Scented Rooms and Decorated Meals

Sukiyaki served in our room

The Sandalwood Scented Rooms of Hotel Matsui (29 Apr to 3 May 2007). A stay at a Japanese inn (ryokan) could be a memorable experience as we found in our stay at this hotel. One came into a sandalwood scented room and realised immediately that there were no beds, only a low Japanese styled table and seats requiring one to kneel or to sit with legs folded forwards. They measured their rooms by the number of standard size tatami mats. Our room in Hotel Matsui measured 8 tatami mats. Translucent rice paper screens separated our rooms into compartments, an outer ante room, the room proper and a walk in closet wardrobe. The chambermaid would kneel at the outer entrance, gave a gentle knock and asked to be allowed in to lay out the futon bed. We were given a Yukata (housecoat) each for bed and these could be worn for moving anywhere within the hotel. In the morning, one was awakened from sleep and the chambermaids would quickly clear the beddings and set the breakfast table. This also occurred at dinner time except that the dinner meal was more elaborate. The Japanese paid an awful lot of attention to garnishing their food. Each plate was served with attention to details of presentation to be pleasing to the eye.

Japanese rice was sticky, soft and fragrant. Our meals consisted of tofu, miso soup, meat and fish served with pickled vegetable in small helpings. Green tea was the main drink but at dinner we would have a shot of honeyed plum wine. One dinner, we had Sukiyaki and another we had Sashimi and Sushi. Desert consisted of jelly and fruits. Once we had dinner at a fast food ramen shop. This was a lesson in fast service. There was a very long line of diners everyday at this restaurant so we thought the food there must be good. After a short wait we entered the restaurant and what greeted us was a ticket dispenser to which we ordered and paid for our Ramen on a fix menu specifying on a questionnaire how we wanted the Ramen cooked. We were then ushered into 2 cubicles on a long food service counter, side by side but separated by a wooden panel. It reminded one of the way visiting rooms in prisons. A panel opened in front and the cook asked for our order tickets. Food was then served. We discovered later that our chairs had sensors attached to them. Once we finished eating and got up, the lights on a keyboard outside the restaurant was lighted indicating to the lead waiter which seats/cubicles were now free. If you like Japanese food you wouldn ot go hungry but enjoy the variety Japan had to offer. The most cost-effective meal was to order a set meal which could cost between Y1,500 to Y2,500.

There were vendors selling sweet potatoes and ice-cream, But the most popular were fried octopus in batter call Takoyaki