Category Archives: Gotemba City

Gotemba City, Japan, Japan Tourism, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Niihashi Sengen Shrine (新橋神社) in Gotemba City!

April 7, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

The other day I had the occasion to spend a day in Gotemba City and took the opportunity to visit its main Shinto Shrine, namely Niihashi Sengen Shrine/新橋浅間神社!

It is a big shrine indeed with the full regalia, including these ancient stone lanterns at the very entrance marked by the first torii gate!

A long (by Shizuoka standards) stone-paved lane leads to the shrine!

The second toriii gate!

The first pair of komainu/lion guards is pretty ancient!

It has its forepaw settled atop a young lion, a bit unusual although I have found a few such in Shizuoka Prefecture!

What is unusual is that his companion also has a paw rested atop a younger lion guard!

I wonder why someone has put a shell on both pedestals?

The place even has a small pond with sacred carps!

The roofed hand washing stone basin!

Complete with a dragon water spout!

Another small shrine behind the stone basin!

Quite a few cherry trees were stating blooming inside the shrine grounds!

The haiden/shrine for the worshipers!

Usually this type of building is used either as a stage for the shrine festival or as a storeroom for portable shrines!

The closed-mouth lion guard!

With its forepaw atop a young lion guard!

Its open-mouthed companion!

But with its paw resting upon a sphere!
I’ve already noticed that same lion guards combination at an old shrine in Shizuoka City, but it a bit unusual!

Another view!

I actually found these two lions are very new!
The design of their tails is certainly modern!

More cherry blossoms!

The water from this sacred source comes directly from nearby Mount Fuji!

The honden/worshipers’ hall!

With its shimenawa/rice straw garland!

The pinion!

The money-offerings box!

Moving to the haiden/deity abode behind the honden!

The haiden with its roofed corridor!

Regularly repainted!

Overlooked by ancient cedar trees!

Made a point to taste the water f the sacred source before leaving! Beautiful water, actually! No wonder people gather to collect a lot of it!

Good-bye Niihashi sengen Shrine!

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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,

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-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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Eels, Eels Restaurant, Gotemba City, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka Prefecture

Japanese Gastronomy: Eel Lunch at Unagi No Hirota in Gotemba City!

April 4, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but friendly and attentive
Equipment & facilities: Old-fashioned but very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: slightly expensive (Japanese eels are not cheap in Japan!)
Strong points: Eels! Seafood and yakitori. All local! Good sake and shochu list.

Unagi no Hirota Restaurant is located within walking distance of the north exit of Gotemba JR Station on the second floor of a somewhat derelict building dating back to the bubble era.
Most of the shops in the building are closed but Unagi no Hirota has survived, a good indication of its quality!

The place is busy even on week days, half with tourists, half with locals, who choose a seat at the counter, around the square central table or on the tatami floor.

I would recommend lunch in particular when the prices are more reasonable as eels are increasingly becoming expensive at restaurants serving Japanese eels, not the cheap imported Chinese variety!

All the eels have been raised in Yoshida Cho, by the Suruga Bay in Central Shizuoka Prefecture for the last 40 years and are prepared form live fish on site, ensuring a safe traceability!

Dragon with a smaller appetite had ordered a “Ieyasu” set lunch!

For a closer view of the main dish!

As for me I ordered the “Nobunaga” lunch set which included an extra length of eel!

My eels!

Side vegetable dish for good balance!

I particularly appreciated the fact that the skin (underneath) was more grilled than greasy as in other establishments, making it not only to easier to eat but also far more tasty!
Moreover the eel was basted with the right amount of sauce, not hiding the taste of the eel but actually accentuating it!

Definitely above average. No wonder it had been recommended to us by the locals!

Unagi No Hirota/鰻のひろ田

〒412-0026　Shizuoka Prefecture, Gotemba City, Higashi tanaka, 870-1, Fashion Plaza, 2F
静岡県御殿場市東田中８７０−１ファッションプラザ 2F
Tel.: 0550-83-3114
Opening hours: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards: OK above 5,000 yen
Check their FACEBOOK SITE for more pictures and information!

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Gotemba City, Japan, Japan Tourism, Manhole covers, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 39): Gotemba City!

April 3, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

A fire hydrant manhole cover type found in the whole prefecture but with the emblem of Gotemba City!

The other day I had the occasion to visit again again Gotemba City in the Eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture for the first time in many years and could at last manage to check all the manhole covers in town.
They are quite easy to discover as they all within walking distance for the station north exit!

This the main manhole cover symbolizing Gotemba City and remiding visitors that once a D 52-type steam locomotive used to stop there!

The same manhole cover in color (only a few of them!) with Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms!

This smaller valve cover is fairly new and comes into two different types!

The second type!
I wonder what the birds are?

