Midnight Diner, 深夜食堂

深夜食堂, Midnight Diner

Recently I came across an interesting Drama Series and Movie, 深夜食堂 or しんやしょくどう (shinya Shokudou).  深夜 (shinya) means midnight, while 食堂 (shokudou) is an eatery or diner.  Therefore, 深夜食堂 literally means midnight diner.  This show is based  on the manga series, 深夜食堂 by 安倍夜郎 (Yaro Abe).

Master

As its title suggest, the diner only opens at midnight.  The owner, played by Kaoru Kobayashi, 小林薫, is known as Master by the customers.  The diner opens till 7 a.m. and has a small menu.  Only Pork Miso Soup, 豚汁 or とんじる (tonjiru), Beer, ビール (biiru), Sake, 酒 or さけ (sake), and Shochu, 焼酎 or しょうちゅう (shouchuu) was listed.  Master also limits alcohol to three servings per customer as his diner is not a bar.

A simple menu

Despite the simple menu at めしや (meshiya - shown on the sign outside the shop, meaning a restaurant that makes simple food), Master has a business policy of trying to make anything the customers asked for if he is able to. 

 Octopus Shaped Red Wiener, 赤いウインナ (akai uinna)

For each story, there will be a dish associated with the background story or memory of the characters.  Usually Master will have customers with some concern or problem at that moment, and as they dined at the めしや, we will slowly learn the plot and Master will usually offer some advice or go out of his way to help his customers.  After every episode, there will be some tips on how to make the dish of that episode. 

While watching, I can’t help wanting to make most of the dishes.  You will come across many famous dishes in Japan like お茶漬け (ochazuke), バターライス (bataaraisu), ロールキャベツ (rourukyabetsu), 玉子焼き (tamagoyaki), から揚げ (karaage), とろろご飯 (tororogohan), and many other.

Japanese	Romaji	English
豚汁 or とんじる	Tonjiru	Pork Miso Soup
ビール	Biiru	Beer
酒 or さけ	Sake	Sake
焼酎 or しょうちゅう	Shouchuu	Shochu
お茶漬け	Ochazuke	Steamed rice with Green Tea
バターライス	Bataaraisu	Butter Rice
ロールキャベツ	Rourukyabetsu	Cabbage Roll
玉子焼き	Tamagoyaki	Japanese Rolled Omelette
から揚げ	Karaage	Japanese Fried Chicken
とろろご飯	Tororogohan	Steamed Rice topped with Grated Yam
赤いウインナ	Akai Uinna	Red Wiener

Enjoy the Show and try the foods.

Day 4 in Japan - Kyoto, traditional Gion and Pontocho

I actually planned to visit Universal Studios Japan, ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン (Yunibaasaru sutajio Japan) in Osaka on my fourth day in Japan.  However, being there just 30 minutes after opening time, I did not anticipate such a massive crowd.  Therefore, a change of plan, I went to Kyoto instead.  Kyoto, 京都 (kyouto) is easily accessible through trains that run directly to Kyoto Station.  

The Grand Kyoto Station

Arriving at the grand and impressive Kyoto Station, it is already noon.   Just outside the station tourist can purchase a Kyoto Bus One-day Pass, which allows unlimited travel to all the stations covered by the pass on the day of purchase.  Most of the main sightseeing spots in Kyoto are covered, although one day is not enough to visit all those spots.  Kyoto is a big place with many attractions.

Exiting from the Northern side of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Tower comes into view

Since it is already after lunch time, I had lunch at Kyoto Station.  The station itself is worth a look around.  It is really big and houses shopping malls and a department store.  I went to the 11^th floor of Isetan Department Store, where there are many fancy restaurants.  I chose to eat sushi, 寿司 or すし (sushi) as I haven’t tasted any sushi yet since arriving in Japan.

Tastes really good

View from the 11th floor of the department store

My first experience waiting for the train to pass before crossing the railway

Delicious snow crab meat

Dinner before the next destination.  This ramen shop has a self-ordering and paying machine

After dinner, it is time for the place I am more interested to visit.  The next destination will be Gion, 祇園 (gion), a geisha district.  Gion is a great destination because it is as if traditional Japan is preserved here.  There are many wooden shops and the architecture has a traditional and historical feel to it.

Peaceful and traditional feeling

A modern Starbucks in the midst of the traditional feeling at Gion

Wooden shops are still plentiful

Minamiza Kabuki Theatre is across the street

Minamiza Kabuki Theatre

Walk further down the road and I reach Kamo River, 鴨川 (kamogawa).  Get across and I will be able to visit Pontocho, 先斗町 (pontochou) and Kawaramachi, 河原町 (kawaramachi), which like Gion, has a traditional Japan feel and there’s great scenery.

Geisha Statue

The scenic Kamo River

After crossing Kamo River, the area of Kawaramachi is a rather busy place.  There are a few department stores here, and there’s a significant increase in crowds and cars.

Busy area with many people, cars, and department stores, but still preserve the traditional feel

Take a pleasant walk at Kawaramachi

On a little bridge

At night, only the shops light up Kamo River.  Many people sit along the riverbank enjoying the river breeze.

After walking around and taking pictures, it is time to rush back to Osaka before the last trains leaves.  I don’t want to be stranded at Kyoto!

Last photo of Kyoto Tower lighted up at night and on the train we go

The next day, I will go to Universal Studios!   Do read about Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 as well.

