In the  Vancouver Sun  yesterday was a  review of the restaurant we went to two days ago, Din Tai Fung .  A few surprises. It just opened last week. Is Canada's first Din Tai Fung. Can serve 312 customers at once. Raved about their Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai soup dumplings. DTF XLBs feature Kurobuta pork, and each dumpling is 21 ounces with 18 folds.  Ten for 19.50 Canadian dollars, or divided by 1.39 to $14 U.S. dollars, or $1.40 each. Remember how Japanese wagyu beef was made famous by Kobe? Kurobuta  pork is a Japanese breed developed in Kagoshima of a Berkshire pig from the UK First given as a gift in the 1800s to the Emperor of Japan. There is a history, for in the 1640s, Oliver Cromwell's English soldiers were wintering the Shire of Berk and loved the taste of this unique black pig with white spots on tis legs, ears and snout. However, it was in 1930 that two of these pigs were brought to Kagoshima, and apparently all the "legal" Kurobuta ( meaning bl...

Very few international visitors take the time to visit Kagoshima, and even fewer to Miyazaki.  I came several decades ago because I used a lot of Japan Rail Passes, and wanted to maximize my distance travelled.   Sheraton Grand Kagoshima was the best hotel we've stayed in, all things considered, like value and cost.  They had a shuttle service from the train station to hotel and back, featured excellent service, had an excellent club lounge and an impressive breakfast buffet.  It only opened a few months ago.  Best of all, it cost $125/night for two.  So a few more photos to get us the the Sheraton Grand Ocean Resort in Miyazaki, starting with another view of Sakurajima. Club lounge at Sheraton Kagoshima. Morning view of Sakurajima from our room. The breakfast buffet was terrific. First course. Second course. Walked 3492 steps. Final shot from hotel of Sakurajima. Lobby Christmas tree. Shuttle arriving. Entrance to Kagoshima-Chuo Station. Our train to ...