Along the Tokaido Nature Trail to Nihondaira Peak in Shizuoka Ciy!

Mount Fuji is best seen on a winter sunny days and there is an embarrassment of choices as to from what spot to admire it!
Nihondaira Peak inside Shizuoka City, that is in suruga Ku, is one of them.
And if you feel like having some much needed exercise one way to reach Nihondaira peak is to do it on foot!
If you are a fit person, whatever your age, it will take you only a couple of hours walk.
To avoid monotony just go back by bus but beware that the last one is at about 16:00.
Let me relate how I achieved it last week!

I first took a local train from Shizuoka JR Station and got off at Kusanagi Station.
You can also reach the same destination by riding the Shizutetsu Line from Shizuoka Cenova Department Store!
Get off at Kusanagai and walk till the main crossing ahead. Turn left and look for a big Torii/鳥居 gate which will be your starting point. The torii is that of a very interesting shrine, Kusanagi Shrine I described earlier.
Walk under the torii and proceed straight ahead!

Don’t forget to look at your feet sometimes and you will discover some interesting manhole covers!

This type is a pretty old fire hydrant access when Shimizu was still a separate city!

The same type with a colored center!

An even older type of Shimizu City fire hydrant cover!

Go along he Kusanagijinja (Kusanagi Shrine) dori/path!

Don’t worry, there will be plenty of signs along the route to keep you on the right track!

First you will reach the Kusanagi Shinto Shrine!

Spare some of your time to visit it! It is worth it!

On your way out you will find an interesting manhole cover again!

Old Shimizu City type featuring Mount Fuji and Miho Beach with Matsubara Forest!

For collecting river and rain waters!

Check that you are on the right path!

Have a good look at the map!

It is bilingual!

It also gives you indications on the time needed!

Your first steps will take you through rural land!

Green tea fields and the last winter Chinese cabbage!

You are on the right path!

Peach tree field!

This is orange tree land!

Discovered this cute shed before the next bend!

it is only a private farm tool shed but the local primary school kids spent a great time decorating it!

A great idea to help the local kids’ sense of creation!

Don’t miss the next bend and walk up the passage way above the road!

A grand view is in wait for you at the top of the stairs before you penetrate the mountain forest!

Mount Fuji!

Shizuoka is also the land of green tea in japan!

A long flight of stairs will lead you to the nature trail going along the top of the mountains!

You never know, you may meet some elves there!

Plenty of ferns at the foot of tall cedar trees!

Follow the trail!

There are definitely sprites among hose trees! LOL

Out of the woods and almost at the top of Nihondaira peak!

Goal!

What is that statue?

The story of “The Little Girl with The Red Shoes Who Was taken Away By A Stranger”!

Coming to one of the top Mount Fuji Viewing Spots in Japan!

The overview!

Shimizu Harbor and the Suruga Bay!

Mount Fuji!

Suruga Bay and Izu Peninsula in the distance!

I wished I had taken more pictures but I was really running low on batteries!
Moreover the air was a bit hazy. Next time I will take pictures earlier in the morning or before sunset (problem here as there will no more buses unless I visit the place on a busy week-end!)!

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

Sushi: Why You Should Eat It Away From Tokyo!

This is an article bond to tickle some into self-righteous reactions but it will help visitors to Japan to discover the genuine article if they have the will to delve into the true gastronomic culture of this incredible country instead of limiting themselves to cliches and preconceptions acquired back home!

Home-made Taraba crab Chirashizushi.

Tokyo is Tokyo, and like Paris, London and where else, it might be a place where you can eat (up to a point) and enjoy great Japanese food but it produces next to nothing and is always unashamedly borrowing from the gastronomy of other regions.

