Travel Japan

La Qua Spa

2012-03-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

The La Qua Spa is a part of the Tokyo Dome City complex, which includes an amusement park, numerous attractions, and the Tokyo Dome Hotel. The La Qua Spa’s waters come from 1,700 meters(about 5,600 feet)below from its source-the Koishikawa hot springs. The waters were nice, the Jacuzzi was great, the rotem buro was just right. The sauna however, was too hot and I was unable to enjoy it. The waters are sodium chloride-effective for poor circulation, neuralgia, and shoulder pain, and highly effective for skin care due to moisturizing and thermal properties.

Since we had gone on a weekend, and being our first time, the complex was extremely crowded, and it was difficult to make our way around the complex. The entrance to La Qua Spa was odd to say the least and confusing. There appeared to be only one elevator that you needed to get on to access the spa. It was not the closest elevator to the entrance from the train station, but further in the back of a shopping complex. And the access was only from the second floor and only from one elevator out of a bank of three elevators. Because of only one elevator to the onsen bath, the elevator was always crowded. Better signage would have helped to lessen our confusion.

My impression of the entrance to the spa was like I was at a crowded train station trying to buy a ticket, or at a cattle crossing. Once past the registration area and once inside the spa I observed massage tables, a large bath, Jacuzzi, sauna, healing room, and the rotem buro, or outside bath. Refreshments were available downstairs, down a long stairway. I’m sure there was an elevator, but I wasn’t able to find it. This hot spring review: Make it one of the places to visit in Japan.

Rates: 2,565 Yen, plus an extra charge of 315 Yen for weekends and holidays. Late night check ins were 1,890 Yen, and an extra 525 Yen for using the Healing Baden (healing rooms).

Access from Shinjuku station. Take the Marunouchi subway line to Ikebukuro and continue on to Korakuen station, where you exit. La Qua is directly across the street. La Qua is open from 11:00AM to 9AM(next day).
For more information and photos please click here. http://traveljapan-us.com.

Steak Kuni Akasaka

2012-03-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

Steak Kuni Akasaka

Steak Kuni Akasaka is just as its name reads - steak, and plenty of it. All quality beef, chilled and ready to cut for your order. 300 grams (or 0.66 pounds) of juicy steak sizzling on a hot plate, tossed green salad, consomme soup, steamed corn, starch(steamed rice)on special for 1,995 yen. Sounds good doesn’t it? The steak was Australian range beef-good, no gaminess, juicy, but a little chewy. I also had a piece of a 200 gram(0.44 pound)Kobe wagyu beef steak filet after the special. The pricy Kobe steak was 6,500 yen per 100 grams, but was really juicy, extremely tender, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and showed the contrast between the two steaks. When ordered, your steak is cut in front of you from a large slab of beef, then weighed.

Also available is some Japanese wagyu beef from Yonezawa, quality sirloin for 3,570 Yen per 100 grams, and filet for 4,500 Yen per 100 grams. Other choices include a Kuro gyu(Japanese beef steak)sirloin for 2,310 Yen per 100 grams, and a filet for 2,830 Yen per 100 grams. A 200 gram 100% beef hamburger steak is 1,020 Yen. Not a beef eater, no problem, Lobster Thermidor is available for 1,890 Yen. A salad and rice or bread set is 360 Yen.

We had two bottles of a Chilean cabernet sauvignon 2011 which was 2,400 Yen per bottle. The wine was very good. There was French bordeaux wine for as low as 1,000 Yen per bottle.

The restaurant was very busy, but the staff provided very good service.
The restaurant is located at 2-14-2 Nagata-cho, in the Sanno Building, 1st floor, next to the Tokyu Excel Hotel. It is almost right across the street after you exit from the Akasaka Mitsuke station.

As per this restaurant review, this blogger would definitely go back again for steak at Steak Kuni Akasaka.

For more information and photos of Japan, please click here. http://traveljapan-us.com.

Sapporo Prince Hotel

2012-03-17T01:22:00.000-07:00

The Sapporo Prince Hotel is located about 2 blocks from Odori Park at Juitchome, or 11th Street in downtown Sapporo. The onsen hotel was opened in 1962, but has undergone renovations and is a nice, classy hotel synonymous with the Prince Hotel chain. The round shape of the hotel gives good views of Sapporo from the higher floors.

The room I stayed in was on the 16th floor and was a twin room with 2 beds, a nice Panasonic flat screen TV, and free internet with a LAN connection. The bathroom featured a deep tub/shower and a Toto washlet(bidet)toilet. The room had a nice northerly view plane and faced Odori Park.

The subway system to the Sapporo Prince Hotel was the Namboku line from Sapporo Station to Odori Station, then on the Tozai Line to Juitchome Station. From the Juitchome exit, about 2 blocks to the hotel.

It was walking distance to the Tanukikoji Shopping arcade and the Nijo Market. About 2 blocks to the east was the start of Tanukikoji arcade at Nanachome(7th Street). Nijo Market was at Itchome(1st Street).

The Sapporo Prince Hotel features an onsen and spa. Although I cannot say that I used the spa, the onsen waters were very nice and hot - good for the cold Sapporo weather and supposedly good for neuralgia and joint pain. The spa was open 5AM to 10AM, and 4PM to 12 Midnight. Separate men’s/women’s baths and separate men’s/women’s Rotem buro(outside pool)where snow flakes fall on your head as you relax in the large onsen bath. Bath charge was 450 yen per day, which included city onsen charge.

Restaurants included the Hapuna Restaurant(buffet)and my favorite at 3,500 - 4,500 yen for dinner, and a great bargain at 1,500 yen for a breakfast buffet. Other restaurants include Le Trianon, a French restaurant, Steak House Katsura, a teppanyaki restaurant, and Fuyo-Jyo, a Chinese restaurant, along with 2 lounge/bars Sky Lounge Top of the Prince on the 28th floor with great views of Sapporo, and the Pikake Lounge on the 1st floor.

