Kasai is an Restaurant that exists in the area since almost hundred years. Inside time seems to have not passed since the last three generations. One can imagine it was a place loved by the neighborhood. with ongoing urbanization and aging population on the countryside Kasai has no precedor.The set meals are made by the owner and his mother. The taste is wonderful, with ingredients from the local mountains and sea.
From our window, we see the massive wavebreakers that were betonized long ago, when the fishing port of rural Asobi was of much more importance. Along the japanese coast, we find many of them and in some places it is unsure if they are necessary or if it was more convenient to place the concrete there instead of bringing them back to land. Along the stones on the shore, parts of concrete were mixed with the natural material. Like this, fisherman could walk on the water easily.
At nighttime, bright lights are visible in the dark. The light emitting spots are squid fishing boats. With their light bulbs, they attract the squids (ika) to their boat. The lights are there until dawn, and then disappear in the horizon. In the supermarket, different colored and sized squids (ika) are sold the next day. In the following quiet nights the lights are there again, in different spots this time.
We are staying in the last house of Asobi village, a wood house directly at the cliff. From every window we see water, and hear the waves movements. Whatever is going on outside, transmitts immediately to the inside. From the small window in the kitchen, the sea seems far away. It reminds of the bathhouse view on the train rails in water, in the japanese movie spirited away.
After arriving to Osaka, we are driving on the highway to Kyotango. On the way, we stop at the Tamba city roadside. The stop is crowded, due to its large selection on local farmers products arranged in the large building. Tamba is part of the area of Kyotamba, connecting Kyoto city to northern Kyoto to the seaside. Tamba highlands are favorable for the growth of different vegetables. Speciality are black beans, chestnuts and wild hon shimeji mushrooms. At the highway stop, not only such things are sold, there is a variety of other local edible goods that are only sold at Tamba station.
