Tag Archives: Japanese Life

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 10

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Partly stone-built kura in Yoshiwara, Fuji 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.

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This very old kura I discovered along the street leading to Bishamonten Myouhouji Shrine/Temple in Yoshiwara, Fuji City, has the particularity to have walls covered with chiseled stone slabs, an unusual occurence in our Prefecture!

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Although the iron window and door curtains are very old it is still used as demonstrated by the recent water drain pipes!

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Another unusual feature: a very small window not leading to the actual inside of the kura but into its foundation!

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Looking at it from the side it is practically double-walled.
Very solid, indeed!

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I discovered this small-sized cocncrete block kura south of Yaizu City JR Station!

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It certainly looks old but the concrete blocks would denote its date just after WWII!

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It is still used as a warehouse. After all Yaizu City is a trading and fishing port 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

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 9

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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.

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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.

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

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

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It is still relatively new but the concept is traditional!

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No way you can get in!

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

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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!

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

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Both of them now house a museum and gallery!

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“Namako” design walls!

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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

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

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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!

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

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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!

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

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

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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!

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

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Illegal bicycle paring taken at night in Shimada City!

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

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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!

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Another type of illegal bicycle parking sign in Shizuoka City!

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Illegal Bycicle parking in Fujieda City!

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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!

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metallic pavement sign for illegal bicycle parking in Kakegawa City!

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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!

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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!

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

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Red-colored sign indicating pedestrians zone on the pavement!

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Orange color instead of red color used for pedestrians!

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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!

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

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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!

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

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

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The same with a different design in Yaizu City!

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

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The same with a different design in kakegawa City!

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Pedestrian stop sign at a crossroad in Kakegawa City

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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…..

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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

The Ancient Site of A Samurai House (Nomura Family) in Kanazawa City!

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On the third day of our stay in Kanazawa City we decided to have a small tour of Naga District, which is famous for its ancient houses and architecture!

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These walls actually are featured on every guidebook!
The walls are protected with fresh straw against the snow which will fall soon!

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It gives a great insight of the city rich quarters in feudal times with the moats and stone abutments!

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Some of the properties are enormous by Japanese standards!

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The entrance of “The Ancient Site of A Samurai House (Nomura Family)”/official English name!

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The first thing you notice is the large kura/warehouse, a prerequisite in a rich samurai house!

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The actual entrance to the residence!

Japanese and English pamphlets are available, and although the translation is amateurish, the explanations are sufficient:

These are the ruins, or more aptly said the remains of a samurai house formerly owned by the Nomura Family.
Lord Meda Toshiie took over the Kanazawa Castle in 1583, and ensured a long and prosperous reign of the Kaga clan which spanned over three centuries thanks to his followers producing 5 million bushels (one million koku) annual rice yield.
At that time , one of his high-ranked followers, Nomura Denbei Nobusada, was granted by Lord Toshiie a fief of one thousand koku which was furthermore promoted to twelve hundred koku.
His descendants also served as senor retainers, each given a 1,000 tsubo (3,305square meter) estate.
The old family estate was retained until the 12th generation by the time of the Meiji Restoration.

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Past the the portal and into the real entrance.

However, because of the break-up of the feudal system. many samurai houses were destroyed, some changed into vegetable gardens or others sold out.
Only parts of old gates and walls around these ancient houses are left as they were.
The Nomura Family did not escape the same fate.
The last piece of property was bought in the early Showa period by a local industrialist, Kubo Hikobei, who lived in Hashidate Village in southern Ishikawa Prefecture and traded with people in Hokkaido.
Kubo Hikobei moved the drawing room, part of a beautifully constructed old house from Daishoji town near his native village inside the House.
Today visitors can understand the prosperity of the industrialist in olden times through the gorgeous architecture and at the same time imagine the way of life of ancestors of the city when discovering the beautiful garden attached to the formal samurai house.

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in March 2009 the Michelin Green Guide Japon awarded a 2-star ranking to the garden and in 2003 the American Journal of Japanese Gardening ranked the Nomuara House garden as the 3rd best in Japan!

