Hachinohe Bouillabaisse Festa 2017

Hachinohe Bouillabaisse Festa 2017　八戸ブイヤベースフェスタ
Event Website (Japanese): http://www.hhrp.jp/hbb/

Enjoy special bouillabaisse at various restaurants around Hachinohe during this event.

Date: February 1-March 31, 2017
Hours: Varies
Location: Various restaurants around Hachinohe
Cost: 1000-4000yen
Hachinohe Bouillabaisse Rules:

1. Hachinohe Seafood! Must use at least 4 types of Hachinohe-caught seafood. Local herbs and vegetables should also be used as much as possible.
2. Twice the Deliciousness! Participating restaurants must provide an extra something so that the bouillabaisse can be enjoyed twice--first just the soup as is, then with the "extra."

Yokohama Sea Cucumber Fair 2016

Yokohama Sea Cucumber Fair 2016
横浜なまこフェア (Yokohama Namako Fair)

Enjoy fresh, in-season Yokohama sea cucumbers (namako) at a special price. (Depending on weather conditions, etc. sea cucumbers may not be available, or quantities may be limited.)

Date:Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays December 3-25, 2016
(December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25)
Admission: Cost of Food (350yen-1000yen)
Locations:

• Michi no Eki Yokohama Nanohana Plaza Restaurant Senna
  道の駅よこはま　菜の花プラザ　レストラン「鮮菜」 (map)
• Travel Plaza Sunshine トラベルプラザ・サンシャイン (map)

"Meat Day" at Steakhouse Miraikan

"Meat Day" at Steakhouse Miraikan (20th Anniversary Special Event)
ステーキハウス味蕾館20周年特別企画　「２９（肉）の日　第1弾」　(Niku no Hi)

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the restaurant, Steakhouse Miraikan is offering a special deal on May 29th for "Meat Day"* --one hour of all-you-can-eat-steak for only 2,929yen!

(*A Japanese pun: 2 & 9 can be read as "ni-ku" in Japanese, and niku (肉) is also the word for "meat." So the 29th is "Meat Day" and the price "2,929yen" is "meat meat.")

Date: Sunday May 29, 2016
Time: 15:00-20:00 (last order: 19:45)
Location: Michi no Eki Oirase Roman Park Steakhouse Miraikan
道の駅　奥入瀬ろまんパーク　ステーキハウス味蕾館　(map)
Cost: 2,929yen (tax included) for 60 min. All-You-Can-Eat-Steak

Oirase Brewery Beer Day 2016

Oirase Brewery Beer Day
奥入瀬麦酒館「ビールの日」 (Beer no Hi)

Enjoy 2 hours of all-you-can-drink Oirase Brewery beer (and other drinks) for only 1080yen on this special, once-a-year "Beer Day."

Date: Saturday April 23, 2016
Time: 11:00-19:00 (18:30 last order)
Location: Oirase Brewery 奥入瀬麦酒館 (map)
Cost: 1080yen

Oirase Brewery Day 2016

Oirase Brewery Day 2016
奥入瀬麦酒館「麦酒館の日」 (Mugishu-Kan no Hi)

Enjoy two hours of all-you-can-drink Oirase beer and other drinks for only 1600yen. Add 90minutes of all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, salad, appetizers and dessert for only 1300yen. (Reservations required.)

Date: 3rd Thursday of Each Month
Time: 11:00-21:00 (20:30 last order)
Location: Oirase Brewery 奥入瀬麦酒館 (map)
Cost: 120min All-You-Can-Drink 1600yen; 90min All-You-Can-Eat 1300yen
(Minimum party numbers: 2 people. Maximum seating: 80 people.)
Reservations: Required. Call 0176-72-3231. Reservations accepted up to the day before the event.

2015 Yokohama Sea Cucumber Fair

2015 Yokohama Sea Cucumber Fair
2015　横浜なまこフェア 

Enjoy fresh, in-season Yokohama sea cucumbers (namako) at a special price. (Depending on weather conditions, etc. namako may not be available, or quantities may be limited.)

Date: December 1-13, 2015
Locations:

• Michi no Eki Yokohama Nanohana Plaza Restaurant Senna
  道の駅よこはま　菜の花プラザ　レストラン「鮮菜」 (map)
• Travel Plaza Sunshine トラベルプラザ・サンシャイン (map)

Time: 

Michi no Eki Yokohama Nanohana Plaza Restaurant Senna: 11:00-17:00 (16:30 last order)

Travel Plaza Sunshine: 10:00-15:00 

Menu:

• Yokohama Namako Don (横浜なまこ丼　sea cucumber rice bowl)　1000yen
  (Limited Quantities! Weekdays: 30 Servings; Weekends: 40 Servings)
• Yokohama Namako Kobachi (横浜なまこ小鉢　small bowl of sea cucmber)  350yen

