Day 8: Tokyo Welcome Dinner

Our friends Naomi and Hikaru had very kindly arranged a welcome dinner for tonight for 19:00 at Hinoya Restaurant located near the Toritsudaigaku subway station in the western part of Tokyo. We were very much looking forward to this special dinner and meeting Naomi and Hikaru's family. We met Naomi, Hikaru and their niece Chihiro at 18:45 at the station exit gates. Lots of handshakes, smiles and hugs on greeting. Very short walk to the stunning restaurant. We are honoured to be the special guests tonight.

Hinoya Restaurant on entry (Internet photo)

Family picture with our gift of Canada toques. On left seated is Takahiro (brother of Naomi), standing behind is Hikaru, beside is Naomi and seated below is Noburo (Naomi's 92 year old father), standing behind is Yumiko (Naomi's sister-in-law) and seated to the far right is Chihiro (Naomi's niece/interpreter).

Our gracious hostess and owner of Hinoya Restaurant. Dressed in a beautiful kimono. 

 Group photo!

Lana and Randy with Noburo. We were shown photos of Noburo when he was in his early twenties and we swear he looked like a Japanese Gregory Peck!

Beautiful Japanese garden located just outside our beautiful private dining.

This is such an incredible welcoming and treat tonight. We are eating a nine course Kaiseki dinner. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, but also refers to the skills and techniques that allow for preparation of such an intricate meal. Really, for us Westerners this is high-end treatment of Japanese cuisine in all ways. A gourmet dinner! 

Before we get started on describing the meal, we must outline this restaurant and their Kaiseki meal is first class. A very aesthetic approach to a superb dining experience. So Japanese where every detail is considered. From the minimalist but functional private dining room to the presentation of each dish over the nine courses. The plates, chopsticks, trays are complimentary to the entire night. All are beautiful, functional and matched with the entire meal. We are so impressed and feel privileged to be treated to this experience by Naomi, Hikaru and their family.

Chihiro mainly acts as the interpreter and her english is very good. There are tablets that access the internet and have family photos. Plus, family photo albums allow us to see Naomi and others when they were much younger. So thoughtful to share with Lana and I. Lots of conversation throughout the meal. We learn that Takahiro is a marathoner, Yumiko is a gospel singer and Chihiro is a ballerina. Very talented family. We also see Chiaki and Chihiro's coming of age photos--in Japan when a child turns 20, this is a very special birthday and there is a celebration held. Special photos are taken and Chiaki and Chihiro are wearing beautiful kimono and both look like princesses!!!  In fact, we did not leave until 22:30 so a full night. 

There is white wine (Chardonnay) available for all of us. Then a sake that originates from Kochi area is served in a glass transparent teapot. Kochi is where my daughter taught English and we met Naomi who was one of her students in around 2003. Naomi was our official tour guide on that trip and she planned several day trips with us to show us around Kochi. We have been good friends with Naomi and Hikaru ever since!! Very special sake that is tasty and pairs with many of the dishes to follow. 

Our appetizer of shrimp, Chimaki (steamed rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaf), soybeans, eel, abalone and other items. This was our first tastes and excellent start. Different tastes, textures and combination of flavours. The presentation was very beautiful!!

Second course of grunt fish, tuna and squid with real wasabi and then soy sauce for dipping. Delicate flavours and each fish was so fresh. The real wasabi added some heat to the flavours.  

Third course of Daishi:  Hamo (pike conger) and Chawamushi (steamed egg) in a soup broth with seaweed. 

Fourth course of Ohmemasu (salmon), pickled ginger, radish and garland chrysanthemum. Oishi (delicious in Japanese). 

 This is the feature dish of the evening being Horakuyaki. This is a traditional local cuisine of Kurushima in Ehime prefecture. The story is Kurushima or Murakami navy which was famous for many heroic tales, ate in when they won battles. It is known as the "Kurushima navy meal." The ingredients include whole sea bream from Ehime prefecture, prawns, turban shell and boiled eggs topped by salmon roe. Check out the colours and presentation on a huge platter--it looked like a piece of art that you did not want to spoil by eating.  

The server carefully takes off items to put on your plate. These eggs topped by salmon roe were even more delicious than they looked! The edamame (soy beans) offered a balance of flavours and textures. 

The prawn, turban shell and sea bream were so good. Check out the beautiful plate and presentation. Again, everything is so carefully presented and then paired to enhance the total meal. 

Sorry, but we neglected to take a photo of course six which was a small dish of Kakuni --  being steamed potato and pork. Of course it was delicious also!!

Course seven is Agemano (corn tempura wrapped around a local fish) and green pepper and salt for dipping. The fish had a slight bitter taste, but we enjoyed this dish. 

Eighth dish is a bowl of ginger rice, miso soup and pickled vegetables. The ginger rice had a mild sweetness to it which paired perfectly with the ginger which had a mellow but rich flavour. 

Beautiful dessert of papaya, coconut mousse and cherries. Check out the colours and range of tastes presented on a blue plate. So simple yet perfectly balanced in all ways--Naomi said some Japanese dishes are very simple but because of this, they can be difficult to cook/make well. 

Gift from the restaurant of a turtle and crane. Very symbolic and beautiful. The ribbons on the bottom are actually chopstick rests!

Also, we received beautiful gifts from the family! We were so surprised and could not believe how kind and thoughtful everyone way. Naomi and Hikaru remembered that Lana likes to cook and gave us some kitchen cooking utensils--including two beautiful chopstick sets complete with rests. Takahiro and Yumuko gave us two Japanese clothes (one with a very traditional Japanese pattern on it) and also two gifts for our grand daughters--we are sure they will be thrilled when we give them these presents. The wrapping of the gifts was so Japanese being carefully wrapped in exquisite detail. We will cherish these gifts and be a great reminder of the special meal. 

At the end of our meal we were taken to a separate room where the restaurant would have the Japanese tea ceremony. These are very special bowls that you would use for the tea being served.

Tatami mats floor you sit on during ceremony. In the middle is a charcoal fire pit that would contain the tea being made and then served. 

This dinner and family gathering will be a highlight of our entire trip to Japan. We felt honoured and learned more about Japanese culture. Naomi and Hikaru's family were fun and interesting--we loved spending this time with them. Chihiro was an awesome interpreter, when needed as everyone had varying degrees of english ability. The dinner was such a pleasure for Lana and I in so many ways.

We took two Subway trains back to Shinagawa station and were in our room by 23:00. Lana sent the photos before lights out and in bed before 23:30. Another excellent day in Tokyo and very special thanks for our friends and hosts for the best welcoming party ever!!  We feel so lucky to have met everyone and to spend this time together.

This is a screen shot of today's walking from Lana's iPhone. You can see the steps and kms and how much time was spent walking today.