Day 3 in Japan - Nara Park, Isui-en Garden, Italian food and Yakitori

On my third day in Japan, I left Osaka to visit Nara, 奈良 (nara).  Although the public transport in Japan is a bit expensive, the good thing about it is that the railways are connected to many places, and Nara is accessible directly from Osaka using the trains. Outside Kintetsu Nara station, there’s a tourism office that you can get maps and brochures about Nara in many different languages for free.

My first destination is Nara Park, 奈良公園 (narakouen).  To reach there, I have to first walk through Higashimuki Shopping Street, 東向商店街 (higashimukishoutengai).  At the end of the street, there is an Italian restaurant, Trattoria Piano, where I decided to have lunch at.  At Trattoria Piano, pizza is made with a stone oven heated up by burning firewoods and it tasted quite good.  The spaghetti is nice too.

Trattoria Piano, Italian Restaurant at Nara

The Stone oven to make pizza

Spaghetti for lunch

Pizza from the stone oven

The end of Higashimuki Shopping Street is connected to Sanjō-dōri Avenue, 三条通り (sanjoudoori), another shopping avenue.  There’s many souvenir shop at this street.  Nara Park is only 5 minutes’ walk away from this area.  When I see many people and sika deer, I know I have reached my destination.  Deer crackers can be purchase to feed the deers, but be careful of "deer attack".

The deer is very easy to approach

These deers are relaxed even when there's many people

They will get near you freely

Since I will be in Nara for only a day, I had to choose where to go and what to see.  Not being a temple person, I decided to visit Isui-en Garden, 依水園 (isuien).  Isui-en is a small but pleasant and well-maintained garden.

Colorful scenery in Isui-en

Calm and peaceful

Nice weather

Mossy garden, step on the stone steps

A bamboo water tap

A little stream

On the way back to the train station, I take the opportunity to walk around Sanjō-dōri Avenue, which I only pass through earlier.  Also connected is another covered shopping arcade known as Mochiidono Shopping Street, もちいどの商店街 (mochiidonoshoutengai).  There’s even more restaurant, souvenir shops, and bars here.

Sarusawa Pond, 猿沢の池 (sarusawanoike), a pond near the end of Sanjō-dōri Avenue

Manhole at Mochiidono Shopping Street

After returning to Osaka, I had yakitori, 焼き鳥 (yakitori), for dinner at Dotonbori.  Yakitori means grilled chicken literally, but there’s a variety of skewered food served usually.  I ordered a set consisting ten different types of yakitori.

Asupara bekon, アスパラベーコン (asuparabekon) and Negima, ねぎま (negima).  Asupara bekon is Grilled Asparagus Wrapped around Bacon and Negima is pieces of chicken meat skewered with leek between it.

Enoki Maki, エノキ巻き (enokimaki) is Enoki mushrooms wrapped by pork slices.

After dinner and some walking around, I went back and rest as another day awaits.  Read about the first and second day at Day 1 and Day 2.  Day 4 will be written soon!

About foods - Part 2

Continuing from the previous post, it will still be about food and eating.

One Piece, Toriko, and Dragon Ball collaboration

I got to know the manga and anime, Toriko, from One Piece, as they had a few collaboration episodes.  Toriko’s story take place in the Gourmet Era, where almost everything is about food.  Toriko is a well-known Gourmet Hunter or 美食屋 (bishoku-ya), whose job is to find and acquire high-level ingredients.  Toriko is a known Glutton as well, and he can always be seen eating in the show.

The glutton, Toriko enjoying Galala crocodile meat

From the word 美食屋,  美食 or びしょく(bishoku) means gourmet or delicious food.  Probably everyone knows that before eating, Japanese people will say 頂きます or いただきます (itadakimasu), which means I will eat or let’s eat.  It is polite to say 頂きます (itadakimasu) before eating.

There’s many ways to express that the food tastes good.  美味しい or おいしい (oishii) is the most commonly heard and used, which means delicious or tasty.  旨い or うまい (umai) is always used with the same meaning.  結構 or けっこう(kekkou), when used as an adjective can also be used to describe the food as splendid, wonderful or delicious.  

Other words that can also be used are like 素晴らしい, 凄い, and 素敵.  These three are actually synonyms.  素晴らしい or すばらしい (subarashii) means wonderful, magnificent, or splendid.  凄い or すごい (sugoi) means amazing and fantastic.  素敵 or すてき (suteki), also have similar meaning of lovely or wonderful.  These three can also be used to describe many other things, not only food.

After finish eating, say ご馳走様でした.  ご馳走様でした or  ごちそうさまでした (go-chisou-sama deshita), which could mean “it was a great feast, it was a wonderful meal, or it was delicious.”  It is a Japanese etiquette to say this phrase after eating.

Before eating

頂きます                                            いただきます (itadakimasu)        

I will eat, let’s eat

Tasty, delicious

美味しい                                            おいしい (oishii)

旨い                                                     うまい (umai)

結構                                                     けっこう(kekkou)

Wonderful, amazing, lovely

素晴らしい                                       すばらしい (subarashii)

凄い                                                    すごい (sugoi)

素敵                                                    すてき (suteki)

After finish eating

ご馳走様でした                             ごちそうさまでした (go-chisou-sama deshita) 

It was a great feast, it was a wonderful meal, or it was delicious

Enjoy your food!