市場調査と分析 Market Research & Analysis

2010.02.18: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

Analyzing Jalan's data for Togura Kamiyamada inns

我々旅館は口コミの点数を良く見ています。改造すべきな所はどこかと。改造した所はどういう効果があるかと。その意味で、ネットエージェントのじゃらんネットの口コミデーターが細かくて役に立ちます。戸倉上山田温泉で約35件の旅館がじゃらんに登録しているので今日はそのトップの宿の口コミを分析しました。我が宿は小さいですから、部屋数や予約の数で勝負が出来ません。従って接客やお料理に努力をかけています。こういう分析で色々と見えてきます。例えば、客室の満足度は5点満点の4.0になっています。以前は3.8や3.9でした。この年度の部屋改造はやはり、効果が見えています。周りの旅館と比較したら、低い方ですからまだまだ努力が必要だと。
そして、外国人利用のtripadvisor.comの口コミも調査しました。千曲市に載っている旅館23件の中で、亀清旅館は見事に#1です。インバウンドの努力も効果が見えています。

We ryokans look very closely at the reviews and comments we receive from our guests. We use the data to find out what areas need improvement, as well as what effect the improvements we made is having. Today I researched the data for the top inns here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen on the leading domestic ryokan net agent, Jalan net. Their customer feedback data is very detailed, making for some very enlightening results for us. For example, our guestroom rating is 4.0 out of a total of 5.0. It used to be 3.8~3.9, so we can deduct that the improvements we have been making on the rooms this past year are having a beneficial effect. However, it is still lower than our peers, so we have a lot more work to do.
Besides the domestic market feedback, I also looked at tripadvisor.com's information from the foreigners market. Of the 23 inns listed for Chikuma City, Kamesei is #1. That is really encouraging!

Click here for info on Chikuma City / Togura Kamiyamada Onsen inns from Trip Advisorの千曲市・戸倉上山田温泉旅館情報はこちら





戸倉上山田温泉の代表のイルミネーション Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's Signature Illumination

2010.02.17: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

Kara-Koro Footbath with winter illumination

夕べは戸倉上山田温泉の「カラコロ足湯」のお掃除当番でした。町の皆でお掃除して、町の皆で利用して、戸倉上山田温泉にお越しになるお客様の皆で楽しんでいただいて・・・この足湯が出来て良かったと思います。尚且つ、冬の間は我々旅館若旦那の飾りつけたイルミネーションでなお綺麗です。

戸倉上山田温泉にお越しになる際、どうぞ、カラコロ足湯に入ってみて下さい。気持ち良いですよ!そして、私たち町の皆の手で綺麗になっているよ!

Last night it was my turn to clean the Kara-Koro footbath here in the center of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen.
We townfolk keep the footbath clean, as well as use it, and visitors to Togura Kamiyamada Onsen enjoy it also. And during the winter time, it is lit up by this pretty illumination, put up by yours truly and the rest of the junior innkeepers.
So, if you come to Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, be sure to soak your feet in the Kara-Koro footbath. It feels great! And is nice and clean, thanks to us townfolk.





Chef武井の旬の味 Chef Takei's Seasonal Dish

2010.02.16: グルメFoodie

Fuki Miso Sauce

亀清旅館のChef武井の新しい一品:揚げ物に蕗味噌。地元で採れた蕗を油で焼来ながら香りを出して、地元の高村商店の味噌と混ぜて、揚げ物のソースになる。揚げ物はポークのから揚げと筍とタラノメと、色付けの為に、黄色ピーマン。蕗の苦さが結構効きます。本当に旬の味だ。
今度は、例の まぁーず に合わせて、チャレンジする予定だそうです。お楽しみに!

Kamesei Ryokan's Chef Takei has prepared a new dish for the season: Seasonal Fry with Fuki-Miso sauce. The dictionary says "fuki" is Petasites japonicus, and is apparently also known as bog rhubarb or giant butterbur. I'm not sure what the heck those are, but I know what fuki means: winter is losing its grip and spring is on the way in. Fuki pops its head up as the snow starts to melt. You can find it many places all around the area. It's bitter taste is a refreshing break from the preserved vegetables that we have been making do with throughout the winter, and is a prelude to the spring vegetables that are just around the corner.
Our Chef Takei has prepared locally picked fuki by frying it in oil to bring out its flavors, then mixed it with miso by our local manufacturer, Takamura Shoten. He uses it as a sauce for an ensemble of fried pork filets, bamboo shoots, tara no me (another early spring plant) and, for color, yellow bell pepper. He will be trying a variation using the new Mahzu sauce -- stay tuned!





