「蔵の町」須坂市が長野市の東北側にある。先日に久しぶりに通ったら、あちらこちらに誇りの蔵の整備工事がされていた。須坂市はその遺産となる蔵を積極的に大事にしている様に感じた。欧米に無い、日本の江戸時代からの蔵はこの欧米人が大好きなので、嬉しい限り。

その歴史的な蔵の活性化は色んな悩みがきっとあるだろう。一つの古民家と蔵は去年に「ゲストハウスKURA」として生まれ変わった。オーナーの山上さんに顔を出して、ゲストハウスを案内してくれた。去年は成田空港の近くのゲストハウスに泊まった。その時はどれだけな人数をどれだけな狭い所で安く泊まらせるかという雰囲気だった。寝る所は２段バンクベッドだったし。須坂のゲストハウスKURAは広々した畳の部屋でお客さんが日本風で布団で眠れる。

ゲストハウスKURA:　お安くで泊まりながら古民家生活の体験も出来、なかなか魅力的な宿泊施設。

Suzaka City, situated to north and east of Nagano City, is known as 'Kura no Machi', or a town of 'Kura', meaning the old earthen-walled storehouses that were prevalent in the Edo era. On a recent trip to Suzaka, I was pleased to see so much construction activity going on to restore several of these historic Kura. For someone like me coming from a Western country, these Kura have a lot of mystique of the old Japan.

Of course, the reality is finding practical uses for these Kura is very difficult in today's world. One entrepreneur has come up with a unique application: Ms. Yamakami-san has started Guesthouse KURA in an old merchant's house with a Kura in its backyard.

Last year, I stayed at a guesthouse near Narita Airport. It was an exercise in squeezing as many people in to as small a space as possible for as cheap as possible. Sleeping quarters were tiny little bunk beds.

Guesthouse KURA maintains the inexpensive pricing, but guests sleep on futons sharing spacious tatami-mat rooms, while experiencing staying in a 100+ year old house. This is a great addition to the selection of accommodations here in Nagano Prefecture!

ゲストハウス蔵 Guesthouse Kura