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Events, 静岡県, 観光, 農業, Flowers, Japan, Japanese Culture, Parks, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Hamana Lake Garden Park & Hamamatsu Flower Park Coming Events in Shizuoka Prefecture!

January 25, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Just outside Hamamatsu JR Station North Exit you will find an annoucement board you might do well to consult next time you travel to Hamamatsu City!

Just to put you in the mood, you will discover a tree trimmed into the shape of Ieyasu Kun!

The Hamana Lake Garden Park will hold its special opening from April 5th thru June 15Th!
Check their ENGLISH HOMEPAGE for great information!

The Hamamatsu Flower Park will hold its special opening from march 21st thru June 15Th!
Check this ENGLISH HOMEPAGE for great information!

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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

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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

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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Non-Smoking Japan: No Smoking Pavement Sign in hamamatsu City!

January 24, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I saw some (only a few unfortunately) of these signs south of Hamamatsu City JR Station.

The great thing is taht not only it asks people not smoking while walking along the pavement, but also warns not to throw cigarette butts or empty cans on the pavement!

“For the ske of goo manners in our city” says the line at the bottom.

Still some hope left if cities start a real non smoking streets campaign.

So far in Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka City is the most ahead!

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Takoyaki at Ebisu in Shizuoka City! 静岡市ーたこ焼きー戎!

January 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly. Great explanations
Facilities and Equipment: Very clean if old overall. Washroom in nearby Shizutetsu Store
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Osaka-style takoyaki, senbei takoyaki, ika yaki, yakisoba
Entirely non-smoking inosde!

i my case for takoyaki initiated recently I got some help from Japanese friends.
The next place i was recommended no later than yesterday was Ebisu/戎 (one of the seven Luck Deities in Japan!)!

Now, this particular takoyaki is Osaka-style because the son/chef did learn his trade in that big city!

Smokers are requested to damage themselves outside in the cold!

Now, as the place is really busy at lunch time (and around 17:00 when high school teens flock the place) I had plenty of time to take pictures to supply myself with enough information!

I want this noren/暖簾/entrance curtain!

My first order: takoyaki as they are! One can use sauces et al as he/she wants or have a small bowl of cold/hot dashi stock soup with it!

it was lunch time today and I was hungry, so I asked quite a few things to the surprise of the mother! It is a mother and son’s venture.
The mother is a great smiling lady with an almost maternal attitude towards her customers she repeatedly advise on how to eat her shy son’s preparations!

The small bowl of stock soup!

You drop the takoyaki inside the stock soup, break it with your chopsticks (easy as they are soft) and eat ii by picking the pieces with your chopsticks. When you have finished you drnk the soup and all the tiny pieces you didn’t take out! Delicious until the very end!

Next I ordered another serving seasoned with sauce, chopped scallions and white sauce (mayonnaise)!

For a closer view!

Have a peek under to see how they are presented!

As they are very hot, it is a good idea to break them first….

and have a look inside!

my third order: takosen!

“takosen” is a combination of “tako” for “takoyaki” and “sen” for “senbei/rice cracker”!
The rice cracker is a large and thin but crispy and solid enough shrimp rice cracker which is broken manually to sandwich a couple of takoyaki inside and served inside a hamburger paper bag!

The insides of the rice cracker are coated with no less than three seasonings!

For a closer view!

You may eat the lt as a sandwich/hamburger, but do be careful as it is flaming hot!
I guarantee you I ate it very slowly!

Mark: 91/100

I’m planning to visit the place again with a friend the day after tomorrow as I want to taste their ika yaki/girlled cuttle fish and yakisoba!

EBISU

Shizuaok City, Aoi Ku, Tamachi, 7-1 (go along the Hon Toori Street and turn right onto the karge street going at a slant before the bridge. You will find Ebisu just past Shizutetsu Stire)
Tel.: 054-253-1637
Opening hours: 11:30~20:00 (earlier if sold out!)
Closed on Thursdays
Entirely non-smoking!

