Tag Archives: sake

Kyoto Sake Tasting: Yamamoto Honkei Brewery-Jinsei Junmai Ginjyo

I’m just spending a few days holiday in Kyoto and I have finally found a 300ml bottle produced by a Kyoto Brewery!

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It is brewed by Yamamoto Honkei Brewery loaced in Fushimi, Kyoto City!
Its name, “Jinsei/神聖” means “God sanctity” Lucky I’m agnostic!

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Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Grapes, brandy sherry wine
Body: fluid
Taste: Fairly dry and fruity attack backed up by only some junmai petillant.
Grapes, sherry.
Disappears fairly quickly on a drier note with accentuated hints of a dry sherry.
Gets even drier with food, whatever its kind, but changes little in taste.

Overall: Simple, solid, reliable sake conceived to accompany food.
Would be best appreciated with heavy izakaya food, although its taste very reminiscent of a dry sherry could make it a good aperitif, especially if chilled

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Tokubetsu Junmai Homarefuji

Back to one of my favorite sake breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture:
Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

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Actually I made a mistake on Facebook when I first announced I was preparing myself to drink it and Owner Brew Master Kazutaka Takashima was all around my neck. A figure of speech as he holds a judo 5th dan black belt!

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Would you believe it obtained a top accolade in Japan as a sake one should enjoy in a wine glass?
Incredible!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: +3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in April 2014

Clarity: Very c;ear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Bananas
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Sweetish and fruity attack backed by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. banana, nuts.
Disappears fairly quickly on a drier notes with hints of coffee beans, almonds, dark chocolate, cherries and oranges.
Take a drier turn with food with the appearance of chestnuts and ranges.
Marries superbly with food.

Overall: A splendid sake to enjoy with meals. Very complex. Contributes facets to the dishes shared with it.
I personally enjoyed most at room temperature, although it would make for a splendid aperitif if chilled.
But being what I am I would drink it with cheese or chocolate!
bring it to a impress everyone!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Haginishiki Brewery-Junmai Ginjyo Nama

This time the 300ml bottle series goes to Haginishiki Brewery in Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku!

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This particular design is actually a classic of this brewery!

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Although it is not announced on the label, it is a nama/unpasteurized as indicated on the cap!

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Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in May 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Sweetish and fruity. Banana, almonds, flowers
Body: Fluid, slightly siruppy
Taste: Sweetish and fruity attack with only a little junmai petillant.
Complex. Banana, custards, macadamia, melon, cherries, cherry blossoms.
Disappears quickly enough warming up back of the palate on a drier note.
Junmai petillant much later with appearance of coffee beans.
Turns sweeter and more flora with food with hints of melon and coffee beans.

Overall: A very elegant sake rarely found in such a small bottle.
Very pleasant and easy to drink.
Eminently enjoyable on its own slightly chilled.
Keep some for a late chilled night cap on the verandah by night!
A sake to be shared with special 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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Junmai Nama

I still continue the 300 ml bottles!
I noticed that many of them sold in markets are nama/unpasteurized. A coincidence?

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Hana no Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City must actually be the brewery using the largest variety of bottles in Shizuoka Prefecture!

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This particular one is junmai (no pure rice alcohol added) nama (unpasteurized)!

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Rice: Shizuoka-grown Yamada Nishiki 100%
Yeast: Own yeast
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 3.5
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled on May 21st, 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Dry, floral and fruity. Banana, green apples, pears.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed up by some junmai petllant.
Dry melons, hints of pears and nuts.
Lingers only for a short while.
Gets drier with food with appearance of greens. Tends to take a back with food. Reasserts itself once away from food with appearance of oranges.
Takes on a sweet turn with cheese with the appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: In spite of its dryness, a sake conceived for young people, ladies in particular.
As it marries well with Western food, it could become a superb aperitif, although I would suggest enjoying it with cheese.
At its best slightly chilled!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery: Fujinishiki “Nama” Homjozo

Cenova has an interesting set of 300 ml sake bottles and it is always a good idea to buy those.
It might not be economical but you don’t have to buy too much and you can drink it anywhere!
This time I chose a bottle by Fujinishiki Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

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Mind you, I think that breweries should make an effort with the design as they tend to all look alike!

