Haruru’s travel and food accounts

Decide which meals you will cook before buying food for a self-catered stay. Match the menu to your group size and the time you have, and confirm what cooking facilities and equipment you can use. Leave time to enjoy the stay as well as prepare the meals.

A return to Kiyosato after many years gave haruru.1002 two enjoyable days: a stay at Saint Paulia, browsing at Moegi no Mura, ice cream and a hot spring visit.

The plan had been a day trip to a hot spring. Instead, memories of the seaside drew haruru.1002 to Chigasaki for breakfast, time looking out at the water and a day with room to linger.

An Osu food walk gave haruru.1002 a chance to revisit favourites and try a few new snacks. The day began and ended with shaved ice, with dumplings, fried chicken and other stops in between.

Compare the journey with the day that follows it. Before choosing an overnight bus or a Shinkansen trip, look at the actual seat, your arrival time and where you can rest. Then compare the cost of the whole journey.

Haruru.1002’s short trip to Takamatsu began with a late flight and ended with another late flight home. In between, a meal before checking in, a changed breakfast plan and a cafe by the sea became the parts she remembered.

Haruru.1002 arrived at Kabira Bay in the evening, too late for the glass-bottom boat. She still had time to sit on the sand and look at the bay.

The lotus flowers were still scattered on haruru.1002’s first stop at Shinobazu Pond. She thought about coming back the following month, then returned the next week instead. Each visit had its own cafe stop, and the second ended with an unplanned pause in Ameyoko.

Haruru.1002 travelled to Osaka for one night with a long-time friend, then met another friend who lived there. They had researched places to visit, but it was sharing food and laughing together that gave the trip its character.

Haruru.1002 was unsure how her first trek at Mount Mitake would go. She finished the walk, loved the scenery and came away wanting to visit more mountains. An outdoor rice-ball lunch was part of the enjoyment.

Haruru.1002 went to COCIDO for her first meal with someone she had become friends with at a bus stop. Although it was their first meal together, the conversation kept coming as if they had known each other for much longer.

Haruru.1002 could not get through by phone to reserve a meal at 白頭山, a restaurant she often visited. She decided to go without a booking, got in after an hour’s wait and found a dish she wanted to add to her usual order.

Rain had made the day feel cold, and Haruru.1002 returned to さつまっこ for ramen after some time away. The weather also meant postponing the camping trip she had been looking forward to the following day.

On the way home, Haruru.1002 saw Mount Fuji with its summit clearly visible. There were no clouds covering the top, and she liked the mountain’s appearance without snow.

Haruru.1002 had planned to eat lunch at Ebina Service Area on a work journey to Oimatsuda. It was so crowded that there was a queue even to get in, so lunch became a different stop and a different meal.

On the way to Aichi, Haruru.1002 stopped at Shizuoka Service Area for a break and dinner. Her food photograph keeps the journey’s meal together: udon with sakura-shrimp kakiage, chicken isobe-age and Shizuoka oden.

Haruru.1002 chose Saint Marc for lunch. She remembered busier visits and lunchtime queues, but on this occasion the restaurant was quiet. Her meal was chicken poêlé with dried-shrimp croquant, accompanied by bread.

After some time away, Haruru.1002 returned to Midori Sushi. She singled out the chūtoro as especially delicious, making the tuna the clearest memory of this sushi meal.

With one day left in a three-night, four-day Hokkaido trip, Haruru.1002 was already delighted with the hot springs and food she had enjoyed. She also wrote about how warm Hokkaido had felt during her visit.

Haruru.1002 arrived on Ishigaki in the morning, then took a boat to Taketomi. A water-buffalo cart ride and cycling were part of the day, at the beginning of a three-night, four-day trip she was looking forward to enjoying.

A seafood bowl, yakitori and beer made up part of Haruru.1002’s outing in Ameyoko. Shopping added another memory: she bought so many souvenirs that her bag tore.

The overnight journey to Aichi was uncomfortable, but Haruru’s first day in Nagoya became a happy family food walk. The photographs follow the snacks and meals that made the day memorable.

Haruru returned to Kaneko with different people, often ordering the same favourite dish. Across these visits, the food sits alongside a change of plan, karaoke and the pleasure of meeting someone again.

The lights around Minatomirai made Haruru’s Christmas dinners feel special. Her accounts from 2019 to 2022 also record the food, an evening when lunch left little room for dinner, and a return that went much better.

For her first kumade purchase, Haruru chose to start small. Her photographs from Hanazono Shrine capture the busy festival evening and the colourful displays around that one purchase.

Haruru had taken a day off to support the BayStars. When the game was cancelled while she was still eating lunch in Chinatown, the outing continued with a walk and another meal in Mizonokuchi.

It took Haruru about two hours to get there from home, but she was glad she had made the trip. At Izakaya Aki in Isogo, the meal began with sashimi and offered plenty more to enjoy.

A course lunch at the Maru Building and matcha shiratama anmitsu afterwards made this a meal to remember. Haruru’s Marunouchi account is short, but her photographs show the dishes and the café stop that followed.

A New Year visit to Iseyama Kōtai Jingū was followed by an evening of food in Noge. Haruru liked all three stops, though by the end there was no room left for a bowl of ramen.

Taking the afternoon off gave Haruru time for lunch, shopping and more food around Tokyo. The return lunch was less memorable than before, but familiar sweets in Ueno and sushi at Tokyo Station were highlights.

The prices tempted Haruru into buying plenty of sweets. Her Atsugi factory-shop account captures the eMitas entrance, the blue sky reflected in its windows and the cakes she took home.

Haruru wanted sushi and decided to go alone to a traditional shop for the first time. The meal was enjoyable; the unexpected conversation as she was leaving made the visit feel even more memorable.

The salt-seasoned chicken wings were the reason Haruru travelled by train to Mitsubachi. They surprised her from the first bite, and she enjoyed them enough to order two more at the end of the meal.

Seventeen years after her last visit, Haruru returned to Kurochaya in Musashi-Itsukaichi for lunch with friends from school. In her November 2022 account, the autumn leaves and the meal both made the visit memorable.

Haruru remembered this Okinawa trip for how much she ate and how much she enjoyed it. Three nights and four days brought sunshine, an evening of island songs and time for browsing shops between meals.

Grape picking, a hot spring and grapes to take home filled Haruru’s day in Yamanashi. The surprise in her September 2018 account was finding a vending machine selling the souvenirs she wanted.

Haruru had wanted to try Moheji in Machida for some time, but the queue had always made her give up. On a later evening, two groups were waiting, and she decided to stay.

Most of the cherry blossoms had finished by the time Haruru met friends from middle school in Ueno Park, but some weeping cherry blossoms were still there. One of her friends had booked lunch at Inshotei, giving them a quiet place to catch up.

Haruru was delighted by the conveyor-belt sushi she ate in Otaru. The chopstick sleeve in her photographs reads とっぴ〜, TOPPI, linking the dishes to the shop’s name.

For a third consecutive year, Haruru went to Niku Azabu for a birthday celebration. Visiting once a year kept the meal special for her, and she was delighted by the food again.

Haruru set off by car for two days in Yamanashi with her usual group of three. The trip mixed time in the hot springs with fruit picking, mountain views and plenty of food.

The sea and sky were clear on the Autumn Equinox holiday when Haruru visited the Jogasaki coast. It had been some time since her last hot-spring stay, and she enjoyed the chance to relax with good food and coastal scenery.

It had been a while since Haruru’s last bus tour. With her usual group of three, she spent a sunny day eating, shopping and visiting Ikaho Onsen for the first time.

Haruru’s one-night trip began with clear skies at a hotel in the mountains of Ueda. There was time for the hot springs and a generous dinner, followed by an unexpected change of plan the next morning.

On an outing after Golden Week, Haruru found the roads quiet and the weather chilly. By the time she reached Kamogawa Sea World, a little sunshine was beginning to appear.

Expecting crowds during the summer holiday, Haruru searched for somewhere nearby to enjoy herself. She chose Tomin no Mori for her first visit and found a welcome feeling of coolness among the trees.

Haruru changed her cherry-blossom outing from Showa Kinen Park to the imperial mausoleum grounds in Hachioji. The day brought lunch, a fruitless search for bamboo shoots, beautiful blossoms and a birthday gift.

Haruru returned to Sensoji for a New Year visit. The sky was a clear blue, and the crowds surprised her even after the first three days of January.

Haruru spent a December day exploring Yokohama with her usual group of three. A long lunch in Chinatown left them full, but there was still plenty to see on the walk towards the waterfront.

Haruru headed for Atami to unwind at the end of the year. She took her time in the hot springs, went out for seafood and drinks, and woke to a view of the sunrise over the sea.

The Nagaoka fireworks were so close that Haruru could not fit them all into her phone camera. The display moved her to tears, and the trip continued with a night in Naeba and a full day of stops on the way back.

Golden Week began with rain, but Haruru enjoyed a seafood lunch at Nakaminato before driving on to Nasu Yumoto. The next day brought sunshine, new green leaves and a chance to shop and eat before heading home.

There were few people around when Haruru made her New Year visit to Ikegami Honmonji. Afterwards, she returned to 自慢亭 for her first meal there that year, with a New Year gathering still to come in the evening.

Haruru was surprised by the number of stalls on her first visit to Furusato Matsuri Tokyo. There was plenty she wanted to try, but starting with rice bowls meant that she was full sooner than expected.

Haruru and her friend finally managed to get away together for an Atami hot-spring trip. Lunch came earlier in the journey than planned, at a restaurant she was pleased to return to after a year and a half.

There was time to slow down on a one-night trip to Atagawa Onsen with her older sister. In warm, clear weather, Haruru enjoyed the sea, watched the sunrise and found small sights to photograph along the way.

Shopping in Jiyugaoka led to different food stops on two visits four years apart. One ended with a rich stew and rice; on the later summer outing, a donut-topped shaved ice came before a first meal at てっちゃん.

