Black Wood Grill in Miru, Niseko 2!

by Kazu

Hamburgers are the main menu for lunch in the restaurant "Black Wood Grill" run by MIRU Niseko. I chose Double Patty Double Cheese Hamburger set that included fried potato and drink. I thought "Wagu Hamburger" was so fascinating and popular when the restaurant was introduced in a certain TV program but I could not find that on the menu. 

This is what I had, Double Patty Double Cheese Hamburger Set. My wife chose Cheese Hamburger Set as you can see over my dish. We were so satisfied with the taste and the quality of the beef and veggies.

My wife could eat up the hamburger and potato but she could not have a space in her stomach for dinner even after five hours later. She seemed to be so fascinated by the landscape and the hamburger. 

 

Black Wood Grill in Miru, Niseko

by Kazu

There is a nice meat restaurant in Niseko, Hokkaido. "Black Wood Grill" is the name of the restaurant in MIRU Niseko that is a facility of MIRU Group headquartered in Singapore. 

The group runs MIRU Kyoto, MIRU Amami in Japan as well. The fine view from the window of the hotel includes the landscape of Mt. Yotei and the veggie field  at the foot of the mountain. 

The capacity of the restaurant is not so big and the staff members seem to be novices as service providers but some of them have a good command in English. The quality of the hamburgers we had was fabulous and fantastic. Double Patty Double Cheese Hamburger set was 2,000 Japanese Yen. 

 

In the mood on the beach !

by Kazu

This is the beach in front of "the First Lady of Waikiki" Moana Surf Rider Resort and Spa Westin. I would like to cerebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the Sister-state Affiliation  between Hokkaido and Hawaii with my friends here. 

We are missing this beach where we enjoyed our stay so much all day long other than shopping and eating time. My wife loves walking around this area and nodding on the rocking chair in the balcony of the hotel.   

This old banyan tree is waiting for us and other visitors from Japan. Currently, only four flights connect Japan and Honolulu. I hope it will not take so long for recovery of the tourism. 

 

Waikiki Night !

by Kazu

We really enjoyed the night in Waikiki on that day and this banyan tree in the courtyard of Moana Surf-rider Westin Resort and Spa helped us dive in to the night. 

The mother tree for the resort hotel and Waikiki Beach knows everything that happened on this beach. It has just seen and feel for decades. 

I am very happy to have the person to share these memories and the experiences on this globe that may be ruled by the people of greed currently but will be ruled by love. 

 

From Hy's to Moana Surf-rider !

by Kazu

This is the entrance to the parking lot on the basement floor of the condominium that has our favorite nice steakhouse in Honolulu. 

On our way back to our room in "The First Lady of Waikiki" Moana Surf0rider Westin Resort and Spa, we dropped by the courtyard of the hotel. The banyan tree are always waiting for us as it had done for years.

The afternoon tea set  in the cafe is also nice. Sipping a cocktail in this bar is very popular to the visitors to Honolulu. We are eager to be blown by the ocean breeze in this area and talk about our life and friends. Our friends are waiting for us !

 

Hy's Steakhouse in Honolulu !

by Kazu

Every time we visit Honolulu, we make a point of savoring dry and aged beefsteak in this steakhouse "Hy's" on the ground floor of a condominium. 

The design of the entrance is decent, authentic and chic.  2440 Kuhio Ave. in Honolulu. 

The interior design of the restaurant is like a den or library.

We really love this steakhouse and we are wondering when we will be able to visit there next time. It is popular to the citizens of Honolulu. The chef shows us a high degree of skill.

 

Fukuoka-Hawaii Relationship !

by Kazu

It has been hundreds of years since the first immigrants landed on the Islands of Pleasure but so hard work was waiting for them in  the sugarcane field.

Diligent immigrants from Fukuoka and other parts of Japan worked so hard in Hawaii for years and they established solid trust in the society. 

Some of them were dispatched to the trench in Europe to fight against NAZI. Mr. Daniel INOUE lost his arm but his 442nd Regimental Combat Team saved Texas Regimental Combat Team. Bravest combat team they were in the Army of the USA.

We raised glasses for the immigrants from Japan and their children who fought against discrimination, war, and established unbreakable trust in the society of the USA.

The starter in our favorite steakhouse in Honolulu was cheese toast and fresh oyster. They are the "must" before savoring dry and aged delicious beefsteak. 

 

Immigrants fom Fukuoka Prefecture to Hawaii !

by Kazu

The first Japanese-American Governor of the State of Hawaii was  Mr. George Ryoichi ARIYOSHI whose father was from Fukuoka.

His mother was from Kumamoto Prefecture.  When the fabulous ceremony for establishing a sister-state affiliation between Hokkaido and Hawaii, I met him and talk with him for a while during waiting taxi called for him and his wife. I was very happy to talk to him.  Kindly he praised my command in English because we were talking in English. But I was surprised to hear him speaking fluent English after our chat. I remember that he played a role as an interpreter during the GHQ ruled Japan after World War Ⅱ. 

He kindly talked with me in English without showing his good command in Japanese. I blushed after remembering good command in Japanese but I am very proud of our talk in Honolulu.

 

Breakfast in Portom International Hokkaido!

by Kazu

It was so beautiful morning on that day. The airport was still sleeping. The lighting on the tarmac was so bright and its variety of colors also add a little bit twist to the scenery

The breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel was so delicious. The starter was veggie soup and salad.  Several kinds of cheese were served with a spoon of honey.

Grilled sausage, bacon and ham with omelet was the main dish of the breakfast. You can choose the ingredients of the omelet like other resort hotels on this globe. I chose cheese, spinach, scallop in that morning. 

 

Hot Spring Spa in Portom International Hokkaido!

by Kazu

The hotel Portom International Hokkaido is run by Hekiundo Resort Inc. that also runs Maure Maountain Villa in Engaru Town, Air Termonal Hotel and the Hot Spring Spa in New Chitose International Airport and Chitose Station Hotel.

The floor of the spa was slippery. Please be careful when you stay and use this facility. The cold water bath was on the right hand side. 

This is the gym of the hotel. A variety of fitness machines filled up the room. I ran on the treadmill for an hour but it took a while to wipe off my sweat after the exercise.