The Sapporo Prince review was a positive one for this blogger.

Sapporo Ramen Yokocho

2012-03-14T17:35:00.002-07:00

Sapporo Ramen Yokocho

Sapporo Ramen Yokocho, is a small alley in the Susukino nightlife and entertainment district in Sapporo, Japan. It is famous for shops serving world famous Sapporo ramen noodles to help warm you during the cold winter nights.

We passed the many shops in the narrow covered alley, but were attracted to the first shop we had passed by. After the “irrashaimase” greeting by the two chefs, We sat down at the counter and asked the chef about the their soup base. The soup base was a combination of boiling chicken and pork bones for a long time.

I tried the 1,000 yen char siu ramen and found it to be very tasty. The noodles were curly and firm - not soggy. The soup was a little dark but the flavor of the soup was light, not greasy. The char siu was plentiful - five pieces that covered the entire large bowl. Toppings also included bean sprouts, or moyashi, bamboo shoots, or menma, and green onions. My wife tried the 700 yen miso ramen. The same curly, firm noodles and the miso based soup was very good - bean paste miso base that was slightly sweet. The toppings included one piece of char siu pork, lots of bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and green onions. For 700 yen - it was a great bargain. I’ve heard that the buttered corn ramen is very good too! I’ll try that next time.

On the restaurant’s walls there were comments left by famous people that visited the shop. I saw one from Anthony Bourdain and the “No Reservations” crew. A famous Japanese enka singer named Kitajima Saburo left comments, Miss Korea 1998 left a comment, along with many others, thanking the chefs for a great bowl of ramen.

Sapporo Ramen Yokocho is definitely a do not miss and is a great place to find cheap eats and a place to eat good ramen.
For more information and pictures about Japan click here.

Sapporo Beer Garden

2012-03-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

Sapporo Beer Garden:

The Sapporo Beer Garden is part of the old Sapporo Brewery that is known for Genghis Khan barbeque lamb grilling. There are different versions of the meal including all-you-can-eat(tabehoudai), or ala carte like I ordered. The group on the next table opted for the all-you-can-eat, and the food kept coming. My selection was the premium beef, marinated pork, and lamb chops. The meat was very tender. The meat was grill-on-your own on a sizzling grill in the shape of Hokkaido. There’s nothing like the sound of sizzling meat to whet the appetite. The yakiniku meat was delicious. We ate in the large hall on the ground floor, walls and ceiling of red bricks. In addition to the meat, cut up vegetables were brought to the table to be cooked on the grill.

I opted for the drink as you go Sapporo beer, but I understand that an all-you-can-drink option is available. The Genghis Khan buffet is 3,670 yen, with a little more for the all-you-can-drink option.

Prince Hakone

2012-03-09T00:02:00.003-08:00

Prince Hakone

The Prince Hakone is located at Hakone-en, about 40 minutes from JR Odawara station. In this blogger’s opinion, the Prince Hakone is a very nice classy hotel. Come down to ground level from the Odawara station and be picked up by the hotel’s shuttle bus. English speaking staff will check you in efficiently.

The room balcony overlooked the forest and the room was quite large, with a king sized bed and a sitting area with two sofa chairs. The television was a Panasonic Viera with about a 32 inch screen. A Marantz CD contained a CD with forest sounds and nice music. The bath included a Toto bidet toilet.

Dinner was in the Nadaman Japanese restaurant, and was impressive. The caring nature of the wait staff and the creative dishes of the chef made for a very pleasant experience. The Kaiseki Hana menu (set dishes menu) started with three appetizers of broad beans and scallops with soy bean milk and yogurt, asparagus mousse on sea urchin and consommé jelly, and boiled green vegetables seasoned with soy sauce. The dishes reflected the creative nature of the chef, who blended sweet with tart, firm with soft foods. Soup consisted of a steamed egg custard(chawan mushi) with green peas and mozzarella cheese. The raw fish course consisted of raw tuna(maguro),smoked Spanish mackerel(sawara)with soy sauce and fresh horseradish sauce. The hot dish was a steamed mugwort(yomogi)and bamboo shoots bun which had the consistency of steamed rice cakes(mochi) which was delicious. The grilled dish consisted of a grilled sea bream(tai)with a butterbur sauce, a deep fried soft shell shrimp(ebi)with an egg omelet and radish(daikon) and sauted tofu. The contrast of soft and firm, sweet and tart, expressed the chef’s detail and creativeness. The steamed rice was a high quality rice from Yamagata prefecture called “yume gokochi” and was shiny and delicious. Dessert was a bowl of coconut milk, vanilla ice cream, azuki beans, and tapioca with a dark syrup. Needless to say, I was very impressed with the dinner. Our kimono clad waitress patiently explained every course of our meal in English! She made this restaurant review easy. An onsen review: The onsen, called Kohan no yu, was nice, especially the rotemburo(outside bath) which faced Lake Ashinoko, and the body felt good as the cold air met the warmth of the bath waters. Prince Hotels never fail to impress!

For further information on travel to Japan please go to http://traveljapan-us.com.

Travel Japan Otaru

2012-03-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

TRAVEL JAPAN OTARU

As you travel Japan, Otaru is not to be missed. Fifty minutes to the north of JR Sapporo station in Hokkaido, and a 620 yen ticket will take you to Otaru port town. Just to the left of the station main exit is the Sankaku Market, which cannot be missed because of the bright blue and red and white fishing flags displayed outside the entrance. The people of Otaru are in this blogger’s opinion, some of the friendliest people in Japan. As I asked directions to the Sankaku Market, a school girl most kindly went out of her way to walk us to the market. The vendors were all very friendly, making us feel right at home. What we found was a nice quantity and quality of seafood, both fresh and dried. I purchased two king crabs to send to my relatives in Tokyo and Kumamoto. The king crabs were live and swimming in the cold water, very large and full of crab meat and healthy. The salmon was very fresh-probably just off the fishing boat that morning. The seafood was very reasonably priced, as my delivery charge was more than the crab. The oysters I saw looked very good, and the scallops were still alive in the tanks.

