お客様の送迎の帰りで、千曲市森地区の前から気に入った所によりました：観龍寺。信濃の国三十三番札所の第六番だそうで、以前から地元の方に見るべきだとお勧めされました。今日はちょっと時間があったので、行って見ました。森の「杏の里」の谷に地区に入れば、「観龍寺」の看板が出ます。矢印通りに行けば、無事にお寺の手前の駐車場に着きました。途中の道が工事中だから、これから綺麗になるみたいです。駐車場の横に泉から綺麗なお水が出ていて、水の流れの音で良い雰囲気。お寺の前の急な石階段を登って、大きな門を潜って、その素敵な茅葺屋根のお寺が見えました。今はまだ冬だから回りの木は枝だけ；葉っぱが入ればなお綺麗だと思います。あと６週間ぐらいで森の杏の花が咲く予定です；その時にまた期待。
観龍寺の歴史は１３８０年間という想像も付かないような年数です。本当に感動しました。お寺や門の天井の絵も１つ１つ面白いです。お寺の東側の龍の絵も格好いい！さすが観龍寺だ！
千曲市森地区の観龍寺は戸倉上山田温泉から車で約３０分。

On the way back from dropping some guests off in Chikuma City's Mori district, I had some time to spare so I went on a search for Kanryu-ji Temple. I had seen it on maps before, and some recent guests had talked about it, so I was curious as to what the temple was like. After entering Mori, also known as "Apricot Village", signs for Kanryu-ji appeared. I followed the signs up to the temple's parking lot. Next to the lot is a fresh water spring with clean, sparkling water making a captivating gurgling sound. From the parking lot, you climb up a bunch of stone steps, go through the cool wooden "mon" arch, and come upon the thatched roof temple building. Since it's still winter, all the surrounding trees are bare, but I bet when spring comes the forest-like setting is pretty spectacular. I am sure I'll be coming back to Mori in a few weeks to see the apricot blossoms -- I hope to come back to Kanryu-ji then, too. The temple and arch are covered in hand-painted wood tiles, and on the temple's east side is a really cool painting of a dragon. That makes sense since Kanryu-ji's "ryu" means dragon.
Kanryu-ji is #6 on Nagano's 33-Temples tour. It supposedly has a mind-bogginly long 1380 year history. If you're in the area, check it out.

観龍寺の詳しくはこちらClick here for more info (in Japanese) on Kanryu-ji.

Kanryu-ji Temple facade

Close-up of the woodwork

Stone Step Approach

The Temple's Bell

今日はまた晴れて、暖かくなりそうな日です。「春のようですね」と言ったら、地元のおじさんに「だまされない様に。まだ冬だ。その内また寒くなるよ」と言われました。
まあ、千曲市観光協会の「春」歳時記が出ましたので戸倉上山田の春の花や祭り情報をお知らせしたいと思います。

節分草　（戸倉駅の上の天狗公園）　３月中旬～下旬
可愛いらしい小さな白い花の真中に黄色と紫のカラフルな部分があって、うんと綺麗です。この珍しい花は写真家に人気あります。戸倉節分草を育てる会が一所懸命守っていますので年々に見に来る方が増えています。
（亀清旅館から車で約１０分。戸倉駅から歩いて約１０分。）

森「杏の里」のあんず祭　４月２日～１６日
今年で５５回目になる千曲市の大イベントです。杏の花の薄いピンクに、農村の落ち着いた雰囲気の合わせがポイントです。戸倉駅の上に登る道が秘密の近道です。
（亀清旅館から車で約２５分。屋代駅からシャットルバスで１０分。）

イースターフェスティバルin戸倉上イやまだ温泉　４月３日
千曲国際交流協会の提供で、子供達の為のイベントです。千曲川沿いの噴水公園の周辺でお菓子入りのプラスチック玉子が隠されて、子供たちががーっと探すと言う遊びです。他のゲームもあります。これはまた、実行委員長が私です。詳しくは私まで@亀清でお電話をどうぞ。

上山田の知識寺の春祭り　４月１７日（土）
地元のお寺さんの地元の、伝統的な式。我々上山田神楽保存会の獅子舞も！
（亀清旅館から車で５分、歩いて１５分。）

戸倉の水上布奈山神社　御柱際　４月１８日（日）
諏訪の御柱際がもちろん、一番ですが、戸倉の御柱際も感動的です。神社は国重要文化財です。詳しくはTel(026)823-5135.
亀清旅館から歩いて１５分、戸倉駅から歩いて１０郡。

牛に引かれて善光寺詣り　５月５日（水）
戸倉上山田温泉から善光寺まで、３０ｋｍを歩くイベントです。ちなみに、今年の実行委員長は私です。どうぞ、多くの皆様のご参加をお待ちしております！

科野のムラお田植えまつり　６月１３日（日）
千曲市森地区にある長野県立歴史資料館の隣の縄文時代の村に田んぼが設置してあって、古米などの田植えは手作業で、皆は参加が出来ます。今年はうちの子供たちを連れて行って、チャレンジしたいと思っています！
亀清・戸倉上山田温泉から車で２５分、屋代駅から歩いて１５分。

Springtime Flower and Event Info for Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Area

Setsubunsou Flowers (Togura Tengu Park) Mid to Late March
The cutest little white wildflowers, with pretty yellow and purple centers, bloom in a section of the hillside next to Tengu Park above Togura Station. They bloom after the snow cover melts, and attract many an avid photographer.
10 minutes by car from Kamesei Ryokan, 10 minutes on foot from Togura Station.

