Backpackers Hostel's Blog l J-Hoppers Guest House Lounge

For those who want to eat sushi !

2008-05-19T19:26:00.001+09:00

We've translated the menu of the sushi restaurant in front of J-Hoppers, Netashi, to help our guests communicate with the restaurant staff and enjoy a delicious typical japanese meal. This little dictionary will probably help others, at least we hope so, and that's why we put it here. Please use it freely !
(First column is the japanese writing, second column is the reading of the first column, third column is english translation)

とびっこ	Tobikko	Flying fish roe
ほっき貝	Hokkikai	Sakhalin surf clam
かいわれ	Kaiware	Radish sprouts
あぶりサーモン	Aburisamon	Roasted salmon
サーモン	Samon	Salmon
岩のり	Iwanori	Wild porphyra
なす	Nasu	Eggplant
なっとう	Nattou	Fermented soybeans
ツナ	Tsuna	Tuna
コーン	Con	Corn
もろきゅう	Morokyu	Cucumber and miso
めねぎ	Menegi	Menegi (Japanese vegetable, kind of onion)
うなぎ	Unagi	Eel
えびチーズ	Ebichizu	Shrimp and cheese
とろサーモン	Torosamon	Fatty salmon
サーモンチーズ	Samonchizu	Salmon and cheese
たい梅しそ	Taiumeshiso	Bream and plum and labiate
たいちり	Taichiri	Spicy bream
あまたこ	Amataco	Sweet octopus
びんとろ	Bintoro	Fatty tuna
活はまち	Katsuhamachi	Fresh young yellowtail
活たい	Katsutai	Fresh bream
明太子	Mentaiko	Roe of Pollock
かにみそ	Kanimiso	Crab entrails
たい皮	Taikawa	Bream skin
ほたて	Hotate	Scallop
活たこ	Katsutako	Fresh octopus
しもふりたこ	Shimofuritako	Marbled octopus
活かんぱち	Katsukanpachi	Fresh amberjack
活ひらめ	Katsuhirame	Fresh halibut
子持ちこんぶ	Komochiconbu	Fish egg with kelp
大えび	Daiebi	Lobster
あなご	Anago	Conger
けんいか	Kenika	Loliginid squids
アボカド	Abokado	Avocado
しめさば	Shimesaba	Marinate macquerel
あぶりいか	Aburiika	Roasted squid
本まぐろ	Honmaguro	Tuna
ひらめちり	Hiramechiri	Spicy halibut
ホタテチーズ	Hotatechizu	Scallop and cheese
とり貝	Torigai	Bivalvia
ひらめ梅しそ	Hirameumeshiso	Halibut with plum and labiate
ぼたんえび	Botanebi	Shrimp
あぶりとろ	Aburitoro	Roasted tuna
ずわいかにみ	Zuwaikanimi	Crab flesh
あわび	Awabi	Ear shell
中とろ	Chuutoro	Less fatty part of tuna
焼うに	Yakiuni	Fried urchin
いくら	Ikura	Salmon roe
とろ	Toro	Tuna
うに	Uni	Urchin
大とろ	Ootoro	More fatty part of tuna
しんこ	Shinko	Pacific sandeel
きゅうり	Kyuri	Cucumber
うめしそ	Umeshiso	Plum and labiate
かんぴょう	Kanpyo	dried gourd shavings
いかきゅう	Ikakyu	Squid and cucumber
うなきゅう	Unakyu	Eel and cucumber
あなきゅう	Anakyu	Conger and cucumber
やまごぼう	Yamagobo	Fern
ねぎさもん	Negisamon	Salmon and leek
さーもんさらだ	Samonsarada	Salmon and salad
えびさらだ	Ebisarada	Shrimp and salad
てっか	Tekka	Red tuna roll
ねぎとろ	Negitoro	Pasted tuna with leek
とろてっか	Torotekka	Red fatty tuna roll
とろたく	Torotaku	Pasted tuna with leek and pickled Japanese radish
カリフォルニアロールえび	Califoruniaroru ebi	California roll with shrimp
カリフォルニアロールさーもん	Califoruniaroru samon	California roll with salmon
カリフォルニアロールまぐろ	Califoruniaroru maguro	California roll with tuna

Bon Appetit ! ;-)

Umbrelas that bloom on the Sunny day

2008-05-18T18:51:00.005+09:00

You can see these umbrellas on sunny days only.

Not rainny days…I think they don’t like rainy days(?).

@Hokyoji-Temple (宝鏡寺)　2008.5/16

Ukiyo-e wave

2008-05-17T21:09:00.005+09:00

We’ve been thinking if we could offer something more to our guest, something unique, traditional but modern.

I thought about my friend’s wood block printing gallery near to the philosopher’s path.

They have loads of selection of beautiful wood block printings and they are very good at finding wood block printings of anonymous artists.

Some of them are very old but looks so modern somehow.

I especially love their Ukiyo-e selections from Edo period(1603-1867)

Ukiyo-e is pictures of everyday life in Edo period..

