Tag Archives: Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish & Seafood at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City: Including Shiira/Mahi Mahi!

July 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The recent typhoons and changeable weather of late had allowed me to look at the local fish available at Parche Fish Market inside Shizuoka JR Station but yesterday I finally could have a peek!

Now, what are these big fish?

Less than 6 US $ apiece! Now, this is cheap by Japanese standards!　caught off Atami City!

Shiira/シイラ/Mahi mahi or dorado/dolphinfish!

And what about these big, long silver fish?

At 23 US $, not so cheap, but they are big and super fresh! Caught off Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard fish!

So fresh! This is a fish which tends to spoil off quickly!

What are these big flat fish on top?

At more than 3.50 US $ per 100 grams, not cheap!

Ishigarei/石喰霊/Stone flounder!
Top-class flounder in Japan!

The back!

The belly!

Kohada/コハダ/Dotted gizzard shad!
A sushi chef’s favorite!
Unusual in Shizuoka!

Kose/コセ/A variety of Stripped jack!

Takabe/たかべ/Yellowstriped Butterfish from Shimoda harbor!

Oaka Aji/尾赤あじ:Red tail horse mackerel!

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, 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

Japanese Festivals, Ogushi Shrine, Shizuoka City

Ogushi Shrine Festival (小梳神社祭) in Shizuoka City 5: Omikoshi/Portable Shrine!

July 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Ogushi Shrine (小梳神社), a shrine almost 400 years old is located in Koyamachi, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City in front of Parco Department Store.
It is also the scene of a very local and ancient festival happening over two weeks in the middle of July.
Yesterday, Sunday July 20th saw the main attraction with the parade carrying the “omikoshi/portable shrine” around Aoi Ku in Shizuoka City.

This is the fifth installment of five photography report:

OMIKOSHI/PORTABLE SHRINE

Ogushi Shrine Omikoshi!

A mikoshi (神輿 or 御輿) is a divine palanquin (also translated as portable Shinto shrine). Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine. Often, the mikoshi resembles a miniature building, with pillars, walls, a roof, a veranda and a railing.

Roots:
The altar of the harvest festival carried out to the time which repeated migration by hunting and collection is the origin of a mikoshi.
Some theorize that “The origin of Japanese mikoshi is ancient Jewish tabernacle ark”.
Actually, mikoshi and the ark of the covenant do not have much in common. They differ in production and decoration (a phoenix or a crane being very different from cherubim.).

First use:
A mikoshi was believed to have been first used to transport Hachiman to Tōdai-ji temple from Usa Shrine 八幡宇佐宮御託宣集 in 749.

Typical shapes are rectangles, hexagons, and octagons. The body, which stands on two or four poles (for carrying), is usually lavishly decorated, and the roof might hold a carving of a phoenix.

During a matsuri (Japanese festival) involving a mikoshi, people bear the mikoshi on their shoulders by means of two, four (or sometimes, rarely, six) poles. They bring the mikoshi from the shrine, carry it around the neighborhoods that worship at the shrine, and in many cases leave it in a designated area, resting on blocks called uma (horse), for a time before returning it to the shrine. Some shrines have the custom of dipping the mikoshi in the water of a nearby lake, river or ocean (this practice is called o-hamaori). At some festivals, the people who bear the mikoshi wave it wildly from side to side to “amuse” the deity (kami) inside.

Great leadership in spite of the rain!

Shizuoka Ladies are strong and participate to the bearing!

But it’s to the men to provide support!

The parade starts with a spin in front of the shrine!

C’mon guys! Follow me!

They are following with a smile!

Even the kids!

About to go out under the torii gate for a 3-hour parade around Aoi Ku!

Do your best!

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Japanese Festivals, Ogushi Shrine, Shizuoka City

Ogushi Shrine Festival (小梳神社祭) in Shizuoka City 4: Performers!

July 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is the fourth installment of five photography report:

PERFORMERS

A Festival in Shizuoka, or Japan for that matter, includes all kinds of main and side shows.
The “Tengu” above was one of the main shows!

The omikoshi/portable shrine is the other one!

But a stage had been prepared for a good reason!

Enthusiastic performing group, which has been gracing such festivals for more than 30 years!

Energetic drumming!

Flag dancer!

Lion dancer?

Cute!

Strong woman!

And strong men, too!

Powerful voices!

Even grand ladies wouldn’t let the occasion escape!

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Japanese Festivals, Ogushi Shrine, Shizuoka City

Ogushi Shrine Festival (小梳神社祭) in Shizuoka City 3: The Parade!

July 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is the third installment of five photography report:

THE PARADE

The parade is about to leave Ogushi Shrine for more than three hours around Aoi Ku!