Small white covers with the original design can be found in many places!
Otherwise many other types, both neutral and colored common to the whole Prefecture can be found along your steps!
Good hunting!

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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

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

January 1, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is another long-selling brew by Negami Brewery in Gotemba city on the slopes of Mount Fuji!

it is brewed to coincide with the winter/ end of the year/New Year holidays with the same label every year bearing the lucky turtle and crane!

Note again this is shiboritate (just pressed) junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) genshu (no pure water blended in) nama (unpasteurized). The “real” product!

Rice milled down to 50~60 %
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in December 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: very dry and fruity. melon, pears
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: pears, melon, oranges.
Lingers on palate for a short while before departing on an even drier note with more oranges.
Takes on an even drier note with food with more oranges.

Overall: Very dry, fruity and elegant sake in spite of its high alcohol contents and “nama” nature.
The kind of sake to bring as a present as not only enjoyable on its own but the beautiful label.
Guaranteed value!

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Yonekyu-Biru no Mori Brewery (Gotenba Koogen Beer): Fuji Sansan!

August 10, 2014 dragonlife 1 Comment

Gotenba Koogen Brewery in Gotenba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, does bear a misleading name because Yonekyu Co,the owner of Mori no Biru (Forest Beer) Brewery, is also the owner of the Gotenba Koogen Resort beer Hall & Restaurant!

Since the brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji, no wonder they call it “Fuji Sansan/富士燦燦/Mount Fuji Brilliance”! There is a kind of pun involved as in Japanese you can Mount Fuji, “Fuji San”!

Most beer produced at the brewery is commercial beer for its resort, but this particular one is one of their few craft beers!

Product name: Fuji Sansan
Unpasteurized (生/nama)
Ingredients: Grain malt, Grain, Hop
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5 %
Contents: 330 ml

Short head
Bubbles: fine, white
Color: golden
Aroma: assertive. Bread, hints of oranges
Dry attack, refreshing pilsner type.
Bread, hops, hints of roasted oats.
Lingers for a while with a late appearance of oranges.
Gets noticeably drier with food.

Overall: A good quality thirst quencher best suited for a hot summer afternoon or evening.

Yonekyu-Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mori No Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)-Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mori No Biru which iathe brewery of Gotemba Koogen Beer Company owned by the Yonekyu Company in Gotemba City does produce some seasonal brews in the craftbeer fashion!

The company for all its big size is still new as it was founded in 19797!

The regular beers are not craftbeers but this one is!

Product name: Winter Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji
Unfiltered
Ingredients: barley malt, hops, yeast, water from a well dug 50 meteres deep into Mount Fuji!
Volume: 400 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clean and slightly smoky
Color: Light yellow orange
Aroma: Bread, oranges
Bubbles: Fine and light bubble
Longish head
Taste: Dry attack.
Deep and somewhat complex.
Bread with hints of citruses.
Refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall: Thirst-quenching but better than average such beers.
Satisfying. To be enjoyed with snacks!

Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage

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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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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery: Kinmei Yamahai Tokubetsu Junmai Hiyaoroshi Genshu

November 17, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Now is the season for “Hiyaoroshi” that is the outpu of sake that have been pasteurized only once.
They could be considered as halfway between nama/unpasteurized and normally twice-pasteurized sake.

Due to its location at more than 500 metres on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Gotemba City Negami Brewery brews practically all year round, and this Yamahai was conceived during the summer partly with rice from Hiroshima and mainly from Shizuoka Prefectures!

The fact that it is a genshu/no water added and a junmai:no alcohol blended in means that this particular brew is the genuine product!

Rice:
Koji rice: Hatan Nishiki (Hiroshima Prefecture) milled down to 50%
Kake rice: Iwamizu (Shizuoka Prefecture) Milled down to 55%
Yeast: k901
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 2
Alcohol: 18~19 %
Bottled in November 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden
Aroma: Assertive, dry and fruity. Almonds, persimmons, chestnuts
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed by pleasant alcohol and puissant junami petillant. Welcome acidity.
Complex. Oranges, persimmons,
Lingers for a while late hints of pears and coffee beans.
Varies little with food but for getting drier with more persimmons. Dark chocolate and milk coffee appear with later sips.
Marries well with food, especially heavy izakaya fare.

Overall: A very solid sake unusual by Shizuoka standards.
Obviously designed to accompany food, especially izakaya fare.
Although only a + 2 dryness is stated, it does feel far drier probably due to the comparatively high acidity.
A “macho” sake by Shizuoka standards to be enjoyed with oden for example!

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Gotemba Koogen Brewery-Tamori Cup Beer

August 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Tamori Cup Beer” is a limited/private label to commemorate a famous Yacht Race called Tamori (famous Japanese Comediann/TV MC) Cup by Gotenba Kogen Beer Co Ltd. (actually the brewery itself owned by Yonekyu Company is located in another location in Gotenba City).