Michi no Eki Yokohama Nanohana Plaza Restaurant Senna

道の駅よこはま　菜の花プラザ　レストラン「鮮菜」

79-12 Hayashinowaki (青森県上北郡横浜町林ノ脇79-12)
Yokohama Town, Kamikita District, Aomori Prefecture 039-4134

Travel Plaza Sunshine トラベルプラザ・サンシャイン
127 Mameda (青森県上北郡横浜町大豆田１２７)
Yokohama Town, Kamikita District, Aomori Prefecture 039-4114

More Information:

• Yokohama Town Official Website (Japanese): http://www.town.yokohama.lg.jp/index.cfm/7,2286,19,html
• Michi no Eki Yokohama Nanohana Plaza (Japanese): http://www.nanohana-plaza.com/
• Travel Plaza Sunshine: http://www.tpsun.jp/

Risoukyo Flower Festivals

Risoukyo's lovely botanical gardens are a hidden gem of Towada. In the spring it has three major flower festivals: Chinese peony, lupin, and Japanese iris festivals.

Chinese Peony Festival
芍薬まつり (shakuyaku matsuri)
Date: May 30, 2015 (Sat.) - June 14, 2015 (Sun.)
Description: Enjoy about 2000 blooms of 140 varieties

Lupin Festival
ルピナスまつり (lupinus matsuri)
Date: May 30, 2015 (Sat.) - June 30, 2015 (Tue.)

Description: Enjoy 10,000 flowers spread over 4000 square metres

Japanese Iris Festival 
花菖蒲まつり (hanashoubu matsuri)
Date: June 20, 2015 (Sat.) - July 20, 2015 (Mon.)
Description: Enjoy 20,000 flowers of 500 varieties

If you want to take a break while viewing the extensive gardens, try the traditional thatched-roof house turned restaurant, Risoutei (鯉艸亭). Among other things, it offers "handmade waterwheel soba" (手打ち水車そば teuchi suisha soba) made from buckwheat milled in the waterwheel near the entrance of the park, stewed apples (りんご煮 ringo-ni) for dessert, and perilla juice （しそジュース shiso juice）--all very refreshing on a hot summer day. (Risoutei is closed weekdays except for reservations in May. Open daily June-July.)

Risoutei

Handmade Waterwheel Soba

Stewed Apples

Perilla Juice

Location: Risoukyo 手作り村鯉艸郷 
Torigamori-2-10 Fukamochi
Towada, Aomori 034-0106
0176-27-2516

Hours: 9:00-17:00
Admission: 

• Adults (High School-Aged & Up): 550yen (May: 300yen)
• Elementary-Junior High School Students: 200yen (May: 100yen)
• Groups (15+ people): 450yen (May: 270yen)
• Physically Disabled: 400yen (May: 200yen)

More Information:
Risoukyo Official Website (Japanese/English) http://www.risoukyo.com

Chinese & Steak Restaurant Kobayashitei

Restaurant Spotlight: Kobayashitei こばやし亭

A Chinese food and steak/hamburg steak restaurant with filling meals for reasonable prices. The recommended specials (おすすめメニュー osusume menu) are especially good deals but be warned that they also change periodically. A limited take out menu is also available.

 

 

Recommended Menu Items:

Beef Steak (220g) ビーフステーキ1400yen

(comes with soup and rice)

Ginger-Fried Pork 710yen

豚肉生姜焼き(butaniku shouga yaki)

(comes with soup and rice)

Fried Chicken and Fried Rice* 780yen 
からあげとチャーハン (karaage to chaahan)

(comes with soup)
*Recommended special (おすすめメニュー osusume menu), NOT on the regular menu, so not always available

Hamburg Steak and Fried Chicken (2pcs)* 800yen

ハンバーグとからあげ２個 (hamburg to karaage ni ko)

(comes with soup and rice)

*Recommended special (おすすめメニュー osusume menu), NOT on the regular menu, so not always available  

Beef and Vegetables in Thick Sauce on Rice* 850yen

牛肉うま煮かけごはん (gyuuniku umani kakegohan)

(comes with soup)

*Recommended specials (おすすめメニュー osusume menu), NOT on the regular menu, so not always available

Hours: 11:30-15:00 (14:30 last order); 17:30-21:00 (20:40 last order), Closed Wednesdays

Price Range: ～2000yen

English/Picture Menu: n/a

Seating: Table (~7 tables x 4 seats) and Counter (~4 seats)

Good For: Solo Dining, Couples, Families, Small-Large Groups, Parties

Reservations: Usually not necessary, except for larger groups/parties

Phone: 0176-22-1897

Parking: Available (~6 cars)         

Address/Map:

20-15 Higashinijūichibanchō (十和田市東二十一番町20-15)

Towada City, Aomori 034-0014

Curry & Ramen Tanchatei

Restaurant Spotlight: Tanchatei たんちゃ亭

A popular curry and ramen restaurant that offers a good variety of ramen and curries, including miso curry gyuunuu (milk) ramen, curry noodles, and lamb curry among others.