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EBISU/戎
shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tamach, 7-1 (along the Hon Toori Street, Turn right into the 45 degrees main street before the bridge, on your left hand side just beyond Shizutetsu Store)
Tel.: 054-253-1637
Opening hours: 11:30~20:00
Closed on Thursdays
Take-out possible
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Hansharo 75 Weissen at AOI BEER STAND in Shziuoka City!

January 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities: Very clean overall. Beautiful washroom inside Den Bulding.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Craft beers only!

Yesterday I noticed a new addition on the craft beer menu served at AOI BEER STANd’s FFACEBOOK!
I immmediately visited the establishment before the brew disappeared from the menu!

The second one on the board: Hansharo Beer (Izu Peninsula), 75 Wissen/反射炉ビール（伊豆）７５ヴァイツェン!
Hansharo Beers are brewed by Kuraya Narusawa Brewery in Izu no Kuni City in Northern Izu Peninsula (see below for details)!
AOI BEER STAND does often serve craft beers from guest breweries in Shizuoka Prefev\cture, therefore check their menu on facebook regularly!

Hansharo 75 Weissen
Kuraya Narusawa Brewery
Alcohol: 5%
Clarity: Comparatively clean
Color: Light orange
Fairly long head
Fine bubbles
Aroma: Assertive, complex. Bread, citruses
Taste: Refreshing dry attack.
Oranges, bread.
Stays deep all the time and lingers long enough in the back of the palate.
Takes a drier turn with the next sip before mellowing again on the palate

Overall: Deep, solid, reliable and refreshing. A lot of chaaracter
Very steady beer!

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

KURAYA-NARUSAWA

Located near Nagaoka Station, Izu no Kuni City, north of Izu Peninsula, it is also famous for looking after an important cultural asset, Hansharo, which has become the name of their 4 regular beers!
Izu no Kuni City, Naka, 272-1
伊豆の国市中272-1
Tel.: 055-949-1208
Opening hours (restaurant and souvenir shop): Monday~Thursday: 11:00~15:00, Friday: 11:00~22:00, Saturday, sunday, National holidays: 10:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

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Takoyaki at Gindaco, Ceneovea Department Store, Shizuoka City!

January 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and smiling
Facilities and equipment: Cenova Department Store facilities. Very clean overall
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Tokyo-style takoyaki

Until a few years ago I wouldn’t have bothered looking for takoyaki in Shizuoka City or Prefecture as we had the best in the whole Tokai area, but following the departure of the owner to another world and squibbles between the inheritors, the building and property ( a lot of money!) were sold and we found ourselves in no man’s land.
But at the same time it offered an opportunity for new owners and chains to open shop.
Therefore, I found myself on the road again to re-discover my favorite Japanese comfort food!

Gindaco銀だこ is a big chain from Tokyo which opened a shop on the third floor of renovated Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

The takoyaki are all the same but with different toppings and you can eat them on site.

I’m not keen on food chain stores, but since a Japanese friend recommended them I had to give it a try!

Being it inside a busy department store two staff are constantly churning out the takoyaki while a third staff takes care of the orders and cashier!

Fast work in a clean environment!

Almost ready!

These takoyaki are definitely Tokyo-style.
You can find Osaka-style takoyaki in town which are quite different, especially in texture!

I ordered the basic kind to discover the real taste. Some people tend to attach more importance to the sauce and toppings, but I don’t!
At 8 pieces for 550 yen, they were reasonable.

For a closer view.
They were seasoned in the basic way with sauce/tare, finely shaved katsuo bushi/dry bonito shavings and finely chopped greens.

The outside is comparatively thin but solid and crisp, making it easy to eat with chopsticks or toothpick.
The piece of octopus is of a good size and crunchy.
The dough inside is soft and contains plenty of ingredients.

Overall: Easy to eat, tasty enough, hot and ready.
Mark: 62/100

Continuing the investigation!

GINDAKO

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-1-1, Cenova Department Store, 3F
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00

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AOI BEER STAND: News of Forthcoming Brewery in Shizuoka City-Aoi Beer Brewery!

January 20, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities: Very clean overall. Beautiful washroom inside Den Bulding.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Craft beers only!

