"Italia" in Fukui City -A restaurant with nostalgic atmosphere, run by the chef who plays the harp-

I'd like to introduce a restaurant in Fukui City, "Italia". It is located in the basement of Yours Hotel Fukui near Fukui Station (2 minutes walk from the west gate of the station).
The restaurant was opened in 1971, and it was the first restaurant in Fukui City
specialized in serving spaghetti and pilaf. The spaghetti sauce that the chef
makes is amazing and it's purchasable at the restaurant.

The kitchen, tables and the chef everything about this restaurant made me
feel nostalgic.

I ordered a lunch set that comes with hot creamy soup, salad, spaghetti or pilaf
(you can choose either one) with meat sauce, a fried shrimp, sausages and
a cup of espresso. It was a big lunch and very satisfying.

I can say for sure that it was definitely worth more than 1,140 yen.

As I finished eating, the espresso was served, and I enjoyed talking with the chef.
He showed me a beautiful harp and played it for me. I'd never seen a chef playing
the harp before.

He was saying that he might be the only one who cooks and plays the harp in Japan.

If you have a chance to visit Fukui, I'd suggest you go to the restaurant.
I'm sure you have a great time there.
*He doesn't play the harp regularly.


In addition, the chef told me that his son is also a chef. He cooks French food
at his own restaurant called " Le DiamantRose" in Fukui City.
When I have a chance, I would like to eat at his son's restaurant as well.

T.F

Italia
Location: The basement of Yours Hotel Fukui
1-4-8 Chuo, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Open hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: Thursdays


Le DiamantRose
1-2-8 Kamogawara,
Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Lunch: 11:30-15:00
Dinner: 17:30-21:00
Closed: Mondays

A memory of the heavy snow in February, 2018

Fortunately we have little snow this winter in Fukui so far. But February comes soon, which reminds me of the heavy snow a year ago.

The picture above was taken from my car that was stuck in a traffic congestion at 13:18 on the February 6th, when I was on my way home because our company  instructed all employees to go home at 12:00.

After this, I could go home safely in 4 hours though it usually takes 20 minutes. But around the same time, National Route 8, which crosses this road a little ahead, had been in serious trouble.

More than 1,000 vehicles could not move and Fukui Prefecture asked the Self-Defense Forces for help at 14:00, and it took whole two days until the road situation was relieved.

I often drive National Route 8, and it was a mere coincidence that I did not use the route that day.
T.S

A traditional custom in Fukui “Tenjinko”

The “Tenjinko” is held only in the northern region of Fukui Prefecture and in some regions of several other prefectures on January 25th every year.

The “Tenjinko” is the day when the people offer grilled flatfish in front of hanging scrolls depicting Tenjin-sama（Michizane Sugawara), who is called “The God of learning”.　

First of all, women don’t have the hanging scrolls of their own Tenjin-sama. Because only when baby boys were born, the mother’s parents present one to their grandson. So sometimes there are a couple of Tenjin-samas in a family.

The 25th day is derived from the deathday of Michizane. Generally, they hang up the scrolls on New Year's Eve and put them away after the January 25th.

On the day, I felt that time flew that almost one month passed after the New Year's Day. Also, it is the coldest time of the year, I expect that the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar is approaching as well. (H.S)

                           
                              There are two Tenjin-samas at my house.

                     
                           It is said that flatfish was Michizane's favorite food.

Japanese New Year's Market in Katsuyama City

"Toshino-ichi", the Katsuyama New Year's market has been held annually for 300 years in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture. It will be held on January 27th this year. Woodworks and many other local products can be seen at the event, and some of them are purchasable. Many visitors enjoy it every year.

There are things and events that we can't usually see or experience such as the auction for local handmade products, the master in the village making things, making buckwheat noodles experience, buying handmade lucky charms and local foods, playing the Japanese lottery called "Garapon", etc. While enjoying these things, there are also many food stands that sell Japanese festive foods. My favorite ones are baby castella mini cakes and Takoyaki (ball-shaped version of crepes).


This is a video of the auction at the town market that was taken in 2016. A lucky charm that is well worth 10,000yen was put up for sale at the auction. As the price went up, visitors started raising their hands for their desired prices.

Other products were put up as well and the auction was becoming exciting and fun more and more.

T.F

Confectionery in shape of an ogre's face

This is a Japanese confection called "wagashi" in shape of the face of "oni", Japanese ogre. It's made of sweetened bean paste, and about 1.5 inches in diameter.

