Issue 11, January/February 2008 Is a Publication of the Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office What’s Up Aichi －Timely Tourist Information On Aichi Prefecture And The Surrounding Central Region－

Stretch Out and Relax in a although the Japanese workforce is and some capsules even have aroma Capsule becoming more and more therapy. The ¥4100 ($38) room charge for gender-balanced, it is still rare to find basic rooms includes use of the sauna and Many foreigners looking for a uniquely capsule that accommodate women bath. All four Wellbe hotels offer Japanese experience are curious about as there is simply less demand among the accommodations for men only. capsule hotels. While the attention that native population. these pod-like have gained in The key word is “healing” at Apaiser, recent years may have taken away a bit Travelers to Nagoya who would like to try Nagoya’s only capsule hotel offering their exoticism, you’re still likely to be the the capsule hotel experience have several accommodations for both men and women. first on your block to have tried one. options to choose from: In addition to the bath and sauna facilities that are included in the capsule charge, Capsules, which sprang from the need for Capsule Nagoya, located in the the hotel offers a number of other luxuries inexpensive and convenient sleeping Kanayama district is the city’s largest aimed especially at clientele of the fairer accommodations for the workaholics capsule hotel, and the English website sex. Manicures and beauty treatment are driving the Japanese economy and (http://www.nisshinkanko.co.jp/healthy/cp/c popular options, and a range of massages, late-night revelers who missed their last p_english_top.htm) makes reservations a including reflexology, alleviate the pains train home, fascinate Americans who are breeze. Just 25 minutes from Centrair, that many tourists accumulate over the used to airy hotel rooms and an Capsule Inn Nagoya is the best option for course of a rigorous travel schedule. The overabundance of space. At six feet or so travelers trying to catch a few Zs before an hotel is located just outside of Imaike in length with ceilings just high enough to early morning flight. The basic room subway station’s exit 8. The nightly do your travel regimen of stomach charge is ¥2800 ($25) with an extra charge capsule rate is ¥3800 ($35). crunches and push-ups, the “rooms” are for the sauna, public bath and breakfast. modest to say the least. Accommodations are for men only. Artery Clogging Nagoya Style . Just a five-minute walk from the Sakura and are all well and good, Dori exit of Nagoya Station, Capsule but a few days into your next trip to Japan Hotel Yours is convenient for travelers you may find yourself hankering for the wishing to stay in the heart of the city or comfort of a greasy American meal. While who will be catching a train to their they certainly enjoy their share of typically destination the next day. The room charge healthy , Nagoyans are of ¥3900 ($37) includes the use of the also not afraid to clock up some calories sauna. Accommodations are for men only. once in a while, and domestic tourists are sure to seek out the local deep fried dishes Insert tasteless coffin joke here. Modern design complements the when they make it to the city. For sensation of space-age slumber brought Americans, these dishes provide that Most Japanese wouldn’t choose to stay in about by the sleek capsules at Fuji, brick-in-your-stomach sensation that we a capsule hotel for fun, but for foreign located five minutes from Sakae station in are so fond of while still being distinctive tourists, a night in one is a truly the city’s entertainment district. The enough not to jeopardize our pledge to be only-in-Japan experience, and the sprawling, 20-meter-long bath and the adventurous eaters. economical price of a night’s stay can free sauna are a perfect way to reinvigorate up funds in a limited travel budget for after a night of partying. The hotel’s splurges elsewhere. English website (http://www.fto.co.jp/ep.html) provides a Competition among hotels has led to an detailed explanation of how to use the ever-expanding range of luxuries, so facilities. The nightly room charge is ¥3800 although the bed itself might be minimal, ($35) and includes use of the bath and you’ll likely find the massages, saunas and sauna. Accommodations are for men only. communal baths to be among the highlights of your trip. Capsule chain Wellbe’s four Nagoya hotels in Sakae, Toushin, Imaike and near Buffalo wing addicts, meet Nagoya tebasaki Capsule hotels are not for everyone; Nagoya Station offer and array of soothing claustrophobics or those who wish to put massages at an extra charge, including The only side dish that your Nagoya off sleeping in a box until they’re too cold Thai massage at the Imaike and Sakae tebasaki need is an ice cold draft beer. and stiff to complain about it should look locations. The Imaike location is the city’s Tebasaki (deep fried chicken wings) are for accommodation elsewhere. And only capsule hotel with an outdoor bath, common throughout Japan, but the famed Nagoya version, invented at Furaibo shops. In a country that is always eager to Should you feel inspired to try a little restaurant, has an especially loyal fan modernize, traditional tiles are a charming sculpting of your own, spend a relaxing base. The dish begins with supple chicken reminder of thousands of years of history half-day in the Kawara Museum’s pottery wings. A quick bath in hot oil ensures a that have served as the building blocks of facility where ¥1000 ($9) gets you a delicate crunchiness, and after a brushing today’s society. As the first line of defense kilogram of Takahama clay and hands-on of spicily sweet sauce, the wings are for dwellings that, despite their seeming instruction for turning the latent lump into a topped off with a generous sprinkling of fragility with their thin wooden walls and one-of-a-kind creation. white sesame, making for an unforgettable paper doors, stand up to typhoons, nutty, tangy flavor. A typical order of four or snowstorms and rainy seasons year after five dollars will get you five wings or so, year, traditional roof tiles’ aesthetic beauty but don’t hesitate to order two or three is deeply linked to their functionality. more dishes. You won’t be the only one.

Nagoyans made a groundbreaking discovery many years ago and haven’t looked back: + sauce + fried food = yummy. This formula for culinary success Decorative tiles adorn a Takahama temple shows up in miso katsu, the region’s take The Kawara Museum is an eight-minute on deep fried pork cutlet. Thick locally walk from Takahama Minato Station, which produced hatcho miso is integral to the is best reached from Meitestu Nagoya closely guarded recipe for the sauce, station via Chiryu. Museum admission is which is more robust than what you might ¥200 for adults and free for kids of junior find in the rest of the country, and a dab of high school age and younger. Museum spicy mustard opens up your taste buds hours are 9:00 to 5:00 Tuesday through and nostrils to ensure that you fully Sunday. appreciate the subtle sweetness of the A goblin tile comes to life in Takahama City breaded cutlet. If you are dieting, opt for United Airlines to Bring Back Daily the leaner fillet rather than the sirloin. On Tourists with an interest in decorative roof SFO-Centrair Flights in February second thought, if you are dieting, maybe tiles should take the 40-minute trip south you should just stick to the all-you-an-eat of Nagoya to Takahama City, where they United Airlines has announced that it will shredded cabbage that accompanies will find the Kawara (roof tile) Museum resume daily nonstop flights from San every order. (Kawara Bijutsukan). The museum boasts an impressive collection of pieces from Francisco International Airport to Central each of Japan’s regions and representing Japan International Airport (Centrair) on th every era of the country’s long history. February 11 . The carrier had cut its flights Tiles from China and the Korean to Nagoya back to five weekly as part of Peninsula also provide perspective on the schedule adjustments in October 2007. influence of Japan’s Asian neighbors. SFO-NGO, the only route connecting

Central Japan to North America’s west Visitors to the Kawara Museum get an coast, is ideal for travelers to Central up-close look at the best of the region’s Japan, and with quick rail access from roof tiles, including sanshugawara, which downtown Nagoya to Kyoto (37 minutes) occupy over 50 percent of the country’s and Tokyo (one hour 40 minutes) is also total roof tile production, and onigawara an excellent gateway to other top (goblin tiles), finely detailed works When Japanese are on the run, rice balls destinations. are a go-to snack. But Nagoyan chefs, not depicting menacing devils that have content with a typical rice ball, combine the ornamented homes and temples for nearly UA831 will depart San Francisco at 10:52 classic fast food with shrimp to 1300 years. am, arriving in Nagoya at 3:30 pm the next create tenmusu. While a seemingly day from February 11th to March 29th. simple snack, all of the ingredients in A stroll around Takahama reveals just how tenmusu are carefully chosen for their proud the little town is of its ceramic and texture and flavor. Pick up a pack of tile tradition. Just outside of the Kawara tenmusu in a department store or train Museum stands the country’s largest Aichi Prefectural Government ceramic sculpture, Kinuura Kannon. The station before setting of on a day trip; they San Francisco Office scowling faces of ogres on the are the perfect travel snack. c/o JETRO San Francisco one-and-a-half-mile goblin trail are 201 3rd Street 1010 Tile Town Takahama strangely welcoming, and you’ll also San Francisco CA 94103 encounter a giant ceramic raccoon dog. Phone: 415-392-1333 ex 252 For many foreign travelers who have had a If you’re lucky, you may even come across Fax: 415-788-6927 chance to venture into rural Japan, one of an onigawara master bringing his prized Email: [email protected] the most enduring images of their journey clay to life, altering a goblin’s features Akihiro Oyaizu, Douglas Shelton is that of traditional decorative roof tiles ever-so-slightly with a deft turn of his adorning countryside homes, temples and pallet.