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Sake Brewery Tours Video

икони цени Exclusive Japan Travel – 2012 Sake Brewery Tours Flip through the photo book of Sake Brewery Tours destinations. In 2012, the 5-day excursions take you to experience the best of the snow country in Akita, and to really immerse yourself in sake and culinary traditions in the Land of Myth, the San-in region. [...]

Secrets to tasty soba – Kakunodate Soba

“Do you have some time?” He invited me to the back of the restaurant to see his workshop where his seeds are prepared before milling.

We’re going to Joy of Sake in Honolulu!

Anybody else going to be in Honolulu next week?

Finding a place in Kyoto

I usually point out that we do not have a street and number system in Tokyo. Three sets of numbers at the end of a Tokyo address zeroes in from a big area, then to a specific block, and finally ends at a specific unit on that block. Then, just to make things interesting, I add that there’s no set direction for how the numbering goes up and down. It’s confusing, but at least that’s how I am so used to associating numbers and places.

Become a fugu chef in Tokyo?

“The test is coming up soon and chefs are getting ready,” one wholesaler confirmed.

Hmm… So, you can practice to take a test to be a licensed fugu chef? Well, actually regulations do not make it so easy for just anyone to treat the deadly puffer fish

Please join the Sake World Sake Brewery Tour to San-in!

The destinations are totally off the beaten track, but I am sure you will find the slow pace of life there, the welcoming people, and the green scenery dotted with red gorgeous roof tiles very heartwarming. On our tour, you will experience the San-in region through sake, by going right to the best sources and by really getting an understanding of the brew from the world’s best expert!

San’in Trip: Day Five-Yubaaba in Yunotsu

A tale from Yunotsu … Somehow, one of the ladies started to tell me stories from her childhood–how she thinks of her father who died from over-working and how she wanted to give back to her mom great things her mom had given her, but her mom passed away a long time ago. I still have a vivid picture of this lady with totally gray hair bundled up soaking in the tub, sitting in front the frog as hot water dripped down with a soothing sound. When she broke into tears, I felt empathy, but at the same time my mind drifted off to a kind of ‘Spirited Away’ feeling as if I was being put under a spell by Yubaaba!

Sake of the week #034: Shosetsu Daiginjo

Last weekend was the big Shizuoka Sake Tasting Events at the JALT2009 conference at Granship in Shizuoka where over 1,700 language specialists and academics from all over Japan met for a long weekend. Some participants even traveled internationally to join in. To wind down a bit at the end of the long days at the conference, I was asked to organize Shizuoka sake events for participants two evenings at the conference.

San’in Trip: Day Five-Historical Silver Town-Iwami Ginzan

Downtown was surprisingly quiet with more historical sites, a few shops, and a captured glimpse into people’s daily back in the good old days.

San’in Trip: Day Four-Izumo-Land of Myth and Faith

Then, we were off to the Izumo Grand Shrine which is believed to be the oldest shrine in Japan. And, it is rich with myths and legends. In October, all gods from throughout Japan gather at this central location. What do they do? They hold conferences and discuss various topics such as liquor production, marriage ties, and the yield of grain during the previous year. Where do they stay? There are special guest houses on the premises to host gods while they visit the shrine! Even today people believe in the uber-power of the kamisama here and pay a special visit.