去年までは松本市ゲストハウス（バックパッカー用の相部屋宿泊施設）は1軒だけでした。
今は5件もある！
その内の話題の松本BackPackersに顔を出してきました。BrianさんとShukoさんの努力を見て、感心しました。
以前に紹介させて頂いた長野市の1166 backpackersや須坂市のゲストハウスKURAをやはり仲間で、保健所との申請とかいろいろでお互いに支えているそうです。
ゲストハウスは最近に増えてきている。安売り現象という正直な心配がありながら、最低限の予算で旅しているバックパッカー達は主流の宿泊施設にあまり泊まらない。従って、私ども旅館には悪い（=安売り）影響はあまりない。逆に、ゲストハウスがある事によって客層が増える。尚且つ、空き家や建物の活動にもなるし、バックパッカー達が当地の生活の体験ができるし、メリットは多いのではないかと思いました。
信州でゲストハウスが増えて、その分でバックパッカーも増えて、信州ファンもきっと増えると思います！
Last year, Matsumoto City had only 1 guesthouse for backpackers. This year, there are 5! I paid a visit at one new one that is gaining a lot of local recognition, Matsumoto Backpackers.
The owners, Brian-san and Shuko-san, quit their jobs and are putting 100% of their effort into running 'Moto BP. And that effort shows, with attention to detail in the conveniences they provide to their guests as well as giving as much of an authentic Japanese experience as possible.
In past entries, I have featured Nagano City's 1166 backpackers and Guesthouse KURA in Suzaka City. They are all associates of Brian and Shuko and advise each other on the process of registering their lodging establishments with the Board of Health and other areas of running a guesthouse.
With this increase of low-priced lodging, there is sure to be a backlash amongst the established inns and hotels afraid of downward pressure on prices. But guesthouses tend to attract budget travelers who wouldn't otherwise stay in 'normally' priced places. Plus they make good use of otherwise empty storefronts and houses so less impact on the environment. Guests also get to experience more of a typical, non-tourist lifestyle at these places, too. So the recent surge in the number of guesthouses has a lot of benefits.
Hopefully the likes of Matsumoto BackPackers will increase the range of visitors to Nagano, and thus increase the number of fans of this great prefecture!