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Cenova tries to give supplementary information that the small bottle does not allow for lack of space but it sometimes is the source of big mistakes, even in Japanese. Honjozo on top and daiginjyo under!
Oh well, it is still a good bargain!

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Clarity: Very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive: Floral and fruity. Banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up by pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Macadamia nuts, dry custard.
Disappears quickly on a deep and dry note with hints of dark chocolate and milk coffee. Late appearance by oranges, walnuts and chestnuts.
Solid and easy to drink.
Coffee beans tend to reach more importance with the third or fourth cup.
Tends to take a drier back step with food.
Turns very dry again away from food.

Overall: A sake obviously conceived to accompany food and probably at its best slightly chilled with izkaya heavy fare, and even better at a BBQ!
Solid, reliable and thoroughly enjoyable in spite of its deep dryness!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery: Jyuubei Junmai Nama

What I really enjoy about some breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture is that only the produce limited edition sake so much for business but for preserving history and culture.
This very brand “Jyuubei/重兵衛” has been produced by no less than four generations of brewers!

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Moreover, the rice is Shiuzoka-grown hyakumangoku!
Since it is a junmai/no pure alcohol blended in and nama/unpasteurized, it7s close to a very natural sake!

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Rice: Hyakumangoku (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in May 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Green apples, apricots
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very fruity and dry attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Very refreshing and complex.
Apples, pears, custard, apricots.
Disappears very quickly on a dry and fruity note with hints of dark chocolate and milk coffee.
Changes little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: Very refreshing sake away from the norm for Oomuraya Brewery.
Dry, elegant and fruity.
Complex enough to draw you into the second and third cup.
To drink with Japanese izakaya fare!

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, Pie
rre.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

Fukui Prefecture Sake Tasting: Kubota Brewery-Oni Sakuza Junmai Nama Genshu

I was offered this very bottle by an acquaintance who cannot drink any alcohol!
I couldn’t refuse and through respect for the sake and the people who made it I felt obliged to write a tasting article!

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Great presentation box by Kubota Brewery in Fukui Prefecture!

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The label had been commandeered by an insurance company commemorating their 25 years of service!

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Rice: Fukui Prefecture grown Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 70%
Bottled in may 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and discreet. Dry pears and melons.
Body: fluid
Taste: Very dry attack backed up by puissant junami petillant and alcohol.
Complex and fruity. Very dry green apples and pears. Strong and pleasant alcohol.
Disappears quickly on an even drier note.
But for a slightly sweet turn it practically does not change with food, especially heavy izakaya fare.
Superbly marries with food.
Pears tend to take a more assertive role with the following cups.

Overall: An elegant but strong and very dry sake. At its best with food, although it tends to show new interesting facets just after food. For the dry sake lovers!

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, Pie
rre.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

Nagano Sake Tasting: Kooten Brewery-Kooten Tokubetsu Honjozo “Hon Tsukuri” Karakuchi

My good friend Atsuko Kurata called me the other day.
Her husband had brought a bottle of sake from the region of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture for me!

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Kooten Brewery/髙天酒造
Okaya City, ginza, 2-2-17
Tel.: 0256-22-2027
HOMEPAGE

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It’s a tokubetsu hnjozo “Hon Tsukuri” karakuchi!

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Rice milled down to 59%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in April 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Fleeting and discreet. Fruity and a little dry. melons, milk coffee, bananas.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up by pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Dry bananas, custard, hints of oranges.
Disappears quickly with hints of nuts, almonds and persimmons.
Takes a ever slightly sweeter turn with food with hints of dark chocolate.