Gotemba Koogen Brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Product name: Tamori Cup Beer
Unfiltered, unpasteurized.
Ingredients: barley and wheat malt, hops, yeast
Volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Deep apricot orange
Foam: Thin longish head. Fine bubbles
Aroma: Dry and fruity, assertive, sharpish. Bread, oranges.
Taste: Deep ale-like attack. Refreshing.
Bread, oranges.
Lingers for a while before disappearing on a slightly nutty dry note.

Overall: Very refreshing but deeper than a thirst-quenching low alcohol beer.
Its ale-like approach makes it both fit to drink on its own or with food any time of the year.
Although quite japanese in approach, should please European tasting buds

Gotenba Kogen Beer Co., Ltd.
719, Koyama, Gotemba-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 412-0033
Tel 0550-87-5500
Homepage (English/also exists in Japanese)

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kanou Kinmei Junmai Ginjo

January 31, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

You do have to be on the lookout for limited brews with Negami Brewery in Gotemba City as they tend come and go very quickly, and unless you have the chance to know the brewer personally like my my lucky self, they will pass by you without notice!

This brew is particularly interesting as it experiments with Omachi rice from Okayama prefecture and Hattan 55 Rice from Hiroshima Prefecture, and this with the water and yeast of Shizuoka prefecture!

Rice: Omachi & Hattan 55
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.4
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in October 2012

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Dry and fruity. Melon, banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong and fruity attack with lovely dry junmai petillant warming u back of the palate.
Complex and elegant.
Lingers on only for a little while.
Melon, oranges, with notes of sweet lemon.
Begins on a sweetish note to quickly revert onto very fruity dryness.
Changes little with food although takes on an even drier turn.
Eminently enjoyable away from food as well as any time during a repast.

Overall: An elegant and rare sake typical of Negami Brewery.
A sake that elegantly invites you for more intriguing exploration.
Would please ladies and gentlemen alike.
I would definitely it for a special private tete a tete!

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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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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Junmai Ginjo-Sunshu Gotemba-Fujisanroku No Jizake

November 9, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

What I particularly like about Negami Brewery in Gotemba City is that they try hard promoting localculture and economy!

And their labels are both cute retro and artistically modern!
This time it is definitely retro with a beautiful Mount Fuji indicated under the name “Fuji Sankoku no Jizake/富士山麓の地酒, that is a sake made on Mount Fuji and the nearby mountains!

A beautiful Japanese crane for luck!
They also mention the region name, Sunsyu Gotemba/駿州御殿場!

They also take the pain to announce its junmai ginjo on top of the bottle!

Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Fruity. Pears, banana, green apples.
Body: Fluid. A little sirupy
Taste: Well-rounded attack backed with strong junmai petillant.
Complex and fruity: starts with pears and banana to finish with strong green apples. Faint coffee beans and dark chocolate peeking out on further sips.
Takes a flight on a very dry note.
Marries well with food. Varies little but gets even drier with an appearance from macadamia nuts and almonds.

Overall: In spite of its elevated status, this is a sake that can be enjoyed equally on its own or with food, although it will gets markedly drier with the latter.
I drank it both slightly chilled and at room temperature.
Chilled, it would make for a beautiful fruity aperitif, especially if combined with with light taste appetizers such as asparagus.
Complex facets would surge out more easily at room temperature, though!
Another sake so worthy of discovery!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Junmai Genshu Shiboritate

October 24, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Negami Brewery is one of only 13 breweries that exclusively produce junmai sake in Japan, meaning they never mix it/blend it with pure rice alcohol.
It has acquired a lot of recognition in Shizuoka and else recently although the brewery rarely participates to competitions due to its unusually long brewing season.

Every year they produce their first sake as early as October, as indicated by this “Shiboritate/Just pressed” when other breweries start their “shikomi/rice import” only by the end of the same month!

Rice:
Shubo kome/Yeast starter: Yamada Nishiki milled down to 50%
Koji Kome/Koji mold rice: Yamada Nishiki milled down to 50%
Kake kome/Rice added to form the moromi/mash: Omachi milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 18% (genshu)
Acidity: 2.1
Bottled in October 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Puissant attack backed by pleasant alcohol.
Fruity: pears. Faint custard.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack backed by very puissant alcohol first hand in hand with junmai petillant.
Fruity and complex: Pears shoulder their way forward quickly followed by custard and macadamia nuts.
Lingers away for a while waving good-bye on a drier note with raw almonds perking out.
Alcohol tends to nicely fade away leaving the way open to fruity facets.
The delicious dryness is enhanced by a higher acidity than generally met in sake created in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Fruits explode back inside the palate with every new sip.
Marries very well with any food, especially izakaya gastronomy.
Although heady and almost untamed this sake is pleasant to the point of elegance in spite of its high alcohol content.

