slivka.com - Trips - Japan 2010

slivka.com > Trips > Japan 2010 > Sat May-15

Sat

May-15

B & R Day 4: 29.0 bike miles, Notojima, Sea of Japan, Kanazawa Excel Hotel, Jardin Paul Bocuse
After a lighter mixed American/Japanese breakfast at the hotel, we set out on the bus for a short ride to our starting point for the day. The weather was clear and sunny, and warmed up quickly. We had glorious riding along the seashore and through wooded backroads and rice paddies. After crossing the ??? bridge we stopped at the Notonakajima park for snacks. Then it was back on the bikes for more beautiful scenery and we ended our ride at a park.

We got back on the bus for a one hour drive to our lunch destination in Kanazawa. The French "bistro-style" meal was competent, and then we explored the old Geisha District of Kanazawa. Then it was back on the bus for a very short ride to our hotel for the night:

Kanazawa Excel Hotel
2-1-1, Korinbo
Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa, 920-0961, Japan
+81.76.231.2411

The most impressive aspect of the hotel was the wired Internet access, more than 6mbps down and up! Then we set out for a walking tour of the historic samuri district, visited a silk painting exhibit, and did a little bit of window shopping. The food court at the department store next to the hotel was incredible! We ordered hot chocolates at the Starbucks next to the hotel, then showered and got ready for dinner on our own.

We walked less than 10 minutes to:

Jardin Paul Bocuse
Paul Bocuse & H. Hiramatsu
Shiinoki Cultural Complex
2-1-1 Hiosaka Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0962
+81.76.261.1161
www.paulbocuse.jp

which had opened only a month earlier. And who should be visiting his restaurant but -- Paul Bocuse! This was apparently Chef Bocuse's last night in Japan after a week overseeing his Jardin in Kanazawa. We enjoyed a very nice meal accompanied by a Krug N.V. Champagne and 1990 Chateau Lynch-Bages.