Blog
Blog
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Okama in Zaō
The Tohoku region has entered the rainy season. I visited Zaō just before the rains began, when the alpine flowers were starting to bloom. Although Zaō stands at an altitude of 1,841 metres, it is accessible by car almost right up to the summit—except in winter—and the car park gets very busy at weekends. The observation deck is just a short walk from the Kariyadake summit car park. Most group tours visit the observation deck and Kariyamine Shrine before returning, but to view the beautiful emerald-green crater lake, commonly known as ‘Okama’, from the front, you need to climb the…
- Miyagi
- Spot introduction
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Sea Squirt Nigiri
Sea Squirt (Hoya in Japanese) is a delicacy commonly enjoyed in the Tohoku region. It is in season from now through to summer, when its distinctive odour fades and its umami flavour intensifies. Due to its bumpy appearance, it is often referred to as the ‘pineapple of the sea’. However, contrary to its somewhat grotesque appearance, it has a refreshing taste that pairs beautifully with ponzu sauce. It pairs superbly with sake when served as sashimi or in a vinegar salad with salt-rubbed cucumber, but it is also delicious as a nigiri. I visited Tasuke Sushi in Shiroishi City. It…
- Food
- Miyagi
- Spot introduction
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Nemagari Bamboo
In the Tohoku region and Shinshu, the term ‘bamboo shoots’ generally refers not to the commonly eaten Moso bamboo shoots, but to Kuril dwarf bamboo, commonly known as nemagari bamboo. It grows not in bamboo groves but in thickets of sasa (bamboo grass), and is currently in season from late May to mid-June. Whilst the tough parts need to be trimmed away, unlike Moso bamboo, there is no need to remove the bitterness, making it a mountain vegetable with a pleasant crunch. The downside is that nemagari bamboo is a favourite food of Asian black bears, so you are likely…
- Food
- Spot introduction
- Yamagata
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Increasing Japanese Macaques
Since last year, there have been sightings of Asian black bears in urban areas, and sightings of Japanese macaques in urban areas are also on the rise. According to staff at a guesthouse in Zaō Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture, the number of Japanese macaques in the Zaō area has been increasing recently; I encountered a troop of them twice on the prefectural road—commonly known as the Nishi-Azuma Sky Valley—which runs from Lake Inawashiro to Yonezawa city. They did not seem particularly afraid of people and were sitting right in the middle of the road, but being surrounded by a troop of…
- Mammals
- Spot introduction
- Yamagata
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Disaster Heritage Site: Uketo Primary School
Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. I have finally been able to visit the disaster-stricken areas of Fukushima. Although nearly 80% of Namie Town is still designated as a ‘difficult-to-return zone’ and access is prohibited, Uketo Primary School is open to visitors as a disaster heritage site. A tsunami reaching a maximum height of 15.5 metres swept through Namie Town, claiming the lives of 182 people and dealing a devastating blow to the town. However, the 82 pupils and staff of the primary school evacuated to Mt Ohira, nearly 1 km away, and all survived. That…
- Fukushima
- Spot introduction
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TORIKIZOKU
Japanese izakaya chain is a must-visit whenever we’re on a group tour with over 20 people. As it can accommodate large groups, we use it for both lunch and dinner, but naturally, eating at the same chain day after day does start to get a bit monotonous. Even at times like that, Torikizoku’s ‘Toriki Bansankai’ set menu is a real lifesaver. It offers two hours of all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat, and as orders are placed via tablet, even our international guests can enjoy ordering with ease. One item on the all-you-can-eat menu that often prompts the question ‘What on earth is…
- Food
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Scams Involving Booking.com
Thank you for staying with us. Recently, there has been an increase in scams where fraudsters obtain booking details from Booking.com and send direct messages to guests via WhatsApp or similar platforms to request payment. As it is not possible to attach images or other files in Booking.com messages, we contact guests who have registered their phone numbers via WhatsApp or SMS the day before your arrival to provide directions to the property and confirm whether early check-in is possible. However, we never request payment or ask for your credit card details. Please be aware that any messages not sent…
- notice
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Momiji manjū
Momiji Manjū is a famous sweet that epitomises Itsukushima in Hiroshima. It is a souvenir that virtually everyone buys when visiting on a school trip. Conceived in 1906, it was originally a sweet made from castella sponge filled with smooth red bean paste. Nowadays, shops offer their own unique flavours, ranging from traditional bean paste to chocolate and custard cream, but my personal favourite is Sakamoto Confectionery’s Salted Butter Momiji. As Hatsukaichi City, where Miyajima is located, is a sister city with Mont-Saint-Michel, the confectionery uses salt from Mont-Saint-Michel. The balance of butter and salt is simply exquisite. As the…
- Hiroshima
- Japanese dessert
- Spot introduction
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Nakatsubo
Takayama ramen is characterised by its light soy sauce broth, made from chicken bones, bonito flakes and vegetables, served with curly noodles. It is what is known as ‘old-fashioned Chinese-style noodles’ for Japanese, and locals refer to it as ‘Chūka soba’ or simply ‘soba’. This is why, if you order ‘soba’, you will be served Chinese-style noodles rather than Japanese buckwheat noodles. It was introduced from Tokyo in the early Showa period, and over the years, adjustments have been made—such as simmering the soup and soy sauce together—to ensure it remains warm and comforting even during Takayama’s cold winters. My…
- restaurant
- Spot introduction
- Takayama
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Fruit Tea Room ver kLar
When I visited Takayama as a child, it was a tourist destination, but apart from the Takayama Festival, there weren’t that many visitors. Now, however, it is constantly teeming with foreign tourists. There are more stylish cafés than ever, but they are often so crowded that you can’t get a seat. Located right next to the Miyagawa Morning Market, ‘Fruit Tea Room ver kLar’ is a hidden gem. The ground floor is a fruit shop, whilst the café is on the first floor, accessed via a staircase inside. Here, you can relax and enjoy some sweet treats whilst gazing out…
- Japanese dessert
- Spot introduction
- Takayama
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Yuzu Shio Ramen
I always crave ramen when I’m on a business trip to the regions. Few dishes divide opinion quite like ramen, yet it is also a dish that reflects the flavours deeply rooted in each local area. Located close to Kanazawa Station, Yuzuki is a real lifesaver when time is short. Inside the shop, cardboard boxes of yuzu from Tokushima and Ehime are stacked high, giving a real sense of their dedication to yuzu. The Yuzu Shio Ramen, made with a chicken and seafood-based broth enhanced with natural salt and yuzu, is refreshingly light—a bowl of ramen that doesn’t leave you…
- Food
- Hokuriku
- Spot introduction
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Tawaraya’s Jiro Butter
Founded in 1830, Tawaraya is Kanazawa’s oldest candy shop. It’s a shop I always make a point of visiting when I take a tour of Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District. Made using only rice and barley, their Jiro-ame (mizuame, a Japanese sweetener) has a comforting sweetness that isn’t cloying, and it’s easy to see why it has long been a favourite for feeding babies. My personal favourite, however, is Jiro Butter. This is a combination of Jiro-ame and butter, and spreading it on toast and toasting it doubles the deliciousness. It’s lovely that you can sample Jiro-ame and Awa-ame (millet candy) at…
- Hokuriku
- Japanese dessert
- Spot introduction