Near the end of a seven-night, eight-day trip around Okinawa and its islands, Haruru looked back on satisfying meals in Naha. The trip had been loosely planned, with destinations and places to stay decided along the way.

It was not the kind of day Haruru would usually associate with shaved ice, but she was already in the area. Inside Tetsumaya, the warmth of the room made a large bowl of caramel-nut ice feel just right.

Ueno Park was so busy that walking through it took effort. A lunch her friend had reserved at LUCIS GARDEN gave Haruru a calmer part of the day, with a view and time to enjoy the meal.

The children wanted to go fishing, but the morning weather made Haruru wonder whether they would have to cancel. Then the sky cleared, and a pond surprisingly close to home became the setting for an outing everyone enjoyed.

The food started before Haruru reached the lunch table in Aichi. On one trip it was a substantial breakfast at Okazaki PA; on another, a train bento she could not resist. These memories come from three different visits.

There was time to spare before all four friends arrived. Haruru and one friend went looking for a café near Gakugei-daigaku Station, spotted a shaved-ice sign and settled on a sweet start to their lunch outing.

Oysters opened on the spot and a sushi meal set a happy tone for Haruru’s short trip to Ibaraki. A night away and a bright view of the sea the next day gave her more to remember, before one last good meal on the way home.

Some meals become part of the pleasure of returning to a place. For Haruru, a trip to Aichi often brings a visit to the yakiniku restaurant 白頭山. Years apart, her notes return to the same feeling: she is glad to be eating there again.

Haruru had an open sandwich in mind, but one lunch arrived as a roast-beef bowl. She ate it, asked about the difference at checkout, and looked forward to trying again. Later notes show the sandwich she had wanted, then another enjoyable lunch at the counter.

Haruru packed rice balls and snacks with the excitement of a school outing. The fireworks trip she had been looking forward to went ahead, bringing a chilly evening beside Lake Suwa, a comfortable night in Omachi and a second day full of flowers and food.

The fireworks were so large that Haruru could not fit them all into the camera's view. Returning to Nagaoka after two years, she felt overwhelmed in the best way and came home with new energy. The overnight bus journey also left plenty of memories of flowers and food.

Soba soon after landing, a hot spring and a warm pool, then two places for dinner. The following day brought a drive beside the sea, island shopping and more food. Haruru's first Miyako trip fitted plenty of pleasures into one night and two days.

A train to Kanazawa, then seafood, sushi and something sweet. Haruru's accounts from 2016 and 2022 remember different meals in the same city, from her first taste of nodokuro sashimi to a very satisfying seafood bowl at Omicho Market.

On one evening, a few yakitori and a beer before dinner became rather more than planned. On another, a birthday celebration began with sashimi and continued with meat on the grill. Haruru's two visits to Uozuman each grew into a generous evening of eating.

The hoped-for view of Mount Fuji stayed behind the clouds on both outings. But Haruru's days on Kintoki and Mitsutoge still held plenty to remember: spring greenery, conversations along the trail, warming meals and a long soak afterwards.

The first challenge in Kushiro was making room for the next meal. After breakfast at Haneda and a generous plate of spakatsu, Haruru walked beside the snowy river before meeting a friend for an evening of food and conversation.

Haruru invited a friend on a mystery outing, then gave the destination away before they arrived: the motorway signs pointed to Karuizawa. What followed was a long day of eating, talking and filling shopping bags among the fresh June leaves.

Haruru had been clam gathering before, but razor clams were new to her. On a clear day in early April, she found that the tug of a large clam was a big part of the fun.

The Tamagawa left Haruru with two different kinds of pleasure: watching the water on a hot summer day, and discovering how good a sunny morning walk could feel. These were separate outings, with a familiar meal closing the latter.

The plan was lunch and a walk near the Imperial Palace. The heat changed that plan, and a day with a friend took Haruru from Tokyo Station to Nihonbashi for shaved ice, then back to the station for a rest and another conversation.

Shop browsing and a good meal often went together on Haruru’s Tokyo days out. These are two different outings: a Golden Week journey through three neighbourhoods, and another day linking Shimokitazawa with Kichijoji.

A mountain view, wooden figures and a longer walk than expected. Alongside that memory, Haruru’s notes hold another pleasure: soft shiri-mochi, a leisurely bath and cold udon with vegetable tempura. These two June 2023 records keep both the walking and the food in view.

Haruru had planned to visit three places for daytime drinks in Tateishi. A change of plan and a few too many plates left room for only one. The outing continued in Asakusa, where samba, shopping and sweets filled the rest of a day with old friends.

The bath came before the walk, which felt like the wrong way round at first. In the end, the quiet time in the water was a happy start to an afternoon of shopping, soy milk and a waterfall in Hinohara.

At a place she was visiting for the first time in Musashikosugi, the fish recommendations came before the first order. Kosugi beer, a few plates of seafood, garlic and a mojito she wanted again made it an enjoyable meal.

The sea in the morning, fireworks beyond an open hotel window, and a terrace surrounded by greenery: Haruru’s Atami records from 2021, 2022 and 2023 each keep a different memory of staying away from home. Seafood runs through all three.

A familiar horumon restaurant, a retro alley with standing sushi, and the discovery of more places to eat: Haruru’s Noge records from 2018 and 2019 recall the pleasure of going out for the evening. One year-end outing ended with noodles she had not planned to order.

Cancelled sailings made the first trip to Hateruma feel uncertain. When the final boat could leave, Haruru was delighted. Her island memories include pale blue water, a moonlit night and meals she enjoyed while the journey unfolded around the boats.

Having a drink at a Nakasu food stall was something Haruru had looked forward to on her first trip to Fukuoka. The stall she eventually chose made the evening a happy one. Afterwards, a second stop brought a sashimi platter big enough to fill her up.

Four hours of fishing brought Haruru just three wakasagi. The snowy scenery around Mount Bandai and the ramen she enjoyed on the way home gave her more to remember than the small catch alone.

Haruru’s first lunch at Usagiya brought plenty of small dishes and a meal she thoroughly enjoyed. Rabbits appeared on the tableware and in the shop’s decorations, adding another detail to remember from the visit.

A lunch with family gave Haruru time to sit down and enjoy a Spanish buffet at an easy pace. Her photographs keep the colourful plates, little bread dishes and sweets from a meal she happily lingered over for two hours.

Haruru was so absorbed in eating on her return to Tamai that she took only a few photographs. They keep the grill, a rice ball topped with shiso and the retro room from a meal she enjoyed with oolong tea.

Birthday messages and gifts arrived in the morning. Haruru then had a generous lunch, returned to Midori Sushi’s main restaurant after several years and went to Shibuya for cakes. Her photographs keep the dishes and small celebrations from that day.

Haruru returned to Tokyo Tower after a long interval during the Christmas season. She also happened upon the tree at Shinjuku Sumitomo Building’s Sankaku Hiroba. Rain and crowds were part of the day, along with a seafood lunch she enjoyed.

After a morning cafe stop, Haruru went to Ameyoko for yakitori and beer at Bunraku. The day continued with shopping in Ikebukuro, a short drink break and sweets in Yurakucho.

Haruru returned to a familiar restaurant for raw oysters. Her collection of recent meal photographs also carried a happy update: she had won tickets to a Mrs. GREEN APPLE concert, thanks to a friend who had kept entering for her.

A year and three months after joining the fan club, Haruru finally won a ticket to a Mrs. GREEN APPLE concert. Her seat had a limited view, but she enjoyed the atmosphere fully. Her account of the day also became her thousandth post.

Haruru was heading back to a campsite after some time away, this time with a group of eight and a cottage stay ahead. She wrote after shopping and lunch, while waiting to check in. Clear autumn weather and colourful leaves added to her excitement, and the handmade-soba restaurant left her wanting to return on the way home. Her photographs also record autumn colours at Lake Tanzawa and the gate and wooden interiors of Tanzawa Lake Memorial Hall.

A craving for ramen brought Haruru back to Satsumakko after some time away. It was still her personal favourite, and her note about the meal also looked back on a year that had felt full of experiences.

Haruru went out for oysters again and was delighted with the meal. A tabletop fortune dispenser added another happy memory when she drew “chōkichi,” an unexpectedly lucky result.

A friend brought Haruru uni bought at Toyosu Market. She piled it generously onto rice, leaving a short account of how much she enjoyed it and how grateful she felt.

On April 4, Haruru went out with classmates to a restaurant recommended by a friend. Lunch, a walk through Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum and sushi to finish made a nearby outing into a day full of food and laughter.

Haruru returned to Takamatsu at the end of April. It was only a one-night, two-day stay, yet she came home wondering how many meals she had fitted in. Udon, a bread breakfast and the shop signs in her photographs keep different parts of that short trip in view.

During Golden Week, Haruru and family members went out for drinks together for the first time. She was pleased that everyone liked the place she recommended. The outing continued with small tastes of horumon in Mizonokuchi and two hours of karaoke.

Friday turned into a day of good food for Haruru: a Hida-beef hitsumabushi lunch, followed by a chocolate specialist. She thought dinner would end with chicken paitan ramen, but stopped at the acai shop next door as well.

Haruru’s daughter and her husband had enjoyed a meal on their wedding anniversary and talked about bringing her there too. Haruru was delighted by the thought and dressed up a little for their meal.

The day after that carefully prepared meal brought more food to enjoy: hamburg steak for lunch, then a favourite shaved-ice shop. Chinese-style rice for dinner and watermelon bought earlier rounded off a very full day of eating.

Rain cancelled the sports day planned for Saturday. Haruru changed the plan and shared lunch at a recommended hamburg steak restaurant.

Haruru wanted another bowl of the tantanmen she had enjoyed before. The second visit pleased her again, and taiyaki and bread purchases rounded off the holiday.

An afternoon with a friend she was meeting for the first time took Haruru from lunch to several shopping stops. A change of plan brought them to sushi at the end.

Back in Ikebukuro after roughly thirty years, Haruru spent unhurried time with a close friend. More friends joined later for seafood and horumon.