雪景色の科野のムラでタイムスリップ Slip Back in Time with the Wintry Shinano Village

2010.02.15: 季節 Seasons

Lost in time: wintry Shinano Village

千曲市の森将軍塚と長野県立歴史観の間に、古墳時代のムラが再創作された。科野のムラと言います。茅葺屋根の建物は5,6件があって、ムラの儀式の場も復元されて、小さな川も流れて・・・昔、昔、何千年前の昔の風景になっています。今日はお客様の送迎の途中で見まして、雪が少し残っていて綺麗でした。帰りは寄って、写真を撮りました。2件の小屋の茅葺屋根の中から煙が出ていて、いい雰囲気でした。
偶然、亀清旅館の違うお客さんとそこで行き会いました。森の将軍塚に入っていたそうです。すいていましたと仰いました。これだけな素敵な資料館と、復元された古墳時代のムラがって、人が少ないってもったいない。
In between the Nagano Prefectural History Museum and the Chikuma City Mori Shogunzuka Museum is a collection of recreated prehistoric buildings, the Shinano Village. There are 5 or 6 thatched roof dwellings and storehouses, as well as an elevated ceremonial building, all with a small stream running along side. With the covering of snow, it all makes for a mystical site -- you feel like you've slipped back through time. I spotted the village while taking some guests to their homes, and stopped by on the way back to take some pictures. Two of the buildings had cooking fires burning inside. It was ethereal to see the smoke stream through the thatched roof.
Just by coincidence, some other Kamesei guests were there, too. They had gone to see the Mori Shogunzuka museum. Apparently there weren't many people in it. What a shame that more people don't come and enjoy the wonderful museum and this fascinating little village.

科野のムラは亀清旅館・戸倉上山田温泉から車で約20分;屋代駅から歩いて約20分。The Shinano Village is about 20 minutes from Kamesei by car, or about a 20 minute walk from Yashiro Station on the Shinano Railway line.

科野のムラのHPはこちら。The Shinano Village website is here.





Happy Valentine's Day!

2010.02.14: 季節 Seasons

Le Pain Elegant's Valentine's Sweets

駅のキオスクでお弁当を買ったら、お姉さんからチョコを頂いちゃって、
温泉のパン屋さんに行ったら、スイーツにハートの形の飾り、
我がお客さんにアメリカ式のハートキャンディー・・・

皆さん、ハッピーバレンタインズディー!

A gift of chocolate from the kiosk lady at the station,
Heart-shaped toppings on the sweets at the local bakery,
Giving our guests here at Kamesei Ryokan American-styled heart candy

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

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



Valentine's Candies


あと2ヶ月で、ピンクなトンネルになる This will be a pink tunnel in s months.

2010.02.14: 季節 Seasons

桜の花でピンクなトンネルになる

亀清旅館と戸倉駅の間の送迎で、よく通る道です。この桜の並び木が好きです。今年の冬の雪はいつまで続くでしょうかと思ってしまいます。しかし、この桜の木を見ると、あと2ヶ月で花が咲く事を考えたら、よし!この寒さを我慢するぞ!

Whenever I drive our guests between our inn and Togura Station, I usually drive down this road. I like it because it is lined by cherry trees. The way this snowy winter is continuing, some days I wonder if it will ever end. But when I see these cherry trees, I realize that in just two more months, they will be in full bloom. So all we have to do is bear with the cold a little while longer, and we'll be rewarded with the beautiful cherry blossoms.





