Category Archives: Shizuoka Prefecture

Numazu City, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Prefecture, Takashima Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Junmai Homarefuji “Mount Fuji Day”

May 25, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Sunday May 22nd, I had the occasion to taste again a nectar by a favorite brewery of mine, Takashima Brewery in Numazu City, at a great izakaya in Shizuoka City, Kin no Okan, which took part in the annual Shizuoka De Hashigo Sake event!

This particular brand is created every year to be bottled on March 22nd which Mount Fuji Day!
It is a junmai made with a Shizuoka-grown sake rice called Homarefuji!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 3~+ 4
Acidity: 1.3~1.4
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled on March 22nd=23rd, 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Tasted as “nurukan” according to Takashima Brewery’s wish
Aroma: light and discreet. Pineapple, banana.
Body: fluid
Taste: strong, dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant
Complex: banana, melon, faint lemon.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of pineapple.
Varies little food but for a drier note.
Very easy and enjoyable to drink as it invites to the next cup and the next one!

Overall: another splendid sake especially suited for “nurukan/about 40 degrees temperature”!
It would useful to know that Takashima Brewery produces only junmai-type sake these days!
A sake to enjoy with higher-class izakaya cuisine!
Suggested pairings: BBQ, kusaya, sausages, yakitori.

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Kikugawa City, Morimoto Brewery, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture, Uncategorized

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Morimoto Brewery-Koshu Roman 2011Genshu Junmai

May 24, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Sunday May 22nd, I had the occasion to meet again an old friend, namely Hitoshi Morimoto, owner and master brewer at Morimoto Brewery in Kikugawa City at a great izakaya in Shizuoka City, Hana Oto, which took part in the annual Shizuoka De Hashigo Sake event!

The sake served for this special event was a real and very gem, a koshu/aged sake brewed in 2011 and matured at room temperature. It goes without saying that you need incredible expertise and a lot of courage to create such a nectar!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Pasteurized only once
Matured at room temperature
Bottled in 2011

Clarity: very clean
Color: golden
Aroma: dry and fruity. Dry Sherry
Body: fluid
Taste: deep, fruity attack backed up with only a little junmai petillant.
Complex: dry sherry, plums
Lingers for a while before departing on drier notes of greens and more sherry.
Varies little with food but a sweeter note of white sherry.

Overall: simply extravagant and a very rare experience!
Absolutely splendid sake to be enjoyed as a sherry, either at room temperature or lightly warmed.
The kind of sake you appreciate like a fine sherry after dinner in special company!
If you really wish to pair it, do so with roast beef, BBQ, yakitori and cheese!

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sake, Sanwa Brewery, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Hagoromo no Mai Junmai Ginjo

May 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day, while shopping at Cenova Department Store I felt attracted by a old regular nectar by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
Being a 300ml bottle it is very practical for keeping chilled in the fridge in these increasingly warm days!

Although Sanwa Brewery is mostly known now for its Garyubai Label, Hagoromo no Mai/The Light Veil Dance in commemoration of a famous legend occurring on Miho Beach in Shimizu Ku, is still produced after many years of existence.

It is completely different from the Garyubbai labels and I thought it was time to taste this year’s nectar!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: golden
Aroma: Assertive, dry and fruity. Pineapple, custard.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and strong attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: coffee beans, almonds, faint oranges.
Lingers for a short while on the palate before departing on dry notes of smoked almonds and walnuts.
Takes an even drier turn with food with strong notes of smoked nuts.

Overall: strong, solid, old fashioned sake untypical of Shizuoka Prefecture.
Obviously conceived to accompany food, especially heavy izakaya fare.
For traditional dry sake lovers!
Suggested pairings: broiled meats, Nabe/Japanese pot-au-feu, BBQ, blue cheese.

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Harumi　(2016 version-3rd Batch)

May 15, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

Last year Aoi Brewing produced its first Harumi craft beer, a fruit craft beer made with real mikan/mandarin oranges grown in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City called “harumi mikan”. Following its great success it will be brewed every year although the quantity is limited due to the restricted availability of the mandarins!

This year’s Harumi will actually be brewed into 3 different batches which are bound to taste differently according to the very difference between the harvested mikan.
The harumi used in this third batch were comparatively bigger and more juicy than in the second batch.
Again the yeast was different.

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner Malt, Maris Otter malt, Topaz hop, Sapphire hop, French Saison yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 17
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Shortish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: lemon/orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Stronger than second batch. Oranges and lemons, orange albedo.
Taste: very deep, dry and fruity attack.
Quite different from second batch. More complex with plenty of green mandarin oranges and citruses.
Beautiful acidity which will fade away on a lighter note.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on notes of oranges and complex acidity
Lemons tend to fight with oranges with every sip
Changes little with food but for the appearance of more and more dry mandarin oranges.

