Category Archives: Shizuoka

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

Shark Bus in Shizuoka City!

December 22, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

I finally caught the “Shark Bus” in Shizuoka City!
I had noticed quite a few times and was really looking forward to take pics of it!

I was cycling on the pavement (it is ok in Japan!) and Had to stop at a traffic light when the bus just stopped by my side!
I just had the time to get off my bicycle and take pictures before it went away!
Some people may have wondered what this gaijin nerd was about!

Mind you all that seafood does not seem to worry about that horrible shark!

The design is actually the winning of a contest organised among primary schools in Shizuoka!

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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

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Sushi: Suruga Bay Sushi Set at Ginta in Yui, Shizuoka City!

December 21, 2013 dragonlife 6 Comments

Service: Friendly and great explanations!
Facilities and equipment: old
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Suruga Bay sashimi and sushi! Sakura ebi!

“Me-Ichi Dai/メイチダイ”, a very rare seabream caught in Suruga Bay! It goes by the Latin name of Gymnocranius griseus (Temminck and Schlegel)! You would have to pay thousands for it in Tokyo! One of the best seabreams in Japan!

For all its derelict appearance (and it is actually old in all senses of the term!) Ginta in Yui just in front of Suruga Bay regularly appears on magazines and TV.
The reason is simple enough: this is a rare place, albeit cheap by sushi restaurant standards, which serves mainly local fish and seafood caught in Suruga Bay/駿河湾, and more precisely in a smaller bay called Kurasawa Bay/倉沢湾!
These are the richest bays in Japan when it comes to varieties, even including deep-sea fish which also appear as sashimi on plates in Numazu city for example!

Sakura ebi emblem on a small bridge crossing one of the many streams running into the sea!

Mr. Hara is a story himself: being the son of a sakura ebi/cherry shrimp fisherman, he was destined to sail in his father’s feet, but he had one little problem… he suffered from chronic seasickness! There was only path left to him: opening a sushi restaurant!

But his superior knowledge of the local fish and fishermen gave him the inestimable advantage over all sushi restaurants in the Prefecture that he had first catch and first choice whenever he wanted!
He didn’t have to serve fancy sushi or sashimi but keeping things simple served him perfectly. People would come from very far indeed for only one of his three specialties: aji/鯵/Kurasawa Bay Horse mackerel sushi nigiri plate, full course sakura ebi/桜海老 set (in season only for a mere 3,000 ywn!) and the 8 local fish sushi nigiri set for the ridiculous price of 1,800 yen/18 US $/13 Euros!
The other day I opted for the 8 local sushi nigiri set (I always do, actually!).
The set details allways appears on a notice on the board and served in the same order, a simple and great way ro introduce the fish offered!

The 8 local fish and seafood nigiri set!

Hirame/平目/Sole-Grouper!

Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard fish served with momiji oroshi (grated daikon and chili pepper) and ponzu! topping

Yagara/ヤガラ/Trumpet fish served in konbujine style (marinated in seaweed)!

Fugu/河豚/Globefish (don’t worry, a non-poisonous variety!) served with momiji oroshi, leek and ponzu topping!

Kurasawa Bay Aji/鯵/Horse Mackerel!

Ishidai/石鯛/Striped Beakfish-Barred Knifejaw!

Kurodai/黒鯛/Japanese Black Porgy!

Sakura Ebi/桜海老/Cherry Shrimps served in gunkan-style nigiri!
Note the glossy shell skin and the many red dots, a sure sign of super freshness!

And sakura ebi miso soup to finish it all!

GINTA
421-3111 Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui, Konjuku, 165 (Get off at Yui JR Station, turn right, a few minutes walk)
Tel.: 0543-75-3004
Business hours: 11:00~23:00 (but better call beforehand!)
Closed on Tuesdays

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Events, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Festivals, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Festivals, Life, Life in Japan, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Festival, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Yui

O Taiko Festival at Toyosumi Shrine in Yui, Shizuoka City on the New Year!

December 21, 2013 dragonlife 3 Comments

On the new Year there are indeed quite a few unusual festivals happening, and Shizuoka is no exception!
I found this sign, among others,yesterday as I was strolling along the Old Kitakaido in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City and decided to investigate a little as I am really interested in attending it!

