Holidays and School, What Can You Do?

Hello fellow Natives!

Image from Pintrest.com.

So it's that time of the year when the holidays are bearing down upon us (Americans anyway) and since I'm a student that also means I'm buried under a mini-mountain of homework and final projects till the end of the semester.

So because of all that, I will not be posting anything new for awhile.  But don't despair!  I will be back around mid-December with some special posts on fun things to do in Japan during Christmas and New Year's.  So until then, I hope everyone (in America) has a great Thanksgiving and those in Japan a good Labor Thanksgiving Day!  For those of you outside the States, I hope the rest of November is stress-free.

Image from New Lafayette.org.

Cat Café: The De-Stress Zone

How to be a Native - Step Six

Have tea…with cats.

Yeah, that's the spot.

Being a cat lover, I find the unique experience of cat cafés to be worth sharing with others.  My recommended cat café is Nyantomo (にゃんとも) literally “Meow friend” located in Hachioji (八王子市). 

This one is pretty small, but they have some adorable cats and a discount for students (750 yen vs. regular 900 yen) per hour.      

Stalking around.

So why does Japan have cat cafés and what are they?   They are places for people (mainly women in their 20s and 30s) to enjoy the company of cats because most landlords in Japan don’t allow pets. 

One of the kittens.

Most people who visit cat cafés do it to de-stress.  They find the companionship of cats to be relaxing, especially for overworked individuals (a common thing in Japan).

Just resting.

I certainly felt much calmer and happier after playing with the cats for a few hours.  A very welcome relief when school was consuming the rest of my time.

Yes, I'm very comfortable like this.

Some of the cats are special/rare breeds while others are common.  When I visited Nyantomo, they had 10 cats plus 2 kittens, which were in a viewing room (for their safety). 

It's mine!!

Below is their flyer.  The cat’s names from top to bottom and left to right are: Shion (aster), Sora (sky), Momo (peach), Sakura (cherry blossom), Haru (spring), Hime (princess), Umi (sea), Hinata (sun), Ichigo (strawberry), and Kotora (?).    

Nyantomo Flyer

Here’s a video from Time Magazine’s website.  Below are directions with English translation (added by me).

Not a cat lover?  There are also bunny, bird and dog cafés. 

Ukai-tei: Welcome to Food Heaven

How to be a Native - Step Five

Dine like a native.

Shrimp Boat

My previous posts have all featured outdoor activities so if you’re ready for a break then I recommend treating yourself to some very fine dining at Ukai-tei (うかい亭) in Hachioji (八王子市).  You can find luxury with amazing food.  There are several Ukai-tei in Tokyo but Hachioji’s is the most appealing to me.

Cup of Everything

Ukai-tei is a restaurant offering superior service and quality.  It’s located atop a wooded mountain ridge, overlooking Hachioji. 

Marilyn Langlois and her friend
admire the chef's Mt. Fuji made from
salt.

I was struck by the massive and beautiful building. 

It is over 200 years old and originally the home of a very wealthy pre-Meiji family. 

 

Cooking steak on the teppan.

Ukai-tei is known as a Teppanyaki steakhouse.  Teppan refers to the metal griddle they cook on.  Diners are given private rooms with their own chefs who cook on the teppan right in front of them!           

Ingredients

While their specialty is Kobe steaks and grilled foods, they don’t really have a set menu, meaning guests are offered a variety of choices prepared as they desire. 

Their steaks are the most mouth-watering I have enjoyed because even the cattle are treated like royals.  They are massaged with oil and given beer to keep them extra soft and tender.

Another delicious dish.

Desert is served upstairs where one can enjoy the view of the mountainside and Hachioji below.

Dessert anyone?

The interior architecture is simply amazing.  They have seamlessly blended European baroque with traditional Japanese styles, and antique art is displayed throughout.  

An old-fashioned record player:
the kind with holes all over the
disc.

I felt like it was a cross between a temple, mansion and museum.  Being surrounded by the ultra-luxurious and grand scale of design made me want to spend all day there.

Dining there might be pricey (6,830 - 16,800 yen / about $70 - $200) but it’s also a wonderful, unforgettable experience. 

Temple like architecture displayed
outside.