Overall: very elegant and intriguing fruit craft beer.
Simply extravagant, and even better than the second batch!
Should please ladies and dry fruit beer lovers in particular.
A craft beer for all seasons.
Suggested pairings: vegetable salads, mixed nuts.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
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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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

May 8, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This time we tasted a very special and extravagant sake by Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City!

Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji!
This is still the only Junami Daiginjo made with Shziuoka Prefecture-grown Homarefuji sake rice in the whole Prefecture!

It was conceived by Master Brewer Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Single pasteurization
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.3
Amino acids: 1.1
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Bottled in April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Lychees, faint pears, melon and banana.
Body: fluid. Slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong, dry and fruity attack backed with beautiful junmai petillant.
Complex: oranges, lychees.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of oranges and apricots.
Lychees make a constant comeback with every sip.
Very pleasant alcohol but not overwhelming in spite of its high contents. Will actually milder with rise of temperature.

Overall: Extravagant, elegant and really masculine despite its complexity.
Will of course please ladies thanks to its superlative balance in strength and elegance.
A sake which ought to be tasted and enjoyed on its own but if you must absolutely pair it I would recommend blue cheese, chocolate, foie gras or broiled conger eel.
Definitely a high class digestif!
At its best slightly chilled, but beware of its alcohol contents! LOL

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Harumi　(2016 version-2nd Batch)

April 30, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This year’s Harumi will actually be brewed into 3 different batches which are bound to taste differently according to the very difference between the harvested mikan.
The harumi used in this second batch were comparatively bigger and more juicy than in the first batch.
Moreover the yeast was different.

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner Malt, Maris Otter malt, Topaz hop, Sapphire hop, Belgian HJ yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 17
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Stronger than first batch. Dry oranges
Taste: deep, dry and fruity attack.
More complex with plenty of green mandarin oranges and citruses.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on notes of oranges with late appearance of pleasant acidity..
Mandarin oranges will surge even more strongly with further sips and acidity will also increase
Changes little with food but for the appearance of more and more dry mandarin oranges.

Overall: very elegant fruit craft beer.
Simply extravagant, and even better than the first batch!
Should please ladies and dry fruit beer lovers in particular.
A craft beer for all seasons.
Suggested pairings: vegetable salads, mixed nuts.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

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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Bamboo shoots, fern, Shizuoka Prefecture, warabi, Wild Mountain Vegetables

Fern & Bamboo Shoots Picking and BBQ in Higashi Mine, Shizuoka City wth Marufuku Seicha Co.!

April 30, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

The other Sunday I was invited by my good friend, ms. Asami Iti/伊藤麻美さん, owner of a very progressive green tea company, Marufuku Seicha Company in Shizuoka, to a “warabi” picking party!
“Warabi/ワラビ/fern” is a typical Japanese wild mountain vegetable picked up in the nature in late March here!

Asami has a land developed by her late father up in the mountains of Higashi Mine in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, up the Abe River at about 1,000 meters altitude where she grows organic Japanese plums.

The highest altitude green tea fields in Japan!

I go there quite a few times every year, but it is always quite an expedition as after reaching the end of the road we have to walk down quite a ways a steep mountain slope!

Cherry trees and others were still blooming up there!

Spring flowers everywhere!

We finally reached the tradtional Japanese house that Asami’s father had built piece by piece as a “mountain retreat”!

The land in front of the house is lined with dozens of plum trees and the occasional cherry tree.
The land has not seen any fertilizer or agrichemicals for at least 20 years, making a real organic environment!
The “only problem” is that the land is roamed with wild deer who have the bad habit of leaving leeches in the soft soil!

The whole space in front of the house is also covered with fern or bracken, called “warabi” in Japanese. The plant needs some preparation before cooking but it is certainly worth it!

Yuichi Shiozawa, a friend who had joined us, proud of his first harvest!

Harvesting the traditional Japanese way!

We also took the opportunity to clean the whole land before organizing the BBQ inside and outside the house!

Part of the warabi harvest!
We had enough to share between five people!

We also got some bamboo shoots in nearby land!
As for the fern it does take some preparations but it is so much worth it!

We organised the BBQ inside the house around a “irori/traditional Japanese fireplace”!

As lighting charcoal takes quite a while on the irori I prepared plenty outside!

We had some homemade traditional Japanese cakes, “wagashi”, to help us wait!

Another friend of ours, Junko Horie helped with the fire!

Starting getting serious with preparation of the food (and the drinks!)!

