Category Archives: Hamamatsu City

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-HELLES

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: HELLES
Alcohol: 5.5%
Color: Golden, very clean and clear
Shortish head
Very fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Bread.

Tasting: Bayern-style.
Very dry attack. Nuttty
Refreshing.
Turns slightly milder with food.
Very easy to drink in spite of its marked dryness

Overall: Refreshing. Thirst-quenching.
Very similar to big Japanese brewers’ thirst-quenching beers

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

430-8691 Hamamatsu City, Naka ku, Chuo, 3-8-1
Tel.: 053-452-1146
Opening hours: Tuesdays~Fridays, 11:00~14:30, 17:00~23:00
Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, 11:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
Car park available
Entirely non-smoking!

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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

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-MUNCHNER

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: WUNCHNER
Alcohol: 5.5%
Color: Dark brown, very clean
Longish head
Very fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Bread, hints of caramel

Tasting: Dunkel (Schwarz) type. Bayern-Style.
Deep, drier than announced. Caramel.
Takes on an even drier turn with food.
Very easy to drink.

Overall: For all its dark style is very easy to drink.
Can be enjoyed as a thirst-quenching beer with more character than usual.

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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Design, 静岡県, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Signs, Tourism

Pavement Tourism Signs in Shizuoka Prefecture 2

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful design found outside Hamamatsu City JR Station North exist welcoming tourists and commuters to the City!

Cities in Shizuoka, and I’m sure in many cities in Japan have an interesting, artful and subtle way to advertise their tourism as well as to introduce their many symbols: pavement signs!
I can guarantee you it could develop into another urban art photography album!

Hamamatsu City has recently applied some sturdy “stickers” on the pavement in front of the North Exits of their JR Station and around Act City Building Complex not only to welcome all visitors, but also to advertise they are in fact the music capital of Japan thanks to the big music instruments makers such as Kawai and Yamaha!

If you look carefully at them you also understand that Hamamatsu City is the home of great flower and garden parks!

And last but not least Hamamatsu City gastronomy is famous for its eels!

Other cities and prefectures should take heed to promote their tourism!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-WEIZEN

January 26, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: WEIZEN
Alcohol: 5.5%
Live yeast
Color: whitish golden, smoky
Longish head
Fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Citruses

Tasting: Refreshing. Dry fruity attack. Lemon, citruses
Bayern-style beer.
Varies little with food but for a drier turn.
Very easy to drink.

Overall: Another thirst-quenching beer with more character than usual.

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Urban Art: Zodiac Pavement Tiles in Hamamatsu City!

January 26, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

The Crab/Cancer/♋!

If you go out of Hamamatsu JR Station and through the North Exit and then walk between the railway line and the ACT CITY Buildings you will discover tiles on the pavement describing the 12 symbols of the Zodiac!
They are not following the order of the modern Zodiac as far as I could determine but I will introduce them below in the walking order!
For a bit of interesting study I included Zodiac order, symbol, the ecliptic longitudes, with their Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and Babylonian names (but note that the Sanskrit and the Babylonian name equivalents denote the constellations only, not the tropical zodiac signs). Also, the “English translation” is not usually used by English speakers. The Latin names are standard English usage.
Source: Wikipedia

4 ♋ 90° Cancer The Crab Καρκῖνος (Karkinos) Karkata (कर्कट) AL.LUL “The Crayfish”

5 ♌ 120° Leo The Lion Λέων (Leōn) Simha (सिंह) UR.GU.LA “The Lion”

6 ♍ 150° Virgo The Maiden Παρθένος (Parthenos) Kanyā (कन्या) AB.SIN “The Furrow”; “The Furrow, the goddess Shala’s ear of corn”

7 ♎ 180° Libra The Scales Ζυγός (Zygos) Tulā (तुला) ZIB.BA.AN.NA “The Scales”

8 ♏ 210° Scorpio The Scorpion Σκoρπιός (Skorpios) Vrśhchika (वृश्चिक) GIR.TAB “The Scorpion”

9 ♐ 240° Sagittarius The (Centaur) Archer Τοξότης (Toxotēs) Dhanusha (धनुष) PA.BIL.SAG, Nedu “soldier”

10 ♑ 270° Capricorn “Goat-horned” (The Sea-Goat) Αiγόκερως (Aigokerōs) Makara (मकर) SUHUR.MAŠ “The Goat-Fish” of Enki