The second day of the holiday brought a gathering with a new combination of friends. At a recommended sushi restaurant, Haruru let two regular visitors choose the dishes and enjoyed the food and conversation.

Autumn colours and two warm, sunny days set the scene for Haruru’s cottage stay. A nearby bath, food made by a friend and a first attempt at taiyaki gave her plenty to remember alongside the scenery.

Looking back on the previous month’s camping meals, Haruru felt pleased with her first attempt at monja and wanted to make it again. The food photographs and clear skies sit alongside her memory of warm, pleasant days.

Haruru’s first day out with a new friend began at torse in Yutenji. Christmas cakes and omurice led to taiyaki in Gakugei-daigaku, then seafood in Mizonokuchi. Food and a conversation that kept going became the pleasures of the day.

Five kilos of chestnuts felt more manageable in smaller batches. Haruru’s notes bring together a growing annual tradition of making shibukawani, a newly bought kumquat and a meal of eel at home.

Haruru watched the Tamagawa fireworks from a distance. The pictures did not turn out as she hoped, but she was glad to enjoy what she described as her last fireworks of the year.

A batch of shibukawani that had not turned out as hoped found another use in cupcakes. Haruru mixed in plenty of the frozen chestnuts, preparing the cakes as a gift she planned to take the following day.

“A two-night, three-day food trip begins.” Haruru’s short note marks a sunny start. Alongside it are photographs with notes about food and aircraft decoration.

Food and shopping filled three nights and four days with her daughters. Haruru remembered visiting shops she would not usually choose alone and hearing their recommendations as part of a happy time together.

A one-hour break still left room for a satisfying lunch. Haruru’s brief roundup sits alongside photographs of a bento, rice bowls, curry and sushi, each with short notes about the food.

After browsing shops since the morning, Haruru enjoyed a first restaurant visit, its spacious counter and its food. Her account also recalls sharing yakisoba and a meat, garlic-chive and egg set meal at Jimantei after some time away.

Haruru planned a nearby outing for herself and two friends, hoping it would feel like a little trip. A leisurely meal, a stroll and time at Seoto no Yu filled a day that continued with conversation late into the evening.

After work, Haruru met retired senior colleagues at Ikudon’s Yurigaoka station-front branch. She remembered the spacious room, a meal that absorbed her attention and Kyoho shaved ice after ojiya.

After several years, Haruru visited a friend at home, bringing paella, clam chowder and her usual scones. Her friend’s cooking and lovely tableware helped make the lunch memorable, while conversation returned to country-style ornaments and doll-making.

Looking for bright red rhubarb, Haruru found some from Nagano on Mercari. She enjoyed its sweet-tart flavour with yogurt, then tried the jam in a rice-flour pound cake.

Haruru enjoyed the atmosphere at two lunch spots in Karuizawa. A handmade bag, given as a thank-you for driving, added another happy memory.

Her first lamb shabu-shabu, a white-peach and Earl Grey parfait, and a late yakiniku meal filled the evening of Haruru’s second day in Hokkaido. The following day brought another food memory: sushi at New Chitose Airport.

Haruru had meant to keep the hotel buffet breakfast light, but ended up eating plenty. She still headed to the food event in Odori Park, where a melon smoothie special became her favourite.

Haruru headed to ES CON Field and enjoyed walking around, eating and drinking before the game. Afterwards, she met a friend in Susukino. An izakaya meal, karaoke and a final bowl of ramen made for a full day in Hokkaido.

Haruru allowed herself a little indulgence with a Sunday sushi meal. Along with the carefully prepared food, having time to talk made it a happy memory.

Wanting good yakitori, Haruru searched for a restaurant and chose Torimoto. She then looked for fish dishes and finished with ramen. Each stop left a different impression, with the pleasure of finding a restaurant she hoped to keep returning to.

After a busy stretch that had made it hard to meet, Haruru spent a Sunday catching up with a close friend. A leisurely meal was followed by a hot spring and a ganbanyoku session, with plum blossoms at the entrance adding another memory.

On her final evening in Shenzhen, Haruru enjoyed a shellfish hotpot, finishing with Demae Iccho noodles. The next morning brought a hotel breakfast buffet before a taxi journey to Macao.

Haruru enjoyed a generous lunch at a yakiniku restaurant she returns to when visiting Aichi. Dinner was a separate meal at home, prepared by her daughters, and the next day brought a shared lunch. Her account remembers both the food and a welcome chance to relax.

A generous gift of cucumbers set Haruru to work making Q-chan. After plenty of slicing, she cooked and cooled them in an extra-large pot, with plans to share the finished batch.

Haruru took a day off for a leisurely visit to Toyosu. She enjoyed craft beer and abalone at Senkyaku Banrai, then a bath at Manyo no Yu.

After a bath and some food and drinks in Toyosu, Haruru rested in the relaxation room. She had hoped to see the sunset, but found a night view when she woke. That scenery delighted her too, rounding off an unhurried day.

On the fourth day of her trip, Haruru returned for lunch to a place she had visited before. The cold sweet-and-sour pork impressed her all over again. Afterwards, a market walk gave her a little exercise and a very different set of impressions from those at the lunch table.

Familiar xiaolongbao, a first taste of fruit candy and oysters she wanted again: Haruru’s second-day food account brings together old favourites and new tastes. She also loved a recommended coconut hotpot, with shaved ice waiting after she returned.

After missing the chance to eat sushi in Kushiro, Haruru searched for a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant and found Katsu. She spent the wait shopping before enjoying a generous meal.

After some time away, Haruru returned to Takase for eel. Its soft texture and delicious sauce left her feeling ready for the next day.

Haruru began Christmas Eve with daytime drinks in Shimbashi, somewhere she had not visited for a while. She enjoyed grilled food on a warm day, with plans to head to Yokohama afterwards.

Haruru wished she could choose her favourite Mei pose rather than buy a box with hidden contents. She decided to take a chance, then opened it just outside the shop to find the very pose she wanted.

After a little over a month away from Horumon Dojo, Haruru received an email asking how she was doing. Happy to be remembered, she soon returned for a meal. The thoughtful message stayed with her alongside the pleasure of eating until she was full.

Haruru returned to Hamasta after some time away, enjoying a buffet lunch at Yokohama Daihanten before the game. The shared excitement of watching, miwa’s live show and stadium fireworks made it a day that left her both full and happy.

Haruru enjoyed a day out with a friend. She kept the destination as a surprise, beginning the day with breakfast on a terrace among fresh green leaves. Hot dogs, pizza, gelato, vegetable shopping and lunch filled the outing, with time to relax later.

Haruru set off on a nearby trip with her usual group of three. It had been a while since they travelled together, and their reserved lunch lifted her spirits at the start of the journey. The food, the room and a small misunderstanding all became part of the memory.

Haruru was taken to a recommended restaurant for a yakiniku dinner. She enjoyed the meal from the first taste of liver and went on to try more recommendations. Taegutang soup with rice and a final coconut ice cream became part of her memories of a satisfying evening.

Haruru enjoyed Sugakiya ramen again after a long time, remembering its familiar taste. She also kept wanting another bowl at Satsumakko. Separate meal notes capture the ramen she loved returning to.

At a place Haruru loved visiting, generous yakitori was only part of the pleasure. Conversations around the U-shaped counter, helped along by the host, also made her want to return.

Haruru tried to recreate an octopus dish she had bought at a parking-area stop. The pieces became smaller after simmering, but she was delighted that everyone enjoyed the result.

Haruru enjoyed the food at a birthday meal so much that she ate a little too much. The large ravioli made with gyoza wrappers left her wanting to try making it herself.

Haruru returned to Horumon Dojo with a friend who had never tried horumon sashimi. She wondered whether her friend would enjoy it and was happy to find that they did.

Haruru began Saturday by baking 35 scones in three flavours: chocolate, tea, and chocolate with cranberry. She shared some with a shop run by someone she knew. With the dough proportions finally settled, she was thinking about another flavour to try.

Haruru enjoyed her first visit to the Mexican restaurant COMEDOR DE MARGARITA in Yokohama. She was delighted with the food, beer and dessert, as well as the atmosphere and service. With plenty to talk about, the time passed quickly.

At last visiting Fukuya, Haruru chose the recommended miso ramen. She enjoyed its rich miso flavour and the thin noodles she likes, while the negi fried rice made an especially strong impression.

The usual bus had a different look. In a short note, Haruru described the warm feeling it gave her that morning.

Haruru had eaten Satsumakko ramen the day before, yet still wanted it again. It was a bowl she described as her favourite.

Haruru’s first daytime drinks in a while began with a long debate about where to go. She had hoped to visit several places in Ebisu Yokocho, but found it closed that day. A seafood meal, ramen and karaoke became part of a very full day instead.

The rhubarb Haruru had brought home from Karuizawa had been sitting for a while. Worried that she would end up throwing it away, she started making jam as soon as she got back from work.

Haruru made gnocchi for the first time for breakfast at the villa. With toast too, the meal was generous enough to put off the planned lunch until another visit. After a comfortable stay, the six of them carried on enjoying themselves with karaoke back home.

For her birthday, Haruru decided to try a yakiniku restaurant she had never visited before. Good reviews had raised her expectations, and she enjoyed the food. Favourite sushi at lunchtime and cake at the end were also part of the day.

Five nights and six days in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau brought Haruru plenty of food, walking, laughter and moments that moved her. Looking back, she expressed gratitude to her daughter and her husband for the journey.

Haruru travelled to Karuizawa with five friends from middle school. They shared meals at a rental villa and spent the evening laughing over stories they had told many times before. It was a lively trip with friends she had known for years.

Returning to camping after a break, Haruru made her first visit to 富士と星KoKoキャンプ場. Clear skies brought a view of Mount Fuji in front of her. After a busy spell, she enjoyed spending time without watching the clock.