The original restaurant, Tanbo no Chaya (たんぼのちゃや), was located in Towadako Machi (on the way to Lake Towada) and had been in business for over 20 years. After a fire destroyed the original building, Tanbo no Chaya re-opened in central Towada as Tanchatei in April 2012.

 

Ordering
There is a numbered picture menu on a wall near the entrance. Use the numbers to buy food tickets from the machine to the left of the entrance and give the tickets to the staff at the counter to place your order. Drinks and some other items need to be ordered and paid for at the counter.

 

You can choose the spiciness level for curry* and spicy miso ramen (辛みそラーメン kara miso ramen) :

• Mild (普通 futsuu =  "regular")
• Medium (中辛 chuukara)
• Hot (大辛 ookara),
• Very Hot (激辛 gekikara)
• Hell (地獄 jigoku) 30x hotter, extra 100yen
• Heaven (天国 tengoku) 50x hotter, extra 150yen 

*Note: You cannot select the spiciness level for: lamb curry (ラムカレー); mini curry (ミニカレー); children's curry (お子様カレー okosama curry); and curry that comes as part of a set (セットのカレー setto no curry)

Recommended Menu Items:

Miso Curry Milk Ramen 760yen
みそカレー牛乳ラーメン (miso curry gyuunyuu ramen)

Chicken Ramen チキンラーメン 890yen

Curry Noodles カレーヌードル 850yen

(For an extra 100yen (pay at the counter), you can get a bowl of rice and cheese to mix into the leftover soup to turn it into a sort of risotto.)

Cheese Cutlet Curry 860yen
チーズカツカレー (cheese katsu curry)

*Winter Only* Baked Curry 850yen??
焼きカレー (yaki curry)

Hours: 11:00-15:00 (14:30 last order), 17:00-21:00*, Closed Wednesdays
*Closing time may change depending on the season

Website: http://www.tancha-tei.com/
Price Range:～1500yen

English/Picture Menu: Partial Picture Menu

Seating: Table (3 tables x 4 people, 3 tables x 2 people), Tatami (1 table x 6 people), and Counter (3 people); Non-Smoking Environment During Lunchtime  

Good For: Solo Dining, Couples, Small Groups, Parties (with Reservations) 

Reservations: Only needed for parties

Phone: 0176-58-6969

Parking: Available (6 cars in front of the restaurant and an overflow lot to the north of the restaurant)

Address/Map:
1-9 Nishinijunibancho (十和田市西二十二番町1‐9)
Towada City, Aomori 034-0094

Italian Bar Sette Colore

Restaurant-Bar Spotlight: Sette Colore セッテ・コローレ

[May 27, 2016 Update: Closed indefinitely and most likely permanently]

An Italian bar that opened in the autumn of 2014. It has a good selection of food (appetizers, fish, meat, pizza, etc.) as well as many different wines and other types of alcohol. The casual but stylish atmosphere makes it popular among the 20's-30's set.

Recommended Menu Items:

Chicken Liver Paste with Garlic Toast 690yen

(チキンレバーペースト　ガーリックトースト添え)

Bagna Cauda-Style Vegetables & Dip 590yen

(バーニャカウダ風　彩り野菜のディップ baanya kauda-fu irodori yasai no dippu)

Sette "Chef's Whim" Pizza 1100yen

(セッテの気まぐれピッツァ sette no kimagure pittsa)

Baked Bourgogne-Style Escargot 980yen

(エスカルゴのブルゴーニュ風オーブン焼き esucarugo no burugounyu-fu oubun yaki)

Baked Pork-Wrapped Mini-Tomatoes with Cheese  590yen

(ミニトマトの豚巻チーズオーブン焼き mini tomato no buta maki chiizu oubun yaki)

3 Variety Cheese Plate 780yen

(3種のチーズ盛り合わせ sanshu no chiizu moriawase)

Hours: 17:00-24:00 (23:30 last order), Closed Wednesdays
Price Range: 2000yen～
Seating Charge: 300yen/person (appears on bill as otoshi  (おとし) for the small appetizer you get)
Nomihodai (all-you-can-drink): 2hrs = 1500yen alcohol/800yen soft drinks; all members of the party must pay for the same level of nomihodai, i.e. either all 1500yen or all 800yen--no mixing and matching. (Only generic "red" and "white" wines included in the nomihodai menu.)
English/Picture Menu: N/A
Seating: Tables (5 tables x 4 seats; 1 tables x 2 seats) and Counter (～5 seats)
Good For: Solo Dining; Couples; Small Groups; Parties
Reservations: Recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings or parties
Phone: 0176-22-7788
Parking: None （pay parking available across the street)
Address/Map: 1-41 Higashi San-Bancho (十和田市東三番町1－41)
Towada City, Aomori 034-0031