Ramen Shop [Gojoken] / らーめん 出し屋「五丈軒」

Earlier this year while it was still winter, my mother-in-law who doesn't really like ramen suggested going to a ramen shop called [Gojoken] after we finished a bit of shopping. I was amazed. It was very unusual for my mother-in-law to eat ramen. She doesn't pasta, udon, or soba much either.

今年の冬イトーヨーカドーで買い物を済ましたら、珍しくラーメン嫌いの義理の母があるラーメン屋でランチを食べないかと提案。え？お母さんがラーメン？ 僕にとってびっくりポンだよ。だって、自分の義理の母はパスタ、うどん、蕎麦もあんまり好きじゃないんです。行った店はらーめん 出し屋「五丈軒」。

The sign says [Gojoken] Noodle Factory.

おう、麺工房ですて。

It appears the two main choices of ramen on the menu was Chuka Soba or Bara Soba. I opted for the Bara Soba which is the pork noodle. The broth was niboshi (dried sardine based) which is the most popular style of ramen in the Tohoku area.

メニューに二つのメインチョイスがある。中華そばかバラそば。僕はバラそばを選んで、確か僕の妻は中華そばを頼んだ。

This is their Chuka soba. My wife loves this style and flavor of ramen, except for the hard-boiled egg, which I happily ate for her.

これが店の中華そば。僕の妻がこの昔い風のラーメンが好き。味玉子は嫌いけどね。それ、僕がいただきました。

This is the bara soba as you can see, it comes with a fair amount of pork!

バラそばはそのまま、肉多めです。

I also couldn't believe my mother-in-law suggesting to go play ping-pong after eating ramen but that's exactly what she did and we ended up playing for an hour. I love playing ping-pong so I'm not one to refuse. I could play all day if I had the time.

またびっくりポンのことに義理の母がラーメンを食べたあとに、卓球をやらないかと提案。自分は卓球大好き人間なので、もちろん賛成。暇があればずーと卓球が出来る感じですよ。

Apple Hill Christmas Illumination 2016 / アップル・ヒル クリスマス イルミネーション ２０１６年

One of things we enjoyed in Tokyo was the winter illumination come Christmas season. There was many areas to choose from - Shinjuku, Omotesando, the Tokyo Dome, Odaiba. Or you could check out Yomiuriland. So when we saw the Aomori Illumination near the station and how small it was, it was kind of shocking. We had pretty much forgotten about Christmas illuminations when we were driving around with my sister-in-law and her husband and passed by a popular Roadside Station called Apple Hill in Namioka. It was now in the second week of February but wait...what are all those lights? We must go and check it out.

東京に住んだとき、冬の楽しみの一つは街中のイルミネーションですよね。いろんが場所でイルミネーションが見えた。新宿の高島屋の近くや、表参道、東京ドームやお台場。ちょっと足をのばしたらよみうりらんどでも行けた。青森駅前のイルミネーション見たときは綺麗は綺麗けど、結構ちっちゃいなと思った。正直ちょっと地味かなとも思った。ま、イルミネーションを忘れたころに妹夫妻と夜のドライブに出かけたら、浪岡の道の駅「アップルヒル」に気になる光が。現在は２月の２週目。まさかと思ったけど、アップルヒルに行ったら、まだクリスマスイルミネーションの光だった！

Me and Mickey /　僕とミッキー

I think next year, my wife and I should check out Apple Hill a little earlier.

来年、妻ともっと早くアップルヒルに行くべきだな。

Ramen shop [Matsumiya] / ラーメン処 「松美屋」

Of course while we were in Hirosaki for the Snow Festival, we had to eat lunch as well. We settled on a place called [Matsumiya]. A ramen shop that serves Tsugaru Ramen. I've tried some other places that serve Tsugaru ramen. I was interested in seeing how this shop was.

弘前城の灯篭祭りを観たとき、もちろんどこかでランチも食べないっと。弘前公園の近くに「松美屋」というラーメン屋があって、そのに決定。気になるのはメニューに書いてある津軽らぁーめん。

The Tsugaru ramen is 600 yen. On the menu, it says the soup of the Tsugaru ramen is made with dried horse mackerels for a Japanese style taste. The ramen is topped with green onions, pork, bamboo shoots, fu (Japanese wheat gluten) and naruto (small fish cake). You can also choose from two types of noodles. Either hand cut noodles or very thin noodles. You can order a larger portion but it will cost 50 yen extra.

