Category Archives: Shizuoka City

Izakaya, Japan, Japan Tourism, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Tourism, Yasaitei

Japanese Izakaya: Yasaitei In Shizuoka City! (For Vegans, Vegetarians and Omnivores!)

January 2, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

IZAKAYA RANKING: +3
Service: +3 Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: +3 Very clean, Beautiful washroom
Prices: +2 reasonable
Strong points: Vegan and vegetarian Cuisine possible any time, Izakaya gastronomy, local products, oden. Good list of sake, shochu. Wines also available.

Time and again I have said that vegans and vegetarians would probably have their happiest times in Japan, at least for gastronomes, because this country, and especially Shizuoka with its mild weather and abundance of vegetables in all seasons, can provide all ingredients all year round whose traceability is easy to prove!

The above o-tooshi/お通し/is not vegetarian, but you aforementioned priorities will ensure it is!

There are many places in Shizuoka City and Prefecture offering alternatives to their omnivorous dishes for vegans and vegetarians who still want to enjoy their outing with friends with different priorities.
One such place, and arguably the best at it, is Yasaitei in Tokiwa Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Incidentally the owner/chef and staff are all ladies, but customers are certainly of both genders!
And here is one recommendation:

Vegetable sashimi plate!
The above is the basic one, but you certainly may order for a bigger variety!

View for the other side!

Ice plant and celery!

One thing all these vegetables have in common is that they are super fresh, crunchy, juicy and so tasty!

Tomatoes and daikon!

Japanese cucumber!

Onion and shiso/perilla leaf!

Simple but exquisite dressing made with higher-class sesame oil, rock salt and miso paste!

For friends who like seafood: cod roe steamed and marinated in rice vinegar!

Another “o-tooshi/お通し/snack served with the first drink!

Lotus root/renkon/蓮根 in “kinpira” fashion!
Such a satisfying crunch!

Grilled fresh shiitake/椎茸!

The shiitake were simply grilled and seasoned with soy sauce before being served over shiso/perilla leaves.

Freshly grated daikon and ginger were provided for further seasoning and enjoyment.

Surely one of the best ways to enjoy fresh shiitake!

Another o-tooshi!

Mushrooms and fried tofu o-hitashi/お浸し/Japanese-style light appetizer!

Maitake, tomato and spinach stir-fried in sesame oil and served with fresh coriander!
Maitake/舞茸 in English stands for mushrooms called Hen-of-the-Woods, Ram’s Head or Sheep’s Head!

Juicy and so tasty mushrooms!

Note the coriander for beautiful balance in presentation and taste!

Another o-tooshi!

Mushrooms and mekabu/芽蕪/small turnips! If you are vegetarian or vegan just tell them not to top it with katsuo bushi!

Steamed eringe (or eringi)/エリンゲ/known in English as king trumpet mushroom, French horn mushroom or king oyster mushroom!

The eringe were steamed together with fresh cucumber and served with freshly grated Shizuoka-grown wasabi!

See “Izakaya Ranking” system at bottom of article!

YASAITEI/やさい亭

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
Seating: 6 at counter + 14 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
Individual orders (carte) welcome
Parties welcome

IZAKAYA RANKING SYSTEM
IZAKAYA RANKING:
+1 ought to be visited at least once
+2 could be become a regular visit
+3 must visit!

Service:
+1 standard
+2 pleasant
+3 very good

Equipment & Facilities:
+1 standard
+2 excellent
+3 Superb

Prices:
+1 cheap
+2 slightly expensive but good value
+3 expensive but good value

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Indian Gastronomy, Nepalese gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Vegetarian cuisine

Nepalese-Indian Gastronomy: Vegetarian Lunch at Namaste Nippon in Shizuoka City!

January 1, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly, polite and smiling
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Spacious washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A great blend of Indian and Nepalese cuisines. More than sufficient drinks list. Vegetarian set or single dishes available. Very generous portions!

Namaste Nippon Nepalese-Indian Restaurant and its bright colors have been standing along the Kitakaido Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, 10 minutes walk from Cenova Department Store, and had often been recommended to me by friends.
I took advantage of free time at lunch the other day to pay them a belated visit!

