7月 – 2009 – 信州戸倉上山田温泉旅館亀清

浅草からのホウズキ Chinese Lanterns a la Asakusa

2009.07.12: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

戸倉上山田温泉の大勝館という大衆演劇屋さんからお中元（？）でこのホウズキを頂きました。沢山の劇団は東京の浅草から来るせいか、このホウズキは浅草からだそうです。（ホウズキは浅草の名物でしょうか？良く分かりません。）

まあ、せっかく頂いたので亀清の浦の歩道に植えました。（アシスタント：若若女将の美咲ちゃん。）そして、若女将に怒られちゃった。「何で外に植える会？酔っ払いにやられちゃうだけ。中で飾ろうよ」と。と言うことで、中で飾れるようにまたホウズキを買わんとあかん。浅草に買いに行こうかな。

The Taishokan Theater here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen stopped by to give us a chugen (seasonal gift -- kind of like a secondary Christmas present in summer). They gave us this Chinese Lantern plant. Apparently most of the theater groups that perform at Taishokan hail from Asakusa in Tokyo, and these Chinese Lanterns supposedly came from Asakusa. Is this plant a specialty of Asakusa? I have no idea.

Anyways, I planted the flower along the sidewalk behind our inn (assisted by little Misaki). But my wife complained. She had been hoping to display the flowers inside, and was worried a drunk would ruin them if left outside. So that means I have to go and buy some more Chinese Lanterns. I think I'll head out to Asakusa to do so...

大衆演劇のショーは毎日２回。亀清から歩いて５分。（歩けば、このホウズキを通ります。）
大勝館のHPはこちら Click here for the website of Taishokan.　They offer 2 shows daily of a sort-of kabuki for the masses. As I mentioned elsewhere, it's beautiful dancing, beautiful kimonos, but its just the hairy legs that can get to you. Very entertaining!

この橋はどうやって渡る？How do you cross this bridge?

2009.07.11: サイクリング Cycling

今日はまた子供たちと一緒に自転車で千曲サイクリングロードを走りました。（今回は６歳のKenちゃんがマイ自転車で！）八幡神社の入口にこんな橋があります。「自転車で渡ってみれば」と言ったら、息子達が実践した。勿論、無理だった。でも、思ったのは、こういうアーチになっている橋はどういう目的でしょうか？何かにシンボル？飾り？誰かの遊び心で作られた？

遊び心で作られたかどうか分かりませんが、子供たちは遊び心で渡ってみた。

I took our kids for another bike ride today along the Chikuma Cycling Road. (This time 6-year old Kenny rode his own bike!) At the Yawata Shrine, we saw this funky little bridge. I mentioned to the boys they should try riding their bikes across it. Of course, they weren't able to make it. But it made me wonder: what exactly is this type of arched bridge for? Is it a symbol? A decoration? Somebody's practical joke?

What ever the bridge's real intent is, our kids had fun with it.

千曲市八幡地区の武水別神社は戸倉上山田温泉から自転車で（６歳の子供のスピードで）約３０分。
神社の詳しくはここ。Click here for info (in Japanese) on Takemizuwake Shrine in Chikuma City's Yawata district.
Yawata's shrine is approximately 30 minutes from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen by bicycle (at a 6-year-old's pace).

オンリーワンと言いたくないけど、オンリーワンとテーブル One-of-a-kind Table

2009.07.10: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

今、「松風」から「紬」に改造している客室のベランダーのテーブルを完成しました。紬のコンセプトを生かして、お蚕さんの棚をグラス・トップと木のテーブルの間に挟んだという作品です。棚は昔にお蚕を育っていた親戚から頂いて、テーブルは自分で作って、グラス・トップは中古品屋さんで買ったコーヒーテーブルを分解して取り付けた。「紬」と言うコンセプトにぴったし。

先日はあるおじさんに「生き残る為に亀清旅館が何かのオンリーワンを出さなきゃ」と言う「アドバイス」を頂きました。悪いけど、私のやっている事の殆ど全てがオンリーワンです。このお蚕の棚のテーブルこそ、オンリーワンです。まあ、お客さんがこの個性に喜んで頂けるかどうかはポイントですね。お客さんの反応を見るのは楽しみにしています。

I am remaking one of our guestrooms from "Matsukaze" (which means 'pine' and 'wind', and could just as well be a guestroom name from an inn in Hokkaido or Okinawa as well as Nagano) to "Tsumugi". The Tsumugi concept refers to the local silk production and weaving tradition. As part of the remake, I built this table incorporating a bamboo and straw tray that had been used to grow silk worms. One of our relatives that used to grow silk worms gave me the tray, and I made the table base myself, and used the glass top off of a coffee table I bought at a used goods store. Voila! A new table perfect for the "Tsumugi" theme.

