Ieyama | SHIZUOKA TOURISM

I finally managed to pay a belated visit to my good friend Osamu Kurosawa in Ieyama, Shimada City!
Mr. Osamu Kurosawa, a very old friend of mine, decided after retirement as an officer at the Shizuoka Municipal Library to buy an old farm house in Ieyama, Shimada City for a meaningful life, now that he has plenty of time not only to really enjoy it but to make other people also share his pleasure.
Osamu is actually the recognized expert on Shizuoka, especially Shizuoka City, history and culture and has already published a number of books and papers on it.
He does not intend whatsoever to rest on his laurels and has embarked on a mission to promote the town he is presently living in.
He has just registered his home a member of Japanese Airbnb under the name, “Shimada Ieyama Shounso”, to provide cheap accommodation with all necessary facilities for people and tourists wishing to experience the real Japanese rural life in the “outback” of Shizuoka Prefecture!

The small farmhouse has been completely refurbished for comfort and everyday life at a walking distance from Ieyama Station along the Oigawa Railway Line extending from Kanaya, Shimada City to Ikawa in the Japanese Southern Alps!

The view from the first floor entrance!

It stands by real tea fields of Kawane, producing top-class green tea in Japan!

The entrance itself gives a good indication of what to expect inside!

Ask Osamu to translate his own life’s philosophy!

I have already described the interior during my first visit and second visit.
The place has been considerably reformed since, especially the kitchen and the tatami room here above!

The guest room on the second floor! Sorry, it was a bit dark when I visited it!

It has its own terrace!

A real Japanese atmosphere!

The place is still full of artifacts and real history and antiques that Osamu will have a pleasure to introduce to all!

But my favorite place is still the Japanese traditional hearth (irori/囲炉裏), whatever the season!

Always ready for a cooking fire!

A landscape pot made with local wild plants!

Osamu went as far as to create his own coasters and under-plates!

I had brought a very unusual sake from Niigata prefecture for Osamu who is a great lover of good food drink!

We shared around a barbecue of enormous chicken wings cooked over charcoal!

Looking forward to the next visit!

Do visit Osamu Kurosawa on his FACEBOOK blog as he is fluent in English and Spanish!

OSAMU KUROSWA/黒澤修さん

Shimada City, Kawane Cho, Ieyama, 763-2
Tel.: 09085525739

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Mssrs. Shinzo Oishi and Osamu Kurosawa!

Mr. Osamu Kurosawa, a very old friend of mine, decided after retirement as an officer at the Shizuoka Minicipal Library decided to buy an old farm house in Ieyama, Shimada City for a meaningful life, now that he has plenty of time not only to really enjoy it but to make other people also share his pleasure.
Osamu is actually the recognised expert on Shizuoka, especially Shizuoka City, history and culture and has already published a number of books and papers on it.
He does not intend whatsoever to rest on his laurels and has embarked on a mission to promote the town he is presently living in.
I had the great opportunity to meet him inside his home thanks to another good friend, also retired, called Shinzo Oishi who drove me all the way from Shizuoka City!
This is only my first visit as Osamu has a load of places and people to introduce me for great future reports!

The tea filds in front of Osamu’s home!

Due to the battering rain in this mountainous area I couldn’t take pictures of osamu’s abode (next time I will, you can bet!) but I could at least give you an idea of the locale!

The “neighbors” with cloudy mountains in the back!

Actually many of the farmhouses across the tea fields are inhabited.
They could be transformed as Osamu did with his!

Osamu actually spent more money in renovating and furnishing the house than he paid to acquire it!
He has turned it literally in a small museum of his!
The difference is that it is a museum where you can live and welcome friends all year long!

A rare piece!
Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu’s crest, Tachi aoi/hollyhock!

Antique sake bottles!
Osamu and I share a true love of Japanese sake, and of course Shizuoka sake!

Tengu face mask!
The only problem is that it is quite dark to take pictures inside!
I may to borrow a spot next time!

Long nose!

Antique folk face masks!

Still more antique folk face masks!

A real irori/Japanese fireplace!
Actually, Osamu has tried to keep and use as many traditional household tools and wares as possible!

If you stay there at night don’t be afraid of the lurking monsters!

When you go to the washroom have a good look at the sake labels, with a light!

The place is still heated the traditional way!

take the time to admire some shunga/erotic wood cut prints, without a light!
Actually Osamu exhibits all kinds of genuine woodblock prints here and there on his walls!

Osamu’s hero: Tokugawa Ieyasu whose history and life he is a master!

Japanese lantern!

On the second floor Osamu has furnished a bedroom large enough for two, complete with TV!

And even a small beer hall terrace for the better days!

Even inside the bedroom there is plenty for study!

An old map of Sumpu, presently Shizuoka City, after tokugawa Ieyasu had reformed it!

I told you that Osamu is a great lover of Japanese sake, and I discovered this unknown label by Oumuraya Brewery in Shimada City!

naturally I didn’t come empty-handed!
Two bottles of great sake by Fuji-Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

Osamu is also a great lover of flower arrangement: natural and still flowering mountain sakura in his living room!

Home-made preserved persimmons!
Osamu also makes a point to promote local products!

Great food for sake including “nobiru/a variety of wild onon (wild mountain vegetable) taht Osamu cooked himself!

Well now, I have to seriously think about my next visits as I will have to interview at least one local traditional soy sauce maker and the owner of a former sake brewery!

Do visit Osamu Kurosawa on his FACEBOOK blog as he is fluent in English and Sapnish!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,