It is particularly obvious when it comes to sushi.
Sushi was not invented in Tokyo, or Edo for that matter, as many tend to believe when they eat Edomae Sushi, which is only one form among a plethora of styles. To begin with, edomae sushi/Tokyo sushi is made with little truly fresh fish. Actually edomae sushi was a style created by stalls in the streets to be served at all times of the day and night with preserved fish or seafood. Even now the internationally praised sushi restaurants in Tokyo use few fresh ingredients. Almost all is arranged, albeit artistically, for best conservation while served with haughty pride and consequently impossible prices.

Large rainbow roll at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City.

But what about Tsukiji Market and its “great” sushi bars?
Unfortunately Tsukiji is only a market conceived for a sprawling metropolis, and while many a gastronome, reporters and critics included, falls into the touristic trap conscientiously organised with local and international media, it is devised first and all to feed untold numbers.
The “great” sushi bars serving “great” sushi at “great” prices are only cleverly making a mercantile use of leftovers.
Incidentally there is a misconception of tuna being all brought to Tsukiji Market before anywhere else. It is not. The greatest part of the Japanese tuna, and bonito, catch is first unloaded in the harbor of Shimizu in Shizuoka City. Actually Tokyo has first to wait that fish and seafood has reached a port somewhere else in Japan before even announcing availability on their stalls. Tujkiji Market is after all only a dealer/auction market!

Flying fish sashimi in Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island.

Why don’t you take your suitcase, camera and chopsticks and board a train, bus or ship ( a plane will do, too) and start exploring the shores of this beautiful archipelago?
Frankly speaking, the choice of venues is an impossible embarrassment!

Vegan sushi in Shizuoka City! You will not find it in Tokyo, unless you are either ready to fork out stupid prices or make it yourself!

Even in my own Prefecture of Shizuoka I would have to recommend you at least half a dozen establishments, all authentic, reasonable and serving sublime food. For example you would have to visit Yui for fresh sakura ebi/cherry shrimps, Kambara for aji/horse mackerel, Omaezaki for fresh shirasu/sarine whiting, Numazu City for fresh katsuo/bonito, Sagara for long and silvery tachiuo/scabbard fish and strange yagara/trumpet fish, Yaizu and Ogawa again for tuna and bonito, Shimoda for kinmedai and all kinds of seabream, and Hamana Lake for conger eel, eel, and oysters. And I have only started!

Another sushi millefeuille at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

Any region with a shore in Japan has the ingredients and the skills to offer beautiful, tasty and reasonable creations without having to resort to dubious artifices.

The real “oyakodon/parent and child sushi bowl” with fresh sea salmon and its roe in Wakkanai, Hokkaido Island!

And do not expect to find fresh wasabi, root, stem, leaves, flowers and all as it is not grown in Tokyo!
You will find it there but for what prices and how fresh?
We are lucky here in Shizuoka as we witnessed its birth in Utogi, Shizuoka City in the 17th Century!

Please note this is only a short essay to entice you into some delightful thinking and research!

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

Kura: Traditional Japanese Warehouse in Shizuoka Prefecture 23: Hon Tori, Shizuoka City!

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

Thanks to the directions of my good friend, Atsuko Kurata, I found, atthe second attempt, this kura hidden along the Hon Tori Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

It is easy to miss as it is tucked away from the pavement at the end of a new car park, indicating it was probably the warehouse of a company that ceased to function. in such cases the Japanese owners of such abandoned businesses transform the area available into a car park.
I also noticed another minuscule kura in the front left corner.

Can you distinguish the small white door on the left?

The whole kura is quite big, so it must have been a commerce of a certain worth in the past!

The front is still in pretty good repair, so it must be used as a shed by the owners in the house in the same enclosure.

but the roof needs to be weeded!

For a better view beside the owners’ house!

On the other hand , the back looked pretty decrepit!

Cement plastering flaking away…

The back door lock is crudely blocked with cement.

I’m afraid the owners are not ready to spend money on plastering!

How long is it going to survive?

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

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 34: Along the Miho Beach, Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City!