ごみ文化 Gomi (Garbage) Culture

2010.02.13: 日米関係Culture Shock

Morino Lodge's Gomi Rules

この間、白馬のもりのロッジにお世話になりました。オーナーはスコットランド生まれのMattさんです。そして、実は、Mattさんは和田野区の区長にもなりました。「外国人の区長」と言う事で、長野県のメディアで話題になりました。まあ、私もこの上山田温泉11区の区長にはいつかなるから、大した事じゃないと最初に思いました。しかし、去年にMattさんと共同で長野市に講演で喋りました。その時に、Mattさんが区のごみ問題についての活動を話しました。彼は白馬の自然と環境が好きだからこそ、引越ししたので、区長としてその環境を守りたいとの事。
なるほど。
私こそ、比較的にエコ派です。亀清のロビーに灯油のストーブをどけて、薪ストーブを取り付けるとか、近所のレストランの使われた割り箸をそのストーブの焚き付けに使うとか。
でもMattさんのごみ選別などの努力を聞いたら、感動しました。
そして、先日は白馬に行った時に、彼のもりのロッジを見学させていただきました。外国人の宿泊者の為にごみ選別のルールを英語での説明、別々なゴミ箱など、彼らがしっかりしている。そして、聞いたら、近所の週一のごみの日が宿泊者に体験ツアーとして人気だと。
なるほど!日本のごみルールが細かくて、面倒くさいと思っていましたが、逆に考えれば、そのごみ文化を外国人に見せたらいい勉強・経験になるのだ。
Last week I was given a tour of Hakuba's Morino Lodge by its owner. The owner is Matt-san from Scotland, who also happens to be the Wadano Village Chief. Being the first foreigner Village Chief in Hakuba, Matt-san has been somewhat of a media darling here in Nagano. At first I thought -- what's the big deal? Within a couple of years it'll be my turn to be Kamiyamada Onsen's 11th District Chief. I don't find that to be particularly news-worthy. However, last year I was invited to give a speech in Nagano City with Matt as the co-presentor. Matt chose to live in Hakuba for its beautiful nature, and as Village Chief, he has taken it upon himself to take the village's garbage separation and recycling to a higher level.
I was impressed. I consider myself to be an environmentally sensitive type guy. For example, here at Kamesei Ryokan, we took out the kerosene stove from the lobby and put in a wood burning one. And we collect used chopsticks from neighboring restaurants to use for lighting fires in the stove, as opposed to letting them end up in the garbage. But I was fascinated by Matt's garbage and recycling efforts for his village.
When we took the tour of Matt's lodge, I was amazed to see the detailed "garbage rules" for his guests, and the separated waste cans everywhere -- all in English. And I heard that Matt turned his village's weekly garbage collection day into a cultural tour, to show his guests Japan's garbage "culture". It made me realize that Japan's garbage rules shouldn't be considered to be all anal in their detailedness, but they are a good thing for foreigners to learn and perhaps take back to their own countries.

もりのロッジのHPはこちらClick here for Morino Lodge's website.

Here's a link to a Japan's Time article that led me to understand Japan's gomi rules aren't to be dreaded, but are to be held up as an example for the rest of the world to follow.



Separate garbage cans -- not even bothering with Nihongo!



三々九度;4枚目そして過去を割れる "San-San Ku Do"; 4th dish (and one's past) to be broken

2010.02.12: 日米関係Culture Shock

3 for sake, 1 for...

先日は上山田お神楽保存会の新年会がこの温泉の上山田ホテルで行いました。私が生まれてからbeatle'sのOb-La-Di, Ob-La-Daを歌ったなど、公表が出来ない部分はありますが、その中で感動した一事があって、ここで紹介したいと思います。
上ホの一角に日本の伝統的な物は飾ってありました。帯や主に結婚式関係の物でしたが、この三々九度の盃がありました。結婚する二人の親をお互いに紹介する時に使うお皿だそうです。普段はお皿が三枚らしいですが、この辺で4枚だと言う習慣があると教えてもらいました。一枚は盃の式の時に割れるそうです。つまり、結婚する娘との親の縁も割れるからだと。
確かに、日本の結婚式披露宴でその部分がありますね。お嫁になる女性が自分の親に「お世話になりました」と言います。その下降形の「した」に驚きました。日本で結婚する時、親との縁まで切れるのだ。
三々九度の4枚目のお皿が割れるように。

上山田ホテルさん、この伝統的なものの展示でそのストーリーを表現してくれて、有難うございました!

The other day, the Kamiyamada Okagara Lion Dance troupe held our New Year Party at Kamiyamada Hotel, one of the grandest inns here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. For the first time in my life, I sang Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da by the Beatle's. That and many other stories shall be told at a later time (or maybe not). Now I want to mention about a little something that really fascinated me.
Kamiyamada Hotel had one section decorated by various traditional objects, like a kimono obi and several items related to weddings, including these "San-san Ku Do" dishes. These are apparently used as part of the ceremony for when the parents of the two to be married are introduced to each other. The party drinks sake out of 3 of the dishes in a special ritual. It is our local tradition to have a 4th dish, that is to be broken as a symbol of the bride's ties with her parents to be broken.
It reminded me of the Japanese wedding ceremonies I have seen. At one point during the reception, the bride gives a speech thanking her parents for all of the support they have given her, with the "given" being past tense. In other words, she no longer belongs to that family. From then on, she is a member of her husband's family. The ties are broken, like the 4th dish is. Powerful stuff.

