Category Archives: 観光

静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life in Japan, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 5

November 25, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!
She found this brightly colored manhole cover in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, outside Shimizu JR Station West Exit near bus stand No 3!

I already know of many blogging friends in Japan taking pictures of manhole covers all over this country.
The reason is simple enough: as there is little chance of them being stolen (I can’t say the same thing back in our countries!) the local/municipal government often use them as touristic advertisements !

I keep on looking for them during my many travels through the Prefecture.
And this time I was lucky to enjoy some great help from a new friend working for the Shizuoka City Touristic Information, namely Atsuko Kurata!
Like me she is chasing all kinds of cultural artifacts, especially the unusual ones!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this beautiflly patterned one along the promenade to the Prefectural Museum from Kenritsu BijutsuKan Shizutetsu Railway Line Station!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this unusually double square cover placed by the Chubu Denryoku Electrical Company along Sengen Shrine Street in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku!

Atsuko Kurata discovered the one above and the next one along Miho no Tsubara Beach!
The one above states “河川”, “Kasen/River”!

The second one states “雨水”, “amamizu/rainwater”!

I found a series of this very old type along one single street in neighborhood in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, and they are definitely municipal sewers manhole covers as stated by “市”/”City”! I doubt they exist elsewhere as their weight would cost much!

I discovered the above near a primary school in my neighborhood in Aoi Ku, Shziuoka City!
“流量軽計室” means “running water flow measuring machine”!

The above is the largest one I have found so far. It must lay above a a real manhole as it is wide enough for a strong man. It is a Prefectural one, probably over underground cables!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this very large one, most probably over a hole leading to underground cables in front of Shimizu JR Station West exit in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

It must be a pretty old one as it is marked “清水市”/Shimizu City, that is before it was merged to Shizuoka City!

There are similar manhole covers in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, but in different colors.
This one is a bit excepyiona as this the first one of this type also mentioning “市の花”/”City Flower” as the Hollyhock/Aoi/葵 is the official flower of Shizuoka City!

A different color from others of the same type witten witten “T-14” instead of “市の花”, but the colors might have changed due to the natural elements, unless it is a lot older!

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-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

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Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

BBC BEER FEST at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City! November 29th!

November 25, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

PLACE: BLUE BOOKS cafe, Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bill 1F (5~10 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit)
DATE: Friday, November 29th, 2013
TIME: 17:00~
DEAL: All you ca drink within 2 hours + 1 food for 2,500 yen. 500 yen extra per extra food.

On Friday 29th, you will be able to taste no less than 6 carefully chosen craft beers and 1 cider, all you can drink for 2 hours, for a very reasonable price at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!
Extra foods include shrimps 6 Avocada Cerviche, TEX-MEX Potato Salad, Country Captain, Home-made beef jerky, Quesadilla, Pulled pork, Mac Cheese, etc…

A great occasion to enjoy superlative craft beer in great company in a very cool and superbly clean establishment!

BLUE BOOKS cafe
420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!

Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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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, Pierre.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,

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Organic Vegetables Bagel Sandwich at D&DEPARTMENT DINING SHIZUOKA by TAITA in Shizuoka City!

November 25, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Great iverall cleanliness. Nice washroom
Prices Reasonable
Strong points: American-Western Gastronomy. Large portions. Healthy. Non-smoking until 16:00

It was my first visit that day at D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT in SHIZUOKA by TAITA for a farmers’ Market event organised there and I took the opportunity to take lunch at their restaurant!

Since they were celebrating their fifth Anniversary, all sorts of thanks comments by the staff were written on the windows!

It was very busy at lunch and I did have to wait for quite a while giving plenty of time visiting their shop in the left half of the ground floor and upstairs!

The entrance to the restaurant from inside!

From the entrance you can espy the cake display window!

Chefs very busy at work in a very clean environment!

Staff very busy but always with a smile!

I was particularly interested in the menu at the extreme right because I knew the farmers whose organic vegetables were used in the bagel sandwich!

The organic vegetables bagel sandwich lunch set with the glass of wine included!

Let’s have a good look at it!

Plenty of greens for good balance! Always appreciated!
Especially when you know that most vegetables are grown locally!

Enormous fried potato wedges!

American gastronomy at its healthiest!

Such a great bite!

Of course, I had dessert!

Hot bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and berry fruit sauce!

Beautiful ice cream and sauce for my sweet tooth!

How long had it since I had a true bread pudding?
I don’t mind cycling for 30 minutes to have lunch there. although I will have to check dinner soon!

