Category Archives: Shizuoka Prefecture

レシピ, Beef, 牛肉, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Fusion Gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Beef Cheek Stewed in Red Wine at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

November 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

have you ever tasted beef so tender that you don’t need a knife at all in spite of the big chunks of succulent meat?
Well, in this case you certainly must try the Beef Cheek Stewed in Wine painstakingly prepared by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 at Solio in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Served with deep-fried Autumn eggplants/aubergines and potato slices it certainly makes enough for a dinner some bread and wine!
It took the two of us to finish in the middle of a dinner, so it should be enough for a single person!

Another real Italian “comfort food”!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

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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

レシピ, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Storia in Shizuoka City!

November 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Extremely clean overall. Splendid gender separated washrooms
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Light & mild Italian gastronomy. Great use of local products
Entirely non-smoking!

I finally found the opportunity to visit the newest Italian restaurant to open in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City on October 19th!
The more for it that it is near my working place just beside Cenova Department Store on the second floor overlooking the entrance to the Shizutetsu Railway Line!

They have the good sense to put up a lot of information downstairs, including one of their wines!

I was particularly interested in the A lunch course menu!

The place is so clean and modern with still a nice warm touch!

Beautiful but comfortable furniture!

I decided to have a glass of the rd wine they advertise downstairs!

Pinot Noir, Casillero del Diablo, from Chile!

The antipasto misti plate!

Fish and potato rillettes, ham and ratatouille salad!

Home-made terrine and sole carpaccio!

A beautiful green salad for great lunch balance!
Note that Chef Koushin Saita/才田亨辰さん uses practically only vegetables grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Simple but so appetizing!

Garlic toasts for the next dish!

Mussles steamed in white wine!

Gnocchi Solentini!

Actually the waitress had kindly advised me I could ask for pasta instead. I politely declined as I have a weakness for gnocchi! And I certainly was right!

Beef Tagliata with Sanchu leaf and makomo/komotake!

Succulent and tender beef cooked to perfection!

The dessert!

Although much maligned in Europe the Japanese have become masters of Tiramisu!

And Chef Saita is one of them!

And a nice hot tea to wash it all down!

See you there next at dinner!

STORIA
Chef: Koushin Saita/才田亨辰さん
422-8076 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo 1-7-13, Espacio Takajyou, 2F
Tel.: 054-260-7552
Opening hours: Lunch-11:30^14:30; Cafe-14:30~18:00, Dinner-18:00~22:30
Closed on Mondays and 2nd Tuesday (the next day in case of National Holiday)
Credit cards OK
Entirely non smoking!

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静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life in Japan, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tombs, Tourism, Tumulus

Miikeidaira Tumulus: Keyhole Tomb in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

November 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!

If your are keen on Japanese history, and I mean ancient history, it might be an excellent idea to combine tourism and study by visiting one of the few remaining funeral tumuli left in Japan by visiting the Miikeidaira Tumulus/三池平古墳 in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

one easy way is to take the bus to the National Training Center from Bus Platform 4 on the west side of Shimizu JR Station (bear in mind there is only one every hour!) and go till the last stop!

And check the return schedule!

National Training Center in Shimizu Ku is a vast (by Japanese standards) training center especially dedicated to high level soccer teams from all over Japan!

You should be able to see the tumulus and find the right way to walk uo there!

The tumulus is not only visible but its surroundings are well equipped including washrooms!

Check the map before climbing the stairs!

now, do you understand why it is also called a “keyhole tomb”?

Plenty of indications!

As you climb the tumulus you will realize that you can benefit of vast views at the same time!

The tumulus!

Take your time and read the explanations both in Japanese and (somewhat quaint) English!

The Miikedaira Tumulus was built as a key-holed shaped mound tomb at the beginning of the 5th century A.D.
The total length/diameter of the tumulus is 68 meters.
The inner/underground structure reveals a type of tomb belonging to comparatively ancient times and the like of ones very few in Shizuoka prefecture and even in the entire West Japan.

Have a good look at the diagram!
Such tombs are not open to the public and even scientists and historians need a permission to inspect them.

These stones were brought here more than 1,500 years ago!

A sobering thought!

You will be able to admire a view extending as far as the Izu peninsula beyond the ocean!
Walk down the other side to discover what’s beyond!

Mind your steps!

Steeper than the front!

Well indicated again!

You will discover a very old Shinto Shrine dating back to the beginning of Edo Era!
What you see in the forefront under blue tarp is a sumo wrestling mound!

A sumo meet is held there every year in October!

This Shinto Shrine is called Toga Jinja!

The area is famous for its citrus fields and orchards!

Very expensive “dekopon” oranges!