It's a confectionery for "Setsubun", the 3rd day of February. The literal meaning of the word Setsubun is "division of the seasons", and it especially refers to the day before the beginning of spring. The Japanese traditional confectionery shops already seem to be in 'Setsubun' mode in the latter half of January.

This "Oni" is like a demon in Japan, but it is not always only strong or scary but sometimes kind, cute, or a little funny. The ogres of sweets will also show various expressions with a hand technique of the maker.

It's fun to imagine what kind of facial expressions of ogre are lined up in confectionery shops in Japan.
T.S

Bonsai Exhibition of Ume Trees with Blossoms in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture

The annual event, "Bonsai Exhibition of Ume trees with blossoms" is held from
January 10th to March 10th, 2019 at Keiunkan in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture.
It is the largest and the oldest one in Japan.
About 90 pots are exhibited, and some of them are 3 meters tall and 400 years old.


As soon as the visitors walk into the venue, they'd enjoy the sweet smell of the blossoms.
The beautiful colors of the blossoms amaze them for sure. Bright red, white and pink stand out in the Japanese traditional rooms and it brings up the gorgeous atmosphere of the exhibition.

I visited the exhibition a few years ago and it was impressive to see
all the amazing Ume trees. It is going to be held until March, so I would love to go back there!
If you have a chance, how about visiting the Bonsai Exhibition of Ume trees with
blossoms in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture?

T.F

Try your fortune at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto

I visited the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto the other day. Although it was after the New Year holidays, the shrine was busy with visitors, mainly foreign tourists.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is famous as the god of prosperous business and abundant harvests. Also, the shrine is believed to grant easy delivery, recovery from disease and academic achievements.

One of my purposes in visiting the shrine was to try my fortune at "Omokaru-ishi Stone" in the precinct. The "Omokaru-ishi Stone" is located in the back of the thousand toriis. It is said that when you lifted the stone, if you felt lighter than you expected, your wish would come true. But if you felt heavier than you expected, it would be difficult to comes true.

There was a line in front of the stone. Looking at them, a woman tried to lift the stone, but she couldn't do at all. So I was afraid that the stone was so heavy. 

Finally, my turn came, I made a wish and lifted the stone. Actually, it was lighter than I expected, so I was simply happy to think that I will have a good year.

If you go to Kyoto, why don't you try your fortune at the "Omokaru-ishi Stone" at the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine? 

                The entrance gate is the right in front of JR Inari Station. 

                                 

                                   Many visitors in front of Romon gate 

                      

                                   How to use washing water

                                  Popular photo spot: one thousand toriis 

                                      From the opposite direction 

     

   

                                 The "Omokaru-ishi Stone"

Distant view of Mt. Hakusan from Mt. Yoshinogatake in Fukui

                           Distant view of Mt. Hakusan from Mt. Yoshinogatake

Last weekend, the weather was fine, and I climbed Mt. Yoshinogatake in Eiheiji-cho, Fukui Prefecture. Although the altitude of the mountain is only 547 meters, it is good for me to be able to enjoy hiking relatively easily even in this season. Moreover, the approach to the mountain is less than 30 minutes by car from the center of Fukui City. There was hardly any snow on the climbing road from Matsuoka Kamiyoshino Village, and it was a comfortable hike about 1 hour climb and 40 minute descent.

Mt. Yoshinogatake is one of Echizen Gozan (The famous five mountains in Echizen). I think that the Echizen Gozan has a strange combination of a high mountain like Mt. Hakusan and low mountains like Mt. Yoshinogatake and Mt. Monjusan, but each of the mountains has a common legend that a famous monk of the Nara period "Taicho" opened the ways to climb them and founded shrines there.
Following the sign, from the top square, I walked for a few more minutes, and  there was a place named "Hakusan Observatory", from which you can see the beautiful appearance of Mt. Hakusan. It has few snow this winter and the front mountains still look like ones in late autumn, so the contrast between them is prominent.
*"Hakusan" means a white mountain.
T.S

                                           
                                        The top of the Mt. Yoshinogatake

Echizen Coast Suisen (daffodil) Festival 2019 in Fukui

There are many places to visit and things to do in Fukui throughout the year.
In winter, eating crabs and going to hot spring are my favorite things to do.
There is another thing that is enjoyable during winter in Fukui is
"Echizen Coast Suisen (daffodil) Festival".

Today, I would like to introduce the festival and the area that has
the beautiful Suisen (daffodil).

