Setagaya Boroichi

We visited the Setagaya neighborhood in Tokyo to take in the Boro-ichi street fair there. It has taken place every Dec. 15-16 and Jan. 15-16 for the last 400+ years. It's named for the rags (boro) that were sold to bind sandals way back when. Now they sell just about everything but the kitchen sink.

For mochi pounding

Masses of green tea

Anyone in the market for a naked baby statue?

Grilled rice snacks

Furry shoes that look like...well, I won't say it ;)

Sturdy teapots

Used obi (kimono sash)

Chopsticks of all kinds

Tiny dried flower arrangements

Kokeshi and other dolls  (we bought the red one)

Used geta (Japanese clog sandals)

Tiny cacti

Yuzu Cha

We found out we got yuzus from the grocery store and not oranges when we tried to eat one.Yuzu is an Asian citrus fruit usually used for its juice and fragrant peel. They look very similar to oranges (see left), but they are very sour, like a grapefruit and light green inside with lots of seeds.

Well, I didn't want to waste them, so I had to figure out wheat to do with them. I found a recipe for yuzu cha (tea) that I had had at a coffee shop. I juiced and chopped up the rest of the yuzus for that--delicious and smells heavenly!

Boiling sliced yuzu peels, juice, and sugar--reduces down to a jam consistency

Making the "tea"