D&DEPARTMENT DINING SHIZUOKA by TAITA
D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT in SHIZUOKA by TAITA

Manager: Ms. Chinatsu Mori
422-8034 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Takamatsu, 1-24-10
Tel.: 054-238-6678
Fax: 054-238-6679
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00(Saturdays and Sundays~23:00)
Non-smoking until 16:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Large parking Lot available
HOMEPAGE

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Carrots, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Organic Vegetables by Kitayama Garden at Farmer’s Market in D&Department by Taita in Shizuoka City!

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of D&Department by Taita

Yesterday I once again had the opportunity to meet old friends in Shizuoka City, namely the Hiragakis of Kitayama Noen in Fujinomiya City who were taking part in a Farmers’ market event held D&Department By Taita in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

Taita Company opened this store and restaurant 5 years ago and the Farmers’ Market is part of their 5th Anniversary events!

The market was held between 12:00 and sunset on the lawn in front of the store and in spite of the late time for a market was busy with connoisseur customers who had been alerted though the social networks!

Hiragaki San had traveled all the way in the morning from the very slopes of Mount Fuji!

You could see their hometown in the far distance! LOL

They had brought winter vegetables as snow is already surrounding them up on the slopes of Mount Fuji!
They certainly made for great pictures: butternut, delicata, pumpkins!

Sweet potatoes and kiwi fruit!

Fiery chili peppers!

Burdock roots and carrots!

Shoppers were gracefully offered hot and so tasty butternut potage!

Kintoki ginger packed with healthy ingredients! A must in winter!

Swiss chard!

Luccola!

Leaf vegetables and Taro/sato imo!

I was truly tempted by those fiery hot yellow chili peppers!

Taita Corporation will organize more events of the kind and I will keep you posted!

D&Department Project in Shizuoka by Taita

Manager: Ms. Chinatsu Mori
422-8034 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Takamatsu, 1-24-10
Tel.: 054-238-6678
Fax: 054-238-6679
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00(Saturdays and Sundays~23:00)
Closed on Tuesdays
Large parking Lot available
HOMEPAGE

KITAYAMA ORGANIC FARM

Masaaki and Kiko Hirakaki
418-0112 Fujinomiya Shi, Kitayama, 3102
Tel./Fax: 0544-25-2795
Mobile phone: 090-2261-8821
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)
Private orders welcome over the phone!

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笑い, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Weird Japan 40-: Dying For A Piece of Cloth?

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

When a single letter can a hell of a difference!

I discovered this (these) sign(s) in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City this afternoon!
Such a mistake is a pity because it is a truly beautiful shop!

“Dyeing”, not “Dying”!
Mind you, the crest is such a beauty!
Oh well…..

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Japanese Floats Bus in Shizuoka City!

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Buses are extensively used for advertizing especially by Shizutetsu Company in Shizuoka City and Central Shizuoka Prefecture!
Depending on the line one can discover some very interesting sites!

Kintaroo!

Carp floats can be seen flapping in the wind around May 5th, or Boys’ day in Japan.
Sagyou Company in Shizuoka is big maker of Hina Dolls and Carp Floats
They use this ukiyoe/wooden print design of Kintaroo, the famous young boy of Japanese legends!

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Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Mount Fuji, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Mount Fuji: Urban Sights from Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Now is the season when you can see Mount Fuji clearly from Shizuoka City even from spots that are not evident for most of the year!

I had cycled a long way down Suruga Ku, the Southern half of Shizuoka City when I reached some paddy fields just beyond the last buildings before a long break in the landscape becoming more rural in spite of the recent building boom!

Mount Fuji has received a lot of snow of late and it helps for a great contrast in the distance.
Actually you have to travel a lot before the buildings stop hiding it from everyone’s view!

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Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 4

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditonal 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.

I discovered this small kura on my way from Okitsu JR Station to Seikenji Temple in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

With farmers around this old small kura partly invaded by ivy is probably used as shed!

Actually considering the big property where it sits, it might be oned by a nearby temple!

Interestingly enough, although I cycle past at least 4 times a day I never noticed this big kura along the Kitakaido Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

A friend of mine had to remind me of its existence!
It is located behind a tall building with a large soba/buckwheat noodles restaurant on the ground floor.
You still have to turn into a narrow street to find it behind the restaurant building!

It is extremely well preserved. The walls are regularly repainted and the steel support protected from the rust!

Splendid side/end window!
Usually kuras have windows on one facade and another one at one extremity!