Plenty of food and drinks after the hard work!

Asami had brought a portable smoking apparatus!

The “smoke” of the day!

Smoking away!

i opened it just in time to prevent the cheese from running through the grill!

Complete with rice balls/musubi!

The crowd of the day: Naomi Yokota, ,Junko Horie, Asami Ito and Yuichi Shiozawa!

And then it was back up the slope carrying our bounty!

We left just before it started to rain! See you there again in June for organic plums picking!

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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Oomuraya Brewing Sake Tasting Party at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City!

April 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Saké Sommeliére Hisae Tsujimura/辻村尚江さん, Chef Noboru shooji/庄司昇親方, and Owner Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん！

On Friday, April 22nd, was held a very special sake tasting in La Sommeliere, in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Oomuraya Brewery (Shimada City) Master Brewer, Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏 had come to introduce 4 new sake all made with Shizuoka-grown Homarefuji rice!

Over 16 sake-knowledgeable guests from all kinds fields participated to the event!

An the menu to accompany the sake was exclusively japanese-style!

The water served came directly from Oomuraya brewery well!

The 4 sake of the day, some still unlabeled as not yet put on the market!

The first sake was Junmai Daiginjo Genshu which will eventually be called Wakatake Premium Junmai dDaiginjo!

To accompany a o-toshi/appetizer made with a combination of two leeks, surf clam and “shiraga” spikenard!

The second sake was Tokubetsu Junmai Nama called Oniotome (Summer Season greetings)!

Accompanying tuna and seabream sashimi and vegetable plate!

The third sake was Junmai Daiginjo called “Take no Kaze”!

Accompanying simmered young bamboo shoots, sweet simmered shrimp, giant butterbur and japanese pepper sprouts!

The final sake was a Junmai Ginjo eventually to be called Wakatake Junmai Ginjo!

Accompanying a mixed steamed rice!

Individual tasting reports on each sake of the day coming soon!

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Kinomiya Shrine (木宮神社) in Atami City!

April 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kinomiya Shrine/木宮神社 i Atami City is a bit of a long but pleasant walk from the JR station, but it is certainly worthwhile the effort as it includes a first in the whole of Japan!

The torii/sacred entrance is actually the entrance to a main and many small shrines due to the size and the age of the site!

Large and fairly new ishidourou/stone lantern!

Its companion!

The first hand-washing stone basin with its dragon water spout!

It is actually a roofed basin leading to the first shrine on the left just past the main entrance!

Walk under a series of torii donated by local worshipers!

The lead to a small shrine dedicated to Inari, the Goddess of Agriculture1

Inari shrine are easily identifiable for their fox guardians!

These two foxes are quite ancient and unusual in the fact that they copy some lion guardians with a paw either resting n a sphere or a younger animal!

The shrine with its rice straw garland and money offerings box!

You can see the drum and other festival paraphernalia locked onside!

Proceeding to the main shrine!

Donated stone lanterns!

An ancient hand-washing stone basin!

The main shrine!

Imposing closed-maw lion guard wit a paw resting on the back of a lion cub!

Its open-maw companion with a paw resting on a sphere!!

The “haiden”/worshiper hall!

Double roof pinion!

A very rich shrine considering the great repair!

The festival drum!

Intricate architecture!

The board announcing Kinomiya Shrine’s main attraction!

Now, what’s that enormous tree?

It has its own shrine/altar!

Now, how old can it be?

The oldest Camphor tree in Japan!
No less than 2,000 years of age!
Incidentally “camphor tree” is “Kusu no ki/楠” in Japanese!
As for this particular tree Japan has given it the titlle of “Oo kusu/大楠/Great Camphor Tree”!
Actually tis “cavity” is venerated as a symbol of fertility!

Majestic!

A fully grown man can stand inside the cavity!

Water running down from nearby mountains!

How people could join hands around it?

Take your time as there is still plenty more to discover!

Walking away from the camphor tree you will its lion guardians!

The other “komainu/狛犬?lion guard”!

The torii leading to a smaller but far older shrine!

“Benzaiten shrine/弁財天神社”!

A highly venerated stone!

Even a pond with Japanese carps!

A comparatively small but very important “O Mikoshi/御神輿/Portable Shrine”!

Its name is “Gohouren/御鳳/”Great Phoenix”!
It is carried into the nearby sea every year on the 16th of July!

Check this Japanese Gohouren Website for some great pictures!

Good-bye, Kinomiya shrine!

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Green Tea and Wagashi Cakes at Momijiyama Japanese Garden in Sumpu Park in Shizuoka City!

