Random Ramblings

Random Ramblings

I enjoyed my second visit to Sendai.   This time around I attended a drinking party with some lovelies and a good sake buddy of mine where we sampled dozens of great nihonshu.   The food for the evening was your typical standard Japanese fair: sashimi, tempura, and baked fish.   What I really enjoyed though was the Chawannmushi, a type of hot egg soup in a cup.     The chef that evening added spinach paste to it and I enjoyed the extra texture I got from the chawannmushi.    The name of the izekaya is called "Shonan Chigasakimichi Kokubunjoten"   in Sendai.     Surprisingly, no seared cow tongue was served; I have an aversion to tongue meat.   The sake for the evening was Mutsu Hassen from Aomori Prefecture.   

I met a lot of interesting characters that evening who were from all over Japan.   Sake really does lubricate the wheels of social interaction and surprisingly even after becoming sober good relationships are made.     A while ago I did a write up on Sendai and about my impressions of this city.    My opinions have not changed, but I feel that I like Sendai now.   The people are still a bit more reserved, but friendly nevertheless.    Also, when I asked for directions everybody  knew exactly where everything was, unlike Tokyo where nobody knows where anything is.   Sendai folks know their city very well and provided me very reliable directions.   Of course I asked a Jukujo mom for directions, go figure.  

Mao Asada, world renowned figure skater, sells her own line of accessories, namely wallets.   My Jukujo asked me to get her one for her birthday so I went to the Daiei in Yokohama and much to my disappointment they didn't have the color she wanted.   I searched around and couldn't find it, so on this last trip I went to the Daiei in Sendai and to my surprise they had exactly the one she wanted, and it was the last one!   Daiei is a department store, by the way.   I did good, plus I was able to pick up a packet of Sasakamaboku, a fish cake that's famous in Sendai.    

The hotel where I stayed is here: https://www.apahotel.com/hotel/touhoku/04v_sendaieki-itsutsubashi/index.html   Apa Hotel is a deluxe business hotel with locations all over Japan.   I chose this hotel because of its natural hot spa and affordability.   Another reason is because it's located next to a 24 hour convenience store.    For those who have never been to Sendai and are curious then just know that it's the gateway city to Tohoku and it's the capital.   Sendai Station is a major hub for the Shinkansen and Super Komachi Express.    

Sendai is a very busy city with lots of traffic.   There are major chain stores and eateries like you would find in Tokyo, and in some cases, like with the wallet I found, will be in stock.    Sendai is also located in Miyagi Prefecture which has many great natural hot spas and temples for your enjoyment.    The mass transit network is well organized  and you can go just about anywhere by city bus and local rail lines.    The nightlife is there, just like you would find in any major city.   

I was invited to a snack shop, which is a place often frequented by Japanese salarymen.   Another name could be a hostess bar, but on a much smaller scale.   Here the lovely ladies serve you drinks and keep your glass filled with ice.   They talk to you and sing along with you.   They treat you well.    I do not recommend going to these places without a Japanese man.   The guy I was with knew the place well and we could enjoy the ladies, drinks, and music.   We drank shochu, a distilled Japanese spirit for a set price.