Kamaboko Central
長野の隣の富山県の魚津市への旅、その２． Our Trip to Uozu City in Nagano's neighbor, Toyama Pref., Part 2
朝はお風呂及び朝食（また蛍えび!）が済んだら、仁右衛門家の紹介で尾崎かまぼこ館に行きました。ここで工場見学が出来ました。私はかまぼこ作りに目が覚めました。アメリカはすりみ（刷り身）があくまで蟹肉の代わりとなっている。日本はこれだけかもぼこの役割があって、なおかつ昔からの食材文化があって、感心しました。
ところで、その後は魚図港に行って、埋没林博物館に入りました。「埋没林」と「蜃気楼」の２つな不思議の由来を勉強しました。隣の海の駅でお昼を食べて（また蛍えび、もちろん!）と砂海岸（?）で遊んだ。
その後は富山の海と山景色を楽しみながら、電車に乗って長野に帰った。
After our morning bath and breakfast (yes, more firefly shrimp). the Kiyokawa's took us to the Ozaki Kamaboko-kan. Kamaboko is probably better known as surimi, or imitation crab, back home. In fact, in the States, that's about the only use for Kamaboko. As can be seen in the Ozaki Kamaboko-kan, Japan gets created with this fish "balony". It really opened my eyes to the world of kamaboko, and the history and culture behind it. At the Kamaboko-kan, you can take a really educational factory tour -- highly recommended.
After sampling a bunch of kamaboko and buying a heap of souvenirs, it was on to the Buried Forest Museum to find out about 2 of Uozu's mysteries: the Buried Forest and the Mirage. (Good explanations on the city's website.) Then we moved next door to the "Umi no Eki" for lunch. (You guessed it -- more firefly shrimp!) And for a little bit of fun in the sandy beach. Or was it a bit of fun in the little sandy beach? Anyways, we finished up enjoying the ocean and mountain views on the train ride back to Nagano.
魚津埋没林博物館 Uozu Buried Forest Museum
So that's how kamaboko is made!
Buried Forest's Cool Museum
Exploring the Umi no Eki
Enjoying Seafood Lunch
Uozu's Beach Patch
