Shizuoka Onsen

Onsen ryokan are an excellent way to relax and rejuvenate while in Japan. My girlfriends were visiting from the US and we booked a night at Kira no Sato on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka. It’s about a two hour ride on the Saphir Odoriko train from Tokyo Station.  The property has a variety of…

Ito Marugen

A fun dinner at Marugen Marutaka izakaya in downtown Ito. The drinking pub is very popular so there was a line in front of the small shop from more than 30 minutes before it opened. One of their signature dishes is uzuwa which is sodagatsuo a meaty fish that is chopped up raw and mixed…

Ito Onsen – Shizuoka

Ito Onsen in Shizuoka is a lovely onsen resort town that can be reached using the cool Super Odoriko train, from Tokyo Station. Ito Onsen is on the Izu Hanto (peninsula), famous for onsen (hot springs) and seafood. The train has extra large windows, which overlooks Tokyo Bay in Shizuoka (left side of the train…

Atami Mugitoro Doji 麦とろ童子

Atami is a seaside resort south of Tokyo. If you have access to a car, then put Mugitoro Douji on your radar. I believe you could also come by bus, but best to look into the details. Mugitoro is a dish made from rice cooked with barley (mugi) that is topped with grated yamaimo (mountain potato),…