Tag Archives: Tourism

Bistro, 美食, Dessert, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 農業, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tot-Fait

French Gastronomy: Bistro Premier in Shizuoka City!

March 25, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and smiling service.
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable.
Strong points: French and South European cuisine based on local products. Very relaxing place opening onto a large leisure space in Aoba Park Street.

Aoba Park Street/青葉公園 in Shizuoka City is finally witnessing some welcome changes because it has become more attractive to businesses with the advent of bordering Ryogae-cho and Shichiken-cho being noticeably pared down due to recent developments.
The immediate effect is that this large space is slowly but steadily becoming the new gastronomic meeting place in Shizuoka City.
And the latest addition, Bistro Premier is only confirming the trend!

It was opened last December by young talented Chef Tomomichi Gekka/月花智道さん coming from the mother company, Wine Bar Le Vin in Hamamatsu, with the help of young and bubbly Floor Manager, Ms. Eriko Mamiya/間宮恵理子さん, also from Hamamatsu City.

I finally managed to pay them a visit for lunch yesterday!

Incidentally, you can buy take out food there!

The concept is that of a wide counter with a view on the window-paned kitchen and a room with tables at the back for more privacy.
The place is extremely clean and entirely non-smoking!

The white walls make for a very refreshing and relaxing atmosphere at all times.
Considering you can visit the place for a drink and a quick meal up 12:00 p.m., it is a real boom in this busy city!

I chose the 1790 yen lunch (22 US $ or 17 euros).
The food is heavily accented in favor of local ingredients, especially vegetables!
A small salad and bread.

A glass of wine was included. I opted for a solid Pinot Noir from my birthplace, Bourgogne!

Appetizers assortment: Ratatouille, smoked duck and Caprese salad.

Delicious and hot lentils potage!

Budai seabream poelee with an elegant creamy herb sauce!

The broccolini and stick Junior broccoli made for a perfect accompaniment!
So healthy and tasty!

With petit vert Brussels sprouts (a variety created in Shizuoka Prefecture!), Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, a real beauty!

Now, the desserts created by Tomomichi would deserve a visit of its own!

Vanilla ice cream served in mango sauce with fruits…

on which you pour a superb hot cranberry sauce!

Do I need to say that a report on dinner is coming very soon?

BISTRO PREMIER
420-0034 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 2-4-5 (Aoba Park Street, near the fountain)
Tel.: 054-260-6076
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:30~24:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK

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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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), 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: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Life & Gastronomy in Japan (& Shizuoka)

March 15, 2012 dragonlife 5 Comments

Vegan Fried Avocado

I have always been intrigued by the priorities and needs of my vegan and vegetarian friends. I’m an incorrigible omnivore and will ever be, but I can appreciate other gastronomies, be they even based on vegetables only.
I also hold a deep interest in anything organic, although I don’t make it a tenet of my everyday life.
As a general rule I strive for balance.
Vegans and vegetarians have their reasons to be so, and that is their private concern. Full stop.
On the other hand, I cannot be forced into changing my ways. I did recently have to fend a concerted hate mail assault by a group of slightly misled vegans following an article of mine, but that is not going to stop me from trying to help my friends in this country.

Many vegans and vegetarians harbour doubts as to whether visit Japan, or Shizuoka for that matter.
They should not be wary of the life here. I dare say that it is almost the ideal country for them to live!
Shizuokaisalso a paradise for organic vegetables. I know of one extraordinary farmer who grows more than 190 varieties on 3 ha in Fujinomiya City!
Alright, vegans and vegetarians certainly need to be prepared!

Japanese Vegan Dashi

The very first query I have to field is:
-“But they use dashi everywhere!”
The Japanese certainly do, but there two basic kinds of dashi/Japanese soupstocks: one made with dry bonito shavings and the other made with konbu/seaweed. Check Vegan Dashi Recipe.

Now miso is also vegan, so you can imagine all the soup recipes you can concoct! Just Have a look at Vegan Recipes and you will discover what I’m suggesting!

-“Alright! Now, I have my soup to keep me hot in winter. But I also fancy a drink with my food. Now, what would you recommend?”
Well there is a atriaght easy answer: Japanese Sake!
To cut a long story short, do read what I wrote about the ultimate vegan drink!
Let just me say that true high quality (Shizuoka is the best! Lucky, aren’t I?) is made with pure water, rice, and yeast. That is all! Sometimes lactic acid is used, but it is of vegetal origin.
Incidentally, high quality shochu is also vegan!

