Category Archives: Uncategorized

Japanese manhole covers, Manhole Covers, Shizuoka City, Uncategorized, Urbsan Design

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 50: New and Old Fire Hydrant and Fire Cistern Covers in Shizuoka City!

October 21, 2018 dragonlife Leave a comment

if you walk or cycle along Showa Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, near Ichi Ban Cho you will find a series of old and new fire hydrant and fire cistern manhole covers with an interesting geometric design!

This particular ones is surrounded in yellow to allow fire trucks to easily spot them!

It is actually the cover over an important access to a fire cistern!

We know the design is brand new as it features the new Shizuoka Ciy emblem in its middle!

Going back you will find this still fairly modern design on a fire hydrant cover!

As they erased the central design it is probably a type used in the whole prefecture!

Further down the road you will find an old design!

It is partly painted in yellow for easy spotting at night.
This a type used in the whole prefecture and probably beyond!

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

Japan, Japan Tourism, Manhole Covers, Shizuoka City, Tourism, Uncategorized

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 44: Former Shizuoka City Hall Dome in Shizuoka City!

May 29, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

The former City Hall of Shizuoka City was built in 1934　although the City of Shizuoka got its present name and status in 1868 succeeding to the City called Sumpu when Tokugawa Ieaysu retired from politics to settle in Fuchu.

In 1996, when the new Shizuoka City Hall had been completed, the Shzuoka City Mayor of the time, Shingo Amano, ordered the former building to be pulled down but fortunately a petition from the citizens of Shizuoka prevented him to do so and the building the same year became an intangible Shizuoka City Culture Asset thus preventing anyone to change it.
It subsequently became the hoe of the Shizuoka City Council among others.

Probably the same year the first manhole cover representing the former City Hall surrounded by swallows, the official birds of Shizuoka City at the time appeared on the streets of Shizuoka City.
Although the City Hall is located north of Shizuoka JR Station , most former city hall designed manhole covers are found south of Shizuoka JR Station!

These manhole covers are found over accesses to road maintenance subterranean networks.
The Shizuoka City logo is the old one with the kanji character for “city”.
The colored manhole cover is unique and can be found only at the bottom of the steps leadin to Toshogun Shrine in Kunozan, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City.

Most neutral versions are to be found along the main road going south from Shizuoka JR Station south exit and near Shizuoka University!

Check the logo if you find one!

There is also a unique one, not in neutral metal, but varnished in black in front of the former Shizuoka Prefecture Hall across the the Shizuoka City Hall!

In 2003, with the advent of Shimizu City being merged to Shizuoka City, a new type was created with a blue instead green background and pink instead of blue swallows!
The one above can be found on the pavement not far from Apita Store in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

The logo of Shizuoka City was hence changed to a double geometric design!

There are only two samples of the colored version, the second one in front of the former Shizuoka Prefecture being unfortunately partly covered!

Strangely enough the modern version is very rare, as I found only three along the road between Ikeda Primary School and Honkaku Temple in Ikeda, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

Check the new Shizuoka City logo!

There is actually a unique sub-type located in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

It is located in front of Okitsu Hot Spring Building in Okitsu!

The two kanji representing “Roads” at the bottom right had been suppressed!

Good hunting!

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Japan Tourism, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Uncategorized

Juniso Shinto Shrine (十二祖神社) in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

October 7, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you get off at Okitsu Station in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, explore the area from the left of the station not far along Okitsu River and you will find a tiny but intriguing Shinto Shrine!

“Juniso Shrine (十二祖神社”, which means 12-vessels Shrine.
Now, why this unusual number “12”?

A plaque is there to explain all in Japanese, but look at it from the other side!

Here you have the 絵xplanation of the number “12”!
Usually 7 deities are found in Shinto Shrines but this one has 12！
Some locals were glad to explain everything!

The tiny shrine!

And its small hand washing stone basin!

A thin rice straw garland!

A small stair to the interior!

The interior with a beautiful “mon/Japanese crest”!

The money offerings box!

Traditional tiled roof!

A lone tree but duly venerated!

A last look at the roof tiles!

Good-bye, Juniso Shrine!

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Uncategorized

Japanese Gastronomy on Noren/暖簾/Entrance Curtains by Koutarou Mizuno/水野光太郎光太郎!

April 29, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

the other as I was reporting on the Tea Festival in kanaya, Shimada City, I was invited by a local to visit a special art exhibition privately held by a local citizen!

I understood at once it was about dye works when I found the noren/のれん/entrance curtain!
Shizuoka Prefecture is famous for many dye works artists including Keisuke Serizawa and his disciples!

The artist name was Koutarou Mizuno/水野光太郎!

