Recital

Joe and I have been working on new music recently.  One of my students (an adult Okinawan) had asked us to give a recital here.  We were able to make time for this, and on Sunday, April 22 we will be giving a Charity Recital (benefit recital) for the victims of the March 2011 tsunami & earthquake in mainland Japan.

I'm not entirely sure where it is still (Itoman, I believe).  Here's our announcement:

Noboribetsu - Part 2

I really meant to keep Noboribetsu to one post, but as I was selecting photos of the food, I realized it really should be split into dinner and breakfast!

So we awoke the next morning (the last day of our trip) and headed to the public onsen on the 1st floor.  This was delightful, because the onsen was in the middle of a beautiful snowy garden.  (I preferred the public onsen on the 5th floor, which was an "infinity pool" style, looking at the mountainside).  The public onsen are divided into men's and women's, since it is tradition to go in the onsen in the buff.  For the men, I guess it is kind of like golf -- social time for businessmen.  Joe actually was in there with another Japanese gentleman who wanted to chew the fat.... unfortunately Joe doesn't know enough Japanese!!!

After our public onsen moment, we headed back to the room for breakfast.  Usually, I dislike Japanese breakfasts on the run, because they don't always do granola, oatmeal, eggs, etc.  They eat rice and salad and sushi for breakfast.  Not exactly my style.  However, if you are being served a full (or perhaps traditional) Japanese breakfast, that is another story!

There were so many little dishes to try!

Green tea & salmon

Here we have salad, Hokkaido youghurt, sesame spinach, gohan (rice), some sort of porridge, tamago (egg), tuna roe (not my favorite) and pickled vegetables.

In the center, we had a hot water bath with tofu cooking.  The mini teapot was a warm sauce to pour over the tofu.

We ended breakfast with coffee and our magnificent view.

Now it was really time to pack up and make our trip back to the airport (well, with one more trip in our private onsen!)  I was terribly sad to go.  This was a luxurious and decadent spot to spend the night!

Noboribetsu - Part 1

Now we were off to Noboribetsu.  This is a little town south of Sapporo, about 60 minutes by train.  See Map.

Joe had selected Noboribetsu because it is a famous hot spring resort area.  We were about to stay at our first onsen  ryokan, called Takinoya.  This was the most amazing 24 hours.  I can see why the Japanese like to vacation this way!!!

Takinoya entrance

Our room, Tamadare

Our room was a traditional Japanese style hotel room.  It had multiple rooms within it.  And, no beds!

There was a dress code at Takinoya - no street clothes.  All guests were to wear these yukata (robes).  We eventually figured out that the short robe was kind of like your "public" jacket, if you wanted to leave your room.

We were served a snack (and then dinner and breakfast) in our own private dining room (in our room).

Not only did our room, have a dining area, but our own private onsen (hot spring).  This was amazing!!!! I thought sitting in a hot tub outside in the winter was great.  This beat that hands down.  It is crazy to think that the mineral water is naturally heated!!!

 Joe was so loving and scheduled us a relaxing message treatment when we arrived.  I was now fully relaxed. We headed down to the common area of the hotel, which had coffee, tea, beautiful views and a lovely fireplace.

But soon, it would be time for dinner.  We were treated to a modern style Kaiseki dinner.  I have never eaten so well in my life.

First course - vegetables, plum wine, tofu and a little sashimi

They had an extensive sake list, but since we couldn't read it, we decided to go with what we knew was good!

They brought us more sashimi (tuna, sweet shrimp and uni) along with a clam miso soup.  Delightful!!

Braised beef (this one was a surprise, as it was very western, but oooo so good!)

Fugu sashimi (the fish that can cause death if prepared improperly)

Will I make it?!?!?  

Fried fish (with a pickled ramp, I think?)

This dish was crazy!  We each got a little "fireplace"  On top is that wire basket lined with paper -- inside was a soup with dumplings and fish.  As it warmed, it cooked the fish.  (And nothing caught on fire!)  See soup in photo below.

Best crab in all of Hokkaido.

Tempura (fish and pumpkin)

Pickled mackerel (kind of like a Polish pickled herring!)

Our dining room was attached to our room, so there was a little door that would let our "waitress" in to serve us dinner.  She was very sweet and took this photo of us when we started dessert.  I should also mention that it started to snow just as we were served dessert.

Dessert was a ice cream and custard cup with strawberries and a sort of floral merangue on top.  WOW

Needless to say, this was an amazing dinner.  We then climbed into our private onsen for a little hot bath before heading to bed.