The owner and the staff all hail from Nepal but the chefs graduated from a cooking school in India, allowing them to combine the two cuisines with even a little Japanese twist at times!

Lunch time is particularly busy and they do have a hefty menu!
One can choose from set menus or single dishes.
I already know I’ll have to plan a few more visits!
A good idea, since they serve a great variety of drinks including Shizuoka sake, would be to g there for a drink in the evening and eat their food as snacks!

I chose the vegetarian set lunch which should give me a good idea of the chefs’ skills!
It includes a lot!

But first of all I had to taste a “Nepal Ice” beer!

Enormous potato samosa coming fresh and hot on your plate with vegetable salad!

It would be enough as a great snack with a nice beer in the evenings!

The Vegetarian Lunch Plate, which includes the aforementioned samosa and a drink!

You can choose 2 out of 3 curries (sorry, this is how it is written on the Japanese menu! Mind you, they all speak fluent English and Japanese):
I opted for the above “Parapanilu” spinach and cottage cheese curry!

Dahl/beans Curry!
The third one was “Alparaku” Potato and Cottage Cheese!

Turmeric rice!
One can opt for plain rice, too!

“Achar” home-made Nepalese vegetable pickles! Very tasty!

“Papado”!

And a great freshly baked nan!
Actually they bake many kinds of nan, chapati and so on!

Try the same with two of you! Great fun!

I couldn’ help taste an Indian Legend beer!

Meet you in the evening there again!

NAMASTE NIPPON Nepalese-Indian Restaurant
420-0845 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Oda Cho, 31-1, Ono Bldg, 1F (along the Kitakaido Street, 10 minutes walk from Cenova Department Store)
Tel. & Fax: 054-247-6775
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~22:30
Closed on Thursdays
Credit Cards OK
Paries welcome!
Take outs OK!

Check their FACEBOOK PAGE!

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Japan, Japan Tourism, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Wata (also called “Mizu”) Shinto Shrine-水神社 in Shizuoka City!

December 28, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yesterday on my way to Anzai Bridge across the Abe River in Shizuoka City, I decided to cycle along a die road on a whim and discovered this small Shinto shrine in Ta Machi!

Upon seeing the name plaque on the torii/sacred gate I wondered how the kanji for “water/水”, that is “mizu” would be pronounced.
Luckily enough a neighbor had just come out and I decided to ask him and get some more information!
The locals pronounce the name “wata”!
And apparently it is a very old if small shrine, dating back to Edo Era!

Although their roofing is recent the hand washing stone basin are very ancient.
Two of them in such a small shrine is indeed rare and the neighbor indicated me through their engravings that they had been erected in totally different eras!

Two large stone lanterns and two smaller ones stood along the short path with mountain and clouds carvings!

I noted an interesting difference between the two deers!
The one above has its right foreleg raised!

But not this one!

A smaller stone lantern between two venerable trees!

The “haiden”/worshipers hall!

Unusually the lion guards/shishi are not represented as stone statues, but as wooden carvings abovehead!

Its companion!
I pointed out the fact to the kind neighbor relating the history of the shrine and I had the pleasure to notice his surprise!

Money offerings are unusually thrown though the door instead of inside a box placed outside!

Side view of the “haiden” and “honden/deity abode”!

The enshrined deity is male!

A side view of the completely isolated “haiden”!

The trees inside the shrine are dwarfing the building proving its ancient origins!

Good-bye, Wata Shrine!

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Along the old Tokaido Road: Kishigami Soba Restaurant in Utsunomiya, Shizuoka City

December 15, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Home-cured duck soba!

Service: very friendly, attentive and informative
Equipment & Facilities: Spotless clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Ju wari/100% soba/buckwheat noodles. Tempura. sake list!

Kishigami Soba Restaurant is located in a celebrated touristic area of Shizuoka City in Utsunoya famous for its many Edo Period houses and inns along the Old Tokaido Road.
It makes for the perfect stop for refreshments in the middle of nature!