Apricot Blossoms, Mori "Apricot Vilage" Early to Mid April
This year's Apricot Blossom Festival will be held from April 2nd to the 16th in quaint, rural Mori. One of Chikuma City's signature events. The delicate light pink color of the apricot blossoms are spread out among the farmhouses in this rural valley.
25 minutes by car from Kamesei / Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, or 10 minutes by shuttle bus from Yashiro Station.

Easter Festival in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, 4/03
Me and some fellow foreigners share our culture with the local children, with a huge, 1000-egg Easter egg hunt at the Fountain Park along the Chikuma River here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. Egg-related games and free horse buggy rides.

Chishiki-ji Temple's Spring Festival 4/17
A decidedly local traditional festival at a decidedly local temple. Absolutely 100% not touristy. Which makes it absolutetly 100% interesting for tourists from overseas, because it is a glimpse at local culture in rural Japan. I'll be there playing my flute with my fellow members of the Kamiyamada Lion Dance group.
5 minutes by car from Kamesei / Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, or 15 minutes on foot.

Togura's Mizukami Funayama Shrine's Onbashira 4/18
The big once-every-seven-years Onbashira will take place this year in Suwa. Branch shrines throughout the area have their own local versions, including this shrine near Togura Station. A massive log will be moved from a nearby mountain and set up at the shrine at a special ceremony. This festival, also, is meant for locals as opposed to tourists, which makes it that much more meaningful for outsiders to experience.
The shrine is a 10 minute walk from Togura Station, or 15 minutes from Kamesei Ryokan.

Pulled By an Ox to Zenkoji Walk 5/05
Togura Kamiiyamada Onsen's annual 30km walk to Zenkoji Temple, in honor of the legend of an old lady following an ox to the temple. This year, it's my turn to be the head organizer. So if you have any suggestions for improvements, feel free to let me know!

Rice Planting at Shinano Village, Mori 6/13
Next to the Prefectural History Museum is a recreated prehistoric village, complete with rice paddies. Every year, an event is held with young ladies dressed in period costumes hand-planting the rice seedlings to the accompaniement of taiko drums. One field is open for anyone to try their hand at wading into the mud and doing "ta-ue" rice planting. It's a great opportunity to experience ta-ue, as well as gain a new appreciation for rice.
The history museum is 25 minutes by car from Kamesei / Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, or 15 minutes on foot from Yashiro Station.

Ｓｈｉｎａｎｏ　Ｖｉｌｌａｇｅ　”ｔａ－ｕｅ”

Suwa's Onbashira column -- Togura's will be a bit smaller!

Chishikiji and our Okagura lion

Obasute Masamue brewery entrance

戸倉上山田温泉の周辺の地酒は姨捨正宗です。私は個人で何度も見学させて頂いております。歴史のある、味のある蔵です。もう、大好きです。（もちろん、造っているお酒も好きですし・・・）　普段は一般公開されていませんが、２０１０年３月１３日（土）は特別で「蔵開放」のイベントです。１０時、１１時、１３時、１４時、１５時からという５回のツアーが行う予定です。そして、蔵でしか味わえない「絞りたて」もあるそうです。善光寺街道沿いの立派な土壁の蔵で、全国的に評価、受賞されたお酒、この特別なイベントで是非、ご一緒に行きましょう！

姨捨正宗の酒蔵は戸倉上山田温泉から車で県道７７号を走って、稲荷山で国道４０３号に左折して約３．５ｋｍを登って左側にあります。１５分ぐらいかかります。又は科野鉄道屋代駅からバス#６,２５分。

Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's area sake brewery is Obasute Masamune. Using rice grown in the legendary moon reflecting rice fields of Obasute Mountain, and clear water from a local spring, Obasute Masamune's sake is recognized nation-wide and has won numerous awards. The historical brewery buildings, located on the Edo-era Zenkoji Kaido (the old path between Matsumoto and Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City), are full of character with impressive earthen walls and traditional construction.
I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to tour the brewery before, but normally it is not open to the public. However, on Saturday March 13th 2010, Obasute Masamune will hold a special "Open Brewery" day so the public can tour the facilities. Tours will start at 10 and 11am and 1, 2 and 3pm.
Come and join me for a tour of this historical sake brewery -- it's a unique opportunity to see the traditional buildings and the inner workings.

Obasute Masamune Sake Brewery Access:
From Togura Kamiyamada Onsen by car, take Prefectural Road #77 north to Route 403 and turn left. Climb for approx. 3.5km and the brewery will be on the left. Or take bus #6 from Yashiro Station on the Shinano Railway line, approx. 25 min.

姨捨正宗のＨＰはこちらClick here for Obasute Masamune's website.