Things are starting to move fast in Shizuoka City with Aoi Beer Brewery planned to start producing craft beer in early summer!

I ordered the Kurofune Porte by Baird Beer in Numazu City!

I paid a visit to Aoi Beer Stand in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, yesterday hoping to meet Naoki mando/萬藤直樹さん to have a chat about the progress of his new venture, namely Aoi Beer Brewery.
Unfortunately he was still away on a research trip but the present staff was more than helpful!

Kurofune Porter
Alcohol: 6%
Long head
Fine bubbles.
Color: dark brown
Very clean

Aroma: Bread, caramel
Taste: Refreshing attack. Deep and dry. Caramel, bread.
Varies little with food but for a sweeter turn

I can’t wait to dink Aoi Beers in such a glass!

Naoki Mando is not only creating history by starting the first craft beer brewery in Shizuoka City and central Shizuoka Prefecture, he is also contributing to the devlopment of the local economy by building his brewery on the very site of Yasumoto sake and soy sauce Shop, which used to produce soy sauce on the same premises for 151 years until 1962 (the shop since had been stocking rice, soy sauce, sake and others in their warehouse).

In Spring 2013, Naoki struck an agreement with its owner, Mr. Masatoshi Yasumoto/安本正俊さん to reform the warehouse, located near Sengen Shrine in Miyazaki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City.
Actually Mr. Yasumoto had thought until then to eventually pull down the whole warehouse and transform it into a car park, but Naoki convinced him that the building was ound enough to be preserved and transformed into a craft beer brewery!
The outside facade will be preserved as such and only the inside will be reformed!
In Naoki’s words:”Beer is best enjoyed in its birthplace and if there is a supplementary story to the brewery and its buildings, so much for the better!”
For the moment Naoki is thinking of producing 6 types of craft beers including Pale Ale, Weissen, one very local with Shizuoka oranges and the like.

There is a new item on the menu these days!

“Very simple takoyaki”!

Simple maybe, but perfect with craft beer!

I had another craft beer before taking my leave:
North Island Brown Ale (Hokkaido)
Kurofune Porter
Alcohol: 5%
Long head
Fine bubbles.
Color: dark orange
Very clean, slightly smoky

Aroma: Oranges
Taste: Deep, refreshing,. Apricots, loquats
Lingers for a while with very dry citruses appearing later

Look forward to the next report!

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

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Japanese Craft Beer Labels: GeGeGe no Kitarō by Kumezakura Brewery in Tottori Prefecture!

January 19, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

I usually do not write about craft beers in other prefectures as I would have to start a new blog!
Actually, if there is a site I could recommend you, do visit Japan Beer Times who not only have a homepage/blog but also publish a bi-lingual magazine!

I was offered this bottle of craft beer by a good friend of mine who is a fan of beer when he come back from a trip to Tottori Prefecture!

GeGeGe no Kitarō (ゲゲゲの鬼太郎?) is a manga series created in 1959 by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. It is best known for its popularization of the folklore creatures known as yōkai, a class of spirit-monster to which all of the main characters belong. It has been adapted for the screen several times, as anime, live action and video games. A new anime series has been made every decade since 1968.

For more information have a look at GeGeGe no Kitarō for the English version!

But for a better view of the characters have a look at the Toei Films Presentation!

The craft beer itself is a stout at 5.5 degrees of alcohol that I will enjoy tonight!

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Shizuoka Sake tasting: Kumpai Brewery-Junmai Nama Genshu Fukuro Tsuri Shibori

January 19, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Kumpai might be the smallest brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture but they certainly produce some supreme nectars!

Incidentally the Ichikawa family produces their own labels!
You can see that 2014 is the Year of the Horse!

The s\name of this sake makes for another long reading:
Junmai: No alcohol added
Nama: unpasteurized
genshu: no water aded
Fukuro Tsuri Shibori: the sake was poured inside cloth sacks hung over a tank to let the sake flow out naturally

Rice: Hyakumangoku
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: 0
Alcohol: 18 degrees
Bottled in Decmeber 2013

Clarity: Very clean and smoky (white lees)
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Dry. Fruity
Hints of French Pernod, thick nashi pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Alcohol softer tan expected.
Strong bubbly feeling.
Soft and complex: liquorice, pears, nashi.
Very easy to drink in spite of its nama and genshu status.
Changes little with food but for a sweeter turn.