Overall: Very pleasant and easy to drink sake!
Dangerously entices to the next cup.
Surprisingly very elegant for a honjozo.
A sake always seeming to invite to the next cup.
Although eminently enjoyable with food, probably at its best at room temperature on its own.
A great nightcap!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Haginishiki Brewery-Surugayoi Junmai Homare Fuji Nama

Haginishiki brewery in Shizuoka is another brewery experimenting with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji sake rice!

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Surgayoi/駿河酔: “Suruga” stands for the name of the large bay off Shozuoka Prefecture and also for the old name of the eastern half of the Prefecture. “Yoi” means “enjoying your aske/getting drunk”!

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Being a junmai nama means no pure rice alcohol was blended into it and that it was left unpasteurized.

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Rice: 100% hHomare Fuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: +3
Acidity: 1.6
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Dryish and fruity. Custard, banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Fruity attack backed up with a gentle junmai petillant.
Complex. Hard to catch. Pears, bananas.
Quickly disappears with hints of nuts and dry oranges.
Takes on a slightly drier turn with food but keeps to its original character.

Overall: A sake for all seasons.
Both solid and stolid and eminently reliable.
Obviously conceived for food, especially heavy izakaya fare.
A sake to take to a BBQ!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Onigoroshi Honjozo Genshu

Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City also offers quite a few brands in the practical 300 ml bottles!

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This particular regular brand has made them famous all over the country!

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“Onigoroshi/鬼ごろし”?”To kill the Goblin”!

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A honjozo genshu is certainly needed to take care of goblins!

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Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: +12
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Fruity. Pears, custard
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed up with strong and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Fruity: very dry pears, green apples, Greens.
Facets difficult to catch.
Late appearance of coffee beans and a peek by dry oranges.
Disappears quickly on an even drier and deeper note.
Will take a sweeter turn with food before quickly coming back to its original dryness.
Marries well with any food.
For all its dryness and strong alcohol, it is more elegant than expected.

Overall: Very dry sake, with a somewhat restrained and elegant aggressiveness.
Incites you into the next cup in spite of its strong alcohol contents.
Can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own or with food at any temperature.
Definitively for lovers of both very dry and elegant sake.
Great with cheese!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kanzawagawa Brewery-Shosetsu Honjozo Nama genshu

Kanzawagawa Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, have been bottling their brews in his practical 300ml size for quite some time, which makes it easier for tasting on your own back home without having to consume a full bottle in a hurry!
At the same time it is to carry around. If you have the chance to find quite a few different at the same time, it becomes great fun tasting at a BBQ outdoors for example!

SN3O0042

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees (genshu, no pure water added)
Bottled in February 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Almost transparent
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Dry. Pears, custard
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack.
Pleasant alcohol (genshu). Complex.
Custard, chestnuts. late appearance of oranges with hints of milk coffee.
Lingers only for a short while before departing on a sweeter note.
Gets drier with food.
Does marry well with food without losing any of its character.
Will turn back onto a sweeter note away from food.

Overall: Very elegant and surprisingly complex for a honjozo, the more for it because it is a genshu as well
The kind of sake to impress guests at an open buffet party by serving it into transparent glassware without any warnings or information and invite them for a blind tasting challenge!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo

This is one sake by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, that I make a point to taste every year!

SN3O0311

To be honest the label tends to attracts me too much!

SN3O0313

As it is a junmai ginjo you can be assured of a high level!

SN3O0314

Rice Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15=16 degrees
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Dry and fruity. pears, custard
Body: Fluid, slightly liquorish
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up by junmai petillant.
Complex. Pears, apples with notes of almonds and persimmon.
Disappears quickly with on en even drier note.
Varies very little with food but for a momentarily drier note before turning back quickly to initial dryness.
Late appearance of dark chocolate and coffee beans with later sips.
Elegant and very easy to drink.

Overall: A typical sake from Sanwa brewery.
Definitely drier than the + 3 dryness announced.
A sophisticated sake conceived for dry sake lovers of all genders!
Can be equally enjoyed on its own or with food!
Its dryness makes it a perfect accompaniment with chocolate or nuts if you want to drink away on its own!
Solid, dependable, faithful!!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji takasago Brewery-Junmai Ginjo Nama

Fuji Takasago Brewery being located in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji uses water from its own well fed by subterranean water which had taken literally centuries to seep through the mountain.
No wonder that their sake are so popular when one bears in mind that water is the most important in the creation of top-class sake!

