I am enjoying my stay in Tochigi. This trip is mainly to visit family and not to sightsee so no temples or shrines or castles this trip.
On Monday we went to Flying Garden restaurant. One of my favorite restaurants to visit. I had the chicken and hamburg and two plates of rice. I was stuffed.
Yesterday we woke up to several inches of snow on the ground here in Otawara. I helped my father in law shovel the snow off the driveway.
Today we went to Bell Mall in Utsunomiya and had a nice italian lunch and later Starbucks. We also played the claw games at the arcade and won a lot of Tomica cars.
There are so many people wearing surgical masks. Think about if people did that in the United States. It would be a lot easier to rob a bank or convenience store.
Daibutsu, Kamakura
Daibutsu in Kamakura, June 2010. There were thousands of school kids visiting that day. It was still great fun.
Glad to hear you are having a good time.
ReplyDeleteFriday was the most snow I have ever seen on the ground in Nasushiobara.
Ume blossom is out in Mito. Might be findable in the area here too. Going to have a look around tomorrow.
I was surprised at the amount of snow that fell just overnight as well.
ReplyDeleteI hear there is some new outlet shopping center up in the Nasu area. Have you heard of it?
Yeah, I had to drive to the Shinkansen at 5:30 AM on Friday. The roads were covered in snow. I was pleased for 4 wheel drive and snow tyres.
ReplyDeleteNasu Garden outlet. Been open for less than 6 months I guess. Its not as good as Sano, but its much closer to where you are. I think its run by the same people who run Sano (and the Las Vegas outlet). I am so embarrassed by my pics that I'm afraid to blog it. But I'll throw something up on my blog tonight with map link.
Sorry to spam your blog Jon. I posted briefly about the Nasu Outlet Mall. There is a linked map location in the article.
ReplyDeleteThe drive up 53 beyond the outlet is beautiful. You can turn right at highway 30 and continue to Nasu if you choose to.
Thank you. I will check out your post. We may try a get to the mall before I leave.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting that you're here! Good to hear that you're enjoying yourself. We haven't had any snow around my way, but it did suddenly get a lot colder.
ReplyDeleteOkay, hold up!
ReplyDeleteDid I just read that you are in Japan. -where they make 'Japanese Food'- but your eating hamburgers and Italian?!?
Hilarious!!!
lol
I get good homecooked Japanese food almost everyday back in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteOk. I have also had some awesome ramen, curry, nabe, udon, and soba to name a few J dishes during this trip.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy eating different foods in Japan. Even if you eat something other than McDonalds, there is a Japanese spin on it. My wife and I ate at a Munich style restaurant in Matsuyama. It wasn't very Bavarian. The Japanese enjoy different foods just like the rest of us. The only thing I have not found yet is really good Italian food in Japan (or elsewhere). My grandparents are all from Italy and my mom made the best homemade Italian food on the planet. I am just saying that because I have been taken to this Italian restaurant and that Italian restaurant and I have not had one meal that can hold a candle to what my mother made. I miss you mom!
ReplyDeleteIts the same with Mexican food. You cannot find rally good authentic Mexican food in Japan like we have back in California.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had some great sushi in Utsunomiya.
Heaps of people don't want to take hayfever medication, so they wear masks to reduce pollen.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't work though.
That or they have a cold and don't want to share it, or don't want to catch someone else's. (the truly paranoid)
Hope all goes well.
Thank you. Its going great. I used to think they wore them only if they were sick. But some of my in~laws are wearing them for hayfever reasons also.
ReplyDeleteejoy yourself for both of us!
ReplyDeleteI get pretty bad hayfever, I can assure you that the masks do not work.
ReplyDeleteThey reduce the effects when you are outside, but when you get back inside and shake your clothes all of the pollen comes off them and goes up your snout!
I prefer taking medication, it relieves my symptoms and gives me a nice little buzz. By prescription only.... And it tastes really bad.
Hmm, Italian food in Japan... No thanks!!! My friends had to drag me to a Starbucks...that's the closest to non-Japanese food I would allow myself to have!
ReplyDelete-mmmmmm nabe... udon....sushi.. Though my favorite is Shyabu Shyabu, and good ole' Osaka Style Okonomiyaki! Were I to live in Japan, I'm sure I would try something different. But for me, the food is one of the best parts.
-On another note. It is flu season... While it's totally wierd in the U.S. I can understand why people would wear a mask.
Have a safe remainder of your trip.
Thank you. The sushi I had was awesome. I also love shabu Shabu.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had known about this earlier. I was hoping you'd visit a steak house down there. There's on called the Cowherd.
ReplyDeleteCowherd? Is it in Utsunomiya?
ReplyDeleteTheres a Flying Garden on my bike ride to school. Its pretty good food. I thinks its unfortunate that they say "hambagu". It doesnt make it sound very appetizing. That could be an insect's name! hehe
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like the food. I like the music they play there as well.
ReplyDeleteI actually love Italian food in Japan. Don't you think they have really good Italian food?! I would say it is Italian but Japanese style! Japanese food isn't only food that you hear and read on the books ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, Flying Garden... I would say Japanese food in same way. You can never find something that simple but that good in US. Don't you think?! I am so glad you appreciate all deferent kinds of food nowadays. I remember once you only ate McDonalds. I am sure you know now that you missed out a LOT :)
Well, glad you had a great trip!
Thank you mama. I wish there was Flying Garden here also.
ReplyDelete