ashikaga & sano

From Ashikaga Flower Park, we went one station over to Ashikaga.

Satoshi was interested in checking out two places.

Ashikaga Gakko was the most prominent academic institution in the Kanto area back in the day and at its peak over 3000 students gathered at one time to study here.

This flower is called Kurobanarobai (Calycanthus Floridus), I should've gone up closer to see if it had a fragrance, but thought it was cool that the robai had a black version.

After looking online, I don't think the two are of the same family.

Down the street is Bannaji, a temple founded by Ashikaga Yoshikane approximately 800 years ago and was once thought to be a residence of the Ashikaga clan.

I was amazed by this huge ginkgo nut tree

And since we were in the area, we remembered hearing about Sano ramen, so we headed back towards Sano.

And headed to the first shop that we saw...Fujiya

We weren't too sure what Sano ramen's characteristics were...afterwards, we checked online and apparently the noodles need to be pressed with a green bamboo, the soup is usually shoyu based and very "light" not heavy, toppings include char siu, leeks and menma (bamboo shoots)

I ordered their Salt lemon ramen...1030 yen (tax included)

Because it was kinda blazing, Kat originally wanted their hiyashi (cold) version, but it was sold out, so had to go with their hot version.

The soup was chicken based and the lemon actually did not do much for the overall ramen, though it did make the ramen flavor a little brighter

I didn't like the "scrunched" type of noodles, I felt it was hard to eat and made me "splash" my surroundings while trying to get the noodles out of the soup.

Satoshi ordered their Yuzu Ramen with gyoza...1400 yen (tax included)

Satoshi also was not impressed with the yuzu in the soup but said he enjoyed the gyoza.

While we were there, they ran out soup, so they closed up shop before 14:00

Sanomaru is their local character, you'll see him on all their food products as well as advertising for all things in Sano.

Sano Yakuyoke Taishi, is part of the big 3 taishi temples in the Kanto area.

The other 2 are, Kawagoe Taishi (also called Kitain) in Saitama and Aoyagi Daishi in Gunma

And as we walked back to the station, we stopped at their tourist center, where I picked up some radishes, miso manju by Araiya, hoshiimo (dried sweet potato), strawberry jam and cup sake 

Bummer the miso manju did not have a distinct miso flavor.

Look forward to trying the other items soon.

One item that Sano is known for is their worcestershire-like sauces, they use it on yakisoba and also on their B-kyu gurume item, Imofry...150 yen (tax included) which we tried at Hashimoto

potatoes are coated with a batter and deep fried then dipped into a thick worcestershire like sauce.

This particular shop uses Madorosu brand sauce.

We enjoyed this food item and the sauce reminded us of sauces used for tonkatsu or even okonomiyaki.

Across the street from Hashimoto is this house with a huge wisteria tree!

We also shared this strawberry fruit sandwich from Pinoya...390 yen (tax included)

The weather was blazing, and we were lucky to be able to see, do and eat all that we did.

We hope you enjoyed our adventure as much as we did.

Fujiya

179 Wakamatsucho

Sano, Tochigi

Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Hours: 11:00-18:00

*closes early if they run out of soup

*cash only

Hashimoto

2509 Kanaikamicho

Sano, Tochigi

Open only on weekends

Hours: 10:00-17:00

*cash only

Pinoya

54 Wakamatsucho

Sano, Tochigi

No hours or days off noted

*cash only

ashikaga flower park

Sunday, we got up with the sun (4:30) and headed out to Ashikaga, in Tochigi to visit Ashikaga Flower Park.

During this time of year, the park opens at 7:00, by the time we got there at 8:15-ish, there were already quite a number of people there. 

There are many huge wisteria trees, and if I'm not mistaken they were all 160 years old!

And were replanted here at the park 30 years ago when they were 130 years old!

The branches reach out so far that everyone can walk 

underneath the wisteria that is dangling down

This was something to see!

I overheard some people talking and they said the wisteria were not as "long" as in the past, must be due to global warming, we were still amazed to see this

There was also a white wisteria tunnel, this wasn't in full bloom as the purple variety

Because this is a flower park, there are all sorts of other flowers too

One of my favorite shots

The azalea were also in full bloom

Lots of places to sit too

An area called "ocean of azalea" was amazing to walk through

Satoshi had wisteria soft serve 500 yen (tax included), Kat had their sundae 650 yen (tax included)...to be honest, I don't know what wisteria would taste like, but the items in the sundae tasted more like lavender, especially that popcorn on the top.

Plus, there was almond tofu, wisteria gelee cubes, strawberries & pineapple in there too, the flavors were kinda all over the place...we were just thankful a grandma let us sit with her while we ate our desserts, it was also nice to sit and look at the flowers.

Some of my photos got deleted while uploading to my hard drive...boo!

Like this one that I had put into my IG reel...

Bucket list item checked...we were super happy the weather was cooperative and that we were able to see this.

Admission was 2300 yen (tax included) per person

Ashikaga Flower Park

607 Hasamacho

Ashikaga, Tochigi

*hours during this time of year 7:00-21:00

*there are other flowers during the year, check to see when they are open, admission rates and their hours

tamagawaya saketen

Tamagawaya Saketen opened sometime last September and always has a line on the weekend whenever we pass by, especially after being on Matsuko’s show

Apparently they used to be in Hamamatsucho, and were about to move to Tamachi, but ran into a few problems so they had to find a new location...we are now lucky to have them nearby.

