Tag Archives: Art

Design, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kappa, Life, Life in Japan, Photography, Statues, Tourism, Yaizu City, 河童

Kappa (Water Goblins) Street in Yaizu City!

February 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kimono-clad female kappa!

If you get off at Nishi Yaizu JR Station and go to the Kappa Museum, you will discover at one moment little stone statues of kappa (water goblins) in front of homes or stores indirectly advertising that Yaizu City holds a Guinness World Record in the shape of a 10,000+ collection of kappa in a private museum (report coming soon)!
For more information on Kappa/河童, read HERE!

These are all very cute kappa, but do remember they are still feared in some areas in Japan!

The kimono-clad female kappa in front of a cake shop!

Kappa enjoying his sake!
A kappa cannot live without a river, sake, cucumbers and plenty of raucous fun!

Cucumber-eating kappa!
Have you ever wondered what was the meaning of a “Sushi Kappa Maki”? Now, you know!

Tortoise-riding Kappa!

A Kappa calling for a refill!

A Kappa sleeping off his sake!

A kappa builder!

A studious young Kappa!

A beckoning Kappa!
Careful with that one!

A welcoming Kappa!
Careful with that one, too!

A young Kappa bringing flowers to her Mummy!

Naturally in front of a flower shop!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Daruma Festival at Bishamonten Myohouji Temple in Yoshiwara, Fuji City!-富士市吉原で毘沙門天大祭!

February 10, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Every year one of the three biggest Daruma Doll Festival is held in Yoshiwara, Fuji City!
This year it was held a bit earlier than usual on February 6=8th.
Daruma Dolls are hollow, round, Japanese traditional dolls modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man (Dharma), vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist. Though considered omocha, meaning toys, Daruma have a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement.
These are changed every year, making for a profitable business.
Read more information about Daruma dolls THERE!

Once you get off Yoshiwara JR Sation, next to Fuji JR Station take the exit on the left.
You will know you are on the right path when you see the flag sign!

Like in any festival in Japan you its importance by the length of road access lined up with all kinds of stands and shops!
They were many that day!
Actually if you had all shops leading to the Temple and the shops inside it, you’ll find around 600 of them offering their wares for three days to about 180,000 visitors to this Festival held since the Edo Era!

Okonomiyaki!

Takoyaki!

Taiyaki!

Goldfish scooping pond!

Hiroshima-style Okonmiyaki!

Going bananas!

More takyaki!

Snow crab!

Grilled ayu trouts!

Yakisoba!

Ball-catching pond!

Candied strawberries!

Dried shirasu and sakuraebi!

Yakitori!

Finally reached the stairs of Bishamaonten Shrine/毘沙門天!
Actually the grounds are teh locale to both the shrine and a big Buddhist Temple called Myohouji/妙法寺!

A monument offered by Izu Nagaoka Village!

The torii/Shrine entrance gate!

A solid crowd!

In Japan, even in such a crowd, it is not difficult to move around!

The daruma at last!

Their owners will paint the pupils of their eyes back home!

Can you see the monkey darumas on the left?

The whole place has become red!

Medium-sized darumas!

There were also farmers peddling flowers and bonsai trees!

These darumas seemed to be burning!

An inviting cat!

There were quite a few food stands on the premises, too!

This year is the Year of the Horse!

There were quite a few people around the dragon shrine!

The enormous Myouhouji Temple in the background!

Imposing roofs!

Back to the screaming dragons!

What were these people doing below the dragons around the incense burrning bowl?

They were imprgnating themselves with the sacred incense smoke!

A double Mount Fuji?

Postcard snow-capped Mount Fuji!

It was then time to go back!

A last colorful photo of daruma dolls!

A colorful tiger coat!

Hang on, still one more picture to take…

Mini darumas!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Gastronomic Art and Humor: “Chawan Mushi (“Mushi”=”Steamed” or “Insect”!) at Art Gallery Pumpkin 2 in Yaizu City!

February 8, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Yuuji Iwasaki/岩崎祐司さんi holding a very interesting exhibition until February 23rd where you can both admire some very unusual art and learn about Japanese puns!

