I was working at our sister organization office today.
There are two food trucks parking outside of the building to sell Thai and Egyptian Food for lunch.
This is my first time to buy an Obento (lunch box) from a food truck and I decided an Egyptian Koshary chicken lunch set with an extra topping of Onsen-Tamago (half boiled egg).
Last night I had a difficulty to fall sleep.
Then I remember I took a Monster which was distributed on the street for promotion.
This is my first Monster and now I read clearly “Extra Strength” on the bottle.
No wonder I couldn’t fall sleep even I took a nice bath last night.
Nonetheless, I had the second bottle this morning to keep me going today.
I went down to take a breakfast.
I was informed by a taxi driver that the hotel, Hotel Keihan Sapporo, received the best breakfast award among hotels in Sapporo.
I enjoyed the varieties.
Then we headed to Hotel Okura Sapporo to organize a seminar.
After the seminar, we visited two organizations to establish business relationships.
The organization that we visited is nicely located in front of the Hokkaido tourist place: Sapporo Tokeidai (Sapporo Clock Tower).
We are lucky that we could take few tourists photos.
Between two meetings, we took a break and lunch to enjoy nice Hokkaido ice cream at Yukijirushi Parlor (Snow Brand Cafe), Sapporo.
I had the limited edition: Strawberry Parfait.
After the second meeting, we rushed back to the hotel to pick our luggages to depart for the Shin-Chitose Airport because snow is getting heavy.
It was the wise decision to depart for the airport earlier because it took longer to reach to the airport due to the bad road condition.
We enjoyed shopping and dinner at the airport calmly.
I bought Royce Yamazaki Whiskey Chocolate and Rokkatei Milk Chocolate Coated Strawberries for myself. hahaha
Now I will head back home.
I took an early flight to Hokkaido.
We took a train to the city center: Sapporo.
We took lunch at Marumiya, Paseo Sapporo.
We had some time before the meeting so that we stopped by at the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival).
The first… yeah, it’s Star Wars!!!
There is a giant snow cup noodle with slide.
Totoro
Pockemon
Tennis Player Naomi Osaka
NHK character Chiko-chan
Gundum
Tokeito (Sapporo’s Crock House)
Chibimaruko-Chan
Train
Swords Art Online
Finland Plaza
Kento Ranbu
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
NHK’s New Morning Drama: Natsusora
JRA (Japan Racing Association)
Hard Rock Family
Yuki Miku (Snow Miku) AR
I didn’t know how to activate so that I could watch the last scene.
This is the stage for acrobatic performance.
It’s time for us to return back to Prince Hotel Sapporo to depart for the meeting.
I was so happy to see Prince Hotel Sapporo because it’s getting dark and cold, but all taxies on the street were occupied.
After the meeting, we went for crab dinner at the same restaurant at Marumi, Paseo Sapporo.
King Crab
More dishes such as scollops, crab croquets, tempura, seafood salad, etc
Hairy Crab
We returned to hotel to dress up for night Yuki Matsuri (snow festival).
Hotel Keihan Sapporo
Night Yuki Matsuri was fun because it looks beautiful with colour.
There is different sculpture of Yuki Miku.
Now please compare how it looks in daytime and night.
We were cold so that we had a gluhwein (hot wine).
It’s – 6 C outside.
I really wanted to watch Yuki Miku AR and this time I asked a staff how to activate properly.
It was so much fun!!! YEAHHHH
Okay, I’m ready to go back to hotel for Daiyokujo (Large Public Bath).
I enjoyed Sudachi Bath.
For further details, please read the stand.
My body warmed up and ready to go sleep now.
Oyasuminasai (Good Night)
I looked for a restaurant that I can take Choco with me.
We went to Monjayaki Kotobukiya, Tsukishima, Tokyo.
I had Ramune (Soda) for drink.
We started with Gyu-tan Steak (beef tongue steak).
Forgot to take a photo; I also had Sunagimo (gizzard).
Sumagimo is at the up left corner.
Then we had the main dish, Hakata Mentai Mochi Cheese Monja (Hakata fish roe, pounded rice cake and cheese in Monjya Style.)
Monjayaki is local Tsukishima food.
First we cook ingredients.
Then add soup and mix all.
We can eat moist or crispy as we wish.
We also had okonomiyaki, Kansai (Osaka Style Pancake).
Choco was tired waiting for us.
We left Kotobukiya and stopped by at Tsukiji Bon Marche Deli & Bar to get our dessert: matcha (Green Tea) soft cream.
I enjoyed Tsukiji Happy Ice Cream with colourful decoration.
At the dinner time, I had Nabe (cray pot) and Ehomaki (Good Luck Roll).
This is thick and long with many ingredients.
We face good luck direction of the year (East for 2019) and eat this roll.
I also did Mamemaki (throwing soybeans for good luck) by saying “Oni wa Soto, Fukuwa Uchi (Evils out, good luck to come)”.
And at the midnight, I placed this facing good direction of the year (East).
This will make all matters in favors.
According to old Japanese calendar, 3 February was the New Year; therefore, we have so many tradition to wish for good luck today.
I ate a lot yesterday; therefore, I took a simple breakfast: Fukui sour plum onigiri (rice ball) and a coffee.
We departed for three company visits.
First, we visited Muroji, the world oldest soy sauce producer since 1573.
It has 450 years of experience in soy sauce making.
