Toyama Onsen

Kurobe Unazaki Onsen on the Kurobe River in Toyama is a hot springs resort area that is celebrating 100 years this year. Enraku is a lovely ryokan inn with onsen hot spring baths. A stay at Enraku includes a multi-course dinner of seasonal dishes and a traditional and luxurious Japanese breakfast. Highlights of the meal…

Rice Bran Fish

Sanma Pacific saury is marinated in nuka rice bran and salt for four days before grilling. This local lunch spot in #Kurobe,#Toyama is at Hokuyo no Yakata. The café is charming. There is also a shop with local products including kombu kelp, pantry items, and seafood. Hokuyo no Yakata is on the Sea of Japan….

Beef Tongue Breakfast

Rikyū servers gyūtan, beef tongue, with rice, beef tail soup, and tororo grated mountain potato. Agree the tongue is grilled. #Gyūtan is a specialty of #Tohoku and particularly #Sendai in #Miyagi prefecture. Perfect breakfast at #TokyoStation for a long day of travel and exploring. Rikyū is located in the basement inside Tokyo Station in the…

Toraya Shave Ice

Toraya Japanese confectionary wagashi shop’s rich history can be traced back to the 1600s. While it is a traditional sweets shop I love the modern café serving matcha latté and in summertime kakigōri 氷 shave ice. Here is natsu mikan 夏みかん, a tart and sweet summer citrus and renyū 練乳 sweetened condensed milk. There is…

Hand Roll Sushi Party

Sushi party for dear friends in Minnesota. In the past we made maki zushi rolls but I much prefer the Japanese homestyle version of temaki zushi hand rolls. No rolling or slicing so hand rolls are so much easier to make. Simply put some vinegared rice on the nori, add your fillings, and roll up…