THE BEST RESTAURANTS, CAFES, AND BARS IN IWAKUNI, JAPAN
My favorite places to eat and grab drinks in Iwakuni, Japan.
This is a google map bookmarked with my favorite places to eat ramen, sushi, curry, grab fresh juice, enjoy tea shops, cafes, and bars! Just expand the map to view the full list and locations.
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JAPANESE DRINKS - VIRTUAL BUCKET LIST
WELCOME TO MY DRINK AND SNACK BUCKET LIST PAGE!
I created these with the intention for you to screenshot and save on your phone, mark off as you go, and share on your IG stories with friends and family! You can mark them off however you want: use emojis or a check… get creative and have fun!!! It’s always exciting to try new things while in Japan, so I hope this is a fun way for you to explore different things.This will be something on-going so check back periodically for fun updates and new lists.
In return for this fun project, I ask that you tag me in your adventures and share your experience with friends and family who will be just as curious as I will be about your favorites and first impressions!
*disclaimer - These are FREE for you to use and share on your IG stories, but you may not sell them, post them on your stationary websites or social channels as your own, or take off the watermarks. I have good faith in my community to use these for fun and epic snack times, but unfortunately this must be said.
MATCHA + How to order it
WHAT IS MATCHA?
Matcha is the Japanese word for “fine powdered tea.” Matcha is the result of high quality green tea leaves picked and processed to become matcha tea. Unlike traditional teas, which are steeped and discarded at the time of use, matcha leaves are directly consumed to maximize health benefits! The process of making a ceremonial grade matcha consists of mixing less than boiling water and matcha powder. You whisk them together, preferably with a bamboo whisk, to create a frothy drink that is enjoyed.
Here’s a great article comparing the different grades of matcha: PREMIUM vs CULINARY
WHERE CAN I BUY MY MATCHA?
my favorite sites are IPPODO TEA and LUPICIA (but not all of their sites have a location for ceremonial matcha). STAY AWAY from anything that says “multi-use, cooking, smoothies…ETC” in the description… this is NOT what you want in a tea. If you accidentally bought this, don’t toss it! You can still use it in other cooking things like pancakes, muffins, etc. It won’t harm you, but certainly won’t give you the benefits you’re looking for. Also, please do not buy off amazon :) Matcha should always be stored in a fridge and handled with care. I can assure you the quality diminishes by the time you get it.
HOW DO I STORE IT
FRIDGE! In an air-tight container. Don’t have one? A zip-lock will do just fine.
DO I NEED A BAMBOO WHISK
Need? No, but you should. I like this one. Try to avoid using any metal with your matcha - it actually changes the chemical properties of the tea and changes the flavor. The way the bamboo whisk is designed is 100% intentional. It is made from 1 bamboo splintered (as you can see from the link). You really should be using one to maintain tea quality AND get the frothy bubbles you’re looking for.
To clean it, just rinse with hot water and leave out to dry!
ORDERING A MATCHA
Ordering a matcha can seem overwhelming if you don’t know much about it, so let me help!
🍵 Traditional matcha consists of two ingredients: ceremonial grade matcha (this is the highest quality you can get), and 1-2 ounces of hot water! THAT👏🏻IS👏🏻IT. The portion would be a little bigger than an espresso shot. This is the base you want to look for when ordering at any shop- it’s okay to ask what grade matcha they use before ordering (I always do)!
If they have ceremonial matcha, there are a few ways you can order it:
CEREMONIAL TEA: 1-2 ounce pour
HOT LATTE: ceremonial tea + whatever steamed milk you love (my favorite is oat milk)
ICED MATCHA: ceremonial tea, water, and ice
ICED LATTE W/ MILK: ceremonial tea, water, ice, milk of your choice
Sometimes I will sweeten it myself, or add cinnamon, otherwise these are the basics :)
🌸 YOU DON’T WANT matcha if it’s a low quality product (see this article for differences)! It toooootally tastes different. Often, if a cafe carries a lower quality matcha, they mask the flavor with sugar + milk. It doesn't even taste relatively close to what you should be looking for! Save your money :) 🌸
🌴 PSA: STARBUCKS DOES NOT MAKE A REAL MATCHA; this is why so many of you message me saying you hate it + have a bad experience. It should taste floral and earthy.
make sure you’re following me on instagram!
@her.atlas
Baja, Mexico trip and outfit Roundup!
BAJA + TODOS SANTOS GUIDE
Last week I spent 5 days in Todos Santos; a sleepy little vacation town in Baja, Mexico. It was really cute and quaint, perfect for a relaxing getaway! Here’s some of my best tips for Baja, and a few things to do!