A different type (I found more than half a dozen!) of oranges!
I did taste them (except the dekopon!) and they are about ripe enough!

beautiful, aren’t they?

A visit to combine history, tourism and gastronomy!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 6

November 26, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!
Shizuoka Fire Department Water tank Access!
She found this very unusually patterned manhole cover in her neighborhood near Kusanagai JR Station in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

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

I keep on looking for them during my many travels through the Prefecture.
And this time again I was lucky to enjoy some great help from a new friend working for the Shizuoka City Touristic Information, namely Atsuko Kurata!
Like me she is chasing all kinds of cultural artifacts, especially the unusual ones!
I’m pretty sure that we should be able to come with a “Ten Best” very soon, at least for the year 2013!

The next 4 picture all taken by Atsuko Kurata show the variations on a beautiful design!

The manhole cover above and the next three below were ordered by the Municipal Government of Shizuoka Prefecture. “道路・維持” could be loosely translated as “Road Development”.
The above was discovered at the gate of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, at the foot of mountain, in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

The above was discovered in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City, at the Ishida crossroad, right in front of the APITA shopping mall!

The above was discovered in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, at the front entrance of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office!

Manhole covers are sometimes designed to blend with their surroundings, but this one was “blinded” by a relief marker to help blind people walk along pavements!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this extraordinary double manhole cover near Manseicho crossroads in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City one her way to Satsuki Street from S-Pulse Dream Plaza.
It is made of two known manhole covers to allow for two different sizes of access!

I found this one and the ones below near the National Sports Training Center in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
The one above is the smaller size manhole cover by Kojima Foundry Co. for ”汚水” or waste waters.

This large one is of an old design for electric cables with an interesting notice!

Can bear up to 5,000 kg! Wow

The same type (also seen at Kikugawa JR Station!) but for “雨水” or rain waters but a different notice at the bottom allowing for maker’s identification!

Kojima Seisakusho Co/Kojima Foundry!

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

Mount Fuji: Urban Sights from Shimizu JR Station!

November 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mount Fuji is an ever-changing sight and can be caught in most interesting situations if you one corner of your eye at the horizon especially in the Fall and Winter!

Just coming out of Western Exit of the Shimizu JR Station on the Tokaido Railway Line I noticed Mount Fuji far away in distance through a fence!

Mount Fuji behind barbed wires!

Mount Fuji held prisoner by a blue cross sect?

On my way I noticed a marked change of color!
Can you see the train run by?

Taking the train to Mount Fuji!

Just before my train back to Shizuoka I even managed a somewhat psychedelic picture of Mount Fuji from upstairs!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Spinach & Cheese Risotto at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

November 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind posting a blog on a single dish, especially when it one by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦! at Solio Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
And the more for it because he makes the best (in my opinion!) risottos in the whole Prefecture!

Presentation and originality are primordial with such an apparently simple dish, but it is more difficult than one can imagine at first!
Actually Takehiko has always told me that he secret resides in the home-made stock soup first of all!

This particular risotto, very seasonal, was concocted with fresh spinach from his own garden and cheese!
You could not only taste the superb spinach but also bite on it with the small pieces of stems included on purpose!

A real Italian “comfort food”!

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

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 5

November 25, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bagel, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Recipes, Restaurants, Sandwiches, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

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

November 25, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

The entrance to the restaurant from inside!

From the entrance you can espy the cake display window!

Chefs very busy at work in a very clean environment!

Staff very busy but always with a smile!

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

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

Let’s have a good look at it!

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

Enormous fried potato wedges!

American gastronomy at its healthiest!

Such a great bite!

Of course, I had dessert!

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

Beautiful ice cream and sauce for my sweet tooth!

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

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

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

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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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

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

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of D&Department by Taita

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

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

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

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

You could see their hometown in the far distance! LOL

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

Sweet potatoes and kiwi fruit!

Fiery chili peppers!

Burdock roots and carrots!

Shoppers were gracefully offered hot and so tasty butternut potage!

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

Swiss chard!

Luccola!

Leaf vegetables and Taro/sato imo!

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

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

D&Department Project in Shizuoka by Taita

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

KITAYAMA ORGANIC FARM

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

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

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

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

When a single letter can a hell of a difference!

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

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

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Japanese Floats Bus in Shizuoka City!

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

Kintaroo!

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

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

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

November 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

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

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

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

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

November 21, 2013 dragonlife 3 Comments

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

the bottle as it is marketed!

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

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

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

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

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

November 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The “mori soba” have come!

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

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

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

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

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

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

I had to try another favorite: soba miso yaki!

Buckwheat seeds grilled with miso paste!

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

More coming soon!

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

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 4

November 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

Kojima Seisakusho Co!

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

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

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

Kaneso Company!

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

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

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

Interesting seal!

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