Recently, I was given the "advice" by an older gentleman that in order to survive, Kamesei Ryokan has to do something "one-of-a-kind". I beg your pardon, but practically everything I do is "one-of-a-kind", including this new table. It's a matter of if the guests appreciate this uniqueness or not. Only time will tell!

坪庭の主役：アナベル The Star of the Pocket Garden: Annabelle

2009.07.09: 季節 Seasons

去年に出来た坪庭の今のスターがこの白いアジサイ：アナベル。井戸の蛇口の「オブジェ」とのツーショットです。

Our two "tsubo niwa" pocket gardens that were completed last year feature some wonderful plants. Right now, the star of the gardens are these Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'. Here they are pictured with the little antique pump objet d'art.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

ハニームーンの姨捨思い出 Honeymoon Memories from Obasute

2009.07.08: その他 Miscellaneous

イタリアからのお２人です。ラブ・ラブに見えるでしょう。当たり前です。TatianaさんとRobertoさんはハニームーンで日本に来ました。（新婚旅行で態々戸倉上山田に来て・・・嬉しいね。）

この写真の場所は姨捨の長楽寺です。去年に改造された茅葺屋根です。とってもいい雰囲気です。夜はお２人を「姨捨夜景・伝説ツアー」にも連れて行きました。私はお客さんに姨捨駅のホームにアル俳句投函箱をいつも案内しますが、実際に書いてくれる人が少ないです。でも、このTatianaさんはいきなり、「ペンを貸して」って。尚且つ、イタリア語で書きました。聞いたら、「光る月、夜景きらきら、指輪ぴか」の様な詩だそうです。ロマンチックですね。

Don't these two look like they're in love? Of course they do -- Tatiana and Robert are on their honeymoon. They came from Italy to Japan for their vacation after their wedding.

The building in the background is Choraku-Ji Temple in Obasute. The thatched roof was just re-done last year. It makes for a romantic backdrop.

That night, I took the two on the Obasute Night View / Legends tour. I always show the guests the "haiku post", but hardly anyone every writes a poem. Tonight, though, Tatiana asked for a pen, and wrote a haiku -- in Italian! It was something like "The moonlight glowing, lights of the town glittering, and my ring shining." Ahh, how romantic!

３００年の歴史と伝統を自分の手で体験：上田紬 300 Years of History and Tradition, at YOUR Fingertips: Ueda Tsumugi

2009.07.07: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

始めて長野に来た時に、信州の歴史と伝統で感心しました。最初は上田市に住んでいましたので上田城、上田獅子、昔からのそば屋さん（「刀屋」は３００年の歴史がある・・・自分の国より歴史が長い！）、国分寺の八日堂祭り、等々。
その１つは上田紬。個人的に上田紬の模様が大好きで触り感覚も好きです。物凄く憧れています。
今は亀清旅館のある部屋を改造している最中です。「紬」と言うコンセプトで。その勉強を込めて、上田市上塩尻にある小岩井紬工房に行って見ました。味のある歴史的の建物の工房を見学させて頂きまして、織り方をご親切に説明していただきました。販売コーナーも見させて頂きました。昔からの模様は意外にモダンに感じて、吃驚しました。
そして、小岩井工房で自分の手で上田紬を織る体験も出来ると分かって、早速今月末の予約を入れておきました。楽しみにしています。

When I first came to Nagano, I was impressed by the prefecture's long history and rich tradition. I first lived in Ueda City, and got to see and know such historical things as Ueda Castle, Ueda Shi-Shi, soba shops that have been run by the same families for generations ("Katana-Ya" has been in existence for over 300 years -- that's longer than my own country!), Kokubun-Ji Temple's Yokado Festival, and so much more.
One such area of Ueda that impressed me was "Ueda Tsumugi", the traditional silk weaving traditionally used for kimonos. Ueda's style dates back over 300 years and is regarded as one of the top 3 weaving styles in Japan. It was reknown in Kyoto for its sturdiness and beauty.
Ueda Tsumugi owes its existence to the area's silk industry (Nagano Prefecture has traditionally been Japan's largest producer of silk). It's influence can be felt in Shinshu University's School of Fiber which continues to research and develop better varieties of silk. I personally love Ueda Tsumugi's patterns and coloration, as well as its texture.
In Ueda City's Shiojiri neighborhood, there is a studio that continues to make Ueda Tsumugi. It is called Koiwai Tsumugi Kobo, and we went there yesterday for a tour. The building is impressive with its historical construction, and it was amazing to see how Tsumugi is woven. We found out they offer mini lessons and I signed up for one for the end of July. I'm looking forward to making my own bit of Ueda Tsumugi.

The loom

dyed silk threads

woven fabric for women's kimonos

You can make your own Ueda Tsumugi like these.