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Past the entrance you will discover a genuine samurai full armor in the lobby!

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From the side!

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The skirt and greaves (hip, thigh and leg armor)!

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The Nomura Family mon/crest was a fan!

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A magnificent rice cake New Year offering!

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The living room with the tokonoma/alcove!

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Invaluable ancient wood carvings!

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Antique painted partitions!

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Buddhist altar!

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Intricate wood and paper windows!

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Halberd!

There is a whole room designed as a museum!

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Old coins!

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1 gold ryo old koban coin!

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Samurai swords!

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Antique hanging scroll!

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A lacquer work inkstone box!

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Antique Kutani vase!

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You have free access to the garden (although you are not allowed to walk inside!)!

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The snow protection straw mats were already attached!

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For a fuller view!

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Beautiful pond!

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Another corner of the garden!

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You can climb an ancient stone stair leading to the upstairs tea room!

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Garden view form the stairs!

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The tea room is really tiny!

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And the entrance is very low!

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One can catch an overview of the graren through a wide bay window!

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Great details of the roofs!

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The last view before departing….

A SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF NOMURA FAMILY
(one of the Ruins of Samurai House)
Above is the”official” naming!

Kanazawa City, Naga machi, 1 Chome, 3-32
Tel.: 076-221-3553
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

Old Houses in Higashi Chaya Street and Vicinity in Kanazawa City!

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Higashi Chaya Douri/East Tea houses Street in Kanazawa City!

After having taken you through Nishi/West Chaya Street let’s have a look together at Higashi/East Tea Houses Street!

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the dun color is so warm and attractive!

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These houses are made of wood and are comparativelu light, but they can resist rain, snow and what else!

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More modern architecture for this famous shop selling artifacts gilded with gold!

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A paradise for photographers!
Actually we had to fend off the local TV channel crews!

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Like in Nishi Chaya Street these tea Houses are typical for their second floor windows!

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In summer they can be opened to allow the tea ladies and passers-by to directly communicate!

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One can endlessly play with the natural lighting!

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On the first floor is a famous sweet bean shop!

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“Fu”, another shop famous for local foods, mostly vegan incidentally!

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Shall we go to this Japanese restaurant to close the visit!

Next time I will take you to the ancient house of a Samurai!

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

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 8: Okabe, Fujieda City with Atsuko Kurata!

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Hatsukame Brewery warehouse!

“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.

This time my good friend, ms. Atsuko Kurata is taking us to Okabe, which was merged some time ago to Fujieda City!

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if you do not have a car 8by bicycle is possible, though) you can take a bus from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit!
Take the no 84 or 85 bus from bus stop platform .
It is Chubu Kokudo Line/中部国道線 heading for Fujieda station. Buses leave every 20 minutes.
You will reach your destination in roughly 35 minutes ride.

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Get off at Okabesyuku-Kashibaya-Mae/岡部宿柏屋前 bus stop.
The fare is 570 yen for one way. Children under 12 pay half price for 250 yen

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You will find Hatsukame jouzou/is right across from the bus stop!

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Hatsukame Brewery is a beautiful complex with an ancient house and a kura who will find on its right!

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Can you spot the kura?

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Getting close!

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Behind beautiful pine trees!

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When they build the new road the city pulled out all the pine trees on the east side!

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Fortunately you can still see the pine trees on one side giving a good idea of the atmosphere around this brewery, the oldest in Shizuoka Prefecture (end of 17th century!)

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Another view of the second side of the kura!

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A closer view of the beautiful window!

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There are actually two more warehouses along the same street!

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This one is quite similar to Hatsukame Brewery kura!

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For a closer view… It is completely surrounded by other buildings!

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The second kura! Very imposing!

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Very well preserved!

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It is quite tall and certainly requires much maintenance!

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

Old Houses in Nishi Chaya Street and Vicinity in Kanazawa City!