Their kim chee fried rice...1200 yen (tax included)

HUGE portion...super flavorful, and the chopped char siu on top was so meaty and tasty, though the part I tried didn’t have much kim chee taste, but was spicy.

Sara Taiwan...literally “plate taiwan”...fried noodles topped with bean sprouts, chives, minced pork and lots of chili.

I added char siu...1200 yen (tax included)

Mouth.on.fire...there is a shoyu based sauce on the bottom.

Apparently this dish is similar to and approved by Nagoya's Jinsei Gyoza.

(will have to check out Jinsei Gyoza the next time we are in Nagoya) 

(most foods in Nagoya that are spicy are often referred to as “Taiwan”, even if Taiwan doesn’t actually have it in their cuisine, different yeah?!)

The char siu on top was super thick, I wish it was more melt in the mouth tender.

We were super full after this and Satoshi mentioned that it was a good thing he didn't have any beer with this because everything was already super filling!

(Two tables over two guys were eating the regular fried rice, kim chee fried rice and this dish...plus beer(s)!)

Everything was a bit on the salty side (probably for the booze), not something we should be eating too often, but we were happy we got to try them without having to stand in line…we’ll be back

Tamagawaya Saketen

7-34-1 Nishikamata

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Mondays

Hours: 17:30-20:30 (Tuesdays-Saturdays), 12:00-15:30 (Sundays)

*cash or digital payment only

hinode ginza

Between Kamata and Kojiya is a tiny shopping arcade called Hinode Ginza.

If I am not mistaken, a lot of shopping arcades include the word "Ginza" in it as kind of a "good luck" charm in hopes of having the same "liveliness" of Tokyo's Ginza area.

I stopped into Boulangerie Mimolette.

If you remember, they make the bread for the cuban sandwich, that I had earlier this year. 

I tried their apple kouign amann...the caramel on top was a little to sticky for my liking.

The fish sandwich was delicious, with a little egg salad on there too.

Right across the street is Yaoseishoten, a grocer/fruit stand.

I had wanted to check them out because I had heard they make delicious yakiimo (roasted sweet potato)

The owner let me choose the one I wanted to buy, then he weighed it and I paid.

This beauty was 250 yen (tax included)

It was so sweet!

I'm glad I tried both of these places, and will be back whenever I am in the area.

Boulangerie Mimolette

2-8-11 Minamikamata

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays & Mondays

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Yaoseishoten

3-1-24 Minamikamata

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 10:00-19:30

*cash only

this and that

Finally tried Shohei Ohtani’s favorite yogurt, made by Iwaizumi, a maker in Iwate, the prefecture that he is from.

It was a little more tart and a little more expensive than the brand we usually buy.

But I'm glad that they has this smaller size, the size I had orginally found at the stores was huge and a pouch type.

If I see this version in the stores, I’ll get it again

Tokyo People: this grandpa always taking care of his plants 

Lee Lounge is now Tama Coffee 

I had a coffee float, this had way too much ice in it though

Satoshi had the chocolate parfait.

New owners = new rules

Cash only

Wisteria hunting

1st time making stuffed tomato

I cooked the filling before stuffing the tomatoes.

Since our tomatoes weren’t too big, I also baked the filling that didn’t fit in another bowl

Minced chicken breast, onion, rice, carrot, red bell, herbes des provence and cheese

I put the tomato “innards” into the bowl with the extra filling

Would make this again

Bought myself a new frying pan, the one I bought in Hawaii a couple of years back was junk, there is a rivet on the inside of the pan that is not non-stick so everything sticks to it.

This one is a little heavier, but so far it is good, just takes awhile to warm up, so gotta give it more time.

Kawasaki shopping arcade decorated with koi nobori.

It is the start of Golden Week...not sure what we'll do, but Satoshi does have a few days off here and there

Have a safe weekend.

too much

We had an appointment with the post office to sign papers for life insurance

In Japan, the post office does banking as well as sell insurance.

Since a lot of Japanese businesses are still "old skool", they gave us “gifts” for signing up with their insurance plan.

In the past, the insurance guy gave us a handkerchief and small towels

This time I think he went overboard

Any ideas how I can cut the roll of saran wrap in half?! it’s too long, I usually by the smaller size

Thankful but way too much stuff

find a...

This past Saturday, Satoshi had a volunteer guide thingy to do, so I went to Umeyashiki to check out the wisteria.

On the way, I found 5000 yen.

In Japan, whenever you find money on the ground you are supposed to turn it in to the police.

So I went to the nearest police box.

The policeman said, "If it was 1000 yen or less, I could just give it back to you but since it is more, you need to file a report and most likely after 3 months, you'll receive the money since most people don't put in a report for losing the money"

"Though, if someone does claim the money, they are supposed to give you at least 20% of the total as a “thank you”, so 1000 yen"

He also said, "don't lose this form and don't forget to pick it up after 3 months"

It was my first time sitting in a police box, and I hope whoever lost their money will get it back.

Afterwards, I went to check out this wisteria near Umeyashiki that we found during the pandemic.

I try to walk out this way during this time of year to see it and it never disappoints, there were also several people enjoying the fragrance...there were also huge bees!eep!

On the way home, I bought some tempura from Oogoshi...360 yen (tax included)…cheap eats

Was so blazing, but I’m glad I got to see this wisteria again