11 ♒ 300° Aquarius The Water-Bearer Yδροχόος (Hydrokhoos) Kumbha (कुम्भ) GU.LA “The Great One”, later qâ “pitcher”

12 ♓ 330° Pisces The Fishes Iχθύες (Ikhthyes) Mīna (मीन) SIM.MAḪ “The Tail of the Swallow”, later DU.NU.NU “fish-cord”

1 ♈ 0° Aries The Ram Κριός (Krios) Meṣha (मेष) LU.HUŊ.GA “The Agrarian Worker”, Dumuzi

3 ♊ 60° Gemini The Twins Δίδυμοι (Didymoi) Mithuna (मिथुन) MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL “The Great Twins” (Castor and Pollux)

2 ♉ 30° Taurus The Bull Ταuρος (Tavros) Vrishabha (वृषभ) GU4.AN.NA “The Steer of Heaven”

Great fun, ain’t it?

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-ALT

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: ALT
Alcohol: 5.5%
Live yeast
Color: Dark orange
Shortish head
Fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Bread

Tasting: Refreshing. Deepish. Bread, dry citruses. Welcome acidity.
Dusseldorf-style beer.
Varies little with food.
Very easy to drink.

Overall: A thirst-quenching beer with more character than usual.

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

On the Shizuoka Prefecture Beer Trail 1: Mein Schloss Brewery & Restaurant in Hamamatsu City!

January 25, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Alt Beer at Mein Schloss!

Service: Friendly, smiling and and willing to please
Equipment and Facilities: Very clean overall. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Home-brewed beer, great variety in pub grub. Convivial

the sign just outside Hamamatsu JR Station!

Yesterday due to a sudden change of venue I found myself having lunch (and drinks!) at Mein Schloss Brewery and Restaurant at Mein Schloss in Hamamatsu City!

Mein Schloss means “My Castle”!

Very skitch, but oh well!

At least the opening hours are plain and easy to understand!

Two month schedules and menu easy to check outside!

Grand portal!

Beer garden on use during the week ends!

Entirely non-smoking!
Now, this is a big plus!

Have a good look at all the displays inside!

One can check their menu without entering!

The beer brewed on site!
Incidentally they do not sell bottles!
Everything has to be drunk inside!

The staff are ever so smiling and helpful!

A different kind of welcoming staff! LOL

Everything is brewed on site!

More displays!

Beware the guards!

Large space overhead and more displays!

Pizza oven!

Plenty of food on the menu for any taste!

Great collection of beer jugs along the walls!

Worth a second good look!

The hall can hold no less than 850 guests!
Even so, they are completely booked from time to time!

Useful beer card!
The establishment has been producing 4 regular beers and seasonal ones since their foundation in March 1997.
They also serve schnapps, cocktails, Japanese sake, shochu, spirits, wine ans soft drinks lunch and dinner!

For the collectors!

Alt Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

They have some good and reasonable lunch sets!

Deep-fried oysters with plenty of salad! A specialty more Japanese than German! LOL

I found these oysters and tartar sauce very tasty and great with the beer!

Good value!

Weizen Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

Munchner Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

Nice cheese plate to help with the fourth beer!

Helles Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

Before you leave have a good look at the ingredients that go into the making of your beers!

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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静岡美食, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Manholes, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism, 浜松市

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 12: Hamamatsu City

December 13, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

The mint of an old sewer manhole cover!

Hamamatsu City is the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture both in area (Number 1 in Japan, too) and population in Shizuoka Prefecture and counts a lot of varieties in manhole covers, not accounting for towns and cities recently merged in which will be for the next posting!

A mint for sewer manhole cover with a kite to advertise the Hamamatsu Kites Festival held every year during the first week of May!

The same without the colors!

An unusual sewer manhole cover with the drawing of a “kappa”!

Soles/groupers!

A rectangular manhole cover also with a sole!

Now, what could be that fish?

A very old one representing bamboo tree decorated with “Tanabata” Festival motive messages!

Swallows!

Rain water manhole cover!

The one above and the two below have already been introduced in another article but I added them to complete the Hmamatsu City report!

Seen in Hamamatsu City.

Seen in Hamamatsu City!