Vegan sashimi at Yasaitei, Japan.

Now, that we have covered this important subject, shall we go to our main concern, namely vegetables?
You will be, I’m ready to bet about it, really flabbergasted by the variety of vegetables available in this country and especially Shizuoka, a famed area for organic vegetable cultivation.
The Japanese are even cultivating vegetables that have been forgotten elsewhere!
Check the following:
Vegetables Facts & Tips.
For Vegans and Vegetarians: Forgotten Vegetables.

tomii-veg31

Mountain vegetables at Tomii, Shzuoka City.

Have you heard of the Japanese mountain vegetables/Sansai/山菜?
It is just mind-boggling to discover them all!
Check: Japanese Mountain Vegetables!

Do not forget that tea and soba can be vegan! How about a combination of tea and soba for a quick lunch?

CHAZUKE-1

Chazuke

And how about Somen, Chazuke, and Tofu?

zarudofu

“Zarudofu”

Learn how to make your own Tofu!

tofu-kinds-5

“Tofu Doughnuts” at Shizutetsu Supermarket in Shizuoka City

Ever heard of Tofu Donuts?
Why don’t you try your hand after reading that easy Vegan Tofu Donut Recipe?

Vegan sushi plate at Sushi Ko, Shizuoka City.

-“I want to eat sushi, but how can I get vegan sushi in Japan?”
That should not be a problem.
First why don’t you have a look at the following:
–Vegan & Vegetarian Sushi.
–Vegan Sushi Recipe Suggestions.

Just walk around and try to find a friendly Sushi Restaurant along with some friends first and gently ask for vegetable sushi (without the bonito shavings or mayonnaise!). Keep going to the same place and soon or later the chef will enjoy the challenge and even propose you new creations.
Or check the Sushi Rice Basic Recipe and try making it at home!

And Wasabi is also vegan!

Mozuku seaweed served at Yasaitei, Shizuoka City.

Do not forget all the possibilities offered by seaweed, probably the most ubiquitous gastronomic ingredient in this country!
And ther are plenty of varieties: check Seaweed, the Vegetable of the Oceans!
Actually Shizuoka is not only a great producer of agar but also boasts the greatest number of edible seaweed varieties!

The all-organic vegetables lunch tray at Magokoro in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. They have a vegan version!

I’m not that keen on religion, but if your are a Buddhist, Japanese temples sometimes offer vegan/vegetarian meals! Kamakura is just but an example!

WAGASHI-1

Wagashi Tray.

-“And what for dessert?”
I knew you were going to ask that!
Have you heard of Wagashi?
Just reading about it will make you salivate!

Aright, if you need help, just drop me a line!LOL
At least I sincerely hope I have contributed to the image of Japan you wished to see!

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Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India
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Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kyoto, Tourism, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Kyoto Gastronomy: Kyoto Vegetables-Kyoyasai/京野菜

March 14, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

I have just come back from a 3-day “holiday” in Kyoto, a touristic spot famed all over the world.
Kyoto does have its own gastronomy, what with the untold number of temples of different religions and sects.
Vegetables have been the staple of the city for a long time and when they are grown in Kyoto they are simply called “Kyo-yasai” (“kyo” for “Kyoto” and “yasai” for “vegetables”).
There are officially 41 traditional varieties of them including 21 with a registered brand/controlled appelation and 43 more varieties have also been recently recognised as such.

One way to discover them if you do not have the opportunity or time to discover vegetable fields is to visit the long and narrow Nishiki/錦 covered market in Central Kyoto.

Unfortunately, in my own view, the market has turned into a crowded touristic spot with all the pitfalls bound to open under your feet.
The real Kyoto vegetables are the minority and you need to understand Japanese to discern what is real and what is “fake”. I even found anorexic wasabi imported from South Korea!
Moreover, so-called Kyo-yasai are increasingly being grown away from Kyoto, especially in Shizuoka where the single town of Iwata grows 80% of all “ebi-imo”, one of the most representative vegetables of the famed city!

But there is another way to discover those celebrated vegetables for the pleasure of vegans, vegetarians and vegans!
About lunch time or before dinner time, just walk past the restaurants lining the side and back streets!

All izakayas and restaurants proud of their vegetables will display them outside for all to see!

They make for great souvenir photographs to show back home!

For a closer view!
Do you recognize any?