The notables first!

The last cup of sake!

Notables preparing the way at the Torii gate!

The shrine caretakers!

First the “tengu”. His pace will define that of all the parade!

This gentleman will have to walk all the way on these very high clogs supported by no less than four helpers!

The kids’ omikoshi coming next!

The main omikoshi coming out!

Women power!

The last rites!

Cute smiles!

Taking off!

Led by a lady! How about that!

The “Tengu” doing fine!

Still doing fine!

Luckily enough the omikoshi will stop many times on the way allowing him a welcome rest!

Light-hearted parade!

Even the rain can’t stop the parade!

Three hours later back at Ogushi Shrine!

Don’t worry separate articles are coming on the omikoshi and performers!

Families having a great time!

Thank you to all!

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Japanese Festivals, Ogushi Shrine, Shizuoka City

Ogushi Shrine Festival (小梳神社祭) in Shizuoka City 1: Preparations!

July 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is the first installment of five photography report:

PREPARATIONS

A festival worth its salt always include an imposing drum!

The main shrine at 12:00 am!
The parade is scheduled to leave around 14:30 pm!

The main omikoshi/portable shrine to be carried by adults!

Small but magnificent!

The front of the shrine inside!

The side of the same!

Sacred bird!

The smaller omikoshi to be carried by kids!

Cute!

Another sacred bird!

The small shrine inside!

Checking the donors list!
Such an event is pretty expensive to stage!

In a previous article I made a big mistake and described this building as ashed!

In fact it is a play stage!

The main shrine with its brand new rice straw garland!

As this particular shrine serves two communities, the lanterns bear two different crests!

The other crest!

The real shed!

Lacing up!

Picture for posterity!

A last prayer!

Last orders!

Waiting for the sending off!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Shirahige Shrine （白髭神社）in Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Shimojima!

July 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

There are many Shinto shrines called “Shirahige/白髭/White Beard” in Shizuoka City and Prefecture!
I discovered this one through pure luck while cycling along a side street in Shimojima, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

It must be pretty old as the newest of the three torii gates dates back more than 120 years ago!

It is one of those shrines which must have been repaired and rebuilt many a time but are still actively venerated!

It is a bit unusual to discover three stone torii gate in a row!

Looking back at the entrance!

Many stone lanterns!

The last torii gate!

Let’s look at one of the stone lanterns!

A deer and a cloud!

The cloud is a bit different on that lantern!

And the deer is facing the other way!

The lion guarding the left!

And the one guarding the right!

Guarding lions and wild boars under the eaves!

The shrine!

The crested money offerings box!

The proper way to salute!

The inside is properly looked after!

Small offering tables!

The greatest part of the shrine building has been recently restored!

Especially the back part!

Cute pinion!

Beautiful roofing!

Good-bye White Beard!

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Kura, Shizuoka City

Kura: Traditional Japanese Warehouse in Shizuoka Prefecture 19: Former Inoue Sake Brewery Kura in Shizuoka City!

July 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

“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.

In kutsunoya Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, near the Atago Shinto Shrine Inoue sake Brewery used to stand there.
Unfortunately when hos father died some 13 years ago, his son working for Shizuoka Bank preferred money over culture and sold most of the land to a sushi restaurant destroying centuries-old tress and walls in the process.
Now only a house where his mother still lives and an abandoned kura bear witness of the past.

The kura was not pulled down because that part of the land could not be sold and it would cost too much money as the walls are still very solid.
On the hand the inside has been emptied of all past relics and stands empty and forlorn.

The wooden frame and lintels of the superb windows are going to dust.

The roofing is still in good repair, though!

Even an earthquake has little chance to bring it down!

Tell me, Mr. Inoue, how long will we enjoy its sight?

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Japan, Photography, Shizuoka City

Romantic Gofuku Street in Shizuoka City?

July 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

There is little romantic about Gofuku Street in Shizuoka City!
It just shows you can easily transform any dour place into a destination with some appropriate photos!

You don’t even need a professional camera and whatever paraphernalia.
I took all these pictures with my mobile telephone! It is a Sony Ericsson they don’t make anymore, but I use it for all my blogs, although I do not use the flash!

I was in Gofuku Street, walking aimelssly, at around 7:00 pm, just before dog and wolf as we say in French, but it was particularly dark.

The contrast was naturally accentuated by the lamps focused by the camera.

If you know the whims of your camera, or mobile phone for that matter, I’m sure you can come up with some very interesting shots indeed!
And you don’t need to be a pro!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Ikama Shrine (伊河麻神社) in Shizuoka City

July 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Ikama Shrine (伊河麻神社) in Inagawa, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City is a very ancient one dating back to 675 but it was burnt down many a time and certainly had witnessed better days.
It is nonetheless worth visiting!