Yuuji Iwasaki (67) has been exhibiting his collection all over Japan for more than 2 years, changing venue every month!
A native of Yaizu City he started his wooden sculptures on a Buddhist them first.
But since 1996 he worked on paraodu\ies of all genre.
This Shokokuten/笑刻展/Humorous Sculpture exhibition is based on Japanese puns only!

Chawan Mushi/茶碗蒸し is a Japanese delicacy, a kind of salted hot pudding.
“Mushi/蒸し” means “Steamed”, but it is also the same pronunciation of “虫/insect”!
Now, you should understand why some interesting insects are coming out of the chawanmushi cup!

GALLERY PUMPKIN 2

425-0027 Yaizu City, Sakae Cho, 8-1, 2F
Tel.: 054-637-9722
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Credit Cards OK
Parking available
HOMEPAGE</strong>

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Art Exhibitions Art gallery Food Food humor Humor Japan Photography Scupture Shizuoka Yaizu City Yuuji Iwasaki 岩崎祐司

静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanes Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Yaizu City

Art Gallery: Pumpkin 2 in Yaizu City!

February 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

When it comes to art galleries you do sometimes need some kind of radar to find them!
But it is certainly worth the search!

now we were in search of an art Gallery in Yaizu City called Pumpkin 2 because they were having a very interesting exhibition called 笑刻展/Shokokuten, that is Funny Scupture Exhibiton by an artist called Yuuji Iwasaki/岩崎祐司さん (separate articles coming!)!

Actually it is not too difficult to find the gallery but you do have to keep your eyes open.
Get out south exit of Yaizu Station, walk to your right along the railway line and you should find it within 5 minutes walk before a small park containing a full steam locomotive!
Climb to the upper floor and enter the narrow entrance.
If you come by car there is a free parking lot available but call them beforehand!

A beautiful canvas in the narrow entrance hall!

A whole group of loacl artists use the place full time where they exhibit and sell their creations!
Do check their Japanese homepage!

Gastronomic art!

Exquisite paintings!

Most of the same artists do often exhibit in Shzuoka City!

Mobiles by Takashi Terada/寺田高士さん！

They hold an exhibition by Yuuji Iwasaki/岩崎祐司さん until February 23rd featuring unique humorous wooden sculptures based on Japanese puns! A must!

It might look small but it will take a good hour to understand the jokes and admire the sculptures!

One of Iwasaki’s creations!

A small Ali Baba’s treasure trove of objets d’art!

A favorite of mine!

Incidentally don’t look for a gallery called Pumpkin 1, it does not exist!

GALLERY PUMPKIN 2

425-0027 Yaizu City, Sakae Cho, 8-1, 2F
Tel.: 054-637-9722
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Credit Cards OK
Parking available

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Art Exhibitions Art gallery Japan Photography Shizuoka Yaizu City

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Fuji City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 24: Yoshiwara (now merged to Fuji City)

February 7, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

kaguyahime/The Bamboo Cutter Daughter, considered by many as the most beautiful manhole cover in Japan!

The same. It is framed in yellow on the road to help firement find it at night as this is a fire hydrant manhole cover.
It is located in the middle of a narrow street at the bottom of Bishamonten Myoyouji Temple.
Apparently there is only one sample!
It was made when before Yoshiwara was merged with Fuji City as demonstrated by the crest!

Mount Fuji water access manhole cover!
This was installed after Yoshiwara was merged with Fuji City!

The same as above but half size!

A large Yoshiwara fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another double Yoshiwara fire hydrant manhole cover of a dufferent design!

A similar fire hydrant, but single and over a water tank access!

An older Yoshiwara rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover!

An old small Yoshiwara valve pit manhole cover!

Another small Yoshiwara valve pit manhole cover with a totally different design!

A very old ans small water access Yoshiwara manhole cover!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Fuji City Japan Manhole covers Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka Tourism Tourism Yoshiwara

美食, 静岡県, 観光, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Yaizu City

Gastronomy on a Manhole Cover: Bonito in Yaizu City!