We had lunch at a restaurant in the Sankaku market, a kaisen don or fresh seafood toppings arranged on a bowl of rice. The toppings included botan ebi(peony shrimp sashimi), hotate(scallop sashimi), and lots of ikura(raw orange salmon roe). The owner of the restaurant came in with the live scallops and the shrimp for the Kaisen don. The toppings were so fresh and good that we forgot about the rice. I ate the whole shrimps as the head and body were so sweet. The scallops were full of flavor as they were alive only minutes earlier. The orange salmon roe just popped in my mouth and released their great taste. The kaisen don was reasonable too – only 1,300 yen. It came with a steaming bowl of seafood flavored miso soup and some shredded dried squid which the owner gave us as a side dish. A one topping bowl of seafood on rice was as low as 400 yen, and quite a bargain. The restaurant’s walls and ceiling were covered with pictures of happy people that had eaten at the restaurant. This is a Travel Japan Otaru recommended restaurant.

Several of the other vendors I visited were very friendly too. The ladies at both the fresh fish shop and the sweets shop noticed that my wife walked with a cane and offered her a seat while I transacted the purchase and let us know the easiest way back to the station and that there was an elevator at the Otaru station. Travel Japan in Otaru liked the small Sankaku market a lot.

The Otaru canal was very nice as snow covered the enbankments of the canal. The “orogoru” music box shop at the Otaru Bus Station had lots of interesting items for sale, and they offered “taiken” , a workshop where you could learn how to make a music box.

On a previous trip to Otaru port, we visited a glass factory as Otaru is known for its glass making. Be sure to visit one when you're there.

As you travel Japan, Otaru is a must see!

For more information and pictures on Japan please visit http://www.traveljapan-us.com.

Travel Japan Taiken

2011-06-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

Travel Japan Taiken: Handmade Japanese arts and crafts

Taiken, or the making of Japanese arts and craft items, is a fun activity no one should miss. Over the years, I have participated in many taiken from kneading and making soba, to cloisonné pendants, to

making tea cups. This hands on activity is definitely a Travel Japan recommendation. If you’re tired of just sightseeing Japan, or if you’re looking for things to do in Japan, stop and go fishing, or stop and make your own tea cups.

Here’s some great Japan travel tips.

Tired of looking at Kyoto temples or learning about ancient Kyoto? Here’s some Kyoto attractions. Stop by the Kyoto Handicraft Center, where you can participate in various taiken, including a class that I enrolled in-cloisonné pendants. Also available are carving and wood block printing, and doll making. In the Nishijin Textile Center enroll in a textile making class using a loom. Here’s a taiken that may not be in the Japan travel guides. In Kumamoto city, stop by the Hitoyoshi Craft Park and sign up for a class to make your own hanatebako or colorful small box. In Kanazawa? Try designing and making a gold leaf lacquered small jewelry box. In Nagaoka city near Niigata, try harvesting rice in September. Jetfoiled from Niigata harbor to Sado Island, enroll in a class nearby the Sado Gold mine to learn how to pan for actual gold. In Hokkaido near Lake Akan? Try wakasagi(smelt) ice fishing on the lake, or learn ice skating or snowmobile riding. Near Aizu Wakamatsu, known for Japan pottery, try making your own tea cup.
In Kyushu, at a coast near Nagasaki, try fishing with a very large hukilau fish net. In Kagoshima city, try your hand at making sushi “oshizushi“(pressed sushi rice).

Taiken can break up the sightseeing and shopping, and make traveling much more interesting. On your trip to Japan, take a break and try learning about Japan culture and try hands on taiken.

Thanks to Jo Matsu of Marukai Hawaii and the rest of the Marukai gang for the experiences.
For more information on Taiken, please click on the following link. http://traveljapan-us.com/.

Japanese Rice Harvesting

2011-05-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Japanese Rice Harvesting

It is late September just outside Nagaoka City, on the western side of Japan, near Niigata. The rice field, or tambo with short grain Koshihikari rice is a beautiful golden yellow color, the day is hot, with no breeze, and the sun is baking down on us. I am dressed in a polo shirt, jeans, and my feet are in rubber boots. My hands are encased in a thick cotton glove, and in my right hand is a very sharp, short bladed sickle. I am about to embark on an experience rich in Japan culture. I will be harvesting one of the most important foods in Japan. Japan travel guides do not mention this activity. Put this on your "things to do in Japan" list.

Our bus driver, a part-time rice farmer, is giving us a quick lesson as to how to cut the rice stalks, and how to tie the stalks of rice together so they can be hung up to dry. I bend down to make my first cut at the rice stalks. “A little lower” he tells me, I comply, cutting about 2-3 inches from the bottom of the rice stalk. Wow, the sickle is sharp! With only a little effort the stalks are cut. I get my rhythm and begin cutting the rice plants, putting them together in piles so they can be tied later. Within a few minutes I am wiping the perspiration from my forehead and can feel myself sweating. “Well, let’s try tying the rice stalks together” I tell my wife. Tying is done by taking a bunch of rice stalks and using another rice stalk as a twine to tie the other stalks together about 8-10 inches from the bottom part of the stalks. Our driver flips the bundle of rice stalks to tighten the tie, and separates the bundle into two and hangs the bundle neatly on a bamboo rack in the field. Our bundles are not as tight and not as neatly done as our driver’s bundles. I gather some bundles and take them to the drying rack, where they will be dried so that the rice grains can be easily removed from the stalk.