This is a very old festival indeed as it took place for the first time in 797!

It is one of the two major festivals in Yui with the Sakura Ebi Festival in May!
Yui had been a city of its own and one of the famous stations along the Old Tokaido Route as painted by Hiroshige until only a few years ago when it was merged into Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City

It has been held all the time at Toyosumi Shrine/豊積神社, a very old shrine built in 791!

The exact address is 静岡県静岡市清水区由比町町屋原185/Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimizu Ku, Yui Machi, Machiharaya, 185.
Get down at Yui JR Station and walk down the road on your right hand side. Walk past the harbor, turn left after Ando Dental Clinic and walk up all the way.

Held from January 1st at noon to the 3rd at 00:30 a.m.!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 14: Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City

December 21, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Big manhole cover over a fire hydrant tank in Yui!
Note the cherry shrimp/sakura ebi design!

The same design near Yui JR Station!

Yui, which was still a city of its own not so long ago before it was merged into Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, might be relatively small, but is fishing harbor town known all over Japan for its succulent cherry shrimps/sakura ebi and thus deserved some particular attention!

One can find both the large version and small version together along the road starting left of Yui Station!

The smaller blue version!

A large orange fire hydrant commonly found throughout the prefecture but with one detail separating it for the rest!

This particular emblem can be found only in Yui!
Note that the color orange often denotes fire station property!

A large and beautiful bronze color manhole cover!

Manufactured by the Chubu Foundry!

They are to be found in one single spot across from a bank!

Unusually blue for that type but with the Yui emblem!
I’m sure that the color blue has a meaning!

A common valve pit manhole cover but with a different detail!

The Yui emblem!

A private manhole cover which can bear up to 500 kg. The notice says to secure it safely and tightly!

Another private manhole cover capable of bearing up to 500 kg!

Still another private manhole cover produced by Nikko Company (founded in 1908)!

This private manhole cover produced by BK Company can only bear up to 450 kg!

But this other one by the same compny can bear up to 500 kg! LOL

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Tsunami Hitting Mount Fuji!

December 21, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

I reckon I had a hard time choosing the title and might risk some complaints!

I found this sign near the harbor of Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, famous for its cherry shrimp/sakura ebi fishermen!
It a zone particularly sensitive to tsunami although escape would be far easier than in large cities.
Mount Fuji looking over the tsunami was too good to ignore!
Note the sakura ebi design!

The text says: “Earthquake! Tsunami! Take refuge immediately!”

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Weird Japan (42): Real Landslide Sign in Yui, Shizuoka City!

December 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

As I was along along the old Tokaido Route in Yui, Shimizu Ku, in Shizuoka City, I knew something was weird when my eyes were attracted by this overhead sign!

Apparently the landslide has already happened on the sign!

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Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/12/019): Holiday Season Special Releases: Jubilation Ale & Bakayaro! Ale

December 19, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Holiday Season Special Releases: Jubilation Ale & Bakayaro! Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Life is a fleeting thing. Each of us is here but a very short time. The older we get, the more clearly we comprehend this inexorable reality. And despite the sometimes awful travails and the always regular monotony of life, it remains a mysteriously beautiful thing. The end-of-the-year holiday season provides wonderful occasion for reflection and appreciation of the joy of living.

At Baird Brewing, 0ur appreciation of this joy is manifested in a celebratory holiday season ale we call Jubilation Ale.

Baird Beer Holiday Season Special Releases:
*Jubilation Ale (7%):

This malty rich, festively red-hued ale derives its special character largely from the addition of two wonderful local ingredients: (1) fully ripened Japanese figs (ichijiku) and (2) cinnamon twigs culled from a local nikki tree. The full-bodied character combined with the attendant alcohol strength will warm the flesh just as it brings jubilation to the soul.

Jubilation Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml). It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Thursday, December 19).

If joyous celebration this holiday season is simply beyond your capacity, we fully understand. There is a Grinch in all of us and it needs recognition too. For the Grinch inside you, we proudly release Bakayaro! Ale.