February 6, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

I’ve been recently disparaged in some corners for adding tourism, environment and manhole covers to this gastronomic blog, but I would like to point out that tourism and environment walk hands in hands with gastronomy!

If you get off Yaizu JR Station from the south exit and take the main street on your right you will see many of these magnificently colored manhole covers on the pavement.

Do take a care about cars before taking a picture across the street!

Yaizu City is classified as a major fishing harbor in Japan and deals with the biggest catches of bonito (katsuo/鰹).
No wonder it is featured on at least two types of manhole covers!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art bonito Gastronomy Japan Japan Gastronomy Manhole Cover Photography Tourism Yaizu City

静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Okabe, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Great Inn Kashibaya in Okabe, Shizuoka City!

February 6, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Okabe, now merged with Fujieda City used to be the 21st Station along the Old Tokaido Route, actually the most used one of four that existed at the time as it mainly followed the coast between Nihonbashi in Edo/Tokyo to Keishi/Kyoto

Inns were vital for the well-being of travelers of the time, generally of so-called middle class, especially merchants, and such a one can still be found just near the “Okabeshuku Kashibaya Mae” bus stop.
As for reaching it, one cheap way is to take a bus either from Shizuoka City JR Station North Exit or Fujieda City JR North Exit!

Difficult to miss as it stands by a park!

You will also find a souvenir shop open from 09:00 to 17:00 and a lunch restaurant open from 11:00 to 14:00 located at the back!

The front access!

Don’t forget here is also one more attraction also at the back in the shape of old traditional Jpanese warehouses or “lura”!

Note the owning family crest/mon at the top!

The lobby with a noren/entrance curtain!
You will pay a small entrance fee there and be handed a pamphlet either in Japanese or in English!

From the inside!

omebody will be on hand to introduce the whole building!

What you see above is a small box inside the wall containing a paper lantern that was used for night arrivals!

The guide explained us the handling of the front entrance!

As well as of the front windows which can be completely closed at night or in bad weather!

The wooden curtain would prevent any rain or unwanted visitor during the night!

Before entering the actual premises visitors/travelers would first sit in the mise/welcome space where they would introduced to the inn and tier lodgings and fees.

Like in Japanese traditional inns nowadays, board included dinner and breakfast and were not that cheap. Customers were mainly of the lower to higher middle cass, including merchants and samurais and their retinue.

The indoor kitchen!
Actually a lot was also prepared outside and in annexes!

The owners had their own quarters on the ground/first floor.

Domestic scene!
The owner’s wife would paint her lips in black as a mark of her status!

The whole place is a museum.
The present inn was rebuilt in 1836 and had to be again after two fires struck the whole of Okabe.
It was registered as a National Intangible Cultural Asset in 1998.

Candles and lanterns!

Portable stove to heat water or sake!

An incense clock!
The powdered incense would take a determinate time to burn inside that contraption!

Valuable hairpin collection, some of them made of tortoise shell!

Money and purses of the time!

Traveler’s portable gear including inkstone and so on!

Access to the upper floor!

You tour the whole place in a predetermined order!

Kamidana/Home Shrine!

A fireman’s gear of the time!

I told you it was a true little museum, didn’t I?

A biwa, my favorite Japanese music instrument!

Traveling gear!

Traveling clothes!

Lower middle-class guests on the upper floor!

Back to the owner’s “business room” on the ground floor!

Ceiling rafters!

A genuine ukiyoe/woodblock print of the Old Tokaido Road reaching Okabe!

M

More copies of ukiyoe of the era!

A relief map of Edo Era Okabe!

An Edo Era scene of the Inn!

Japanese carps in the pond of the small outdoors garden!

A cute garden!

Don’t forget to visit to the museum inside the kura behind the Inn as the owner was also a licensed pawn shop owner!

Great Inn KASHIBAYA
Fujieda City, Okabe, Okabe Cho, 817
Tel.: 054-667-0018
Opening hours: 09:00~17:00
Closed on Mondays and end and beginning of the year. If Monday is a National Holiday the following Tuesday is a closing day
Entrance fee: 300 yen for adults, free for children under junior high school, 240 yen each for groups of over 20 people.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Architecture Art Fujieda City History Japan Japanese Culture Japanese Houses Okabe Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka City Tourism Tradional Houses Traditional Japanese inns

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

Traditional Japanese Houses and Inns in Utsunoya, Shizuoka City!