After the harvest we get together with some of the residents of the village and have lunch together. This interchange gives us an opportunity for cultural exchange. This experience was provided to us while we were on a Japan tour arranged by Marukai Hawaii Tours. We thank Jo Matsu and the rest of the Marukai gang for a great tour. This is a Travel Japan recommended activity.

Matsushima Pre Tsunami

2011-03-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

Matsushima Pre Tsunami:

My memories of the Matsushima Islands in the Miyagi prefecture of northern Tohoku, Japan are of the nice port, the interesting cruise of Matsushima Bay, and the lunch onboard the cruise boat consisting of delicious oysters, a product of the area.

The Matsushima islands consist of about 250 or so small islands of rock, soil and the namesake pine trees called “matsu” (pine) and “shima” (island).

On a family trip to Hokkaido, northernmost island in Japan, in February of 2008, after about a week of freezing cold, we were happy to be heading slowly back to Tokyo along the beautiful coastline.

The town of Matsushima consisted of about 15,000 or so residents, a fishing town with a nice port facility. The cruise boat we boarded took us from the port out into the Matsushima Bay, which seemed to be not so deep, where we viewed the many small islands. Around lunch time, we were served dishes of raw oysters, fried oysters and a hot pot of oyster stew, which was delicious, and warmed us as we cruised in the cold weather. We were told that oysters were a specialty of the area.

As this town was inundated in the quake and tsunami of 2011, one can only wonder if and when there will be rebuilding in this area. My memories of the wonderful people and beautiful sights of Matsushima bring a sadness to my heart. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan.

For some before and after tsunami aerial photos along the Tohoku coast courtesy of ABC News, go to http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm.

Sapporo

2011-01-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

Sapporo Japan

Capital of the northernmost region in Japan, and world famous for its annual Sapporo Snow Festival and Ice Festival-held in early February. It is one of Travel Japan's favorite stops.

The Snow Festival is usually held early in February and showcases over 200 snow structures including a feudal Japan castle, a Japanese home, various cartoon and anime figures, to mention a few. Just down the street is the Ice Festival, where over 100 ice sculptures are on display along the street. It is truly something to see.

The Nijo Market is where you want to be to see and eat fresh seafood straight from the fishing boats. There you will see taraba gani or king crab. The king crab legs are huge with lots of crab meat-and sweet too! Fresh ikura, or salmon roe, uni, or sea urchin, hokke, a kind of mackerel, are available for purchase. Hungry, stop by one of the seafood restaurants-Domburi Chaya, located in the Nijo Market, and have a 9 topping kaisen don, a seafood rice bowl.

The Sapporo Beer Museum, dedicated to the beer that was brewed there until 2003, where after a brief tour, you are able to sample some of the beer. Next door is the Sapporo Beer Garden where you can try the Genghis Khan Viking buffet for 3300 Yen, grill the lamb on a skillet and drink beer for 90-minutes.

Susukino's Ramen Yokocho, or Ramen Alley, where you can warm up in the frigid air by eating some steaming miso pork ramen noodles. Close by are several crab restaurants, including an all-you-can-eat king crab restaurant for 4000 Yen (90-minutes), and an all king crab 8-course I think, (I lost track on how many) dinner for 4900 Yen.

Sato Land, an kiddies amusement park with a farm theme, and winter activities like ice slide, sledding, etc.

Shopping on the mind? Be sure to check out Pole Town running from Odori to Susukino, and Aurora Town from Odori Park to the TV tower. Both underground arcades feature many shops and shelter you from the elements.

Chitosetsuru Sake Museum, where you can get a free sake tasting and sample the pure clean water of the area and sample the extremely crisp and delicious sake made by the sake brewery, which uses Ginpu sake rice.

Getting to Sapporo is simple. Just catch the bus limo or the JR railway line from the New Chitose Airport into Sapporo station. If you're traveling by train, from Sapporo station you can catch one of the local trains to your hotel, or catch a taxi.

Hakone Onsen

2011-01-08T21:30:00.000-08:00

Hakone Onsen

Hakone, a rustic but beautiful area in southeastern Japan, is a quaint onsen (hot spring) town and gateway to Mt. Fuji. Fall colors (koyo) are very beautiful with brilliant red and yellow leaves you can see if you travel Japan in November. On clear days, areas such as Mt. Komagatake and the Komagatake Ropeway, the Hakone Ropeway, and Lake Ashinoko are ideal spots for excellent views of Mt. Fuji.

Arriving by Shinkansen bullet train at Odawara station, proceed to the Hakone Tourist Information office in the station and get free maps and brochures on the Hakone area. The nice lady in the office even called our hotel to send a shuttle bus to pick us up.

If you decide to use the Odakyu Hakone Free pass, proceed to the Odakyu office in the station and purchase the 2-day(3900 Yen) or the 3-day(4,400 Yen) pass-good for unlimited travel on the Hakone Tozan railway, the Hakone Ropeway, the Hakone Tozan cable car, Hakone Tozan bus, and the Hakone sightseeing cruise, a great value for the money.

A recommended sightseeing route from Odawara station might be:
1. A train ride on the Hakone Tozan railway to Hakone Yumoto.
2. Then continue from Hakone Yumoto to Gora on the Hakone Tozan train.
3. Take the Hakone Tozan cable car from Gora to Sounzan for fall colors.
4. Take the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Owakudani where you can see steam emitting from hellish fissures.
5. From Owakudani to Togendai on Hakone Ropeway where views of Mt. Fuji can be seen.
6. Ride aboard the Hakone Sightseeing cruise ship on Lake Ashinoko where more views of Mt. Fuji can be had until Moto Hakone.
7. From Moto Hakone, catch the Hakone Tozan bus to Hakone-en, where you can walk to the Komagatake station and ride the Komagatake Ropeway to Mt. Komagatake for more fabulous views of Mt. Fuji.
8. Upon returning to the Komagatake station and walking a short distance to Hakone-en, hop on the Hakone Tozan bus and either go to your hotel or back to Odawara station.

