All posts by dragonlife

Robert-Gilles Martineau hails from Bourgogne/Burgundy, France and presently resides in Shizuoka/Japan

Dragons, Kyoto, Tourism

Kyoto Dragons

June 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I just love dragons!
There are not so many of note in Kyoto, but here is a small sample of what I discovered last week:

Signboard at a cloth and accessories shop!

Portal Dragon!

For a closer view!

Mural painting!

Dragon water spout feeding a hand washing basin at Myoubensenten Shrine!

Laughing or roaring?

Surging forth out of nowhere!

Back view!

Small but ferocious!

Carved wood Dragon at Toufuku Temple!

Looks like a familiar pet!

It certainly is not going to frighten many!

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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

Buddhist Temples, Garden, Kyoto

Kyoto: Toufuku Temple & Gardens

June 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

You don’t have to visit Buddhist Temples in Japan because of religion.
An agnostic hedonist like myself can find many reasons to enjoy their visit.
It was the first time I had the occasion to look at Toufuku Shrine which renown for its beautiful gardens!

Even inside Kyoto City it is surrounded by a lot of greenery!

Through the main gate!

Almost the whole of the Buddhist temple and its annexes were burnt down in a big fire last century and to be rebuilt as an exact copy!

Imposing roofed walk!

The main temple is surrounded by quite a few smaller ones!

Beautiful roofs!

The main temple built around its own gardens!

Check the gardens history!

Have a good look at the flowers around you before entering the temple!

Irises!

The main gate before the actual temple!

A venerable tree!

The first garden made of stones, sand and moss!

Can you imagine the water swirling around the stones!

Ancient and mysterious stones!

From another angle!

The land represented by the moss!

Another tucked away garden!

One of the buildings enclosing the garden!

Moving to the next garden!

Getting near!

Going through one more garden!

At this point you enter an unusual garden!

This particular garden was completed in 1939!

A very rare checkered Japanese garden!

A last look before we take our leave!

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Kikugawa City, Shizuoka City, Vegetables markets

Shizuoka Vegetables Street Market by Non Chan & Nana Chan of Taiki Farm in Shizuoka City!

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shizuoka Vegetables Street Market by Non Chan & Nana Chan of Taiki Farm in Shizuoka City!

Some enterprising growers do not hesitate to travel to Shizuoka City to sell their fresh products directly to very happy consumers!

Non Chan and Nana Chan of Taiki Farm in Kikugawa City are two of them!
You will find them happily shouting their wares at Ogushi Shrines right across from Parco Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, only a few minutes’ walk from Shizuoka JR Station!
You can buy their vegetables on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am until they are sold out!
Beware that they sell fast and by 1 pm usually everything’s gone!

You cannot miss heir sign!

Now, what do they sell?
Kankanmusume Corn, considered as the best in Japan until beginning of July
Cucumber (sweet) until beginning of September. Note that cucumbers will be less than available in Japan this year!
Tomatoes: until ???
Lettuce, Sunny lettuce and Green Leaf Lettuce: from end of October to March

Fat kankanmusume corn ears! From Taiki Farm in Kikugawa City!

Beautiful sweet cucumbers! From Taiki Farm in Kikugawa City!

Momotarou Tomatoes! From Hatada farm in Kuno, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

Place: Ogushi Shrine, across from Parco Store, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City
Behind Isetan Dept Store under the eaves of red-bricked Castle Hotel on flea market week ends.
Time 10:00 ~all sold out
Days: Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

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Kakegawa City, sake, Sake Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Doi Brewery–Kaiun Ginjo Nama Genshu

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Still continuing the 300 ml bottle series!

This time I acquired a bottle from Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City where the brew master comes from the noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture!

A ginjo does not come reaaly cheap!

Pretty heady stuff as it is a not only a ginjo but also a nama and genshu!

Rice milled down to 50%
Dryness: + 10
Alcohol: 16=17 degrees
Bottled in April 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity: banana, melon, dark chocolate
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed with strong and pleasant alcohol.
Deceptively dry in spite of its great fruitiness.
Elegant in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Complex: custard, melon, banana, almonds, with late appearance of milk coffee.
Disappears fairly quickly.
Dark chocolate making a strong appearance with later sips.
marries well with food with little variation.