A gift ticket prompted Haruru to have lunch at Starbucks, somewhere she did not often visit. She ordered with every intention of eating it all, but the scone came home with her. It was a change from her usual lunch.

Haruru’s account brings together tanmen in Aichi, a set lunch whose order she changed, and a surprise when she cracked eggs on a separate morning. Each left her with a different memory.

Two attempts to visit Horumon Dojo with a friend had fallen through because of temporary closures. This time, Haruru checked beforehand and they finally made it there together. Her favourite three-kind platter began an evening of conversation and laughter.

Haruru set out on a five-night, six-day trip to Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau. After food at Narita and a meal from her purchases on the flight, she continued from Hong Kong to Shenzhen by taxi. Although it was late, food had been prepared for her arrival, and the first night left her very full.

After reading reviews, Haruru visited a place new to her and enjoyed a Setouchi lemon gin and tonic along with the food. She then moved on for sushi. Her account remembers a day of enjoyable meals.

At her usual rice-ball shop, Haruru found a limited noriben rice ball filled with chikuwa tempura, fried cod and rolled omelette. Her short account records trying it and reflecting on the meal.

For the final meal of the camping trip, Haruru made ajillo with large shrimp and octopus, mussels and scallops cooked in butter, and other dishes. She had made too much again, but was pleased that everyone enjoyed it.

Haruru met a friend she had got to know on Instagram for their first lunch together. The conversation flowed as if they were already old friends. This is her account of three hours at TENQOO and a meeting that left them wanting to see each other again.

The last dinner of Haruru’s trip was Portuguese food in Macau, a meal she found comforting and well suited to her tastes. Her account continues with the next morning’s journey to the airport, writing on the flight home and gratitude for the help behind seven nights and eight days away.

Haruru travelled to Macau by ferry, then walked among the city’s buildings. The weekday crowds and intense heat surprised her. Trying egg tarts at two shops also brought back a memory of the tart she had eaten at her hotel breakfast.

For her last dinner in Shenzhen, Haruru enjoyed skewers, cold noodles and oysters. Her account remembers favourite flavours and desserts, then looks back on six days of eating before a final hotel breakfast and the journey ahead.

For lunch on her last day in Shenzhen, Haruru dipped fine noodles into a rich crab accompaniment. Her account also remembers a fruit dessert and the city around her. Cafés, tall buildings and a station left impressions alongside the food.

Haruru went camping again after some time away, at Narita Yume Bokujo’s auto campsite. Light rain after arrival did not get in the way of cooking in the mobile kitchen. Her account remembers the wish to keep making food and the warmth of the fire as it grew colder.

For a year-end gathering, Haruru visited an acquaintance’s yakitori restaurant for the first time and asked for recommendations. Three dishes stood out: a tomato roll, pīchī-yaki and a hanpen roll. At a second venue, she enjoyed singing in a snack bar with a Showa-era atmosphere.

For Christmas that year, Haruru took her first yakatabune cruise. She enjoyed dinner on board and had the chance to see fireworks from the deck. Her account remembers roughly two hours that felt like a small trip.

Haruru remembered the last Horumon Dojo meal of the year as a satisfying outing for two. The food she enjoyed, a gift from the restaurant and even the smell she noticed on the train home became part of this short account of a familiar place.

After a pickup in Aichi, Haruru spent the weekend in a bungalow. She had planned to cook plenty of camping food, but everyone filled up on the generous amount she had bought for the grill. Fried bread and a farm visit added to the next day of this summer outing.

On a day Haruru found hot, she had halo-halo in the morning and shaved ice at lunchtime. Two cold sweets became the focus of this brief summer note.

Returning to karaoke after a while gave Haruru a chance to let off steam. Nostalgic songs and a delicious treat that reminded her of shaved ice stayed in her memory of the occasion.

An acquaintance took Haruru to Toyosu Market, where she found plenty she wanted to buy. She settled on uni, rock oysters, chūtoro tuna and sujiko roe, then enjoyed the seafood after the shopping.

Haruru had been curious about the queues at 飛粋 and went in for the first time when it looked less busy than usual. She had high hopes, but found the fattiness noticeable and the bowl did not suit her own taste. This is her personal impression of that visit.

On a return to Satsumakko after a while, Haruru enjoyed both a butter topping and takana rice. The meal reminded her that it was a favourite she wanted to revisit.

After missing the chance to buy mantis shrimp the day before, Haruru ordered them for delivery in Shenzhen. Once she had boiled them in salted water and removed the shells, the flesh was smaller than she expected. She still found them delicious, a food memory from her trip.

In her account of the mantis-shrimp meal, Haruru also recalled sweets she had left out of the previous day’s notes. A thin crisp and candied tomatoes, rather than candied apples, were two treats she enjoyed on the trip.

After being taken to a market, Haruru enjoyed a lunch of abalone, razor clams and delivered Peking duck, among other dishes. Sweet mango shaved ice was another memorable part of this account of food on her trip.

Haruru went out for a Chinese dinner after being encouraged to try an unusual sweet-and-sour pork dish. It arrived among ice. Its cool temperature and crisp coating surprised her, becoming a memorable part of the evening.

After her Chinese dinner, Haruru still had more things she wanted to try: a cheese-flavoured round waffle she had missed the day before, a recommended filled bun-like food, and a later delivery of pan-fried dumplings. This account follows the snacks and extra order after the meal.

Haruru’s walk through Laojie took in an eye-catching building, a clothing market and food stalls. She was too full to try one tempting dessert, but a simple sweet that reminded her of mochi stayed in her memory.

Haruru walked around a spacious cultural village with scaled-down buildings. She was disappointed that she could only look at the Great Wall display, having hoped to walk along it. The sound and flames of the final show left a particularly strong impression.

Haruru's morning began with Mario Party, followed by the breakfast buffet she had been looking forward to. The game was a challenge, but breakfast had a clear favourite: tomato and egg with rice.

After meeting up in Hong Kong, Haruru took the bus to Shenzhen. She had little appetite when she arrived, but enjoyed dumplings and fruit-filled shaved ice for lunch. Rain helped turn the first evening's dinner into a delivery meal.

A friend visiting Tokyo for work joined Haruru for the three friends' first drinks outing together. They chose Chikuzenya in Kamata, which Haruru had enjoyed before. Old stories filled the evening, followed by an hour of karaoke before going home.

For the birthday of her seafood-loving daughter, Haruru put together a table centred on shellfish. Fish and oysters joined the spread, which she remembered for its scent of the sea. A small reflection on the plating also accompanied this birthday note.

After more than ten years apart, Haruru and her companion recognised each other straight away. They ate and drank at Sushi no Wakusei in Musashikosugi, then went to karaoke. The long gap seemed to disappear during a happy, nostalgic outing.

Haruru changed the flavour of the previous day's corn rice by turning it into taco rice for breakfast. Seafood chijimi and a butter-cooked seafood dish joined the meal, and she had three bowls of her favourite shaved ice. This is a short note from a day of generous eating.

Haruru returned to Midori Sushi after a while. Unable to book her preferred branches on that occasion, she went to Kichijoji. She enjoyed seasonal nigiri and a seafood salad, with the shrimp head served in a dish becoming a particular favourite.

Haruru cooked with her daughter for a birthday celebration. The burgers her daughter made, starting with the buns, tasted as good as something from a restaurant to her. Homemade nuggets, pumpkin pies and a milk kanten dessert that did not set properly also joined the spread.

Haruru returned to Jimantei for soft yakisoba. At Horumon Dojo, having company meant she could order a wider selection and felt very satisfied. She found something reassuringly reminiscent of the Showa era in both places.

Haruru enjoyed watching from the outfield at Jingu. When the people in front stood up, she had to stand too to see past their backs. The cheering made those seats fun for her, and she also caught a little of the fireworks.

Haruru stir-fried harvested goya, ate a cucumber whole and steamed potatoes to have with butter. She enjoyed a drink on her own at home, leaving a short note about the food on her table.

Haruru enjoyed a cocktail made with Hakkaisan in Mizonokuchi, finding it easy to drink and delicious. She kept things a little restrained, then let off steam at karaoke for the first time in a while.

After eating plenty over the weekend, Haruru found herself enjoying another generous meal. Her short note remembers how delicious it was and the warm feeling she had towards the people at the restaurant.

From wonton noodles at a new place to a return to Jimantei, Haruru looked back on recent noodle meals and her honest impressions. At the time, she felt more drawn to lighter flavours than rich ones.

Haruru enjoyed shopping at a reuse shop so much that she bought more than intended. Afterwards, she had curry and naan at a place she visited when in Aichi. Her account also remembers the joy of seeing a handmade bag used for years.

Haruru's two daughters celebrated her birthday with a yakiniku meal at a place she had wanted to try. With the three sharing similar tastes, they enjoyed the food together. Conversation and laughter continued over coffee afterwards.

Haruru got off the train especially for Jimantei's soft yakisoba. The closed-for-preparation sign was a disappointment, but someone at the restaurant remembered her, and she was fortunate to be welcomed that day. The meal stayed in her memory alongside the kindness.

Haruru tried a new place next to Horumon Dojo, focused on beer and chicken. She liked its atmosphere and service, while the meal and drinks gave her another chance to reflect on her own tastes.

Faced with red, black and white ramen, Haruru chose white. She found the tonkotsu bowl relatively light yet full of flavour. The negi fried rice pleased her even more, with a simple taste she wanted to keep eating.

Haruru enjoyed grilled seafood in the evening and cooked squid-and-nira chijimi on a multi-griddle. She could not manage all the meat she had brought. When the night turned cold, conversation by the fire became another welcome memory.

Haruru headed for a bungalow stay with her usual two companions, buying barbecue ingredients on the way. On reaching the campsite, she spotted a shaved-ice shop and could not resist buying some. Under a hot blue sky, she was glad to be spending time in nature.

After Hamasta, Haruru raised a toast at an izakaya recommended by a friend. A sashimi platter arranged in advance was an impressive part of the meal, alongside salad and meat dishes. It ended with a grilled rice ball and gratitude to the friend who had brought her there.

