Father
Another relatively lazy day.
No appetite for breakfast.
Drifted in and out of sleep in the minshuku whilst wife climbed a nearby mountain.
Once she had returned, we wandered to a dengaku place down the road that I have always wanted to try, but never quite got the timing right, (they only seem to be open for a couple of hours a day, around lunch time).
Turned out the others were also there, finishing the remains of their meal.
The usual communication battle to express our vegan needs, along with the no miso sauce caveat of the child. This, in particular, is always a difficult concept to express in such venues.
Mochi was the best and freshest so far and the tofu even better; all cooked on an open hearth in the floor next to us.
We separated back into our original groups and our three headed to the local pottery shop.
Aizu is famous for its pottery.
The owner, Ryoko, remembered Wife and daughter from last year and a very cute and broken English conversation ensued.
Purchases made, she followed us out of the shop, exchanged names with daughter and waved us off.
She may be waving still.
Wife asked if I minded going to the giant Samurai House gift shop on the way back.
I did mind.
So I said no.
In we went.
More purchases were made.
I did find a nice gift for the instructor left behind, who was running the classes for us. One relevant to his first trip to Aizu many years ago.
A minshuku drop off and then up to the onsen area to book a private room for a family bath.
Everything was shut or overbooked, so we settled for soaking our feet in the preferred foot bath of the Shinsengumi.
Eventually, we went to our final Ne Ne Ya, for a comparatively subdued meal and are now packing for our trip back to Tokyo, tomorrow morning.
There are problems of Newtonian physics involved; matching the now expanded level of mass, compared with the available baggage space and number of carrying appendages.
Daughter
Last Aizu day.
Oh my, Japan is going so fast!
We got up and had breakfast.
We were given presents from the minshuku owners: Japanese sun umbrellas.
Then mum went for a walk, while me and dad relaxed. I got a new phone game: merge plane.
Went and had lunch at the mochi place. Fresh mochi, (not as good as at the castle).
Soaked our feet in an onsen foot bath, then headed back to the minshuku.
But at the Samurai House, mum went into a gift shop. So much stuff.
Mum has bought more stuff.
Dad bought a pack of cards for the instructor back home.
Relaxed at the minshuku, then at 5:45 p.m. we headed to Ne Ne Ya for dinner, then cleaned teeth, then went to bed!
ZZZZ. . . . .
Today’s Tsukemono
Connoisseur one
Minshuku Aizu
Breakfast
As we bring our stay at the minshuku to a close, they finally bring out the big guns.
This pickle is daikon with a vibrant orange colour.
It glows with promise.
Thinly sliced, about 2-3mm.
Cut in quarters.
Salty, with the perfect amount of moisture.
Crunchy.
A strong turmeric flavour.
I am pleased with this pickle.
When I close my eyes and think about Japanese pickles, this is the flavour and texture that will come to mind.
Connoisseur two
Classic daikon pickle.
This is what you expect from a Japanese pickle.
Crunchy.
Piquant.
Delicious.
Almost as good as my own.