Even in front of Italian restaurants!

Placed in front of the outdoors menu board…

For a more distant view to discover the small Japanese restaurant at lunch time!

In front of another busy Japanese restaurant at night!

But this was my favorite!

Lined between a small cabbage garden and a great queue of Japanese sake!

I hope this will give you another idea as to how visit Kyoto!

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観光, Hygyene, Japan, Japanese Hygiene, Japanese Toilets, Japanese washroom, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Toilets, Tourism, Washroom

Japanese Restaurants Washrooms & Toilets Standards: The Best in The World?

January 29, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

Inside the washroom of a famous French Restaurant in Shizuoka City, Japan!

Washroom and toilets equipment and facilities are probably the most unsung export of Japan!
Just check the shares of such companies as Toto and Inax!
The Japanese live in a country which has to deal with extreme changes in climate and temperature on top of a very high humidity during blazing summers and flood-ridden typhoon seasons.
No wonder the Japanese have become the most picknicky people in the World in their island with an attention to detail that defies the imagination when it comes to personal hygiene!
After all, they are the biggest consumers of paper tissue and wet tissues in the World, too!

The toilets have their lid constantly closed over a heated seat!

In a region like Shizuoka celebrated for its gastronomy all over the country, new restaurants, bars, cafes and even izakaya are outdoing each other with their high-tech washroom and toilets!
Japan is probably the only country where I would dare pronounce the word “toilets” during a meal!
As an example to illustrate what you can and are entitled to expect let me “take you” to the facilities of a celebrated French restaurant which opened 4 years ago with the latest equipment of the time, a standard which has since been outclassed by many more establishments!

First the room itself is large enough for 2 people (spare me the idea!) and catering for many purposes.
As you can see on the above pictures the toilets are covered with a complete lid, a bonus compared to those gaping mouths contraceptions waiting for you back home (in France, in my case!)!
The seat of course can be heated and regulated to a comfortable temperature all year round.
Some new establishments will have toilets whose lid and seat will automatically lift and fall back down upon your entrance and exit!
The toilets themselves will be equipped with washlets spouting lukewarm water (can be regulated, too!). A boon for people with physical limitations!

Don’t start a futile search for levers or cord to press or pull, all handling comes under the form of a “computer box”!
Sometimes the Japanese characters can spell for troubling confusion but the most recent handling boxes are illustrated with small unequivocal “pictures” for a very easy understanding whatever country you come from!

You are “done with it”? Alright, let’s go and wash our hands at the sink located on the opposite side of the room.
A great improvement on most hotel toilet facilities where mirrors and basin are uncomfortably close to your toilets seat if not right in front of you!

A clean and classic white basin with a single adjustable cold/hot water tap/faucet.
I’ve seen other establishments in town adorning this particular section with black marble or false antique basin and tap!
I personally prefer white as an undeniable proof of good hygiene, but this is open to personal tastes!
Actually in this particular restaurant, all wasroom equipment is white from the toilet seat to the hand-washing liquid bottle!

Paper tissues and individual towels are clearly separated! No danger of exchanging germs here!

A cloth-lined basket for the hand towels and a (closed) dustbin for the paper tissue and others!

The washroom is equipped with a large mirror for ladies to rectify their make up and for gentlemen to inflate their ego.
Now, what is in that box on the table left of the mirror?

Extra service: maothwash capsules and cotton swabs (ear buds in England!)!
You might smile or grin, but such mouthwash could come very handy after too much drinking or before going back to work after lunch. Now, I know a lot of uses for cotton swabs….

All this has become a reference for basic excellence. More and more establishments offer even better facilities and I make a point to clearly assess this “unmetionable trait” in all reports on my gastronomic aventures!

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Must-see tasting websites:

Heda, Hotel, Hotsprings, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Izu Peninsula Hot Springs Resort: Hotel Isaba in Heda!

December 4, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: A bit stiff but friendly and attentive
Facilities: A bit old-fashioned but clean. Excellent hotspring bathroom
Prices: Expensive
Strong points: Excellent private hotspring bathroom and open-air hotspring bath with great view on the sea. Excellent breakfast
Overall: 72/100

The best time to check in a hotel in Heda is at sunset when you can admire the sinking sun over the horizon from your windows!

It is the more striking when you squid fishing boat cutting the sea under a sinking flaming orb!

Hotel Isaba is one of the most popular hotspring resort hotels in Heda, Izu Peninsula, thanks to its location overlooking the great sea expanses.
One can choose a room Japanese-style or Western-style.

