Overnight in Izu - Day 2

It was so nice to get away for a quick overnight trip.  Getting away helps me to reset and refocus.  Since moving, I need these resets more and more.  Of course, one doesn't always need a break to have an excuse to get away, especially when there is a nice place to stay, new things to see, and a relaxed environment. 

Staying in a traditional Japanese hotel means sleeping on futon.  Even the most comfortable futon is not nearly as soft as my bed, so I often double up on the mattress.  When you first enter the room, the room is set up as a living room, but when you're out to dinner they come and change the room into a bedroom.  The futon are usually kept in the closet, so it's easy to grab an extra one.

After a good sleep and a beautiful breakfast, we headed out.  Since the area our timeshare was in was pretty rural, we rode the train down a couple stops to the town of Ito.  Ito is also a very small town, but we were able to do a little bit of shopping. 

The area is known for it's seafood and has tons of it in the shops.  I am fascinated by the dried fish.  It is laid it out in the sun for a while until it is gently dried.  Then it is grilled to perfection.  The meat inside is actually really tender.  It is nothing like the jerky you expect it to be. 

There is also a lot of fishcake - ground up fish that is put into a mold and either steamed, baked, or fried.  We found a fishcake (kamoboko is steamed, chikuwa is baked, and satsumaage is fried) vender that sold various flavors and served them on a stick.  I got kamoboko with pickled ginger.  My son picked satsumaage with octopus.  My husband chose a mixed satsumaage with a variety of seafood.  We took them outside and sat at a foot onsen overlooking the water.  We ate them while soaking our feet and looking out at a marina and the ocean.

After eating our fishcake, we went back to shopping.  There were lots of samples around.  Samples are often found in little bowls with spoons.  If it is easily picked up with a toothpick, toothpicks will be provided.  If there aren't toothpicks, proper etiquette calls for putting a spoonful into the palm of your hand and eating it directly from your hand.  There are often wet washcloths right there that you can wipe your hand off with, if needed.  However, most people carry a handkerchief (used to wipe their hands after washing them in public restrooms) and they often use these instead.

We sampled lots of things and bought lots of things.  Many of the items we purchased will be used in our bentos in the days to come. 

We took our time coming back home, strolling along and taking it easy.  Izu (and Ito) were nice to visit.  They were both pretty rural, but we didn't want to do a ton of things.  So, it really fit the bill.