It is not that difficult to reach actually.
Just take the bus to Fujieda City at platform 7 in front of Shizuoka JR Station north exit and get off at Utsunoya just before the Fuijieda Tunnel.
Cross the road and take the paved street on the right side snaking up the mountain and you will discover it in the middle of an Edo Travel Inn Village!

The menu is waiting for you outside!

100% buckwheat noodles!

Have a good look inside before choosing a table!

A traveling artist actually drew this picture of the restaurant during his only visit!

The spotless clean kitchen manned by two generations!

Traditional Japan!

A real wood fire stove!

All warm wood!

Although it is open only at lunch time the menu is really extensive!

The elder daughter, Ms. Kayoko Kishigami/岸上香誉子さん is very knowledgeable with sake and a seasonal brew by Sugii Brewery (Fujieda City) was on offer that day!

The Japanese sake from nearby Fujieda City!

The big bonus is a menu in English in no less than 4 pages!
Page 1!

Page 2!

Page 3!

Page 4!

Elegant earthenware and glassware!

My friend’s order!

Ten Oroshi Soba!

My order!

Kamo/Duck Oroshi Soba!

The sobayu/buckwheat noodles boiling water to add to the leftover soup and wash it all down!

A meal is not complete at Kishigami without their superb tempura!

What do we have there?

Soba Dango/Buckwheat balls!

Green leafy vegetable!

Maitake/hen-of-the-woods, ram’s head and sheep’s head mushroom!

Another very special treat is this homemade ham prepared every year by Kayoko’s father!

It is made with whole legs of pigs raised in Mikkabi, Western Shizuoka Prefecture which are salted, cured and smoked for a whole month to obtain a succulent ham which is neither raw or cooked! A discovery!

A very original dessert: buckwheat balls with hot sweetmeat/anko shiru!

SOBADOKORO KSHIGAMI SOBA RESTAURANT

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Utsunoya, 232-2
Tel.: 054-258-5664
Opening hours: 11:00~14:00
Closed on Mondays and 3rd Tuesday of the month (next day in case of a national holiday)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Home-made Wasabi Zuke with Asami Itoh of Marufuku Tea Factory in Shizuoka Ciy!

December 13, 2015 dragonlife 6 Comments

The other day my good friend, Miss Asami Ittoh invited me in the company of 7 more guests to make wasabi zuke according to traditional recipe at her company, Marufuku Tea factory Co. Ltd in Shizuoka City!
Wasabi zuke literally means “pickled wasabi” and it is a typical agricultural product of Shizuoka Prefecture, and particularly Shizuoka City, the birthplace of wasabi in Japan!
Wasabi Zuke might be common in Shizuoka but I can assure you it is a rare and expensive delicacy away from our region!

Maruku Tea factory in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

For that particular session all products were either from Shizuoka or made in Japan!
The fresh wasabi roots and stems were cultivated in the mountains along the Abe River in Shizuoka City, the sake kasu/sake white lees came from directly from a sake brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture. The salt, brown cane sugar and the mirin/sweet sake were all made in Japan!

The wasabi and the sake kasu/sake white lees!

All the ingredients for 8 people!

Fresh and clean wasabi roots.
They were of very good quality but cheaper (by Shizuoka standards) due to their inferior shape!

The fresh wasabi stems!

Unprocessed sea salt and top class sugar cane sugar!

The mirin/sweet sake!

All the ingredients with the sake kasu (softened) included.

Each member was allotted the following for the recipe:

Fresh wasabi root: 375 g
Wasai stems and small leaves: 375 g
Sake kasu/Sake white lees: 500 g
Salt: 37 g
Sugar:: 100=120 g
Mirin/sweet sake: optional

Making sure that everybody understood the proportions!

Weighing up everyone’s share!

First chopping the wasabi stems!

My share of wasabi roots!

We were soon all in tears chopping away the wasabi roots!

First chopping!

Second chopping!

Third chopping!
The roots have to hand-chopped finely to obtain maximum piquancy!
A machine would not do a good job, it is all slow food!

Mixing the chopped stems and roots, adding the salt, mix well and lest rest for 20 minutes!

A well-earned rest!

Pressing out by hand as much of the excess water as possible!

