7月 – 2012 – 信州戸倉上山田温泉旅館亀清

一流の温泉雑誌に青い目の作家？ Blue-eyed author in Japan's Prestigious "Onsen" Journal

2012.07.11: メディア Media

This month's issue of "Onsen" journal features an article by Yours Truly

日本温泉協会の一流「温泉」月刊の7月1日号のテーマは「温泉はインバウンドの柱」です。外国人の温泉旅館の若旦那として頼まれて、私が記事を提供しました：

「天職:　青い目の温泉バカ」

戸倉上山田温泉・亀清旅館の魅力、苦労話、露天風呂造り、インバウンドの活動、そしてお客様に寛げる場面の提供の幸せ。

私も日本の温泉が外国人観光客を呼ぶ柱だと思っています。温泉協会がこのテーマを特集にして、感謝しております。
その中で、私に記事を頼んで頂いて、嬉しかったです。

是非、お読みになってみてください。

The Japan Spa Association's prestigious monthly journal "Onsen" features onsens as a pillar of "Inbound" (attracting tourists from overseas) in their July 1st, 2012 edition. Being a foreigner running an onsen ryokan, I was asked to write an article for the journal. Hence,

"The Perfect Job: A Blue-Eyed Onsen 'Baka' (Fool)"

The charm of our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada and our inn, Kamesei Ryokan, my trials and tribulations, building the outdoor baths, my "inbound" activities, and my happiness from providing our guests a place to relax.

I, too, believe Japan's onsens are an important tool for attracting travellers from overseas. I am grateful the national onsen association dedicated an issue of their journal to the topic of foreigners. And I am thankful they asked me to submit an article.

Pick up a copy and read the article for yourself!

日本温泉協会Japan Spa Assoc.

戸倉上山田温泉：　オリジナルTシャツ Original Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen T-shirt!

2012.07.10: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada's new T-shirt

私ども戸倉上山田温泉旅館青年部の企画で当温泉のオリジナルTシャツができました。

デザインは分かりますか？「小石（恋し）の湯」と言う伝説は知っていますか？

昔、昔、大昔
（必ずそこから始まりますよね）
ここの姫様の旦那さんは戦争に行かれて、
なかなか戻って来なくて、
姫様はかみさんにお祈りした。
「千曲川で赤い石は百個を見つかれば、恋人が戻ってくる」と言われた。

このTシャツのデザインで小石は何個だと思いますか？
ハイ、そして、100個目が、

赤い石。

小石の伝説の赤い石。

と言うデザインです。

お洒落でしょう？

7月14・15日の連休でこの戸倉上山田温泉夏祭りが行います。Tシャツの販売は致しますので、是非買い求めて下さい。

The Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen Ryokan Junior Association guys and I made this original T-shirt for our onsen town.

Pretty cool design, eh? Any idea what it represents?

Heard of the 'Koishi no Yu' legend?

Koishi means 'pebble', but its a play on words and could also mean 'love'. The legend goes like this:

"A long, long time ago,
(Don't legends always start out like that?)
the local princess's husband went off to war,
and didn't come back,
so she prayed to the gods.
The gods replied, 'Go down to the Chikuma River and find 100 red pebbles. When you find the 100th one, your lover will return.'"

So how many pebbles do you think are in the design of the t-shirt? Yes, and the 100th one is ...

a red pebble.

The red pebble of the 'Koishi no Yu' legend.

The t-shirt has a nice story, eh? And a pretty fashionable design, too.

This weekend July 14th and 15th is Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's big summer festival. The new t-shirt will sold at the 'matsuri', so get yours now!

小石の湯伝説 More on the Koishi no Yu Legend (in Japanese)

貸切風呂の看板 Sign for the Private Bath

2012.07.09: その他 Miscellaneous

New hand-made signs for the entrance to Kamesei's private outdoor onsen bath.

去年12月に亀清旅館の貸し切り露天「しなの風呂」が出来たが、入口はちょっと分かりにくかった。すぐ分かる様に看板を作りました。ついでに「ご利用中」のちゃんとした札も作りました。時間がかかったけど、そこそこ良い看板が出来ました。

これで亀清旅館のお客様が新しく出来た貸切露天「しなの風呂」を更に楽しんで頂けます。

Kamesei Ryokan's private onsen bath "Shinano-buro" was completed last December. The entrance had been a bit confusing, so I made a new sign for it. I also made some solid wood "In-Use" signs, too. I've been needing to make the signs for a long time, but they turned out pretty nice if I do say so myself.

