obama-maizuru-osaka

There weren't too many sights in Obama city, mostly temples and some historical areas. I think if we had rented a car, we could have seen more scenic spots.

Anyway, I wanted to show you some chopsticks, I didn't realize that there were different types of chopsticks for different foods.

My chopsticks when I ate soba were thin at the ends and slightly squared, this is to prevent the noodles from slipping out of your grasp.

Satoshi's chopsticks when he ate his kaisen donburi were thicker and slightly rounded, perfect to "scoop" or "balance" rice and the toppings.

On the other hand, one thing that you will see especially in the Sancho-machi area of Obama, is that many homes and shops look like some that you see in Kyoto. Many homes and shops have been preserved to have that "traditional Japanese" look.

We happened to walk past one of these preserved shops called Kokoro (heart) and couldn't resist the delicious aroma of their freshly baked bread.

The inside of the bakery is decorated with all sorts of wooden Japanese candy molds and the bread is baked in an ishigama (stone oven).

They had all sorts of breads as well as tarts. We each bought a snack for the train. I picked up the milk bread 100 yen (about US$1) and Satoshi chose the yomogi (mugwort) anpan (baked bun with sweet bean paste)...180 yen (about US$1.80).

My milk bread was really soft and delicious, kind of like brioche. Satoshi enjoyed his anpan, the yomogi was really fragrant.

We also went back to the Fisherman's Wharf to pick up a yakisabazushi (grilled mackerel sushi) to share for our lunch on the train....1050 yen (about US$10.50).

The grilled mackerel sushi was delicious, very smokey. It is layered with pickled ginger and shiso (perilla leaf). They actually give you some shoyu, but it isn't necessary to use as there is lots of flavor.

On the train, we also tried this musubi with Hokuriku minced pork flavored with miso (soy bean paste), shoyu & sugar, which we picked up at a convenience store....115 yen (about US$1.15)....delicious, sweet and salty.

Also from the Fisherman's Wharf we bought some Fukui ume (pickled plum) 525 yen (about US$5.25). (Wakayama prefecture is the number one producer of ume in Japan, Fukui prefecture is number two.)

And some iwanori (a soft laver that is found on the rocks and is seasoned)...420 yen (about US$4.20). We tried both the ume and iwanori for breakfast on Tuesday, yum!

From Obama, we stopped at Higashi Maizuru (East Maizuru) which is in Kyoto Prefecture.

About a 15 minute walk away from the station, there is an area of red brick warehouses which was used by the Japanese military during the Russo-Japan war (1905?), which Satoshi wanted to check out.

Most of the warehouses are still standing and are now used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, the Japanese do not consider this their "military" but in my opinion, this is their version of the Coast Guard.

Along the way, we saw a shrine with daruma, this is actually the area where shopkeepers in the shopping arcade come to ask for properity and good business.

We also spotted a nice Red Mini.

It was a quick trip, despite the bad weather on the first day, we had LOTS to eat and enjoyed seeing two Hokuriku cities.

I hope you had as much fun as we did.

Kokoro
39-2 Obama-otokoyama (in front of Yahata Jinja)
Obama, Fukui
Phone: 0770.53.0575

Shinsengekijo Toretorezushi
(Wakasa Hiroshima-ya's Yakisabazushi)
inside of Fisherman's Wharf
1-3-2 Kawasaki
Obama, Fukui
Phone: 0770.53.3977