(not necessarily in the right order)
When we visited Japan in March, we stayed in Tokyo, then Hakone and then finally Kyoto.
Let me discuss our Hakone leg first, as I have decent pics for that part. Mrs. O has the rest on a hard drive we need to find.
So, Hakone. The lake here is Lake Ashi, near the base of Mount Fuji. When the cloud veil that envelops the peak of Mt Fuji lifts, and if the lake is calm, the reflection is utterly spectacular.
Alas, it was overcast when we were there. So I can only know about the reflection based on pics from the web. But, it did not matter a wit.
We were going to Gora Kadan.
We messed how up how we got there. Got on the wrong bullet train. Tried to get on the right train. BLOCKED. We stood on a platform in Yokohama flummoxed- how the heck to get to Hakone?
And you know what? We got a taxi from Yokohama to Hakone. Cause we just had to get to Hakone, dammit!
It was very windy and overcast. Could not see Mount Fuji. Saw 2 cool biker gangs though.
Ok here are their asses.
But we have travelled many miles. No Mount Fuji. No beautiful Tori Gate next to lake. Of course, it was there, but we could not see from where our exasperated taxi driver was desperate to dump us off.
However, overall we did not mess this up.
Because we went to Gora Kadan.
What the frack is that you say?
Gora Kadan. I don’t know where to start?
I lie, I totally know where to start.
You have heard of the the hot springs in Japan, no? Also known as onsens. Well…
We had our very own private onsen nestled in our own Japanese garden:
The rest of our ryokan was as disappointing. Take a look:
Ok this is from my phone. Mrs. O has a much finer picture. No idea where that damn drive is.
But here is our room. Or rather ‘one of the rooms’ of our little oasis.
Stunning.
But, let me digress.
Back to Kaiseki.
Ryokans will include food. This can be communal. But we asked for it to be private in our room.
Here is our meal night #1. Remember we are staying during Sakura (ok a later post but essentially middle spring). Cherry blossom time. Don’t forget about cherry leaves as well:
Unfortunately, at this point, I was not aware I would end up blogging. But this was our first course. And while I do not know all the ingredients, I think the colors suggest Sakura pretty nicely, no?
Next plate:
The visual aspect is stunning with Kaiseki. However, it is not simply the colors. The mixture of textures is astounding. When we think of texture, we think of what we touch, including how the food feels in the mouth. I feel the textures come out so visually as well with Kaiseki.
Look at the textures of this next dish:
The choices that are made, with the food, how it is prepared, how it is presented, generates this plate of contrasting elements that somehow make a coherent whole. And all the pieces enhance each other. It’s like how different colors enhance each other and bring out the most of their essence- like pairing yellow with purple makes purple that much more purple. The extent this is done with Kaiseki, the sophistication of the choices, well, almost, leaves me wordless.
Another course:
The sashimi- again there are no words. The prawn with that sauce- with what I now suspect is edamame tofu…
So sublime. Sensual. Sensational.
Will post our next meal soon.
However, what I work on next is a post where I wish to go all food nerd. I don’t know about you, but I find it rather empty to just go through pictures without some sort of context. I feel my knowledge of Kaiseki is just about nil. I know it exists. I have eaten it. And I have been transformed. However, I am excited to try to simply learn just a bit more than nil, then post my thoughts.
thisdoesnotsuck 