Fruit in Tokyo is both ludicrously overpriced and, in general, mediocre. Japanese people prefer soft fruit, so crunchy apples are very hard to come by.
Many common ingredients in Western cooking don't exist -- I would kill for a supply of fresh jalapeños, or potatoes suitable for baking (you only find two varieties of potato in Japanese supermarkets).
I can't legally have a barbecue, either, so it's really hard to escape from fried meat here. My cholesterol numbers shot up quite badly when I moved to Japan, even though I'm not that much of a meat-eater (maybe 2-3 times per week).
A decently-sized kitchen with room for a stand mixer is basically unobtainable unless you spend serious money on an apartment, not to mention a proper oven. Japanese homes don't have ovens, so you have to buy your own. Ovens sold for the consumer market here are only slightly larger than microwaves, and while they come with more inbuilt computing power than AWS, simple things like "cook at a low temperature for three hours" are impossible.
I could go on, but suffice it to say: Japan has many wonderful things, but they don't line up with my hobbies and interests.
Out of curiosity, have you ever tried slow cooking meat in your rice cooker? I have a dead simple Zojirushi cooker (it has "cook" and "warm" as the only settings), and every once in a while I'll toss some pork ribs and other ingredients and seasonings in there (beer, garlic, salt, pepper, whatever), hit "cook" and a few hours later out will come incredible fall off the bone pork ribs (or whatever meat I put in).
Not the same as BBQ, but pretty freaking good if you get the rest of the flavor mix right and not fried at all.
> I can't legally have a barbecue, either, so it's really hard to escape from fried meat here.
Isn't Yakiniku fairly common? Though a personal shichirin would probably impossible if you're in Tokyo itself, just as having a BBQ usually isn't an option if you're in Manhattan or London "proper" unless you have a huge top-floor condo.
Japanese cooking definitely seems to be on the fast side though, despite the long and extensive prep'.
Technically yes[0], legally not necessarily, and practically you'd be bothering your neighbours which probably isn't recommended and may get you in trouble with your landlord as well.
[0] assuming you have a balcony which isn't always the case
Many common ingredients in Western cooking don't exist -- I would kill for a supply of fresh jalapeños, or potatoes suitable for baking (you only find two varieties of potato in Japanese supermarkets).
I can't legally have a barbecue, either, so it's really hard to escape from fried meat here. My cholesterol numbers shot up quite badly when I moved to Japan, even though I'm not that much of a meat-eater (maybe 2-3 times per week).
A decently-sized kitchen with room for a stand mixer is basically unobtainable unless you spend serious money on an apartment, not to mention a proper oven. Japanese homes don't have ovens, so you have to buy your own. Ovens sold for the consumer market here are only slightly larger than microwaves, and while they come with more inbuilt computing power than AWS, simple things like "cook at a low temperature for three hours" are impossible.
I could go on, but suffice it to say: Japan has many wonderful things, but they don't line up with my hobbies and interests.