For more information please click on link to go to http://traveljapan-us.com/.

Tengu

2010-12-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

Tengu Restaurant Tokyo

Tengu is a chain of izakaya restaurants found all over Tokyo. I have been to a couple of them, but I find the one just outside the Shinjuku station convenient. It is located upstairs of the UniQlo store right near the station exit. We proceeded to have a great time eating some very tasty inexpensive dishes. This Tokyo restaurant offers yakitori (grilled chicken gizzards, along with regular chicken parts) 126 Yen per skewer, kari kari gobo salad (deep fried shaved burdock root on a tossed salad with fried shrimp) 500 Yen, cheese pizza 600 Yen. The restaurant serves the more traditional dishes like sashimi, salads, tempura, oysters, chicken katsu, to mention a few, all at a reasonable price. This Tokyo restaurant serves drinks that are quite reasonable too, with 180 ml glasses of sake' for 399 Yen, glasses of shochu for 400 Yen, and mugs of beer for 500 Yen. The izakaya is noisy with mostly working folks, but with super drinks and lots of great, inexpensive food, it's worth it. For more information on this topic or Japan, please go to http://traveljapan-us.com/.

Sapporo Nijo Market

2010-12-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

Sapporo Nijo Market
Just a few minutes walk from Tanukikoji Arcade in Sapporo, the Sapporo Nijo Market is an interesting place to visit. You will find the freshest fish, scallops, sea urchins, shrimp, squid, octopus and king, queen, and hairy crab. The taraba gani(king crab)of the highest quality can be found here from 5,000 yen to 7,000 yen, or more depending on size and quality. I personally purchased a very high quality large king crab, with all legs intact, hard shell and just caught for 7,000 yen. My purchase of king crab and other seafood items was made at the Maruichi Market from Mikami-san, but the vendors are very friendly, and if you buy enough you can bargain with them for a better price. Dried seafood is plentiful, and we just enjoyed the dried and smoked scallops, smoked octopus legs, dried squid, and some of the soy sauce prepared sea kelp.

We even had an early morning seafood breakfast at one of the restaurants in the fish market. At the Donburi Chaya restaurant I had the Kaisen assorted seafood bowl. 9 toppings including maguro(tuna)sashimi, salmon sashimi, ikura(salmon roe), hotate(scallop)sashimi, king crab meat, botan ebi(peony)shrimp, uni(sea urchin), egg roll, and yama imo(diced mountain yam) on a bed of delicious rice along with hot Japanese tea for 1,449 yen. You can try a steaming bowl of miso soup with crab inside as flavoring for an additional 200 yen. Awesome breakfast!

You can easily see why the Sapporo Nijo Market is a Travel Japan-US favorite.

Location: Just at the end of Tanukikoji Arcade on 2nd St. Fish vendors open at 7:00AM and close around 6:00PM. Restaurants open a little later.

For more information and pictures on Japan: http://travljpn.blogspot.com/. For other articles on Japan, please go to http://traveljapan-us.com/.

Japanese Yatai

2010-11-30T22:39:00.000-08:00

The Japanese Yatai, or portable food stalls, could be found in numbers along the streets of Tokyo and Fukuoka, and other localities in the past, but now are few and far between. Nowadays the yatai appear late at night and almost stealthily to avoid the police. The portable "food wagons" cook the food on site and provide benches or chairs for their customers. The yatai operators usually serve ramen(noodles), oden(Japanese stewed vegetables), or fried and grilled food. On a recent trip to Japan I ate and drank at a yatai right outside the Shinjuku station late one night(around 11:30 PM)and had a bowl of hot ramen along with 2 large glasses of sake. Needless to say, the food, drink and company were excellent, and the tab “yasukatta”(inexpensive). This would definitely qualify as cheap eats.
If you are lucky enough to stumble across one in the evening, please be sure to stop in and have some food and drink. I think you’ll like it. Plus it’s a rather unique part of the Japanese culture and an experience that shouldn’t be missed.
It's especially good on a cold night with a hot bowl of ramen or a hot bowl of oden and sake to cut the chill. This is a Travel Japan favorite!

Crab Crab Crab

2010-11-25T17:43:00.000-08:00

Crab Crab Crab in Sapporo Japan. That’s all you can eat crab, in 90 minutes. Hard to believe-well it’s true. All-you-can eat KING CRAB in 90 minutes, for 4,000 Yen($50 US). In Susukino, the entertainment center of Sapporo, Japan, there is a crab restaurant called Ebi Kani Gassen, on the 11th floor of a commercial building where you can get this unbelievable meal. I had the 3,600 Yen($44 US) All-you-can eat(tabehoudai)assorted crab(King crab, Queen crab, Snow crab) in 90-minutes meal. Here’s what I got:

3-shrimp tempura and vegetable(sweet pepper)tempura

3-shrimp and crab sushi, shrimp tempura sushi

1-chawan mushi with lots of crab crab crab

3-very large platters of assorted crab legs and body meat

Those crab legs were super sweet!!!!

All that crab went well with 2 bottles(300ml each)of Chitosetsuru Junmai Ginjo sake.

Tips and notes:

The staff will only bring out what you can eat because crab is a valuable resource in Hokkaido Japan. Don’t order what you cannot finish.

