This is the second kome/rice shochu of the same name produced by Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery in Hamamatsu City but it has the regular alcohol contents, that is 25 degrees!
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Rice
Alcohol: 25 degrees
Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Roses, strawberries, rice
Taste: deep, dry and fruity attack.
Complex: rice, roses, grapes with strong hints of strawberries and faint notes of chestnuts, custard and dark chocolate on the end.
Strong but easy to drink even straight at room temperature.
Varies little with food but for a drier but still fruity general impression.
Overall: very elegant rice shochu!
No wonder is creator is a lady brew master.
Will be eminently enjoyable at all temperatures from chilled on the rocks to blended with hot water, but I still appreciated it most straight at room temperature!
Does marry beautifully with cheese!
Service: attentive and easy-going Equipment & facilities: old but overall clean. Shared washroom (old-fashioned and basic, but clean) Prices: reasonable Strong points: oden, comfort food, great sake list. Great traditional Japanese atmosphere!
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Shizuoka City is renowned all over Japan for a typical Japanese comfort food called “oden”, a kind of Japanese pot–au-feu.
Now, if you want to eat such local food in our city, the best place is Aoba Oden Gai/青葉おでん街 located along Aoba Park Street in Aoi Ku.
This izakaya alley of another era hasn’t changed much when it was created in 1950’s when the City asked the open-air food stands in Aoba Park Street to move out!
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Everyone in town has its very own favorite odenya/oden izakaya but the busiest area is naturally Aoba Oden Gai where you still have to choose among 18-odd shops!
It took me a long time to choose mine and I have never visited another since then!
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It is distinctive for its unusual (in Shizuoka) round-shaped red paper lantern with a small cat daring you to come inside!
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Kasuri/かすり!
Its noren/shop entrance curtain is actually larger than in most shops inside this alley offering some welcome privacy to its patrons!
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There are many reasons for Kasuri having become my favorite odenya in Shizuoka City.
First of all, the Mama-san, although a very discreet lady who shuns photographs, is a person with whom it is a pleasure to share a talk. She is from Akita Prefecture but has lived long enough in Shizuoka to claim a “double nationality”! Her single presence encourages all the customers to join in quickly in interesting conversations and I suspect some of them patronize Kasuri to catch a few tidbits of information!
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Another reason is the best choice in sake both from Shizuoka and elsewhere (including Akita of course!) to be found in that alley. The list is practically changing with every week. Make a point to discuss your choice with the Mama San first!
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Don’t worry, all main drinks are available, including beer, wine, shochu, whisky and some unusual discoveries from time to time!
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Another reason is the style of oden.
In many places in Shizuoka City the broth can be as dark as the middle of the night, but Kasuri serves a version somewhere between Shizuoka and light broth Kansai style, far healthier and tastier for my own point of view.
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The oden themselves are served in many manners, either with Japanese hot mustard, aonori/a mixture based on dry green laver seaweed (only in Shizuoka!) or miso mixture, or with all three if it is your fancy!
Among the oden offered to your choice you will fiund quite a few only encountered in our Prefecture!
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But a more important difference with other odenya is that the Mama San also offers all kinds of freshly prepared comfort food varying with the days and seasonal ingredients available on the local (and in her own Akita Prefecture!)!
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Accordingly the food comes in all styles from very Japanese hors d’oeuvres to…
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hot pasta in small dishes!
Well, it doesn’t matter how many times you come, you can always expect some kind of discovery, especially with many patrons bringing some great morsels from their business trips while having a last drink and morsel before hitting the road back home!
KASURI/かすり
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa cho, 2-3-6, Aoba oden Gai
Tel.: 054-255-6758
Opening hours: 16:30~24:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Cash only
If you come as a small group call beforehand as the place does not have many seats!
Aoi Beer Stand made a point to call me when Aoi brewing (Shizuoka City) had their latest craft beer served on tap there!
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Now, what kind of craft could it be?
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Honnori Cha Ale also called O Cha Ale!
This is the fourth batch and it is still different from the previous three! SN3O0808
Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Pilsner Malt, Topaz hop, Willamette hop, green tea (more than in previous batches!), live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Shortish head. creamy, white
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: orange/apricot color
Aroma: assertive, dry. green tea, oranges
Taste: dry, soft and fruity attack.
Complex: tea, biscuits, hints of persimmon and oranges.
Almost sweetish at the beginning but turns dry at the end.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a very different and dry note.
Varies little with food.
Far more complex than previous batches but easier to drink.
Overall: A craft beer for all seasons.
Its complexity and comparative gentleness will appeal to ladies although gentlemen will particularly enjoy it with their food.
Suggested pairings: sweetish meat, pork, yakitori, hot sandwiches.
Many gentlemen agreed it became more complex with green tea surging through with rise in temperature!
Beer Junkie MOTEL
420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome FACEBOOK
BEER GARAGE
Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders. MAP FACEBOOK
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK FACEBOOK
Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely
GROWSTOCK
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK FACEBOOK
As I said before Suruga Ku, the area south of Shizuoka JR Station is literally sprinkled with ancient small and quaint Shinto Shrines I mostly discover during my bicycle rides in that particular area!