The hotel is a bit kitsch and definitely from another age but comfortable with all amenities.

The better rooms have a nice, if small, kind of terrace opened onto a great sea landscape.

Cozy place to enjoy a drink or a book in summer!

The private hotspring bath, small by Western standards is big and deep enough for two adults!

Like the terrace it opens onto a sea landscape particularly striking at dusk and dawn!

The dinner served inside your room over a table large enough for 4 adults is a big affair!

Complimentary home-made blueberry aperitif.

Live abalone you grill by yourself after listening to the maid’s instructions!

It’s dancing over the fire!

Chyawanmushi/Japanese hot salted pudding and Japanese pickles.

Mishima Pork shabu shabu.

Varied appetizers.

Sashimi plate from Suruga Bay!

Italian-style lobster.

Simmered “Medai” seabream and taro.

“Menuke” fish Sautee.

Plenty of rice and miso soup!

And dessert!

The specialty of the house: Suruga Bay sea-salt sorbet!

Wake up early enough in the morning to enjoy a great ocean view!

And catch the sight of the returning squid fishing boats!

And then first pay a visit to the large hotspring bath on top of the hotel!

Don’t forget to scrub yourself before taking a dip!

Large bay windows will allow you to enjoy a great view again at the same time.

But your hotspring experience will not be complete with another body-relaxing dip in the “rotenburo/open-air bath” outside the main bathroom whatever the season or weather!

A great souvenir picture!

Breakfast is simply enormous and should last you half a day!

And very healthy too with local ingredients!

Seaweed soup.

Horse mackerel from Suruga Bay.

All kinds of tidbits to accompany the rice, and a little dessert.

Tamagoyaki, Sweet and sour tofu, pickles and crab miso soup.

And plenty of rice, the traditional way!

HOTEL ISABA
400-3402, Shizuoka Ken, Numazu Shi, Heda, Bihama Kaigan, 3878-20
Tel.: 0558-94-3048
Fax: 558-94^4270
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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笑い, 観光, Japan, Japanese Festivals, Shizuoka, Tourism

20th Shizuoka Street performance Festival/Daidogei: The side show!

November 3, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Last year’s winners from Russia!

The 20th Shizuoka Street Performers Festival or more simply, Daidogei/大道芸/ is being held from November the 3rd thru the 6th!
What was originally a government-sponsored event has become an entirely privately-run affair which means that you have to pay to watch the top performers in designated places as Shizuoka has become one of the main stages of the Street Performers World Cup taking place in many countries all year round!
But there is stil what I call the “side show”, that is what happens around non-designated performers acting in the streets (with the occasional stars coming later to join their peers) and in the crowds.
This is　as good a source for photography and I wish to share the few pics I had little time to take today, hoping they will incite you into a far better picture story!

Once a kid, always a kid…
Those little red noses are for sale for a 100 yen… business is business…

Captain Sparrow busy cooking potatoes!

Halloween was celebrated only a few days ago…

There will always be balloons on sale at festivals, but may I suggest nice ladies are left alone to do it?

Nail design is big in Japan!

And face-painting is, too!

The other side of the screen…
As usual Asahi TV Channel took a big chunk of Aoba Park Avenue with the dubious reason they are part of the live show… The only TV Channel among the 5 permanent TV Channels in Shizuoka Prefecture to think so…

The main cameraman certainly has a big program in his hands…

We techinicians are part of the show, too, ain’t we?

Do you recognize some (local) celebrities?

These two gentlemen are an eternal part of the show!

Big muscles have always been popular with the Japanese…

An impromptu street performance?

A great day for the kids anyway as today is a National Holiday!

Ozzie wonders…
Can you guess who the male is?

This was not part of the show…
Apparently there had been a serious accident on a construction site nearby…

After dusk, a Russian butterfly had the kindness to fly all the way from the paying site for a free show!
By the way, do you know what “night butterfly” means in Japanese? LOL

Nota bene: There were plenty more titillating (offensive) sights, but with all these ids featured I couldn’t bring myself to publish them!
Mind you, I might be tempted next time (if I can keep the kids out of it!)! On Sunday if it doesn’t rain?

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観光, Fish, Heda, Hot Springs, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Shizuoka, Tourism

Shizuoka Touristic Spot: Heda in Izu Peninsula!