The staff is a little slow in coming out to help you, so ask them with a “Sumimasen-Kani okawari!” (Excuse me-More crab please!) when you are getting low on crab.

Don’t forget-you must finish the crab on the plate before the 90-minutes.

How to eat the crab: Use the scissors provided to cut the crab shells-makes it a lot easier to get to the meat, and use the small spoon to dig out the crab meat from the body cavity or as you get to the outer reaches of the crab legs. Discard the shells in the big containers on the table.

This is a Travel Japan recommendation for hungry crab eaters. So go ahead and eat crab crab crab!

Location: A short walk from the Hosui Susukino subway station or the Susukino subway station. Address is 1-jo South, 4 West, 2-chome (1chi-
jo Minami yon Nishi ni-chome. On the 11th floor. 4:00PM - 12:00AM. Telephone: 011-231-3043. Restaurant name is Ebi Kani Gassen.

For more information on Japan please go to http://traveljapan-us.com

Hakone Prince Annex

2010-11-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

Hakone Prince Annex Review

Upon arriving at the Odawara Station from Tokyo, we inquired at the local Odawara Visitors Bureau office in the station and the very nice lady there helped make us a reservation to catch the Hakone Prince shuttle. The shuttle driver met us outside the station next to the samurai statue. Upon boarding the van, the driver stored our overnight bags and when all the other guests arrived we drove out of the station. The driver was gracious enough to give us a guided tour of the Hakone area as we drove-but in Japanese.

The Hakone Prince Annex is the newer wing of the original Hakone Prince Hotel. The front desk staff spoke English and serviced us quickly and gave us tips on what to do in the area. There was a large sitting area just off the front desk with a great view of Lake Ashinoko. I think it doubled as a lounge.

The room:
The room was larger, much larger than the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo. The room on the 1st floor had a back door which gave us access to the back lawn overlooking Lake Ashinoko and gave us a wonderful view. The room had nice furniture and the sitting table allowed us to have a cold beer and snacks to eat before we went out. The room had the deep tub and the bidet toilet. The safe in the room was a larger. Little older model that we liked. We also found that the “rotem buro” outdoor onsen bath was a mere 50 feet from the room. Although the onsen was small, the hot water and the cool air hitting your head made it feel almost zen-like. The men’s bath had the same nice lake view we had from our room.

The food:
Since we arrived off-season, the hotel was not full, and the restaurant limited meals to the Potomac Restaurant just past the front desk. The restaurant had that same great Lake Ashinoko view as the lounge. With a salad bar that was quite good, we found the meals quite good as well. For dinner we had the “set menu” beef tenderloin that was cooked to a perfect medium rare and very tender and with the cooked veggies and starch and a dessert of a Japanese roll cake with filling and coffee to end the meal. 4,500 Yen for the dinner.

Shopping:
There was a nice shopping area at Hakone-en next to the Hakone Prince Hotel where you could find food items, clothing, and souvenirs, including an aquarium and the Komagatake Ropeway station, and also a bus terminal for both the Izu Hakone Bus Company and the Hakone Tozan Bus Company.

Location:
Hakone Prince Annex, Hakone-en, Hakone Japan.

For more information and photos please go to http://travljpn.blogspot.com

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Richmond Hotel Sapporo Odori

2010-11-24T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Richmond Hotel Sapporo Odori is basically a businessman’s hotel in Sapporo, Japan, with smallish rooms with nice amenities. The hotel has a small restaurant next to the lobby that serves good food and drinks, and desserts at reasonable prices.

I recently rented a double room of 177 square feet and found a small room with a double bed, a nice Regza 25” Toshiba digital TV, a bidet toilet, air conditioning a Sharp Ion unit, refrigerator, coffee pot and complimentary coffee and tea, and internet connection.

The staff is extremely helpful and very accommodating, the breakfast buffet is good, but the best thing about the hotel is its direct entrance into the Tanukikoji Arcade, nearby access to Pole Town underground shopping arcade, sheltering you from the inclement winter weather in Sapporo, Susukino entertainment district, Nijo Fish Market, and the Nanboku Subway line. If you walk through the Tanukikoji Arcade 3 1/2 blocks to the south, you will end up at the Nijo Fish Market where you can see and taste some excellent seafood including king crab and huge scallops fresh off the fishing boats.

To get there: From the new Chitose Airport take the JR train to and exit from the Sapporo Station, then take the Nanboku subway line from Sapporo Station to the Odori Station. Walk from the Odori Station through Pole Town underground arcade until you get to the south Exit #4,5,6,7, exiting Pole Town using the up escalator and go into the Tanukikoji Arcade and walk less than 100 yards until you see the Richmond Hotel Sapporo Odori sign.

For more information and photos, please go to http://travljpn.blogspot.com

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Sapporo Chitosetsuru Sake Brewery

2010-11-23T17:57:00.000-08:00

Sapporo Chitosetsuru Sake Brewery
From the time you get there you are met with the large round Sapporo Chitosetsuru Sake Brewery cedar ball at the entrance, and you know that the adventure begins.

Once inside the museum you will be greeted by a fountain of pure water from the Sapporo area. This pure, clean water is the key ingredient of wonderful Japanese sake. Take a sip of the water from the fountain, and you will know that excellent sake is made there.

Take some time to look at the old implements that were used to produce the sake. You will notice many wooden barrels that were used by the sake makers of old.

The free sake tasting features 5 of the brewery’s sake, although many more types are made.

Start with the “junmai” grade, dry, about +4 on the Nihon Shudo scale and made from 100% sakamai, or special sake rice which is 40% ground away. Then try the second “junmai”grade with a sweeter fruitier bouquet. The Nihon Shudo scale is about +3. Then try the “Honjyozo” grade, made from sake rice and a shot of brewers alcohol at the end of the process to spike the flavor. Next try the “ginjo” grade, with a slightly fruity and nice bouquet. Finally try the “daiginjo” grade, the top sake of the brewery-smooth, sweet, and very good bouquet. All of the sake I tasted were excellent, and I ended up purchasing 4 bottles.