This one has another door through the back facade and a kind of wooden awning which could have been used to hang drying fruit or vegetables under a long time ago!

The front facades windows are absolutely splendid especially when they are kept open!

Note the “hooks” in their middle to pull them shut and the heavily barred window!
I very much doubt that a thief would be able to break in, even now!

The same friend told me that there should still be a lot of more kuras in the country along the Kano River in Numazu City as people in old times used to take refuge into them during floods!

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/11/22): Seasonal Release: West Coast Wheat Wine

November 22, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release: West Coast Wheat Wine

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

November is the month in which the end-of-the-year holiday season generally kicks off. At Baird Brewing we have celebrated the inauguration of this festive season each year since 2001 with the release of a most pleasingly inebriating ale — West Coast Wheat Wine.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*West Coast Wheat Wine (ABV 9.5%):

Wheat Wine is a beer style born on the U.S. West Coast in the 1980s, thought to have been originally brewed at the Rubicon brewery-pub in Sacramento, California. It has as its progenitor the British Barely Wine style. A Wheat Wine, generally, is characterized by a rich and hearty complexity that is lightened and made a touch sprite by a predominantly wheat, rather than barley, malt base. It is a style representative of the irreverent creativity and unrelenting passion that are hallmarks of craft brewing on the West Coast of the United States. Baird West Coast Wheat Wine is crafted in annual homage to the skilled brewing artisans and fearless beer entrepreneurs who have pioneered craft brewing on America’s great West Coast!

West Coast Wheat Wine contains no character malt whatsoever, only loads of floor-malted Maris Otter (45% of grist), malted wheat (50%) and raw wheat from Shikoku (5%). The color is a wonderfully hazy hue of sunset gold. The flavor is characterized by a deep, layered wheat complexity that is punctuated by a clean and crisply fruity hop character (exclusive use of U.S. West Coast grown hops: Summit, Galena, Citra, Sorachi Ace). At packaging, West Coast Wheat Wine is krausened to add further flavor complexity and to produce a piquant but soft all-natural carbonation.

West Coast Wheat Wine is available for shipment immediately (kegs as well as 360 ml bottles) and begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, November 21).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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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, Pierre.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,

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-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
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ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Bananas In Shizuoka City! By Patrick Harrington

November 21, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

Guest writer, Patrick, here by kind permission of the cycling gourmet.
I must confess that I am no gourmet, but I do happen to live in the beautiful city of Shizuoka.

While taking a stroll through some green tea fields a few days ago (and this scenery is only about 20 minutes drive from downtown Shizuoka), I came across a very rare sight for these parts.

As regular readers will know Shizuoka is blessed with extremely high quality local produce, especially its fruit and vegetables, but one thing you don’t expect to see is a banana tree, and that is exactly what appeared behind the tea bushes.

And the bananas were starting to grow.

Green tea and green bananas, a certain symmetry, which made an already pleasant day even better.

Dear Patrick, as always thank you so much for your great insights!
Also read LOCAL, GREEN, SOCIAL AND SOCIAL, ATAGAWA HOTSPRINGS DAI ICHI HOTEL, ALL YOU CAN EAT/VIKING RESTAURANTS by Patrick Harrington!

Do visit Patick’s blog at THINK TWICE!

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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

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Agriculture Bananas Fruit Gasronomy Gatronomes Japan Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka City Shizuoka gastronomy Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka Tourism Tourism

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Culture, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Tokubetsu Junmai Genshu Nama

November 21, 2013 dragonlife 3 Comments

Negami Brewery in Gotemba City have always been ahead of the other breweries in Shizuoka due to the fact they practically brew all year round at an altitude of 550 metres on the slopes of Mount Fuji, hence this very early shiboritate/just pressed sake!

the bottle as it is marketed!

Not only it is a tokubetsu junmai but it is also a genshu and nama, meaning it hasn’t been “manipulated”!

Rice milled down to 50% for koji rice and 60% for kake rice
Dryness: + 4
Alcohol: 16~17%
Bottled in November 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Dry and very fruity. Pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and very fruity attack backed up with pleasant alcohol and puissant junmai petillant.
Complex.
Pears and custard with hints of dry nuts/macadamia.
Disappears quickly on a drier note.
Almonds appearing with later sips with notes of grapes, dark chocolate and coffee beans.
Gets very dry with food.
Junmai petillant stays strong all along.
Calls for the next sip. Drinks like a dry white wine.
easy on the palate and tongue in spite of the high alcohol content

Overall: A superb and complex sake typical of Negami Brewery!
Will drink as a wine although the alcohol content is high.
Preferably drink it with solid food.
A sure value!