Sapporo - Part 2

Our second full day in Hokkaido was busy.  We awoke early again and started our trek in the snow.  Our ultimate goal was to get to the Okurayama Ski Jump, which was used in the 1972 Winter Olympics.  On the way, we stopped at Hokkaido Shrine, a Shinto shrine.  We have seen Shinto shrines in summer, spring and fall.  We thought some winter photos might be beautiful.

Entrance to the shrine.  (I love my winter clothes!!)

Hokkaido Shrine

Before entering the main building of the shrine, you are supposed to wash your hands and mouth.  I was curious to see if they would still be able to in the cold!

Then it was onward and upward to Okurayama.

Okurayama Ski Jump

Neither Joe or I had been to an official Olympic site before.  It was very cool.  It also made me realize that ski jumpers are a bit crazy!!!  We were able to take the ski lift to the top of the hill.

On the way up, we got a great view of where the ski jumpers literally fly off the mountainside.  Here it is, right above the Olympic rings.  From here, they are flying in the air until they reach the lower part of the hill.  Yipes!!!!

The view from the top of the hill was magnificent!

Even though it was cold outside, it wasn't so cold that we couldn't have a little Hokkaido ice cream.  This was the best soft-serve I've ever eaten.  It was vanilla and yubari melon (kind of like a cantaloupe).

They also had a winter Olympics museum at Okurayam.  It was very good, but really only in Japanese.  Mixed with the memorabilia were simulators of the different sports.  Here's Joe trying virtual ski jump.

Now it's time to head away from Sapporo to Noboribetsu.  That will have to have it's own post!

Sapporo - Part 1

Guess what?!?  Our downstairs neighbor let us borrow her memory card reader, so we are able to upload a few more recent photos.  So let's start with the vacation to end all Japan vacations --- our February trip to Sapporo!

We had originally planned to visit Sapporo during their ice festival.  During this time, they create large ice sculptures in a park in downtown Sapporo.  Well, the timing didn't quite work out for us then.  So we went during the President's Day 96.  This was a fantastic vacation!

Sapporo is in the northern-most island of Japan (Hokkaido).   We were pleasantly greeted my tons of snow when we arrived and took the train into downtown Sapporo.

Our first task upon arrival at the Sapporo Grand Hotel was to find crab for dinner. Hokkaido is known for it's shellfish - especially crab and uni (sea urchin).  The concierge suggested a local restaurant to us where we could try king crab and hairy crab.

Hairy crab -- delicious!!!  (and definitely hairy!)

 The restaurant was delightful.  We had 2 different kinds of crab, wonderful sashimi, fried fish and ice cream for dessert.  We quickly learned the Hokkaido was also known for their dairy products.  When we were ready to leave, we got up from the floor (and from behind our little privacy wall) and received some VERY surprised looks from the locals at the table next to us.  I don't think they realized there were some crazy Caucasians sitting next to them.  They recovered quickly and were all smiles and the "I Love You" sign with their hands.  Strange, but flattering nonetheless!

We were also looking forward to drinking the local beer, Sapporo Classic.  I can't say enough good things about this draft.  It's my favorite in Japan!  Don't get too excited though, it's only sold in Hokkaido!

On our first full day in Sapporo, we woke up early to get breakfast at Nijo Fish Market.  Unlike the markets in Tokyo or Okinawa, Sapporo is famous for shellfish and salmon. 

Nijo Market's fresh crab for sale.  

Here's Joe, excitedly waiting for his don (bowl) of breakfast.

My breakfast of champions: (from top to bottom) salmon, salmon roe and uni (urchin).  WOW it was good.  I don't usually like roe or uni, but the icy cold waters of Hokkaido make it delightful. 

The restaurant we ate our breakfast at had this sign.  We did not loose, we ate the Sea Urchin!

After breakfast in the cold, we needed to warm up.  Fortunately the city planners in Sapporo constructed some underground walkways that were not only warm, but very clean!

After walking around awhile, it was time for lunch.  Joe had been dreaming about this lunch for a long time, Miso Ramen.

Menu at the little ramen shop.

Miso ramen.  We should have shared!  It was so big and so delicious!

So after walking around the city more, we had our sights set on the Sapporo Brewery.

Sapporo Beer Museum

There was so much snow!  We were so happy!

One of the exhibits at the beer museum.  Joe loved this one especially.

The Japanese love these photo-op signs.  We couldn't resist.  Though, you could tell we were Americans, because the fist photo we took was behind the beer glass.  Oops!

 After the museum, we had a beer tasting.  Sapporo Classic was the clear winner again!  We then headed to the Bier Garten for genghis khan (and more Sapporo Classic).  Genghis khan is a lamb dish, cooked at your table on the pan below.

Genghis Khan cooking surface.

You load it up with lamb and vegetables and let it cook.  It was delicious!

Needless to say, we had a great time!