Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Belgian Subtle IPA (new version)

March 30, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City has just produced another Belgian Subtle IPA but it is different from the precedent one as no dry hopping was involved and a different yeast was used!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Munich malt, Dark Crystal malt, Topaz hop, Crystal hop, Sapphire hop, Trappiste yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 6.3 degrees
IBU: 32
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: dark orange
Aroma: light. Biscuits, oranges
Taste: deep, dry and fruity attack backed up with pleasant acidity.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on acid notes of oranges
Varies little with food.

Overall: Another very fine craft beer for all seasons!
A must taste not only for the sake of novelty but simply because it is a fine craft beer!
Should please any gender of any age!
Pairings: pork meats, pizza.

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Craft beers, Japan Craft Beers, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Le Septieme Voyage

March 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing has been putting out limited craft beers this years to celebrate anniversaries of its various establishments!

This time they celebrated the seventh anniversary of Growstock, their pub restaurant in Shizuoka City with a Belgian wheat Ale type craft beer: “Le Septieme Voyage/the 7th Voyage”!
Accordingly seven “spices” were also used in its creation!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Pilsner Malt, Wheat malt, Topaz hop, Pearl hop,coriander, nutmeg, orange peels, lemon peels, cloves, papaya, mango, Americqn Ale yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5.9 degrees
IBU: 25
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: lemon/orange color
Aroma: dry and spicy. Citruses, herbs
Taste: dry, deep, spicy and fruity attack backed up with pleasant acidity.
Complex. Citruses, strong cloves, faint mango.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more dry cloves.
Changes little with food but for more spices perking up.

Overall: very pleasant and intriguing craft beer.
Very spicy for a beer backed up with plenty of acidity.
Should please ladies in Particular.
Suggested pairings: fried potatoes, pork meats, BBQ

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Gotemba City, Negami Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Junmai Nama Genshu Shiboritate

March 27, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other I was back to my favorite lair, namely Kasuri in Aoba Odengai in Shizuoka City, where I knew a fine sake was waiting for my tasting!

It was a nectar created by Negami Brewery in Gotemba City!
Kinmei Junmai (no pure alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Shiboritate (just pressed)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 50~60%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Second press
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pears
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillent.
Complex: pears, white flowers, melon, oranges.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of soft flowers, melon and oranges.
Turns drier with food with herbs making an appearance.

Overall: Another nectar to be enjoyed in the place of a white wine!
Best appreciated on its own slightly chilled.
Difficult to pair with food because of its very complex character.
Suggested pairing: asparaguses

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan Gastronomy, Kikugawa City, Morimoto Brewery, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Morimoto Brewery-H. Morimoto Filtered Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu

March 19, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Last night when I paid a quick visit to my favorite oden bar in Shizuoka City, the Mama san showed this bottle she had just acquired at Tomitaya Sake Store in Shizuoka City!

Great Brew Master Hitoshi Morimoto was having fun once again in Kikugawa City, in the central-Western part of Shizuoka Prefecture!
The name was just his as he called it H. Morimoto Filtered (in English) for this Tokubetsu Junmai (no pure alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized) genshu (no pure water blended in)!
Incidentally, it is a very limited edition!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast: Kyoukai 901 Go
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Dryness: – 4
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and discreet. Rice, faint pears
Taste: very fruity, sweetish attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: apples, plums, apricots, sweet pears.
Lingers for a while before departing on sweet, fruity and flowery notes and oranges.
No acidity whatsoever but the sweetness is not cloying at all.

Overall: a very fruity and flowery nectar!
Very unusual concept in Shizuoka prefecture where the great majority of sake are dry.
Very deep and complex with ever-changing facets surging up.
A sake best enjoyed on its own although could definitely be savored in the place of a dessert wine.
A last liqueur for the road, but one easy on the body and soul!
Suggested pairings: Chocolate, blue cheese.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Craft beers, Japan Craft Beers, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Never Mind The Hops

March 19, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewwing Co in Shizuoka City has just produced a once in a time craft beer to celebrate the first Anniversary of Beer Junkies Motel, their fourth establishment in the same town called “Never Mind The Hops!

Served on tap
Barley, Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Pilsner malt, Dark Crystal malt, Black malt, Roasted barley malt, Challenger hop (English), British ale yeast 2
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 4.5 degrees
IBU: 26
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, light brown color
Color: orange brown
Aroma: dry, discreet. Bread, biscuits, faint honey
Taste: sweeter attack than aroma but quickly turns to dry and deep with welcome acidity.
Complex: biscuits, dry honey
Lingers long enough for true tasting before taking a long time to depart on pleasantly acid biscuits and bread with hints of oranges and persimmon.
Changes little with food.
Will keep finishing on a dry note sip after sip.