November 2, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Heda, a harbor tucked away inside an almost closed cove is the epitome of what Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture has best to offer to any tourist, be he/she Japanese or from distant shores!
-A resort off the beaten tracks.
-A spa renowned for its thermal hot springs.
-A major fishing harbor part of Numazu City, one of the main providers of seafood to Tokyo.
-Arguably one of the best spots to admire Mount Fuji in the whole of Japan!
-A gastronomic venture with its deep-sea fish and marine life including the largest crab in the world, Takaashigani/高足蟹/Japanese Spider Crab!
-History: It was visited in 1854 by the Russian frigate Diana of the Imperial Russian Navy, the flagship of the Russian explorer Yevfimy Putyatin when it was damaged in a tsunami, following the powerful Ansei-Tōkai earthquake of 23 December 1854. The Diana sank while sailing from Shimoda to Heda for repairs!

Board in front of the tiny but extremely useful Heda Tourist Bureau.

Before I can extol on the reasons to visit the village let me explain the easy access:
Go down at Mishima JR Station (Shinkasen Bullet Train Stop) and proceed to the neighboring Izu Hakone Line Station (right of the Mishima JR Station South Exit). Board the local train/Izu Hakone Line to Shyuzenji (30 minutes, 510 yen). Take a bus from Shyuzenji Station, terminal No 6 to Heda (54 minutes, 1,000 yen).
The bus will reach Heda just beside the Tourist Bureau you ought to visit to get as much information and as many pamphlets as possible from the very kind staff!

First of all, Heda is a paradise for photographers, amateur and professional alike, who can take innumerable shots of Mount Fuji from various view spots all year round as the sacred mountain is changing its robes daily!

In Autumn, one may sight Mount Fuji as a dark and mysterious figure shrouded in mists looming beyond the sea.

Sometimes it does look as surging out blue expanses!

At dusk it will be blurred out of the sky by magnificent sunsets irreverently crossed by returning squid fishing boats!

Once you have managed to take your eyes off Mount Fuji you will realize that the cove itself is also worth clicking away all day long!
In the middle of November the surrounding mountains will explode into autumnal colors and the first snow will don a cap to the faraway Mount Fuji!
But before you linger on the inside beach let me take to the tiny Shipyard and Suruga Bay Deep-Sea Museum past the old lighthouse!

It is an old and almost decrepit building, the more when you realize that the various monuments left and donated by the Soviet Government date back to 1947!
But the entrance fee is a mere 200 yen as the Museum is managed by the City!

The largest crab in the world, Takaashigani, almost 3 meters from leg tip to leg tip!

The Museum is divided into two distinct parts, the Shipyard & Suruga Bay Deep-sea Hall on the lower level and the upper level dedicated to Yevfimy Putyatin and his frigate Diana.

A real Sakegashira, a variety of deep-sea mahi mahi, even bigger than the Japanese Spider Crabs!

Most of the displays were donated by local fishermen or well-wishers. All names of fishermen, places and dates of catch are clearly indicated!

Tasmanian Giant Crab, the crab with the largest body (legs not included) in the world!

Crabs out of the deeps…

Spiders of the deeps…?

Hands off me, guys! (I know that I’m tasty!)

A ghost of the deeps…?

Sharks of the deeps…

They call that critter from the deeps a fan globefish!

Seesaw sharks!

Shark eggs!

For the marine history buffs!

Walking from the Museum towards the inlet you will go past the small quaint Shinto Shrine Maorokuchi Jinjya/諸口神社!

Keep walking under the pines and you will find the sacred shrine portal/torii/鳥居/ overlooking the inlet. Needless to say that the shrine is there to protect the fishermen and their families!

In summer that small pine forest is a welcome haven from the hot sun!

Away from the summer bathers, fishing buffs enjoy the day on the small pier in front of the shrine portal!

A last picture of Mount Fuji before walking back along the beach!

The shrine portal as it looks from inside the cove!

The beach is a great promenade out of season (I mean the bathing season!)!

Calm blue and beautiful waters away from the rough seas!

A monster from the deeps…? Utsubo/ウツボ/Moray eel!

A Nessie monster for the kids!

One can walk all the way to the center of Heda past fishing boats!

A squid-fishing boat! Red squids are a delicacy abundant in the Suruga Bay waters. The boats go at sea at night only.

Time to go back to our hot springs hotel! (next article!)