Koutarou Mizuno was actually born in kanaya in 1911!
he graduated from the Japan university industrial studies Faculty in Architecture in 1932.
He was very active in teaching in many national schools until 1977 and departed from this world in 1992 aat the age of 81
After a fateful meeting with wood block print artist shigeru kuriyama/栗山茂 in 1950 he became an active dye-work artist from 1951 until his last days!

The artist’s sketchbook!

The initial dye works!

The artist kept his passion alive till his last days!

Vegetable Noren!

fruit noren!

Eggplant noren!

Daikon noren!

The exhibition included other dye works such as these fruit!

Vase noren!

Flower kimono!

Flowers and plants partition!

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Uncategorized

Sushi: Uogashi Stand at Parche Supermarket (Part 2)!

April 2, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The manager not being on hand today I decided nonetheless to introduce the restaurant briefly and the sushi nigiri at their stand in Shizuoka JR Station in more details.
Mind you, the market was a bit crowded and all the pictures were good enough!
I’ll do better during the interview!

Uogashi/魚がし Restaurant in Acty, inside the Shizuoka Station but opposite to the market!

Remember the design in the topleft corner of the noren/暖簾/entrance curtain as you will find it again inside the market!

They also served cooked fish!

Lunch sets!

Numazu set!
Uogashi opened its first restaurant in Numazu City!

Sushi plates and others!

The cash register (you can pay by card, too!) of Uogashi’s sushi stand inside the market!

First take a box for 10 or 16 pieces maximum, tongs and choose your morsels!

Let’s have a look!
I couldn’t make good pictures of all as I said but I hope the pictures below will give you a good idea!

Ngitoro gunkan/grated tuna and Hokki/Sakhalin surf clam (found in Japan in spite of the name) Salad!

Tonbomaguro/Anther name for Binnaga/Albacore, a typical Shizuoka tuna!

Houbou/Red Gurnard!

Medai/a variety of seabream!

Kamaage shirasu/Cooked whitebait and Maguro Yamakake/ Tuna with grtaed Japanese yam!

mebachi Maguro Akami/Big-eyed tuna lean part!

Aji/Horse mackerel!

Anago/Conger eel!

Ika Natto/Squid and fermented beans and Ika Mentai/Squid with spicy cod roe!

Kohada/Shad, Shimesaba/Pickled mackerel, Hokkai tako/North Seas Ocy\topus, Kazu no Ko/Herring roe!

For vegans!
Yama imo/Japanese yam and Menegi/Leek sprouts!

For vegans again!
Wasabi-seasoned eggplant!

Ika/Squid without and with wasabi!

namaebi/Raw prawns!

Amaebi/Sweet shrimps (raw)

Hokki/Sakhalin surf clam salad and Nama Shirasu/Raw Whitebait!

nama Sakura Ebi/Raw Cherry Shrimps1
You will find fresh and raw only on Shizuoka Prefecture, unless you want to empty your wallet!

Ebi/Boiled prawns!

Ikura/Salmon roe!

Uni/Sea Urchin!

Engawa/Sole border flesh!

Tsubugai/Whelk!

Honmaguro Chuutoro/Bluefin tuna semi-fat part!

Hotate/Scallops, Zuwaigani/Snow Crab and Akagai/Blood shellfish!

Look forward to Part 3!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Uncategorized

Cherry Blossoms in Sumpu Castle Park, Shizuoka City!

March 31, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

In spite of the horrendous yesterday, or in some cases because of it because of the ensuing sudden rise in temperature, the cherry blossoms are practically exploding inside Sumpu Castle Park for the pleasure of photographers and revelers enjoying hanami/flower viewing parties!

The picture of the day!
Which is blooming, the pine tree or the cherry tree!

Sumpu Castle Park offers many possibilities for photographers whether hey want to take only cherry blossoms take them among the many trees and flower beds!

Flowers beds are tendered and renewed all year round!

This might make for a great picture at night!

Mind you, simple photographs are still the best most of the time!

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

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Uncategorized

Sushi Mount Fuji at S-Pulse Dream Plaza in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

February 23, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you want to pay a visit to S-Pulse Dream Plaza in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City take free limousine bus from Shimizu JR Station right exit!
The place is worth visiting for many things,especially local gastronomy!

Shizuoka Prefecture and Shimiu Ku, Shizuoka City in particular is celebrated all over Japan for its seafood and sushi in particular!

just by the entrance of the sushi restaurant arcade you will discover this gastronomic and artistic of Mount Fuji which became a World Cultural Heritage last year!
It would become an interesting challenge to guess what sushi are represented there!
They are all models of real sushi assembled together as a quaint Mount Fuji!

Even the chefs’ aces are real sushi copies!