Overall: Heady, complex, elegant sake for the strong sake lovers.
Can be thoroughly enjoyed at any temperatures although I would recommend to start it chilled and let it warm up to discover more facets on the way.
A dangerous sake as its alcohol contents are pretty high but will hit you after a while!
Probably best enjoyed chilled as a night cap but I won’t take any responsibility! LOL

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Komagata Shrine, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Komagata Shrine (駒形神社) in Shizuoka City!

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I’m cycling past this shrine at least once a week!
It is called Komagata Shrine/Komagata Jinja/駒形神社, of the same name of the area found in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Like most Shinto Shrines of some importance it guarded by two lions, one”smiling”,…

and one “roaring”!

It is a very old shrine dating back to the Heian era, some 1200 years ago!
These very old stones may have been erected for some celebrated locals!

Of course you have to walk through a torii gate. This one is quite recent.

On the other hand the two large stone lanterns were a lot older!

They both bore identical carvings of a mountain,…

a cloud,…

and a deer!

There were two more smaller stone lanterns bearing the same carvings!

The deer!

The cloud!

And the mountains!

It also included a small basin for ritual hand washing!

With a small but beautiful Dragon spout!

Unusually long horns!

Surging forth out of nowhere!

Although very old it was rebuilt in its present form about 430 years ago!

An old votive stone!

The Shrine Building!

The money offerings box and its crest!

A traditional corded rice straw garland made of stone!

More guarding lions!

A flying monster over the garland!

Another Dragon!

Komagata Shrine!

Festival drum painted with the same crest!

Unusual Shrine altar inside!

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Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Wine Bar

Shizuoka Wine Bar & Shop: A Votre Sante!

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. Computerized washroom. Entirely non-smoking
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Superb wine list. Shizuoka sake and shochu, foodstuffs, clothing, etc. Space usable for parties, etc.

On June 1st, Atsuyoshi Uchibori/内堀敦よしさん and Hirotaka Sato/佐藤大高さんentered in a collaboration ad opened A VOTRE SANTE, the latest wine bar in Shizuoka City!
But you will soon understand it is far more than a wine bar!

if you get a good look at the blackboards erected outside you will understand they sell all kinds of products including cakes and biscuits cooked by local confectioners!

You can also obtain coffee, tea and superb sake from Takashima Brewery (Numazu City) and Sugii Brewery (Fujieda City)!

Right at the entrance you will find Japanese sake, shochu and rare liqueurs and Japanese wagashi cakes!

Very rare yamamomo and loquat liqueurs standing beside superb shochu!

The place used to be a soy sauce shop closed for the last two years!. Great interior!

Some of the local wagashi cakes!

More than 200 wines, mostly organic on sale!

More shochu, mirin, wine, soy sauces, olive oil, and so on!

Standing bar where you can drink wine by the glass anytime of the day!

Purchases can be beautifully wrapped on order!

More great sake in the fridge!

Great cheese and cold meats that can either be bought and taken out or consumed onsite!

Of course, there is a special wine cellar!

The hoard of wines!

Even clothing, utensils, objets and what else are on sale!

Last but not least, the whole place can be rented for seminars and parties!

A VOTRE SANTE/ア・ヴォートル・サンテ

Shizuoka city, Aoi ku, Cha Machi, 1-25-9
Tel.: 054-255-6007
Opening hours: 11:00~20:00 (until later depending on remaining customers)
Closed on Tuesdays, 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK
Entirely non-smoking!

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Japanese Gastronomy, Kyoto, Udon

Kyoto Udon Restaurant: Okakita!

June 19, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very kind and attentive
Equipment & facilities: Spotless clean overall. Beautiful washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Top-class udon cuisine!

People tend to think that all Japanese cuisine restaurants in Kyoto are expensive. Well, this is a big misconception spread by some unwelcome media to say the least!

Okakita is actually famous all over Japan and is mentioned in so many magazines! But it is really reasonable considering the superb quality!

The whole establishment is not only spotless clean but also entirely non-smoking!

It even has a cute little Japanese garden!

So traditonal!

Dragon’s order: “Tentoji/天とじ”/large prawn tempura with udon in egg soup!

Hot and so appetizing!

Don’t be fooled, the prawns are big!

