姨捨「田毎の月」棚田 いつが見頃? When to see Obasute's famous Moon-Reflecting Rice Fields

2013.04.20: その他 Miscellaneous

The Obasute Terraced Rice Fields Getting Prepped For Planting

戸倉上山田温泉から車で10分で千曲市姨捨地区は「名月の里」とも呼ばれている。姨捨の段々畑の棚田はちょうど位置的にお月様が上がる時に田んぼ毎に映る「田毎の月」であるから。

松尾芭蕉のころは秋月に合わせて田んぼを早く収穫して、水を払いなおしたと言われる。芭蕉がわざわざその秋の満月が棚田で映っている風情を見に来て、一句を書いた:
面影や
姥一人なく
月の友

現在は秋に田んぼに水を入れ直すような贅沢な事は出来ない為、「田毎の月」を見たい場合には田植えの時期に来る必要がある。

今は姨捨の棚田で水はりの準備が行われている。田植えは5月ごろ。従って、2013年の「田毎の月」のタイミングは満月の予定の5月25日。

一緒に芭蕉も愛した姨捨「田毎の月」を見に行きませんか?

Only a quick 10 minutes by car from our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada, the Obasute terraced rice fields are famous for reflecting the moon. Known as "Ta goto no Tsuki", the fields are situated in just such a way that when the full moon comes up, it reflects in each individual field.

For 2013, the best date to see the moon reflecting will be May 25th, the full moon when the fields will be flooded for planting.





亀清の庭にヤマブキが登場♪ Kerria Now Blooming in Kamesei's Garden

2013.04.19: 季節 Seasons

Yellow kerria flowers next to Kamesei's watari-roka passageway

亀清旅館の中庭を渡る廊下の側に、ヤマブキの真っ黄色の花がまたこの春に咲いてきました。我が宿は所々で庭があり、そこで春の花のパレードが続いています。

Next to Kamesei Ryokan's 'Watari-roka' passageway that crosses our 'nakaniwa' garden, the brilliant yellow flowers of our Kerria shrub (Kerria japonica) are putting on a show. Our inn has gardens throughout it, and the Spring Parade of Flowers is in progress!





忍者と水芭蕉: 戸隠の春からの交通案内 Ninjas and Skunk Cabbage: Spring in Togakushi (Access Guide)

2013.04.18: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

戸隠奥社の杉並木 Cedar Trees Lining the Path to Togakushi's Okusha Inner Shrine

善光寺さんの上の戸隠高原はいよいよグリーンシーズンが始まりました。忍者も水芭蕉も冬眠から起きて来ています。長野駅からのバスも冬のスキー場ルートから奥社バス停に変更になりました。(更新した時刻表参照)
車の方は信濃町IC経由で戸倉上山田温泉・亀清旅館ー奥社は約60分です。

私の戸隠の忍者コネ、そば処「山口屋」の山口さん情報によると:
*雪は奥社の参道にまだ少し残っていますが、道は雪がもう無い。
*戸隠森林植物園の水芭蕉は今年、速く咲きそう。4月末が見頃でしょう。
*戸隠れ道の忍者関係、戸隠忍法資料館は4月19日から、ちびっこ忍者村は4月27日から営業の予定。

戸隠高原は自然で恵まれている信州の中で特に恵まれている。奥社の杉の並び木はパワースポットとして近年に大人気になった。その参道が込み合う場合があるが、一歩離れて森林植物園に入ってしまえば、静かで穏やかな世界です。戸隠連峰が反射する鏡池も必見。

その上に、戸隠はお蕎麦で有名な信州の中で特に美味しいです。私達信州に住んでいる皆がわざわざ食べに行くぐらい。蕎麦の産地だし、その綺麗な空気とお水で作った蕎麦は一味違う。

そして、隠れているかもしれないけど忘れてはいけないのは戸隠れ道の忍術。ちびっこ忍者村と忍法センターの2ヶ所を楽しめます。

勿論、戸隠は自然と蕎麦と忍者だけじゃない。信仰(中社はお勧め)や竹細工など、他の魅力が沢山ある。このグリーンシーズンは是非、戸隠へ。そして、良かったら、お泊りはこの戸倉上山田温泉へどうぞ♪

Located on a perch at the foot of Togakushi Mountain high above the venerable Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City is Togakushi Kogen. Signs of spring are starting to appear throughout Togakushi as it transitions out of winter and into the green season. As the snow melts, the 'mizubasho' skunk cabbage and the Togakushi ninjas are coming out of hibernation. Even the bus from Nagano Station has switched destinations from the ski area to the entrance to the fabled Okusha (Inner Shrine). (See the updated Transportation Guide) And for people coming by car, it is only 60 minutes from our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada to the entrance to Okusha when using the Expressway.

According to my Togukashi ninja connection, Yamaguchi-san of soba restaurant "Yamaguchiya",

*Snow still remains along the approach to Okusha, but the roads are completely clear.
*The creamy white mizubasho flowers in the Togakushi Forest Reserve look like they'll blossom a week early this year, around the end of April.
*The two ninja sites have announced their opening dates for 2013: Togakushi Ninpo Center will open on Friday April 19th and the Togakushi Chibikko Kids Ninja Park will start up again on Saturday April 27th.

Nagano Prefecture as a whole is blessed with so much beautiful natural scenery, but within Nagano, Togakushi is special. The massive cedar trees lining the path to Okusha really impart a sense of the power of nature. Lately those famous trees are experiencing a boom of sorts as they have become known as a 'power spot' in Japan. But take one step off the path and into the Togakushi Forest Preserve, and you'll have all that peaceful nature to yourself. The snowy white flowers of the unfortunately named skunk cabbage are especially delightful. And be sure not to miss Kagami-ike, aka 'Mirror Pond' which perfectly reflects the grand Togakushi Mountain peaks.

In addition to all the natural beauty, Togakushi is home to some of the best soba noodles in Nagano Prefecture, which itself is Japan's soba mecca. Besides being a prime growing area for buckwheat, there is just something different about the noodles made here in the refreshingly clean mountain air using the crystal clear mountain spring water.

And, don't forget the Togakushi ninjas. This is the home of the Togakure-do school of ninjutsu, and there are 2 locations to get a feel for what Togakure-do ninjutsu is like. They are the Togakushi Ninpo Center and the Togakushi Chibikko Kids Ninja Park.

Togakushi is so much more than just nature, soba and ninjas. There's the spiritual tradition (Chusha, the 'Middle Shrine', is especially rich in mysticism), bamboo ware and so much more. This green season, come and check and experience Togakushi yourself. And in the evening, we here at Kamesei Ryokan would be happy to have you come stay at our inn in Togura-Kamiyamada onsen.

戸隠高原 Togakushi

山口屋そば Soba Restaurant Yamaguchi-ya

戸倉上山田・戸隠の高速道路経由のアクセス Access from Togura-Kamiyamada to Togakushi using the Expressway