Softened sake kasu/sake white lees!
If you use unprocessed sake kasu, you will have to soften it by kneading it or user a beater!

Adding the sake kasu!

Adding the sugar!

Mixing the whole by hand until you obtain a smooth paste!
Taste and add mirin/sweet sake if necessary!
I didn’t!

Filling small boxes to take back home!
We had 1.2 kg of it each!
Note that is greener than the comparatively cheap variety you will find in shops downtown!
Simply extravagant!
I dare not imagine the price even in Shizuoka!

To be eaten over freshly steamed white rice, with baked poultry, sausages and even hot on toasts!

Marufuku Tea Factory (Owner: Ms. Asami Itoh/伊藤麻実さん)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010
Mobile: 090-3250-4188

CHA-O (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh/伊藤麻実さん)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel: 054-253-8421
Fax: 054-253-8413
HOMEPAGE

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Marika Ale

December 8, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Decidedly you have to keep tour ears and eyes open as Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City puts out an average of two new craft beers every month.
And as most of them are limited you also have to hurry!

Marika Ale! The difference this time is that hops were used both whole and in pellets!

As Aoi Beer Stand in Miyuki-Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City was full we drank outside encouraging passersby to join us!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Dark Crystal Malt, Black malt, SIMCO hop (whole), Nugget hop (pellets), live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 19
Production: 450 liters
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Shortish head. White color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: amber
Aroma: sweetish and fruity. Bread, biscuits, oranges
Taste: dry, very fruity and complex attack.
Oranges, biscuits, honey, faint persimmon.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a still constant dry but very fruity note with more honey.
The fruitiness faithfully continues all the way through.
Very, although shows practically no acidity.

Overall: an exceptional and intriguing amber ale!
Although very fruity, it stays dry but without any acidity.
A craft beer you drink slowly. No need of food to interfere with it although good pairings could be achieved with pork, sausages and cheese.
For ale lovers of all genders and ages!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

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

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK
FACEBOOK

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Dorayaki, Japanese Cakes, Shizuoka City

Dorayaki No Kawauchiya in Shizuoka City: The Best Dorayaki in Shizuoka Prefecture!

December 4, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

Dorayaki (どら焼き) is a very popular Japanese cake enjoyed by all genders and ages consisting of two pancake-like layers sandwiching sweet red beans paste/ankou (鮟)!

Now if you are in Aoi ku, Shizuoka City walk in the general direction of Sengen Shrine, about 20 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station north exit and you will discover an enormous red torii/sacred gate at the entrance of Sengen Street. Go past it and you will discover the best dorayaki shop in the whole Prefecture soon on your right hand side!

You can’t miss it as there is always a queue of customers in front of it, especially at dorayaki “baking” time!

Dorayaki no Kawauchiya (どら焼きの河内屋)!
One of the very rare individual shops left in Japan!

I arrived just before the 4:30 dorayaki baking time!
Such times are always announced due to their enormous popularity!

Plenty of famous visitors’ signatures!

The Lady of The House is always present to sell other confectioneries!

The dorayaki are limited to 5 per person and may not be ordered in advance, although other confectioneries may!

The Lady of the House is always busy packaging the purchases!

Banana castella!

Kuri no ko yokan/”sweet red beans jelly with chestnuts”!

Neri yokan/煉羊かん/”red red beans jelly” and shio yokan/塩羊かん/”salted red beans jelly”!

Shoga Satou Zuke/しょうが砂糖漬/”candied ginger”!

Dangou maki/だんごう巻/”soft rice cake wrapped in red beans paste and pancake roll”

The hot plate which can produce 15 pancakes simultaneously, 3 more than a usual hot plate!

The bear-like Man of The House who is actually a very jovial gentleman constantly joking with his customers!

The chef makes his own batter and red beans paste from scratch! Absolutely authentic!

And he is so deft and quick!
It is always a good idea to come early as the first batch is usually a trial that will be given away!

The very fluffy and light pancakes almost ready!

Bemused customers!
On week ends in winter the queue may easily stretch to 30 customers!

The red bean paste is immediately sandwiched between two pancakes!