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静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Iwata City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 9: Western Shizuoka Prefecture

December 6, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Fire hydrant in Iwata City!
Iwata City is the home of the Iwata Jubilo Soccer Club whose symbol is the “Sankouchou/Paradise Fly Catcher”, which is also the bird of Shizuoka Prefecture

For this posting I decided a move to the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture with pictures I have again found on Japanese blogs until I can investigate further on my own!
The above manhole cover is over a water access.
Obviously a commemorative one, it extols the virtues of Ryuuyoo Town inside Iwata City: A Town of Water, sunshine and Greenery!

The same as above but with a landscape of shore, marine pine tree and lighthouse!

A sewer manhole cover in Iwata, Ryuuyoou Town!

An already old fire hydrant manhole cover installed in Ryuuyoo Town, Iwata City in 1985!

A manhole cover in Hamamatsu City representing Sakekawa River in Hamamatsu City!

Another splendid manhole cover in Hamamatsu City in Gouryuu Distroct!

Another simpler manhole cover in Hamamatsu city but note the motif at the center!

Tenryuu in Hamamatsu City! Water access manhole cover with a beautiful bird design!

A splendid flowery manhole cover in Toyoka Mura in Hamamatsu City!

A water access manhole cover in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, introducing the joys of sailing!

A colorful fire hydrant manhole cover again in Mikkabi!

An old manhole cover in Mikkabi over the access to a fire department water tank!

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Tokubetsu Junmai Cenova 2nd Anniversary

October 13, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

hanan No Mai, located in Hamamatsu City, is the largest sake brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture and makes a good use of all events in our Prefecture to well their products.

Cenova Department store in Shizuoka City just celebrated its 2nd Anniversary and like for the opening and 1st Anniversary hana no Mai produced a tokubetsu Junami limited to 100 numbered bottles. I got No 11!

“Local Souvenir”!

Hana No Mai Brewery has a habit of printing the exact bottling date on their labels!

Rice locally grown
rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on September 30th 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Custard
Body: Fluid, lightly sirupy
Taste: Soft attack at first, immediately followed by puissant junmai petillant warming up back of the palate.
Fruity and dryish. Custard, macadamia nuts, almonds, oranges.
Lingers for a while before softly disappearing with more macadamia nuts and ornages.
Takes a small back step with food on a slightly drier note with more dry oranges.
Away again from food sees a solid appearance by chestnuts.

Overall: A typical sake from Hana No Mai Brewery with a comparatively soft approach.
A sake probably best enjoyed before food.
Should please younger people and ladies alike.
A sake fit for beginners, too.
Would make for a beautiful sweet aperitif when chilled!

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-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-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

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Homare Fuji Junmai Sekai Isan

September 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Although Mount Fuji is far from Hamamatsu City, as Hamamatsu City is inside Shizuoka Prefecture they also felt compelled to mark the event, Sekai Isan/World Heritage!

This sake is 100% Shizuoka-made with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji rice, local water and Shizuoka yeast!

The brewery advertised this particular brew as slighly dry and light in approach!

Rice: Homare Fuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice millled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on August 1st, 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very light golden hue
Aroma: Discreet, hard to catch. Fruity. Rice
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry fruity well-rounded attack.
Complex.
Almonds, coffee beans, vanilla, apricots.
Very light in approach, almost feminine.
Disappears quickly.
Tends to take a step back with food with a drier character.

Overall: A typical Hana No Mai Brewery sake who tends to produce sake to attract a younger or feminine clientele.
As they do export a lot to the States and Canada in Particular, their sake, including this one, are conceived for a wide-ranging market.
very pleasant and easy to drink at all seasons, preferably slighly chilled.

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery-Shusseijyo Homare Fuji Muroka Nama Genshu

August 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

August usually sees some extraordinary limited brews taken out some secret nook of breweries for the utter pleasure of sake lovers in pursuit of unusual nectars.
Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery in Hamamatsu has just put one out with another long name!

incidentally “nakakumi/中汲み” means that only the middle part of the pressed sake was considered whereas 24BY means Year 2013.
This a very local sake as the rice is Homare Fuji, a shizuoka-grown variety and the yeast also a Shizuoka-developed yeast.

Muroka means it was unfiltered, Nama that is was unpasteurized and Genshu that no pure water was added to lower the alcohol contents.

