Friday, 4 January 2013

Snow and New Year

Most of these are self explanatory.... snow.
They are on the way to and from Hanaoka onsen, on the Hanawa sen,
at the main shrine in Higashi Odate and in the backyard.
No space for overtaking  - a woman on the way to the onsen.






The land in this area has subsided a lot due to mine subsidence.
The river is higher than some of the land on the behind the river bank.


Hanaoka onsen

Photos from the Hanawa sen



the backyard

the backyard


This tree should feel quite appreciative.
particularly if it compared itself to this one...

I guess this tree, beautiful as it is, was not coddled as a sappling.


tying on omikuji
If you don't pull out good luck, you can always go back for another
one... well not really, but it didn't stop Hiro's niece.  She changed
her luck from small luck to big luck so I guess I can only commend her initiative.



Supermarket food

The supermarkets were packed with New Year foods.  It occurred to me this year for the first time, that in Odate there is almost no prepackaged osechi ryori available the day before NY.  I don't know about Tokyo, since I am never here at NY, but people must either pre-order it or make it themselves. The osechi in Odate seemed to be much cheaper than what's available in Tokyo, though I think that reflects the fact that the ingredients are simpler too.
It would have to be the biggest day of the year at the supermarket.

Sashimi

Sashimi from a variety of fish






Salmon and tuna sashim



Crab meat - (perhaps fake crab meat) and flounder (I think)

Frozen crab

Sushi

Prawns


Local osechi (traditional new year ) food

supermarket stacked with sushi trays


Salmon eggs

Sea cucumber

scallos

will check with hiro what this is

nishin fish with kombu 

Kazunoko - cod eggs

more kazunoko i think



stingray

prawns





octopus


hata hata - the local Akita fish

Namako 


Meat trays for those who can't bear the thought of another year of
cold osechi ryori.

yakitori

yakitori - chicken skin and cartelige etc





fried chicken

kakeage  - massive price hike for New Year

Fried prawns