津軽らぁーめんは６００円です。メニューに書いてあるのは、鯵の煮干しを使い、あっさりした和風味のスープが特徴。具はねぎ、チャーハン、メンマー、麸、となると。麺は手打ち、又は細麺から選べる。大盛りはプラス５０円。

The white and pink item is the naruto. The bread like item is the fu. It was the first time I've tried this. It soaks up the soup which adds flavor to it. Very strange but good.

アメリカ人の友達が多分知らないと思うから、なるとと麸が分かる様に伝えた。

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

Hirosaki Snow Festival 2017 / 弘前城灯篭祭り ２０１７年

Going back to the second week of February this year, my wife and I went to Hirosaki to check out the Hirosaki Snow Festival. It was my first time so I was a little excited. I know it isn't as large as the one in Sapporo but still, a different type of event to enjoy in snow country.

今年の２月の２週目、僕と妻は弘前に行きました。目的は弘前城灯篭祭り。初めてだったので結構ワクワクしてまして。札幌の雪祭りほどではないとわかったますが、やっぱ雪国にはこういうイベントがあるから楽しみだ。

On our way to Hirosaki. You can see Mount Iwaki in the distance.

弘前に向かってます。岩木山も良く見れます。

Here we are at Hirosaki Park.

弘前公園に到着。

There were many small ice sculptures leading up to the main area.

メインの会場までいろんな小さな氷の彫刻が見れます。

I see Hello Kitty on the left.

左側にハローキティが居た。

Ten-chan / てんちゃん

Sagikamo-kun / サギかも君

Year of the Rooster / 今年は酉年

Here we are at the main venue where kids and adults can play on a slide made of ice.

メインの会場に着きました。子供と大人が氷の滑り台で並んでます。

Totoro / トトロ

Hanging out with Totoro.

トトロと遊んでます。

Rilakkuma / リラックマ

Minion / ミニオン

Me standing in front of the Minion who is standing next to Mario.

ミニオンの前に立つ俺。隣にマリオが居る。

Okay, now that is pretty awesome!

やっぱりこれが目玉だな。凄い！

This should give you an idea of how large the ice house was.

この写真で氷の家の大きさが分かると思う。

Watch your step! I slipped once and fell.

足元にご注意！俺は一回滑って転んだ。

I just love the old style buildings.

自分は日本の古い家の造りが好き。

I've always wanted to stay at a house or inn that had an irori (traditional Japanese sunken hearth).

囲炉裏がある家は凄い憧れる。いつか囲炉裏がある旅館に泊まりたいな。

Something to keep you warm in the winter.

冬で温める必要品。

Lets have a drink or two or three...

これで乾杯しましょう。

Totoro's buddy, the neko-bus was here too!

トトロの仲間のネコバスもここに居た！

These are the small snow lanterns that will be lit at night. However, my wife doesn't like driving at night in the winter so we did not stay to see the main event of this festival.

雪灯篭はそこにありますが、夜になったらあかりが付き凄い綺麗と思う。妻が冬の夜の道に運転するのは苦手なので、祭りのメインの雪灯篭を見るのはやめました。

The picture above may give you an idea of what it looks like at night.

上記の写真が夜の雰囲気の感じです。

Hirosaki Castle / 弘前城

Currently, the stone wall is being renovated so the castle was moved to its current position. Its normal position is on the corner of this wall.

現在石垣が修理中のため、弘前城が一時的に移動された。元の場所はこの石垣の角に立ってる。

Hirosaki's mascot - Takamaru-kun / 弘前のマスコットのたか丸君

We also stopped in at the Hirosaki Tourist Center for a short spell.

弘前私立物産館にもちょっと覗いてみた。

Subaru 360 / スバル ３６０

The old Hirosaki Library / 旧弘前図書館

This is a Starbucks coffee shop.

お洒落なスターバックスの店。

Short break at Starbucks.

スターバックスで休憩。

Snacks to take home.

お土産で持って帰るもの。

And so ended our adventure.

そして今日の冒険の幕が閉じた。