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About 5 minutes (count 10 to find it) ride from The station stands Ishida Shrine (石田神社) stands in an area of the same name.
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Although small and almost derelict locals have been offering new torii gates!
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Very small stone hand washing basin (Chōzuya) but with its own roof!
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Two smart looking lions (“Shishi” Or “komainu”) are guarding the shrine!
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The Left hand one with its closed maw!
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The right hand one with its mouth open!
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This wooden board indicates that the shrine was rebuilt in 1875 although it has been a site where shrines have been erected for at least 1,000 years!
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The shrine (jinjya) with two stone lanterns (ishi-dōrō)!
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Stag carving!
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Mountain carving!
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The other lantern sports not a doe but a stag with longer antlers!
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The main worship hall (Heiden)!
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With is rice straw garland (shimenawa) and bell and rope.
I didn’t notice any money offering box (saisen) so I suppose worshippers throw their coins through the door or into the box of smaller shrines also found on the site!
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The roof top pinion!
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Roofing design!
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One of the two lanterns stands.
The left one is decorated with an animal carving!
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The plain lantern wooden stand on the right!
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A small shrine (kamidana) on the right!
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Two more on the left!
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An even smaller and more ancient one made of stone and bearing a rice straw garland!
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And still another one!
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The partly restored inner shrine (honden) barred to the public!
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The cross beams (chigi) show that the local deity is male!
Actually, I had made a continuous mistake about this particular point which was pointed out to me by Facebook friend who just happened to be praying there!
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Only the roofing seems to be the original part!
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Trees are still standing in the middle of the residential area!
Aoi Brewing is continuing experimenting with craft beers and the newest one take us to Germany!
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Rothenburg Weissen!
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Served on tap
Barley (50%), wheat (50%), Pilsner Malt (50%), wheat malt (50%), Australian Galaxy Hop, Tetnang hop,live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.9%
IBU: 29
Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, very light orange color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: deep orange
Aroma: discreet and fruity. Citruses, biscuits.
Taste: sweetish at first but soon turning to dry and fruity attack.
Complex: first a big surge of oranges immediately followed by dry bread and biscuits.
Some welcome acidity accompanies it along.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a drier notes with citruses and bread and late surge of persimmon.
Varies little with food.
Overall: A craft beer of Dunkel Weissen type for all seasons.
Very easy to drink.
Will please both genders.
Complex craft beer which will continue to reveal new facets with further sips.
Suggested pairings: mixed nuts, cold meats.
Beer Junkie MOTEL
420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome FACEBOOK
BEER GARAGE
Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders. MAP FACEBOOK
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK FACEBOOK
Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely
GROWSTOCK
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK FACEBOOK
Shochu is becoming increasingly popular with ladies and young people and Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery/Distillery came up with a new product with a lower alcohol content for that purpose!
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Kome/rice shochu
Alcohol: 20 degrees
Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry. Rice
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Softer than usual thanks to low alcohol contents, but very solid and pleasant.
Complex: rice, roses, hints of strawberries.
Changes little with food but for more strawberries.
Late appearance of chestnuts once away again from food.
Overall: A shochu for ladies, yes, but gentlemen will also appreciate it.
Somewhat softer and more complex than other rice shochu probably due to the lower alcohol contents.
I tasted it straight at room temperature and I do think it’s the best way to appreciate it!
Also eminently drinkable on the rocks or with a dash of cassis!
Marries splendidly with food!
Suruga Ku, south of Shizuoka JR Station, is an area replete with small ancient shrines due to its proximity to the sea.
I discovered another one of them while cycling around Minami Cho and Imagawa Cho: Chikatsu Segen Shrine/千勝浅間神社!
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Although a bit derelict some parts have been renewed and are looked after a kannushi/神主/Shinto priest living in his own private house on the very premises of the shrine!
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The view past the torii entrance gate!
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There are still some old trees towering over it!
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The main shrine!
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It was rebuilt in 1875 but dates far more back into the past!
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Two smaller brand new shrines have been added!
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Kotogara Jinja/金刀比羅神社! It might be related to the one existing in Fujieda City!
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But its door panels are really ancient!
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Akiba Jinja/秋葉神社!
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The money offering box is new but its lock is old!
I suspect that these two “new” shrines had been here all the time and have been repainted only recently!
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One of the two stone lanterns!
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With the cloud and stag carvings!
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And the cloud carving!
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The other deer is not doe but also a stag with shorter antlers!
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The “shishi”, also called “komainu”, lion guards!
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The left hand side lion guard with its maw closed!
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The right hand side lion with its maw open!
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The “haiden” hall for the worshipers!
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The rice straw garland, the bell and its rope!
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On the right side can be found a far smaller and more ancient shrine with a few red torii gates!
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The small shrine!
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Although the red paint is flaking out the torii are still recent. They were gifted by local worshipers!
