Japanese Inn Meal at Asaba Ryokan in Ise

I recently had a chance to stay at a ridiculously fancy Japanese inn called Asaba Ryokan on the Izu peninsula in a town called Shuzenji with my wife. We happened to win a contest that allowed us to stay at this place for one night, for free!

This Asaba place is so posh that Chriac, the former president of France, stayed there after the Okinawa Summit on his own time. Apparently other Japanese TV and movie talents frequent this place as well.

Anyway, the full-course Japanese-style dinner that was served in our room by a kimono clad “nakai-san” (仲居さん is a word specifically for a waitress at a ryokan) lasted for 2 hours. Two hours of non-stop food!

Here’s the menu. If you you have super elite Japanese language skills you should be able to make it out.

I’m still working on it…

Now, the longest dinner.

Goma Tofu.

Seasonal Vegetables… Though they’re not all vegetables.

Smashed fish.

The nakai-san at the inn. Scoping smashed fish.

Smashed fish boiled. Yum.

Sashimi. Ishigare and Aori Squid.

Ayu! A type of fish.

The Ayu are on my plate.

Ise shrimp! It’s giant.

Octopus and Okura.

Sucker.

Aomame. Umm… Green bean. Smashed and sticky.

Anago! A type of eel sushi… But wait there’s more.

Black rice inside!

Pork cube. Flanked by 冬瓜 (Tougan).

Ayu takikomi RICE.

The rice.

The ice cream. One was ginger flavored, the other was soba flavored.

This. Is a melon.

That was some dinner!

- Harvey

Asaba Ryokan (Inn) Information

Asaba Ryokan

More Asaba

Some Books featuring equally as posh Japanese Inns

The Japanese Spa: A Guide to Japan’s Finest Ryokan and Onsen

Classic Japanese Inns and Country Getaways

Now I’m back to reality.

- Harvey