Overall: Definitely an English dry ale-style craft beer!
A real pity it will be only a once in a lifetime (although I suspect its success will encourage the brew master to try again!)!
Complex and pleasantly changing on the palate.
Suggested pairings: fish and chips, Shepherd’s pie, Steak and kidney pie, pork.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka City, Spanish Wines

Spanish Wine Tasting: Castillo de Enguerra Reserva 2010 Red Organic (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 17, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I do love my sake and craft beer but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to taste a good wine!
Moreover, the fact I’m for Bourgogne, France, does not limit or hamper whatsoever my scope. A good wine is a good wine! Full stop.
And once again I found myself tasting another an unusual nectar in the company of my good friend, Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa in her castle, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City!

Castillo de Enguera 2010 Red made by Bodegas Enguera in Valencia, Spain!

Bodegas Enguera was funded in 1999 with two fields in the Valencia area covering a total of 160 ha where grapes are organically grown at over 650 meter altitude:
Tembla Nino, 60%
Monastorere, 25%
Syrah, 15%
This particular wine is a blending of the above grapes matured for 12 months in New French casks (60%) and second-year American oak casks (40%).
Alcohol: 14 degrees

SUITABLE FOR VEGANS!

Clarity: Opaque and dense but very clean.
Color: Very dark red
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Red fruit, cassis, dry prunes, dry figs, spicy herbs.
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
Complex: black fruit jam, confiture, black pepper.
Gives the impression of eating red grapes.
Complex to the point of insistingly inviting for another and another sip. Will intrigue you with new facets every time.
Stays long enough in palate for true tasting before departing on notes of spicy black pepper and dry coffee beans.

Overall: Eminently enjoyable red wine. Complex, spicy but gentle on the palate for lack of acidity in spite of basic dryness.
A well-balanced red wine very easy　to pair with dishes.
Suggested pairings: blueberry sauce venison, Korean BBQ/yakiniku, simmered pork/buta no kakuni, Chinese cuisine.

Retailed at 2,380 yen for takeout.
Sold at 900 yen per glass or 3,880 yen per bottle to be drunk on site.
Very good value!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Japan Gastronomy, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka City, Suruga Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Tenko Junmai Dai Ginjo Muroka Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 16, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This time we tasted a nectar brewed by an increasingly popular Suruga Brewery (Shizuoka City) which is already a lot of attention throughout Japan despite its very short history!

“Tenko/Heavens Rainbow” Junmai (no pure sake alcohol blended in) Daiginjo Muroka (unfiltered) Genshu (no pure water added)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.2
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in December 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light gold
Aroma: dry and very fruity.
Pears, banana, custard, chestnuts, young coconuts, green melon
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: custard, cream soda, banana, yogurt.
Always seems to reach the brink of sweetness without reaching it.
Lingers on for a short while before departing on a slightly drier note of custard, oranges and faint almonds.
Will become markedly drier with salty foods.

Overall: Very rich sake if there were such a term!
Both elegant and very satisfying.
Very fruity and sweetish at first but beautifully counterbalanced with swift, but in the right amount, acidity.
Could definitely be used as a superlative dessert wine!
Suggested pairings: Blue cheese!

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Cakes, Salon de The Hanai, Shizuoka City, Takuya Hanai

Classic Cakes by Takuya Hanai at Salon de The Hanai (3): “Noisette” (Hazelnuts Roll Cake)!

March 13, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Extremely friendly and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall spotless clean. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive (reasonable considering the quality!)
Strong points: Superb array of cakes and biscuits aimed at an adult clientele. Excellent lunch sets. Wine & beer available. Can be enjoyed as a cafe, restaurant and wine bar.

HANAI-style Cappuccino!

The other day was a miserable cold and wet day and I suddenly the urge for a nice coffee and a great cake!
As it is not too far from my working place I was soon talking to Takuya Hanai/花井拓也さん, Chef-owner of Salon de The HANAI in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Inside the cake shop on the first floor we settled on “Noisette”, the last of a hazelnut Rolled Cake , to be sent to the cafe lounge upstairs to be savored with nice little cappuccino!

It was topped with butter cream mixed with whole hazelnuts which beautifully cracked under my teeth!