*Bakayaro! Ale (8.5%):

This insolent, snotty and mean-spirited brew is pungently hoppy and wickedly strong. High in malt gravity (18.2 Plato), bitter in hoppiness (90 IBU), aggressive in aroma (double dry-hopping with five varieties: Sorachi Acd, Summit, Citra, Chinook, Centennial), Bakayaro! Ale just doesn’t give a rat’s ass. And this year, he is the confused and conflicted love-child of a multiple fermentation orgy between two different yeast strains — one Belgian and one Scottish. And you thought your life was crazy!

We invite you to visit a Baird Taproom this evening, have a pint and let those around know exactly how you feel — joyful or otherwise! Bakayaro! Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

I am happy to report that we are making very good progress in the construction of our new brewery in Shuzenji. Our custom-designed German manufactured brewing equipment began arriving on site this past Monday and Hori-san and team are busy positioning it within the brewery even as I write. Please check out our photo gallery on Facebook from time to time for a visual update: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.733443336672214.1073741827.117149904968230&type=3&uploaded=6.

Lead brewer Chris will be updating the photo gallery more extensively later this weekend. If things continue on course, we expect to be brewing in the new facility sometime in April 2014. Our current brewery equipment will be relocated to Shuzenji and reinstalled there by the end of May 2014. The grand opening celebration likely will be held in June 2014.

Holiday Season Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Leaf Salad Topped with Shrimps, Marinated Vegetables and Avocado Dip Lunch Set at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City

December 19, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom in same building separated from the cafe.
Prices: Reasonable for such big servings!
Strong points: Very generous cafe/bistro multi-genred gastronomy. Great variety. Great products. Entirely non-smoking in very modern atmosphere. Great books!

The other day, although I was hungry for lunch I knew I had better take something very tasty but healthy and low enough in calories to not put extra stress on a body already suffering for the mountains of food and lakes of alcoholic drinks one cannot escape from in the month of December!
The new Leaf Salad Topped with Shrimps, marinated vegetables and Avocado Dip Lunch Set offered at BLUE BOOKS cafe seems therefore appropriate!

The salad!
Absolutely enormous! My lady neighbor couldn’t finish hers! LOL

Succulent avocado sip!

A Japanese touch with the topping of marinated vegetables, mainly violet onion!

Very healthy combination and just enough to satisfy your bite!

All vegetables super fresh and local in a Caesar salad style!

Superb carrot bread for great balance and supplementary satisfaction!

The lunch set includes a drink, lemon tea in my case to wash it all down!

Some American friends told me it is all a bit extravagant! LOL

BLUE BOOKS cafe
420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!

Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Abekaido Tokubetsu Honjozo

December 19, 2013 dragonlife 18 Comments

As I mentioned before Suruga Brewery, the “officially” (I do have a bone of contention about that…) second newest brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture preserved the names of the sake brands produced by the defunct Yoshiya Brewery after they acquired their license.
And “Abekaido/The Route Along the Abe River” is one of them!
The label represents a genuine woodblock print made in Edo period when people did travel a lot along the Abe River in Shizuoka City they had to cross along the Old Tokaido Road!
Keep the label!

I acquired this particular 300 ml bottle at Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka City which makes the effort to give enough information!

Rice milled down to 60&
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 7
Bottled in November 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Almost transparent
Aroma: Pleasant, dry and fruity. Banana, custard.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded and deep attack with soft alcohol.
Complex. Fruity. Custard, with late hints of dry oranges and persimmons.
Lingers only for a little while.
Very elegant and gentle approach for a seemingly “modest” sake.
Changes little with food but for a drier and nuttier note.
Clings solidly to its qualities all along with or without food. Drinks up very quickly!

Overall: A sure value!
The kind of ask you can drink for any occasion. Great with any fod that it will enhance without overwhelming it.
The perfect present/souvenir to a sake-lover beyond our Prefecture for an endless conevrsation topic on Japanese sake, culture and history!

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Japanese Rice Recipe: Yaki Meshi

December 18, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

If you have any steamed rice left, do not worry as this is a chance to make a totally new dish for the pleasure of your family or impressing a special person! And it always so easy!
I’ve got a few stored and this is the second installemnet: Yaki Chahan/焼飯!

This recipe being a guide more than anything I leave to your priorities as for the quantities!