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

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Uncategorized

Hot Springs Spa Resorts in Shizuoka Prefecture: Yoshiharu Hotel in Izu Peninsula! 1: The Baths

November 5, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Traditional and ancient, partly renovated, but extremely clean. Great washrooms. Spacious lobby with free coffee et al.
Prices: Appropriate to expensive. Cheaper on weekdays and in low seasons.
Strong points: Great baths overall. Private outdoors bath in rooms. Local gastronomy with local products.

Complimentary glass of white wine!

Izu Peninsula is known all over Japan and beyond for its innumerable hot springs and hot springs spas/hotels.
It is for the more pleasurable that most serve excellent gastronomy thanks to the many local products be they from the land or the sea.

The Dragon and I, taking advantage of a cheaper fee in mid week during the off season traveled to Mishima before boarding the Izu Hakone Railway Line and get off at izu Nagaoka Station.

There we stayed overnight at a renown spa hotel called Yoshiharu/古春 (meaning “Old Spring”).
It is a venerable establishment although it has been greatly reformed 2 years ago.

The overnight stay included dinner and breakfast, the usual deal in such hotels, so I will have to divide this report into 3 parts, otherwise you will miss all the good points!

Beautifully renewed lobby!

You will discover a hot spring foot bath on the way to your room!
As the hot water runs away all the time you can rest your feet in clean water!

Inner garden!

These fish are made of leather!

The dining room overlooks another small garden with pond and minuscule waterfalls!

Rock garden!

Our own traditional Japanese room!

Our own private outdoors hot spring bath and patio!

Fences and edges keep off any unwanted eyes except those of many wild birds!

Pastoral atmosphere?

Easy chairs!

Always clean yourself before entering your bath!

The bath!

Fresh water constantly moving in and out of the bath!

The bath is deep enough for the water to reach your neck when you sit on the tiled bottom!

Now, there are other outdoors baths of two different kinds:
-Private baths whose door you can lock for total privacy provided they are vacant.
-Public baths where you can either bathe inside or outside!

Let’s have a peek at all of them!

Italian-style bathtub!

Japanese-style double bath!

A grand bath made all of wood!
Probably my favorite!

Jacuzzi bath!

Another Japanese-style bath all made of carved stone!

Now to the public bath!
This is entry for ladies!
Remember the Kanji!

And remember the kanji for gentlemen, too!

The indoors public bath!

And finally the public outdoors bath!

See you at dinner next!

YOSHIHARU HOTEL
Izu No Kuni City, Nagaoka, 989-10
Get down at Izu Nagaoka Station along the Izu Hakone Railway Line (leaving form Mishima City). Take a taxi (under 1,000 yen)
Tel.: 055-948-1212
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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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!
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

Uncategorized

Noren/暖簾/Shop Curtains in Shizuoka Prefecture: A Japanese Tradition

February 18, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

PART 1)

A beautiful turnip noren at Tomii, Shizuoka City!

When visiting Japan, have you ever noticed those unusual “curtains” hanging outside the main entrance of traditional shops, izakayas and sometimes of private homes?
They are called “noren”.

Noren (暖簾) are traditional Japanese fabric dividers, hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows. They usually have one or more vertical slits cut from the bottom to nearly the top of the fabric, allowing for easier passage or viewing. Noren are rectangular (but not always a rule) and come in many different materials, sizes, colors, and patterns.

Noren are traditionally used by shops and restaurants as a means of protection from sun, wind, and dust, and for advertising space. Sentō (commercial bathhouses) also place noren across their entrances, typically blue in color for men and red for women with the kanji 湯 (yu, litterally hot water) or the corresponding hiragana ゆ. They are also hung in the front entrance to a shop to signify that the establishment is open for business, and they are always taken down at the end of the business day.

There are still many left in Shizuoka City and Prefecture in spite of all that modernizing and I do meet a lot of them along my bicycle wanderings. It would be a pity not to share their sight, as it would make for beautiful souvenires to take back home next time you visit Japan!

Accordingly here is the first of hopefully many postings on those little beauties!

A long, sober and narrow one. Pristine white!

For the night owls!

Chibariyo, an Okinawa restaurant.

Izakaya noren: Kurumaya.

Another izakaya nore, very feminine?

Simple design and pretty complicated characters!

Mishimaya, a Soba Restaurant. Very basic and simple.

Masa Sushi Restaurant. Another basic and simple Noren.

—————————-

PART 2)

A very traditional style for a oden-ya!

A large noren for a large izakaya, Taihei!

A double entrance for that izakaya with the noren inside a torii gate!

Elegant rabbit!

Great calligraphy!

Very modern approach by this cheaper kind of izakaya!

A traditional matsuri/festival “flag”!
——————————
PART 3

A very large noren in front of a Japanese restaurant!

You probably guessed this is a Chinese restaurant!
Actually “Chinese restaurants” in Japan are of two kind: Japanese-style serving ramen, gyza and stir-fried food as above and rea Chinese restaurants!