Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Again

After our morning visit to Saijo sake district, we headed back to Hiroshima to pick up our luggage. We decided to have another Hiroshima okonomiyaki. We had found one from the internet that was quite near the station. It was located in a building called Full Focus (フルフォーカスビル). When we reached, we realised that there were many other okonomiyaki restaurants on the same floor. We made one round to survey them, and decided on one that had just one other customer.

We ordered one with udon and one with soba. The yellow noodle one was the soba.

We added an oyster add-on for the one below.

These were delicious. Would definitely go for Hiroshima okonomiyaki again if there is chance.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yakunjya.ekimae/
Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/hiroshima/A3401/A340121/34001612/

Saijo Sake District

Hiroshima Saijo (広島西条) is one of the famous sake districts in Japan. The other two are Hyogo Nada (兵庫灘) and Kyoto Fushimi (京都伏見). Saijo is the birthplace of 三浦 仙三郎, the father of ginjo sake. He first proposed using soft water to make ginjo sake in 1887.

There were 7 breweries within walking distance from the Sajio station (one other had ceased operations)

Near the station, there was the Matsuo shrine (松尾神社). This was a branch of the famous Matsuo shrine in Kyoto. Prayers were usually made just before the brewing season.

Website: http://saijosake.com/index.html

France-Ya 佛蘭西屋

Saijo (西条) is one of the top 3 famous sake district in Japan. We visited one of the largest brewery Kamotsuru (賀茂鶴酒造). As it was raining, we decided to go for lunch after that. We had to run to France-Ya (佛蘭西屋), a restaurant owned by the same brewery.

Only the Japanese restaurant on level was opened that day. Its specialty was the sake hotpot (美酒鍋).

The waitress poured about 500ml of sake into the pot. She did the whole cooking for us.

Hiroshima had some nice sake rices such as the Hiroshima Nishiki (広島錦).

Here is an external shot of the restaurant. It was still drizzling after lunch.

Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/hiroshima/A3407/A340701/34002971/

Kakuuchi Fukuko 角打福本屋

We were taking a slow walk back to our hotel at the Hiroshima station after dinner. Just close to the station, we came across a standing sake bar. How lucky! Kakuuchi (角打) refers to a small drinking place. The term originated from a small drinking corner at a alcohol store. This was a tachinomi (立ち飲み) - standing drinking place.

There were about 30 kinds of sakes to choose from. There were 2 sizes at JPY 400/700. There were also the usual beers and shochus.

We tried a few sakes.

There were food to go with as well such as skewers and fried stuffs. But do try their oden items as well.

Website: http://fukuko.jp/shop/
Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/hiroshima/A3401/A340121/34010466/

Bar Kawasaki バー カワサキ

Bar Kawasaki was another old bar in Japan. The master was probably more than 75 years old. Reviews on tripadvisor weren't too positive. However, our visit seemed fairly alright. Perhaps the master wasn't able to communicate too well.

Anyway there were many Ballantine's 30 year old on the shelves. So we also ordered one to try. This was my first time trying. It was smooth as expected for a 30yo, a nice balance blend. But I would still prefer my smoky Cao Ila ;)

We were given a plate of blue cheese and raisins. This seemed to be fairly common in Japanese bars.

Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/hiroshima/A3401/A340110/34008879/

Horse Sashimi 馬刺し

We found this horse sashimi restaurant Sumiyaki Dinging WA (炭焼ダイニング WA) on Tabelog. The restaurant served rare horse parts. We had had horse sashimi in Japan before. Usually they were quite heavily marinated.

This time round we get to try interesting parts such as bottom flap (カイノミ), lean meat near the chuck (上赤身), fats below the mane (こうね),  meat and fats around the stomach (ふたえご), loin (上ロース). These tasted like fresh sashimi.

Shoyu for horse sashimi.

Crunch pigs' ears.

Website: https://y784100.gorp.jp/
Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/hiroshima/A3401/A340116/34020007/

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Mura お好み村

Hiroshima okonomiyaki (お好み) is a must try food at Hiroshima. We decided to go to the Okonomiyakimura (village) お好み村. The whole building housed about 20+ okonomiyaki stores. We were there around 4pm, so most of the stores were empty. We chose one that had a few customers. On hind sight we should have chosen an empty one, so that we could get our food faster.

Okonomiyakimura (お好み村) is the building on the right. Notice name of the shop on the left is village head's shop (村長の店). Mura is village in japanese.

It took about 15-20 min for the okonomiyaki to be cooked. The main difference between the Hiroshima and Osaka okonomiyaki was the noodle. There was the option of soba or udon to be added.

Website: http://www.okonomimura.jp/foreign/english.html

No Gyoza No Life 餃子バル 餃子家 龍 カープロード

We arrived in Hiroshima slightly before our check-in time 2pm, so we went looking for food. We found a gyoza (餃子) place just beside the JR station. This was actually one store of a chain restaurant.

We ordered a combo of three different kinds of gyoza and the negi gyoza.

There was chicken wing (手羽先) gyoza as well!

Food was suprisingly good! And of course with high ball and a local gin tonic to go with them.


Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/hiroshima/A3401/A340121/34023425/

Aki Grand Hotel 安芸グランドホテル

The "floating" torii gate is one key symbol of Hiroshima (広島), and perhaps Japan as well. We chose to stay at Aki Grand Hotel & Spa (安芸グランドホテル), that was opposite the island of Miyajima (宮島).

Train ride was about half an hour from Hiroshima. The hotel was just about 10+ min from the station by foot. But there was hotel shuttle every 30 min as well. The hotel was pretty big. We were greeted by a very friendly hotel manager that was fluent in English.

We had a room with both beds and futon. And from our room, we could see the great Torii. But alas, it was still under renovation, with no clear date that when the works would complete.

Website: https://www.akigh.co.jp/