gurigura cafe

I had lunch at gurigura cafe in Shijo today.

"Guri and Gura" is a very popular children's book about two cute field mice as you can see the decoration in the shop.

The shop owner seems to like squirrels also.

This is GuriGura curry that I ordered. Deep fried okra, eggplant, and lotus root were sprinkled on slightly sweet but spicy beef curry. Chopped roasted nuts had a nice accent to the taste.

Their daily changing lunch sets were already sold out when I got there, unfortunately. (This photo is a lunch set I ordered last summer.)

Happy 2012, Year of the Dragon!!!

I went back to Shimane to celebrate New Year. My mother and I were working together to prepare the New Year's food called "Osechi" for a few days. It is Japanese tradition to eat soba noodle on New Year's Eve.

After having eaten soba noodle, we arranged our New Year's food on plates. This is the plate of vegetables.

And this is the plate of mainly seafood.

On the morning of New Year's day, we toasted with a sake drink called "Otoso" first, and then had a rice cake soup called "Zoni" which is another special New Years' food.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2012!!!

Obanzai Lunch @ Garakuta

"Garakuta" in Ninen Zaka of Gion is Obanzai restaurant (see three umbrellas). "Obanzai" means Kyoto's home style dishes.

Their lunch plate has a great variety of items and the price is only 1,300 yen! After-lunch drink is also included!!

It may be hard to make all of these at home with this price, plus it'd take me forever. Obanzai restaurants are convenient!

Knitting and Cooking

This time in Shimane, I spent lots of time knitting, and cooking.

My tofu gyoza is ready to be cooked. And my favorite part is wrapping!

Izumo Grand Shrine of Shimane

I visited Izumo Grand Shrine in mid November when I was back in my home town Shimane.

The Shrine's main hall behind this building has been under major construction and the completion is scheduled in 2013.

The Kagura-den (sacred stage) of the Shrine is very famous for the largest shimenawa (sacred rice straw rope) in Japan.

Izumo is also famous for Soba (whole buckwheat flour) noodle. There are many soba noodle restaurants near the Shrine. This is called "Wariko Soba" which you can enjoy three types of soba in a small bowl. 1,030 yen.

Cherry Blossom in Sake

I went to Hotel Granvia Hiroshima for an important meeting. After the meeting, we went to the "May Flower Bar" on the 21st floor for drinks. I ordered a draft beer and tori-kara-age (fried chicken).

One of my companions ordered cold sake. We noticed there was something dancing in the sake bottle when the sake was poured in the glass. It was a cherry blossom shaped gold. How beautiful!!!

This sake is produced by one of the most respected breweries in Hiroshima "Kamo Tsuru."

Cocon Karasuma 3F

Miscellaneous goods store "kara-S" on the 3F of Cocon Karasuma has lots of unique items. The photo shows their new product of iron-on emblems with embroidered historical clothes, and there are 100 different costumes.

After I bought a few things at kara-S, I had lunch at "Sushi Ina" on the same floor (3F). Three colored sushi bowl with aka-dashi (red miso soup) = 900 yen.

Iwami Ginzan in Shimane Prefecture

The long and hot summer is almost over. Under the beautiful, transparent blue sky, I went to "Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine" World Heritage.

When I am back in my hometown in Shimane, I often visit Iwami Ginzan which is the right sized sightseeing spot, and I love to walk the old cityscape. It's about 40 minutes by car from my parents' house.

It is one of my pleasure to look around the old houses which are nicely renovated as shops. My destination this time is "Kigami Shrine."

At first, I receive power from a 100 years old, sacred Nagi tree and a 300 years old Aoi Pine tree. Then I move on to the hall of worship.

On the alter ceiling, a Crying Dragon is painted and it is said to cry when you clap your hands in prayer.

Steak Lunch @ Natural Kitchen Kouji

Lunch time. I went to the restaurant floor (B1F) of "COCON Karasuma."

I felt like having steak. I chose Japanese pub style restaurant "Natural Kitchen Kouji" and ordered their steak lunch (980 yen).

I liked their miso soup with lots of ingredients, and mixed grain rice. Steak was very tender and delicious too.

Wedding in Kyoto

When visiting shrines, we often encounter the Shinto style weddings. Apart from that, we also see couples who will marry (or married??) taking photos on the road.

Intense heat of over 35 degree C outside. They must be horribly hot, with heavily clothed kimono and katsura wig!!