Ready to be packed!

The Lady of the House wraps them individually with an antique hand-operated contraption and then put them inside a paper bag itself contained inside a vinyl bag!

Ready to be taken home unless you cannot resist from eating them on the way!

Dorayaki no KAWAUCHIYA/どら焼きの河内屋

420-0867 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Baban Cho, 12-1, Chuo Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054–271-4363
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00
Closed on Sunday Afternoon and Monday

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iFi, Japan Tourism, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Tourism, Tourism

Free WiFi Rental for Foreign Tourists in Shizuoka City (English, Chinese, Taiwanese & Korean)!

December 1, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Novemebr 1st Shizuoka City decided to sponsor free WiFi rental for the sole benefit of foreign tourists until next March on a trial basis, by which time the City will decide whether to make it permanent!
First of all, bear in mind that such service can obtained in only one place, namely the Shizuoka City Tourist Information Center/静岡市総合観光案内所 located at the north entrance of Shizuoka City JR Station!
It is open any day of the week from 09:00 to 17:45!

Consult the official websites:
English: http://ninjawifi.com/en/
Japanese: http://ninjawifi.com/jp/
Mainland Chinese: http://ninjawifi.com/cn
Taiwanese: http://ninjawifi.com/tw
Hong Kong Chinese: http://ninjawifi.com/hkg
Korean: http://ninjawifi.com/kr

You will have to follow a strict procedure as follows:
-Step 1: Go to the Shizuoka-shi Tourist Informartion Center and tell the staff, “I’d like to rent a NINJA WiFi router.”
-Step 2: Take a a photo of the NINJA WiFi POP: take a photo of the NINJA WiFi POP with your smartphone and connect your smartphone to the NINJA WiFi located at the information center.
-Step 3: Post to SNS: Post the photo taken in Step 2 to an SNS, such as Facebook, Twitter, Line, YouTube or whichever you prefer.
-Step 4: Show the post: show the post to the staff.
-Step 5: Fill in the registration form: fill in the registration form and show your passport. Please allow the staff to make a copy of your passport.
-Step 6: Get the free WiFi: once the staff has verified the information, you will get a NINJA WiFi router.

The WiFi router package!

The package includes the router, peripheral devices, manuals and a Return by Delivery Form.

The WiFi router!

Bear in mind that only visitors with “short term visitors Visa” are eligible to apply.
You can use this WiFi router anywhere in Japan

When returning the WiFi router by free delivery you have to return 1) the pouch, 2) WiFi router (303ZT), 3) the USB cable, 4)The Charging Adapter.

You then put the whole into the return kit envelope, fill in the form and hand it to convenience store as cited below:

Otherwise you can return it at the following airports:
Narita Airport (Terminal 1), Narita Airport (Terminal 2), Haneda Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, Kansai International Airport, New Chitose Airport, Komatsu Airport, Fukuoka Aiport, Naha Airport

Copy the documents below for more precise information:

English pamphlet

English application form

English Terms & Conditions of Use

Chinese pamphlet, front

Chinese pamphlet, back

Chinese application form

Chinese Terms & Conditions of Use

Taiwanese pamphlet, front

Taiwanese pamphlet, back

Taiwanese application form

Taiwanese Terms & Conditions of Use

Korean pamphlet, front

Korean pamphlet, back

Korean application form

Korean Terms & Conditions of Use

Bon voyage!

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Kagyoku Shokuro Tea Ale

November 29, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Tasting conducted together with Kent Rhoads!

Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka does often come with some unusual limited brews!
This time they produce another Tea Ale but with a twist!

It was actually brewed to commemorate the wedding of Kazumi San/和美さん, who is part of the staff at Beck Co., the umbrella owner of Aoi Brewing!
The name Kagyoku Shokuro/華玉燭霧 is related to the kinds of tea included in the brewing!

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner malt, Munich Malt, Topaz hop, Styrian Golding hop, Gyokuro Tea 8250 g), Fukamushi Tea (4 kg), live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
Production: 450 liters
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head. Creamy. White color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: light orange color
Aroma: sweetish green tea
Taste: dryish and flavorful attack.
Complex. Sweetish green tea, hints of oranges, apricots and dry pears.
Very tasty first impression with no aftertaste. Excellent and subtle balance.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on a sllghtly sweeter note than at the beginning with very pleasant matcha.

