Tag Archives: Gotemba City

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!

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Eels, Eels Restaurant, Gotemba City, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka Prefecture

Japanese Gastronomy: Eel Lunch at Unagi No Hirota in Gotemba City!

April 4, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but friendly and attentive
Equipment & facilities: Old-fashioned but very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: slightly expensive (Japanese eels are not cheap in Japan!)
Strong points: Eels! Seafood and yakitori. All local! Good sake and shochu list.

Unagi no Hirota Restaurant is located within walking distance of the north exit of Gotemba JR Station on the second floor of a somewhat derelict building dating back to the bubble era.
Most of the shops in the building are closed but Unagi no Hirota has survived, a good indication of its quality!

The place is busy even on week days, half with tourists, half with locals, who choose a seat at the counter, around the square central table or on the tatami floor.

I would recommend lunch in particular when the prices are more reasonable as eels are increasingly becoming expensive at restaurants serving Japanese eels, not the cheap imported Chinese variety!

All the eels have been raised in Yoshida Cho, by the Suruga Bay in Central Shizuoka Prefecture for the last 40 years and are prepared form live fish on site, ensuring a safe traceability!

Dragon with a smaller appetite had ordered a “Ieyasu” set lunch!

For a closer view of the main dish!

As for me I ordered the “Nobunaga” lunch set which included an extra length of eel!

My eels!

Side vegetable dish for good balance!

I particularly appreciated the fact that the skin (underneath) was more grilled than greasy as in other establishments, making it not only to easier to eat but also far more tasty!
Moreover the eel was basted with the right amount of sauce, not hiding the taste of the eel but actually accentuating it!

Definitely above average. No wonder it had been recommended to us by the locals!

Unagi No Hirota/鰻のひろ田

〒412-0026　Shizuoka Prefecture, Gotemba City, Higashi tanaka, 870-1, Fashion Plaza, 2F
静岡県御殿場市東田中８７０−１ファッションプラザ 2F
Tel.: 0550-83-3114
Opening hours: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards: OK above 5,000 yen
Check their FACEBOOK SITE for more pictures and information!

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Gotemba City, Japan, Japan Tourism, Manhole covers, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 39): Gotemba City!

April 3, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

A fire hydrant manhole cover type found in the whole prefecture but with the emblem of Gotemba City!

The other day I had the occasion to visit again again Gotemba City in the Eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture for the first time in many years and could at last manage to check all the manhole covers in town.
They are quite easy to discover as they all within walking distance for the station north exit!

This the main manhole cover symbolizing Gotemba City and remiding visitors that once a D 52-type steam locomotive used to stop there!

The same manhole cover in color (only a few of them!) with Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms!

This smaller valve cover is fairly new and comes into two different types!

The second type!
I wonder what the birds are?

Small white covers with the original design can be found in many places!
Otherwise many other types, both neutral and colored common to the whole Prefecture can be found along your steps!
Good hunting!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Junmai Nama Genshu Shiboritate

March 27, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other I was back to my favorite lair, namely Kasuri in Aoba Odengai in Shizuoka City, where I knew a fine sake was waiting for my tasting!

It was a nectar created by Negami Brewery in Gotemba City!
Kinmei Junmai (no pure alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Shiboritate (just pressed)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 50~60%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Second press
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pears
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillent.
Complex: pears, white flowers, melon, oranges.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of soft flowers, melon and oranges.
Turns drier with food with herbs making an appearance.

Overall: Another nectar to be enjoyed in the place of a white wine!
Best appreciated on its own slightly chilled.
Difficult to pair with food because of its very complex character.
Suggested pairing: asparaguses

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Shiboritate Junmai Genshu Nama

January 1, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is another long-selling brew by Negami Brewery in Gotemba city on the slopes of Mount Fuji!

it is brewed to coincide with the winter/ end of the year/New Year holidays with the same label every year bearing the lucky turtle and crane!

Note again this is shiboritate (just pressed) junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) genshu (no pure water blended in) nama (unpasteurized). The “real” product!

Rice milled down to 50~60 %
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in December 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: very dry and fruity. melon, pears
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: pears, melon, oranges.
Lingers on palate for a short while before departing on an even drier note with more oranges.
Takes on an even drier note with food with more oranges.

Overall: Very dry, fruity and elegant sake in spite of its high alcohol contents and “nama” nature.
The kind of sake to bring as a present as not only enjoyable on its own but the beautiful label.
Guaranteed value!

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Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mori No Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)-Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mori No Biru which iathe brewery of Gotemba Koogen Beer Company owned by the Yonekyu Company in Gotemba City does produce some seasonal brews in the craftbeer fashion!

The company for all its big size is still new as it was founded in 19797!

The regular beers are not craftbeers but this one is!

