Day Trip To Hita (Part Three)

 After lunch, we had a look around the rest of Mamda Machi.

So many beautiful buildings, most of which are now shops, restaurants, cafes or museums.

One of the museums we went into was the home and clinic of a dentist.

The ground floor was the living area, and the upstairs level housed the dental clinic. I didn't have confidence using the stairs; they were very steep and didn't have a handrail. I could have gone up okay, but coming down might have been a problem.

Dental Clinic, built in 1914

The dental clinic

Hannah went upstairs. She said it was very interesting, especially the dentist chair and the old instruments!

We strolled around; it was getting very busy by then. 

This is a little video Hannah took!

The last place was a pharmacy museum. Again, it was both a house and a business.

I really enjoyed the display in the kitchen.

Old obento boxes

For cooking rice

Stone sink

I thought it was interesting that the sink was so big but not deep! I wonder if that is why sinks in Japan are always very big!

I managed to get to the second floor.  

Maybe for storing drugs

Measuring cup

Old prescriptions

Hot water bottle

I don't know what this was

Hannah made it to the third floor. She said the view was really incredible.

The view from the 3rd floor of the pharmacy

3rd floor of the pharmacy

I really like this old cash register.

Not sure what it's advertising, but it had a cat on it!

After the Pharmacy Museum, we decided to head home. It wasn't very late, about 3 o'clock, but everywhere was getting busier and busier.  

I really enjoyed my day trip. There is a lot more to see in Hita, so I'm hoping to go again!

On the way home, we stopped at Ukiha Michi no Eki. This is a rest stop that caters to people driving out of the city areas. They have shops, lots of local produce, information on the area and some resturants or cafes. One reason we stopped was that I needed the toilet, but after seeing the line, I gave up.

There was a nice observation area. The road we were on is at the foot of a mountain range, the view across the valley is really impressive.

It was a bit windy!

Hannah

Lovely view

Hannah with some of the scarecrow-like dolls they had put up

Godzilla

I hope you enjoyed this trip as much as I did. 

Day Trip to Hita (Part Two)

 I'm sorry it's taken a couple of days to get back to writing about my trip to Hita. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I'm out at work almost all day. I thought about writing when I got back, but I was too tired to focus!

After the museum of the school, we drove to Mameda Machi. This is a beautifuly preseverd Edo Period district (1603 to 1868). There are many small shops, cafes, resturants and museums. One thing that I really appreciated was the covered rest areas. I was glad to find a place to sit after wandering around for a while.

The first place we visted was a museum dedicated to the Kusano Family. The oldest son of this family is the person who founded the school we had visited. Usually in Japan, esepecailly in the Edo Period the oldest son would inherit the family business, but in this case the second son inherited. The oldest son was not very strong physically.

This is where we entered Mamada Machi

We couldn't take photos inside the museum. Here are a couple of photos from the pamphlet we had.

Hina Dolls display for Hinamatsuru, this is in the spring

I love this painted panels, they usually tell some story

The museum is in the family's house. However, it isn't the original building. A few years ago the building was taken down and rebuilt, using the original materials as much as possible. One reason the tour guide gave was to improve the buildings ability to withstand earthquakes. We had an earthquake on Tuesday, maybe a M3 in Hita, so these measures are important!

One thing I noticed was how low the ceiling are. The guide was saying that in the Edo period people were shorter than today, so high ceilings or doorways were not needed. The only two room that had high ceiling were the grandparents rooms and the guest room!

Even thought we couldn't take photos inside we could take photos of the garden. The house was built round a courtyard garden. There was an open corridor that ran round the house, the rooms on one side and the garden on the other.

I think the other photos are on Hannah's phone and she's at university now, I'll ask her to send them later.

Here are a few of the other building in the area.

We decided to get some lunch. Usually when we eat out we go to the usual chain resturants. But I really wanted to try a smaller resturant. Something more uniquie! Hannah and I spent ages searching for resturants in this area, there are quite a few but very expensive. We settled on a small place that had "teishoku" set meal menu! Teishoku is usually a main dish served with rice, soup and side dishes such as salad or some pickles.

The meals we had were very nice. Mikey had a tonkustu set, breaded fried pork chop set, Hannah had a hamburger set and I had a chicken katsu set, deep fried bread chicken breast! Everything was freshly prepared. The resturant was small, just 10 seats. I really enjoyed it. 

Hannah's lunch

My meal

We didn't get a photo of Mikey's!

The resturant

Mikey and Hannah

Hannah and me!

We visited a few more museums in the aftertoon but I think that will have to be the next post!

A Day Trip To Hita (Part One)

 I thought about writing one post on this day trip, but I have so many photos to share that doing it in parts is better; otherwise, I'm going to be here for hours!

Hannah and I planned this trip many months ago. The first idea was to go at the end of September, but after Hannah had another seizure, we ended up using her holiday from university to go to the hospital. 