Location: Nippon Seishu Company, about 5 minutes from the Bus Center Mae Tozai Line subway station,Minami San-jo, Higashi go-chome, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo. The museum is open 10:00AM-6:00PM. Only closed at year end and New Years.

For more information on Japan please go to http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.

Sapporo Crab Restaurant Kaniya

2010-11-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Sapporo Crab Restaurant Kaniya

Looking for a great crab restaurant in Sapporo, Hokkaido? Kaniya, a chain crab restaurant located in Susukino, Sapporo should make you happy. The crab restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere and great service by its staff.

We were ushered upstairs to the 3rd floor where we found tatami mat seating with a open well in the floor so you could rest your feet and not need to fold them. I opted for the “Kiyomizu” course set for 5,250 Yen which consisted of zuwai or queen crab. My wife opted for the king crab course for 4,900 Yen.

Course 1: The appetizers featured pieces of fried katsuo(bonito) or maguro(tuna)in soy sauce and boiled Hokkaido potato eaten with crab miso(innards)as a topping.

Course 2: Consisted of a chawan mushi mixture of crab meat and tofu-delicious!

Course 3: Crab sashimi-the crab was so sweet, it really didn’t need to be dipped in soy sauce provided-outstanding!

Course 4: Boiled crab legs and body meat. The crab legs were sliced for ease in accessing the meat. The crab was dipped into a mild vinegar mixture and complimented the crab taste perfectly-superb!

Course 5: Hot pot “nabe” of crab legs, rice noodles, enoki mushrooms, nappa cabbage, tofu, in a tasty seasoned sauce cooked over fire-delicious!

Course 6: Crab shumai(tempura crab balls)and mild peppers.

Course 7: Crab meat sushi maki rolls-3 pieces with a red miso crab soup.

Course 8: Dessert of Japanese pear, a very large and sweet grape, and a delicious rolled cake.

I ordered a side dish of vinegared sea cucumber(namako)which was crunchy and refreshing for an additional 430 Yen, and a 300 ml. bottle of cold Chitosetsuru junmai sake(the local sake) which was very good and went well with the meal.

Location: Kaniya Sapporo Main Branch: 2-11 Minami 4-jo Nishi, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo. Telephone: 011-222-1117. Open Weekdays: 11:00AM-3:00pm, 5:00pm-10:30pm. Weekends/Holidays: 11:00AM-10:30PM.

For more information on Japan please go to http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.

Tokyo Restaurant Ogo Ono Loa Hawaii

2010-11-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

Tokyo Restaurant Ogo Ono Loa Hawaii

Looking for an inexpensive place to eat authentic Hawaiian food? Looking for Tokyo Nightlife? Try the Tokyo Restaurant Ogo Ono Loa Hawaii in Akasaka. Get on the elevator to the 5th floor of the Isomura Building and you will find a very large can of Spam as you enter for some delicious Hawaiian food and drinks. I met the owner and chef Ryoji Soranaka, Hawaii ex-pat and found him to be easy to talk to. I took relatives who live in Tokyo there and we ordered the lunch special-2 choices for 1,100 Yen-very reasonable for authentic Hawaiian food. The Kalua Pig(roasted, shredded pork)was tender and with just the right amount of seasoning, served on a bed of shredded cabbage with a scoop of rice, and a bowl of Spicy tuna(cubed maguro and tobiko with a special mayonnaise base chili pepper sauce on rice), and a scoop of macaroni and potato salad.

Ryoji won the 2007 Hawaiian Poke Contest, so you know that spicy tuna bowl was good. Too bad they had just run out of their famous Loco moco(fried egg over a hamburger patty over rice, smothered with brown gravy)-we wanted to try it. The neighboring table had the last serving. After all, the Loco moco was invented by Mr. Miyashiro of Café 100 in Hilo, Hawaii. Beverages they serve included Kona Brewing Co. Longboard ale. Ryoji mentioned that they have more on the menu for dinner.

This Tokyo restaurant Ogo Ono Loa Hawaii quickly became a Travel Japan must stop for authentic Hawaiian cooking.

Located on the 5th floor of the red brick Isomura Building, a minute walk from the Akasaka subway station. Left out of the Exit 1 of the subway station just after the Akasaka Biz Tower Building.

Look for the yellow and white sign. From 11:30AM to 2:00PM, M-Fand 6:300PM to 11:30PM, M-Sat.

For more information or more articles on Japan, please go to http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.

Tokyo Restaurant Kisoji

2010-11-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

Tokyo Restaurant Kisoji Shabu Shabu

Looking for a place to unwind after a long day? Looking for Tokyo nightlife? Try the Tokyo Restaurant Kisoji in Okachimachi, near Ueno‘s Ameyokocho. Kisoji is a chain restaurant originally from Osaka. Walk downstairs to the basement and you will find a very lively place for some delicious food and drinks. The set course dinner meal I had was wonderful-from eye-pleasing petite appetizers to unforgetable shabu shabu and such attention to even minute detail. The best shabu shabu restaurant in Tokyo.

Mozuku - cold and refreshing vinegared seaweed with grated yam.

Unagi (fresh water eel) seasoned with soy sauce, then wrapped with kelp.

Kuri (chestnut) blended with tofu.

Sashimi (raw pieces of maguro(tuna) and hamachi(yellow tail)on a bed of ice.

Shabu Shabu - thinly sliced, well marbled beef strips, rice noodles, maple leaf shaped shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, sliced nappa cabbage, mizuna (Japanese mustard greens), kelp, and green onions cooked in a hot broth.