INGREDIENTS:

Hot or cold steamed rice
Bacon
Vegetables
Eggs
Salt
Pepper
Japanese sake
Light soy sauce

RECIPE:

Prepare all ingredients before starting to avoid running after something in the middle of cooking!
As an example get the following ready:
Steamed rice
Lettuce
Cabbage
Bacon
Eggs (1 per person)

Cut the bacon in strips thin enough to be easily mixed with the rice.
Instead of bacon you can use pork belly, beef, minced meat or canned tuna, whatever you have on that day!

Chop the lettuce and cabbage. Add some salt to them. Mix by hand. This step is to help the vegetables to sweat out their water which would soak the rice into the wrong taste and appearance. Put aside.

One can use hot or cold steam rice, but cold steam rice is better as it contains less water.
Beat the egg into a smooth liquid and mix well with rice.

Fry the bacon first in wok.
One can use normal oil with the meat, sesame oil, butter or leek oil.
Of course you may add some chopped garlic at that point!

Once the bacon or meat is cooked, press the chopped vegetables into a ball to get rid of its excess water. Throw the water away.

Add the egg rice and stir fry over strongest fire possible.

Once the rice has properly cooked add the vegetables and stir fry until well mixed together.Do it in as little time as possible or the vegetables will become sticky!

Season with salt, pepper and soy sauce, stir quickly and serve hot!

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Mount Fuji on Stamps 2: 1935~1962 (partial)

December 18, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

There is a very interesting way to know more about Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture (and also Yamanashi Prefecture) by collecting or studying stamps which were issued on this subject inside Japan (there are of course more in the rest of the world)!

There are certainly more than one may think first as the Japanese Post Office printed regular not only commemorative stamps but also regular stamps well before WWII!

Here is an account spanning up to 2004 (2nd installment)
Past that year, I’m sure it will be a lot easier to investigate!

National Parks Commemorative First Series, First Stage: Fuji Hakone. October 10th, 1936

1 sen, dark brown. Akebono View of Mount Fuji.

3 sen, dark green. Lake Ashinoko View of mount Fuji.

6 sen, reddish mauve. Mittouge Pass view of Mount Fuji.

10 sen, dark blue. Mishima view of Mount Fuji.

New Year Stamp, printed and issued in 1935 for the year 1936

1 sen 5 rin, red

New Showa Regular Series. August 1st~8th, 1946

1 yen, dark blue, Mount Fuji by Hokusai. No perforation.

1 yen, light blue, Mount Fuji by Hokusai. No perforation.

1 yen, light blue, Mount Fuji by Hokusai. Philatelic Week Commemorative mini sheet.

20 sen, light blue. Mount Fuji & Cherry Tree (first design). Perforated.

20 sen, dark blue. Mount Fuji & Cherry Tree (second design). Perforated.

10 sen, orange. Mount Fuji & Cherry Tree (second design). No perforation.

20 sen, dark blue. Mount Fuji & Cherry Tree (second design). No perforation.

National Parks Commemorative First Series, Second Stage: Fuji Hakone. July 15th, 1949

2 yen, light brown. Mittouge Pass view of Mount Fuji.

8 yen. Greyish green. Lake Kawaguchi view of mount Fuji.

14 yen, Dark mauve. Mount Shichimen view of Mount Fuji.

24 yen, dark blue. Lake Yamanaka view of Mount Fuji.

Great Buddha Airmail Series: August 15th, 1953

80 yen, dark blue.

70 yen, brownish mauve.

115 yen, dark green.

145 yen, greenish blue

National Parks Commemorative First Series. Fuji Hakone Izu. January 16th, 1962

5 yen, dark green. Lake Ashinoko view of mount Fuji.

10 yen, reddish brown. Mittouge Pass view of Mount Fuji.

10 yen grey. Ose Cape view of Mount Fuji.

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Japanese Rice Recipe: Tamago Chahan-Egg Fried Rice

December 17, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

If you have any steamed rice left, do not worry as this is a chance to make a totally new dish for the pleasure of your family or impressing a special person! And it always so easy!
I’ve got a few stored and I will begin with the simplest one: Tamago Chahan/玉子チャハン! “Tamago” stands for “eggs” and “Chahan” for fried rice!

This recipe being a guide more than anything I leave to your priorities as for the quantities!