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There are two streets and their vicinity that you must absolutely in Kanazawa City: Nisahi Chya/Wets Tea Houses Street and Higashi Chaya/East Tea Houses Street!
Today let me take you around Nishi Chaya Street.
Next time you visit Kanazawa City, I’m sure you will find thousands of spots to photograph!

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All these tea houses, dating back hundred of years, are recognizable to their peculiar window rows on the second floor which allow tea ladies and customers to see each other!

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This ancient building is actually the seat of the Tea Houses Association and is still actively used by tea ladies for practicing dancing and playing diverse instruments!

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The same house with its access alley!

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This grand house has been completely renovated by the owners of the sweet beans shop on the ground floor!

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A Tea House of a different style. Expensive!

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This house is owned by the famous beef store called Tengu!

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tengu is a kind of deity in Japan.
Can you spot its red mask?

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Its mask always bear a long nose!
Now. this nose is an inspiration for a variety of symbols! LOL

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An ancient house probably used as a warehouse.
Note the mon/crests on the roof!

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A beautiful portal!

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Tamura Tea House!

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Yuki No Juku Tea House!

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More tea houses!

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An elegant entrance!

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The back entrance to Nishi Chaya Street with many shops!

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Some shops like Rakugan are famous all over Japan!

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In the vicinity some old houses are still restored in between modern buildings!

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An old and small temple and and house from across a bridge!

I’ll take you along Higashi Chaya Street next!

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

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Kanazawa City!

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Real gold-gilded kura!

“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.

Kanazawa, a City replete with history and things of the past offered me quite sights when I stayed there beginning of this week!

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This old kura whose wall are entirely gilded with real gold leaves could be seen only from the inside garden of a famous shop specializing in gold leaf accessories!

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Not an easy picture to take at any time of the day or night!

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The walls inside were also completely gilded in pure gold!
Of visitors are expressly requested not to touch the walls!

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I couldn’t guess at first the purpose of this splendid kura restored to its full splendor!

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Such a widow awning made of fired tiles is rarely seen!

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From the opposite side.
Notice the “namako” pattern on the lower part of the wall!

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The roof peak decoration gave me an inkling of what its real use was!

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Looking at the side entrance I hadn’t noticed because of the fence wall I discovered its religious vocation!

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A beautiful “mon” in the middle of another extravagant fired tile awning!

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It was sheltering a praying wheel!

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I belatedly discovered this kura inside “The Site of Samurai House” (aricle coming soon!)!

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Beautifully restored, which was normal as it is part of a whole museum complex!

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Th windows have actually been boarded up from the inside!

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Very solid-looking architecture!

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No, this is not a ghost light, but the reflection of lantern!

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The reflection from another angle!

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I suspect this kura has been turned into a direct access annex of the neighboring ancient house!

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A sneak view of the side wall!

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The door has been replaced with the wall but it was apparently boarded up from the inside!

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But the lower wall base gives a clear indication its true origin!

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

Pavement “Regulations” Signs on Pavements in Shizuoka Prefecture!

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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!

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

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

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Do not litter the streets with cigarette butts in Fujieda Cty!
A bit of a half measure…

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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!

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Illegal bicycle parking taken at night in Shimada City!

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

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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!

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Another type of illegal bicycle parking sign in Shizuoka City!

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Illegal Parking in Fujieda City!

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

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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!

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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!

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

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Red-colored sign indicating pedestrians zone on the pavement!

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Orange color instead of red color used for pedestrians!

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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!

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

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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!

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

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

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The same with a different design!

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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…..

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

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 7

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“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.

I was reporting on a local festival in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, when I discovered two more kuras!
Actually there are many of them in Yui, especially along and the Old Tokaido Road where they were the first refuge against typhoons and tsunamis.
But most of them have now been transformed into hangars, shops and abodes with their second floors shaved off and using only the solid first floor as a base.
Therefore there only a very few with their roof intact!

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I noticed this one by pure chance as it was completely surrounded by buildings of all kinds!

