Tag Archives: Tourism

レシピ, Crafts, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Crafts, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Fruit, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Seafood, Shizuoka Traditonal Handcarfts, Tourism

Shizuoka City Products & Crafts (and more!) at Shin Yoo Bank!

October 17, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Don’t get me wrong! This is not an advert for a bank nor a suggestion that you should deposit your money there!
In fact my accounts are not held in this bank!

But if it is your first visit, or if you wish to know a bit more about our City, walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station, past the main crossroads with Egawa Street and you will find Shizuoka Shin Yoo Bank/静岡信用銀行 on your right just before reaching Shizuoka City Hall!

Have a good look at their display windows. It is definitely worth the attention! Actually if it rains or if it is too hot you could see the main posters inside. The bank welcomes casual visitors!
If all banks were emulating it Shizuoka city would certainly be an even better place for it!

Plenty to look at or read!

And even more!
Shall we have a look at them in detail?

Mount Fuji including views from Yui, Nihondaira and miho Beach!

Shizuoka City Highlights: Nihondaira Zoo, Daidogei Street Performance World Cup, Umegashima Hot Springs, Yui Honjin Park!

Shizuoka City History: Kunozan Toosgoogun Shrine, Seigen temple, Toroi Ruins, Sumpu Castle Park!

Top to bottom: Daidogei Street performance World Cup, Sakura Ebi/Cherry shrimps. Sengen Shrine, and Mount Fuji view from Nihon Daira!

Shizuoka Prefecture Designated Product: “Shikibu” clog!

Green Tea lacquer Box!

Wooden Bilboquet Shoe, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

A Clock, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

Soccer Ball Lacquer Bowls, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

A Mount Fuji Dyed Cloth bag, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

“Mana” Beach sandals, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

“Tuna Fishing”, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

“Lady Eyes Miso Soup Bowls”, which won a special prize at the Shizuoka Dream Design Contest!

Shizuoka Prefecture Designated Product: Bamboo lattice Craft Box!

The display window!

Citruses, Sumpu Castle, Mount Fuji view from Yui, Mount Fuji View from green tea fields!

Actually, the posters inside are different!

Shizuoka City products: Hina dolls, Geta/Wooden clogs, Suruga Bamboo Lattice Crafts, Suruga Lacquerware!

Shizuoka City Gastronomy: Tuna, Wasabi, Tororo Jiru/Grated Yam, Abekawa Mochi Wagashi cakes (vegan!), Shizuoka Oden!

More shizuoka Gastronomy: Green Tea, Oranges, Strawberries, Shirasu/Sardine Whiting, Sakura Ebi/Cherry Shrimps!

Actually, there is so much more!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: 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!
-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

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Breweries: The One That Disappeared-Yagi Brewery (Tanchou/丹頂) in Shimada City!

October 17, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

During My visit to the Shimada Obi Festival last Monday I walked past a small private museum/display of Shimada craftsmen’s tools and artifacts.
I made an interesting discovery proving that you can’t overlook anything!
The photo above is taht of a sake bottle bag printed with the word “Tanchou/丹頂” the brand name of the late sake Brewery called “Yagi Brewery/八木酒造”
The brewery disappeared some ten years ago before I really started delving into Shizuoka sake history.
The reasons for its demise are quite simple: the brewery was basically making sake on order for the big breweries in Nada (Kobe) region. When the sake boom of the 70’s receded the orders decreased and finally stopped. On the other hand the other brewery in Shimada City, namely Ooumuraya brewery/大村屋酒造 famous all over Japan for its brand names such Onna Nakase/女泣かせ, Onigoroshi/鬼殺し and Wakatake/若竹 was striving as it has opted for a local market for some time and stopped producing for the Nada breweries a long time ago.

This is when I realized that their shop, Tanchou Honten/丹頂本店 was just across the road!

The ground floor of the decrepit building is still used as a bike shop!
An article for my friend at Abandoned Kansai?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka marine products, Shizuoka Seafood, Tourism

3rd Shizuoka Gourmet Kingdom Fest 2013 in Shizuoka City (October 19th & 20th)!