The entrance torii gate!

The hand-washing stone basin!

Imposing stone lantern!

intricate design for such a shrine feature!

A somewhat decrepit incinerator!

A very ancient tree indeed, but we’ll go back to it later!

A history lesson!

Two ancient small shrines whose torii gates have been restored!

A red torii gate!

The ancient shrine!

An orange torii gate!

Somewhat bigger than its neighbor!

A bit isolated small new stone lantern!

Proofs that the site was destroyed at times!

The main shrine!

The rice straw garland!

Guarding lions!

The crested curtain!

Crested money offerings box!

The interior!

Ceremonial flags!

Japanese sake offerings!

Festival drum!

Back to the front courtyard!

Prayer papers!

Although the roofing is recent, the pinions are much older!

Restored eaves!

Robust roofing!

From another angle!

Back to the venerable tree!

He must have a lot of stories to tell!

Good-bye!

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Bakeries, pastry, Shizuoka City

Bakery Trotix in Shizuoka City!

July 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I’m glad to say that bakeries have decidedly a bright future in Shizuoka City after I discovered another little beauty: Trotix in Kita Ando, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
The simple reason of this happy state of affairs is the fact that many restaurants in the same town make good use of their creations for the best PR possible!

Yoshinori Kobayashi/小林義則さん opened his cute bakery in 2009 and has achieved a great reputation for creating bread and pastries for adult taste!

This was my first visit yesterday and I must admit I rue all the time lost!

The main key in Trotix is not the evident great taste and beauty, but the variety and an approach to please a more adult clientele!

Fruit breads!

Superb croissants!

White grapes, grapefruit peels and cream cheese bread and Cuin Aman (French Breton pastry)!

Wiener rolls, Sweet potato and sesame bread, Melon bread, Basil & spinach bread, Cream bread, Choco Croissant, Endive and bacon tart, Bacon epi!

Deep-fried curry bread, Shrimp and broccoli tartines!

Classic breads and Pain de mie!

Very homey atmosphere!

And don’t forget the super fresh mixed sandwiches, fruit tarts and old fashion cheese cakes!

TROTIX

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kita Ando, 3-11-1
Tel.: 054-248-7024
Opening hours: 10:30~18:30
Closed on Sundays and sometimes on Mondays

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Inomiya Shrine (井宮神社) in Shizuoka City!

July 16, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

in spite of its respectable size, Inomiya Shrine in Aoi Ku, Shzuoka City, does not welcome many visitors because of the proximity of the biggest shrine in Shizuoka City, namely Sengen Shrine.

It is nonetheless well advertised although its torii tends to be overlooked along a busy thoroughfare.

it is very very old but it was rebuilt on the present location in 1776!

But quite a few predate the coming of the shrine!

The nearby mountain provides a natural background in the city!

Take your time climb the stairs!

Hydrangeas are plentiful in this season!

The main shrine!

The hand-washing stone basin!

An unusual frog sitting on the lid over the well!

Imposing stone lanterns!

A mountain pattern carving can be guessed on the very old stone!

I’ve seen these patterns of a deer and cloud, as well as of the mountain, in many other shrines!

But the guarding lions do look different!

The left guarding lion!

He rests his paw over the belly of a smaller lion. Unusual!

The lion on the right!

Resting his paw atop a ball!

There is something unusual about his maws!

Try as I may, I couldn’t take out the stone ball out!

The main shrine front!

The money offerings box!

The rice straw garland!

Roofing decoration!

From another angle!

The proper way to salute the shrine!

Inomiya Shrine is actually the combination of three different shrines!

Back to the stairs!

More information!
That is when I noticed another very small shrine at the back!

Almost completely hidden from view!

Beautiful small torii gates!

One of the two foxes guarding it!

The money offerings box!

The other fox over a strange flame!

The oldest tree inside the shrine grounds!

The shrine shed and office!

Overlooking the city!

A last view from the hydrangea-lined stairway!

Back through the main torii gate!

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Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Soloio (July, 2014) in Shizuoka City!

July 13, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

It had been 3 months since I visited Solio Italian Restaurant for the last time in Shizuoka City last Friday and I was wondering if I could catch up with the new dishes at one of my favorite Italian Restaurants in the Prefecture!

We actually came very early, just before 5:30 p.m. which allowed us a special happy hour glass and antipasti misto set!

I had wanted to start with a beer after the very hot day but this Chardonnay spaprkling wine from the Veneto was just perfect for all its seemingly modesty!

