The end of the year is finally approaching with the arrival of the winter season. Before I look forward to the festive season ahead, I want to take a moment to bid a fond farewell to my favourite season, 食欲の秋. Read, ‘shokuyoku no aki’, in Japan autumn is known as the season to indulge your appetite, and this I gladly embraced. My appetite for food, drink, travel and art has been well and truly sated. However, fortunately I have 別腹 (betsu bara), or a separate stomach to plough on to the next dish, so I’ll have no trouble handling myself around a mince pie or two this Christmas.
From top to bottom; 1) Green momiji at Mount Shosha, Himeji. 2) Owls at the Owl Family Cafe, Osaka. 3) Kyushoku school lunch 4) Carp swimming in a pond at Momijidani Park, Miyajima, Hiroshima. 5) Matcha green tea and a momiji-shaped sweet at my friend’s house. 6) Dusk over the Kamo River, Kyoto. 7) Homemade Daigaku imo candied sweet potato snack. 8) Takoyaki with accompanying sparkling wine in Dotonbori, Osaka. 9) Local neighbourhood autumn festival, Himeji. 10) Baskin Robbins’ deliciously cute Halloween parfait. 11) Beer and gyoza at my favourite Himeji ramen restaurant, Koba and More. 12) ‘Lee Mingwei and His Relations’ exhibition, Mori Art Museum, Roppongi, Tokyo. 13) Melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef at Wakkoqu steak house, Kitano, Kobe. 14) Full autumn colours at Tenryu-ji, Kyoto. 15) Hojicha parfait in an Arashiyama tea house. 16) Autumn momiji in Arashiyama, Kyoto. 17) Chocolate chip scone and hot chocolate to die for from the City Bakery, Osaka. 18) Golden ginkgo leaves, Heian-jingu, Kyoto. 19) Goldfish at the ‘Art Aquarium’ Nijo Palace, Kyoto. 20) Teishoku meal at a Kyoto guest house.
a swift in japan 