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka Yeast
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Silvery golden
Aroma: Deep and fruity. Pears, apples, pineapple
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very rich and fruity attack with puissant alcohol.
Extraordinarily assertive pears reminding La France variety grown in Japan!
Pears, pineapple, apples, oranges.
Lingers only for a while ending on a rich dry fruity note with the same fruits accompanied by dry almonds.
Complex as it almost wildly starts on a fruity sweetish note to rapidly escape on a very dry deep note revealing more fruits.

Overall: Little need to drink such a sake with food!
Makes for the perfect aperitif and even digestif.
Shows its qualities best when chilled.
Splendidly marries with cheese if you must absolutely enjoy it with food!

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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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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Hamamatsu Tenjingura Brewery-Porter Ieyasu Kun

August 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hamamatsu Tenjingura Brewery have come up with new labels for its 3-beer range!

First of all they have changed the name of the beers to Ieyasu Kun, the new mascotte of Shizuoka Prefecture in remembrance of Tokugawa Ieyasu Shogun who retired to Shizuoka in the first half of the 17th Century!

As shown until next week at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City the label picture Mount Fuji which has just been accepted as the new UNESCO World Cultural Heritage!

Ieyasu Kun!

Product Name: Tenjingura Beer-Porter/Ieyasu Kun
Unfiltered
Ingredients: Grain malt, Hops
Volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 4.5%

Clarity: opaque but very clean
Color: very dark rich dark brown/coffee
Foam: Thin head but keeping longer than expected
Aroma: light. caramel, roasted grains
Taste: Well-rounded rich dry attack:
Complex: roasted grains, whole bread, roasted nuts, hints of macadamia
Pleasantly lingers inside the palate with a fizzy feeling before ending on a drier note.
Thoroughly enjoyable on its own chilled or even at room temperature.
Marries well with heavy food thanks to its dry lighter than usual taste for a porter.

Overall: A highly pleasant craftbeer which will be enjoyed by both gender of any age. Can be used as a thirst quenching porter.
I particularly enjoyed it as an aperitif with a potato and bean salad! Should go well with cold meats, too!
Do not forget to collect the label!

Tenjingura/Hamamatsu Brewery Co. Ltd.
430-463-3851 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Tenjin Machi, 3-57
Tel.: 053-4616145
Fax: 053-463-3851
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Business hours: 10:30~21:00
Closed on Tuesdays

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Japanese Gastronomy: Eels at Chigusa in Hamamatsu City!

August 15, 2013 dragonlife 11 Comments

Service: shy but very friendly
Facilities: traditional but very clean
Prices : reasonable for eels (eels are very expensive in Japan)
Strong points: Eels! Only local fish used! Great view on Hamana Lake

Summer is eel eating time in Japan, especially in Shizuoka renown all over the country for its great eels mainly bred around Hamamatsu City and in Hamana Lake in particular.
So the other day we decided to visit at long last a famous but traditional and very reasonable eel restaurant lost by the Hamana Lake in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, called Chigusa (ちぐさ/千草)!

So instead of boarding a regular train, and taxi or bus we took a local train along the Tenhama Line (Japanese web site), a trip I would advise any true traveler (and photographer) to take to enjoy the sights and discoveries of old Japan!
We got down at an unmanned (yes, they still exist! Talk about Japanese trust!) station in the blazing sun.

The station is called Okuhamanako/Far side of Hamana Lake.
Get down there and try to reach the main road through the countryside as soon as you can (there are many ways!)!

This particular area, Mikkabi in Hamamatsu City, is famous all over Japan for its (still green now) oranges!

Once you reach the main road turn left and walk along for 10 minutes along the Hamana Lake!

You can’t miss it even if you can’t read Japanese as a long black eel is welcoming you from afar!

A picture/snapshot not to miss!

The entrance with unagi/鰻 written on the noren/暖簾, entrance curtain!
Who’s that guy taking a picture? LOL

Past the entrance you will find these long metal tubes wrapped in rice straw ropes.
What are they? Can you guess?

Portable fireworks!
This very rare festival is held beginning of August in Hosoe near Hamana Lake. I couldn’t manage my schedule to report but I’ll do it next year! Promise!

Have a good look at the souvenirs before entering the dining room!

Very traditional Japanese atmosphere inside!

The menu is in Japanese, but the pictures will give a very good indication!
I personally chose the above, the best eel “double-decker” lunch set. Even at 3,200 yen (32 US $) it is very reasonable when you realize that the eel prices have almost doubled in the past 3 years!
And the eels are exclusively locally bred in Hamana Lake!
It is worth the trip, even by car as there is a big car park!