INGREDIENTS:

Cold/hot steamed rice
Eggs
Leeks, finely chopped. White part of a thick leek if possible
Oil
Salt
Water

Optional: pepper and spices. Japanese sake and sesame oil

RECIPE:

Chop the leek very fine
Think of one egg per person.
Beta the egg until you obtain a smooth even colored liquid.
Prepare a wok.

First heat the wok until white smoke starts coming out.
Pour a full ladle of oil in the wok and stir it all inside the wok.
Pour all the oil back into a pot for that usage.
This is an important step that will insure that the rice or the egg stick to the wok!

Pour 2 or 3 spoons of fresh oil into the wok (you may use normal oil, sesame oil or leek oil, whatever your preference).
Drop the rice inside. Bear in mind that too much rice will be difficult to cook properly. This is not done in a restaurant where gas heat is far more powerful than over a home gas stove!
Spread the rice with your ladle.

Pour the beaten eggs over the riceas evenly as possible.
The reason why the eggs are poured after the rice is to prevent them to become an omlette or stick to the wok!

Stir continuously over the hot fire so as to mix the rice well with the egg.
This is the most important step as you do not want the rice and egg cooking separately!

Having fried the rice and egg for about 30 seconds, add some salt. Do it little by little. That is, add the salt. stir a few seconds and check the taste. Repeat as many tin\mes as necessary until it is salted enough to your taste!

throw in the finely chopped white leek and stir fry for a few seconds. you can pepper and other spices then if you wish too.

Pour a little water around the wok over the rim of the fried rice. Let the water bubble under the heat and stir only once. This is when you can replace the water with Japanese sake, or sesame oil, or even a little soy sauce. But bear in mind the taste will be diffrent, so do experiment!

Eat at once while it is very hot!

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Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Wall Painting, Yaizu City

Wall Paintings in Yaizu City!

December 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yesterday I was ambling along streets in Yaizu City in search of the manhole covers I had found out on the net when I reached a small bridge over the river crossing the city into the sea (yaizu City is one the major fishing harbors in Japan!).

The pavements in the vicinity of the bridge were decorated with some interesting tiles I was going to take pictures of when I noticed paintings on the wall along the pathway of the very quiet river full of Japanese carps!

The paintings had been ordered to real artists by the city to help promote its tourism!

This particular series depicted the Yaizu Harbor Festival, a major one in Shizuoka Prefecture which is held every year!

The local fishermen must be really looking forward to it!

O Mikoshi/Portable Shrines!

At least one lady seems after all to be part of it!
I will have to investigate!

As I amble along I found out that the river was in fact crossed by three bridges to allow the many avenues to go through and had a glimpse at another painting on another wall!

A legendary hero in a fiery scene with an erupting Mount Fuji in the background!

There were more to be seen from the third bridge!

They were all about and ancient legendary hero with hints of religion!

Confrontation!

Offerings!

Praying for succor!

Deity Symbols?

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

Italian Dessert Gatsronomy: Budino-Ricotta Cheese Puding at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

December 16, 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!

When you order “pudding” for dessert at Soilo Italian Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, you will first have to say “Budino”, and then don’t expect something in a small round dish!

This great pudding you delightfully cut through with a spoon was concocted with extravagant ricotta cheese!
It results in multi-flavored dessert you take time to enjoy a little at a time to rediscover all its facets!

Since all the food is seasonal at Solio you can expect late Autumn fruit at this time of the year, including squat persimmons which were first grown in Shizuoka Prefecture a long, long time ago!

Once again, simple and sublime!

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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Design, Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kura, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 6: Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City with Atsuko Kurata!

December 15, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

We will have to check this ivy-covered kura again in the summer!

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditonal Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

This posting again features sights by my good friend, Mrs. Atsuko Kurata who is turning into a real detective when she found no less than five of them in her native Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City!
No wonder as Atsuko’s family name includes the word Kura/倉, the modern form of kura/蔵!

I certainly wouldn’t mind living there!
It stands in Hon Machi (Main District)

Another old kura in Minato machi (harbor District)!

You must remember that Shimizu has had always been and still is a major harbor in Japan.
It may have seen better days as there were enough rich people in need of such warehouses!

But Atsuko thinks that this particular one might be haunted!

This particular kura was owned by Yohei Suzuki, the founder of Suzuyo Company, the largest transport company in Shizuoka Prefecture and the owner of Fuji Dream Airline!