At a tantanmen place she had wanted to try, Haruru and a friend chose golden-sesame and black-sesame bowls. After tasting both, she preferred her friend's choice. A separate aburasoba meal also left her with the pleasure of trying something different and a plan for next time.

Haruru returned to an izakaya in a residential neighbourhood after several years. Familiar skewers, beef harami tataki and a natto omelette made it a meal she was glad to revisit.

On a hot day off, Haruru went to Shinbashi for a daytime outing. Sashimi and lemon sours at the first stop were followed by the grilled dishes that had drawn her to a second restaurant.

A friend who was travelling sent Haruru a chilled delivery of crab. A message one morning was followed by a crab treat the next, much to her delight.

After work, Haruru went to Yokohama to pick up baseball tickets. She made an evening of it with dinner and a night view from a terrace at Bay Quarter.

Haruru stopped in for two drinks after work and stayed for dinner. Familiar dishes and a welcoming proprietor made it the sort of place she appreciated being able to drop into.

Haruru enjoyed her first Niku Azabu meal enough to return less than a month later. At a different branch, she found new pleasures in the same course and enjoyed the presentation of a meat cake.

Haruru went to Jimantei in the rain, arriving as it opened. She enjoyed yakisoba after a long interval and, after some deliberation, chose nikuniratama as another dish.

Haruru planned a leisurely day for herself and her younger daughter. Eel for lunch was followed by baths and manga, then sushi for dinner.

Under clear skies, Haruru enjoyed her last camp of the year. Food made by her and a friend filled the table for an early Christmas gathering.

Haruru returned to Bunraku in Ameyoko after a while. Her outing continued with another meal, browsing shops and a visit to Akihabara.

The hotel booked for Haruru in Macau was PARISIAN. Its lavish surroundings and the night view left an impression she wanted to hold onto before going home.

On the fifth day of her trip in Shenzhen, Haruru enjoyed Korean barbecue and dessert. Afterwards, her family invited her to spend time in the hotel pool.

Before lunch in Shenzhen, Haruru picked drinks made with Shine Muscat grapes and white peach. The hotpot meal that followed brought a chance to mix her own sauce and encounter a different meal routine.

Haruru visited Laojie for the stall-food outing she had been looking forward to. A skewer seller’s performance caught her attention, a sweet drink offered a break, and she finally tried insect skewers after plenty of deliberation.

On her second evening, Haruru enjoyed her daughter’s recommendations at a restaurant in a shopping mall. Afterwards they travelled to Shenzhen Bay Park, where a drone show made another impression on her.

After meeting her daughter in Hong Kong, Haruru travelled by bus to Shenzhen. Dumplings and fruit-filled shaved ice welcomed her there, followed by a delivered dinner when rain changed their evening plans.

Haruru was setting out on a seven-night trip to visit her daughter’s family in Shenzhen. Travelling overseas alone for the first time, she felt nervous but completed check-in safely and wrote while waiting to board.

When Haruru stopped by after work with a delivery, her daughter invited her to stay for a meal. The visit brought a generous homemade meal and a birthday picture book that Haruru had personalised with photos and stickers.

Haruru had been looking forward to trying Kaisen Sansen in Musashi-Kosugi after a recommendation. Of the dishes she tasted in the small restaurant, prawn-and-negi kakiage and the final bowl of zosui became particular favourites.

On another visit to Aone Campground, Haruru tried making shish kebab for the first time. She added her own touches to a spice mix she had been taught and enjoyed a camp meal with seafood, rice and salads.

On a warm, clear day, Haruru tried a fisherman’s set lunch at a restaurant she was visiting for the first time. The lunch felt a little like being on a trip and reminded her how much she enjoyed eating the side dishes with rice.

Haruru visited a tavern hoping for a retro Showa-era atmosphere. The experience differed from what she had imagined, and by the time she finished the outing with ramen, she was too full to eat it all.

For months, Haruru and her daughter had discussed what to make for Halloween. Their party preparations became a record of the pleasure of planning and making food together, with a few ideas left unfinished.

The Halloween camp day was warm enough for short sleeves, but the night turned sharply cold. Haruru recalled feeling underprepared for the temperature change, alongside the satisfaction of setting up on her own and enjoying meals outdoors.

On the third day of her Hokkaido trip, Haruru had a seafood rice bowl and mantis shrimp sashimi. The evening brought a jingisukan tasting set, the clock tower and TV tower, and a memorable view of the city lights.

Haruru travelled to Hokkaido with food very much on her mind. This account remembers the grilled-fish meal she chose on arrival and an evening meal after a late departure from her hotel.

An early arrival gave Haruru time for breakfast. She liked the feeling of having a little room in the morning to start the day well.

On a return visit to an acquaintance’s restaurant, Haruru found that the country dolls she had given them were still on display. Her account remembers that happy reunion, a course meal and matcha cream anmitsu at Mingei.

After visiting the Futako-Tamagawa and Musashi-Koyama restaurants, Haruru tried Niku Azabu’s Shinbashi branch for the first time. Her meal began with a mini burger and continued through twelve kinds of meat to a final curry.

Haruru finally put a three-tier bento container to use after it had sat unused since she bought it. She got up early to prepare dishes and rice balls for an outing towards Mitama no Yu in Yamanashi.

When Haruru returned to a restaurant she had been curious about, it was open. She tried drinking there alone for the first time, with generous platters and an unfamiliar seat at the counter.

It had been a while since Haruru last visited Ume no Hana, and this was her first time at its Yokohama Sky Building restaurant. She enjoyed the view from a private room on the 29th floor, the individual dishes and the city lights after dark.

On a hot day, Haruru returned to Kairikiya and enjoyed her ramen in the cool restaurant. The same account also includes her reaction to trying a Seven-Eleven smoothie.

Arriving earlier than usual, Haruru paused at Starbucks before work. A colleague’s recommendation led her to a strawberry drink that felt generous for the morning.

At her usual Midori conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, Haruru enjoyed choosing the things she liked. Sea urchin, salmon roe, a fried prawn roll and a final potato salad made it easy to eat a little too much.

At Bronco Billy, where she usually chose a coarsely ground hamburger steak, Haruru tried steak for a change. She enjoyed its tenderness but still found herself favouring the hamburger steak.

A cashback offer at the time prompted Haruru to visit a sushi restaurant. Her brief account centred on how much she enjoyed the meal.

A Vietnamese lunch brought back memories of Haruru’s earlier trip to Da Nang, from the food to relaxing by the beach. She hoped to return.

An owl-shaped baked sweet, a familiar bag of Carl snacks and a printed cookie caught Haruru’s attention in this souvenir account.

Haruru’s daily lunch at Volks that day was pork cutlet with basil sauce. She left a short, candid impression of the meal.

Haruru stopped at Michi-no-Eki Katsuyama by Kawaguchiko. The shade felt cool as she looked ahead to her first solo camping trip later that day.

Haruru tried lunch at a restaurant she had been curious about. She enjoyed a generous seafood set meal and ordered shaved ice separately.

Haruru returned to the Kyushu-style izakaya Ebisu after a while. Starting with horse-meat sashimi, she tried several dishes and ordered more of one she particularly liked.

An early arrival gave Haruru time for breakfast. She enjoyed the ogura whip and looked forward to the days off that would follow after getting through that day.

Haruru felt the price of this bowl of shaved ice was higher than she expected. Even so, she enjoyed it.

Haruru was craving yakiniku, so she chose a kalbi set for lunch. She enjoyed the meal and thought it was good value that day.

Four friends from junior high school set off on a drive Haruru had planned without revealing the destination. They enjoyed lunch in an old-house cafe towards Hinohara and Kazuma, with hydrangeas in bloom.

Haruru spent the final day of her Osaka trip trying different foods, including takoyaki, sushi and fried skewers. She finished with mitarashi dumplings on the Shinkansen home.

Haruru went into a small restaurant whose old-fashioned appearance had raised her expectations. She enjoyed samgyeopsal and pancakes before walking around the busy streets and returning to her hotel.

A bowl of udon she had been curious about was one of Haruru’s food stops in Osaka. In Tsuruhashi, she enjoyed hotteok, ten-yen bread, grilled offal and a taste of her friend’s shaved ice.

Haruru tried a restaurant near Yokohama Station for the first time. She enjoyed the food in a private room and felt pleased with the meal despite finding the prices a little high.

A lunch of chicken pho and butter shrimp brought back Haruru’s memories of an earlier visit to Vietnam. The butter shrimp was what she particularly enjoyed.

A friend had long wanted Haruru to try Jimantei’s soft yakisoba. One bite helped her understand why, and the Sunday continued with gelato and an evening meal.

Haruru’s daughters celebrated her birthday a little later. They chose clothes together, then enjoyed an Italian course meal and plenty of conversation.

Haruru tried adding lard to her gyoza filling for the first time. Once she had cooked and tasted them, she was delighted with the result.

Haruru changed her plans for yakiniku after finding another restaurant in a search. Its Showa-era atmosphere and welcoming host left her wanting to return.

Haruru and her daughter worked together on their Halloween food. They had wanted to make more, but ran out of time.

Seeing people she knew from television at Haneda gave Haruru an unexpected moment of excitement. Her account then turned to sunshine at New Chitose and the next destination she had planned.

Haruru was setting out on a planned one-night, two-day food trip to Osaka. After choosing Yamaya’s mentaiko and beef-tongue bento, she was already thinking about what to eat for lunch.

Seeing Mount Fuji that morning made Haruru feel happy. A generous breakfast and memories of the time she had shared with others rounded out her account.

Haruru enjoyed the roses and many remaining buds at Tokyo German Village. Although she wondered how the garden might have looked a week earlier, she left wanting to return for the illuminations.

Haruru and her usual two companions chose a nearby outing for Golden Week. A generous Chinese meal was followed by halo-halo and a bath visit they enjoyed.