I want to thank Kamiyamada Hotel for honoring and giving voice to local traditions like this through their displays!

上山田ホテルのHPはこちらClick here for Kamiyamada Hotel's website.





NIS@Hakuba

2010.02.11: 活動 Activities

Andy and I at Happo-One

長野インバウンドサミットのローカルミーティング@白馬は無事に行いました。会議の前半は白馬のインバウンドの取り組みの見学、ゲレンデにて。後半は現地の方と情報交換。
白馬の宣伝ではいつも青空だが、今日の天気は雨や雹、とにかくひどかった。まあ、私はスキーの初心者やから、何がパウダーかな何がアイスバーンか、よく分からないので楽しんだ。(オブザーバーとして、うちの長男、Andy君も連れましたので、恐ろしい事で、スキーでは私の負けです!)
白馬はオーストラリアのスキー客ばかりというイメージだが、日本の休日だったせいか、今日は日本人が多かった。多分、オーストラリアのスキー客はパウダーが戻るのを待っていたとのもあったかもしれない。しかし、レンタル屋さんとかと話したら、8割が外国人だそうです。
後半の情報交換では、ホストのもりのロッジのMattさんいわく、外国人が増えたというより、日本人客が少なかったそうです。日本人は本当にスキーしなくなってきたようです。そして、もう1つな現象は外国人の長い滞在も代わってきているようです。以前は10日間なら10日間でずっとスキーだったけど、今年は6日間がスキー、4日間が東京や京都など、観光に切りかえっている筒があるみたい。
ホストのMattさんを始め、白馬のファンになったNISの皆さん、ご苦労様でした!
Nagano Inbound Summit's Local Meeting at Hakuba took place today. The first half was seeing Hakuba's efforts on attracting foreign skiiers -- from the Slopes! The second half was a meeting to share info between the NIS members and some Hakuba locals.
Hakuba's ads always show blue sky, but today was rain and hail. I'm such a beginner skiier, though, that I don't know the difference between powder and an ice burn. I still enjoyed it, but was shocked to find that my son Andy can whip my butt at skiing! We had expected to see more Australian skiiers, but with it being a Japanese holiday, more Japanese people were out. Plus, the Aussies were probably waiting for the powder to return. But talking with the equipment rental shop people, 80% of the skiiers are foreigners!
At the information exchange session, we heard from locals, like our host, Matt from Morino Lodge, that the biggest change is in the decline of Japanese skiiers. That, and the foreigners are starting to add sightseeing in Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. to their itineraries, shortening their time spent in Hakuba.
Anyways, thanks to Matt, our host, and the other NIS participants, all of whom became even greater fans of Hakuba!



80% of this Hakuba gear rental shop's customers are foreigners




NINJA Projectの進歩、ロゴも! Progress, and a logo, too!

2010.02.10: 活動 Activities

One of our logo ideas.

先日は長野市地方の民間のインバウンド考え会、Ninja Projectはまた集まって、計画書の作成が出来ました。私とNaGA(旧長野外国語センター)、清泉大学、NPOセンター、と学士の忍者(!)など、8人のチームです。長野市から支援のお金を申し込んで、善光寺と地獄谷(スノーモンキー)で外国人観光客の調査をするという計画です。話によると、地獄谷の年に18,000人の外国人観光客の8割は東京からの日帰りだそうです。それは許せない!長野はおサルだけじゃない!温泉や大自然、歴史、伝統など、魅力は沢山ある!この調査の結果を見て、喜ばれそうなコースを作るのが目的です。よし、頑張ります!

まず、格好良いロゴを。

As previously mentioned, I am heading a private sector think tank on Inbound issues for the Nagano City area Myself and people from NaGA (the Nagano Foreign Language Center), a real-life Ninja, a Seisen U. professor, and more. Our eight-member team just met and officially formalized our plans. We intend to apply for some seed money from Nagano City and do a survey of foreign travellers to Zenkoji Temple as well as the Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park. I have heard a figure that 80% of the annual 18,000 foreign visitors to the park come on day trips from Tokyo. Nagano is more than just monkeys! We hope to use the findings from the survey to propose tour ideas so visitors from overseas can better enjoy Nagano. Wish us luck!

But first, our cool new logo!