February 5, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Utsunoya was an intermediary stage between the two Old Tokaido Route stations, Mariko in Shizuoka City, and Okabe in Fujieda City.
Even during the Meiji Era travelers had to go through it before climbing up and down steep slopes between the two stations.
Accordingly many visitors stopped overnight in one of the “Shuukuba or Kashiya/inns.
Such establishments can be seen for the sole pleasure of the eyes learning the history of the region.

The access is now very easy!
Just take a bus to Fujieda City from platform 7 in front Shizuoka Jr Station and get off at Utsunoya Iriguchi bus stop just before the Fujieda Tunnel.
Cross the large road by using the overhead bridge and start walking up the street!

You will walk past this beautiful Shizuoka City fire hydrant manhole cover!

The first houses you will meet are not the inns of Utsunoya but they will prepare you to the further sights!

These houses have been for a long time and often repaired but you can catch glimpses of old wooden architecture!

Depending on the season they will make for great photography!

Just walk at an easy pace as your goal is not that far!

This sign indicates one of the great soba restaurants in this Prfecture called Kishigami!

The all-important sign!
Take the left-hand path!

Getting near!

You have reached Utsunoya which was depended on the Mariko Old Tokaido Route Station!

A little historical reminder: travelers had to climb past Utsunoya Pass before the Meiji Toll Tunnel was opened in 1870!

Enter Utsunoya!

On that particular occasion we walked through it on a beautiful winter afternoon, but you ought to imagine the same location in all seasons and weathers!

Rare blue glazed roof tiles!

All these former inns had names finishing with “ya/屋”

They share all the same wooden architectural design!

One can still discover stone foundations even older than the houses!

Antique rain water stone jars!

A postcard view!

now the owners have generally turned to farming!

I can’t start to imagine the work involved to build those inns atop stone walls on such steep slopes!

Walk the stairs keeping an eye for interesting details!

A typical example of the old architectural design of the tiled roofs!

Try and imagine tired travelers stopping there overnight!

Looking down on your tracks up the slope!

How many had these tiles to be replaced/ It is a cold part of Shizuoka City and exposed to the natural elements!

Even now it is worth visiting for the sole purpose of eating at traditional Japanese restaurants: Udon Restaurant!

Soba Restaurant!

Souvenir Shop and restaurant!

And don’t forget to visit the Meiji Tunnel only a little distance away!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Architecture Art History Japan Japanese Culture Japanese Houses Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka City Tourism Tradional Houses Utsunoya

静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kura, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 9

February 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kura in Kashibaya Inn, Okabe, Fujieda City!

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional 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.

During my trip last week in Okabe, Fujieda City and Utsunoya, Shizuoka City, I noticed this small kura along the way to Utusunoya at a bend of the road with no more houses and under the shade of the mountain.

It had been converted into a no-limit shelter for the Utsunoya water pomp!

The original location is not fortuitous as it stands in the shade all day long!

It is still relatively new but the concept is traditional!

No way you can get in!

When I visited the Great Inn Kashibaya in Okabe, Fujieda City, I noticed two big kuras in perfect state behind the Inn!

Actually the two big kuras belonged to a man called Ryoukichi who owned the Inn and also operated a pawn shop in the two kuras!

They were built in 1836.
Although the Inn burnt down twice, the kuras survived all that time!

Both of them now house a museum and gallery!

“Namako” design walls!

It is also used for private art exhibitions!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Architecture Art Fujieda City Houses Japan Japanese Culture Japanese kura Japanese Life Japanese Warehouses Kura Okabe Photography Shizuoka Tourism Utsunoya

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

Meiji Tunnel in Utsunoya, Shizuoka City!

February 4, 2014 dragonlife 1 Comment

Shizuoka Prefecture being located between Tokyo and Nagoya had always been crossed by very busy routes forcing the Meiji Government to dig out many tunnels for faster and easier access and transport.
The Meiji Tunnel in Utsunoya, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City is not only one of them but had the distinction to be first toll tunnel in Japan!

