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The "Is there organic, whole-wheat toothpaste in Fukui?" thread
Hey y'all,
With newbies about to receive official word from not only CLAIR but their Contracting Organizations as well that they are coming to our fine Prefecture, I figured there are going to be a lot of "Is there _______ in Fukui?" questions. Plus, many of us here often wonder about the same things ourselves, so I thought I'd start a separate thread to handle the "Is there?" and "Where?" questions. Everyone should feel free to ask about anything you want to locate and the rest of us can reap the benefits of any replies.
And yes, of course there is organic, whole-wheat toothpaste in Fukui -- you can buy it in the same store that sells western-size jeans, authentic Mexican food and wishes.
I triple-heart-love Fukui,
Melissa
I've heard that whole wheat breads are not available. What about whole wheat flour? Are other kinds of flour available?
What I'm most nervous about is not having an oven, I'm an excellent baker. I like to make my own breads, cookies, etc.
I'm glad to hear that rolled oats are available in instant form at least. =\ I may pack a bag in with my winter shipment so I can continue my oatmeal for breakfast trend.
You're right, finding whole wheat breads is a tough one. There are a few stores that sell wheat and rice bread and while it's a least a little more interesting than the white stuff, it's certainly not whole grain. Sooooome bakeries have some interesting bread choices though, so it's worth scouting them out whenever you are near one. La(le?) Plaisir in Fukui City, for instance, has a reputation for an excellent selection.
Whole wheat flour can be found at Marushin, the foreign food mecca in Fukui City. They actually have several kinds of flour, such as graham, rye, cake, bread, etc. I haven't been able to find self-rising stuff, though. Larger grocery stores also have a mixed flour selection in a tiny little baking section (placed, oddly enough, in an entirely different location than the white flour, sugar, oil, aisle).
As for ovens, Japan doesn't have the mammoth can-cook-2-turkeys-and-2-pies-at-the-same-time kind of ovens that we might enjoy in the west, but you can get ovens here. They just look like microwaves. Well, actually, they are microwaves, and ovens, and steamers, and toasters, all in one. They're pretty handy. I've bought 2 since I've lived here and the second one was a little pricier, but a little bigger and in much better condition. I've helped others shop around since I bought mine and for the size and quality of mine, the $150 I paid (used) was a real bargain. Cheaper models are available, but they are usually much much smaller and the heat is not as evenly distributed. I can cook anything here that I could cook at home (except, maybe, a whole turkey). I'm going to be selling mine when I leave this summer, by the way...
As for your oats, I'm glad we were able to figure something out for you. I've ordered hot cereals on-line from Foreign Buyers Club, but now my husband and I eat brown rice (whole grain rice? I've lost my English) each morning. Well, either that or burritos that we have made with whole grain rice. Mmmm... burritos...
That's right. Burritos....!!
lol. That's reassuring! And I would be interested in buying a small oven like the one you have.
I eat burritos everyday for lunch! mmmm...!!
I've heard the rumor that whole wheat bread is available, but after a year of searching, I've given up. However, my school occasionally serves something called "cocoa pan," or chocolate bread??? Strange. It doesn't taste like chocolate at all, and it's not even sweet for that matter, but it is a darkish brown, leading me to believe that it *might* be slightly healthier than white breads here. You could probably find that at specialty bakeries if you asked, but you won't find anything other than white or rye bread at the grocery stores.
I've managed to find red lentils, at a health food online store:
http://alishan.jp/shop/nfoscomm/catalog/
One thing that I haven't found are pistacios. Are they available? =)
Oh, yes, alishan. I never order from them (no particular reason, just usually use FBC), but they are very popular with the veggie crowd.
Pistachios are available. I haven't paid much attention in the regular grocery stores, but I know I've seen them at Marushin in Fukui City.
Is it possible to buy canned beans (chick pea, black eyed, black, etc) at the local grocery stores?
Canned beans are tough... I know of canned chickpeas at one store in Fukui City (they also have a couple other kinds of canned beans I believe, but I don't know what), and a few stores that have canned refried beans. You can get dried chickpeas and black beans, though. Not everywhere, but they're around.
Hmm. Thanks for the reply! It seems like a lot of the dishes I like to make will be more challenging. Ah well. Out with the old, in with the new!