Now our guests here at Kamesei Ryokan can enjoy the new private onsen bath even more!

Our new private outdoor bath "Shinano-buro" 新しい貸切露天「しなの風呂」

杏狩りは？コネがいれば… Apricot Picking with the right connections

2012.07.08: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

長男Andy君が採りたての杏を

戸倉上山田温泉の近くの森「あんずの里」の杏生産が日本一である。杏狩りと杏ジャム作りは人気ある。人気があり過ぎて、杏狩りを提供している農家が早く終わってしまったそうです。（市の観光協会によると、7月5日が最後だった。）しかし、7月8日は私がアメリカから来たお客さんとうちの子供も連れて、杏狩りはちゃんとできた。ハーコットや日本の伝統的な種類、その農家の新しく作った種類、様々な杏を味わえた。

公式な杏狩りが終わったのに、どうして亀清旅館だけがお客さんに提供が出来ている？もっと近場の戸倉の若宮地区の農家、杏宝園と深い付き合いがあるから。杏宝園は千曲市の杏の認識度を高まりたいので、できる限りで杏狩りの楽しみをお客さんに提供している。

千曲川のソ側にある杏宝園の畑の杏狩りがまだまだ続いていますので、体験してみたい方は亀清旅館へのご連絡をどうぞ。採りたての杏の味は忘れられない。

Mori "Apricot Village", a 20 minute drive from our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada, is Japan's largest producer of apricots. Picking apricots is a popular activity here this time of year. Actually, it's become a bit too popular -- our city's Tourism Association announced that the two orchards officially offering u-pick finished for the season on July 5th. Yet on Sunday July 8th, we here at Kamesei Ryokan took an American family that was staying with us to go pick apricots.

How can Kamesei provide apricot picking when the city cannot? We have a strong relationship with Kyohoen, an orchardist in Togura's Wakamiya district which is even closer, and Kyohoen is working hard to raise awareness of our areas apricots. So they provide u-picking to as many people as possible.

Our son Andy tagged along as we visited Kyohoen's orchard and tasted so many different varieties: Harcot, heritage varieties, even some new experimental varieties that Kyohoen is developing. Tasting an apricot picked right off the tree is an unforgettable experience.

If you want to try yourself, give us a call. Kyohoen's season is continuing for a little while longer.

杏宝園 Kyohoen

戸倉上山田通販カタログ試食会 Tasting Party for Togura-Kamiyamada's New Catalog

2012.07.07: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

Taste-testing Togura-Kamiyamada

戸倉上山田の新しい産直ギフト通販カタログの試食会は昨日、千曲市観光会館で行われた。当温泉の旅館の皆さんが集まって、カタログに載っている品物の味見が出来た。お客様にお勧めする中で、自分達でまず知らなければならないという事で、農家さんや職人の皆さんがそれぞれの品物を持って来てくれた。

地元の新聞やテレビ、ラジオの取材もあって、これからのお中元の時期に向かって地元の皆様にもこの新しいカタログの活躍が出来たら嬉しいと思っています。

戸倉上山田で沢山の良い品物が作られているのでこのカタログで紹介が出来て、良かったと思います。問い合わせがあれば、亀清旅館へどうぞ。

Togura-Kamiyamada's new Gift Catalog has been out for two weeks. The group behind the catalog, our Kara-koro civic improvement organization, held a tasting party yesterday so that staff members of our area's ryokans and hotels can be familiar with the products showcased in the catalog. Hopefully the hotel staff will now be able to better introduce the products to guests that come stay at our onsen.

Several local TV, radio and newspapers came and reported on the event. So hopefully local people will know about the new catalog and use it for the upcoming O-Chugen summer gift-giving season.

The members of the Kara-koro group and I worked hard to put the catalog together. I am excited that we are able to promote so many of the great products made here in Togura-Kamiyamada.