April 18, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Impeccable cleanliness. Washroom outside the Garden inside Sumpu Park (equipped for physically-impaired visitors)
Prices: very reasonable
Strong points: top-class local tea. Beautiful wagashi. Splendid Japanese park.English pamphlet available. English-speaking staff.
Entirely non-smoking

If you visit Sumpu Park in the center of Shizuoka City you ought to visit one place secluded inside for a true Japanese experience: Momijiyama Japanese Garden and its tearoom!

If you come to the right time of the year you will be welcomed by flowering cherry trees!

Once past the entrance where you can book tea and wagashi cake at the tea room walk along the wooden platform to reach the inner Japanese garden.

The general view of the park, an ever-changing landscapes according to the seasons!

Beautiful pond with Japanese carps!

Take your time and walk around!

Plenty of flowering trees along the seasons!

This part of the garden was design to represent Mount Fuji looming over green tea fields!

The tea room!

Water well!

A look at the “engawa/surrounding hall” on the right of the tea room!

Inside view!
You are invited inside as soon as a seat is available and upon producing your ticket you will be served either sencha tea or macha tea with a wagashi Japanese cake.

You can put your bag under the table!

I personally asked macha tea!

My Wagashi Japanese cake represented a rape flower and plant!

Good news for vegans and vegetarians!

The macha was served in beautiful bowls!
Mine was decorated with wisteria!

Some of my friends had ordered sencha sets!

With a different type of wagashi Japanese cake!

We were all served houji cha before leaving!

A peaceful corner!

Check the tea selection on sale!

Take your time to enjoy the park before leaving!

MOMIJIYAMA JAPANESE GARDEN IN SUMPU PARK, SHIZUOKA CITY

Access (inside Sumpu Park):
5 minutes on foot from Shin-Shizuoka Station on the Shizutetsu Railway Line
10 minutes on foot from JR Shizuoka Station
15 minutes by car from Shizuoka Interchange on the Tomei expressway
Shizuoka City is one hour by Shinkansen Bullet Train from Tokyo and two hours from Kyoto

Opening hours: 09:00~16:30
Closed on Mondays (if Monday is a National Holiday, open on Monday and closed on Tuesday).
Closed from December 29th to January 3rd
Check admission fees at entrance
Interpretation services by citizen volunteers are available on reservation in several languages. For further details contact the Parks and Green Areas Division of City Hall at (054) 221-1121 or the Tea Room Office at (054) 251-0016

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 40: New Commemorative Fire Hydrant Manhole Cover 2nd Type in Shizuoka City!

April 15, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On February 5th in 2015 I had reported on a new Commemorative Fire Hydrant Manhole Cover being installed in Various locations in Shizuoka City to mark the 400th Anniversary of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu’ss Death.

Read more about the above manhole cover HERE

Now, yesterday I noticed apparently the same cover because it seemed brand new!

It is located along the Shichiken Cho Street at an intersection not far from Isetan Department Store!
I soon found why I was intrigued: it was a different cover!

The new cover!

In the upper left quarter a falcon (Tokugawa Ieyasu was passionate about falconry!) had replaced the Kanji character “水”for “water”!
The shape of the clouds has also been amended.

The text inside the scrolls had been written black on white (instead of white on black) with a different sentence meaning “Shizuoka City which was loved by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu”. Actually the city was called “Fuchu” before he retired there in 1607 when he changed its name to “Sumpu”. It became “Shizuoka City” only during the beginning of the Meiji Era!

In the lower right quarter the date “2017” has been replaced with two eggplants!
Shizuoka City, more precisely Shimizu City before it was merged as Shimizu Ku, is famous for a local eggplant called “折戸なす/orito nasu” taht Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu was very fond of!
Moreover five pine trees have been lft out the six original ones!

As for the bottom left quarter it has basically been left untouched!

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Kanaya Tea Festival 2016!

April 14, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

At last, after a two-year interval, I could enjoy the Tea Festival in Kanaya, Shimada City, although my visit was definitely too short to my taste. In 2018, I will definitely stay there at least a full day and a full night!

Ladies’ power!

This year I almost reached Kanaya too early, but it gave me time to appreciate that the city and its inhabitants are trying their best every two years!
Let me at least introduce their event in pictures!

THE GROUPS & THE CLANS!

Taking pictures is an embarrassment of choices, especially considering the universal goodwill and fun-loving spirit!
The rick is probably to sort your pictures according to themes!

An orange chariot rider team!

The city is basically divided into 6 traditional precincts dating back to Edo Era and each has its own festival chariots manned and introduced by teams residing in their respective areas!

The third precinct “guard”!

A white and violet chariot rider team!

A motley chariot handler team!

The 6th Precinct “Guard”!

The younger generation “Guard”!