The first idea was to take the train, but Mikey offered to drive us! I'm glad he did, as I'm exhausted from all the walking we did!

The weather was perfect for walking around, not too hot but not cold!

The drive is just over an hour. Through the countryside and mountain roads.

Part of the drive is along a river. I really liked this bridge.

I love the colour and how it seems to disappear into the trees.

This is on the way home.

 

The first place we visited was Kangien, a school that was founded in 1817 by Hirose  Tanso. He was a Confucian scholar, poet and educator. The school operated until 1893, spanning over 80 years and attracting around 5,000 students from more than 60 provinces across Japan. This made it one of the most influential private schools of the Edo period. One thing that made this school stand out was that it admitted students regardless of class or social status. Whether you were a samurai, peasant, artisan or merchant, you could enter this school. This was revolutionary for a society that was rigidly divided by hierarchy!

The ruins are preserved as a national historical site.

The site isn't large. There are a few of the original buildings or the foundations where the building stood, and a museum, which was free! 

Walking around with Hannah was nice as she could translate things, also she has a lot of knowledge of the history of education in Japan.

Hannah on the path to the museum

Information about the site

The museum

One of the original buildings

A well outside the original building

The well again

Part of the kitchen

The pot on the left is to cook rice, fire was built underneath the stones. It must have been hard work!

Across Japan, 3 other sites belong to the "Educational Heritage of Early-Modern Japan"; it would be nice to see all of them!

That was the first hour or so of our trip. 

I'll write the next part tomorrow!

Also, I think Hannah has more photos, so I'll do a post of more photos later this week!

Japanese Comfort Food

 As I said in a previous post, I was feeling a bit under the weather earlier this week. 

While I was lying around, feeling sorry for myself, I got to thinking about comfort food. Those dishes that you crave that not only fill your stomach but does something to your soul!

I was thinking of the dishes my Mom would make for us when we were under the weather. Her bread and butter pudding was a favourite when I was in elementary school. Anything with mashed potatoes was always a winner! Soft-boiled eggs with toast cut into strips to dip, these were called "soldiers", I have no idea why!

What about Japanese comfort food?

Here are a few dishes that my kids like and ask for when they are looking for a bit of home comfort and love.

Oyakodon (Parent and Child Rice Bowl

This is real comfort food, chicken and soft omelette simmered in a savoury-sweet dashi broth.

This is for one serving. 

I boneless, skinless chicken thigh, cut into bite-sized pieces

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup dashi

2tbsp soy sauce

2tbsp mirin, sweet rice wine

1tbsp sugar

Cooked rice for serving

Instructions

In a small skillet, combine dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Add sliced onion and chicken. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.

At this point, I always taste the broth and adjust it if necessary. I prefer a slightly sweeter taste, so I add more mirin. When one of the kids makes it, they prefer a more savoury flavour and add more soy sauce.

Pour the beaten eggs over the chicken and onions and let them set, like an omelette on top.

Slide the contents of the pan over a bowl of hot, cooked rice!

Enjoy!

This is how I usually serve Oyakodon. I make miso soup and add some salad to balance things out!

Nikujaga (Meat and Potato Stew)

This dish was first introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, 1868-1912. It was created by Navy chefs, inspired by Western stews that Admiral Togo Heihachiro enjoyed when he was in England.

For 4 servings

1lb beef or pork, thinly sliced (sirloin or pork belly is the best)

2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1 large onion, cut into wedges

1 large carrot, peeled and cut into chunks

2 cuts of dashi

4 tbsp soy sauce (I usually use a bit less, then after tasting, add more, if needed)

3tbsp mirin

2tbsp sugar

1 tbsp vegetable oil

Instuctions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced meat and cook until brown.

Add the onion, potatoes, and carrot. Sauté for a few minutes until slightly softened.

Pour in dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Serve hot with a side of rice.

Karaage

This is David's go-to dish. Sometimes he will make up a big bowl of the marinade and leave the chicken in it overnight! This really helps when everyone is busy, we just fry off what we want to use!

1.5lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

2tbsp soy sauce

1tbsp sake (or dry sherry)

1tbsp grated fresh ginger

1 clove of garlic, crushed

1tsp sugar

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup potato starch or cornstarch

Vegetable oil for deep frying

Instructions

In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with soy sauce, sake, ginger, garlic, sugar and black pepper. Mix well and marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge; the longer the better.

When ready to fry, dredge with potato starch, shake off any excess. Fry for about 5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack or kitchen paper. 

Serve hot.

I have more recipes. If you would like me to post them, let me know in the comments.

Today's lunch was a roast!

I have made a roast for a couple of years, actually, I can't remember the last time I made one!

I was able to buy these really thick pork chops, which are for tonkatsu, breaded, deep-fried pork chops. But I've found roasted slowly with a bit of rosemary on them, they are really nice! 

Todays lunch

It was nice because everyone was at home, even Hannah.