Togura-Kamiyamada's Fine Products

Featured in the Shinano Mainichi local daily newspaper

亀清旅館の紫陽花オンパレード Hydrangeas on parade at Kamesei Ryokan

2012.07.05: 季節 Seasons

春先の代表の花は櫻の様に、
梅雨の代表の花は紫陽花だと、
日本に来てうんと感じていますが、如何ですか？

亀清旅館のそれぞれの庭にいろんな種類のアジサイが咲いています。昔からのと、庭師の岡田さんが選んで植えたの、両方が今、見頃です。

一部を紹介します。

As cherry blossoms represent the start of spring,
Hydrangeas are the representative flower for Japan's rainy season,
or so I have felt ever since moving to Japan.

Here in Kamesei Ryokan's many gardens, we have a plethora of varieties of hydrangeas in bloom right now. Some have been here since the gardens were originally installed, and some are recent additions by are gardener, Okada-san.

I would like to introduce a few.

客室「末広」の前の坪庭にこの芸術的な赤とピンクのアジサイ。
In the pocket garden in front of guestroom "Suehiro", this artistic red and pink hydrangea.

「千歳」の前の坪庭に真っ白の「アンアベル」。廊下を超えて反対側の坪庭にも続いている。

In the pocket garden in front of "Chitose", these creamy white "Annabelle" hydrangeas. They are repeated in the garden on the other side of the walkway, too.

渡り廊下の横に青い系と赤い系の紫のアジサイ。

Reddish and Blueish-purple hydrangeas next to the watari-roka passageway.

中庭の池の隣に深い青い色の紫陽花。

Deep blue hydrangeas next to the koi pond in our naka-niwa (central garden)

中庭にこんな芸術的な紫のアジサイ。

Also in the naka-niwa central garden, these artistic purple hydrangeas.

客室の前に切り取ったアジサイの生け花。

Hydrangea cut-flowers displayed ikebana-style in front of one of the guestrooms.

非日常的な作業:　忍者道場作り A bit unusual of a job: Building a Ninja Dojo

2012.07.04: 活動 Activities

Ninja carpenters

先日はスイスからのお客様とオーストリアから遊びに来ているシリアを連れて、長野市へお出かけしました。

善光寺参りの為？
お洒落の大門でお買い物？

いいえ、忍者の道場作り。

ちょっと非日常的な作業だった。戸隠れ道忍術を教えている仲間がお稽古の為に今までいつも公民館を借りていたけど、善光寺の周辺の空き部屋活性化の方と連携を取って、江戸時代の土蔵とその隣の住宅を使うようになった。道場として使える前にリフォームが必要なので私も手伝っています。今回は数人を引っ張って大勢で作業しました。将来的に忍者屋敷や稽古体験とかも出来る様になる予定。

（多分、こういう忍者「遊び」を馬鹿にする方が多いだろうけど、一度は稽古を体験してみてください。骨が折れたら知らないよ！）

戸隠忍者・善光寺道場の新点をまたお知らせします。

The other day I took a guest from Switzerland and a buddy in visiting from Australia, and we headed up to Nagano City.

Not to go sightseeing at Zenkoji Temple.
And not to go shopping at the fashionable Daimon complex.

We went to work on a ninja dojo.

Not exactly an everyday activity, eh? One of my buddies carries on the Togakure-do school of ninjitsu and in fact teaches it on a regular basis. He had been renting a community center for the lessons, but teamed up with a group working on finding uses for the empty stores and buildings around Zenkoji, and he ended up getting to rent an Edo-era earthen-walled storehouse and the house next door. Before it can be used as a dojo, some serious remodelling has to take place, and that's where we came in!

There will eventually be enough room for a ninja-maze and ninja training sessions for tourists. I am helping out any and every way I can.

I am sure many of you are laughing at Tyler here playing 'ninja'. But before you laugh, try your hand at one of the ninja lessons. And don't come crying if you break a bone. It's the real deal.

Will keep you posted on the Togakushi Ninja Zenkoji Dojo progress.

亀清旅館の新しい貸切露天風呂「しなの風呂」の初夏 Kamesei's New Family Bath's 1st Summer

2012.07.03: その他 Miscellaneous

幸せになる　亀清旅館の貸切露天風呂「しなの風呂」の初夏

去年の12月に亀清旅館の貸し切り露天風呂「しなの風呂」が完成した。庭師の岡田さんがその時に芸術的に庭を作ってくれたので、夏になると植物の皆が伸びて、木が緑になって、庭らしい庭になってきた。

しなの風呂の縁がヒノキで出来、周りのデッキも木造で、自然な材料が庭とちょうどいい合わせになっている。

上山田の温泉らしいお湯
ヒノキの香り、
爽やかな緑のお庭
好きな人と

貸切露天風呂「しなの風呂」の初夏

幸せになれ～

Kamesei Ryokan's private outdoor bath "Shinano-furo" was completed last December. At that time, our gardener Okada-san designed and built a lovely garden for the bath. Now, as the garden is experiencing its first summer, the tree leaves are filling out and the plants are growing; the garden is coming into full, vibrant form.