THE CHARIOTS!

The Chariots, called “Yatai”, is the main event and performed twice, once at noon and another time after dark!

Each chariot carried its own drummers and flutists encouraging the handlers and riders!

Each chariot was ridden by comparatively light men whose role was toe encourage the handlers!

Naturally the same vocal and whistling encouragements amplified when two chariots got near to each other!

And all the while the drummers keep drumming, drumming and drumming!

All chariots seem to barely be able to pass under the telephone cables!

Actually they had more trouble avoiding the traffic lights than each other!

Handlers kept smiling all the time!
For all their fierce faces, fights are extremely rare between handlers of different chariots.
Even when it happens especially at night when everyone tends to imbibe as well, older organizers are very quick to handle any troublemakers without the help of policemen who are practically unseen!

There was still a long day to come and participants were obviously saving some energy!

Actually most were looking forward to the night when their hand lanterns would be lit!

Move, move!

The wheels are actually heavy wood logs that turn slowly and handlers need to push the chariots forward or sideways with long poles while more handlers were pulling the vehicles with heavy ropes!

All in good humor!

THE FACES!

All participants have two years to prepare themselves and some @faces@ are really worth photographing!
I actually know the gentleman above who is a truck driver!

These two are actually senior cadres in the festival!

Flaming guy!

Mother and son!

Always extremely happy to pose, especially with cute foreign ladies!

The beauties and the beasts?

THE “TEA LADIES/CHA MUSUME”!

But the Kanaya Tea Festival is known all over Japan for all the ladies of whatever age parading as the “Cha Musume/Tea Ladies”!

All the members of the so-called “weak gender” are local!

No age limit!

Some of them are even carried along!

No less than a thousand of them!

See you again in 2018, but at night!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Craft Beer, Japan Craft beer, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Shisui (2016 version)

April 13, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Koudai Fukuyama/福山康大さん, at Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City, has come up with his 2016 version of “Shisui”!

It is presently served at AOI BEER STAND, Beer Junkies Motel and BEER GARAGE, so you had better hurry as this is a limited brew!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Maris Otter malt (England), Pilsner malt (Germany), Munich nalt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Magnum hop (Germany), Simcom hop (USA), Cascade hop (USA), Centinear hop (USA), American Ale yeast/Wyeast 1056 (USA), 水飴/Mizuame/sugared water.
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Dry hopping
Acohol/ABV: 5.1 degrees
IBU: 20
Starting sugar level: 11.9 Degrees P, Finishing sugar level: 2.3 degrees P
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: light orange
Aroma: dry and assertive. Citruses.
Taste: light, dry and fruity attack
Oranges, biscuits.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with dry oranges with pleasant acidity.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: A craft beer without an overwhelming aroma, light enough and an easy taste!
A craft beer for all seasons!
Even better than last year’s first version!
Suggested pairings: salads, cold meats.

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

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

April 7, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

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

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

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

The second toriii gate!

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

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

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

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

The place even has a small pond with sacred carps!

The roofed hand washing stone basin!

Complete with a dragon water spout!

Another small shrine behind the stone basin!

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

The haiden/shrine for the worshipers!

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

The closed-mouth lion guard!

With its forepaw atop a young lion guard!

Its open-mouthed companion!

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

Another view!

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

More cherry blossoms!

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

The honden/worshipers’ hall!

With its shimenawa/rice straw garland!

The pinion!

The money-offerings box!

Moving to the haiden/deity abode behind the honden!

The haiden with its roofed corridor!

Regularly repainted!

Overlooked by ancient cedar trees!

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

Good-bye Niihashi sengen Shrine!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Craft Beer, Japan Craft beer, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Harumi　(2016 version-1st Batch)

April 5, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This year’s Harumi will actually be brewed into 3 different batches which are bound to taste differently according to the very difference between the harvested mikan.
The harumi used in this first batch were comparatively small with little juice.

Served on tap
Barley, Pilsner Malt, Maris Otter malt, Topaz hop, Sapphire hop, American Ale yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Acohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 17
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white color
Color: orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Discreet. Dry citruses
Taste: deep, dry and fruity attack with just a tinge of acidity.
Plenty of green mandarin oranges.
Drier than previous brewed in 2015.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on more if a bit drier mandarin oranges.
Mandarin oranges will surge even more strongly with further sips.
Changes little with food but for the appearance of more and more dry mandarin oranges.

Overall: very elegant fruit craft beer.
Simply extravagant, although one might think that the following batches will be even better!
Should please ladies and dry fruit beer lovers in particular.
A craft beer for all seasons.
Suggested pairings: vegetable salads, mixed nuts.

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES