Capsicum Chutney

lamb burgers with capsicum chutney

The weather has been seriously crappy over the Easter long weekend, I was planning on going camping but the constant rain and wind didn't really make that possible. Hopefully I can get out one weekend soon before it gets to hot and muggy in Hong Kong.  Instead of going camping I have been cooking, visiting the Andy Warhol Exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, bowling and working on my latest uni project menu planning for toddler and school aged children...

Japan - Hakuba Ski Resorts

snow man at Iwatake

During my 6 day trip to Japan I had 4 days of snowboarding in Hakuba, and there were 7 ski resorts. Thats a lot in such a small area, I would almost prefer there weren't so many, its hard to make up your mind on where to board!  I went to 4 hills in 4 days, next time I think I would maybe I would not go to quite so many. I bought a multi day pass which you can visit a new resort each day if you choose, the pass cost ¥16,500 for 4 days. I visited Hakuba in late March so keep in mind that the snow is usually a lot better earlier in the season.

Japan - Hakuba - Shinshu Dining Sarugaku

deep fried tofu ¥150, shiitake mushroom ¥150, chicken wasabi ¥150 and chicken teriyaki yakitori ¥200

On the second to last day of my trip I picked up a free copy of Hakuba Essential Guide at the visitor information centre, I wish I had gotten it sooner I would have had a little more insight on where to visit. After flicking through the guide I decided to go to Shinshu Dining Sarugaku because truthfully it was walking distance away and it looked good. Shinshu Dining Sarugaku is located beside a mexican restaurant on the side of a large new building in Echo Land.

Japan - Hakuba - Hie

tuna & avocado  ¥700

I was trying to figure out where to go for some Japanese food for dinner and was recommended to go to Hie by Daniel who was staying at my hostel. (there are a lot of restaurants that are not Japanese in Hakuba) As you walk up the road in Echo land it is easy to miss Hie, actually I walked straight by it. Hie is on the main road but slightly set back, Hie is just up from Weather Report/Top target which you cannot miss.

Japan - Hakuba - Kikyouya Sushi

tuna rolls, salmon, tamago (egg), ikura (salmon roe) ect..

As you walk in the door at Kikyouya Sushi, the first thing you notice are the walls are plastered with comments and drawings from past dinners which includes: olympians, celebrities and travellers from Japan and around the world. It gives Kikyouya a homely feel and throughout your dinner you catch yourself reading stories of peoples visits.  When we arrived we removed are shoes in Japanese fashion and were seated on cushions at a low japanese table in between two other groups, at one table there was a family and the other table was full of some very tipsy Japanese men, with a giant empty bottle of Shochu.