Cherry blossom in Japan

Surprisingly, we had very relaxing lunch. We were seated, and our baby was already sleeping, so we put him on the booster chair and let him sleep. The menu was in color and had pictures, so it was easy to order, even if you do not read Japanese or are not familiar with Japanese food. We ordered a draft beer called Moly, which was served in a chilled beer mug. After quite a walk, that was a big treat. My husband ordered some set menu that comes with sushi, soba, and tempura. I also ordered a set that came with soba and Kamo tempura. What I like about Japanese food in Japan is that you can everything in one order.

Hamo is a pike conger. This fish is not popular on the east side of Japan, but in the Kansai area, which includes Kyoto, Osaka, etc., it is eaten more. Therefore, I wanted to test it. Trying some peculiar foods is part of the fun for traveling. It was tasty; it tastes like eel. Its texture is gummy. My husband thought that the tempura was nothing like the tempura he has had in US.

I wanted to visit this house for long time--the house they stayed in until they got to be a bigger organization. They were afraid, feared, but loved in the end. It still has a mark from assignation for one of their kind to keep their rule. You pay 1,000 yen, which is about 10 dollars or less, and you are guided to see this small house, which you cannot imagine six rough guys sleeping in, and at the end they serve you green tea and sweets. Unfortunately, they have no English guide available.

We took taxi from Keihan shijou station--I cannot remember exactly how much, but it was between 20 to 30 dollars--and we walked back on shijou douri. There is a bus available from Shijou station.