Well, if you plan ahead with dried beans it's fine. I often soak and cook a bunch of them on the weekends, that way I can use them during the week.
You can also order stuff from FBC, Alishan, Tengu, Warabe Mura (I particularly like them, it's all organic vegan stuff), etc.
But yeah, you'll have to modify what you make a little.
You can find many kinds of canned beans at Marushin.
Japanese black beans and our western black beans are different. If you like black beans from home, bring a few packs of dried beans, since they are impossible to find here. That's what I did! Three bags have lasted me all year, and I'm pretty much obsessed with black beans.
How about popcorn? I mean the raw kernels, not the microwave packs.
There is a Brazilian shop in Echizen city that stocks the popcorn kernels. You can also get cheap (any very yummy) steaks and other goodies down there!
I found popcorn kernels at Plant 3. It`s a big shopping centre in the South-ish part of the city.
Oh, I know! What about... Molasses?
(I expect like good maple syrup, it will be not available or very expensive. Sure makes yummy baking though.)
I was also wondering about barley.
=D.awn (who's been packing her kitchen for moving next week and coming up with all sorts of wonderings.)
I found barley at the local store in my tiny town, but I got lots of confused looks because they only use it here for tea, but I told them I was making soup. Nevertheless, I found it! It can be done.
You MAY be able to find molasses in Fukui, but it'd be difficult. If you're in a small town, get ready to travel for it.
Julie
For maple syrup, I saw a 500mL (I think?) bottle for 1600 yen today. Don't remember how much it costs in N. America.
I can get it made locally for $6, but it's great to hear that it's available.
The maple syrup here is expensive because it's the 100% pure maple syrup stuff from Canada. You can get a cheapy version that is imitation syrup for a lot lot cheaper. I just switched to honey instead.
As for molasses, I ordered mine from Foreign Buyer's Club. They MIGHT sell it at Marushin, but I didn't even bother to look. I'll actually have a huge bottle left when I leave, Dawn, and you are welcome to it if you want it!
Yup, I'm from Canada. Those are real trees across the water. lol.
Neat, I'd take it. =)
Okey dokey. Once exact placements are announced, I'll connect with your predecessor and your molasses will be waiting for you at your apartment :)
Really! That's so cool. I can't wait to hear about the placements! and Thank You!
Filipino Food!
Okay, I don't know if there will be any new JETs coming in that are of Filipino descent but I just want to throw this out there.
Yes, there are places around Fukui where you can find Filipino delicacies. In Fukui City, there is a filipino restaurant called Kamayan (yup yup!) that has a buffet special on Friday and Saturday evenings for only 1000yen. But not only do they have that but they have Goldilocks, coco jam, daeng, patis and longaniza! It's all quite pricey but if you can get to Marushin, you can buy Mama Sita mixes which are cheaper (but damn more expensive than from home).
The real prize is in Sabae, just across the street from Sabae Station is a small ethnic store that sells all sorts of Asian food. They sell Lucky Me! pancit, magnolia ice cream, and even sampalok! They sell a whole lot of other stuff Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian and more. It's not hard to find. It's owned by a Japanese man who is married to an Indian woman.
There is a good selection of Thai, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, and Korean restaurants around town so if you are craving for that you won't have to wait till you go home. Although, I do have to say that I still miss Chinese American fast food like Panda Express ;p
Hi All!
I'm a bit of a fruit fanatic and am wondering what sorts of food are commonly available in Fukui-ken/Echizen town. Last time I was in Japan I was astonished at how much you could pay for a piece of fruit, is it still expensive?
Also, what kind of nut varieties are available? Almonds, macadamias, and walnuts are my favourite :)
Fruit is available, but yes, it's expensive. From what I remember (based of California prices), bananas, oranges, apples and kiwis are about the same. But the rest of the stuff available where I live (plums, peaches, loquats, melons, etc) seems to be expensive, as are vegetables.
Almonds are available, I have some. I think walnuts are, too. I don't know about macadamias, though.
For produce, buy local and you'll save money. There is a store in the southwest of Fukui City called Plant 3 and right next to it there is a produce shop that sells local Fukui fruits and vegetables -- the prices there are the cheapest I've ever seen in Japan. Vegetables are the cheapest (I went this weekend and got 5 cucumbers for 50 yen, for example), but fruit in season can be priced really well, too. The store is not too far from Echizen City (around 30 minutes give or take 10, depending on where you are coming from).