I have already mentioned manhole cob\evrs in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
This is a very large area indeed and it tends to mix all kinds of covers since it was merged with Shizuoka City.
But if like me yesterday you happened to cycle along the Miho Beach, especially along the parallel streets running through urban parts you will find them concentrated in large numbers!

I will describe them in the order I found them!
two together there!

A cover belonging to Shimizu City before it was merged!
This type is for river water collection.
There is another type with the same design!

Another Shimzsu City type with azaleas dating back before the merger!
Actually all do in that particular area!

Typical rectangular fire hydrant access cover!

An unusual double cover with the Miho beach design for rain water!

Those two different fire hydrant access covers are typical of Shimizu City!

The second type with the Miho Beach design for rain water!

A geometrical design sewer cover with the Shimizu City symbol in its center!

Another geometrical design for rain water collection!

Pressurized air access!

Another geometrical motif sewer cover!

Shimizu is soccer land!
A medium-sized orange valve access!

The same, smaller and blue!

A fairly complicated cover which could be opened in many ways!

The most famous fire Hhdrant cover in Shimizu with soccer players!

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

English Disaster Drinks and Weird Hearts!

“When you have felt thirst
in your heart,
You are in need of an oasis for
quench your thirst.
Your heart are thirsting for
a good feeling of place”

English teachers, it is about time to warn your students about the dangers of Google Translation Services!

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

Private Garden “Hasu Ike” in Shizuoka city!

Yesterday, having finally recovered from my annual spring cold (the second one, actually!) I found it was about time to shake the torpor out of my legs and take a long ride/walk into some places I do not usually visit in town!

I’ve known about a private garden since I arrived 38 years ago in Shizuoka City located in Aoi Ku, Kamiashiarai 5 Chome opposite Midori Cho, 10 Chome but funnily enough never bothered to really investigate.

As I said it is a private water garden and I may not really make the names of their owners public, but many people call it “hasu ike/蓮池”, that is “waterlily pond”!

By Japanese and Shizuoka standards it is an enormous pond. Completely surrounded by nets, one cannot naturally enter it although it is easy to admire and take pictures of.
Apparently it belonged to a very old family, probably of noble origins judging by the small stone wall keeping the large houses away from the water!

Waterlilies everywhere!

But it is not all waterlilies!
More than half of the flowers are splendid ayame/菖蒲/Siberian irises!

And there are more flowers whose names I haven’t found in spite of my friends’ help!

Calla lilies!

Other unknown beautes!!

And there some other unknown tree flowers to be discovered. Absolutely glorious!

But all in all these Siberian irises are my favorite!

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

ART MUSEUMS IN SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE (Regularly amended)

SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE MUSEUM OF ART
静岡県立美術館

ENGLISH HOMEPAGE

422-8002 Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Yada, 53-2
Tel.: 054-263-5755
—————————–
SERIZAWA KEISUKE ART MUSEUM
清沢佳祐美術館

Stencil dyeing works and private collection donated by national living treasure and artist, Keisuke Serizawa!
Closed on Mondays and day afetr national Holidays.

HOMEPAGE

〒422-8033 Shizuoka city, suruga ku, Toro, 5-10-5 (iniside Toro Ruins park)
Tel.: 054-282-5522
—————————–
MOA MUSEUM OF ART
MOA美術館

ENGLISH HOMEPAGE

Shizuoka Prefecture, Atami City, Momoyama, 26-2
静岡県熱海市桃山町26-2　
TEL:0557-84-2511
—————————
KOGANEZAKI CRYSTAL PARK
黄金崎クリスタルパーク

ENGLISH HOMEPAGE

〒410-3501 Shizuoka Prefecture, Kamo District, Nishi Izu Cho, ugusu, 2204-3
静岡県賀茂郡西伊豆町宇久須２２０４−３
Tel.:0558-55-1515
————————–
CLEMATIS NO OKA
クレマチスの丘

