Water purifier: Panasonic TK-CJ11-W

You can get this water filter on Amazon for less than 4000 yen. We chose this one because the cartridge lasts an entire year (a replacement cartridge costs about 4000 yen). And we were spending between 2000-3000 yen a month on bottled water, so this made sense.

The water tastes amazing and I love it. You can get all the specs here  (Japanese).

Workouts for a cold, snowy, Japanese winter: Tracy Anderson and online Vinyasa

When it is too snowy and icy to run, and when my yoga studio is closed for holiday, I have been looking for at-home workouts. I recalled a number of years ago attempting the Tracy Anderson 30 day Bootcamp, and, while not turning into Gwyneth Paltrow, having some success. Recently, Tracy has put her previously only available on DVD workouts online on her website. I've also found the complete 45 minute dance cardio video from the old Bootcamp DVDs on YouTube.

It gives me even more of a cardio workout than running 5K, but I find it a bit boring. Also, it's a bit difficult to do in a Japanese apartment, unless you live on the first floor, since there is SO MUCH JUMPING. Finally, I've found it's pretty essential to wear sneakers while doing the workout, so unless you have a plan for that...

I find the mat workout totally killer, but easy to do in a typical Japanese apartment. I found most of the Bootcamp ab workout online. Note that you are supposed to do 40-60 reps of each exercise, even though there are not as many demonstrated.

I tried the arm workout (with weights) for the first time today. It was ok.

I also did this Intermediate Vinyasa video by Leslie Fightmaster. It gave me a nice glow, but some of the poses were way too advanced for me and I don't recommend trying them without the assistance of a teacher! However, it did fit the bill of getting up a sweat and keeping active, without noise, in a Japanese apartment in the winter.

Home-style Japanese Cooking (Tonyu nabe, Takikomi Gohan, Butajiro, Kitsune Udon, Dashi)

Now that it is too cold and snowy to want to go anywhere, here are some of the "staple" recipes in my house:

Tonyu nabe
Ingredients:
1 package of Goma Tonyu base
1 small container of soy milk
chopped hakusai, shiitake (do yourself a favor, and don't wash them), carrot, daikon, abura age
chicken or pork
diced scallion as a topping

Method:
bring base and soy milk to a boil. Add other ingredients. Wait till cooked. Serve with rice and tsukemono


Takikomi Gohan

A general recipe can be found here: http://www.japanesecooking101.com/takikomi-gohan/

Butajiro

This is also delicious without the meat. A general recipe can be found here: http://japanese-kitchen.net/butajiru-tonjiru-recipe/

Kitsune Udon

Here is a good general recipe: http://www.justonecookbook.com/recipes/kitsune-udon/

Homemade dashi

Ingredients:
1 cup dried Iriko (also called niboshi)
5 cups water
1/2 cup mirin
1/2 cup utsukuchi shoyu (light soy sauce)
splash of regular shoyu

Method:
soak iriko in water for at least a half hour
put soaked water and iriko in a pot, bring to a boil for 10 minutes
strain out iriko
add mirin, utsukuchi shoyu, and simmer for 10 minutes
add regular shoyu

Combating dry winter skin: Nivea creme and the Raydrop Ultrasonic Aroma Humidifier

I picked up a tin of Nivea creme at the drug store for under 500 yen. It is consistently listed as one of the best moisturizers and seems to only make an appearance in Japanese drugstores in the winter months.

The creme itself does wonders for dry skin. There is no itching or scaling. I do wish that it was not in "tub" form (I have smaller 200 yen tubes for my purse and over the kitchen sink). I also personally like the application feeling from oils better than creme (this can't even really be called a lotion - it is between lotion and wax consistency), but the results (and price point) have me hooked for the winter!

I've never been one to use the humidifier, even though they are very popular here in Japan, especially in winter. I'm always battling humidity and mold - why introduce moisture? My friend says it helps prevent colds. It is true that colds are more prevalent in drier weather, so I'll buy it.  4300 yen on amazon.