客室の庭のアジサイ Hydrangeas in the gardens of our guestrooms

2009.07.06: 季節 Seasons

今は亀清旅館のお客質の何個に庭にアジサイが綺麗に咲いています。冗談で、お客さんにお部屋を案内する時に、「アジサイの花も手配して置きました」と言います。

Several of the guestrooms here at Kamesei have hydrangeas blooming in the gardens. I joke with the guests when I show them their rooms that we especially arranged for the pretty blossoms for them.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちら Click here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

坂井ほたる祭り Sakai Firefly Festival

2009.07.06: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

The moon coming up over Sakai Village

夕べは田沢温泉の帰りで旧坂井村（現在、筑穂久村）を通って、ちょうど蛍祭りが行われていた。夜８時から蛍達が出てきて、川の辺でぴか～としながらうろうろしていました。お月様が出てきたときに満月で田んぼに反射して、綺麗でした。
坂井ほたる祭りは７月の頭で道の駅「まんだらの圧」の裏です。

Last night, on the way back from Tazawa Onsen, we drove through the old Sakai Village (now part of Chikuhoku Village) and happened upon their Firefly Festival. It was a quaint little setting with fireflies glowing along a little stream surrounded by rice fields. When the moon came up, it reflected off the fields, creating a magical scene.
Sakai's fireflies come out in the beginning of July, and the festival is held at the Mandara produce stand.

田沢温泉へ日帰り温泉　Going for a bath to Tazawa Onsen

2009.07.05: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

田沢温泉の江戸の雰囲気 Tazawa Onsen's Edo feel

温泉旅館をやっている私達も他の温泉街に行ってお風呂に入るのは大好きです。今日は田沢温泉に行ってきました。

田沢温泉で旅館は３件しかない小さな温泉で、江戸時代の建物、雰囲気が残っています。石畳の細い道に２，３階建ての木造の宿、歴史を感じさせる松の木、絵になるような温泉街。
旅館組合青年部で知り合った若旦那、宮原Kenさん（今は、県部長として頑張ってくれている人）の宿、ますや旅館のお風呂に入らせて頂きました。私が大好きな木の造りで迷路のよう長い廊下を通ってお風呂場まで行く。お湯はまあ、田沢温泉がぬるいと言う噂を聞いていましたので噂通り、ぬるかったです。源泉が３８℃だそうです。その分で長く入れました。露天風呂に入りながら、青空や周りの松や竹を見ながらゆっくりくつろげました。
信州の自然、江戸時代の建築・・・田沢温泉は良かった！
（戸倉上山田温泉から車で約４５分。）

Our family runs an onsen ryokan. So what do we like to do on our days off? Go see other ryokans and take an onsen bath, of course! Today we went for a drive to Tazawa Onsen.

Tazawa is a small onsen with only 3 inns in operation. But the narrow cobblestone street is lined with 2~3 story wood buildings, many built in the Edo era, with manicured pine trees giving the town a classic feel.

We went to Masuya Ryokan for our bath. The innkeeper, Ken Miyahara is actually the leader of the prefecture's Junior Ryokan Association. His inn has the type of construction that I just love -- warm wood with long corridors running along the outside of the building, all in a confusing web of passageways.

As for the onsen water, well, I had heard that Tazawa Onsen is only lukewarm. And sure enough, with the onsen source being only 38C, the baths were quite a bit cooler than ours. But that meant we could enjoy a nice, long soak. The outdoor bath was especially enjoyable, with views of the blue sky above and pine trees and bamboo on the hillside next to the bath.

Tazawa Onsen -- blessed by Nagano's wonderful nature and featuring classic Edo-era architecture. It makes my list of Cool Japan.

(Tazawa Onsen is about a 45 minute drive from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen.)

田沢温泉のますや旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Masuya Ryokan in Tazawa Onsen.

Tazawa's Edo Streetscape

Public Bathhouse

Masuya Ryokan's entrance

長い廊下

杏狩り体験 Getting to pick apricots

2009.07.04: 季節 Seasons

千曲市は杏生産の日本一だそうです。親戚の庭の木で杏狩りに誘われて、今日は子供たちを連れてやってみました。２週間前の雹で傷は大分あったが、見た目だけが悪いで味が美味しいです。二つの種類があって、小さい方は多少すっぱいのでその尼すっぱさが美味しい！いっぱい採れましたので週末のお客さんに「ご自由にどうぞ」でフロントに置きました。県外からのお客さんは特に喜んでいただきました。

Chikuma City is supposedly the number one producer of apricots in Japan. One of our relatives invited us to go over to their garden and pick apricots in their trees. So today I took the kids and we had fun picking the bright orangish-yellow fruit. A lot of them had damage from the hail storm two weeks ago, but the appearance didn't affect the taste. There were two different varieties of apricots, and the smaller ones had a delicious tart kick to them.
We picked a whole bunch of apricots. We brought them back to Kamesei and put some out on the front desk for the weekend guests to enjoy.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.