The beef strips are very briefly dipped in water boiling in a cast iron pot along with the other ingredients, then taken out of the pot and dipped in a goma(sesame oil)with grated daikon (Japanese turnips)and chili sauce, or a ponzu sauce with thinly sliced leeks.

16-grain rice is served at the end of the meal-just delicious.

Light and refreshing-green apple ice cream for dessert.

Meal is complimented by a cup of hoji(roasted) tea.

Kisoji is one of Travel Japan’s favorite restaurants in Tokyo. Etsuko gave exceptional service and was a great waitress!

Located at B1F, Ueno Kyodo Bldg,2-7-13 Ueno, Taito-ku. From 11:30AM-3:00PM and 5:00PM-10:00PM weekdays and Saturdays, Sundays & holidays 11:30-9:30PM. A 1 minute walk from Ginza subway Ueno Hinokoji station or a 5 minute walk from the JR Okachimachi station.

For more information on Japan, please go to http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.

Travel Japan Shochu: Distilled Spirits

2010-06-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

Shochu: Japan distilled Spirits

Shochu, or Japan distilled spirits, can be described as “Japanese Vodka” because it is commonly made from barley, or “mugi“; sweet potatoes, or “imo“; and rice, or “kome”. More unusual sources of the drink are brown sugar, “sato”, buckwheat, or “soba”. As you travel Japan, try tasting some of these spirits and you will find them quite delicious mixed with a variety of drinks.

Although most famous in the southern Japan- Kyushu and Okinawa, really, shochu can be found almost anywhere in Japan. The Okinawa shochu is made from rice and is called awamori, stored and aged in caves. It can also be found in the Niigata area where rice is grown. One of my favorites is the Kumamoto “shiro” made from rice. I enjoy drinking vodka at home, usually neat or mixed with ice and water, and sometimes with chilled cranberry juice, but in Japan shochu can be mixed and drunk much more ways. A relative of mine in Kumamoto loves his barley based spirit mixed with warm water o-yu

Other combinations include: neat, on the rocks, with ice and water “mizu-wari”, sometimes with ice, water and pickled plum, called ume-shochu, and even with oolong tea or with citrus-quite popular.

The spirit is known in Korea as soju, which is somewhat similar to Japanese ones, but tends to be a bit sweeter in taste(Jinro, Chum Charam). In China it is called baijyu. I recently tasted Moutai, possibly a barley-based spirit that was served to President Nixon on his visit to China, but found it extremely harsh and difficult to drink. The Chinese love the drink, however.

Some believe the drink is good for the health, a preventive of heart disease and diabetes. If the sweetness of sake is difficult to stomach, try a high ball made from shochu-I think you’ll like it.

Japanese Truck Stops

2010-06-03T00:53:00.000-07:00

Japanese Truck Stops: A Curious Phenomenon

Driving along the expressway in Japan and have to use the bathroom- or get the sudden hunger pang? Why don’t you pull over and experience the truck stops scattered throughout Japan. I have, and let me tell you it’s quite an experience.

First, the bathrooms. Large and roomy, with many urinals and stalls-walk in and wonder-where is the familiar western toilet with the seat? Well, there are just a few-the ADA ones. The rest require you to squat over a slot in the floor with a hood on one end. So which is the right way to use it? Face the hood and do your thing. When you’re finished and go to the sink to wash your hands, there is liquid soap, but guess what? No paper towels to wipe your hands. So you walk over to the hand dryers and turn the unit on-the blast of air will almost blow your wig off your head-seriously! You’re lucky if you get a heated one-especially in winter. Bring your own handkerchief to wipe your hands. Forgot your handkerchief-buy some in the 100-Yen store.

Next let’s talk about the vending machines. They look like normal vending machines, but with attitude! How about hot latte coffee or cocoa in a can? Feeling hungry? How about a hot Japanese oden stew in a can? Or how about hot french fries, or hot dogs, or fried rice balls? Your 3G cell phone running out of juice? Try plugging in to a cell phone vending machine. Feeling tired? Try a cold bottled vitamin drink.

Looking for something more substantial to eat, or looking for an omiyage gift or souvenir of your trip? Walk a few steps further, through the automatic glass doors, and lo and behold, you will be in a large souvenir shop/konbini(convenience store). If you are looking for the local seasonal food or gift, you are sure to find it here. You might even be able to get to sample the product before purchase.

Japanese truck stops are a must see on your trip to Japan.

Japan Guide Omiyage

2010-05-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Japan Guide Omiyage

So you're going to travel Japan on a tour soon. Besides the basics, what else should you pack in your suitcase? Did you make a list of Japan souvenir items you wanted to buy there and bring home? How about a few inexpensive items you might want to bring with you to give to the tour conductor and travel coordinator in Japan? The term that I am referring to is "omiyage", the Japanese word for gift given in appreciation.

So what do you bring from home? Something small and inexpensive, but something that represents something made in your hometown. My personal favorites are small packets of Ka'u and Keaau grown Mauna Loa brand macadamia nuts, and small packages of Hawaiian Hula Hands ground coffee grown on the slopes of Mauna Loa in Ka'u, Hawaii. They are a great expression of appreciation at the end of your tour, and of great service in your hotels-Japan Guide Omiyage recommendation.

Try to make a list of what you want to buy while in Japan, and sometimes, when you are traveling in the different areas in Japan and are wondering if you should buy something you saw on the spur of the moment in a souvenir or gift shop-I say from experience, buy it if you like it. Many a time I have hesitated to buy something I've seen, and told myself that I would buy it when back in Tokyo or Kyoto before I left Japan- and found that it was not available. Many of the unusual things you may run across in your travels are regional items not always available in other areas. A Japan Guide Omiyage bit of advice.

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