My order: “Hamo Tenpura Oroshi Udon/はも天ぷらおろしうどｎ”/yempura pike eel with cold udon in oroshi style!

So appetizing and a complete lunch in itself!

Those vegetables make for such balance in color, design and taste!

Extravagant pike eel tempura!

THE priority restaurant for our next visit!

OKAKITA/おかきた

Koto City, Sagyou ku, Okazaki, Minami Goshyo, 34
京都市左京区岡崎南ご紹介３４
tel.: 075-771-4831
Opening hours: 10:00~20:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Parking available
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Kyoto, Tourism

Kyoto Pavement Art

June 19, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Like in every city in Japan yu should have a god look at the pavements of Kyoto City, although they are remakably from this of other cities!

For example whereas they are simply patted on the stone or asphalt, cycling lanes signs are solid tilework!

Kyoto seems to be fond of bronze plaques giving bilingual directions to passers-by!

Another example!

Pavement decorations can be tiny like these near the Kabuki Theater!

Or they can be immense inside malls!

On the other hand Kyoto have very few kinds of decorated manhole covers, a somewhat disappointing discovery!

That’s how far it goes!

But the Demachi Esplanade made up for them all!

Look at the pavement under the feet of the customers!

I took them all, so let’s see if you can rcognize all the seafood depicted on them!
They are all different, but they don’t need any explanations!
Here we go, 30 of them!

Good-bye Demachi Esplanade!

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Japanese sake, Kyoto, Shinto Shrines

Japanese Sake Barrels and Others at Shinto Shrines in Kyoto City!

June 18, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

One big difference between Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples in japan is that you will find Japanese sake barrels in the former and never in the latter!
It is great fun for the sake lovers to check which breweries are being represented!

Kamomioya ShrinE!

A little history for you!

This is unusual: real rice offerings!

Take your pick!

And there were a lot more!

Left half!

Right half!

Now, what is the name of this shrine?

Tenmangu shrine!

Even more unusual! An old sake press!

The second one!
Both had been donated by Geikkeikan Brewery!

I found even more fighting for space with a car park!

Side view!

Good hunting!

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Kyoto, Shinto Shrines, Tourism

Myoonbensenten Shrine in Kyoto City

June 18, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

As I said before it is a good idea to keep your eyes open in Kyoto while forgetting the big toursit attractioons at the same time! You can take photographs in peace and check everything without disturbing anyone!

I found this small shrine in Kyoto City which had a nice little dragon!

It is also called “Myoonten/妙音天”!

The main shrine!

There was also another newer but smaller one with many foxes!

But that beautiful lonely dragon was the main attraction for me!

Not that big, but really exquisite!

Surging forth out of nowhere!

A grand way to wash your hands!

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Orthodox Church, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Abandoned Shizuoka: Haristos Greek Orthodox Church in Kasuga Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

June 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some history is about to disappear in Shizuoka City.
Being agnostic, religion is not one of my priorities, but religious buildings have their artcistic and historical value.

The entrance whose gates have been taken away as the grounds are used for a car park.

Orhtodox greek Christianism was first preached in Shizuoka City in 1877 by Bauer Koyama who came from Tokyo.
A Greek Orthodox Congregation was consequently established in Hontoori Area in Aoi Ku in shizuoka City 6 years later in 1883.
It got official recognition under the name of Haristos Greek Orthodox Church by the City of Shizuoka in 1905.
The Chruch was built in 1911 in Hontouri, 5 Chome.
Due to the construction of a large avenue it was moved to the present address in kasuga Cho in 1936.
From 1959 it has included a convent.
It has been used as an event hall since 1992, but it is to be pulled down soon.

The Convent building which has been used as an event hall for the last years.

The building is completely locked.

I did check all the doors on the premises and they are all locked.
At least one door of the church has been walled.

What is left of the original fountain.

The main church.
Do hurry to visit it as there are still some good pictures to take!

The entrance.

The double (small) portal.

The “P” Cross.

The orthodox cross over the entrance eaves.

The silent bells are still there.

The dome and the cross.

From another angle.

The smaller dome and cross.

The side facade.

The head priest abode.

back view of the church.

back view of the roof and crosses.

The facade from another angle.

Facade windows.

The left facade.

Abandoned living quarters.

Abandoned living quarters roofing.

Derelict sheds.

Street view of the convent.

