atami

From Shimoda, it took close to 2 hours to get to Atami

Loved the stained glass roof outside of the JR Atami station.

It was late for lunch (for us), so we looked for a place to have something light.

There were many places for sweets that many people were standing in line for, but we decided to try San, a coffee place that didn't allow smoking.

Quite fancy!

The women's restroom was unique, there was an aquarium right in front of the toilet...luckily there were no fish to watch you...ahem

We both ordered coffee...600 yen (tax included) each

I ordered tuna and Satoshi ordered egg sandwiches...930 yen (tax included) each

It was nice to sit in the quiet, the sandwiches were delicious and so was the coffee.

My sandwich had cucumbers, Satoshi’s had lettuce

The shopping arcade in front of the JR Atami station was quite touristy, so we headed to the hotel.

Luckily, the hotel provided free transportation 

View of the Ocean Wing, Hotel New Akao

We were booked for the Horizon Wing.

The property was huge!

Since our dinner time assignment was at 19:00, we decided to explore the property and take a bath in their hot springs (they have 3 of them).

There was a  tunnel like walkway between the wings.

Many places to explore on the property, beautiful views and spaces

Lots of beautiful chandeliers

Steps everywhere!

 

At 19:00, we went down to the main dining room and were blown away at the size of the room!

It was like a big opera hall, apparently it can seat 496!

We had 90 minutes to eat....

At the sushi area...

Hot area and dessert area

There were other items that we tried too, it was an interesting and delicious dining experience.

We really enjoyed this property.

I've never been on a cruise, but imagine it is similar to staying at this property.

San

4-19 Tawarahoncho

Atami, Shizuoka

Open daily 8:00-18:00

*cash only

Hotel New Akao

1993-250 Atami

Atami, Shizuoka

cape tsumeki

Breakfast the next morning was huge!

With himono (dried fish)

Rice, salad, fruits
 

And all these condiments that go with rice...my favorite was the one in the bottom right corner, it was okaka (bonito) with ginger and something crunchy...should've asked where to buy it from!

We then caught the bus to Cape Tsumeki to experience the suisen (narcissus) festival.

Unfortunately they just started blooming so they were sparse.

At least the aloe was blooming

The most narcissus we would see

Cute kinmedai trash can!

The hillsides are supposed to white with the narcissus.

The festival goes until January 31st, so hopefully everyone will have more to see!

Since it was opening day of the festival, they were giving away pieces of kinmedai sushi, to the first people there (Satoshi stood in line), I was still full from breakfast, so I just watched him eat...

We checked out the area near the lighthouse

hello

Even if we didn't get to see any narcissus, it was nice to explore this area of Shimoda.

On our way to Atami, we tried the Shimoda salt chocolate that the hotel had given us as a goodnight snack.

shimoda

From Tokyo it takes about 3 hours to Shimoda, a tiny town in Shizuoka.

As soon as we arrived we headed to find Uodonya, a conveyor belt sushi shop.

It turned out it was right across from where the fish come off the boats.

We both ordered the local fish set…2200 yen (tax included) each

Bummer that the photo I took of what each sushi topping was got lost, so no explanation (insert frown)

My favorite was the kinmedai oshizushi, 2nd row, far right. The rice had aonori and shiso in it and was topped with kinmedai that had a kabayaki type of sauce

After lunch we explored Shimoda.

This was apparently the area where Commodore Perry landed in 1854 and where the U.S. met with Japan to end the isolation of Japan and open it up to trading and foreigners.

There is a short road named Perry Road and it reminded me of Kyoto.

Loved this huge bouganvillea tree in front of a cafe.

Satoshi went into the Shimoda Kaikoku Museum.

While he did that, I got a free aloe plant and waited outside and people watched.

Apparently the fishermen of this area brought back aloe from Southern tropical areas.

The plants really grew well in the Shirahama area of Shimoda, so you'll see them there as well as around Shimoda.

(Shimoda people: I was surprised to see these elementary students with these helmets as they walked home from school)

There was a trick art thingy inside of the gift shop of the museum, so I had Satoshi pose.

Geishin no matsu (about 200 plus years) near the Shimoda Hachiman Shrine

 

Teeny origami that was made into a tree! at Hofukuji

This temple is apparently where Okichi the most popular geisha in 1854 was engaged to a carpenter, Tsurumatsu.

She was ordered by local officials to work for Townsend Harris, the first US consul in order to get a better negotiation deal with the US.

After giving up her fiance to do this job, she was "tainted" by a foreigner, and Harris returned to the US after being reassigned.

Her life had many misfortunes afterwards and she eventually drowned herself in 1890.

An actress, Yaeko Mizutani who played Okichi in a movie had Okichi buried next to her fiance, Tsurumatsu, so they could be reunited.

Apparently this temple is also where Sakamoto Ryoma asked Katsu Kashu for forgiveness after he (Sakamoto) left the Tosa domain without permission.

Black soft cream...flavored with chocolate and bamboo charcoal

Black ship, kurofune, is the color of the ship that Perry entered Japan on, so many things/foods are black.

This was a bit gritty from the charcoal, but I enjoyed the chocolate flavor...500 yen (tax included)

Gyokusenji is the place where the first US consulate was.

while Satoshi went to check out the Harris Memorial, I headed back to the hotel

The sunset was pretty

And I got to see the Ryoma Sakamoto statue at the Madogahama Park

Dinner was kaiseki style...the most impressive part was the abalone that was cooked with butter (should've taken a picture before the cooking)

And I was impressed by this huge kiriko (Japan glass) my vitamin container for size reference

Shimoda Bay Kuroshio

4-1 Kakisaki

Shimoda, Shizuoka

Kaitenzushi Uodonya

1-1 Sotogaoka

Shimoda, Shizuoka

Open daily 11:00-15:00 (lunch), 17:30-20:30 (dinner)

*cash only

Shopping Kiss'a

inside JR Shimoda station

hours: 8:00-17:00

*cash only

canned oden

Remember we bought these canned oden to try?

Well, we tried them...

The smaller can, had no soup in it and was kind of bland

There was a piece of konbu, chicken, konnyaku, quail egg and some kamaboko
 

The larger can, had soup and big "stuff" inside

I thought this one was more flavorful, plus it had more "stuff" in it.

We're happy we got to try these but agree that "fresh" oden is better.

shimizu-fujinomiya-tokyo

After the krazy experience at the Kuretake Inn, we figured we should get down to breakfast early and there was already a line!

I felt pressured with the amount of people in line behind me, that I didn't take very much food.

I was stoked though that I could see Mount Fuji from my seat in the dining area of the hotel.

And I was relieved to see Mount Fuji from the very end of the platform of the JR Shimizu station...

We caught the train from Shimizu to Fujinomiya.

TIP: If you get a chance to ride the JR Tokaido Line from Shimizu toward Fujinomiya, ride in the very first car and stand by the driver, you'll see the best views of Mount Fuji....we'll have to try this the next time, since we didn't know of it at the time

At JR Fuji, we changed trains to the JR Minobe line and made our way to JR Fujinomiya

You'll be able to see Mount Fuji along the route and from the platform of the Fujinomiya station.

Satoshi wanted to check out the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha

We shared a plate of Fujinomiya Yakisoba at the nearby Omiya Yokocho..delicious!

Apparently there are different types of noodles that are used for Fujinomiya yakisoba  (kanoya, sogamen, marumo, sanomen), not sure which type was used for the yakisoba we ate but I enjoyed this because it is on the dry side, not drenched in sauce like some yakisoba can be.

They let you have a cup of spring water from the melted snow off of Mount Fuji...make sure your hand does not touch the water!

All the shops at this spot use this water for their coffee as well as for cooking

So cold and delicious!

And then we went to the Mount Fuji World Heritage Center

The building is made from the cedar trees from Mount Fuji and is made to look like an upside down Mount Fuji (sakasa Fuji)

Here you can learn about Mount Fuji and also see an unobstructed view of Mount Fuji

Definitely worth the 300 yen (per adult), more if you visit the other exhibits

We bought some Morominasu, from Masuya Saketen

Moromi (the mash from shoyu) is simmered with nasu (eggplant) ...delicious with rice.

And sweets from Fujitaro

Chocolate manju filled with chestnut, dorayaki & karinto manju

And then we caught a taxi to the Forest Hills, where Satoshi's potential tour group would have lunch.

The view was spectacular! from the dining area

I ordered the shirasu (whitebait) with cabbage pepperoncino

This also came with a small salad and dessert

I chose the cheesecake and it also came with a complimentary piece of cake!

Everything was delicious, but the view was the star of the meal!

After lunch we walked back to the station to catch a bus to the JR Fuji station.

I bought a package of Tanuki musubi mix.

Tanuki musubi is a local favorite in Shizuoka...(tenkasu (tempura bits), negi (green onion) and shoyu)

I had been wanting to recreate this after seeing it on a tv show, I'm glad I found this so we can try it to see how it should taste.

From JR Fuji, we made our way back to Tokyo.

Just like the ride to Shizuoka the non-reserved car was packed! 

Luckily we were able to find seats, even though we had to sit apart.

It was quite a long day, the weather was beautiful, lots of walking and eating.

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

Mount Fuji World Heritage Center

5-12 Miyacho

Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

Closed Third Tuesdays

Admission: 300 yen (adults), more if you visit the other exhibits

Fujinomiya Yakisoba Antenna Shop

4-23 Miyacho

Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

Hours: 10:00-13:00 (Tuesdays), 10:00-16:30 (Wednesdays-Mondays)

Masuya Saketen

7-16 Omiyacho

Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

Closed Wednesdays

Hours: 10:00-17:30

Fujitaro

8-3 Omiyacho

Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

Closed Wednesdays

Hours: 9:00-18:00

Forest Hills

205-1 Kuroda

Fujinomiya, Shizuoka