One easy way to visit this piece of engineering history is to take a bus bound to Fujieda from Shizuoka JR Station North exit platform N0′ and to get off at Utusnoya bus stop just before the Fujieda Tunnel. Cross the road to the right hand side and walk along the well paved street. Walk across Utsunoya and turn left when you find the sign above!

You will also find this wooden sign board indicating the Old Tokaido Route/Track through the mountains.

Of course you can walk/climb along the old route through mountains, passes and forests but you will nee a backpack!

There are plenty of indications to keep you on the right track!

You are on the right path!
Take your time as it is not a long way away and depending on the seasons there are plenty of pictures to take of the environment!

You’d better have a good look at this map!

You will discover that for many reasons there are more than one tunnel in the area!
On the map above the Meiji Tunnel is the second one from the bottom in yellow.
The second tunnel was dug out in the Tasho Era, the one at the very bottom.
A third tunnel was dug during the Showa Era, the third from the bottom.
The latest tunnel was dug out in the Heisei Era, The fourth from the bottom.
The last two are very busy thoroughfares.

There is small space before the entry of the tunnel equipped with a public washroom, but also with a great relief map!
Take the time to check it and realize the scope of the work invovled in digging out these tunnels!

You will notice that only pedestrians (and cyclists?) are allowed through these days!

It is the oldest toll tunnel in Japan! According to the records, it was first opened as a wooden tunnel in 1876. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed it in 1896. It was reopened in 1904 as a brick tunnel!

Don’t worry! There are no ghosts there! It is lit 24 hours a day!
Actually many lovers walk through it! LOL

It is actually relatively dry and cool inside!

Within the space of this tunnel yo walk out of Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City directly into Okabe, Fujieda City!

The mMiji Tunnel is registered as an intangible Culture Asset!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Architecture Art History Japan Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka City Tourism Tunnel Utsunoya

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

Contentment? Happiness? Unconcern?

February 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

i found this small statue in a park by an Edo period Inn!

I wonder what the artist wanted to impress on onlookers: Contenetment? Happiness? Unconcern?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Fujieda City Japan Okabe Photography Shizuoka Statue Tourism

Environment, 静岡美食, 観光, Fujieda City, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 23: Fujieda City

January 30, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Beautiful mint Fujieda City manhole cover!
They actually come into two colors

The same, a bit old, near Fujieda JR Station south exit!

Another beautiful mint with a different background color!

The same again, a bit old, near Fujieda JR Station south exit!

The same, without the colors!

The one without the color is usually found in the middle of roads!

A sewer manhole cover with Fujieda City motif in the center!

An older type!

A round fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another rectangular older type fire hydrant manhole cover!

A little beauty!

A gas manhole cover. Probably for private use as the symbol is not that of Fujieda City!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Japan Manhole covers Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka Tourism Tourism

静岡県, 観光, Festivals, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Festivals, Life, Life in Japan, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Festival, Tourism

Japanese Festivals: Nue barai Matsuri in Izu Nagaoka, Shizuoka Prefecture-第４９回鵺ばらい祭

January 29, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

The picture of the day: a smiling face inside a monster’s mouth!

Yesterday I traveled all the way train from Shizuoka City to Izu Nagaoka Station by train and took the the local bus to Yu Rakkasu Park to attend an unusual Matsuri/Japanese Festival!
I managed to arrive one hour before the start of the festivities which allowed me to have a good location at the location and its people!
As in any festival the locals were selling food to the visitors!

Okonomiyaki and karaage!

A local specialty, big deep-fried gyoza!

The stage!

I saw the students from Nagaoka Junior High School arriving directly from their school!
The lady in the middle is Ms. Kamoshita, Director of the Izu No Kuni City Tourism Bureau who had faxed me the details of the vent!

Mount Fuji was looking after us all the time!

The program clearly indicated for everyone’s benefit!

One of the great staff in attendance who kept me informed me all afternoon!

A great hapi/festival coat!