Haruru went to Hamasta after work. She remembered an enjoyable game and a sense of togetherness, despite the chill and the cancellation of a planned event.

After lunch in Ueno and a walk around Ameyoko, Haruru chose Moheji, remembering a meal she had enjoyed in Machida. Of the two monja dishes she ordered, the seafood one became her new favourite.

The stairs and entrance made Haruru feel as though she were entering a theme park. An evening with unfamiliar dishes and plenty of drinks to choose from left her wanting to return.

With her dining vouchers due to expire the next day, Haruru used the last three for a more indulgent lunch than usual. Her short account remembered how much she enjoyed the meal.

On her first visit to Jimantei that year, Haruru ordered her usual soft fried noodles and meat, garlic chive and egg set meal. She enjoyed lunch so much that she ate a little too much and also took food home.

Haruru's first visit to Kamata was for a New Year gathering. After wondering where to go, she found a place whose food and service made her want to return almost as soon as she arrived.

Haruru returned to Takase for eel, enjoyed its tofu and her usual salad, then finished with gelato at Michi-no-Eki Takiyama.

Haruru arrived at Mahora Inahoyama near dusk for her fourth camping trip. The hoped-for sea of clouds did not appear, but she enjoyed the autumn colours, a morning walk and meals served in their pots.

Haruru and her daughters prepared a festival-style birthday party at home. The homemade preparations ran late into the night, but seeing everyone pleased made the effort worthwhile.

On her first visit to a recommended restaurant, Haruru enjoyed a lunch of sashimi and fried horse mackerel with five small side dishes, dessert and iced coffee. She wanted to return as soon as she had eaten.

Lunch was taco rice with browned cheese, with sour cream tucked beneath it. I enjoyed the meal.

The succulents looked pleasingly plump, with a single flower in bloom. Photographs of the pot and its details keep this small plant memory.

The first Hina celebration came soon after a birthday, and I wanted to celebrate it properly too. I could not prepare everything I had hoped to make, but the smile made the occasion memorable.

We celebrated Christmas a day late. My eldest daughter joined us, and the three of us shared the preparation. The table of food and the lovely cake are memories of a gathering I enjoyed.

I spent a relaxed night and two days camping at PineWood in Yamanashi. There was clear weather by day, a beautiful night view, a campfire and sunrise the following morning.

Looking back at what I had eaten recently, lunch might have been my biggest indulgence. Photographs of several meals sit alongside my first DelRey chocolates in this food diary.

I had wanted to return to Jimantei in Musashi-Shinjo for some time. After six months away, I finally went back and ordered yakisoba without hesitation.

Heavy rain on the way to Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill gave way to sunshine when I arrived. The Hokkaido day continued with autumn colours, ageimo at Nakayama Pass, an open-air bath and a mountain view on the return journey.

For my first visit to Kusatsu Onsen, I left at five in the morning and arrived at half past eight. With fewer people around, I could take my time walking, enjoy a footbath and watch a yumomi show.

My visit for BLUE☆LIGHT SERIES 2022 brought a comeback win, blue drinks and mandarin shaved ice. The shared glow around the stands became another happy memory.

At Yokohama Kushikobo, I enjoyed mushroom ajillo and several yakitori dishes. One favourite left me wondering whether I could try making it myself.

It was my first attempt at this water activity. I did not fall in and enjoyed a peaceful time in beautiful surroundings, even with a slightly awkward stance.

A sunny Sunday brought autumn leaves, blue sky and clouds to Haruru's overnight trip to Lake Kawaguchiko. The scenery and her hotel's retro atmosphere both stayed in her memory.

On the final day, a taxi driver's recommendation took Haruru to Ooyama for lunch. After enjoying miso-flavoured motsunabe, she bought the Umegae mochi she had been asked to bring back from Dazaifu. It was the closing chapter of a trip spent enjoying food and hot springs in Fukuoka and Oita.

Haruru toured the hells at Beppu Onsen and entered a sand bath after a short wait. At her lodging, she enjoyed a leisurely meal and baths before dinner, before bed and in the morning. The account remembers time to relax during both the sightseeing and the stay.

The lantern light across Hoi An stayed in Haruru's memory. She enjoyed a leisurely boat ride and looked back on the evening with a wish to return.

Haruru found more shops in Hoi An than she could explore in a day. She browsed clothing, small goods and basket bags, stopped for a café lunch, and remembered the bougainvillea brightening the streets.

A long-awaited after-work drink took Haruru to a lively place that felt like a theme park to her. Her food account also remembers horumon she enjoyed returning for, and a light salt-seasoned ramen.

Haruru’s lunch that day was fresh pasta with red shrimp and salmon roe in a lobster sauce. Her brief account remembers its rich, delicious flavour.

Haruru and her usual group of three went to a lunch buffet at Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku. There was more to try than she could finish. Afterwards, she rested on a sofa and enjoyed the hotel’s Christmas atmosphere.

Haruru looked back on a welcome gathering where she found everything delicious. The atmosphere of the place was part of what she enjoyed that evening.

Haruru chose oyster udon with an egg-thickened sauce. She described seven large oysters and a generous serving, while giving a frank account of its light flavour.

A curry stop just after arriving in Aichi, an evening hamburg steak, cake at home and a familiar yakiniku restaurant: Haruru’s account records her frank impressions of the meals during her stay.

Haruru returned to Saint Marc for lunch after some time away. Her short account remembers her surprise at eating thirteen breads, even though they were small.

Haruru enjoyed every dish at an Italian meal she had booked. By the end, she had decided to add the restaurant to her favourites.

Haruru enjoyed a nigiri meal marking Sushitsune's seventieth anniversary. Two pieces of fatty tuna and the soft anago stood out in a meal she found satisfying.

Haruru enjoyed bread, soup and salad alongside a daily lunch at VOLKS. The bread helped make it a meal she remembered as good value.

A first-inning home run brought an exciting start to Haruru's first Hamasta visit in three years. She cheered through the tension of a tied score before enjoying a win. A roast-beef bowl added another happy memory to the day.

For a drive after some time, Haruru headed somewhere about an hour from home. The weather and scenery were lovely, though the day was very hot. Shaved ice and a hot-spring stop helped make the nearby outing a refreshing break.

On her first visit to Hungry Tiger, Haruru chose hamburg steak and thick-cut beef tongue. The flavour of the meat and the tenderness of the tongue made it a memorable lunchtime treat.

An evening meal at Gifu Tanmen, a favourite yakiniku stop in Aichi, and a lunch with large fried prawns: Haruru's short account brings together the pleasures of several different meals.

During a stay in Aichi, Haruru went to a French restaurant her daughter recommended. She enjoyed the atmosphere, the care given to each plate and the food itself.

The purpose of this outing was hamburg steak at Sawayaka. After learning about the wait at the outlet branch, Haruru did little shopping and went to the Gotemba Interchange branch. She was glad to enjoy a meal she had wanted to return for.

Haruru's usual group of three went for a drive after some time. They enjoyed seafood and shopping at Numazu Port, continued to Benifuji no Yu in Yamanakako, and stopped for dipping hoto at Dangozaka Service Area on the way home. There was plenty of conversation and laughter along the way.

Haruru made gimbap and cupcakes as gifts for an acquaintance's shop. Preparing the fillings one by one took longer than expected, leaving less time for the wrapping.

Haruru went to Shibuya with her daughter to see an ANFINY street performance. Surprised by the size of the crowd, she changed her meal plans afterwards and returned closer to home to eat at a leisurely pace.

A limited lunch offer caught Haruru's attention and led her to choose a makanai bowl. Her brief account records both its appearance and her honest impression after eating.

Haruru enjoyed pho and seafood-and-chicken curry for lunch on a hot day. Coriander, once something she disliked, had become easier to eat, adding a small discovery to the meal.

Haruru stopped for daytime drinks in Sakuragicho before watching baseball at Hamasta. The tension lasted until the end, making the eventual win feel all the more rewarding.

A farm-market stop brought Haruru handmade udon and a few purchases before her hot-spring visit. At Kawara no Yu, she took her time in the baths and paused for shaved ice.

Haruru described her lunch at Vege Kitchen as healthy, while admitting that it felt a little less satisfying than she wanted. Her short account preserves both impressions.

Haruru travelled to Aichi by Shinkansen, ate eel hitsumabushi in Nagoya and visited her usual yakiniku restaurant that evening. The next day brought more meals, which she remembered while heading towards another trip.

The second day began with porridge at a place recommended at the hotel. Shopping in Myeongdong, dakhanmari, food stalls and azuki shaved ice followed in Haruru's account of the day's meals.

Haruru especially enjoyed the hamburger steak on her first visit to Bronco Billy. At an izakaya in the evening, sashimi and karaage were the dishes that stood out.

Haruru briefly remembered two lunches from the previous week: a meal at Wako and Vietnamese food.

On her first visit to a small yakitori shop, Haruru especially enjoyed the beer after a hot day. She thought it might suit a short stop for a drink.

Attending a wedding again after some time moved Haruru deeply. The celebration at Aoyama St. Grace Cathedral, the food and the generous dessert buffet all became happy memories.

Haruru hesitated between nigiri and chirashi. She chose chirashi and was pleased with the variety she could enjoy at lunch.

Lunch brought jar salad, pasta and tea chiffon cake. In the evening, Haruru enjoyed sushi with a friend she had not seen for some time. Both meals left her happily full.

Haruru took the train to Odawara for a leisurely outing and enjoyed grilled seafood from the morning. She went home without doing the shopping she had planned, remembering a fun day out.

Haruru returned to a restaurant on Kokusai Street that she had visited the previous year. She enjoyed island shallots, champuru and soki soba, while looking forward to Ishigaki and hoping the boat to Hateruma would sail.

On her first visit to おばぁや, Haruru enjoyed island shallots, fu champuru, purple sweet-potato croquettes and more. With a trip to Okinawa and its islands planned for the following week, her thoughts were already on the journey.