October 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

On october 19th (Saturday) from 11:00 to 20:00 and 20th (Sunday) from 11:00 to 19:00 everyone will be able to discover how extravagantly rich is our City of Shizuoka at 3rd Shizuoka Gourmet Kingdom Fest 2013!

It will be held in Aoi Ku behind (west entrance) the Shizuoka City Hall and all along the Aoba Street/Aoba Symbol Road!

Can you guess what is produced, caught and bred in our City?
See the list below (not exhaustive!):
-Shirasu/Sardine Whiting
-Sakura Ebi/Cherry Shrimps
-Beef
-Vegetables (impossible to count)
-Wasabi (it was born in Shizuoka City!)
-Strawberries
-Pork
-Poultry
-Tuna (did you know that? Especially Albacore/Binnnaga Maguro, also nicknamed Shizuoka Tuna!)
-Hanpen (dark sardine paste cakes)
-Oranges and citruses

Frankly speaking I already know that to show all products of Shizuoka City would require a far bigger space, but I’m sure there will be enough to overwhelm you!

Local sake brewed in this city will be represented by the following breweries: Haginishiki, Suruga (Tonko), Eikun, Kanazawagawa (Shosetsu), Kumpai and Sanwa (Garyuubai)!

Naturally all the major Japanese beer companies will also be represented as guests as they know you will be thirsty on these two days! LOL

For more information call 090-6469-0597 (Japanese)

Report coming!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

笑い, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Weird Japan (37): Halloween Scarecrows in Shizuoka City!

October 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

I discovered these two in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, as I cycled past a building site!

Do not forget that Halloween had a very dark meaning at its origin!

These two were obviously not erected to scare the many crows which are a real plague in this city, but to scare off would-be trespassers!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 静岡市, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Scallops, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Seafood, sushi, Tourism, 寿司

Sushi: “Birufeuille” or Millefeuille by Chef kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

October 15, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu

On our way back from the Shimada Obi Festival we decided to have dinner at Sushi Ko Sushi Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City last night!
I and Dragon took the opportunity to challenge Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん into an new cretioon!

Actually Dragon made the suggestsion.
Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん is famed for his Sushi Millefeuille and Spicy Scallops Roll!
Hence he was asked to combine the two!

Can you guess what ingredients were used?
Well, the main part consisted of three layers of shari/sushi rice with one layer of raw scallops which had been seasoned with mayonnaise and spices beforehand and a layer of thinly sliced crunchy Japanese cucumber.

A view from the top may help!

Well, the top was garnished with pieces of scallops, tempura kasu/tempura batter bits for more crunch, scallions. ikura/salmon roe and akami/red lean tuna!

For a closer view!

More scallops and other tidbits to avoid any disputes between Dragon and I!

What happens when yo start demolishing the edifice!

Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん who had conceived his creation for a photograph first interrupted us to add the missing mayonnaise and other seasoning!

Even half broken it still looked a beauty!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Tokubetsu Junmai Cenova 2nd Anniversary

October 13, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

hanan No Mai, located in Hamamatsu City, is the largest sake brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture and makes a good use of all events in our Prefecture to well their products.

Cenova Department store in Shizuoka City just celebrated its 2nd Anniversary and like for the opening and 1st Anniversary hana no Mai produced a tokubetsu Junami limited to 100 numbered bottles. I got No 11!

“Local Souvenir”!

Hana No Mai Brewery has a habit of printing the exact bottling date on their labels!

Rice locally grown
rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on September 30th 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Custard
Body: Fluid, lightly sirupy
Taste: Soft attack at first, immediately followed by puissant junmai petillant warming up back of the palate.
Fruity and dryish. Custard, macadamia nuts, almonds, oranges.
Lingers for a while before softly disappearing with more macadamia nuts and ornages.
Takes a small back step with food on a slightly drier note with more dry oranges.
Away again from food sees a solid appearance by chestnuts.

Overall: A typical sake from Hana No Mai Brewery with a comparatively soft approach.
A sake probably best enjoyed before food.
Should please younger people and ladies alike.
A sake fit for beginners, too.
Would make for a beautiful sweet aperitif when chilled!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism

Hailing A Taxi?

