God, I get so excited when I look at this photo. The bowls and plates, of all different colors, shapes and sizes– it’s all so visually stimulating.

This was in a roadside restaurant in Izu, a seaside town known for their onsen (hot springs). In the middle there, that’s stewed fish, and to the left of that is tuna sashimi. Above that is a little trio of shiokara (fermented squid), my favorite.

The highlight is the individually-sized hotpot on the top right. Yes, this lunch set came with its own little cast iron pot filled with meats and vegetables, all brewing over a fire. Sign me up.