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It was obviously used either as an abode or as a storeroom, and I managed to a peek at this window as the inhabitants seemed to be away during the New Year Holidays!

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I found this old one along the same street. As it was surrounded by a car park I had an easier access to it!

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The entrance was being repaired but the whole building, although small, seemed very till very solid!

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The window and the roof were in good repair!

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These iron supports are found in most kuras. They are there to keep the roof securely onto the walls in case of stong winds. Typhoons can easily send the tiles flying!

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For all the lack of color and decoration it was very well-preserved!

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Now, that window lock really looks ancient!

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Now some of these kuras can very small indeed!
I found this one near my home!

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Small but very old as shown by all the rust on the window!

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At first I didn’t think that this long building was a kura!

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I nonetheless decided to investigate!

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For all the imposing solidity the large steel windows were old!

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No openings at the back!

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They had reformed the entrance, though!

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It is effectively used as a kura by the local fire 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

Wall Paintings in Yaizu City!

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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!).

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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!

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

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

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The local fishermen must be really looking forward to it!

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O Mikoshi/Portable Shrines!

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

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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!

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

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There were more to be seen from the third bridge!

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

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Confrontation!

SN3O5041Offerings!

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Praying for succor!

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Deity Symbols?

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

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

ivy-covered-1

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!

ivy-covered-2

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

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Another old kura in Minato machi (harbor District)!

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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!

kura-Minato-machi-港町3

But Atsuko thinks that this particular one might be haunted!

鈴木与平邸の蔵

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!

すてきな蔵1-本町

Atsuko also discovered this cute kura in Hon machi!

すてきな蔵2-本町

The first owner must have been rich as it is a double kura!

すてきな蔵(屋根)3-本町

A far view of the roof!

すてきな蔵(窓)4-本町

View of a window with its shutters open!

すてきな蔵5-本町

The “inner” kura which saw its first floor transformed a long time ago!

茶色の蔵-1

Atsuko also found this brown kura in Hon Machi near Shimizu Municipal Nursery(清水区立清水保育園)!

sign-住居表示-本町

The pole sign indicating the address: Hon Machi 11!

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The colors white and brown are the most popular colors as some owners wanted to be noted whereas others did not!

茶色の蔵-3

Even the shutters had been painted brown!

Care to join Atsuko in her search?

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

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 5: Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City with Atsuko Kurata!

Hongou-cho1本郷町

Beautiful Kura in Hongo Cho!

“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 features sights by My good friend, Mrs. Atsuko Kurata who found them in her native Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City!
Incidentally Atsuko’s family name includes the word Kura/倉, the modern form of kura/蔵!

Hongo-cho2本郷町

Another picture of the above kura in Hongo Cho which is big and seems inhabited or used!

Sodeshi-袖師

Some kuras like the above may be seen only for far away them being completely isolated by surrounding buildings!

tip-of-kura

The roof tip of another one!

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This particular one has definitely become an abode!

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This one is located behind Seiyu Department Store!

behind-SEIYU2

A closer view of the same protected by a barbed-wired wall!

石積みの蔵1

This one is old, tall and so solid!
It certainly deserves a few more photographs as seenn below:

石積みの蔵2

The side wall actually shows traces of another building which has disappeared a long time ago!

石積みの蔵-窓1

The window shutter is kept open so it is definitely still used!

石積みの蔵-窓2

Caught in the sun it does not look as forbidding as the side wall!

石積みの蔵-窓3

Note the light which has been added!
It could be interesting to see what it looks like at night!

石積みの蔵-窓4

It is located in Yamazaki and apparently belongs to a building company!

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

Japanese “Toughies” Faces!

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Don’t even think of getting the sake?

The japanese, for all their innate gentleness and love of peace can put on some really fierce faces when required or requested!
A trait they learned in kabuki!
It certainly makes for interesting photography (and psychology, too)!

here is a small selection of pictures I took this year in different festivals in Shizuoka prefecture!

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If that guy on the left gets even nearer….

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Get out of the way, will ya!

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If one ever dares call me a sissy….