A side view of the whole church.

This sight will disappear soon!

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Chinese Gastronomy, Kyoto, Restaurants

Chinese Restaurant in Kyoto: Sichifukuya!

June 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly
Equipment & facilities: Clean overall. Basic Japanese style washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expansive
Strong points: Shanghai Family style cuisine. Chinese old spirits

There are many Chinese restaurants in Kyoto but few are authentic.
You do have to look deep into the back streets to find them!

Shichifukuya (the h\House of the Seven Lucks) is one of them, and although it was our second visit we did have some trouble finding it in the dark of the night!

It was apparently a Japanese restaurant years before the present owners moved in 8 years ago, and they did change little of it. It is old but clean. But after all the food is the most important!

Apparently they have a lot of regulars with their own bottles!

Apart of a good list of old Chinese spirits they provide all kinds of drinks, including Japanese sake!

Home-made Chinese pickles!

Xiaolongbao!

Pitan eggs/Century egg and vegetable salad!

For a better view of the Century eggs!

Fried gyoza!

Spicy shrimp omelet!

For a better view!

Stir-fried vegetables!

Very original egg fried rice with beaten egg whites!

No need for dessert!

SHICHIFUKUYA/七福家

Kyoto City, Sagyo Ku, Seigoin Sannou Cho, 25-11
京都市左京区聖護院山王町２５－１１
Tel.: 075-771-3833
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:30~22:00
Parties until 36 welcome
Closed on Wednesdays

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Fish, Fish Markets, Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City! Bigfin Reef Squid & Mullet

June 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Due to work and trips away I hadn’t ad much time to check what local fish and seafood was available at the Parche market inside Shizuoka JR Station! A couple of weeks and a changing weather can make quite a difference!

Aoriika/あおりいか/Bigfin Reef squid at 238 ywn per 100g. Squid is never cheap, but this is expensive, even in Shizuoka!
Bora/ぼら/Mullet at 58 yen per 100g. Quite fish although their roe can easily fetch 20~30 times that price!
Mame aji/豆アジ/very young horse mackerel at 173 yen per 100 g. Not cheap either, but this is a seasonal delicacy!
All from the Suruga Bay!

Bora/ぼら/Mullet!

Mame aji/豆アジ/very young horse mackerel!

Aoriika/あおりいか/Bigfin Reef!

That was for the super fresh fish and seafood!
Let’s look at the other offerings!

Kuromutsu/黒むつ/Black gnomefish!

Kamasu/かます/Barracuda! Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I was banged into by another customer!

Urumeiwashi/うるめいわし/Round Herring!

Shindouika/シンドウイカ/Loliolus (Nipponololig) japonica Hoyle,1885! A Japanese squid variety!

Ebodai/えぼ鯛/Wart perch!

Shiromebaru/白メバル/White Japanese sea perch!

Tobiuo/とびうお/Flying fish!

Higetara/ひげたら/Snubnose brotula. A rare and succulent fish in japan! Still cheap in Shizuoka!

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Kura, Kyoto

Kuras. Japanese Warehouses in Kyoto!

June 16, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you are looking for kuras/Japanese warehouses, Kyoto City is the place to visit!
Kuras come under all kinds of forms, styles and age!
This is only a small example of a search you easily turn into a full book!

I found this one near the entrance of the above Shinto shrine!

A real house in perfect state!

Splendid window and blinds!

Walls repainted anew!

Roofing in perfect repair!

It was actually part of a three-building complex!

The second kura!

A view from a different angle!

The family owning such an abode must be more than affluent!

Another kura quite nearby!

In need of repairs, though!

A few things missing indeed!

I found this one inside the precincts of a Buddhist Temple!

Rich Buddhist temples have a lot to protect in Kyoto!

Beautiful window and blinds in perfect repair!

Tightly closed doors!

Kizakura Sake brewery Kura that I have already introduced!

A kura transformed into a garage, or the other way round?

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Cats, Japan, Tourism

Cats Enticing You to Drinking, Eating and Shopping in Japan!

June 16, 2014 dragonlife 7 Comments

Cats cannot be trusted whatever part of the world you are living in!
They are too crafty and think only of themselves.
We humans are barely worth of note but as practical providers easy to fool!
And in Japan it is reaching a form of art!