Shinano-buro's rim is made of 'hinoki' Japanese cypress, the most prized wood for onsen baths. Along with the wood deck, the natural materials complement the garden so well.

Kamiyamada's onsen water with the hearty sulfur fragrance and soft feel to the skin,
The heady aroma of the hinoki wood of the bath,
The lush garden full of natural energy,
and a private bath with that special person.

Come and enjoy Kamesei's 'Shinano-buro' private outdoor bath as it celebrates its first summer.

亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

庭の花マップも Flower Map for the Garden

八方尾根トレッキングと高山植物 Happoone Hiking and Alpine Wildflowers

2012.07.02: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

Happoone Trekking Path

先日は八方尾根開発のお蔭で、八方尾根温泉そして八方尾根トレッキングの体験が出来ました。
私が白馬に行った日の天気が良かったので、ゴンドラとリフトに乗って1830mの八方池山荘まで行って、そこから約1時間トレッキングして八方池まで登りました。

伝説の八方池は2050mの標高で、雄大な3000m近くの白馬連邦が池の表面に移って、東は白馬村から遠くは浅間山までのパノラマ景色、足元に高山植物があって、本当にアルプスの大自然パラダイス。

私が行った日は八方池がまだ雪で被されていて、白馬連邦は雲の中で隠れていた。しかし、真夏の天気の良い日でその白馬連邦が池の写って、きっと夢の様な景色だろう。

亀清旅館から車で約1時間15分、そしてゴンドラ・リフトで約20分：　いきなりアルプスの高山メッカにいられる。

この夏は天気の良い日で長野の山の大自然の楽しんでみては？

The Happoone Development Company treated me to a trekking tour of Mt. Happoone the other day. I met Sejima-san and Nalini-san at one of the Happoone Onsen bathhouses in Hakuba Village's Happoone district. One gondola and two ski lift rides later, we were at 1830-meter Happo-Ike Sanso (Happo Pond Mountain Hut). And after a strenuous 1-hour hike we reached the legendary Happo Pond.

At 2060 meters, Happo Pond literally feels like it is in the heavens. Surrounded by 3,000-meter peaks on one side, and panoramic views of the Hakuba basin and beyond on the other, with alpine wildflowers scattered around at your feet, Happo Pond makes for a blissful experience. Here you can really feel the power and breadth of nature.

The day we went, the pond was still covered with snow, and the Hakuba Mountain Range was playing hide-and-go-seek behind some clouds. But we got peak-a-boo views of the massive Hakuba mountains on the way, and could certainly get a sense of the grandeur Happo Pond must offer when its snow covering is gone and the mountains are reflected in its surface.

Hakuba is a convenient 1 hour 15 minute drive from Kamesei Ryokan / Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen. With the guilt-enducingly easy 20 minute ride on the gondola and ski lifts, you too can be in alpine heaven.

八方尾根開発 Happoone Development

Alpine wildflowers with the Hakuba Range in the background

The Hakuba Mountains Playing Peek-a-boo

Happo Ike (Pond) Cairn

Alpine pines in flower

Snow Patch Shapes in the Hakuba Mountains

Happoone Soul Food -- Ohyakkuri

トレッキング後、山を下りて八方尾根の中心街に戻って、昼ごはん八方田舎料理「おひょっくり」さんにお世話になりました。温泉のお湯でゆでたおうどんとぶっこみシチューのようなおひょっくりを頂きました。トレッキングの疲れを無事に取り返った。
After trekking Happoone Ridge, we came back down to the Happo district of central Hakuba for lunch. I was treated to a hearty meal at "Ohyokkuri". Udon noodles cooked in onsen water and a thick stew known here as ohyokkuri (the namesake of the restaurant) filled me up after that strenuous trekking.
おひょっくり Ohyokkuri