Overall: Lighter and more elegant approach than previous brews made with Shizuoka green Tea.
Almost no acidity. Very soft on the palate. Very unique craft beer!
Pity it is limited as this would easily become a must drink every day all year round!
Simply said: superb!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Shizuoka City, Ukiyoe, urban Art, Utagawa Hiroshige

Japan Urban Art: Utagawa Hiroshige’s Tokaido Stations Ukiyoe in Shin Kambara, Shizuoka City!

November 23, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Utagawa Hiroshige/歌川広重 (1797 – 12 October 1858) (real name: 安藤広重/Ando Hiroshige) is probably the most famous ukiyoe/woodblock print artist when it comes to describing travel scenes in Japan.
When it comes to Shizuoka Prefecture where a Museum is dedicated to him in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shozuoka City, the Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō immediately come to mind.
And if you look carefully you will find them represented in the most unusual places!

Now, take the Tokaido Railway Line and get off at Shin Kambara Station in Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku!

The place is famous for its cherry trees.
Did you know that the cherry trees offered to the US in Washington are all the scions from a single tree from nearby Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Travelers of yore added onto one of Utagawa Hiroshige’s prints!

Now go the pavement along the station and you will discover the world of Edo at your feet!

Find this set of tiles and proceed to its left to discover them all in their right order!

Leaving Edo : Nihonbashi, “the bridge of Japan”!
We are still in present Tokyo!

1st station : Shinagawa!

Now, we enter Kanagawa Prefecture:
2nd station : Kawasaki!

3rd station : Kanagawa (presently in Kanagawa Ku, Yokohama City)!

4th station : Hodogaya (presently in Hodogaya Ku, Yokohama City)!

5th station : Totsuka!

6th station : Fujisawa!

7th station : Hiratsuka!

8th station : Oiso (presently in Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture)!

9th station : Odawara (Crossing the Sakawa river at a ford.)!

10th station : Hakone!
The last station inside Kanagawa Prefecture!

We enter Shizuoka Prefecture from now on:
11th station : Mishima!

12th station : Numazu!

13th station : Hara (presently in Numazu City)!

14th station : Yoshiwara (presently in Fuji City)!

15th station : Kambara, the main tile (Shin Kambara is part of Kambara, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City)!

16th station : Yui (presently part of Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka city)!

17th station : Okitsu (presently part of Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City)!

18th station : Ejiri (presently part of Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City)!

19th station : Fuchū (old name of Shizuoka City)!

20th station : Mariko (presently in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City)!

21st station : Okabe (presently in Fujieda City)!

22nd station : Fujieda!

23rd station : Shimada!

24th station : Kanaya (presently in Shimada City)!

25th station : Nissaka (presently in Kakegawa City)!

26th station : Kakegawa!

27th station : Fukuroi!

28th station : Mitsuke (presently in Iwata City)!

29th station : Hamamatsu!

30th station : Maisaka!

31st station : Arai!

32nd station : Shirasuka (presently in Kosai City)!
This is the last station inside Shizuoka Prefecture!

Now we enter Aichi Prefecture:
33rd station : Futagawa (presently in Toyohashi City)!

34th station : Yoshida (presently in Toyohashi City)

35th station : Goyu (presently in Toyokawa City)!

36th station : Akasaka (presently in Toyokawa City)!

37th station : Fujikawa (presently in Okazaki City)!

38th station : Okazaki!

39th station : Chiryu!

40th station : Narumi (presently in Midori Ku, Nagoya city)!

41st station : Miya (presently in Atsuta Ku, Nagoya City)!
This is the last station inside Aichi Prefecture!

Now we enter Mie Prefecture:
42nd station : Kuwana

43rd station : Yokkaichi

44th station : Ishiyakushi (presently in Suzuka City)!

45th station : Shōno (presently in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture)!

46th station : Kameyama!