FLYING TIPS: If you have the luxury of living near San Diego, fly out of Tiujana, Mexico! Take the CBX Bridge (more like a terminal), which was built to make our lives easier. It connects from San Diego to the Tiujana airport terminal. It costs about $30 roundtrip to use, which is worth it since flights are about half the price (or more!) avoiding international flight fees. If you fly on the airline Volaris, there’s an option to add the CBX ticket to your flight at check-in, you can book separately on the CBX website, or when you get there! Example: My flight was $220 all-in, but they were going for $650 out of SAN.
WHERE TO FLY INTO: There are two airports in Baja: La Paz, and Cabo. Both cost about the same, but depending where you want to go one is closer than the other. We stayed with a friend in Todos Santos, which is right between Cabo and La Paz, so some of us flew into La Paz, and others into Cabo. The drive was an hour and twenty minutes to get to Todos Santos from either location.
TAXI’s OR RENTAL CAR: RENTAL CAR!!! I highly recommend getting a rental car, especially if you plan on exploring outside of your town or doing any excursions. Baja is a DESERT with beach towns typically an hour apart; with nothing in between. It was actually kind of eerie, and not what I expected, lol! We didn’t see many taxis, and I imagine them to be expensive and hard to get (especially if you want to go to the beach). Everything is so spread out!
BALANDRA BEACH
The crystal clear waters of Balandra beach is near La Paz, and you have to have a car to get here. I recall seeing some tour buses, but I don’t know much about them. You HAVE to visit here if you go to Baja! One of the coolest parts are the white sands, and that the bay is entirely waist deep, so you can walk football fields into the ocean! You can bring your own snacks, but there are local vendors selling fresh fruit (like legit fresh fruit). I would plan on spending half a day here.
OUTFIT DEETS:
SUNGLASSES (on sale)
EAT AT LA ESQUINA CAFE
Shamelessly, we ate here 3/4 days of our vacation! I LOVE this place. It has so many healthy juices and food for dietary restrictions. I don’t have any allergies, but I love FRESH food, especially on vacay for a detox meal. Order: gluten free coconut flax pancakes, chia latte, the green juice, and the tostadas. They have an attached yoga studio, menus in English, suuuuuuuch cute vibes, wifi, and a huge patio! They have a schedule posted with live music and local vendor events, too.
TAKE A SALSA CLASS
We booked a private salsa lesson while in Mexico! It was SO MUCH FUN, and I wasn't half bad at it. It was about $200 for an hour, but we all split it. It was inexpensive for what we got, especially since the teacher came to us. This outfit was perfect for salsa class, and exploring the bars after :)
OUTFIT DEETS
SUNSET DRINKS AT EL MIRADOR
Our friends took us for sunset margaritas at this amazing property in Todos Santos. El Mirador is cliffside overlooking the ocean; it was my favorite spot in Todos Santos! It’s a restaurant, but depending on your budget, you may want to go here just for drinks like we did! You need a car to get here. Order the Hibiscus marg :)
OUTFIT DEETS
MARGS at TEQUILA’S SUNRISE BAR
This spot is famous in Todos Santos for their made-from-scratch margaritas. It’s their claim to fame! This is geared towards tourism, for sure. The staff spoke English, and the drinks cost just as much as they would in the states, however they are d-a-n-g-e-r-o-u-s. DAY DRINK AT YOUR OWN RISK. I’m a margarita snob, and these were worth every penny. I had one-and-a-half, and thats all I needed! They’re basically tequila on the rocks.. LOL!
OUTFIT DEETS
SHORTS (I have these in 3 colors;
they’ve changed the buttons, but the fit is the BEST)
EXPLORE DOWNTOWN TODOS SANTOS
I loved exploring the streets of Todos Santos! There’s so many local restaurants and cafes!
OUTFIT DEETS
MY FAV!! COTTON ROMPER
Thanks for stopping by, let me know if you have any questions :)
Never Stop Exploring, xX Caitlin
@her.atlas
Harumama | SD Eats
Want to know where you can eat the CUTEST food in San Diego? Look no further than Harumama Noodles and Buns.
Located in Little Italy (or as I like to call it EATaly), Harumana makes meals that are both adorable and delicious!
Their creative kitchen offers a variety of sushi, noodle dishes, and character-based steam buns for your choosing (made daily in limited quantities). I’ve had the same waiter twice, Mike, whose friendliness and knowledge of the menu is one of the reasons I keep going back.
Parking in Little Italy can be a challenge depending on the time of day, but if you stay focused you can likely score a spot on the street (valet parking in the local area is always an option for impatient people like my husband ;) )
The casual space is perfect for a first date or small group gatherings, with menu prices ranging from $4-13.
What we ordered:
1 Me-So-Hot! Ramen
2 orders of character buns (Totoro: savory/Pooh Bear: sweet)
1 Salted edamame
1 Caramelized eggplant (a MUST!)
1 Ozeki Izeko sparkling jelly sake; it’s a gelatin sake cocktail recommended by my waiter, Mike
1 Iced tea