Packed snow...

When you lose a day from the snow, this is how I packed everything into Friday.

Snowed in...

After barely making it back to Saitama last night, we awoke to this.

And when it came time for breakfast...WHAT? No shoyu??

Emergency shoyu run.

With no trains, no cars, and nowhere to go...

I was getting antsy.

So I ventured out in hopes of finding a good bowl of ramen. Kuriya had the highest low ranking in the area.

But they were closed due to the weather.

So I walked 30 minutes back to where I came from.

And found that the only shop open was Tokachi near Gyoda Station.

This shoyu ramen chahan set will have to do.

And then it was time to go hibernate.

A new fam...

Sometimes I wish I never left Japan.

But what is meant to be is what is meant to be. I have no regrets. 

One of the few ramen shops in Chichibu, Menya Tatsumi Kisshin seems to get the most love. 

With a menu that changes by day, today happened to be all about niboshi. 

Iwashi Niboshi. 

Tai Niboshi. 

Sanma Niboshi. 

All were incredibly good to my ramen-starved stomach, but the Iwashi was indeed the best. 

This...

Is why...

I miss Japan.

Dinner with my new fam!!!

Good food, great people.

Please say hello. 

To my new family.

Chichibu!...

Back in Japan!!

Eating Grandma's kenchinjiru. Heaven.

And sukiyaki.

It was too late for ramen in Chichibu but this was just as welcoming. 

Tokorozawa tour...

Day 1301:

This may be my last chance to tour Tokorozawa so why not slurp a couple. Ayumi (歩) in Kotesashicho isn't in any of the recent ramen mags, but I had a feeling it would be good.

And it was. It was really good.

The handmade noodles were silky smooth and chewy like udon.

And the egg...

One of the better bowls I've had all year. Perhaps this won't be the last time I'm in Tokorozawa.

Kotetsu (こてつ) in Shin-Tokorozawa, on the other hand, is popular among the mags and has been recommended by the top ramen gods.

Honestly, the gods must be crazy.

I didn't enjoy this bowl at all. Well, the noodles were good but that's about it.

808.

Munchies meeting.

Stay tuned...