Great kids from Nagaoka Junior High School!
So well-mannered, ever smiling and enthusiastic!
Years ago the festival used to be performed by adults. Now it is exclusively enacted by Nagoka Junior High School!
And from this year boys and girls are equally represented!

the drummers practicing before the event!

The “nue/鵺”!
The nue is a monster of old Japanese lore. Check the NUE LORE HERE!
It is monster with the head of a monkey, the body of a tiger and a snake as a tail in Izu Nagaoka.
The legend was brought a lot time ago to Izu Peninsula from Kyoto by a Lord’s wife.
It is a monster/spirit thought to be a bringer of misfortune and illness.
This festival is held every year to make sure it does not appear to mistreat the local inhabitants!

Great kids again including some big boys!

One of the very old drums used during the festival!

A last practice!

But before the Nue Dance we witnessed a Japanese archery/Kyuudou/弓道 demonstration, which an integral part of the festival, held by the local Japanese Archery Association!

These two gentlemen might be of a grand age but they did not miss their target!

Male archers!

And female archers!

The nue did not stand a chance!
The target made of paper was subsequently shredded into small pieces to be distributed among the onlookers for good luck!
I got mine, which might come useful when facing the home dragon!

By then the nue dancers had got ready and were coming out of the changing room!

Some of the costumes had to be carried by hand!

Samurais!

I would like to thank these two young ladies who were so kind to answer this strange foreigner’s questions!

Peace!

Getting ready in the cold wind!

The choreographer giving his last advice!

And the dance starts!

The nue and its minions ready to pounce!

The fever went up a grade with the drumming!

The nue’s minions are taunting the samurai!

Mind you the kids inside are no monsters!

The nue has crept among its minions!

The minions first attempt to frighten the onlookers!

There must be some kind of hierarchy among the minions as a few carry big tail snakes!

The minions are attacking!

Why have they stopped?

This is the reason!

The samurai have come to defend the onlookers by first loosing arrows!

But the nue’s minions are undaunted and chase the samurai who have to unsheathe their swors!

All the while the nue is looking at the action from a safe distance!

Nothing frightening about these two sweet young ladies!

While the nue kept looking at the action I crept behind it for some photoes!

Big and horrible tail!

Nasty head!

The samurai were starting to get the upper hand!

Take that!

The nue’s minons were getting killed one by one!

The nue’s minoons had all been cut down!

The Nue still did not intervene!

Things seemed to be all but lost…

But this is when the Nue finally came into the fray!

The drummers lustily encouraged the samurais!

But the onlookers started throwing beans at it!

The Nue roars back into the fight!

But the samurais show no fear!

The Nue is struck with fear!

The samurais have started their killing dance!

The Nue has no chance!

The Nue is finally down!

The Town and its citizens are saved again this year!

Well done, lads and gals!

The onlookers picking the beans which contributed to the demise of the Nue!

The two choreographers who teach the kids every year!
They are brothers and volunteers.
As the second generation of choreographers they confided that they are aiming at teaching the next generation to make sure the Festival outlives them!
Well done, gentlemen!

All the while local geishas working at the hot springs establishments had been stoically waiting for their turn in the cold!

And they graciously danced for all!
Don’t ask me why I chose this particular lady! LOL

The Nue mascot!

Looking forward to my next visit to Izu Nagaoka!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art 祭長岡中学校鵺ばらい祭 Festival Izu Nagaoka Izu no Kuni City Izu Peninsula Japan japanese festival Matsuri Nagaoka Junior High School Photography Shizuoka Tourism 伊豆の国市伊豆長岡

静岡県, 観光, Fujieda City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Pavement “Regulations” Signs on Pavements in Shizuoka Prefecture! (Expanded, February 8th, 2014)

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

This sign against illegal bicycle parking was commissioned to a primary school by the City of Shizuoka!

If you look at pavements in any city in Japan, especially near stations and in crowded neighborhoods, you will discover all kinds of notices/signs directly printed onto pavements to remind citizens of regulations, be they friendly or prohibitive!
Some ar definitely welcome, while some are a bit useless, to say the least!
let me show you some examples I have have taken recently!