The roll cake consisted of two distinct layers:
One of a biscuit created with hazelnut powder, separately beaten egg yolk and egg white, almond powder, a little sugar and a little rice powder.
The soft layer was made of butter cream and hazelnut paste!

Takuya’s approach to confectionery is sweeter than most patisseries met in Japan but a s sweet as the cloying cakes we find in my native France, making for an elegant but highly satisfying marvel on a cold afternoon!

You still need a good appetite to finish it in spite of its misleading small size!

Look forward to the next visit!

Salon de The HANAI

420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajjo, 2-10-23
Tel. 6 Fax: 054-255-2829
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00 (later if enough customers!)
Closed on Tuesdays
Parties (up to 25) welcome!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Hamburg Steak, Shizuoka City, Tequila's Diner

American Gastronomy: Hamburg Steak at Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

March 10, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Good general cleanliness. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive but very good value
Strong points: Tex-Mex gastronomy of superior quality. Doubles up as bar in evenings.

The other day I paid a long due visit to what I consider the best Hamburger Restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture, namely Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

It being a busy Saturday lunch I had plenty of time to search and choose a morsel I hadn’t sampled yet!
I finally opted for the “Hamburg Steak”, which is also called a Louie Steak in the US although its varieties are endless.
Actually in Japan a “Hamburg” is an open hamburger while “Hamburger” means it will be served sandwiched inside a bun.
I ordered with blue cheese sauce topping!

Being hungry I also ordered a side dish of garlic rice!

My order!

Plenty of garlic rice. Very well-balanced, actually and lighter than expected!

Coleslaw!

The Hamburg Steak with blue cheese sauce topping, beansprouts seasoned with the hamburg steak juices and fried potatoes (Belgian!)!

This Hamburg Steak is made with no less than 4 types of beef!

It is moreover hand knife-chopped, not one of those mushy “patties” served in some notorious diners!
Cooked semi rare, great bite and real beef taste!
Will come again for it with a different topping and side dish next time!

TEQUILA’S DINER
Chef Chihiro Okamoto

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 8-6 (near Aoba Park Street), ACT 7, 1F
Tel.: 054–255-7595
Business hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~24:00
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Small and big parties welcome on reservations
Small outside lodge can be made non-smoking
Kids’ special lunch (with little salt) available!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese wine, Wine, Yamanashi Prefecture

Japan Wine Tasting: Yamanashi Prefecture-The Jewels of Kisvin 2012, Viniferia Mix 34 White by Team Kisvin & Château Sakaori (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day I had the occasion to taste a very unusual white wine made in Yamanashi Prefecture at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City with good friend sommelier, Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん!

The Jewels of KIsvin 2012, Viniferia Mix 34 White?
That is going to take some explanations!

Team Kisvin & Château Sakaori under the name of Kinoshita Commercial Company/木下商仕(株) made this wine in Sakaori City/酒折市 in Yamanashi Prefecture with no less than 34 different grapes harvested locally!

White
Alcohol: 12 degrees
Year: 2012
Grapes: Check this WEBSITE! Go to the year 2012! Good luck!

Clarity: very clear
Color: golden
Aroma: assertive, dry, fruity. Muscat, raisins, Sherry wooden cask, white flowers, grapefruit, lychees.
Taste: very dry and fruity attack.
Almost completely unrelated to aroma.
Old-fashioned taste with dominant dry white flowers, dry citruses, ending up on faint notes of figs.
Constant on the palate and slowly fading away.
Stays dry with food while tending to reveal some petillant.
Will turn into some dry cherry sweets and desserts but will show more acidity with salty dishes.
Although it seems to be willing to start on a complex note, will quickly reveal a stolid and uncomplicated character.

Overall: Remarkable wine for its search into new fields, although 34 grapes might shock quite a few connoisseurs!
Ought to be sampled for the sake of knowledge or as an intriguing quizz!
Very rustic in approach.
Would do well with Japanese food in the place of a dry sake such as an uncomplicated honjozo.
Suggested pairings: sashimi, fruits confits.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Japan Tourism, Japanese warehouses, Kura, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Kura: Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 40: Edo Era Village Kura in Nakajima Primary School, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

March 4, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

Yesterday I was cycling in Nakajima District in Suruga Ku, that the part of of Shizuoka City south of Shizuoka JR Station, an area I still have a lot to learn about in spite of my living in Shizuoka City for 40 years!

Veering into of the straight streets going south I found myself cycling past Nakajima Elementary School.