Overall: A thoroughly enjoyable limited quantity sake that might be very difficult to obtain (I ordered it directly from the brewery!)!
Chilled, it makes for a superb aperitif.
Could easily replace a liqueur!
Should definitely please ladies in spite of its “rough” status!
If you must eat with it, do try it with blue cheese or chocolate!

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Gastronomic Destinations: Kanazawa City 5: Lunch at Hirai Honten Sushi

January 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Kind and attentive. Easy-going and smiling!
Equipment & Facilities: very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Sushi and tuna. Great lunch sets. Entirely non-smoking!

for our last meal in kanazawa City, we decided to have d\fish again and more precisely sushi!

Hirai Honten is conveniently located on the second floor about the great Ohmicho Market whose fish only has to travel upstairs to be served on your plate!

Visitors who do not like raw fish should be discouraged (overawed? LOL) as they also serve some great cooked seafood sets!

We chose two fairly similar sets!

My donburi set, quite extravagant!
Can you spot the salmon roe with real gold flakes, the sea urchin, the oyster, the conger eel, the yellowtail and crab?

Can you spot the tuna, negitoro and sweet shrimps?

Another view of the crab!

The Dragon’s donburi set!
Can you spot the oyster, negitoro, salmon roe with gold flakes, and cuttle fish?

Can you spot the octopus, salmon, yellow tail and sweet shrimp?

Can you spot the marinated mackerel, tamagoyaki, tuna among the rest?

This was our first visit to Kanazawa City, but expect at least two more!
There were just too many good things for a single trip!

HIRAI HONTEN

920-0905 Kanazawa City, Kami ohmicho, 29 (2nd floor of Ohmicho Market)
Tel./fax: 076-222-5887
“http://www.kaisen-hirai.com/”>HOMEPAGE
Opening hours: 11:00~15:30, 17:00~21:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Entirely non-smoking!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 22

January 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Arai, which has since been merged to Kosai City in Western Shizuoka Prefecture!

I still have quite a few pictures of manhole covers in Shizuoka (out of more than 400!) to show.
I’ll try to introduce them in some kind of related order.
Let me take to the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture today!

The same manhole cover in Arai but without the colors!

A private water access manhole cover in Arai!

A fairly old manhole cover in Kosai City!

A cute water access manhole cover in Mori Machi/Mori Town!

An ancient manhole cover in Hamaoka which has been merged with Omaezaki City since!

A cute manhole cover in Omaezaki marine Park, Hamaoka, Oamaezaki City!

Another water access manhole cover in Hamaoka, Omaezaki City!

Another manhole cover in Hamaoka, Omaezaki City!

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover in Yoshida Cho!

The same without the colors!

An old manhole cover for access to water provided by the Oi River!

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The Ancient Site of A Samurai House (Nomura Family) in Kanazawa City!

January 16, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

On the third day of our stay in Kanazawa City we decided to have a small tour of Naga District, which is famous for its ancient houses and architecture!

These walls actually are featured on every guidebook!
The walls are protected with fresh straw against the snow which will fall soon!

It gives a great insight of the city rich quarters in feudal times with the moats and stone abutments!

Some of the properties are enormous by Japanese standards!

The entrance of “The Ancient Site of A Samurai House (Nomura Family)”/official English name!

The first thing you notice is the large kura/warehouse, a prerequisite in a rich samurai house!

The actual entrance to the residence!

Japanese and English pamphlets are available, and although the translation is amateurish, the explanations are sufficient:

These are the ruins, or more aptly said the remains of a samurai house formerly owned by the Nomura Family.
Lord Meda Toshiie took over the Kanazawa Castle in 1583, and ensured a long and prosperous reign of the Kaga clan which spanned over three centuries thanks to his followers producing 5 million bushels (one million koku) annual rice yield.
At that time , one of his high-ranked followers, Nomura Denbei Nobusada, was granted by Lord Toshiie a fief of one thousand koku which was furthermore promoted to twelve hundred koku.
His descendants also served as senor retainers, each given a 1,000 tsubo (3,305square meter) estate.
The old family estate was retained until the 12th generation by the time of the Meiji Restoration.