HEDA TOURISM ASSOCIATION & BUREAU
410-3402 Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Heda, 289-12
Tel.: 0558-94-3115
HOMEPAGE (English)

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観光, Hot Springs, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Shizuoka, Shuzenji

Izu Peninsula: Strolling through Shuzenji Hot Springs Resort

October 29, 2011 dragonlife 3 Comments

If you have the chance to visit Shuzenji in Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, one of the oldest hot springs resort in Japan whose history has been traced back more than 1,400 years, even a single day return trip would make it worthwhile! There are lots of things to see, experience and taste there! I make a point to pay it a visit at least twice a year at different seasons!
The access is very easy: Change lines and Station at Mishima City, it is only 510 yen and 30 minutes away!
Yesterday I only had a couple of hours to enjoy the place on my way back to Shizuoka City, but I managed to take some pictures just to share a small glimpse of the village (it used to be a city!)!

Many traditional houses along the river, be they private abodes or restaurants or shops!

A beautiful stream bisects the site into two distinctive halves!

Leaves are finally starting to change colors!

Take a stroll across the large bamboo grove park…

and take a peek at old houses though the bamboo trees…

Keep your eyes open and you will surely discover calligraphic designs to emulate!

Talking of design, who might have thought of a car for a cafe ensign? Beautiful cafe, incidentally!

A sight rapidly disappearing in Japan, but there are still at least three of these doll rifle shooting stands in Shuzenji!

You are bound to discover some beautiful noren/暖簾/shop entrance curtains! This one is at the entrance of a busy soba restaurant!

Shuzenji is also a paradise for antiques and collectors!

Restaurants are still built and re-built in the traditional way!

Simplicity made beautiful in a noren!

What’s left hanging in front of this big electric fan?

Squids!
The Izu Peninsula produces half of the whole Japanese sun-dried seafood/himono/干物 in Japan!

There are plenty of mysterious lanes, streets, passages and stairs to explore!

This “tower” is the actual entrance to a public (for a fee) hot springs bath!

This public and free foot hot spring bath in the middle of the river has a 1,400 year-long history!

A welcome dip for my tired feet!

The best way to finish the day: a cold beer in one of the many cute cafes!

Hoping to meet you somewhere else very soon!

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French Bistro: Ninosa in Shizuoka City!

September 11, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: excellent overall cleanliness
Prices: reasonable to slightly expensive, good value.
Strong points: Bistro-style gastronomy

For all the great restaurants, especially French and Italian, serving exquisite modern gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture there are still a few (very good) establishments creating and serving unpretentious food along more traditional/classic lines.
I recently had the occasion to sample dinner in such a restaurant, namely Ninosa, a French-style bistro located away from the bustling center of Shizuoka City.

As unpretentious it might be, they still have a very appropriate and reasonably-priced wine list. This riesling wine called Andlau from French Alsace certainly married well with the food of the day!

You can choose whether to eat the French way or the Japanese way!

The menu is easy enough to read but you might need bring a Japanese-speaking friend along!

An appetizer graciously offered with the wine!

A French bistro classic: “Fromage de Tete”!

“Fromage de Tete” in French means “Head Cheese”, and is a jelly-based terrine made with different parts of the head of a pig, notably the nose, cheeks and ears!

A dish that brought back memories from my native France!

Yummy-looking, isn’t it?

The French love North African cuisine and Ninosa has come up with a dish combining Moroccan and Japanese gastronomies:
Scallops and Snow Crab Pastilla!

It certainly looked very appetizing lying on its bed of julienned vegetables!

A great use of local vegetables!

Tender and delicate seafood inside a light and crusty pie!

Another French Bistro classic: Young Duck Roast served with Porto Wine sauce!

Cooked to perfection!

Another great use of local vegetables!

If I may allow myself a single reproach I would say that they could have served a bit more of this succulent mashed potato!

If I had to find a single reason to visit Ninosa, it would be their desserts!
Peach Compote!

The peach is served atop its own jelly!
Frankly speaking, there were too many things to taste inside this dessert! LOL

Not to mention the tantalizing home-made vanilla ice-cream!

Home-made jelly sweets with coffee for the finishing touch!

To be followed…. of course! LOL

NINOSA
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Shintori, 1-10-11
Tel.: 054-251-3502
Business hours: 11:30~13:30, 18:00~21:00
Closed on Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesday
Credit Cards OK

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French Gastronomy: Summer Desserts at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

September 10, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to slightly expensive, good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.
Entirely non-smoking!

