The Unagi Pie Factory in Hamamatsu

The UNAGI PIE

Unagi is the Japanese word for eel. You know the long fish that doesn't look like a usual fish. 

Hamamatsu is apparently popular for its unagi dish and unagi pie.Yeah, you heard it right. Unagi pie. Eel pie. 

I was puzzled the first time I heard about unagi pie. To have a pie made of eel doesn't very appealing to me but it seems intriguing. 

In reality, unagi pie is just a usual cookie-like snack coated with unagi powder.  It doesn't taste fishy.It doesn't taste like an eel. It's sweet and cookiesh. 

You can find how unagi pie is done in the Unagi Pie Factory Hamamatsu. It's located in the west of Hamamatsu, off the busy central area.

Here's the complete address: 748-51 Okubu-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka, 432-8006. 

It's not an accessible place by public transportation. You can take a taxi from Maisaka Train Station. 

So what can you see in the factory? 

Different Teaching Jobs in Japan

comic credits: Texan in Tokyo

Someone emailed me to ask the different kinds of English teaching in Japan. Hence, I'm writing about it today.

There are three common types of teaching English in Japan. First is as an ALT or Assistant Language Teacher. Second is as an eikaiwa teacher or a language school teacher. Third is as a private teacher. 

(There's actually another one- as a main English teacher in schools and universities. However, this is not a common teaching job for foreigners. Foreigners who are English teachers in schools and universities have higher education degrees and possess fluent Japanese skills.)

There are many differences among the three kinds of teaching. I'll just focus on 6 things that I think matter for job hunters: 

Go Karting in Hamamatsu

Ready to Go Kart!

To celebrate my 30th birthday, my friends and I went go-karting last Sunday. 

There are three go-kart areas in Shizuoka. The nearest from Hamamatsu is the Quick Hamana Circuit. 

How to Get There 

We originally planned to take the bus but a friend thankfully drove us there. 

By bus, take the ones going to Isami. You can find them from terminal No. 2 at Hamamatsu Bus Station. Ittakes about 30-45 minutes. Get off at Ohitomi or Sahama nishi stop. Fares are around 400-500 Yen.

Checking-In

Upon arrival, a Japanese staff explained the plans we might avail: 

2500 Yen for 5 Laps (plus 300 for the face mask)

2000 for additional 5 laps

3800 for 8 laps with free face mask

2000 for 2-seater karts, 3 laps

All of us got the first plan- 2500 Yen for 5 Laps. 

After choosing, the staff handed us go-karting agreements that we should sign. 

Quick Hamana has no English staff but it has an English version of go karting agreement. It has the rules and reminders first-timers might need. 

Once the forms were filled up and payment has been made, we were briefly oriented on how to use the go kart. Instructions were given in Japanese. My friend helped us understand what the staff is saying. For those who has zero Japanese and no Japanese friend, they have an English translated version on paper. 

After instructions were given, we waited for about 15 minutes. The place was a bit crowded.