Past the the portal and into the real entrance.

However, because of the break-up of the feudal system. many samurai houses were destroyed, some changed into vegetable gardens or others sold out.
Only parts of old gates and walls around these ancient houses are left as they were.
The Nomura Family did not escape the same fate.
The last piece of property was bought in the early Showa period by a local industrialist, Kubo Hikobei, who lived in Hashidate Village in southern Ishikawa Prefecture and traded with people in Hokkaido.
Kubo Hikobei moved the drawing room, part of a beautifully constructed old house from Daishoji town near his native village inside the House.
Today visitors can understand the prosperity of the industrialist in olden times through the gorgeous architecture and at the same time imagine the way of life of ancestors of the city when discovering the beautiful garden attached to the formal samurai house.

in March 2009 the Michelin Green Guide Japon awarded a 2-star ranking to the garden and in 2003 the American Journal of Japanese Gardening ranked the Nomuara House garden as the 3rd best in Japan!

Past the entrance you will discover a genuine samurai full armor in the lobby!

From the side!

The skirt and greaves (hip, thigh and leg armor)!

The Nomura Family mon/crest was a fan!

A magnificent rice cake New Year offering!

The living room with the tokonoma/alcove!

Invaluable ancient wood carvings!

Antique painted partitions!

Buddhist altar!

Intricate wood and paper windows!

Halberd!

There is a whole room designed as a museum!

Old coins!

1 gold ryo old koban coin!

Samurai swords!

Antique hanging scroll!

A lacquer work inkstone box!

Antique Kutani vase!

You have free access to the garden (although you are not allowed to walk inside!)!

The snow protection straw mats were already attached!

For a fuller view!

Beautiful pond!

Another corner of the garden!

You can climb an ancient stone stair leading to the upstairs tea room!

Garden view form the stairs!

The tea room is really tiny!

And the entrance is very low!

One can catch an overview of the graren through a wide bay window!

Great details of the roofs!

The last view before departing….

A SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF NOMURA FAMILY
(one of the Ruins of Samurai House)
Above is the”official” naming!

Kanazawa City, Naga machi, 1 Chome, 3-32
Tel.: 076-221-3553
HOMEPAGE</strong>

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レシピ, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Sashimi Lunch Set at Totoya in Shizuoka City!

January 16, 2014 dragonlife 7 Comments

Service: Friendly and attentive. Easy-going.
Equipment & Facilities: A bit old but overall very clean. Clean washroom
Prices: Reasonable~Slightly expensive
Strong points: Traditional Japanese gastronomy. Great local fish and seafood. Excellent sake and shochu list. French spoken!

I wanted to eat some fresh fish for lunch for once today and I’m lucky to have a very good Japanese restaurant near work that serves excellent Japanese lunch sets for all budgets!
They are famous all over the city for their fish, particularly tuna!

This is the lunch I ordered.
Although it was bigger than most of my neighbors’ lunches it is very reasonable at 20 US $ or 15 Euros!
Now, what did it include?

Steamed rice and plenty of cold simmered hijiki seaweed!

Vegetables and seaweed salad, miso soup and Japanese pickles!

The sashimi plate!

Crab in rice vinegar, akagai/blood shellfish, aji/horse mackerel!

Tuna akami/lean part, seaweed jelly, buri/yellowtail, freshly grated wasabi, seaweed!

Octopus, seared tuna (tail), aori ika/bugfin reef squid, marinated mackerel!

Great value for your money!

TOTOYA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 8-9, Kubota Building
Tel.: 054-274-0077
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00^22:30
Parties welcome
Small private room up to 8 guests, party room for up to 24 guests
Credit cards OK (dinner only but warn them before ordering!)