Product name: Winter Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji
Unfiltered
Ingredients: barley malt, hops, yeast, water from a well dug 50 meteres deep into Mount Fuji!
Volume: 400 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clean and slightly smoky
Color: Light yellow orange
Aroma: Bread, oranges
Bubbles: Fine and light bubble
Longish head
Taste: Dry attack.
Deep and somewhat complex.
Bread with hints of citruses.
Refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall: Thirst-quenching but better than average such beers.
Satisfying. To be enjoyed with snacks!

Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage

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美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism, 御殿場市

Sushi Restaurant: Myouken in Gotemba City!

June 1, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Oshizushi, local sake, traditional Japanese gastronomy.

The other day when I went to interview a local soy sauce maker in Gotemba City (article coming soon) I found myself with plenty of time at noon and decided to explore the vicinity of the Gotemba JR Station!

A few minutes walk away from the station I found this sign announcing Myouken/妙見, a local sushi restaurant…

Gotemba City at the foot of Mount Fuji is quite far from the sea, but you never know, so let’s have better look…

Founded in 1935! Now, that sounds as a venerable establishment but it had obviously been recently redecorated…

I had noticed one very important detail which encouraged me to enter the restaurant… but let’s take a picture first!

Remarkable decoration of the “lobby” created with real local rice stalks!

Now, these are delicious-looking take-aways!
Remember that Gotemba City is famous for its outlets with a lot of visitors from Tokyo!

Modern seating at the wide counter!

Beautiful Japanese tatami mat room!
Actually, there are more private rooms, some of which can be made non-smoking!

The lobby decoration has the added advantage to offer some privacy even at the central table I had chosen!

The all-important detail which encouraged me to discover the restaurant: Myoken has its own sake brewed by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Now, apart of the delicious sake, what did I have for my first visit?
An enormous Hamaguri/蛤/Clam soup!

I opted for the sushi lunch set and one more local specialty!

The local specialty, a must: Fujinomiya no Benimasu Bougata Oshi Sushi/富士宮市産の紅鱒棒形押し寿司!
Rainbow Trout from Fujinomiya City served as pressed sushi, whole!
The founder of Myouken had come all the way from Nara City in 1935, a city famous for its pressed sushi!

For a better look!
I ate the lot, head included (I was complimented for that last detail!)!

The sushi lunch set!

From left to right: Chutoro Maguro/Tuna Chutoro, Tennen Hirame/Wild Sole-Flounder, Maguro Akami/Tuna lean Part and Aji/Horse Mackerel!

From left to right: Uni Gunkan/Sea Urchin as gunkan/mothership sushi, Ikura Gunkan/Salmon’s Roe Gunkan, Akagai Nigiri/Blood Clam Nigiri and Ebi Nigiri/Slightly seared Prawn Nigiri!

And for dessert: Local Japanese-style Yuzu/Lime Jelly!

Simple but perfect dessert!

As I have to visit Gotemba City regularly, expect another visit!

MYOUKEN
412-0043 Gotemba City, Shinbashi, 1983 (2 minutes walk from Gotemba Station Mount Fuji facing exit)
Tel. & fax: 0550-82-0142
Opening hours: 09:00~14:00, 15:30~20:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Credit Cards OK
Car park available

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Shizuoka Beer tasting: Yonekyu Mori Brewery-Fuji Sansan

July 18, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Although most people even in Shizuoka call it Gotemba Brewery, the real name of this establishment is Mori no Biru Kojyou/”Forest Brewery”/森のビール工場!
It is owned by the big Delicatessen Company Yonekyu/米久.

They produce 3 regular brews, Pils, Dunkel and Weizen.
They also come up with seasonal brews.
This particular Brand, Fuji ansan/富士燦燦 is their newest drink which has just appeared in the big supermarkets in Shizuoka Prefecture.
They advertise it as a Pilsner tyoe made with water from Mont Fuji gushing into a well dug 80 metres deep.

Yonekyu Mori Brewery-Fuji Sansan/米久社・富士燦燦

Contents: 300ml
Alcohol: 5%
Water: Natural source water from Mount Fuji

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden
Foam: Fine. Disappears quickly
Aroma: Light. Bread. Hops
Taste: More solid than expected and soft at the same time.
Bread. Hints of oranges.
Both refreshing and satisfying.
Pleasantly lingers for a while.
Good balance.

Overall: An interesting beer satisfying both in summer and winter.
Suited to accompany meals of any kind.
Definitely better than expected!

Yonekyu Mori Brewery-Fuji Sansan/米久社　森のビール工場
Shizuoka ken, Gotemba Shi, Hodosawa Aza Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1/静岡県御殿場市保土沢字炭焼沢１０１５－１
Tel.: 0550-89-7611

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