[Osaka] - Taiko-en | Kaiseki Japanese Course dinner

We proceed to Osaka by coach after left Kiyomizu Temple...

 I dozed all the way from Kyoto to Osaka,

and created this embarrassing 'bad hair day!'

We're going to have traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine (Kaiseki Ryori = 懐石料理) for dinner. We're placed us inside few banquet halls on the second floor. I think because of our large group unable to fit inside one of the restaurants.

Taiko-en is Osaka’s premier ceremony venue with 

five restaurants and twelve banquet halls.

 There's an exhibition hall beside this wall.

I didn't went in as it's guarded outside. 

 

 Taiko-en has a rich and vibrant history as a place for royals.

Splendid 5.7-acre land was once the home of business tycoon,

Baron Denzaburo Fujita (the founder of Fujita Kanko).

He acquired the land on the bank of Yodogawa River, and...

he started to construct his majestic and impressive mansion in 1890.

It's called Amijima Palace by locals. 

 After World War II, Fujita Kanko decided to open the Fujita estate for business.

 He called it “Taiko-en,” named after Toyotomi Hideyoshi who built the Osaka Castle. 

Toyotomi was a preeminent warrior, general and ruler in 16th century Japan. 

He was widely known as “Taiko.”  

 

  The property features artificial pond and hill (Tsukiyama-shiki kaiyu-style garden).

The garden also use unusual and precious rocks 

collected from Sho-do island and Mount Ikoma,

Rare lanterns and...

 
pagodas were also use to create this picturesque garden. (Source)

 

 Found this stone Torii decorated with straw rope (Shimenawa) 

and white zigzag paper strips (Shide) to mark sacred trees or

stones inside this Japanese garden.

Ok, let me be your guide while waiting for other coaches...

 Let's stroll along the pond and beautiful garden full of flowers.
It's nice to enjoy the fresh air and smells of springtime! ^^

What is that white building located at end of the garden?

Graceful Western-style Garden Chapel blends well

with the best of Japanese garden.

Vent Vert Garden Chapel.
 

Ground floor of Geihinkan brick building is a reception hall.
with 'Luxele' French cuisine Restaurant and Cafe 'Brillervert'.


There are banquet and conference halls on 2nd - 3rd floors.
Wedding facilities is on top of the building.

     
Inside this Japanese-style architecture is
Yodogawatei Japanese Restaurant.


Must be very nice dining inside while gazing at wonderful garden
and koi fish pond outside the restaurant.

For lunch, we had Yudofu (simmered Tofu in hot water) which was known as Shojin Ryori in Kyoto.  And Kaiseki Japanese Course for dinner.

Kaiseki Ryori (会席料理) is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner.  Refined Kaiseki set menu of select food served on an individual tray which were meticulous prepared and emphasis on subtle local flavors and seasonal ingredients. 

Seasonal Sashimi (Mukozuke / 向付) 

Grill Fish (Yakimono / 焼物).

    

Grated yam, pumpkin, vegetables (Shiizakana / 強肴).

    Chawan Mushi (Mushimono/ 蒸し物).

Rice with anchovies and miso soup (Tomewan / 止椀)

Only after eating this bowl of rice and miso soup, I felt my tummy filled 80%. Kaiseki is considered a light and delicate meal to be enjoyed slowly and appreciate the different textures, flavors, temperature and presentation of the food.

Our guide told us that all the flowers, leaf or other garnishes are edible, and some is to clean our palate after eating sashimi.  

Japanese orange sorbet (Mizu-gashi  / 水菓子).

Kaiseki meal is the most expensive type of Japanese food. 

Normally served in restaurants filled with greenery and beautiful view of Japanese garden.

Taiko-en

Add: 〒534-0026 都島区網島町9-10

          9-10 Amijima-cho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka-shi  534-0026

Tel: +81 6-6356-1110

Incheon - Soraepogu Traditional Fish Market (소래포구 어시장)

Ms Kim was so nice to drop us to Incheon with her cute baby blue mini Cooper after Fusion Hanbok photo taking. Actually, they're heading to Lotte World, but she's driving us to Soraepogu instead of Oryu-dong station just because she knew that I love to go to beach.

"The sun hangs on the flags of ships returning to a port leaving behind the sun. You might think the ships are carrying the sun. At that moment, let's turn to the railroad bridge... Lean your body towards Siheung and Wolgot, and then turn your head to the right and hold your breath. You would enjoy the sun setting in Sorae that paints the small mountains and the sea with beautiful colors" (Source: Soraepogu Map)

Fishing boats at Soraepogu Traditional Fish Market (소래포구어시장) 

Though it's near to Incheon metropolitan city, Soraepogu still maintaining the atmosphere of an old fishing village. 

Our top priority was to hunt for food as we're starving to the max! I might had took out the red bean breads that my friend bought for breakfast when tidy up my bag... 

Luckily, we still have some strawberries for breakfast!

From Soraepogu Station, we walked and asked direction to the beach. And what we found was this traditional market near the fishing port. 

Busy Soraepogu alleyways with stalls selling fresh seafood, various types of Kimchi, 

Crab Marinated in Soy Sauce (간장게장) and street food.

Quite similar to Jumunjin Fish Market in Gangneung, you can also buy fresh seafood at reasonable price here. It's just more crowded and busier here... maybe because it's Saturday and near to Incheon and Seoul.

Wow~~~ Surprise! see what we found here?!

Locals were sitting on the mat and having their freshly cut sashimi just in front of the stalls. It looked quite fun and you won't experience this everyday (no such place to dine like this in Singapore). 

This type of place is kinda nostalgic for me because I grew up in Indonesia... Occasionally we'll dine out outskirts in open spaces like this at fishing villages or fish farms. But they didn't serve sashimi, you can opted to grill or fry or steam the fish. Normally they serve it with boiled vegetables (lalapan) like cabbage, long beans, tapioca leaf (daun ubi), papaya leaf (daun pepaya) and belacan (terasi).

We went to one of the stall to select seafood (fish and sea squirts). Then looked for a place to sit and wait for Ajumma to prepare our food.

some random photos while waiting... ㅋㅋ

You know?... sitting on the floor when eating can prevent you from over eating. Your stomach is pressed by your legs making it virtually impossible to eat full. It is better for your health~^^

Cheers~!!! 

 Super Fresh Sashimi - 20,000 Won

잘 ~~~ 먹겠습니다! ^^

It's nice to sit and  mingle with locals and enjoy our sashimi here with seagulls singing and cold sea breeze blowing to you.  Oh~ love it! 

Chrysanthemum-shaped bread filled with red bean paste (Gukhwappang = 국화빵 )

Blame the cold weather, I need something hot to munch. We found a cart selling this traditional street snacks. We bought Gukhwappang and my hubby tested the taste of boiled silkworm larvae (번데기 = Beondegi)... yiuuks~! 

Outside Soraepogu Fish Market.

Strolling around the city...

 Seafood restaurants along the street.

Fisherman (어부) sculpture.

 Sauna, hotels and motels...

 Map of Incheon Metropolitan City

Key Attraction: 

~ Incheon Bridge (인천대교)

   The world's 5th largest bridge, selected as "10 Wonders of the Construction World"

   Incheon Bridge, the "Red Carpet" towards the world is an offshore bridge which connects the

   New Songdo City to Incheon International Airport.

~ Incheon Open Port - Chinatown (개항장 - 차이나타운)

   The fist Chinese Street in Korea with 120 years of history. The "pai-loo" (gate) at the entrance

   was recently built to celebrate the area based on Chinese traditions. 

   The neighborhood Samgukji Mural Street featuring major scenes from "The Romance of the 

   Three Kingdoms" along the street to Jayu Park.

~ Songdo Central Park (송도 센트럴공원)

   Eco-friendly park provides relaxation and entertainment with sculpture park, terraces, artificial

   waterways, water taxis and a moving stage.

  

   Visitors can ride the water taxi Michuhol in Korea's first sea park built with waterways.

~ Ganghwa Dolmen (강화 고인돌)

   There are more than 100 dolmens (Jiseokmyo) in Ganghwa area, both the southern and northern

   styles are mixed together. 

   Bugeunri Dolmen located in Dolmen Park is a typical northern style dolmen. It's designated as 

   UNESCO World Heritage site.

~ Baengnyeongdo Island (백령도)

   Baengnyeongdo is the closest island to North Korea. Originally it was the 13th largest island in 

   South Korea with size of 46.35 km. Now it is the 8th largest because of the reclamation project

   that connected Hwadong and Sagot Beach.

~ Soraepogu (소래포구)

Lively Soraepogu city.

So sad that we didn't catch the breathtaking golden sunset in Soraepogu...

need to go back to Seoul to meet my friend.

Upss... trot songs stopped me to go in to subway station...

Everybody~! Let's sing and dance!!!

1 Nonhyeon 1(il)-dong Namdong-gu Incheon

Direction by subway (32 stations): 

Seoul Station -> Oidobound (Line 4) -> Oido Songdobound (Suin Line) -> Soraepogu station

(about 1 hour 30 minutes)

Related Posts:
~ [Gangneung] - Jumunjin Fish Market

~ Namdaemun Market - Cutlass Fish (갈치조림) Alley