christmas trees in Japan are most commonly made from which material?

A. Paper

B. Plastic

C. Glass

D. Recyclable Materials

2. Santa Claus in Japan acts most similarly to which other traditional character?

A. The Easter Bunny

B. The Tooth Fairy

C. The Abominable Snowman

D. Cupid

Give us your answers in a comment! What do you think?

Photo credit: エリスマン邸, naitokz; Christmas Lights in Tokyo 5, maggie loves hopey.

Bonenkai Parties

These social gatherings are specifically designed to ‘forget the year’ and start fresh for the new year to come. A good bonenkai party will have plenty of food, drink and karaoke. If you’re in December in Tokyo, read up on the best places for bonenkai food and drink specials to make sure your night is one to remember…or forget?

Japanese New Years Cuisine

Several special dishes are served on New Year’s Eve in Japan. New Years is a time of feasting, and elaborate and delicious spreads are laid out before families ready to enjoy a meal together during this time. Dishes served often include soup with mochi, toshikoshi soba (buckweat noodles) and sweetened rice wine.

Japanese New Years Games

In Japan, New Years is the time to let the games begin! Badminton, flying kites and a card game called karuta are only a few of the popular activities that take place during New Years in Japan.

Are you headed to Japan this winter? Let us know and we’ll help you prepare for a vacation you won’t forget!

Photo credit: IMG_0797, tomer.gabel; Japanese New Year Cuisine, h_okumura; Kit flying scenes, mikebaird.

toshikoshi soba

Clues:

• This city is home to the 3rd tallest building in the world.
• The west side of this city’s waterfront might look like a scene out of English parliament. It was was occupied by the British in the mid 1800′s.
• The city is noted for having the world’s first commercial high-speed magnetic levitation train line. Top speeds have reached 311 mph.

Bonus Questions:

• In 2010, this city received a major face lift. Roads were improved, the waterfront was built up and beautified, and money was put into preparing the city for thousands of tourists. Which event was responsible?
• Which Portland sister city is located a few hours outside of this city? Craftsmen from this place were responsible for building one well known city garden in Portland.

Think you know where? Tell us! Leave your best guess as a comment.

Photo credit: Thomas Lok on Flickr

What are you waiting for? Give us your best shot!

Clues:

1. There are over 250 islands that comprise this island nation.

2. 21, 000 people live in this destination, with only eight islands inhabited.

3. A major television show was filmed here in 2005.

4. Taro is a staple food.

5. Tourism is the country’s main industry, with dolphin encounters, scuba diving and snorkeling some of the country’s coolest activities.

Think you got the answer? Share it with us in a comment!

Photo credits: simonglucas on Flickr