Another important detail: you will have to wait some time before your order arrives. A good sign proving that contrary to the “cheap diners” food is individually prepared for best quality!
The lunch arrives at your table in a bento box shape on a tray.

Take off the lids…. et voila!

A succulent light soup containing eel liver/鰻肝!

Home-made Japanese pickles, o-shinko/オシンコ!

The broiled eel double decker/unagi jyuu/鰻重!

Two layers of eel grilled and broiled to perfection with two layers of freshly (very important!) steamed rice enhanced by the sauce of the eel
Take your time and use chopsticks to make sure you eat slowly and appreciate it to the fullest! This eel in eel country!

This gourd-shaped receptable contains shijimi/七味 mixed spice powder you can sprinkle over the eel for extra zip!

Dragon (my worse half) chose the above which contains a single layer of broiled eel but with finely shredded omelet between the fish and the rice!

Really appetizing, isn’t it?
I forgot: we visited Chigusa on Dragon’s advice! LOL

Do I need to mention I helped Dragon to finish it under the pretense of sharing?

It would certainly be a dilemma if I had to choose only one of those two lunches!
Make sure to come with a special company to taste as much as you can as I daresay that yen for yen this is the best value for eel in the whole Prefecture! (but I’m sure a lot of people will disagree! LOL)

CHIGUSA ちぐさ/千草
Hamamatsu City, kita Ku, Mikkabi Cho, Mikkabi, 1148-10
Tel.: 053-525-0218
Opening hours: 11:00~14:00, 16:00~20:00
Closed on 31st of December and 1st of January only
Reservations strongly recommended
Take-outs OK!
Cards OK
Non-smoking at lunch time
Car park available (30 spaces)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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 kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-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

Bistro, 美食, 観光, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro: Kuroneko Tei in Hamamatsu City!

May 10, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and unpretentious
Equipment & Facilities: Great general cleanliness. Very clean washroom
Prices: Reasonable~appropriate
Strong points: Southern France Cuisine. Wines popping out of nowhere. Great use of local products.

Whereas Shizuoka City is very compact and easy to walk around, Hamamatsu City with a similar population proves to be a veritable expedition when it comes to discover its hidden treasures!
But it is certainly worth exploring!

Over 10 years ago when Akira Fukui/福井章さん (everyone calls him “Fuku Chan”) decided to leave the corporate world and open a bistro he found this place called Kuroneko Tei/くろねこ亭/The Black Cat Restaurant just vacated by its former owner and decided not to change the original name although he cares little for cats!

It was far from easy at the beginning but the black cat brought him good luck in the end!
He refurbished the place little by little, keeping the first floor with a counter seating 7 people free of smoke and creating a private space for partying, eating, smoking, exhibiting local artists and holding mini concerts upstairs!
The establishment being tucked away in narrow side street it has become one of the best known secret places in town!
People are invited to relax and share a word at all times!
The only problem is that the place is dark making photography tough work!

Fuku Chan at work in his tiny kitchen!

The food and wine are definitely French-inspired!

With plenty of solid and reasonable French wines such as this Cote du Rhone/Grenache by Domaine Jean David!

He shows great support to local farmers, fishermen and even artists as a lot of local pottery is used in his restaurant!

Some of the wines lying in wait for you!

Foreigners are welcome (Fuku Chan is a fan of the Yamaha Top Teague Rugby Team!) and forks and knives and chopsticks are available with a nice cat chopsticks rest!

Live sawagani/river crabs!

All kinds of friends seem to bring him local finds!
Yesterday one brought local live sawagani/river crabs!

Italian cuisine is also present with caprese salad!

Local asparaguses sauteed and served with cheese!

Southern French cuisine appears very much with local fish!

Isaki/伊佐木/Chicken Grunt (the fish name!) meuniere!

Fuku Chan had the sawagani drunk live in white wine before deep-frying them as they were!
A true local delicacy!

Even Spanish and Moroccan cuisine find their way in with this tajine paella!

As the menu changes regularly expect new finds and morsels!

To be continued…

KURONEKO TEI
430-0931 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Shinmei Cho, 315-8 (Sakana Machi Street near Shimizu Bank)
Tel: 053-453-9334
Business hours: Lunch, 12:00~16:00 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only). Dinner, 17:00~23:00
Closed on Tuesdays and fourth Monday
First floor entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,