With Iimuro-san in front of her 1166 Backpackers guesthouse
三か月前に、長野市善光寺の近くにバックパッカー用の宿泊施設が出来ました：１１６６バックパッカーズ。昨日、オーナーの飯室織江さんに挨拶しに行ってみました。
１１６６バックパッカーズは長野市の初めてのゲストハウス。善光寺の大門の近辺と言う便利な場所。金額は相部屋で2600円からと言う手ごろの値段。お客の半分が海外からだそうです。
飯室さん自身は海外旅行経験者で旅ココロを持っている熱心な方です。宿の部屋とかお風呂場を見せて頂きましたが、うんとシンプルです。しかし、旅が大好きな飯室さんの気合いと言う印象が一番のころました。
実を言うと、近くに低価格の宿泊施設が出来てしまえば、亀清旅館にどういう影響があるか、心配でした。しかし、良くある現象は亀清に泊まってから１１６６さんに泊まるとか、１１６６さんに泊まってから亀清に来たとかと言うお客さんが数人いました。
つまり、長野県に１泊する予定は、ゲストハウスも出来たお蔭で２泊する事になったケースが見えてきました。恐らく、東京からの日帰りの予定は１１６６さんのお蔭で長野に泊まる事が出来たでしょうし。実際はその逆のケースもある：１１６６さんに滞在しながら、日帰りで東京へ買い物しに行く客もいるそうです。新幹線なら、１時間４０分で行っちゃえる。
そう思うと、今までは長野市のゲストハウスがなかったとのは不思議です。飯室さん、有難うございました。
Three months ago, a guesthouse opened in Nagano City near Zenkoji Temple: 1166 Backpackers. Yesterday I paid a visit and met the owner, Iimuro-san.
1166 Backpackers is Nagano City's first guesthouse. It is conveniently located near Zenkoji's Daimon gate. Prices are very reasonable, starting at 2,600 yen for a dormitory bed. Half of their guests are from overseas.
Iimuro-san herself has travelled extensively overseas and thus shares an appreciation for travel with her guests. The facilities are rather simple, but after getting a tour of the rooms the greatest impression I was left with was Iimuro-san's enthusiasm.
To be honest, when I first heard a low-priced accommodation was opening up nearby, I was worried about the impact it would have here at Kamesei Ryokan. What I've come to find, however, is that there are guests who stay at 1166 before or after a night at Kamesei.
In other words, there are travellers who had probably only intended on staying 1 night in Nagano, but thanks to the existence of 1166, they stayed 2 nights. There are probably people who otherwise would have made Nagano a day trip from Tokyo but thanks to 1166, extended their stay and spent a night. In fact, Iimuro-san said she's had guests that stayed multiple nights at 1166 and made day trips in to Tokyo for shopping. With the Nagano Shinkansen making the trip in just 1 hour 40 minutes, that is certainly doable.
When you think about it, it's surprising that before 1166 there were no guesthouses in Nagano City. Thank you, Iimuro-san, for your contribution.
1166のＨＰはこちらClick here for 1166's website.
