Leaving the wonderful Shima Kanko hotel, we journeyed next to Yokkaichi, also in Mie Prefecture, to visit the wonderful ceramist, Uchida Kouichi. Uchida-san took us to a nearby restaurant, Koetsu, that he designed from top to bottom. The place was lovely, and our lunch quite spectacular.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxEDL8Uq2waQCb8s0tp5mwUJrdvK7_2_4N3gLI_iwZhl3-4wSffqp3J6e5d6ogcziQQiGxpPa81GVxnuQ4Rm09bds8gyU01S-_buhP3KiAcnqE_HAuZLdK2VbdS7Zga2svG_TG3ZWdtQ/s400/10.23.17+Lunch+w+Uchida+Kouichi+-+14.jpg) |
Lunch at Koetsu with Uchida Kouichi |
A few days later, we spent a night in downtown Yamaguchi at Kokian, a totally unexpected magnificent ryokan, with spectacular architectural elements, beautiful private outdoor baths and superb food. We never would have tried an in-town place but for the recommendation of Japan Tourist Bureaus's boutique division, which made the arrangements for the tour: JTB was right: this is a destination ryokan.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt12o_xZ9E6f6JtThj5dQnu8bgUbVH81RRgLNQebi6JJVM3Nxs7kZSCU4cFD7u0Vj9UjGZQduTUmHNRyXRaqusU9SYOLrJT5Jjpb46MWP86gBLn_cThf8a8ffvEiy11s9XZbL4Pq-_FXQ/s400/10.25.17+Kokian+in+Yamaguchi.jpg) |
Kokian Ryokan |
We had a beautiful and excellent dinner (and a fine Japanese breakfast, too - sorry, no pictures). The next to last item below, a sort of Western style fish chowder, was invented in honor of us foreigners: quite good (sorry for the bad photo but I thought it was worth including to recognize the effort).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmJmEM4Q2H-ulVfQJBMrZY5NBnic189ZpXU1WF8qcqypNuk2i5vUJ37WxdFzD626sT5EMVe2lxgaggfobXfQcsxQRdc9X5Lb_WS1pt8bqcnVSJAT4d_zh55QtVO4H9dB8zelqo1BwYOU/s400/10.25.17+Kokian+in+Yamaguchi+-+11.jpg) |
Dinner at Kokian Ryokan in Yamaguchi |
You never know where you'll find a great ryokan in Japan but when you do, the food nearly always is excellent.
Bobby Jay
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