October 12, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Caught this 5~6th grader looking for something or looking at something above the taxis as I came out of the Shziuoka JR station.
A bit unusual in Japan where kids do not usually show off!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Okra, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Okra Flowers Tempura at Jacuzzi awabar in Shizuoka City!

October 11, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, polite, but easy-going
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: All kinds of bubbly drinks. Very healthy and tasty food snacks made with local products.

okra are becoming very popular in Asia and Europe although it originated from Central Africa.
It is also extensively grown here in Japan but it is somewhat eaten in a manner different from that in Africa.
For one, the flowers are edible and can be prepared in many ways.

Since this is Japan one manner that would come to mind is tempura although the Japanese would eat okra in any form even raw!
What is more uncommon is cooking the flowers.
Unlike comparatively robust zucchini flowers okra flowers will wilt very quickly as they bloom for only one day.

One way to circumvent that problem is to cut the flowers just before they open and leave them in the fridge where they will open and conserve longer.

Last night I had the pleasure to savor both the okra pods and flowers organically grown by Mr. Baba in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji at Jacuzzi awabar, the newest gastronomic bar in Shizuoka City!

As tempura goes this is both teasingly simple and sophisticated.
Crispy, so tasty, almost sweet!
You must try it! With a glass of French bubbly rose wine!

JACUZZI awabar
]420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-11-10-2
Tel.: 054-269-5992
Opening hours: 15:00~24:00
Closed on Sundays
Credit cards not yet!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanes Culture, Japanese Education, Japanese students, Kindergarten, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Kindergarten On The March!

October 10, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

I noticed these kindergarten kids as I went out of Cenova Departement Store at 10:15 a.m. this morning!
Cenova Department Store, owned by Shizutetsu Company is also the starting point of the Shizutetsu Railway Line running from Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku to Shimizu Ku, a kind of surface underground.
It is a very busy line during rush hours.
But in between it is quite a pleasant ride.
Thoese kindergarten kids were obviously on a field trip to learn how to buy tickets and ride trains!

According to the color of the caps they were two classes of the same school accompanied by three teachers.
Please not the flap protecting the nape of the kids. It is becoming more and more the norm due to the hot weather. Temperatures rose to 30 degrees Celsius today! To think we are going to freeze in winter!

The kids were extremely well-behaved, orderly and quiet but obviously excited at the prospect of riding a train!
Note that the kids all carry colorful rucksacks very probably containing drinks, lunches and small clothes and wnd what else!
The kids also wear the same shorts (except for one who must have had a good reason! LOL) and shirts be they boys or girls with their names tagged on.
Japan, and especially Shizuoka, is extremely safe, but kids are well protected!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Old Shizuoka City Hall: Another Cultural Asset saved from the Developers’ clutches!

October 9, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

If you go to the modern Shizuoka City Hall in Aoi Ku you will notice an old building topped with a dome on its right.
The whole building had been the city Hall of Shizuoka City from 1886 to 1986, just a century.
Having lived 38 years in Shizuoka City I witnessed the building of the new City Hall (which had to be restarted after it was discovered that its foundation was too low!) and shared the worries of the local citizens when the mayor in place, Shingo Amano (you will not find his name in all records as he had to step down in second mid-term after one too many financial scandals!), wanted to pull down the whole edifice to leave place to another of his expensive “monuments”.

The edifice created by a guest British architect was finally saved out of the mayor’s friends’ clutches when various citizen groups finally woke up and started a damaging campaign forcing the mayor to relent (the beginning of end for him actually!).

The building has since then been used as a meeting hall, library and document vault.
You can actually visit most of it on your own without permission.
It is a great place to explore for photography buffs with old stairs, panels. windows and waht else!

Try and catch the dome under a red dusk sky! I’m sure you will have plenty of striking pics to show back home!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Buildings, 美術, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kikugawa City, Museums, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism

Kikugawa Red Brick House saved from the developers’ clutches!

October 8, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

If you walk straight out from the only exit of Kikugawa City JR Station you are bound to walk past a square old building all made of red bricks.
Now, this is a noteworthy discovery as such buildings, mostly official at the times, were destroyed during WWII and most of those you may discover, especially in Yokohama and Hokkaido, are copies.
This building in Kikugawa City is the real article!