This company is also the first Japanese soy sauce manufacturer to export Japanese soy sauce 150 years ago.
The company wants to expand their overseas market so that one day you might find their products at the supermarkets near you.
Second, we visited Matsuura Machinery Corporation.
The company manufactures machine tools with high performance.
Their machine can produce high precision machine parts for various industries such as aerospace, medical device, machinery (cutting tool) and premium motor sports such as F1.
They can offer various attractive machines such as 5 Axis machine tools and hybrid 3D printer which conducts both sintering and milling.
The factory visit was so much fun! Exciting.
After exciting company visits, we had lunch at the Bell Shopping Mall before last company visit.
I enjoyed nice sushi.
The last company visit was to Masunaga Optical Mfg Co Ltd.
I wanted to visit this eyeglasses manufacturer because former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin made this company famous by wearing their eyeglasses.
Today their eyeglasses are popular among many celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Christiano Ronaldo, etc.
The founders of Masunaga, Masunaga Brothers, wanted to create the industry in Fukui to creat jobs for the society.
They trained artisans and when they were ready allowed them to start their own business.
That is why there are many eyeglasses manufacturers located in Fukui.
Their products are sophisticated and stylish.
I plan to visit their shop in Tokyo: Masunaga 1905, Tokyo Aoyama Store.
It was fulfilling 2-day visit.
Sayonara Fukui.
I departed Fukui by Shirasaki.
We took early Shinkansen (bullet train) to depart for Fukui as early as 7:33 am.
Therefore, I took a breakfast on the train knowing it will be three hours journey to Maibara Station to change to Shirasaki Express Train; it takes four hours to reach Fukui.
The sample looked nice and packed, but when I opened it…I was surprised how it looks….ah empty…?
When we reached Maibara Station, we rushed to the platform for Shirasagi Express Train because we didn’t have much time.
From the window of Shirasagi, we can spot snow here and there.
Nonetheless, we arrived Fukui safely and started our programme for today: networking lunch and seminar.
Since I acted as host and secretariat so that I refrained myself for taking photos but moved around the floor.
After the event, we had a dinner at Japanese Restaurant Tachibana, 2F, Yours Hotel, Fukui.
I was looking forward for the local specialty, Echizen Crab.
We also had Kaiseki (Japanese course menu) while waiting for crab.
Then tadaaaaaa crab
Then noodle and dessert.
I ate for few days potion today.
I definitely need to exercise more. haaaa
We had all events at Yours Hotel, Fukui and finally I returned to room for resting.
At the room, I opened gifts from guests.
These are Fukui local special crafts.
From left, Fukui plum castella (cake), Mayu (cocoon) cosmetics and abalone shell decoration chopsticks.
So nice!
It’s getting late and I found a foot massage machine at the closet.
I tried it to relax my feet in the room.
I can have a good sleep tonight.
Oyasuminasai
This became my routine so that this is not my first time to post about my visit to Snahachiman ak Yuzusama (accommodates our needs).
On 3 February, I will place this charm as instructed: West side of room, facing East.
I had Hiroshimayaki (okonomiyaki in Hiroshima style, with noodles) at Kurumi, Kagurazaka, Tokyo.
I bought a down jacket at the select shop Strasburgo, Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.
It’s in light champagne gold.
This is my fourth wine seminar.
I finally start understanding what Sensei (teacher and sommelier) is saying or lecturing.
Today I tasted five glasses and they are
2014 Morey-Saint-Denis
2016 Chambolle-Musigny
2015 Volnay
2016 Francois Lumpp
2015 Cote de Brouilly
The very right glass is Beaujolais.
Beaujolais wine is very popular among Japanese so I usually have a glass or more every season.
Today. this glass surprised me.
It is whitish, must be bottom portion of bottle, and smell of ANIMAL like Jibie.
The smell is so strong; therefore, I couldn’t finish a glass…
I am not exaggerating; my friends agreed!
After the lesson, my friend gave me these souvenirs from Seoul.
So sweet of her!
My relatives who owns rice fields always prepare mochi (pounded sticky rice) for new year.
I enjoy their mochi very much because rice are so fresh and chemical free.
It tastes much much much better than commercial ones.
Today, I cannot eat mochi and brown rice that are sold at supermarkets.
I need to get my supply from my relative.
This time, I took Choco with me.
It’s his first time to ride for long hours: 2 hours straight.
I’m glad that he slept in the car for both ways.
It was a nice sunny day.
I drove through Kujukuri where it plans to be a surfing tournament place for Tokyo Olympics 2020.
We can see the construction going on and there is a nice beach and waves for surfing.
I brought my apron but there were enough people to work on; I left it with experts.
I just enjoyed eating them.
What a good job that I had!
My other cousins were busy grilling yakitori (skewered chicken).
I took my portion of mochi and uncle’s.
I delivered mochi to the uncle who couldn’t make it today.
He was so surprised and happy when I showed up with fresh mochi.
He treated me Sukiyaki (beef pot).
He was so happy that he couldn’t stop talking.
His smiling face made me happy as well.
It was a nice day because I met my loving relatives and Choco behaved well.
I celebrated belated Christmas at Yasaiya Roppongi.
Choco also had his Christmas dinner: Roast Beef!
He enjoyed it very much!!!
He asked for more so I gave him leaves.
I guess he is not fan of salad; he passed.
sonokotchi 