47th station : Seki (“the barrier”), (presently in Kameyama City)!

48th station : Sakashita (presently in Kameyama City)!
This is the last station inside Mie Prefecture!

Now we enter Shiga Prefecture:
49th station : Tsuchiyama (presently in Kota City)!

50th station : Minakuchi (presently in Kota City)!

51st station : Ishibe (presently inside Konan City)!

52nd station : Kusatsu!

53rd station : Otsu!
This is the last station inside Shiga Prefecture!

The end of the Tōkaidō: arriving at Kyoto (actually at the tme Sanjō Ōhashi (the bridge spanning over Kamo River) at Keishi (“the capital”)!

Enjoy your trip!

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Aoshima (Onshu) Mikan Ale (also called Tekka Slight Mikan Ale)

November 18, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City has put out a fruit made with local products!

Aoishima (Onshu) Mikan Ale, that is a beer conceived with “Aoishima” mandarine oranges produced by farmers in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
This was the name announced in AOI BEER STAND in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, but Mr. Taka, the brewmaster, told me it should have been named “Tekka Slight Mikan Ale”!
“Tekka” means that the oranges used were the ones pruned off when still green to allow chosen fruit to fully ripen!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Munich Malt, Topaz hop, Czech Saaz hop, Aoishima mandarine oranges, live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 21
Production: 450 liters
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Longish head. Light orange color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: light orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Dry mandarine oranges
Taste: very dry and fruity attack.
Dry oranges, citruses, hints of herbs.
Lingers long enough for true tasting with oranges staying true all the way and tending to depart on an even drier note with some welcome acidity.

Overall: a dry and fruity craft beer which will appeal to ladies in particular!
A craft beer for all seasons!
Very satisfying and a pleasure to sip. Dry but elegant!
Recommended pairings: pizza, potato salad, cold meats.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Bento: Autumn Saturday Bento!

November 16, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

After a very long laps the Dragon (Missus) seems inclined to prepare traditional Japanese lunch boxes/bento, at least on some days when we both are away at work at lunch time!

She made this comparatively simple one on Saturday, mostly with leftovers!

On a bed of steamed rice she first placed shredded grilled salmon, slightly seasoned topped with black olives.

She spread the middle with boiled egg and tartar sauce salad.

The vegetable part was conceived with stir-fried beansprouts, shredded carrots and green pepper and plenty of black sesame seeds seasoned with spicy sauce!

Very healthy and fulfilling!

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Izakaya: Kasuri in Shizuoka City!

October 28, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: attentive and easy-going
Equipment & facilities: old but overall clean. Shared washroom (old-fashioned and basic, but clean)
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: oden, comfort food, great sake list. Great traditional Japanese atmosphere!

Shizuoka City is renowned all over Japan for a typical Japanese comfort food called “oden”, a kind of Japanese pot–au-feu.
Now, if you want to eat such local food in our city, the best place is Aoba Oden Gai/青葉おでん街 located along Aoba Park Street in Aoi Ku.
This izakaya alley of another era hasn’t changed much when it was created in 1950’s when the City asked the open-air food stands in Aoba Park Street to move out!

Everyone in town has its very own favorite odenya/oden izakaya but the busiest area is naturally Aoba Oden Gai where you still have to choose among 18-odd shops!
It took me a long time to choose mine and I have never visited another since then!

It is distinctive for its unusual (in Shizuoka) round-shaped red paper lantern with a small cat daring you to come inside!

Kasuri/かすり!
Its noren/shop entrance curtain is actually larger than in most shops inside this alley offering some welcome privacy to its patrons!

There are many reasons for Kasuri having become my favorite odenya in Shizuoka City.
First of all, the Mama-san, although a very discreet lady who shuns photographs, is a person with whom it is a pleasure to share a talk. She is from Akita Prefecture but has lived long enough in Shizuoka to claim a “double nationality”! Her single presence encourages all the customers to join in quickly in interesting conversations and I suspect some of them patronize Kasuri to catch a few tidbits of information!

Another reason is the best choice in sake both from Shizuoka and elsewhere (including Akita of course!) to be found in that alley. The list is practically changing with every week. Make a point to discuss your choice with the Mama San first!