It was erected as soon as the Tokaido Railway Line opened a station in Horin No Uchi (as of Hori no Uchi District in Kikugawa City) ine 23rd Year of Meiji Era (1890).
many buildings of the same architecture were also built at the same time along Kikugawa Station platform, Yoshizawa Arch Bridge, Kanaya Station and Makinohara Tunnel as offices, warehouses and else but they all have disappeared and the Red Brick House in Kukgawa City is the only one left.
For long the land had been ogled by developers and only 2 years ago the rumors were pretty bad until an NPO took charge of it with the blessings of the city as Cultural Asset!

The original front facade although it is now oriented away from the street.

If one looks carefully one can see the traces of the adjacent buildings and walls which have all disappeared!

The place can be visited on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00 except on third week-ends.
It is still being cleaned and ordered inside but it is still worthy of a visit and of a glimpse of the past!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Food, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism

Japanese Izakaya & Seafood Restaurant: Senbon Ichi in Numazu City!

October 8, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but attentive and kind
Facilities: Traditional but very clean. Very clean washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Local fish directly from the harbor. Excellent local sake list

Senbon Ichi is a very traditional Japanese izakaya which specializes in fish as it is located in the middle of Numazu City fishing harbor, a major in Japan that Tokyo couldn’t do without!

The draft beer served there, although not by a Shizuoka Brewery, is brewed in Shizuoka Prefecture!

As the Numazu harbor has been recently completely renovated I paid it a short visit before planning a longer one for an extensive report. I still took the time to eat lunch at Senbon Ichi (which has two establishments under the generic name of Minato Ichi/湊一).

I want this poster of all the fishes caught in Japan!

At lunch time the main dining room is non smoking. Take a seat near the windows and you shouldn’t be affected by the smokers at the counter!

Great take-out deep-fried seafood available at reasonable prices, too!

Very good point in their favor: they serve no less than 14 local sake!

We decided to order the two specialties of the season and share them!

Dragon ordered the sakura ebi kakiage donburi/sushi rice top with deep-fried cherry shrimps, the specialty of Shizuoka!

A real beauty and plenty of it!

I pinched a few to eat with the beer! Great snack, I assure you!

The interesting thing is that there is a layer of grilled horse mackerel under the shrimps!
Actually Dragon was also provided with hot tea to mix it with some of her donburi for a great o-cha-zuke!

As for me, I ordered a sushi donburi topped with local fish and seafood only!

A photograph for my gastronomic collection!

Raw shirasu/sardine whiting, sardine, horse mackerel, negitoro/grated tuna!

Amberjack and a rose of tuna!

Tamagoyaki, seabream and prawn!

You will find a layer of finely chopped dry seaweed between the sushi rice and the sashimi!
So healthy!

SENBON ICHI
410-0845 Numazu City, Senbon Minato Cho, 101, 3rd and 4th F
Tel.: 055-952-0025
Fax: 055-952-0022
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30 (11:00~15:30 on week-ends and National Holidays), 17:00~21:30
Closed on Tuesdays (except on National Holidays)
Groups up to 80 OK
Credit cards OK
Free taxi service for groups of 7, 9 or 14 from and to Numazu, Katahama and Mishima JR Stations upon phone bookings!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Drink blogs, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Food and Drink Blogs, Food Blogs, Japan, Japan drink Blogs, Japan Food Blogs, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Tourism

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (amended October 2013)

October 6, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE

(Hokkaido Island)

Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin
The Best of Sapporo by Ben!

