Yakkome [焼き米 (やっこめ)]

I bought Yakkome at a souvenior shop called Kagiya next to Yunotake-Ann in Yufuin.
When I was a child, my relative gave me some Yakkome.  I remember having it for breakfast.

Yakkome is roasted rice. Farmers harvest rice crop before they ripe, and then they roast the rice.
I like savory smell of roasted rice.
I taste a little bit of sweetness that rice naturally have.

Here is how to prepare Yakkome. :)

Add boiled water.

Cover the rice bowl with a dish and wait for 5 or 6 minitues.

When Yakkome become soft, it is ready to eat.
I add some salt. 

I was so happy to find Yakkome since I didn't see it for a long time!

My Favorite Restauant in Yufuin: Yunotake-Ann 湯の岳庵

Yunotake-Ann is located near Lake Kinrinko in Yufuin.
I wanted to have a window table, but unfortunately they had been reserved.

Course Menu

Spinach and Shimeji & Peanut Tofu.

Grilled fresh shiitake.

Shiitake is a special product in Oita. Fresh one is so good!

 

 After grilled top parts of Shiitake, remove a hard tip of Shiitake and tear them into a few pieces.

Koi Sashimi.

Tofu. 

I don't remember if it was Ayu or Yamame.....

Beef.

I chose Unagi Chazuke...

Home made pudding and ice coffee.

Everything was so good. The service was excellent.  

 

 

There is an old house near the restaurant.

 

 

 

 

Tekizansou in Hiji, Oita

I had a wonderful dinner at Tekizansou in Hiji Town, Oita.

Tekizansou was owned by a gold miner, who built in 1915.

Before dinner, a restaurant staff took us a short tour inside the restaurant.

There is old furnitures, light fixtures and several rare, hand-made window panes. I think this place itself is like a small meuseum.

I feel lucky to have seen such old valuables and rare items, and appreciate they are preserving them in a good condition.

There is a nice Japanese garden that can be viewed from the restaurant.

I regret I did not take pictures of inside and outside house.

This is a view from our room.
Unfortunately we could not see Mt. Takasaki since it was cloudy.
If the weather had been good, we would have seen Mt. Takasaki.

 

We ordered sake.

They served sake with flower arrangement. What a nice presentation!

Home made Japanese plum wine.

 

Three dango.

Yomogi, white wine and strawberry flavor.

Flounder sashimi.

 

Shabu Shabu pan looks like a flower, which is cute!

 



Guess what is inside a wrap!

It is a small sushi inside.

Both food and service is great!!

I definitely want to come back here. I would like to have lunch next time I come.

Yunotake-Ann in Yufuin

 

 

Yunotake-Ann is a Japanese restaurant inside a traditional Japanese inn, Kamenoi Besso, which is one of the most famous inns in Yufuin.  The restaurant is located near Lake Kinrinko.

The restaurant specializes in serving local vegetables, fish, beef, pork and poultry.
Every time I go there, I enjoy dishes cooked using seasonal fresh locally grown foods!

We ordered a fixed course menu.
I had a ginger ale. :)

 

These taros are for three servings.

 

I did not take every dish in the course menu this time....

I would like to post some of the pictures taken here last year!

Seasonal Bento.

 

Suppon Karaage.

(Soft-shelled turtle Karaage)

 

Yamame. (Landlocked Salmon)

* We ordered suppon karaage and yamae from a la cart menu.

They were not included in the course menu.

I ordered a fixed mini course.

Carp Sashimi

Fresh Shiitake mushroom.

Shiitake is a speciality in Oita.

Shiitake stems.

Pork.

 

Sorbet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beppu Park

Beppu Park is located in the center of Beppu city. It takes 10 minutes walk from Beppu station.
It was a site of US Army Camp called Chikamauga after WWII.  I've heard there is a pine tree still there that US soldiers planted at that time.

I enjoyed a stroll around Beppu Park.

One of the reasons I decided to go to Japan in the spring was to see cherry blossoms. 
Cherry blossoms were in full bloom I hadn't seen them for a long time. I was lucky to see them.

The park is well maintained by the city. I think you would enjoy many of seasonal flowers in the park in full bloom.

 

 

Just walking around there soothed my soul.

 

 

 

 



There is a bomboo grove!

 

 

I found a bamboo shoot.

The sign says "do not steal the bamboo shoots."

 

Next time I go there in April, I would like to have a picnic under chreey blossoms.
:)