Photograph: Fukui Tourism Guide

Suisen Land
The Echizen coast of Fukui Prefecture is known as one of
the three great Japanese daffodil fields. From around December to March,
about 15 million daffodils bloom at Echizen Suisen Land.
At the Echizen Suisen Land, visitors can enjoy seeing not only the flowers,
but also the amazing views of the Sea of Japan and the lighthouse at the same time.
It is very soothing to take a walk around the Echizen coast being surrounded
by the sweet smell of the flowers.

There are events held during the daffodils season in Fukui.
Aranami Festa
Date: January 12th and 13th
Place: Kono Seaside Park in Minami Echizen-cho

Suisen Kani (crab) Fair
Date: January 19th and 20th
Place: Michi no Eki Echizen in Echizen-cho

Exhibition of Suisen flower arrangement
Date: January 18th~21st
Place:Fukui Shimbun Kaze no Mori Hall

If you have a chance to visit Fukui during the daffodil season,
how about visiting the Echizen Suisen Land and or the events of the flowers?

T.F

I would like to share a video of Mr. Fumio Takeuchi's
Echizen suisen Secchuka 4K aerial photography. Enjoy!

Shibata-jinja Shrine and the chains of Funabashi

I visited the Shibata-jinja Shrine for my New Year's prayers. The Shibata-jinja Shrine is about three-minute walk from Fukui Station, which is conveniently　located. The Shibata-jinja Shrine enshrines a Japanese military commander in the period of warring state, Katsuie Shibata and his wife, Oichi, who resided in Fukui. So the shrine has a deep involvement in Fukui's history.

After his castle fell in 1583, the retainers of the time built a stone shrine at the castle tower site and enshrined the spirit of Katsuie. And in the Meiji Period, the stone shrine became an official shrine and it was the beginning of the Shibta-jinja Shrine.

In the precinct, there are statues of Katsuie, his wife Oichi and her three daughters, so people visit the shrine as one for bond with the divine virtues such as a bond of married couples, brothers and sisters and family. 

Also, the chains of Funabashi, which were used for a bridge over the river, introduced on our website GEN, are exhibited in the neighboring museum. I was surprised that they were bigger and heavier than I expected. The museum is admission free and it has a resting space and the restroom. When you come to Fukui, please drop by. (H.S)

     "Goshuin" (stamp given at shrines or temples) of the Shibata-jinja Shrine 

                   The Oichi's statue stands quietly in the precinct.

                    (Photo is from the shrine's website) 

                                    Description of the chains of Funabashi

                                    Picture of the chains of Funabashi 

         

                                         The actual chains of Funabashi

Here is the video that the local people mentioned about the chains of Funabashi.

The mysterious extension "HEIC"

iCloud Photos on Windows

I sometimes use pictures and movies taken with my iPhone on this site where I use Windows to create pages. And recently, I noticed that some files with an unfamiliar extension "HEIC" appeared in the iCloud Photos. The file name of the newest QuickTime movie also has the word "- HEIC" at the end of it while keeping the extension MOV.

Because the corresponding file name to JPEG is attached, I thought it might be any additional information. But in fact,  it was a new image compression format to replace JPEG. You can make a file size much smaller than JPEG with it.
As expected,  Apple changes things dramatically as they adopted USB interface on iMac twenty years ago. This format will become the standard soon as well as USB. Is it a transitional measure that HEIC is paired with JPEG now?

Nonetheless, if I cannot open it on Windows from now, I will be in trouble, so I changed the format to 'compatibility priority' for iPhone's camera settings.
T.S

No change on Mac

Photo exhibition of Mitsuaki Iwago "Kyoto for cats"

During the New Year's holidays, I went to see the photo exhibition of Mitsuaki Iwago "Kyoto for cats".

Iwago kept visiting Kyoto throughout the year to take photos of cats and he met many cats. In particular, many photos of a male cat, Yoshitsune, who lives with a 91-year-old man in a thatched house in Miyama Town, were displayed. Iwago says that the man and the cat have a strong bond transcending the species barrier. He also says that if the people living there enjoy a comfortable life, the cats there also look comfortable. That means, in a town that people are happy, the cats must be happy, too. 

By the way, the title of the exhibition is "Kyoto for cats" and not "Cats in Kyoto".

In other words, it means photos of Kyoto through the cats and not cats who live in Kyoto. Iwago says, "For example, it seems that when I see lions, I can see a savanna." So he sticked with the title "Kyoto for cats." (H.S) 

                         A black cat, Kurobei, walks on the red fallen leaves.

       

                     A cat, Buru, lives in a geisha house in Miyagawa-cho, Gion.

                                      Buru plays with a young geisha.  

                       The 91-year-old man and the cat, Yoshitsune, on the veranda

                    

                                Stone beckoning cat and a real one beckons.