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai

KANTO TRIBE

(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)

Erik in Nihon
Adventures in Japan
TOKYOBLING BOG
Japan-Hub.Com
Japan Eat’s Videos
Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with Dominic
Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Tokyo Food Page
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo (in Japanese)
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscence in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo
Japan Farmers Market in Tokyo by Joan
Ramen By Shoe
Rameniac
In Praise of Izakaya
Onsen Addict

CHUBU TRIBE

(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)

Passport, Tickets and a Suitcase by Hiedi in Shizuoka City
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (English & French)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto
Kyoto Food Page
Osaka/Kobe Food Page

CHUGOKU

(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)

“Made in Matsue” in Shimane prefecture
San’in Monogatari by Buri Chan in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU

(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)

Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU

(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)

Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito
Quixotidienne in Kagoshima Prefecture
Christine Molero in Kyushu & elsewhere
Alishan on the Move in Fukuoka

OKINAWA

(Okinawa Archipelago)

HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: 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!
-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

Food & Drinks Bloggers in japan Food & Drinks in Japan Gastronomes Gastronomy Japan Japanese Culture Japanese Gastronomy Japanese Restaurants Restaurants Tourism

笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanes Culture, Japanese fashion, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

The 10 (and a few more) weirdest sights in Shizuoka City, Japan! So far…..

October 6, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

1) KILLING WITH A SMILE?

Japan is the safest country in the world, but it also produces the best knives and swords in the world, too!
Advertising such a business with a smiling (with a vampire tooth jutting out) manga girl is both novel and disquieting! LOL

It is actually the sign of the oldest knives and cutlery shop in Shizuoka City!

2) Beware of the Wild Boars at Bus Stops! (real!)

I discovered that sign inside a bus stop shelter in Yuugashima, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture!

“Beware of the Wild Boars!”
It’s not a joke!

Mind you, they make for good food, too! Wild boar buns are a local specialty!

3) Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka: Mother and Daughter!

Maybe I could say that it is never too early nor too late to become fashionable!
Today was a hot day and being a Saturday a lot of people were aout shopping.
Such a mother and daughter is still very much unusual in Japan, considering the mother is nearer fifty than forty of age…
I can’t feel the presence of a man in this family…

Note the shoes! I’m pretty sure they were bought in the same shop!

And both are very proud of their thin long legs!
Definitely a rare occurence but I’m not one to complain!

4) The Punk and The Pinky or The Riot and The Cutie?

Some girls seem to have just come out of a manga story…
I chose not to take their faces for privacy breach reasons but actually they are cute enough as they are!
Probably just out of high school!
Actually Shizuoka City is famous/notorious for Japanese cutie/punk fashion all over Japan!

5) Tsunami Capsule Shelter Pucapuca in Shizuoka!

It is the Japanese new invention!
Called Tsunami Capsule, Tsunami Shelter, Pucapuca, Runfun, etc, it is supposed to protect you from tsunami as it is devised to float atop any moving water without capsizing!
The cost: a whooping 1,000,000 yen!

And it is made by Ton Craft company in Makinohara City, Shizuoka prefecture!

6) Pepsi good for Hair?

Somme “collaborations” should be avoided!
Found this near my office…

7) Fancy a Drink Before a Break-in?

I love the name of this bar in Ryogae-Cho, Shizuoka City!
Mind you, a couple too many drinks there could encourage me into some illegal activities!
They serve Guiness which explains the shamrock!

8) Acid Milk!

A few years ago we used to see those big ads in Japan for “Homo Milk” standing for “Homogeneous Milk”. That is, until someone pointed out this might mislead some people into the wrong conclusions…

I found this truck in front of a kindergarten this morning on the way to my classroom.
After some investigation I found out (with the help of my Japanese student), that yoghurt is also called fermented milk in Japanese!
Acid Milk simply stands for Yoghurt!
Even so, it might be a good idea (but I suppose it is too late!) to think of a change of name, unless some people (again!) think of an even worse possibility! LOL

9) Gremlin?

Don’t misread me! I’m not trying to be disparaging or criticizing!
The (very young) lady was barely 140 cm tall and all so compact!
I noticed her inside Shizuoka JR Station as I was waiting for my train to Shimada (work. I would come back later).
She was a jumble of fashions mrap to goth and whatever in between although she seemed very sweet when I heard talk to the girlfriend she had been waiting for.
A fashion almost uniquely found among high school students out for fun!
Her garb is so zany and colorful.
So, why not?

10) What kind of school is that?

Would you believe that most pupils at this elementary school go to top Unversities?
Found out that the City of Shizuoka made that sign when I questioned the Headmaster who wouldn’t take reponsibility for it!
They have pasted a correction above it since then!

