今朝は、早くから露天風呂に入りました。家族用の露天風呂も良いのですが、やはり大きな露天風呂の方が気持ち良いです。朝食は一番遅い8時半からにしていただきました。ちなみに、昨日の夕食もですが今朝の朝食もお部屋食ではなく、レストランでいただきました。多分、お部屋食を好む方の方が多いと思うのですが、わたしたちはレストランの方が早く終わるのでレストランの方が良いと感じます。お部屋だと1品ずつ持ってきてくださって、延々と時間がかかるので。

We got up early and took a bath in the outdoor baths (I went in the women’s and my husband went in the men’s). Although the family baths are nice and private, I must say that a large outdoor bath with a great view is a lot nicer. Then we had breakfast from 8:30am, which was the latest possible time available. Incidentally we had both dinner and breakfast in one of their restaurants rather than in our room. In general Japanese people like having their meals in their room in hot spring resorts like this, I think it feels like a luxury, but it takes a lot longer as someone has to bring each dish to the room from the kitchen. We prefer eating in a restaurant for this reason.

夫は、貝類にアレルギーがあるようなので貝類は避けていますが、他は大体食べられます。あまり好きではないものはあっても、食べられないことはないみたいです。なのですが、和朝食だけは嫌がります。朝からご飯やお魚はダメらしいです。仕事をしていた時のイギリス人の上司もそうでしたし、出張で海外から来られた方が旅館に泊られる時にも朝食だけは洋食にしてほしいとリクエストされました。

My husband seems to have allergy to shellfish but he can eat almost anything else. There are things that he doesn’t enjoy eating but he seems to be able to manage them if he has to. However, he really doesn’t like Japanese breakfast. It’s not just him though, I think many western people find it difficult to have rice, fish etc for breakfast. When I was working, my English boss sometimes asked me to book a ryokan for him (or him and his family) and always made sure I requested them to provide a western breakfast. I did the same for visitors from overseas.

わたしは朝食は普段食べないのですが、旅館で1人だけ食べないというのも変なので一応夫に付き合っていただきますが、1人分だけ洋食にしていただいた時にすごい量の和朝食が出てきて、わたしはほんの一口二口しかいただけず申し訳なかったので、今回は夫と同じ洋食にしていただきました。毎回、量はいただけないので、トーストとコーヒーだけで大丈夫ですとお伝えするのですが、本当にトーストとコーヒーだけが出てきた試しがありません。今回の朝食は、これでした。

I don’t usually eat breakfast myself but it looks a bit odd if my husband was having breakfast on his own so I do have some in a place like this. One time when I asked a ryokan to give my husband a western breakfast, I went for the Japanese breakfast which was huge and much to much for me to eat. I felt so bad I just had a couple of mouthful of rice and pickles, so this time I asked them to give both of us western breakfast. I wrote to them that we don’t eat a large breakfast and we would be very happy if they gave us just toast and coffee. I’ve never been to a ryokan where they gave us just that.

最初に出てきたパンプキンスープは、多分、パンプキンをドライにして粉にしたものをお湯で溶かしたものだと思います。以前、美味しいと読んで買ってみて使ってみたら、粉っぽくていただけなかったのですが、それと全く同じ味でした。

The pumpkin soup that they served first, I think, was made with dried and powdered pumpkin with hot water. I’ve read how good this powder pumpkin was so bought some myself and used it once – it was quite unpleasant, just very powdery. This one was exactly like that.

他はわかるのですが、何故ここに牛肉の炒め物が入るのか、不思議です。確か、前回はステーキがついてきたような気がします。美味しい贅沢な朝食をと一生懸命してくださっているのだと思うのですが、牛肉の炒め物は朝食にいただけません。

Although the other things made sense, we couldn’t understand why they served Stir-fried beef with vegetables for a breakfast. I have a feeling my husband had a steak last time for breakfast here. I guess they want to give us a wonderful breakfast, but it’s a little off…

美味しいパンのトーストとフルーツだけあればとっても有難いのですが。夫は頑張って食べていましたが、わたしはスープをちょっと飲んで、ソーセージを2切れほど食べて、スクランブルエッグを少しとフルーツで精一杯でした。お気持ちは有難いのですが、もっとシンプルな朝食のチョイスもあればな、と思います。

I would be very happy with just good toast and fruits. My husband had quite a lot but all I managed was a little soup, a couple of bits of sausage, a little scrsmbled egg and the fruits. I do apreciate their effort but I do wish we are able to choose a more simple breakfast.