From a rainy Nakaminato market to a hot-spring night in Nasu
Golden Week began with rain, but Haruru enjoyed a seafood lunch at Nakaminato before driving on to Nasu Yumoto. The next day brought sunshine, new green leaves and a chance to shop and eat before heading home.
From haruru.1002’s account shared in May 2022, edited with permission.
Sea urchin, salmon roe and a market purchase
At Nakaminato Osakana Market in Hitachinaka, she chose a sea-urchin and salmon-roe rice bowl for lunch. As someone who loved sea urchin, she was very happy with it, and she also enjoyed a fresh sashimi assortment.
She bought rock oysters, had the shells opened at the market and ate them at her accommodation.
Discounted tuna caught her eye too, but she decided against buying it because she was not going home that day. Next time, she wanted to visit the market on the day she returned home.
A rainy drive and a welcome stay in Nasu Yumoto
The drive to Nasu Yumoto was through heavy rain, and she was relieved to arrive safely. It had been decades since she had stayed at a minshuku, but the couple running this one made a very good impression.
She was pleased with the spacious room, the meals and the rice. The accommodation’s baths were satisfying enough that she dropped her plan to visit a nearby hot spring.
During that stay she used the private bath after arriving, before bed and before breakfast. The sulphur smell was strong, but she enjoyed the warmth and left wanting to return.
Fresh greenery, outlet shopping and lunch at 紀行庵
The following day was clear, and the fresh green leaves made the road to the outlet pleasant. Seeing the small shops along the way, they talked about coming back for a day of shop browsing.
At the outlet, she found things she wanted at good prices and finally tried the Mont Blanc she had been looking forward to.
Lunch was soba at 紀行庵. She liked the thin, firm noodles and crisp tempura.
They set off a little early and reached home without getting caught in traffic.
Sources for this account
Haruru’s account shared on 1 May 2022 describes a rainy visit to Nakaminato Osakana Market, an overnight stay in Nasu Yumoto, outlet shopping and soba the following day. The name 紀行庵 is read from the meal photograph; current services and food storage advice are not added.