Non smoking street signs found in many spots in Shizuoka City. Note that the bird is a kingfisher, symbol bird of Shizuoka City!

A big no-smoking sign found near the south Exit of Hamamatsu JR Station!
It also extols on the benefit of good manners and not littering for a better environment in the city!

A faded non smoking street sign near Yaizu City JR Station!

Do not litter streets with cigarette butts in Fujieda City.
A bit of a half measure…..

Illegal bicycle parking in Shizuoka City!

Although Shizuoka City and Prefecture respectively hold the record for the largest numbers of bicycles citis have declared war, albeit a losing one, against illegal bicycle parking, a totally un-ecological measure when you know that Shizuoka is also suffering from one of the highest ration of car exhaust fume pollution!

Illegal parking for not only bicycles but also for bikes under a railway bridge in Hamamatsu City!

Illegal bicycle paring taken at night in Shimada City!

Two-hour limit bicycle parking zoen in front of Shizuoka City main post office!

Another type of illegal bicycle parking sign in Yaizu City!

Some sign manufacturer must make a fortune with all those different types being ordered by cities!

Another type of illegal bicycle parking sign in Shizuoka City!

Illegal Bycicle parking in Fujieda City!

A somewhat confusing sign!
Pavement area reserved to pedestrians and bicycles in Fujieda City!
Bear in mind that bicycles are allowed on pavements in Japan!

metallic pavement sign for illegal bicycle parking in Kakegawa City!

Within short distance from the sign foreamentioned you will find this sign in front of Shizuoka JR Station requesting people to get off their bicycles and push them along!

Signs in front of Shizuoka City main post office requesting pedestrians and cyclist to use their own half of the pavement! Unfeasible in practice unfortunately!

Cycle on this side of the pavement! (Shizuoka City)

Red-colored sign indicating pedestrians zone on the pavement!

Orange color instead of red color used for pedestrians!

Some streets in Shizuoka City have a blue lane area for bicycles along streets.
In that case cyclists are asked not to use the pavements along them!

Although no strictly on the pavement, the city felt obliged to warn cyclists using the blue area zone on the streets of bus stops!

In Umeya Cho, Shizuoka City, I was a bit flabbergasted to notice this sign asking bicycles to run along the houses and the pedestrians to walk along the street half of the pavement!

Sign asking bicycles to stop at the crossroads in front of the zebra crossing in Yaizu City!

Sign reminding school kids to stop, look left and right before crossing the street in Yaizu City!

The same with a different design in Yaizu City!

Sign reminding school kids to stop, look left and right before crossing the street in Kakegawa City!

The same with a different design in kakegawa City!

Pedestrian stop sign at a crossroad in Kakegawa City

This sign was sponsored by by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government to signify that the part of the parking in front of Yaizu Hospital next to Yaizu City Hall is reserved to physically impaired visitors>
Apparently pregnant women are also called physically impaired visitors…..

Mind the step sign at a side entrance of Act City, Shizuoka JR Station!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Japan Japanese Culture Japanese Life Pavement Pavement signs Photgraphy Regulations Regulations signs Shizuoka Signs Tourism

Design, 静岡県, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Signs, Tourism

Pavement Tourism Signs in Shizuoka Prefecture 2

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful design found outside Hamamatsu City JR Station North exist welcoming tourists and commuters to the City!

Cities in Shizuoka, and I’m sure in many cities in Japan have an interesting, artful and subtle way to advertise their tourism as well as to introduce their many symbols: pavement signs!
I can guarantee you it could develop into another urban art photography album!

Hamamatsu City has recently applied some sturdy “stickers” on the pavement in front of the North Exits of their JR Station and around Act City Building Complex not only to welcome all visitors, but also to advertise they are in fact the music capital of Japan thanks to the big music instruments makers such as Kawai and Yamaha!

If you look carefully at them you also understand that Hamamatsu City is the home of great flower and garden parks!

And last but not least Hamamatsu City gastronomy is famous for its eels!

Other cities and prefectures should take heed to promote their tourism!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Japan Pavement signs Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka Tourism Tourism

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