Keeping fit: Grocery stores (Yaoichi, Fresco, Misugiya, Kaldi Coffee Farm, Mediya)

I am a sucker for fresh beautiful foods, and, at times, enjoy cooking them for myself. My Japanese neighbor suggested I buy my fruits and vegetables at Yaoichi (八百一), where there is a beautiful selection of produce. The prices are a bit higher than other grocery stores, but the quality is unparalleled. I've often opted for the cheaper Fresco produce, only to get it home and find that there is something so terribly wrong with it, it is inedible (avocados rotten on the inside, unshucked corn hiding shrivelled kernels, etc.)

I also found that the selection of seafood and yogurt at Yaoichi is much better than at other markets. For instance, on a wild hunt for Hokkaido uni for a dinner party, I only found two places that had uni: a fishmonger in Nishiki market and Yaoichi. Yaoichi's uni was cheaper, and to the naked eye, much fresher.

That said, according to my neighbor, it is much more economical to buy your fish and meat from Fresco. I'm not big on animal flesh, so I can't bear out this claim, but it does seem that there is big turnover in the fish department at my local Fresco. This is also where I buy the majority of my dry goods and staples.

However, for the sake of convenience, I often find myself shopping in the underground mall attached to the Kyoto City Hall subway stop: Zest Oike. Here you can find a supermarket (Misugiya) with a small but decent selection of fresh and dry goods, as well as a spirits corner. Across the way is the Kaldi coffee farm, where I buy my coffee and can find good prices on import groceries (as well as WAY overpriced imports), like canned diced Italian tomatoes for 98 yen a can and cava or rose for 1000 yen!!! Kaldi has a coffee point card. Ask for one, as I was not offered one with my first purchase.

Of course there is also Mediya for import groceries and higher end wines and liquors.

By far the best place to buy liquor is Yamaya. The selection is bonkers and the prices are the best I've seen in the city. There is bicycle parking out front!

Keeping the pearly whites, pearly white: Makimura Dental Clinic

I wanted a general teeth cleaning but had been putting it off, worried that I would get "sold" on tons of dental work I didn't really need. I have a great dentist back in the States, but I just couldn't wait for a cleaning any longer.

I decided to check out Makimura dental clinic on the recommendation of Deep Kyoto. Based on my own experience, I can whole heartedly suggest going to Makimura!

The entire appointment was done online (although he seems to have a long wait for appointments, I got lucky and scored one that someone had canceled). Note that you have to take your shoes off at the entrance, put on slippers, and then take the elevator or stairs to the second floor to the receptionist.

I had to wait about 45 minutes once I got there, I'm not sure why, but it's no different than my dentist at home, so I decided to just go with it. The receptionist spoke with me in Japanese, but I have a strong suspicion that she could have done it in English just as easily.

My hygienist spoke Japanese exclusively, and I'm not sure she had any English skills. The dentist spoke with me in English, which was a nice touch. After examining my teeth, he concurred with my home dentist that I didn't need any work done, and suggested I come back in six months for another cleaning.

The entire thing cost 2200 yen (with national health insurance), so I will definitely be going back in six months to keep those pearly whites, pearly white!

Acupuncture

I'm a huge fan of acupuncture and wanted to continue it here in Kyoto. I found Amina, at A.O. Oriental Healing, and have been working with her for a few months. Not only have I seen good results concerning my initial problem, but many surprising benefits as well (as is usually the case with acupuncture).

Amina does a type of reiki plus acupuncture system that I find incredibly relaxing, and I am not a person who finds many things relaxing. Her work space is clean, beautiful, and calming (as is her demeanor!). As an extra benefit, there is an AMAZING view of daimonji's大 just behind her building.

Her office is in an apartment building near Senbon Kitaoji. She speaks some English, but is much more comfortable in Japanese (who isn't more comfortable in a native language!).

In order to speed up my results, Amina suggested I do some moxabustion at home. At the end of my visit, she puts some marks on points with a marker. I then moxa these points each day until our next visit. I'm using the above moxa, which I really like because it has a peel off backing that sticks to your skin, that can be purchased at nearly any drugstore for about 1800 yen (for 260 sticks/ applications!).