Don’t worry, all main drinks are available, including beer, wine, shochu, whisky and some unusual discoveries from time to time!

Another reason is the style of oden.
In many places in Shizuoka City the broth can be as dark as the middle of the night, but Kasuri serves a version somewhere between Shizuoka and light broth Kansai style, far healthier and tastier for my own point of view.

The oden themselves are served in many manners, either with Japanese hot mustard, aonori/a mixture based on dry green laver seaweed (only in Shizuoka!) or miso mixture, or with all three if it is your fancy!
Among the oden offered to your choice you will fiund quite a few only encountered in our Prefecture!

But a more important difference with other odenya is that the Mama San also offers all kinds of freshly prepared comfort food varying with the days and seasonal ingredients available on the local (and in her own Akita Prefecture!)!

Accordingly the food comes in all styles from very Japanese hors d’oeuvres to…

hot pasta in small dishes!
Well, it doesn’t matter how many times you come, you can always expect some kind of discovery, especially with many patrons bringing some great morsels from their business trips while having a last drink and morsel before hitting the road back home!

KASURI/かすり

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa cho, 2-3-6, Aoba oden Gai
Tel.: 054-255-6758
Opening hours: 16:30~24:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Cash only
If you come as a small group call beforehand as the place does not have many seats!

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Honnnori Cha Ale (4th Batch)

October 23, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Beer Stand made a point to call me when Aoi brewing (Shizuoka City) had their latest craft beer served on tap there!

Now, what kind of craft could it be?

Honnori Cha Ale also called O Cha Ale!
This is the fourth batch and it is still different from the previous three!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Pilsner Malt, Topaz hop, Willamette hop, green tea (more than in previous batches!), live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Shortish head. creamy, white
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: orange/apricot color
Aroma: assertive, dry. green tea, oranges
Taste: dry, soft and fruity attack.
Complex: tea, biscuits, hints of persimmon and oranges.
Almost sweetish at the beginning but turns dry at the end.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a very different and dry note.
Varies little with food.
Far more complex than previous batches but easier to drink.

Overall: A craft beer for all seasons.
Its complexity and comparative gentleness will appeal to ladies although gentlemen will particularly enjoy it with their food.
Suggested pairings: sweetish meat, pork, yakitori, hot sandwiches.
Many gentlemen agreed it became more complex with green tea surging through with rise in temperature!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

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

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

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Ishida Shrine (石田神社) in Ishida, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

October 23, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

As I said before Suruga Ku, the area south of Shizuoka JR Station is literally sprinkled with ancient small and quaint Shinto Shrines I mostly discover during my bicycle rides in that particular area!

About 5 minutes (count 10 to find it) ride from The station stands Ishida Shrine (石田神社) stands in an area of the same name.

Although small and almost derelict locals have been offering new torii gates!

Very small stone hand washing basin (Chōzuya) but with its own roof!

Two smart looking lions (“Shishi” Or “komainu”) are guarding the shrine!

The Left hand one with its closed maw!

The right hand one with its mouth open!

This wooden board indicates that the shrine was rebuilt in 1875 although it has been a site where shrines have been erected for at least 1,000 years!

The shrine (jinjya) with two stone lanterns (ishi-dōrō)!

Stag carving!

Mountain carving!

The other lantern sports not a doe but a stag with longer antlers!

The main worship hall (Heiden)!

With is rice straw garland (shimenawa) and bell and rope.
I didn’t notice any money offering box (saisen) so I suppose worshippers throw their coins through the door or into the box of smaller shrines also found on the site!

The roof top pinion!

Roofing design!

One of the two lanterns stands.
The left one is decorated with an animal carving!

The plain lantern wooden stand on the right!

A small shrine (kamidana) on the right!

Two more on the left!

An even smaller and more ancient one made of stone and bearing a rice straw garland!

And still another one!

The partly restored inner shrine (honden) barred to the public!

The cross beams (chigi) show that the local deity is male!
Actually, I had made a continuous mistake about this particular point which was pointed out to me by Facebook friend who just happened to be praying there!