The antipasti misto including small fry escabeche, fritatta, eggplant and lamb meat ball!

Naturally the bread is home-baked!

These exquisite mini tomatoes (from Chef Kato’s garden) in wine jelly were on the house!
Now, what did we have?

Marinated mussles!

Melons are a main product of Shizuoka Prefecture and pruned min melons are extensively used!
Putting a big mussle on a slice and eating them together was the idea!

While we were waiting we tasted some Italian candied fruit!

Beautiful deep-fried morsels: fritto!

Shizuoka grown zucchini flowers filled with ricotta cream!

Zucchini!

Carpaccio with a fish caught in the Suruga Bay!

Madai/Japanese seabream!

The risotto of the day!

Prepared with Shizuoka-grown sweet corn and parmegiani cheese!

The meat dish of the day!

Skillet-fried pork from Kuwahara Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Unfortunately we were too full to take dessert!
That will be for the next time!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Entirely non-smoking!

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Bakeries, pastry, Shizuoka City

Bakery and Pastry: NICO in Shizuoka City!

July 10, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Being a Frenchman and loving my bread and pastries, I’m truly blessed to be graced wit hone of the very best bakeries in the whole of Shizuoka Prefecture just a few minutes’ walk from my home!

NICO was opened exactly seven years ago in Midori Cho, Aoi Ku, a bit away from the center of Shizuoka City, but people don’t mind, walking, cycling or driving there every day!

Even despite the dire news of the coming typhoon today the tiny bakery was flocked with customers!

Tetsuya Kosugi/小杉哲也さん is looking after the bakery itself which is pretty large behind the small shop where his mother and wife Megumi/めぐみさん are looking after　the customers!
As many are housewives coming with their kids, they even provide toys for kids to play with while their mothers patiently wait for their turn!

Note that the place opens as late as 11:00 am from Tuesday to Saturday, but most of the time everything will be sold by 13:00
They nonetheless accept order reservations on the phone within reasonable quantity (they do have to refuse some orders so as to provide enough for their regular customers, but that is a secret!).

A lot of French (without a single mistake) is written everywhere!

The “batard” baguettes on the right are a favorite of mine, but they tend to disappear quickly!

The vegetables pastries and the beans and curry bread are a favorite for lunches with the nearby office workers!

One can easily imagine who wants these exquisite croissants and fruit pastries!

But today Dragon ordered me to bring the beans and curry bread!
The batard bread will be for the next time!

NICO

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Midori Cho, 6-30
Tel.: 054248-5564
Opening hours: 11:00 a.m.~sold out
Closed on Sundays and Mondays

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Fish, Fish Markets, Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish & Seafood at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City: Sushi Chef’s Heaven!

July 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again due to work I hadn’t ad much time to check what local fish and seafood were available at the Parche Market inside Shizuoka JR Station! Withe the coming typhoon I had doubts, but I discovered quite a few fish at very (comparatively) prices and I’m sure the fish will disappeared as I write about it, and I know some chefs are going to make some big margins!

Now, what are those long silvery fish?

Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard fish!

Caught this morning off Numazu harbor! Super fresh and cheap!

Watarigani/渡り蟹/Swimming crab-Japanese blue crab!

Houbou/方々/Red gurnard!

Kuro shitabirame/黒舌平目/Black Soles!

Aka Mebaru/赤メバル/Red Japanese sea perch-rockfish!

Tsubdai/つぼ鯛/Pentaceros japonicus Doderlein (seabream variety)!

Nama tako/生たこ/Raw octopus!

Isaki/イサキ/Chicken grunt!

Renkodai/連子鯛/Yellowback seabream!

Hedai/ヘダイ/Goldlined seabream-Tarwhine-Stumpnose!

Kamasu/かます/barracuda!

Ma Aji/真アジ/Horse mackerel!

Shiro mebaru/白メバル/White Japanese sea perch-rockfish!

Ko Aji/小アジ/Very young horse mackerels!

Usually this particular fish is a bit expensive!

Ma kochi/真コチ/Sand Borer!

Beautiful and so fresh squids!

ma ika/真イカ/Japanese Flying Squid-Japanese Common Squid-Pacific Flying Squid!
Cheap!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Sankaban Inari Shrine (三加番稲荷神社) in Higashi Kusabuka Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

July 9, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

I had noticed this small shrine for quite some time in Higashi Kusabuka Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City because of its many red torii gates.

The paint is flaking away these days but I remember when they were a bright orange red!

Sankaban Inari Shrine (三加番稲荷神社) is very old indeed and must have been rebuilt countless times as it was first erected on this spot in 1651 after the Yui Shosetsu Revolt as the third of a series of three identical shrines.