That is when I espied a rare site beyond the School Disaster Evacuation sign!

A small and very old, but splendidly preserved with little or no repairs standing on the grounds of an elementary school!
I had to investigate!

Simple but stolid enough!

Thanks to this welcome sign I learned it had been built in Edo Era to serve as a warehouse for Nakajima Village as the area was called then. It served mainly as a warehouse for all important documents concerning the Village.
The Elementary School was built by it only many years later.
Apparently it is the only one of its kind in Shizuoka City!

It was wholly built with uncut or cut stones!

It was also located so as toe let the prevailing winds provide needed draft through the two windows opened at each extremity!

I should come back to take a picture of it with cherry tree in blooms!

Do you notice the opening at its base?

This is to make sure that any water accumulated between the high foundation and the kura can be expelled quickly and to insure the same area stays dry!

With the modern elementary school buildings in the background!

The roofing is in good repair!

The pinion with “水/mizu/water” carved in!

Tiled roof details!

How old are the wooden eaves?

How many schoolchildren has this window seen walk past under it?

The door, although repainted, seems original enough!

Only one of the alignment “pegs” was missing!

it was too late in the day to talk with the staff, but I certainly intend to interview the schoolmaster someday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Japan Tourism, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Quaint Okina Inari Daimyoujin Shrine (翁稲荷大明神) in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City

March 2, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you take the first street right of Shizuoka JR Station that runs past the Post Office and under the railway tracks you will enter the south side of Shizuoka City, that is Suruga Ku. keep walking straight ahead and 5 minutes later you will find these red pennants along the left hand side of the pavement!

For all their garish grandiloquence they only announce the presence of a small Shinto Shrine called Okina Inari Daimyoujin Shrine (翁稲荷大明神). The reason I decided to have a look at it is that my good friend, Atsuko Kurata who is always on the lookout for unusual sites signaled to me through Facebook!

The red torii/鳥居/Shrine Entrance Portal!

An unusual way to advertise a Shinto Shrine the way they used to do for private shops in Japan of yore!

All kinds of invitations written on the paper flying in the wind!

Inari Shinto Shrines are always guarded by foxes. Herds of them in this particular case!

On both sides!
Note the metal braziers used as supports for the votive messages!

I wouldn’t criticize you for taking this shrine for a local shop!

The roof pinion could be used either in a Buddhist Temple or a Shinto Shrine!

Now, this antique komainu/狛犬/lion guard came from under the roof of another shrine or temple!

A real bric a brac on the west hand side of the shrine!

Now, this is an exceedingly unusual stone hand washing basin!

Why all these traditional Japanese water tubs?

A tiny inari shrine!

The prayer bell and its rope and the money-offerings box!

It looks like an antique than anything else!

Actually the lady owning and looking after the whole place kindly let me take pictures of the inside!

All kinds of offerings from neighboring followers among a jumble that still looks like an antique dealer’s dream!
Actually traditional Japanese dancing plays are also held inside!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Craft Beer, Izu no Kuni Brewery, Izu no Kuni City, Japanese Craft Beers, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Izu No Kuni Brewery-Scottish Ale (Canned Version)

March 2, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some canned and even bottled versions of craft beers brewed by Izu No Kuni Brewery in Izu no Kuni City in Northern izu Peninsula can be found in Shizutetsu Supermarkets in particular!

The same supermarkets have been recently offering this canned version of Scottish Ale by Izu No Kuni Brewery!

350 ml can
Barley, wheat, barley malt, wheat malt, hop, live yeast
Probably filtered
Alcohol: 5%

Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Very long head. Creamy. White color
Clarity: very clear
Color: orange/apricot color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Biscuits, honey, faint bread
Taste: dry, deep and fruity attack.
Biscuits, honey and faint citruses.
Very refreshing.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with first sweetish than quickly drying apricots.
Turns somewhat drier with food.
Apricots will keep surging back before disappearing on a dry and somewhat acid note.

Overall: very interesting craft beer and a surprise for a canned version!
Definitely a lot better than expected.
A very refreshing and satisfying craft beer for all seasons.
Ale lovers should make a point of sampling it!
Recommended pairings: BBQ, cold meats, sausages, smoked cheese!

IZU NO KUNI BEER (IZU-WORLD MINNA HAWWAIIANS)
〒410-2315 静岡県伊豆の国市田京195-2
〒410-2315 Shizuoka Prefecture, Izu No Kuni City, Takyo, 195-2
TEL：0558-76-3355
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES