Getting Ready For Hokkaido

We were going back to Japan again.  It was sometimes around mid march.  The lucky pick for this time was Hokkaido.  Konichiwa Sapporo !!!

We would spend 7 nights all together in around Hokkaido, including Sapporo, Otaru and Noboribetsu.  Before that, we need to get ourselves equipped with Wi-Fi for convenience purposes.  Booked in advance and picked up the small pocket wi-fi from the airport before the departure.  Very convenient.

Dean & Deluca tuna sandwich and raspberry croissant

Giant pizza from Dean & Deluca at Suvarnabhumi airport

We flew with Hong Kong airline from Bangkok to Sapporo, so we need to to make an overnight transit both going and the way back.  I found that most of the airlines nowadays serve a very general and standard food.  Therefore, nothing much to comment about it.  Nothing so special to specifically talk about.  But those mashed potatoes from the kid meal was actually surprised me.  It was silky smooth, just the right consistency strangely for an airline meal.

We spent a night in this Regal Airport Hotel for convenience as we were leaving very early in the morning to Sapporo.  I felt like living a life for a night as in the Terminal movie.  Once we landed, we didn't step out to the city yet stayed inside the airport, had dinner there and wandered from shop to shop before went to sleep in the airport hotel.

Menu that cannot be missed while in Hong Kong - BBQ pork and roast pork with rice

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hokkaido:
Just Landed In New Chitose Airport and Stay At APA Hotel Susukino-Ekimae

Ramen For Dinner on The Last Day in Nagoya

Previously:
Osu Kannon Temple and Osu Shopping Arcade, Nagoya

Honestly, I am not so into clear broth ramen.  But one of the shop in Nagoya Station basement looked busy most of the time.  So I need to give it a try.  They only serve few menus in the house and I chose the most appetizing and meaty.  It turned out to be the most delicious clear pork broth I have ever eaten.  The broth was very fresh,  flavorsome and just the right amount of saltiness.  The chashu were as always tender and melt-in-your-mouth.  I was definitely made a great choice.

Mietetsu New Grand Hotel, Nagoya

Blue shade window with JAL

A bottle of sake before sleep

Thank you everyone to follow my blog for this Nagoya-Takayama-Shirakawa Go trip.  See you all soon on my next trip.  Octie Appetie....

Mietetsu New Grand Hotel, Nagoya
6-9 Tsubakicho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya
Ph: +81 52 452 5511

Osu Kannon Temple and Osu Shopping Arcade, Nagoya

Previously:
Eel Rice and Cafe Gentiane at Nagoya Station

Osu Kannon Temple, Nagoya

Next to the temple, there is this shopping arcade that sells everything from fashions, souvenirs to snacks and restaurants.

How to get there:
Short walk from Osu Kannon Station on Tsurumai Subway line or
5-10 minutes walk from Kamimaezu Station

Shops open varies, typically 11:00-20:00


Stay tuned for next blog still in Japan:
Ramen for Dinner on The Last Day in Nagoya

Eel rice and Cafe Gentiane at Nagoya Station

Previously:
Private Onsen in Ryokan

This morning we headed back to Nagoya for one night before flew back home.  As usual, our morning we started with delicious onigiri from convenient store inside Takayama train station.  There is a waiting room completed with heated room.  Until the train carriage had arrived, then we went search for our seats.

Onigiri pork patty with fried egg

What to not be missed in Nagoya?  Of course, The eel rice bowl.  They produce one of the best eel dishes here in Nagoya.  They are very fresh and delicious.  It comes in a few different version.  Eel rice don which is rice bowl topped with glazed eel.  And there is the eel set that come with tea and condiments.  Remember the 4 steps of eating it!!!  First you divide your eel rice into 4 portions.  Then scoop it one spoon onto the bowl and taste it that way.  Second, another scoop onto the bowl topped with condiments and enjoy it that way.  Third, scoop out another spoon, this time pour the tea combined with condiments as well.  Fourth, which combination tastes the best then have it that way.  Otherwise, skip all the steps if you knew what you like already.

Initially, we were looking for Maruya Restaurant, but instead we saw this restaurant in the Nagoya station and there were quite lots of queue so it must be good.  The queue moved pretty quick though and in no time we got the seats and our food as well.  They tasted absolutely delicious.

Medium eel set 2,500¥

A nice dessert followed, still at Nagoya station.  The station is pretty huge and so many many restaurants here.  We went for one of the cafe named Cafe Gentiane.  We had this hot matcha green tea drink.  The color looked  a little too pale but taste good.  We also tried a few types of cakes and they were good too.  The cakes and drinks price range around 500-700¥

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Osu Kannon Temple and Osu Shopping Arcade, Nagoya

Private Onsen in Ryokan

Previously:
Bear Meat Ramen and Hidagyu Maruaki, Takayama

In the evening was time for relaxing and rejuvenating our mind and body.  Downstairs there are this shared bath for women and men (in separate room).  I'm personally a little shy when come to this thing.  But luckily there wasn't any body there and I could enjoy my time there alone.  The indoor bath was too hot to handle but the outdoor one was really perfect because the cold weather helped lower the water temperature, which was great for me.  Don't forget to have a shower before and after the bath.  We also booked the private bath for an hour (extra charge).  Two times soaked in the hot bath in a day.  I think my body was super super calm by then.

Women and men hot bath

Shower zone

Indoor onsen

Outdoor onsen

Private onsen (pre-booked only)

shower zone in private onsen

onsen in the private room

When we came back from the bath, they already made a nice futton bed for us.  With a little caring note on the bed.

Just had some more strawberries before went to bed

Oyado Koto No Yume
6 Chome-11 Hanasatomachi, Takayama
Ph: +81 577 32 0427


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Eel Rice and Cafe Gentiane at Nagoya Station