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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, Pierre.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

Agriculture 美食酒酒造静岡 Fujinomiya City Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Japanese History Sake Breweries Shizuoka sake Tourism World Cuisines

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Tourism Autumn Campaign Posters in Shizuoka JR Station!

November 21, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

It took a long time but finally the Shizuoka Government pledge to promote Shizuoka Prefecture Tourism seems to switched to action mode!
To all visitors (and residents) to Shizuoka City and Shizuoka Prefecture it would be time well spent to stop for a few minutes and have a good look at the posters the Government has put in the middle of Shizuoka JR STation for all to see!
And have a good look at the bottom of each poster which gives 3 good reasons to enjoy our Prefecture!
So let’s start with the first one!

The SL train running from Kanaya Station/Oigawa Steam Locomotive/大井川ＳＬ to Senzu Station and its hot springs in the Japanese Southern Alps is feature known of all train buffs in the country!

Sakura Ebi! Cherry Shrimps/桜海老 which are exclusively caught in the Suruga Bay in Autumn and late Spring are a delicacy that the Japanese are ready to travel a very long way just to taste fresh and raw!

Kunozan Toshogu/久能山東照宮 is a Japanese Natonal Treasure with the relics of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Overlord of Japan who retired to Sumpu/Shizuoka at the beginning of the 17th Century!

The second poster!

Okuni Shrine/小国神社 is a beautiful Shinto Shrine in the middle of beautiful forest in Mori Machi in Western Shizuoka Prefecture.
Now is the best time to visit it with all the leaves changing colors!

Hamamatsu Gyoza/浜松餃子are famous all over the country and are served in a peculiar crown shape with plenty of fried beansprouts in the middle!

For people interested in Buddhism a three day Buddhist Monk Life Experience can be enjoyed in Fukuroi City!

The third poster!

For Japanese hot spring lovers do visit one of the many hot springs by the sea in Kitagawa, Izu Peninsula!

And you cisit Izu Peninsula do not forget this is the season for succulent spiny lobsters!

For history amateurs visit Nirayamあ in Northern Izu Peninsula to have a look at the only existing ship gun foundry/hansyarou/反射炉 (Meiji Era) in Japan!

The fourth poster!

near Mount Fuji you will discover Kakita Gawa/Kakita River/柿田川, one of “Three Clear-Flowing Rivers in Japan”!

Shizuoka Prefecture is famous all over Japan for its eels/unagi/鰻!

For people interested in Shinto and Shinto Shrines do visit the Sengen Shrine by Mount Fuji!

Looking forward to the Winter Canmpaign!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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

Agriculture レシピ美食 Food Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Gastronomy Recipes Restaurants Shizuoka Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka Tourism Tourism

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 蕎麦, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Non-smoking restaurants, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Soba, Soba Restaurant, Tourism

Soba: Shizuoka Native Buckwheat Noodles at Teuchi Soba Tagata in Shizuoka City!

November 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly, attentive and informative
Equipment & Facilities: Very clean overall. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Only native buckwheat from Shizuoka and rest of Japan used. Great use of local seasonal ingredients. Great sake and shochu list.
Entirely non-smoking!

Soba or buckwheat noodles is one of those underrated products in Shizuoka which ought to deserve more attention especially when you take in account that Shizuoka has produced its own soba for imemmorable times well before Tokugawa Ieyasu came to love them so much when he retired to Sumpu/Shizuoka in the beginning of the 17th Century!

If one needed a single reason for patronizing Teuchi Soba Tagata would be that Chef Osamu Tagata/田形治さん not only uses exclusively Japanese native buckwheat/zairaishu soba/在来種蕎麦 from Shizuoka Prefecture and elsewhere in the country but also takes a rare pleasure extolling about his soba and other cuisine to whoever is interested or might ask!

Of course I ordered “mori soba” made with native buckwheat grown in the mountains of Iwata in Central Shizuoka prefecture!
But I can assure it is not all about soba but more true Japanese gastronomy!

You could always order a set menu but poring through the menu and choosing tidbits according to your whims is far more fun!

The place is superbly clean but the dark wood color does not make photography easy! LOL

What I enjoy at soba restaurants is looking at all the utensils served a few at a time, a good indication of the level of the establishment!

On my next visit i will have to ask what secret brew is hidden inside that pot!

The “mori soba” have come!

Now, this lacquered box is a “mempa bento box” made only with cherry wood from Ikawa in the north of Shizuoka City!