(Includes Bernard Buffet Museum, Izu Photo musuem, Vanji Sculpture Museum, Buffet & Restaurants)

HOMEPAGE

CLEMATIS NO OKA COMMUNICATION CENTER
クレマチスの丘コミュニケーションセンター

411-0931 Shizuoka Prefecture, Mishima City, Nagaizumi, Touno, Clematis No Oka (Suruga Hira), 347-1
〒411-0931　静岡県長泉町東野クレマチスの丘（スルガ平）347-1
tel.:（055）989-8787　Fax：（055）989-8790
————————————————
IZU NO CHYOHACHI ART MUSEUM
伊豆の長八美術館

HOMEPAGE

410-3611 Shizuoka Prefecture, Kamo Gun, Matsuzaki Cho, matsuzaki, 23
〒410-3611静岡県賀茂郡松崎町松崎23
Tel.: 0558-42-1881
———————————————–
HAMAMATSU SHIRITSU AKINOFUKU ART MUSEUM
浜松市立秋野不矩美術館

HOMEPAGE

〒431-3314 Shizuoka Prefecture, Hamamatsu City, Tentyuu Ku, Futamata Cho, Futamata, 130
浜松市天竜区二俣町二俣130
Tel.：053-922-0315
Fax：053-922-0316
————————————————-
HAMAMATSU CITY MUSEUM
浜松市博物館

ENGLISH HOMEPAGE

〒432-8018 hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Shijimizuka, 4-22-1
浜松市中区蜆塚四丁目22-1
Tel.：053-456-2208
Fax：053-456-2275
———————————————–
HAMAMATSU MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
浜松楽器博物館

ENGLISH HOMEPAGE

RELATED ARTICLE

430-7790 Hamamatsu City, Chuo Ku, Chuo, 3-9-1
Tel.: 053-451-1128
Fax: 053-451-1129
———————————————-
SHISEIDOU ART HOUSE-INDUSTRIAL ARCHIVES
資生堂アートハオウス・企業資料館

ENGLISH HOMEPAGE

436-0025 Shizuoka Prefecture, Kakegawa City, Shimonata, 751-1
静岡県掛川市下俣751-1
Tel: 0537-23-6122 Fax: 0537-23-6640
———————————————–
SHIZUOKA CIT TOKAIDO HIROSHIGE MUSEUM OF ART
東海道広重美術館

HOMEPAGE

〒421-3103　Shizuoka City, Shimizu ku, Yui, 297-1　
静岡県静岡市清水区由比297-1
TEL:054-375-4454(代)　FAX:054-375-5321
————————————————-

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 17: Wagura izakaya in Shimada City!

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

The other day I had arrived early for an appointment in front of Shimada JR station north exit and dedcided to a walk around the neighborhood, hoping against the odds to find something new and interesting in spite of visiting the place at least once a week!
Out of the blue, figuratively as it was almost dusk and evrything was turning shades of grey and blue, I found one large building housing local izakaya. My eyes were attracted by the traditional lattice design/namako at the lower part of the walls. The building itself was not a kura but my curiosity kept me looking beyond to the next house… and there for all to see stood a splendid kura! Why the heck hadn’t I noticed before!

I probably had never bothered to look up to discover this beautiful window!

One other reason was because the whole edifice had been transformed into a traditional izakaya restaurant and the door hadN’t attracted my attention util then
Mind you it is in a back street you do need a purpose to visit otherwise!

Roofing perfectly maintained!
obviously the neighboring building must have belonged to a rich family who protected their belongings indie that kura!

Its lower wall is also designed with a namako-style lattice pattern!

Great atmosphere!

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

Visit & Tea Ceremony at Cha no Sato/Tea Museum in Kanaya, Shimada City!

The other day I had the occasion to revisit Cha No Sato/Tea museum in Kanaya, Shimada City with a few American friends eager to know all about tea!

The Museum is surrounded by a traditional Japanese garden!

