Eiyo-ji（temple) at Gero Iwataro sakura at Gero Cherry blossoms in Gero Garyu-sakura (crouching dragon cherry tree) in Takayama is very old tree. Weeping cherry at SAKANA Cherries are blooming eveywhere! by Kay

Old town in Takayama Takayama town centre is usually full of tourists all through the year, and especially this cherry blossom season. Now tourists have disappeared as the Covid-19 spreads over the world. The cherry blossoms are blooming q…

It's been three years since the owner chef had buried Shiitake fungi in oak and chestnut log on the premise of SAKANA but we couldn't get any Shiitake mushroom for two year then we've almost forgotten. When we looked into the place to see …

It's been too warm this winter, no snow that made tourists dissapointed. We thought on the other hand, Spring may come earlier and went to find the sign of Spring. There it is! The first sing of Spring 'Fuki no tou' (Butterbur sprouts) was…

Use live amago (River fish is important for freshness!) Amago that has been cleaned.(the internal organs, gills) The Amago are tied with a string and dried well in summer breeze.It is a season when the river fish become delicious. Because …

There are two Juneberry tree in SAKANA's garden. Birds and us were racing to get the fruits this year. We've got enough berries to make gelato. Nicely chilled summer dessert. by Kay

We visited high mountain at the border between Gifu and Toyama for wild-veg picking. This must be the last chance in this year. The green get deeper and deeper. We found a huge horse chestnut tree. It seems that two hundred years old. Some…

Chishima bamboo is very popular spring food of local folks, and .....bears. Crawling in the ocean of bamboo is tough exercise. Our rucksack became awfully heavy filled with the bamboo shoots. Hope our hard work will be paid off by the gues…

This miniature palm trees look-like vegetable called Momiji-kasa (maple leaf umbrella). People say it's queen of wild-veg. Udo is very popluar and farmed ones are sold in the market, but wild ones have much stronger flavour. The texture is…

We climed up 1 kilo meters up in a mountian to get wild wasabi flower and ostrich fern sprouts. The snow still remains here and there. Pretty white flowers were blooming along the river. Young wasabi leaves has a slight sweetness and refre…

Tara-no-me （Aralia elata） Koshiabura（Acanthopanax sciadophylloides） Kogomi（Ostrich fern shoot) Spring shoots and buds are sprouting everywhere. We go out the fields and mountains to pick them for the menu. Wild garlic Wild vegetables …

A cherry tree just outside of the window is in full bloom. The guests enjoy Yozakura, the illuminated cherry blossom in the evening. It's fantastic! by Kay

Iwataro Sakura, well known a weeping cherry in Gero. Gero is popular hot spring bath spot to the south of Takayama. It was summer like weather and the cherry trees in this area bloomed in full. Iwataro Sakura spread its branches and made s…

I dropped in at Takayama town centre to see the Spring festival. The decorated festival floats were displayed in the streets. The streets were unusually crowded with the people from everywhere in the world. and photographers...... Cherry b…

Freshly caught river fish (char) cooked with Namban style. (deep fried and soaked in vinegar sauce) A good size of wild char has caught by the owner chef. Super fresh. Early spring vegetables Marinade with vinegar and vegetables. by Kay

Thawing season came to Shirakawa village too early this year, tourists who were looking forward to the snow was disappointed, however the villagers welcomed the Spring. Maintenance of thatched roof. The rising smoke naturally fumes the tha…

We had less snow this winter and signs of spring shows three weeks earlier than usual. Fukinoto (butterbur buds), one of popular adible wild vegetable, were shooting out from where the snow is melting. by Kay

Pretty little flowers around the Lake Arimine

A fun part of camping is open air cooking. We brought some food and drinks from our home and procure some stuff from natural resource. We made Hoba wrapped Hida-beef steak. Adding a little twist of natural flavour made big difference, even…

Looking for the last of the last wild vegetable, we went camping at Toyama Pref's Lake Amemine. Leaving Takayama at 4 in the morning. The gate at the site opens at 6 am. As soon as we reached at the lake side, the master started to fishing…

Tiny flowers are blooming in the mountain. They seemed enjoying raindrops. by Kay

As hot weather is crawling up, we had to climbed up even higher to higher altitude point to pick up wild veg. This will be the last chance in this season. Wild bracken shoot Wild garlic has grown up and the flower are about to bloom. Naruk…

White snow turned into green as getting wamer, the snow melting water is yet too cold to jump in. Mountains are covered with young and fresh greens.

Many eadible plants are found along the clear stream in the mountains. Itadori (Japanese knotweed) good for stew, tempura Udo (English name not known). One of popular Spring vegetable, but truly wild Udo has much stronger fragrance and har…

We went into deep in a mountain for more wild plants. Wild wasabi flower was blooming along the clear stream of water. The master said that Spring is not the best season for wasabi roots. Winter is the best season for wasabi that has rich …

We went to wild plants picking to the fields and mountains. Koshiabura-shoot Warabi (bracken) shoots Kogomi (fern) shoots We love these soft shoots and sprouts flavours and textures in different way of cooking. Eating these wild vegs, just…

The weeping cherry tree at SAKANA is showing off its beauty. Sakura-watch at bar counter can be enjoyed until next week (hopfully), some seats are still available. by Kay

This cheerful family came to SAKANA to celebrate birthday for one of their family member. After they enjoyed Hida beef steak course, they moved to the bar counter for more drinks. The cherry blossom just out side of the window was in full …

I saw cherry blossoms everywhere as I was walking in Takayama Town centre. by Kay

Late Spring has arrived at Takayama. Many kinds of trees started to bloom at SAKANA's premise. These photos were taken few days ago. Now the weeping cherry out side the window is in half bloom, will be full in few days. Common cherry has a…