Also, you can buy fruit cheaply if you check out the sales bins right when a store opens or right before it closes -- sometimes the fruit is on the verge of turning very very soft, but it's good if you eat it that day. I often buy whatever is available and freeze whatever I can't eat in a day -- then throw the frozen stuff in a blender for fruit smoothies.
As for nuts, almonds, walnuts and macadamia nuts are available, but macadamia nuts are only in some shops (like Seibu or Marushin in Fukui City).
ACOOP, one of many grocery stores you'll find in Fukui, has a section of their store for locally grown vegetables and fruits. Prices are almost as cheap as the ones over in Plant 3. So, if you can't get to Plant 3, definitely check out ACOOP. Macadamia nuts can also be found at Yamaya.
I would have to disagree--I have found that store next to Plant 3 to be consistently MORE expensive than other stores. I have also found Plant 3 to be more expensive than Super Yamakishi, although the selection at Plant 3 is greater. There is also a store called "スーパー" (Suupaa) on Route 28 to Takefu that I have found has a lot of canned goods (like creamed corn, Thai curries, even evaporated milk) that has good prices. Once, they even had butter at a cheaper price, but the next time I went there they were sold out.
There are random small stands on the sides of the roads, that look more like bus stops, and are often unmanned. Local elderly people bring vegetables they grow and you pay for it in an 'honor-system'. I haven't used them yet, because they're usually sold out by the time I get back from work, and I'm not coordinated enough to go grocery shopping at 6am or 7am, but I've HEARD they are relatively cheap.
Shopping late at night, when stores are about to close has been my most successful strategy for saving on food. It is just so expensive here compared to back home (the U.S. for me). For each store I think you need to find the 'sweet-spot'--when they've put out all the produce they're trying to get rid of, but it hasn't been on the discount rack long enough for the other shoppers to snap up the good deals.
Good luck!
Here's a question which I'm sure everyone is going to laugh at me for, but I'm going to ask anyway.
I am desperately looking for something cool to wear to Sayonara Party. My original Kanazawa plans for Friday have been scuppered (that's right, scuppered) by damn driving license shrapnel, so I'm looking for alternatives.
So where do you ladies go to buy cool clothes? You may think there is no point to this question (the answer being 'anywhere not in Fukui'), but I only found out about the AWESOME Nomad store three weeks ago, so I have renewed hope for hidden gems. Does everyone hit the standard AOSSA / LPA route, or are there some cooler independent shops somewhere?
Cheers,
Alice
You should definitely check out Sunstep. I bought one my sayonara party dress from two years back for only 700 yen! Still new! Awesome deal! There are two Sunstep stores in Fukui City. One is off of Rt. 8 just past Pario and the other is tucked behind the Nishimura Cafe down the street from Baskin Robbins. Another place I go to shop is Avail/Shimamura. Cheap prices but hit or miss.
I agree with Kat -- Shimamura can be good sometimes. I think Sunstep has cool clothes, but it's expensive. They do have sales, but if something isn't on sale, it's priced for hipsters. King Family is a good option -- the one on Rt. 8 has a large selection of women's clothing and the prices are good. I don't know if they'll have the kind of dress you are looking for, but they do have dresses and skirts. They also have REALLY nice handbags / purses -- super sweet stuff that is so-last-month (ha), so they sell it for a song.
I never shop at the malls because the clothes are too small for me, but there is definitely some cool stuff to be found if you can fit into it!
Melissa
Alice, you might be able to fit into one of my dresses that I have here! I can send you a pic of it if youre interested in borrowing it!
Sure, that'd be awesome! I'm going to hit the shops like a demon tomorrow, but it'd be nice to have some options!
Yarg, the pressure! We've all been wearing jeans and T-shirts for the last 12 months, and now I have to pull a dress out from behind someone's ear. Yeesh.
(Yes, I am 100% aware that I am blowing this a zillion times out of proportion. But I have no classes and I've finished my marking, so I need something to think about)
Cheers,
Alice
I have a couple of dresses, too, but I think you're too skinny! You could belt them for a blousy look
though!