Hello hello! Welcome to my blog! My name is Jessie. I’m a travel-obsessed foodie who loves the little things in life like curling up with a good book and a steaming cup of tea. If I were to choose 3 words to describe myself they would be: sweet, quirky and adventurous. My friends might argue that “optimistic-to-a-fault” should be in that list but hey, it’s my blog so I get to choose!
I think the most interesting thing you should know about me is that I’m a Canadian currently living in rural Japan, in a small city named Fukui. I love my job and I absolutely, positively adore Japan. I am doing my best to thrive in this strange and confusing world!
My new years resolution is to be more adventurous in the kitchen, with a goal of cooking or baking at least one new recipe a week. Rather than bombing my poor facebook with millions of photos of food and annoying people (despite how delicious I think each photo looks!) I figured it was about time this foodie started a blog. A place where I can post successful recipes, while simultaneously documenting my travels and reflecting on life here in Japan.
That’s it for now! Hope my blog leaves you feeling as happy as a bird with a french fry!
Wild Heart With A Soft Spot 
Hello Jessie . I’m a Thai student . Now i’m doing an animation project . I’m here to ask you for a permission to use this picture https://wildheartwithasoftspot.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_9791.jpg in my animation. I would be very grateful if you allow . Thank you and I apologize for my English.
Hello, yes you may use that picture 🙂 Good luck with the animation!
Hello, Jessie! I had a great time camping out in your blog for a while. Great posts! I’ll definitely be back! 🙂
I look forward to following your blog so I can get ideas on what to do, try, and visit during my next 3 years here in Japan!
Thanks a lot pntay 😀 I hope the information’s useful and my pictures inspire you to travel around Japan to places you perhaps hadn’t heard of! Whereabouts in Japan are you living?
I live on Okinawa, an island off the coast of Japan. Not terribly convenient for traveling the rest of the country, but completely doable from time to time!
Hi Jessie.. Wow cool blog, I enjoy three way you describe your adventures, including the day to day stuff which you have a way of making interesting.
Question for you, if you don’t mind. Do you know of any cafes with outdoor seating (like garden or terrace) around Fukui City area? I enjoy chilling with a coffee and book but prefer to be in the fresh air and nature! Cheers:)
Hi Simon! Thank you for stopping by my blog, and I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying reading about my adventures! 😀
My favourite cafe with outdoor seating in the Fukui City area is hands down Asuwa Deck Cafe. It’s situated at the top of Asuwayama and all the windows look out over beautiful nature. It has a small patio with tables outside, and also a lounge chair area overlooking the forest (though unfortunately sometimes people smoke there, grrrrr…). Overall the atmosphere is very pleasant and they serve very good coffee. It opened quite recently, yet is very popular! You can check out their website here: http://www.asuwayamadeck.jp. I’ll try to post something about it on my blog soon with lots of pictures!
Other cafes in Fukui Prefecture that I would highly recommend if you like sitting outside would be:
– Posse Coffee in Mikuni (near Sunset Beach) –> https://www.facebook.com/PosseCoffee?fref=nf
– Cafe Mare on the Echizen Coast –> http://cafemare.jp
Hi! Today I dropped in at Asuwa Cafe. Brilliant recommendation thank you. Good food at reasonable prices. And the location on the hill in the park is mint. Gone straight to the top of my list for chill out places in the city. If you haven’t already found it, there is a quaint cafe beside Eheijiguchi station that does pretty good smoothies and nice layout with a small outdoor table too.
Hi Simon! I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed Asuwayama Deck Cafe! I will try to check out the smoothie cafe in Eheiji before I leave Fukui this summer! Thanks for the recommendation 😀
Hi, hopefully this link will work :), came across one of your photos and used it in a composite so wanted to send it to you….. Just do composites for fun 🙂
pic.twitter.com/SkxdxBTdax
Hey Scott! Thanks so much for sending me that link, loved it! I thought it was a super cool idea!
Thank you, thanks for letting me use your photo, you have lots of great photos…. If you want to see more I have somet google+
https://plus.google.com/+ScottBass1
Hi Jessie 🙂
I have used the last 2 days to read through your wonderfull blog. Really love your way of writing.
I am going to Japan (will be 7 days in Kyoto and 3 days in Tokyo).
I have read what you recommend for doing in Kyoto.
But we really want to see other citys too. Do you have ane recommmendation?
And what is especially cheap to buy in Japan?
Hope to hear from you 🙂
Best regards
Nis
Hi Nis! I’m so happy to hear that you’ve found my blog posts useful and interesting!
I’d also really recommend a trip to Shirakawago (1 day), Kanazawa (1-2 days), Miyajima and Hiroshima! Nikko (near Tokyo) also has really nice temples. A great day trip from Kyoto is Nara.
As for good things to buy in Japan:
– if you’re crafty (or are buying gifts for someone who is) washi tape is amazing and there is such an incredible selection in Japan. Go into any stationary store (LOFT is my personal favourite) and you’ll be delighted with all the adorable and whimsical stationary, that’s also the best place to find washi tape!
-another really cool souvenir that many friends begged me to bring back to Canada was plastic food replicas (there’s a great store at the base of the Sky Tree where I bought plastic but very realistic looking tempura prawn magnets)
– KitKat chocolate bars in Japan come in a variety of flavours and are fun to try (Imagine chili chocolate, wasabi, cinnamon…)
Hope this helps and I hope your trip to Japan is amazing!
Thx Jessie!
I think the plastic food replicas is a winner 🙂
I am sure with your blog to guide me in Japan it will the best trip ever.
Hi Jessie,
I read your excellent blog on visiting Takachiho Gorge in Apr. 2014. I plan to be going there in a two weeks by car and would appreciate some help from you.
1) Where exactly is the parking lot closest to the boat rental as my husband has difficulties doing a lot of walking.
2) What would be the easiest path to see the gorge from above. Thank you for your help.
Thanks again.
Dorothy
Hello Dorothy,
Thank you very much! I’m so happy you found the blog post on Takachiho Gorge useful 😀
To answer your questions, there is a parking lot directly in front of the boat rentals. It’s only about 100-200 feet away from the payment booth. If I remember correctly there were signs in English directing traffic to the boat rental area, and the staff were very friendly at directing us to the right place. The other option is to drop your husband off there (if that lot is full) and there is plenty of other parking nearby so you can simply walk back and meet him there 🙂 And, as for the walking path to see the gorge from above. There is only one path, but it was fairly even footing and I found it to be a very easy walking trail.
If you are really nervous about not being able to find locations (I’m not sure if you speak Japanese) I would recommend printing out pictures to show parking attendants or other Japanese tourists. I’m sure they will be more than happy to point you in the right direction if you show them the picture and say “Sumimasen, doko desu ka?” [Soo-me-mah-sen, doh-koh dess kah?] (Excuse me, where is this?)
I hope this information helps and that you and your husband have an amazing trip to Takachiho Gorge!
Hi Jessie,
Thank you so much for your response on Takachiho Gorge. I look forward to visiting it soon.
Dorothy Chau