Longstoned: April 2013

Japan April 2013 Tones and Textures part 2

Labels: Japan, Miyagi, Onagawa, Photography

Eating my way around Japan part 3 Asakichi Ryokan, Ise City, Mie Prefecture

I have always wanted to stay the night in a traditional Japanese Inn, so when my friend suggested we visit the city of Ise for some sightseeing I asked her to look for a ryokan we might stay in and enjoy a traditional meal at. We settled on the Asakichi Ryokan which really turned out to be a treat, a very old traditional Japanese building with tatami rooms and sliding doors etc.

The evening meal was amazing and the chef/waiter very friendly and enthusiastic about explaining the food and suggesting a variety of sake for us to try. Naturally I worked my way through as many beverages as he could suggest. The next day breakfast was equally delicious and like dinner it was served in the huge dining room ( we were the only two guests on this day ) . For both meals it was explained that the fish and other ingredients were local specialities.

Dinner first course

I had the tail half of the fish and my friend the head

An amazing soup with local clams

Sardine and pickled plum

Squid and pickles

Sashimi

The chef doubling as the waiter and sake advisor

A selection of the drinks and sake cups we used ....

Tea and rice accompanied the meal to add to the washing up

Breakfast

Beans and vegetables

Pickles

omelette

The dining room

Labels: Food, Japan

Eating my way around Japan 2013 part 2, the best sushi restaurant in the world. Onagawa .

On the second day of my visit to Onagawa after returning from Enoshima Island I was taken for lunch at an amazing sushi restaurant on the right hand side of the harbour (as you look out to sea). The restaurant was really busy so we had to wait a while for a table. While waiting I started taking some photos of the fishmongers counter to the side of the dining room, some of the staff then invited me into the fish store or processing room next door. I could certainly see how fresh todays catch was.

The food was delicious and super fresh, I had fish soup and sushi.

I don't remember the English translation for the Restaurants name but here is a link to their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/osakanaichibaokasei

Please click on the photos once and then a second time to view in full detail.

A view of the town from the shrine, you can see the reconstruction process to raise the ground level. The restaurant is in the distance on the far right nestled between a red and white crane and the white building in the shadow of the hills.

The Restaurant to the right and fish store to the left

The fishmongers stall with happy customers eating in the background

Fresh fish !!

Wonderful to see this plant fully working and busy given the level of reconstruction needed in the rest of the town.

Fantastic fish soup, we had to order a second bowl

This is the house speciality which I didn't order because I wanted to try the Sushi,

it is a seafood bowl served on rice.

My super fresh and excellent Sushi

I was slightly intimidated by this raw beast but once the head was off it slipped down a treat

Labels: Food, Japan, Miyagi, Onagawa, Photography

Eating my way around Japan 2013 part 1 snacks and bento

I love eating in Japan, if you don't have time to find a restaurant or are panicking for lack of an English menu there are endless choices of snacks and bento ( lunch ) boxes or Ekiben available from convenience stores, department stores and railway stations. It puts the English supermarket sandwich counters to shame . Plus they all sell cold beer which you can enjoy in the park or train without any fear of local bylaws .

The 7 - 11 beer and snack run came in handy.

Nagoya