Soba made with native buckwheat from Ikawa, Shizuoka City as a “juwari/100%”!
Absolutely beautiful!

Actually, Teuchi Soba Tagata in Shizuoka City is not only famed for their soba and cuisine but also for the superb sake (including Shizuoka, of course) and its beautiful shochu which also includes a beauty from Shizuoka Prefecture!
The above is sake brewed by Haginishiki Brewery in Shizuoka City!

Deep-fried rekon/lotus roots grown in Asabata, Shizuoka City!

Now, this is a bit special: these sato imo/taro roots are a native variety grown for centuries in Ikawa!
Served as tempura with a special miso paste, a must try!

Soba yu/soba soup to mix with whatever soupstock/soba sauce you have left and drink to wash down your meal!

I had to try another favorite: soba miso yaki!

Buckwheat seeds grilled with miso paste!

The last details are so important!
Wine-stewed figs and ice-cream!

More coming soon!

TEUCHI SOBA TAGARA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 2-6-7
Tel.: 054-250-8555
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Mondays and Thursday lunch
Parties welcome
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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

Agriculture レシピ Buckwheat 美食 Food Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Gastronomy Recipes Restaurants Shizuoka Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka Soba Restaurants Soba Soba Restaurants

静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 4

November 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fire Department water hydrant manhole cover in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

I already know of many blogging friends in Japan taking pictures of manhole covers all over this country.
The reason is simple enough: as there is little chance of them being stolen (I can’t say the same thing back in our countries!) the local/municipal government often use them as touristic advertisements !

I keep on looking for them during my many travels through the Prefecture.
I must admit this time I have become a bit “technical” but I supposed it is needed!

Another municipal (probably electricity) manhole cover blended wit its pavement surroundings!

i discovered this slightly surprising one in Kikugawa City belonging to the big private National Electric Company!
It states that it can bear up to 250 kg from human pedestrians!
I’ll have to call a sumo wrestler to check that!

I found this one bearing another foundry name inside Kikugawa JR Station!

Kojima Seisakusho Co!

A new pattern found in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

An old surviving pattern and shape used when Shimizu Ku was still Shimizu City!

Another foundry Company found in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Kaneso Company!

A different and ancient pattern I discovered near my home in Aoi ku, Shiuoka City!

I also found this one near my g\home with still another company name!
It seems there is a lot of competition for making them!

Osaka Drainage Industries Co. Ltd!
Now that comes from far away!

Interesting seal!

These day new manhole covers tend to become more inconspicuous as the city have them blended into the pavements patterns such as this one above and the three following I found lining up along renovated Komagata Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

“Double-door” manhole cover from Chubu Electrics Company!

NTT/National Telephone & Telegraph cables!

Another one from Chubu Electrics Company!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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

Art Japan Manhole covers Photography Shimizu Ku Shizuoka City Shizuoka Shizuoka City Shizuoka Tourism Tourism

静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Wall Painting

Wall Paintings in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

November 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

I was walking back from Seikenji Temple (report coming!) to Okitsu JR Station when I felt the pangs of hunger.
As most restaurants were closed for lunch on that day in this neighborhood I decide to see what a local supermarket had to offer when I espied a wall painting in the distance!
I couldn’t investigate it as I don’t know when I will be able to come back to Okitsu!

It had been painted quite a while ago but I suspect that the government is Shimizu Ku is behind it and probably had it done before they were merged into Shizuoka City!

Just before the “Map” Mount Fuji and various fish had been painted.
I’ll show you later why Mount Fuji was so prominent!
As for the fish Shimizu is a major fishing harbor (it also has a major industrial harbor!)!

I carefully checked and the fish represented there are really fish caught offshore!

Right half of the picture:
Interestingly enough most of the fish are solitary!
Can you recognize them: True Seabream, File Fish, Puff Fish/Globe Fish, Scabbard Fish, Grouper, etc.

Left half of the picture:
Here the fish are mostly in pairs!
Can you recognize them: Grey Seabream, True Seabream, Horse mackerel, etc.

Crabs!
We do have quite a few in the Suruga Bay, and some very rare!

The Map!

The right half also featuring local products, such as citruses and tea!

The Okitsu River is famous for its wild Ayu trouts!

The right half with plenty of oranges!

Can you see it?

Mount Fuji beyond the supermarket!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pierre.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

Art Japan Paintings Photography Shimizu Ku Shizuoka Shizuoka City Shizuoka Tourism Tourism Wall paintings wall Paitings

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