SN3O0022

This is a junmai/no pure alcohol blended in/nama/unpasteurized!
To add to it it of the ginjo class, that is a fine premium sake!
Note that the alcohol is about 1 degeree lower than usually seen in Shizuoka Prefecture

SN3O0023

Takes some reading to decipher, but beautiful handwritten calligraphy!

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.2
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Almost transparent
Aroma: Very discreet. Difficult to catch. Fruity. Pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack with little junmai petillant.
Complex and elegant. Pears.
Late appearance of milk coffee and dark chocolate.
Varies very little with food but for a slightly drier turn with hints of dry chocolate and milk coffee.

Overall: A fleeting, almost feminine in approach in spite of its dryness.
Complex but difficult to catch with ever changing short facets.
Dangerously easy to drink.
If you want to enjoy it with food, drink it with vegetables in particular for a subtle matching!
A great sake to both impress ladies and gentlemen. Would make for a superb aperitif before any kind of gastronomic repast!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji Takasago Brewery-Homare Fuji Junmai Genshu

Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City has been working for some time with Homare Fuji Sake Rice which is entirely produced in Shizuoka Prefecture.
It is actually a Yamada Nshiki hybrid with the big difference that the stak\lks are shorter, making it very resistant to high winds and heavy rains prevalent in summer.

SN3O0024

For a long time brewers were complaining about the fact that the rice is a bit hard and difficult to polish, but after overcoming this particular problem some breweries are know to produce dai ginjo level premium sake with it!
This particular sake has the merit of being practically untouched as it is a junmai/no pure alcohol added genshu/no pure water added!

SN3O0025

Rice: Homare Fuji (shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in March 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Almost transparent
Aroma: very dry. Pears, apples.
Body: Fluid
Tasting: Dry and fruity attack backed up by very strong junmai petillant.
Complex. pears, milk coffee with oranges appearing later.
Takes on a slightly drier turn with food.
Makes a sweetish comeback after food with more mil coffee and dark chocolate.

Overall: A typical Homare Fuji sake.
Great at all temperatures on its own but possibly at its best with food. Very pleasant in spite of its high alcohol contenets.
A sake to bring at a BBQ!
For the strong but elegant sake lovers!

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, Pie
rre.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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Hatsukame Honjozo Muroka Nama Genshu Gentei

Every year I make sure to acquire this very limited sake brewed by Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe, Fujieda City.
A very limited brew, they advise to drink it within a week of its bottling and keep in the refrigerator!
Just out of pure sense of contradiction I decided to keep it at room temperature until today, exactly one month later to see what would happen!
Mind you, it is still a bit of an overkill as I knew very well I didn’t much risk!
incidentally it is an honjozo/Pure sake alcohol was blended in, Muroka/unfiltered, nama/unpasteurized and genshu/no water added!

SN3O0060

Rice: Yamadanishiki (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down 60 % for the koji rice and 65% for the kake rice
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.7
Alcohol: 19 degrees
Bottled on March 7th, 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: discreet, dry and fruity. Pears, green apples
Body: Fluid
Taste: Softer attack than expected in spite of its high alcohol, unfiltered and genshu status. Dry and fruity. Pears, green apples.
Complex. The alcohol hitting the palate late wit drier green apples. Elusive, difficult to catch. Lingers only for a while to disappear with dry oranges.
Changes little with food, but for an occasional sweeter note soon proven wrong.

Overall: A typical limited brew by Hatsukame Brewery to titillate both your palate and mind, inducing you to experiment and making you think twice about hasty comments!
I entertain the deep suspicion this is the brewery’s hidden purpose behind this very limited brew!
Confusing the “specialists” is a game worth playing!

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, Pie
rre.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