11) Junk Food Bar in Shizuoka City!

Someone will have to explain the meaning of the word “junk” to some people here! LOL
Maybe they are confusing junk food with fast food, although I would like to know what they mean by “soul” as well!

Americans will understand that “Jumbo Dog” probably means “Jumbo Hot Dog”, but what is a “Got Burger” or “Junk Rice”?

They are quite insistent about it with “Junk Food & Bar” pasted on the entrance door!
Actually, they serve a very good open hamburger!

12) Don’t set the Department Store on Fire!

Seen at Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka City!
The fact that is the safest country in the World sometimes leads to excessive precautions and warnings!
Hazardous Materials (probably wrong choice of word there…) should be prohibited anywhere!
I totally agree with banning smoking!
But who would try to set a department store on fire?

The fact that the sign is almost at ground level be hind a constantly moving sliding glass door might explain why people haven’t paid any notice!
I wonder what the Chinese and Korean translations say?

13) Have a care or I’ll bite!

Note the sushi standing bar in front of the girls!

In these times of waist-high cinched tutu-like skirts and dresses, this young girl almost stands out as an anachronism!

Mind you, compared to her friend that fashion is utterly practical although the white pants might get dirty vey quickly!

14) Snow White?

No, although the skin of this young lady was incredibly white, she wasn’t an albino (very rare in Japan!)!
Her hair was not bleached but dyed as it had a nice lustre to it!

She was also incredibly fit, and I had a hard time following her from the other side of the street discreetly until I could take a pic of her even from the back!
Were I younger she might have been my type! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Humor Japan Japanese Culture Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka City Street Scenes Tourism Weird Weird japan

観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Numazu City, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 1

October 6, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A tall kura in Shizuoka City

“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.

Can you spot the small one in far distance? Discovered in Numazu City!

Except in Kyoto and other touristic regions, or unless designated as cultural properties, most large ones have been pulled down as the land they stood on was far more financially valuable.

Only yesterday I cycled to one I knew just to find out that the owner who used it as a restaurant had just replaced it with a car park and moved his restaurant on the first floor of an adjacent building!

Very small, even by Japanese standards, I wonder how it has survived all that time!

During WWII those warehouses helped to conserve a lot of precious data as they were sturdy enough to resist bombing and fires.
Where the people could not afford to build one on their own, very often the village and even the cities had one built to at least protect the rice harvest.
On the other hand almost all Buddhist temples had one thus protecting a lot of cultural assets, especially in the light that a great majority of the population was literate.

Can you spot the one covered with ivy behind the old traditional Japanese restaurant?

It is probably owned by the restaurant.
As Numazu City is a harbor it was probably used to also shelter nets and other valuable fishing equipment as such structures could even withstand tsunamis.

Can you spot the one behind the car park of the neighboring clinic?

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it is still owned and used by the private clinic!
Also in Numazu City and very near the sea you never know, it might prove as a blessing!

I also discovered this cute little one in Numazu City!

In Kyoto such kuras would find many uses from store to restaurant, atelier and what else!
If I had the money I would immediately transform it into a cozy little restaurant!

This one is quite well-known in Shizuoka City.
It is owned by a defunct local cosmetics company.

It is part of a big property including a house and garden and could easily be transformed into a grandiose project.
Unfortunately it is not on sale as the family owning it apparently does not want or might not be allowed to sell it!

I almost missed that one in the center of Shizuoka City as it is completely hidden as three sides in spite of its large size!

Now, this is ancient, and judging from its generally good state it is still used. As what, I have no idea!

I was lucky to find this one, too, as the owners have completely vacated the premises including the near store which must closed quite some time ago.

It is tall and big and could easily separated from the rest of the property to be developed as store and restaurant/cafe/atelier but I’m afraid that developers will soon raze the whole lot!

Still looking around as this is a big prefecture with a lot of history.
If you find any in your neighboring I’ll treat you to coffee!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: 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!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Art Buildings Japan Japanese Culture Kura Numazu City Photography Shizuoka Shizuoka City Street Scenes Tourism Warehouses

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