Overall: A deliciously surprising sake full of wild strength.
My lady friends loved it because of its very dry acidity.
Drinks like a very dry sherry wine!
Although it marries beautifully with any food, it is definitely best appreciated on its own at any temperature.
The prefect last cup for the road or catnap!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kaido Maru Daigin Junmai Yamahai

August 3, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Negami Brewery in Gotemba City lies in a privileged location at an altitude of 550 metres on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Gotemba City.
This allows them to brew nectars during an unusual large portion of the year.

This enables them to concoct limited brews far into the year for the greatest pleasure of sake lovers and colectors.
This Yamahai Daigin Junmai is very limited indeed: 300 bottles (720 ml) only!
And the label is a real beauty reminiscing about a famous Japanese lore character!
Anf the label has been intelligently wrapped around the bottle instead of being glued! Needless to say that I carefully unwrapped it for safekeeping!

Negami Brewery-Kaido Maru Daigin Junmai Yamahai

Rice: Yamada Nishiki and Yahan Nishiki
Rice both milled down to: 55%
Yeast: Shizuoka N-2 + brewery’s own yeast
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees (genshu)
Dryness: 0
lImited to 300 bottles
Bottled in June 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Fruity backed by strong alcohol. Almonds, apricots.
Body: fluid and sirupy
Taste: Strong fruity attack alternating from dry to sweet and vice versa before verging on the dry with a puissant alcohol and assertive junmai petillant.
Complex. Vanilla, cofee beans, cherries, almonds, apricots.
Takes on an even drier turn with food although spicy food will bring out a sweet reaction.
Very pleasant to drink.
Disappears quickly along with stronger dry almonds and coffee beans.
Cherries making a comeback away from food.
Dark chocolate taking a late ride accompanied by a fine and deep sweetness.

Overall: A beauty definitely difficult to judge objectively. The fact it is a yamahai makes for even more indecisiveness. Very much a “mistery sake”. Would make blind tasters pull at their hair!
In any case, a rare discovery! Pity I didn’t buy another bottle which I could have hidden in the refrigerator for a special occasion!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism, 御殿場市

Sushi Restaurant: Myouken in Gotemba City!

June 1, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Oshizushi, local sake, traditional Japanese gastronomy.

The other day when I went to interview a local soy sauce maker in Gotemba City (article coming soon) I found myself with plenty of time at noon and decided to explore the vicinity of the Gotemba JR Station!

A few minutes walk away from the station I found this sign announcing Myouken/妙見, a local sushi restaurant…

Gotemba City at the foot of Mount Fuji is quite far from the sea, but you never know, so let’s have better look…

Founded in 1935! Now, that sounds as a venerable establishment but it had obviously been recently redecorated…

I had noticed one very important detail which encouraged me to enter the restaurant… but let’s take a picture first!

Remarkable decoration of the “lobby” created with real local rice stalks!

Now, these are delicious-looking take-aways!
Remember that Gotemba City is famous for its outlets with a lot of visitors from Tokyo!

Modern seating at the wide counter!

Beautiful Japanese tatami mat room!
Actually, there are more private rooms, some of which can be made non-smoking!

The lobby decoration has the added advantage to offer some privacy even at the central table I had chosen!

The all-important detail which encouraged me to discover the restaurant: Myoken has its own sake brewed by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Now, apart of the delicious sake, what did I have for my first visit?
An enormous Hamaguri/蛤/Clam soup!

I opted for the sushi lunch set and one more local specialty!

The local specialty, a must: Fujinomiya no Benimasu Bougata Oshi Sushi/富士宮市産の紅鱒棒形押し寿司!
Rainbow Trout from Fujinomiya City served as pressed sushi, whole!
The founder of Myouken had come all the way from Nara City in 1935, a city famous for its pressed sushi!

For a better look!
I ate the lot, head included (I was complimented for that last detail!)!

The sushi lunch set!

From left to right: Chutoro Maguro/Tuna Chutoro, Tennen Hirame/Wild Sole-Flounder, Maguro Akami/Tuna lean Part and Aji/Horse Mackerel!

From left to right: Uni Gunkan/Sea Urchin as gunkan/mothership sushi, Ikura Gunkan/Salmon’s Roe Gunkan, Akagai Nigiri/Blood Clam Nigiri and Ebi Nigiri/Slightly seared Prawn Nigiri!

And for dessert: Local Japanese-style Yuzu/Lime Jelly!

Simple but perfect dessert!

As I have to visit Gotemba City regularly, expect another visit!

MYOUKEN
412-0043 Gotemba City, Shinbashi, 1983 (2 minutes walk from Gotemba Station Mount Fuji facing exit)
Tel. & fax: 0550-82-0142
Opening hours: 09:00~14:00, 15:30~20:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Credit Cards OK
Car park available

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,