A crowd on a pavement led to an unexpected encounter. Haruru recalled meeting Mr Obata, whom she had just seen in the news, and leaving with renewed encouragement to do her best.

Shop browsing, early-evening drinks and illuminated streets filled Haruru's Christmas Eve. Her outing continued from Jiyugaoka to Omotesando, Harajuku and Shibuya, with a late meal to finish.

A Wednesday stop at Midori Sushi and a final visit before the year ended left Haruru full on both occasions. The two accounts also preserve different small regrets: a missed photograph and sushi she wished she had eaten.

On a cold day, Haruru chose warm udon for lunch at Marugame Seimen. Her short account recalls oyster and egg ankake udon, a limited-time menu then, which she found warming.

Haruru finished her time in Aichi with conveyor-belt sushi and cake for dessert. Her short note continues through an evening departure and a return home after midnight.

Haruru chose a salmon himedon with tororo for lunch. Her short account remembers the mentaiko especially fondly.

A return to Kawara no Yu came with an unexpected second udon stop. Haruru remembered a happy day of conversation and laughter.

On a clear Culture Day, Haruru returned to Ameyoko for daytime drinks. Shopping and another meal in Shinjuku made it a full day out.

On her first visit to a restaurant, Haruru enjoyed drinks in a spacious private room and appreciated both the appearance and the taste of the dishes. The atmosphere left her wanting to return.

Haruru remembered the meat sushi as especially delicious. Her short note describes lightly seared meat and her surprise at the special price on that occasion.

Lunch and shaved ice in a converted old house gave Haruru the feeling of a little trip. The caramel-nut ice she had come for, and egg sandwiches nearby, left her with happy food memories.

Haruru went for a bungalow stay with her usual companions. After buying seafood before reaching the campsite, she spent the evening cooking and enjoying the tempting food she had bought. The rock oyster stood out most.

On a drive to Karuizawa, Haruru found the autumn leaves at their best. A crepe in Old Karuizawa stayed in her memory too, making her want to return for another.

Bread, pho and fruit made for a full hotel breakfast. Haruru then paused by the pool, but by lunchtime her appetite had returned, with more food to enjoy during the trip.

Before heading into Hoi An during her Vietnam trip, Haruru tried a coconut boat recommended by her guide. Photographs, crab fishing and a chance to paddle filled a little over an hour.

Haruru finally tried the fruit shaved ice she had been looking forward to. The generous treat also introduced her to the combination of watermelon and condensed milk.

Haruru tried a hamburg rice bowl at lunch. She described the meat as almost rare, but felt that the sauce was a little strong and overpowered its flavour.

On the second day of her trip, Haruru relaxed at My Khe Beach with mango, beer and a nap. Afterwards, she chose ingredients and preparation options at a seafood restaurant, leaving different impressions of the dishes.

After arriving in Da Nang and leaving her bags at the hotel, Haruru headed into town. She enjoyed a mango yogurt drink and chicken rice, then an evening meal on a terrace with a pleasant breeze.

On a first visit to an oyster bar after work, Haruru found that an oyster she particularly liked was also that day's special-priced oyster. She enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere.

On her first visit after the shopping complex in Minamimachida was renewed, Haruru enjoyed Snoopy's welcome on the platform. Her afternoon of shopping left her very happy too.

A return to Madre Italiana came with a wait of more than an hour. After eating lightly elsewhere, Haruru returned at four, shared pasta and pizza and enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere.

Haruru went to Saint Marc for lunch. The bread did not impress her as much this time, although she still ate ten pieces.

Haruru had been curious about a restaurant but felt hesitant to enter. A customer's recommendation encouraged her to try it, and she enjoyed a charcoal-grilled yakitori rice bowl.

On the 29th, meat day, Haruru had a ladies' lunch set at a beef-tongue restaurant. She enjoyed the meal and found that she preferred the harami to the beef tongue.

Haruru went to Shin-Yokohama to meet a friend from high school who had come from Osaka. The reunion lunch brought the same enjoyment they had shared through the years.

For her first curry lunch in a while, Haruru chose her favourite butter chicken curry. The naan was so large that one was plenty.

Haruru enjoyed favourite dishes at a horumon restaurant she liked. She meant to finish there but added ramen, and enjoyed its light flavour too.

Haruru enjoyed a lunch buffet and a natural hot spring at the Hilton in Odawara. A stop at Suzuhiro's main shop was also part of an outing she remembered as elegant and enjoyable.

Despite having a reservation, Haruru waited two hours and ate at a table instead of the counter. She felt the delicious sushi made the wait forgivable.

At a compact basement yakitori restaurant, Haruru was delighted with the food. A grilled dish called chire was her favourite, while aji tataki and a refreshing mojito also stood out.

Haruru had lunch at a yakiniku restaurant in Shinjuku that she found stylish. Small tastes left her very satisfied, along with shared spicy ramen and coconut and chocolate mousse.

Haruru had lunch near Hon-Atsugi Station and enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. She was also looking forward to discovering more places to eat in the area.

Lunch with a friend near a roadside station in Hachioji brought a lunch plate, beef stew and an extra half pizza. Haruru was glad they could take their time talking after a while.

Haruru missed the chance to eat kimbap in Korea, so she tried making it with the Korean seaweed she had brought back. She was pleased with how delicious it turned out.

Haruru took a late-night flight to Korea for a short trip centred on good food. Porridge, grilled beef and ganjang gejang, along with plenty of shopping, filled her one-night stay.

Haruru went to the annual Golden Week barbecue. With no wind, she could relax and enjoy meat, seafood, pickles and dessert, with yakisoba to finish.

The bus tour was full, so Haruru and her two companions chose a bungalow stay at Country Bear campsite in Shizuoka. A hot-spring stop and Oshino Hakkai followed the next day, on a trip full of laughter.

On her first visit to Ganko Musashino Yashiki, Haruru was delighted by the atmosphere. A kaiseki meal left her thoroughly full.

For lunch on the 29th, Haruru chose the ladies' set at Tannosuke. She felt it was a slightly indulgent choice for a midday meal.

Haruru watched the BayStars with nervous excitement at Yokohama Stadium. She was hoping for a win, looking forward to the Victory Celebration and a toast afterwards.

Returning to Kushikatsu Tanaka after a while, Haruru tried a hiyashiame sour for the first time. She found it easy to drink and delicious.

Haruru returned to Midori Sushi after a while. Having had no lunch that day, she ate the premium nigiri selection and felt thoroughly full.

After travelling from Kagoshima to Kumamoto and Nagasaki over three nights and four days, Haruru looked back on good weather, delicious food, wonderful scenery and time to relax.

Haruru remembered an outing to Ameyoko as a chance to eat plenty and enjoy herself. Her account mentions seafood rice bowls, yakitori, matcha anmitsu and sushi.

Haruru took a drive to Enoshima and Kamakura with her usual group of three. They ate at Enoshima-tei before heading to Kamakura for sweets and a stroll along Komachi Street.

Haruru enjoyed sushi kaiseki at an evening New Year gathering. The dishes arrived a little at a time, and before she knew it she felt full.

Haruru enjoyed a slightly indulgent Italian dinner with wine. She felt it was a welcome occasional treat and remembered the evening as fun.

Haruru’s one-night bus trip with two companions included Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Miyagawa Morning Market and Magome. She remembered two full days of food, hot springs and sightseeing.

At Shiunji Auto Campsite in Niigata, Haruru enjoyed a view straight out to the Sea of Japan. Good food and a nearby hot spring made it a relaxing three-day break.

Haruru enjoyed an evening meal at a stylish restaurant in Machida. The open feel of the setting and the food both left a good impression.

Haruru had been enjoying Vietnamese food more and more. Her lunch account also noted that coriander, once something she disliked, had become easy for her to eat.

At a skewer restaurant, Haruru enjoyed liver prepared in several ways. She also liked dipping garlic toast into motsu stew.

Two familiar friends came to visit on a Saturday. Haruru prepared lunch and was happy to spend time together.

Haruru went for an Italian meal in Hachioji with two companions. She was pleased that they enjoyed it.

Haruru went for an Italian lunch with two companions near a roadside station in Hachioji. Wanting them to try several dishes, she ordered a little extra.

Haruru tried a recommended restaurant serving food made with STAUB cookware. A generous vegetable salad and chicken made it a place she hoped to visit again.

Haruru enjoyed eating her way around Osaka. Soft, jiggly pancakes at A Happy Pancake and torisoba that made the wait worthwhile stood out in her account.

On the final day of a Korea trip, Haruru returned to a familiar restaurant before heading to Seoul Tower. Shopping at Lotte Mart and a last airport meal rounded out her account.

After arriving in Korea, Haruru returned to a barrel-grill restaurant she had visited the previous year. Her account then follows an evening cruise from sunset to night views, with jazz on board.

Haruru’s first baseball outing of that year came on a pleasantly breezy day. Although the team lost, she enjoyed her usual mikan ice and GIRLS festival.

Haruru tried Taiwan mazesoba for the first time and described its flavour as something she could get hooked on.

A return to butter chicken curry brought Haruru a naan larger than she could finish. Her lunch account ended with mango lassi.

Haruru went out on her own for a beauty appointment, shopping and lunch. Her brief account noted that this was her second weekly visit.

When a planned trip to Naruko Onsen was cancelled, Haruru switched to a mystery bus tour. A spacious room, meals and waterfall scenery became part of the journey.

A visit to a home centre brought Haruru new plants, while familiar flowers and leaves gave her changes to enjoy. Growing cactus flowers was still a hope for the future.

Decorated tins were waiting when Haruru returned from a trip. She planted them straight away and enjoyed their colours.

Haruru’s Angela roses were starting to bloom, with plenty of buds still to come. Her account looked back on the many flowers she enjoyed each year.

Haruru enjoyed the food at a company celebration. The bingo game brought a surprise when she won second prize.

Rain and cold postponed Haruru’s blossom-viewing plans, so she went out for a few drinks instead. Large fried oysters and a return to Kagetsu for ramen featured in her account.

