Koen no Bench's charming facade at dusk
先日に書いた様にＵＦＯハンティングで松代に行ってきました。そのついでに独特なイタリアンレストランと温泉にも行きましたので紹介したいと思っています。
イタリアンレストラン
公園のベンチ
お洒落な煉瓦の建物に親しみやすいサービス、可愛い人形の小物のインティリア、そして豪華なイタリアン料理。一品一品が工夫されて、そしてボリュームが多いのはうれしい。
小布施や須坂かどこかのドライブの途中でも、お勧めのレストラン。
長野市松代町東寺尾２９８８ （国道403沿い）
Tel (026)278-7411
ランチ/11:30-15:00; ディナー/18:00-21:30
定休日 月曜日（祝日の場合は翌日）
ランチメニューは1050円から各種がある。
眺めの良い、ナトリウムたっぷりの湯
大室温泉 まきばの湯
私は温泉宿の若旦那なので、温泉に対してかなりうるさい。設備がそろっていないと、お風呂の湯質が良くなければ、怒ります。松代町大室地区にある大室温泉「まきばの湯」は施設もお湯も、両方が良くて、このうるさい人が嬉しかったです。
今回は2回目でしたので2回ともは男風呂が左の木造のふちの露天風呂の方。もう片っ方は石組だそうです。木造の方からの眺めはまあまあですが、写真を見る限りで石組露天風呂の方から善光寺平と遠くのアルプスが見れるそうです。それにしても、木造の露天風呂及び内風呂は十分気持ちいいし、内風呂の建物は気をたっぷりと、うまく使ったので、とにかくうれしい作りです。
お湯もナトリウムが強くて（1051mg/kgだそうです）、独特なお湯です。少し味見したら塩っぽい感覚です。温度は約41℃で、ゆっくり入れます。
長野県に温泉巡りで来る際、松代町の大室地区の大室温泉＠まきばの湯」は木を生かした建物と、ナトリウム入りの独特のお湯と善光寺平の眺め（特に石組露天風呂から）、お勧めの一つ温泉です。
When our family went for a drive to check out Matsushiro's UFO spot, we then went out for dinner and an onsen bath in the vicinity. The restaurant and onsen we went to would make terrific places to stop at when coming to or from Kamesei Ryokan.
Charming Italian Restaurant
Koen no Bench
The name means 'park bench', which I think refers to the cozy, relaxed atmosphere the owner is striving for. The charming brick building, friendly and attentive service, elegant meals (and generous volume) all contribute to the successful creation of the intended atmosphere.
The restaurant makes a great stop on a drive to or from Kamesei, perhaps on a visit to Obuse or the snow monkeys at Jigokudani.
Koen no Bench
2988 Higashi Terao, Matsushiro machi, Nagano-Shi
Tel (026)278-7411
Lunch/11:30-15:00 Dinner/18:00-21:30
Closed Mondays (or following Tuesday if holiday)
Lunch meals from 1050 yen.
Access: Best by car as it is located along Route 403. No train station or bus stop in the vicinity.
Unique Mineral Water with a View
Omuro Onsen 'Makiba no Yu'
When it comes to onsen bath houses, I am picky. (Naturally, since I run one myself.) There are a lot of places with rundown facilities and questionable mineral content to their onsen water.
Makiba no Yu in the Omuro neighborhood of Nagano City's Matsushiro district, on the other hand, is a very enjoyable bath house. Not only do the outdoor baths have great views, but the buildings are constructed with hefty woodwork that is kept in pristine condition, and the onsen water is high in natrium (1051mg/kg) giving it a slightly salty tang. Bath temperature is around 41 deg F, perfect for a long, relaxing soak.
There are two sides and both times I've been there the guys had the left side with the wooden outdoor bath. The right side's outdoor bath is made of river rock, and (judging by the pictures) has an even better view of the Zenkoji Plain and the Japanese Alps in the distance.
If you're on an adventure to explore some of Nagano's many onsens, you won't be disappointed by a stop at Omuro Onsen.
Omuro Onsen 'Makiba no Yu'
4108 Omuro, Matsushiro-machi, Nagano City
Tel (026)278-5687
Summer/ 09:00-22:00 Winter 09:00/21:30
Adults/500 yen Elementary&Middle School/300 yen
Access: 5 minute walk from Omuro Station on the soon-to-become-defunct Nagaden Yashiro Line.
Click here for Makiba no Yu's website.
Koen's summer special: gazpacho-style spaghetti