As promised let me introduce you to the desserts I shared with my good friend the other day at Restaurant Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

The title for this superb dessert was “Chilled Musk Melon Soup with Paris School” Cognac Sorbet!

The soup was conceived with white wine and musk melon from Fukuroi City, the major musk melon producing city in Japan.
The sorbet was made with French Cognac.
The two together exploded inside the palate with all kinds of flavors happily fighting with each other for supremacy!
Not a dessert to be handled by children!

The title for the second dessert was purposefully kept vague: “Today’s three-Sorbet Assortment”…

It certainly became a tantalizing dilemma to find the right order to sample the sorbets!
Watermelon…
or Cognac…
or Tropical Fruit…!?
For once, I kept my instincts in check and savored them slowly one by one!

I belatedly realized that the accompanying fruit were in direct relation with the sorbets!
Watermelon…watermelon sorbet!
Mango…tropical fruit sorbet!
Grapes…Cognac sorbet!

Alright, the organic mint is only there for the finishing touch! LOL

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

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Beef, 牛肉, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 駿河牛肉, 農業, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Suruga Beef at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

September 9, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

One does not have to explain how good, and why for that matter, Japanese beef is.
Recently, beef produced in the Western part of Shizuoka Prefecture has attracted a lot of attention under the name of Suruga Beef!
Suruga is the name of the large Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture!
I took the occasion of a recent visit to Pissenlit in the company of a good friend to sample two parts of the same animal!

The bavette (above two pictures) is the part covering the bottom of the throat and the top of the breast.
Its texture is halfway that of a filet and of a stew.
Chef Touru Arima first fried the piece of bavette then roasted it before seasoning it with a Madeira wine sauce.
The vegetables were all organically grown at Shizen No Chikara Garden in Shizuoka City.
They included butternut squash, “mizunasu” aubergine/eggplants and buckwheat seeds.

For a closer look of the buckwheat seeds which married so well with the sauce!

My friend had an even better part, actually the best part of the animal, namely the filet!
It was prepared with a heady red wine sauce after being first fried on a hot fire and being finished in the oven.

The organic vegetables were also butternut squash and “mizunasu” aubergine/eggplant while the buckwheat seeds were replaced by Inca Mezame potato!

But the buckwheat seeds were concealed under the filet where they made a beautiful combination again with the sauce and meat!

To be followed (great desserts coming soon!)…

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French Gastronomy: Early Autumn Appetizers at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

September 7, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Autumn is the season of plenty for gastronomic restaurants. This is a time when high quality fruits, vegetables, meat and fish seem to arrive from everywhere at the same time!
Chef Touru Arima at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City has the knack and talent of combining seasonal products of the land and sea from Shizuoka, Japan and abroad all the same time for the utter happiness of his customers!

For example the above amuse-bouche is a typical Shizuoka offering: organic vegetable pound cake and goya/bitter gourd (also organic). Incidentally all the vegetables introduced in this article ar organic and grown by Chizen No Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City!

On the other hand, this Landes Duck Foie Gras Terrine is a completely French concept except for the local orange marmalade.
Have you ever tried combining foie gras with orange marmalade and coarse black pepper? If not, you are missing something!

That terrine will make a sinner of anyone whatever Arnie might argue!
So simple in presentation! After all, who needs to conceal good products behind forests of vegetables or under lakes of sauce?

This saumon fume/smoked salmon mousse with fresh cream dressing and chilled steamed/baked tougan/冬瓜/Winter melon-white gourd-ash gourd is a marriage between a fish caught in the Atlantic Ocean and an organic vegetable grown in Shizuoka City!

Autumn colors?

Hoping I gave you a few ideas for a home party! LOL

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Kakigoori/Shaved Ice Dessert at Iwaraya in Shizuoka City!

September 2, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Kind and friendly
Equipment: very clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic traditional Japanese desserts!
Entirely non-smoking!

When I arrived in Shizuoka City 35 years ago there were almost more traditional Japanese dessert shops than their Western equivalent.
Now you must gear yourself on the exploration mode to re-discover them!

They are certainly worth searching for as traditional Japanese desserts are far healthier than our (delicious) Western cakes and creams. Moreover, most are devoid of wheat flour and in many cases of dairy products.

The blazing hot summer in Japan means it is the season for kakigoori/かき氷/shaved ice!
Iwaraya serves no less than six varieties!