In Mimasu, Aikawa, Haruru enjoyed peaceful scenery and warm weather. Her account includes omurice for lunch, egg pudding and cherry blossoms that were almost fully open.

Haruru went to a live house on a Sunday evening. Music and a satisfying meal at Otaru Shokudo became part of her night in Kunitachi.

A two-night trip passed quickly for Haruru. An Osu food walk and unexpected capsule-toy results added to her memories.

Haruru set off on a Kodama train, enjoying the scenery and a bento. Tendon, crepes, yakiniku and beef cutlets featured in her trip, with an Osu food walk still to look forward to.

Haruru stopped at Oshiage to see the Skytree before visiting Shibamata Taishakuten for New Year prayers. The plan for drinks afterwards changed, but a familiar restaurant brought food to enjoy.

After work, I went out for yakitori. The skewers, winter yellowtail sashimi, oyster tempura and rice dishes made a delicious evening meal.

After dinner at a horse-meat restaurant, I went to a nearby hot spring. It was an evening of delicious food and a warming bath.

I returned to Tsukada Nojo after a while. Charcoal-grilled chicken, motsu hotpot and noodles to finish left me full.

This spring, I wanted to try cooking with a variety of seasonal ingredients. I ordered produce from the regions where it was grown and enjoyed using it at home.

On the first day of a holiday, I made ohagi as a gift for an acquaintance's shop. Before I knew it, I had a batch big enough to remind me of a sweet shop.

I realised I had been spending so much time on my phone that I hadn't been reading books lately. Wanting to read again, I bought Rurou no Tsuki on an acquaintance's recommendation.

I prepared roast pork for the end of the year. It turned out tender and well flavoured, while a separate batch of baking didn't go quite as planned.

I made yuzu kosho at home. There was less grated peel than I expected, but the finished condiment had a lovely yuzu fragrance.

The pancetta a friend gave me was so delicious that I asked how it was made. It inspired me to begin my first attempt at home.

During the working day, I went out for a different sort of lunch: a restaurant in a converted house near Hon-Atsugi Station.

My first camping trip of that year was to Yamabuki Campground. I enjoyed cooking with companions and an evening fire, and stopped at Doshi no Yu on the way back.

The three-day break I spent in Hakuba had good weather and comfortable temperatures. It was a relaxing stay with hot springs, seafood and a barbecue.

I had lunch in Bashamichi in Yokohama, then browsed the shops. A café break and sushi that evening made it a full day out.

After work, I travelled to Aichi and was out and about the next morning. I enjoyed breakfast at a stylish place and Toyota Industry Festa.

On my first visit to Benkei in Fuchinobe, I enjoyed several dishes and particularly liked the apple-vinegar sour. It made me want to go back.

I went to Marugen Ramen for the first time. Thin noodles and a rich-flavoured soup, together with fried rice and dumplings, made a filling meal.

Sharing the sweet dish worked well for the two of us. The cream wasn't overly sweet, and guava syrup was my favourite.

I had eel for lunch, watched a film and then went to Hamasta. Food, cinema and baseball made it an uplifting day out.

The blue sky and sunflowers made me feel good. It was a small note about a view of yellow flowers and a wide sky.

I enjoyed a meal with several liver dishes. Each felt different, and I found them all delicious.

I enjoyed a special course meal at a counter. As well as the food, I remembered the chef's hospitality and the care in each dish.

In Akaike, Aichi, I visited a Shaun the Sheep café. Surrounded by Shaun-themed details, I enjoyed a rich soft serve.

I enjoyed bamboo shoots with butter and soy sauce, as well as bamboo-shoot rice. They were tender and delicious seasonal dishes to remember.

That evening, I went to a skewer restaurant. I enjoyed every dish, and the meal stood out among the skewers I had tried.

I joined a one-night, two-day bus tour to Shirakawago and Hida Takayama. This was my third time on the tour, and this time I went with my sister.

I had kalbi gukbap for lunch at Jojoen. The meal included a drink, and I found it tasty and good value.

I changed an overnight plan to a day camp at Fumotoppara. Cooking and talking together made me want to enjoy more camping in the future.

A short note recorded the names Izu and Kawazu. The sea and sky are the focus of the accompanying photographic scenes.

I had sushi after work. The menu had already changed to autumn dishes, reminding me of the changing season.

The regular camping outing had an autumn sky. I was thinking about becoming more independent with the equipment, and enjoyed rice balls in the morning.

These notes look back on two lunches at VOLKS. I enjoyed both the double-cheese hamburger steak and the chicken cheese steak on a separate visit.

After an early start, I took time over breakfast at Denny's. With my days usually feeling rushed, this quiet time to think felt fresh.

I returned to Kuimono-ya Wan after a while. I enjoyed the refreshing Alexandria mojito and the food that evening.

After searching for thick noodles like the sara udon I had eaten in Nagasaki, I found some and made lunch. It wasn't quite the remembered dish, but I enjoyed the result.

A beef-tongue and Morioka cold-noodle lunch, Shirokuma dessert, sky and clouds, and a first taste of shochu: these were small notes alongside my hopes for camping.

I browsed camping equipment at Akishima Outdoor Village. While deciding where to begin, I bought two chairs like those I had often seen at an earlier camp.

It was a day of celebrating a Yokohama BayStars win. The air felt surprisingly cool for August, and the fireworks were memorable too.

In Aichi, I visited Pokhara for a Nepalese and Indian buffet. There was plenty of variety, and I enjoyed the chicken curry and different naans.

After finishing my plans, I went to Shinjuku for wine and food. I tried five wines, remembering both the difficulty of telling their differences and the sweetness of the last one.

On the Kyushu trip, I enjoyed Shirokuma, seafood dishes and horse-meat sashimi. Alongside the food notes were references to Sakurajima and waterfront scenery.

The regular Golden Week barbecue was by the Tamagawa. We enjoyed meat and seafood, and I hoped the gathering would continue the following year.

On a bus tour towards Chiba, I had a lunch with abalone, sashimi and crab. I found the meal delicious and satisfying.

On a sunny day, I was setting out on a day bus tour towards Chiba. I recorded the stops I was looking forward to, including Umihotaru, strawberry picking and flower picking in Chikura.

Watching the fireworks at Enoshima felt different from seeing them in summer. They made me think about the year drawing towards its end.

The four days on the Chita Peninsula were filled with food and leisure. The pool felt good after a long time, and the stay passed quickly.

I enjoyed a barbecue dinner at the hotel where I was staying. Eating with sea and poolside views felt relaxing.

I met a friend from Instagram for the second time. Twelve hours from morning to evening passed quickly, and I still felt we had more to talk about.

When I have time, I find myself wanting to make something, often in large quantities. Of the things I made, oyster pizza was my favourite.

The roses in the garden had been producing more blooms over the years. I recorded the roses and German irises as the flowers of that morning.

I tried making pancetta for the first time with the end of the year in mind. I was worried at first, so it was lovely to finish it and hear that it tasted good.

There were fewer fruit than the number of flowers had suggested, but the mandarin tree still produced a harvest that year. The flavour was rich and delicious, making me remember it as a little sapling.

For an early Halloween gathering, my daughter and I shared the cooking. There was a chestnut-filled cake, a pumpkin dish and a welcome gift from a friend.

Vegetables from a friend’s garden shaped this camping meal in Doshi. Haruru prepared potatoes two ways and brought zucchini and snow peas to the table, enjoying a camp with plenty of cooking ideas.

Soba on a crowded evening, slices of watermelon and horumon on the grill: Haruru’s photographs collect brief comments on meals and small moments in the kitchen.

Haruru had wanted to visit Shin-Okubo for some time. She met a friend at nine in the morning and they took the train there. A reserved lunch led to a food walk, followed by an evening in Kichijoji, with plenty of things to share along the way.

On October 2, Haruru took a day off and headed to Asakusa for eel, prompted by an eel dish she had seen on television. The outing grew into a day of walking, food and drinks in Asakusa and Ueno.

Haruru returned to 鶯啼庵 after several years. The mornings and evenings had grown cold enough for a winter coat. At this meal, she felt the portions were just right, a change from how she had felt about portions before.

The same group of six junior-high classmates returned to Karuizawa and stayed at the villa they had enjoyed the year before. They shared home-cooked food, celebrated a friend’s birthday with cakes, and walked among fresh greenery the next morning.

Colours, cuts, green leaves and the arrangement of small dishes give these food photographs their variety. The plates are the focus of this little notebook.

Noodle bowls, plates of small fish, a round pot and a cold sweet appear in separate photographs. This notebook brings them together through the details of their dishes and presentation, ending with a view up at the sky.

A black wallet sits in front of a green paper bag bearing a bird design and the name sot. The added words describe it as a first black wallet.

Three photographs move from a board marked for Hong Kong to a queue at a shopfront and a statue beside the harbour. Their signs and surroundings offer different views of the city.

An arched bridge spans blue water, with street-like shopfronts along its sides and a sky-patterned ceiling overhead. The photograph brings these indoor details together.

Two of Haruru’s accounts record different choices: waiting at a familiar restaurant and moving lunch elsewhere.

A coastal day and a postponed camping plan show two ways a free day changed. They remain separate experiences.

A day of food and shopping, a villa stay with friends and leisurely lunches offer different starting points for a Karuizawa outing.

Atami memories offer different ways to enjoy meals and scenery. Keep the years and visits separate when deciding your priorities.

Seafood, yakitori and monja sit alongside shopping and sweets in three different outings involving Ameyoko.

Favourite dango and shaved ice, and newly tried flavours, appear in three accounts from different visits to Osu.

A familiar yakiniku restaurant in Aichi and a new restaurant chosen for a birthday. These are separate entries from Haruru’s diary, brought together through the food photographs and the accounts behind them.

A familiar dish after a while, the choice of something else to order, and the pleasure of being remembered. Haruru’s three return visits to Jimantei capture both her impressions of the food and the feelings that stayed with her.