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, 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

Fish Gastronomes Gastronomic Photography Gastronomy Izakaya Japanese Gastronomy Japanese Restaurants Photography Recommended Lunch Restaurants sashimi seafood Shizuoka City Tourism

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kansawagawa Brewery: Shosetsu Junmai Shiboritate Nama

January 16, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Winter is a great time to taste all those shiboritate/just pressed sake as they will also give you a good idea of what to expect from a brewery every year!

People usualy tend to have difficulties rememembering the difficult name of kansawagawa Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, but their brand name, Shosetsu, is famous all over Japan!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in December 2013

Clarity: very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive, fry and fruity
Taste: Well-rounded attack. Dry and fruity. Complex.
Apples, pears, apricots, macadamia nuts.
Discreet junmai petillant.
Disappears fairly quickly with late hints of macadamia nuts, almonds and oranges. Coffee beans appear later.
Comparatively elegant and easy to drink for a nama/unpasteurized sake.
Takes on a drier turn and more junmai petillant with food.
Elegantly marries with food.
Insistently calls for the next cup!

Overall: A very fine sake, subtler than expected for a nama.
Chilled, makes for a superb aperitif.
Beautifully drinks with any food, although thoroughly enjoyable on its own!
A sure value!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, 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 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Japanese History Sake Breweries Shizuoka City Shizuoka sake Tourism World Cuisines Yui

レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 金沢市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Kanazawa City, Life, Life in Japan, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, sake, Tourism

Gastronomic Destinations: Kanazawa City 4: Miyuki Honten Izakaya!

January 15, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, informative and always ready for a great chat!
Equipment and facilities: Very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Local gastronomy. Oden. Great sake and drinks list. Great use of local products. Long history and faithful local clientele.

Miyuki Honten is a true Kanazawa City izakaya with a small entrance easy to miss!
The reason is simple enough: like many such establishments in this cold part of Japan, it is all in length with a narrow entrance to keep the cold out!

Even at 17:00 it is a busy place and you had better reserve in advance, not like us who were very lucky to find once again the best seats at the counter because we entered very early!

They certainly need a many staff with so much on the menus!
We were told they use 14 part-timers in shifts of threes to be added to the husband, wife and son team (and probably a hidden cook or two!)!

like all good izakayas you will have a good idea of the gastronomy served with all the appetizers lined up in front of the counter!
Mind you you can take a seat at a table or away from the crowd on a tatami!
But again like in any good izakayas conversation with the owners can be so great fun!

have a good look at the exhibited food before delving into the menu!

And you must try the local oden, an unending conversation topic!
The place was opened 46 years ago. The original owner is still alive and at 87 decided to open his own little karaoke bar for his personal fun and leave everything to the very capable second generation!

As for the many sake don’t hesitate to consult the owners or staff if you are tourists like us!

lightly cooked local na no hana/rape flowers as the appetizer with the first drink!
Already a good sign of the above-average quality!

Simmered cuttle fish!
They do serve excellent sashimi, but as a non Japanese their cooked seafood should be a delight if you are not keen on anything raw!

Great oden!
A local discovery: they serve shumai in oden in Kanazawa City!

Now, we parctically heard all the customers order the above steamed grated lotus root ball!
Delicious and very local in concept!

Home-made potato and vegetables salad!
Perfect with beer or sake!

One my favorites!
Cod milt tempura, another specialty of the house!

Home-made specialty that everyone ordered too: white satsuma age/deep-fried fish paste! A must!

Beef suji/tendons and tofu nikomi/stew!

Nanban-style deep-fried chicken!

Pity there was a limit on our stomachs and that we had to go home the next day!
I plan to come back to Kanazawa City again and Miyuki Honten is first on my list!
One of the very best izakayas in all Japan!

MIYUKI HONTEN
920-0981 Kanazawa City, Kata machi, 1-10-3 金沢市片町１丁目１０－３
Tel.: 076-222-6117
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Sundays and national Holidays
Cash only
Reservations recommended!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, 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

Fish Gastronomes Gastronomic Photography Gastronomy Izakaya Japanese Gastronomy Japanese Restaurants Kanazawa City Oden Photography sake seafood Tourism vegetables

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