And inside the garden itself stands a traditional tea ceremony Pavillion!
When visiting the Museum you can purchase a ticket, either for the Museum visit only, the tea ceremony only, or for both!

Kanaya is famous for its tea all over Japan and the tea fields are very near!

Past the entrance of the Museum you will be able to check the neighboring tea fields on a model!

A model of traditional tea picking ladies!

An old traditional Japanese tea set!

An antique tea pot!

The old traditional of carrying and selling tea in 100 or 1,000 “ryou” bamboo bags!

A Russian samovar!

The entrance to the world tea saloons museum!

Many visitors from mainland China and Taiwan on that day!

The place is replete with tea samples from all over the World!

Another display!

And yet another display with harvests from all over the World!

A British tearoom of yore!

An Imperial Chinese Tea Saloon!

Inside a Nepalese home!

Solid gold tea set!

Another invaluable antique tea set!

Back to the Nepalese home! (It was particularly crowded with selfies n that day!)

Complete with traditional bed and furniture!

Traditional tribal clothes from Southern China!

A model of the present neighborhood tea fields of Makinohara!

Japanese tea party of yore!

A corner of the Museum has been set apart for trying your hand at making matcha tea powder you can take with you as a souvenir!

Antique Japanese tea processing machines!

Moriyama Tea Set!

Wedgewood Tea Set!

A Ming Dragon pot!

Then it was time to attend a tea ceremony.
The wagashi/Japanese cake of the month was called “No Hana no Kagayaki/the brilliance of a field flower”!

The Tea Ceremony Pavilion!

Walking past the Japanese garden!

A great source of photographs!

I’d love to admire this garden in other seasons!

A special rest area above the water!

The traditional tea ceremony tatami room!

All the matcha tea prepared for each guest!

The matcha tea to be drunk in three sips!

And a beautiful and delicious wagashi cake to savor between two bowls of matcha tea!

Access:
Train: 5 minutes by bus or taxi from Kanaya Station on the JR Tokaido Line.
Car: 10 minutes by car from Sagara/Makinohara I.C. on Tomei Expressway
Or 15 minutes from Ojiro I.C. Bypass

Museum visitor’s regular exhibition fee: 600 yen per adult. Cheaper for students, groups and disabled people.
Service hours: 9:00 a.m.~5:00 p.m.
Museum and Teahouse visitor fee: 1,000 yen per adult. Cheaper for students, groups and disabled people.
Service hours: 9:30 a.m.~4:00 p.m.

The teahouse only admission is 500 yen per person (no discount)

Address: The Tea Musuem/Ocha no Sato, 3053-2, Kanaya, Shimada Shi, Shizuoka Ken, 428-0022 Japan
Tel: (81)0547-46-5588
Fax: (81)0547-46-5577
Closed every Tuesday (the following day when Tuesday is a National Holiday), December 29th~January 3rd.
Parking: free of charge for 9 large buses and 90 cars.

HOMEPAGE

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

Angel Trumpets in Shizuoka City: Beautiful, but Beware!

Some flowers, like many other plants, might be beautiful and enticing, but very often it is a good idea to admire form a distance!

This flower does have a great name, at least for religion-conscious people: Angel Trumpet!
But in fact it has little angelic about itself!

There’s a small Shinto Shrine across from Parco Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shzuoka City, called Kogisho Shrine, famous in town for housing regular flea markets and other events, although it is also notorious for its use by smokers who should have a look at the back entrance where the above small torii gate stands!

They will find this flowering tree just behind the torii gate on the right!

Local worshipers use the tree for motive messages!

My impression is that it is used more or less to hide the drab neighborhood!

These long unopened blossoms do look like long yellow cigars!
Another reason for smokers to sit down under them! LOL

now, do have a good look at their definition on WIKIPEDIA

You will find out that although they are used as medicine in some places, the whole plant is poisonous!!
Still, the flowers are beautiful!

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