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Why do I have to look after these kids?

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Show some respect to your elders, kiddo!

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Chicken asses, that’s what they are!

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Who am I going to eat today?

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Do you have a problem?

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Do you want feel a bit of it?

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Where is my purse?

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You’ve got something to say about my hairstyle?

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You want my name?

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Blimey, it’s hot!

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Pain in the neck!

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Stupid me, getting drunk in front of those kids!

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Some will never look tough, whatever you do to them!

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Not so tough after all those drinks!

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

My 20 Best Pictures in Japan (so far!)!

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My favorite piscture!
4-year old boy dressed as a lion dancer at the Shimada Obi Festival!

I’ve been recently running through all the pictures kept in my PC and decided to show a few of the pictures I particularly like. Saying they they are “My 20 Best Pictures in Japan” is a bit of a misnomer as I ought to say “My favorite 20 Pictures in Japan” with all the biases it includes!

Anyway let me show them through with a minimum of explanations!

2

Pinky Flower Mount Fuji!
Hamamatsu Flower Park. I will have to visit it again and run a full report!

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Kimono Christmas Tree!
Japanese ingenuity and business acumen in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

4

“Ishi tatami Umibe/石畳海辺/Stone Mat Beach” in Kume Island, Okinawa Archipelago!
My worst actually took the picture but according to my instructions!
Millions of years ago an undersea volcanic eruption created this incredible natural art!

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Noh mask!
It took my good friend Roger Voltz in Shizuoka City a year to carve it!

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Owls Noren!
“Noren/暖簾” in Japanese mean the shop entrance curtain to mean they are on business.
There are millions of them, but this one was just too cute!
In fact it does not exist ant more as the izakaya in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, ceased business!

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Pyschedelic mount Fuji!
There are millions of pictures of the symbol of Japan and I don’t know how many I have, but this picture taken in winter just before sunset from Shimizu JR Station holds a special attraction!

8

Geisha Geta/Geisha clogs in Shizuoka City!
Shizuoka City and Prefecture are famous all over Japan for their traditonal geta!
Bear in mind there are very few made in Japan now!

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Halloween Melon at Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Shizuoka Prefecture is famed for its melons all over the country!

10

Sashimi Plate in Kume Island, Okinawa Archipelago!
Gastronomy offers an unlimited inspiration to photographers!
I could take pictures of sashimi and sushi all day long!
Kume Island is one of the lesser known isalands in the Okinawa Archipelago and ought to deserve far more attention what with beautiful sites and sea, and superlative seafood!
I can’t remember the name of the two local fish but the live kuruma ebi/large prawns were sublime!

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Organic Shizuoka vegetables at Tetsuya Sugimoto Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Every time Tetsuya cooks local organic vegetables it turns into a real palette of colors!

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Vegan Sushi Plate at Sushi Ko in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Shizuoka prefecture is arguably the most welcoming region in Japan for gastronomes with special priorities!

14

Mother and Daughter “Pair Look” Fashion in Shizuoka City!
I agree that that mothers and daughters ought to exchange views on fashion but there is something wicked in a mother trying to stay cute and young and her daughter attempting to allure men from an early age!

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Vegan Steak at Tetsuya Sugimoto Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Another example of artistic gastronomy!

15

“Gremlin” in Shizuoka JR Station!
I just could help risking arrest taking a picture of this zany minuscule Japanese girl!

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Oumura House in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Built in the 19th Century just at the beginning of the Meiji Era along the Abe River by local Tea growers whose family traces back its origins to Edo period!

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Star Wars?
Acturally the face of a famous past monk in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula!

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Italian gastronomy jewel at Al Porto Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Avocado, snow crab, Shizuoka-grown Ameera sweet Tomato, caviar and raspberry coulis!

19

My all-time favorite bento/lunch box!

20

Flower Bouquet Millefeuille Sushi at Sushi Ko, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
This picture was actually taken by my good friend Camille Oger, but according to my instructions!
The roses are made of sole, salmon and tuna!

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