The Ukiyo-e tradition influenced Manga Anime which is popular in all over the world these days.It said that the Ukiyoe art of drawing had a strong inf;uence on usch postimapressionists as Van Gogh and Gauguin, abd resulted in the development of the newtechni8ques of realism..

The wood block printings are so colorful and fun to look at .

One of the unique way to explore old Japan! Reina

Aoi masturi festival

2008-05-17T21:04:00.008+09:00

On sunny beautiful day of early summer, one of the biggest festival in Kyoto"Aoi matsuri festival was held .

The AOI-matsuri-festival. Those Heian costume is so gorgeous and impressed many people on the street. I was moved by horse riding ceremony in Kamigamo-shrine .

Green Green May!　The Iris Laevigata”Kakitsubata” is fully blooming silently at Ota shrine near the Kamigamo-shrine. Reina

Yokai street

2008-05-15T09:16:00.010+09:00

There is a unique street near Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.
The name of the street is Ichijo Street.
The people in this area have nicknamed “Yokai Street” on the street.
(I have sometimes mentioned about yokai in this blog. See the link below)
http://j-hoppers.japanhostel.net/2007/08/goblins-yokai.html

I went to the street with my family the other day.
It is a small local shopping street and most shops along the street have their own Yokais at their storefronts.
Very interesting.

There is a website of the street (Japanese only though …)
http://www.kyotohyakki.com/

You know,
The concept of Yokai street ultimately leads to ecological thought.
I will write about it next time.

Anyway, please drop in the funny street when you visit the famous Kitano Tenmangu Shirine.
The street running east and west, one block south of Kitano temnangu shrine　
Map
From J-Hoppers Kyoto Hostel, please take city bus #205 at Kujo Shako bus stop and get of at Kitano Hakubaicho Bus stop. It take about 30-40 minutes by bus.

Kasa (umbrella) Yokai

Shokupan (bread) Yokai

Rabbit (?) Yokai

One-eyed student Yokai

Hyotan (calabash) Yokai

Crepe/Gyoza Party at Osaka

2008-05-14T19:10:00.000+09:00

Finally we did it ! The Crepe/Gyoza Party of J-Hoppers Osaka has been enjoyed by a small band of twenty merry fellows from the afternoon to late at night. Guests, staff, family and relatives cleaned up all together the 200 gyozas, crepes, ice creams, chocolates, appetizers, ... with some fresh beers and fruits juices.

Hand made by the staff's gyoza, and special "Kimchi-gyoza"

Crepe Versus Gyoza. Which one will be finished first ?

Guests from all over the world swapping their experience.
"Do you know in my country Crepes are blue and Gyoza filled with chocolate ???"
"Stop kidding me ...!"

Noriko looks strange, was the beer too strong or the Kimchi-gyoza too spicy ??? ;-p

The crepe maestrio at work. The most difficult is to keep on eating gyoza with one hand, drinking beer with the second one, while cooking crepe without burning them (with a third hand ??).

The Super-Gyoza-Team on duty.

Kurosan in his famous role of Masked Gyoza-Devourator

Ken leaves the command of J-Hoppers to his young son and try to seduce the french chief with cuty tearful eyes to receive some extra crepes.

Cheers !
We can't wait for next party !!
If you have suggestions of food to cook next time send us an email !!

Mother's day

2008-05-10T10:50:00.008+09:00

The second Sunday in May is Mother's day in Japan - Yes, it's tomorrow.
I wonder who came up with Mother's day, but I think it's good day to say "Thank you" for our mother as you might know, Japanese are not really good at showing their emotion.

I went to Hankyu department (one of famous department store in Osaka) on the other day to buy a present and the mother's day gift sections were decorated with carnations (It's the symbol for mother's day in Japan) and are very crowded with girls, boys, children with their mother..
I stood in the LONG checkout line and of course I hate it.
But I thought while I was waiting,
"There are so many people come to buy presents for their mother.
That means they LOVE their mother. Filled with love!
Then I felt very happy to being there.

By the way, we are going to have a party tomorrow
We serve French style Crepe and Gyoza(Dumpling)!
Who cook French style Crepe? Pascal, of course!
Gyoza? We Japanese staff!
Who would like to join us? We still have a few vacancies for tomorrow and Anybody welcome!
Will you come with your mother??

Blooming time

2008-05-09T17:44:00.013+09:00

Cherry blossom
just ended their magical show and now it's time for the other flowers to show their beauty.
There are so many flowers are blooming in every temples and shrines in Kyoto .
Also the fresh green of Momiji leaves are so bright to our eyes.
I went to Honnen-in temple, one of my favorite temple in Kyoto .
When I'm gazing the moss, I almost find the wide universe within small world .
Blooming time! A lot of people might think there is not much to do or see for this moment in Kyoto.
no way no way, I think this is one of the best time of the year to visit Kyoto.
The weather is so mild and easy to chill out.
I wish I could show you how colorful they are and send you the gorgeous scent of those flowers.
Reina