Although Iwaraya has a long history dating back to 3 generations and 80 years ago, they opened their own shop only 5 years ago in Takajyo, a gastronomic venue in the City of Shizuoka!

It also has the great merit to be located away from the crowds near the cute Takajyo Shrine dedicated to falconry!

There is a dessert for all seasons as they also make o-shiroko, anmitsu, o-sekihan, o-mochi and waseigashi!
Great with a cup of matcha tea!

This time I enjoyed the lemon shaved ice!

The lemon is juice squeezed in front of you from fresh lemons!
Incidentally their strawberry kakigoori is made with real crushed fresh strawberries!

Now, if you have a Japanese sweet tooth to satisfy try what my friend ordered: Zenzai, a traditional Japanese dessert assortment!

Tempting, isn’t it?
Looking forward to my next visit!

IWAGARAYA/いわがらや
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-5-12
Tel.: 054-252-0587
Business hours: 10:00~18:00 (~18:30 0n weekends)
Closed on Wednesdays

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Soba Restaurant: Yoshino

August 27, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Shy but friendly
Facilities: old but clean. Traditional
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: 10 wari soba. Good list of Shizuoka sake.

As I said before there a lot of soba restaurants of various levels in Shizuoka Prefecture, but Yoshino is definitely a member of the Big League!
It seems that all the doctors of the neighboring clinics have made it their main lunch lair!
But do also come for dinner as there is enough on the menu to attract you again and moreover they serve some top-class sake brewed in our Prefecture!

A traditional entrance to an ancient institution!

True Japanese atmosphere inside!

Among the single dishes I recommend two of them;
-Tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette!

Very light and fine, it is not easy to achieve this way!

Yaki miso/Grilled Miso!

It is actually a mixture of white miso paste, buckwheat and yuzu spread on a wooden spatula and cooked under a grill!

You will find it only at good soba restaurants!

I noticed they are using wasabi salt by Tamaruya Co.!

Actually I should have said 3! Buckwheat and Sakura shrimps tofu!

You will find this delicacy only in Shizuoka Prefecture!

I ordered 10 wari soba tenpura set!

10 wari soba (jyu wari soba) means that the noodles are 100% made of buckwheat flour, whereas the cheaper 8 wari soba (Hachi wari soba) contains 20% of wheat flour!

Seasonal tempura!

Beautiful vegetables!

Crispy prawns!

Soba tsuyu/Soba soup to be added to the remaining accompaniment of sauce, scallions and wasabi to be drunk as a soup!

Now, Yoshino serve their own traditional Japanese dessert: Soba Shiratama Senzai!

Cute, isn’t it?

It is topped with ice cream covered with matcha tea powder. The white balls/dango are made of buckwheat and rice flour. The small jelly cubes are made of Japanese agar agra!

The bottom half is filled with azuki beans and anko/sweetmeats!

I’ll take you dinner there next!

To be continued…

YOSHINO
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Takajyo, 1-7-10
Tel.: 054-255-3277
Business hours: 11:00 until they run out of buckwheat!
Closed on Tuesdays

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Japanese Izakaya: Maguro-Ya (Honten)

August 26, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Shy but friendly
Facilities: old but clean. Traditional
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Tuna! Tuna! Tuna! Good list of sake and shochu

A lot, and I mean varieties as well as volume, of tuna swim past Shizuoka Prefecture and it simply becomes evident that a Japanese izakaya would specialize in tuna gastronomy, be it raw or cooked!

We have such a place in Shizuoka City called Maguro Ya/まぐろ家, that is “Tuna House”!
It is located on the second floor of a venerable building in Takajyo, an area replete with izakaya as well as first-class restaurants.

Their menu is certainly worth taking photographs as the explantations become a real study!

Even the snack coming with the first drink includes cooked tuna (featured above with duck and pickled cucumber and octopus salad)!

The following will give you a good indication of you can sample at reasonable prices:

“Three-colored Tuna Sashimi Plate”!

Hon-maguro Akami/Blue Fin Tuna lean part (back).

Hon-maguro Chu-toro/Blue Fin Tuna semi-fat part (belly).

Tonbo-Maguro Toro/Albacore Tuna fat part (belly).

Maguro Kushiyaki/Tuna brochette with plenty of mayonnaise and chopped scallions.

There are plenty of sake, shochu and more for all according to their tastes and priorities!
They also serve 4 different sake from Shizuoka Prefecture in the traditional Japanese way: overflowing glass!