(また千曲市自慢のシリーズです。）

千曲市は認定した８０品の「千曲ブランド」を最近に宣伝していますが、千曲市の中のこの戸倉上山田温泉で以前から個々の独特な生産者はここに特化した商品をずっと作り続いています。良いお土産にもなりますのでここで紹介します：

笹鈴の六文銭まんじゅ
どの温泉地でも饅頭があるけど、地元の真田家の六文銭のマークのまんじゅは戸倉上山田温泉の笹鈴さんだけ。毎日焼いていて美味しいです。自分で六文銭を焼き付ける体験も可能です。銀座通り。Tel(026)275-1228。

島屋の鮎の甘露煮
長野県は海がないので、川魚が重要です。島屋さんは千曲川の代表の鮎およびワカサギとハヤの甘露煮を作っています。随時に作っていますので運が良ければ、出来立てのを試食ができます。実際に作っているところが見れます。真空パックで売っていますのでここだけのお土産になります。銀座通り。Tel(026)275-1175。

中島の「誉」ブランドの信州味噌
信州は日本の主の大豆の生産のお蔭、信州味噌が昔から注目されています。戸倉上山田温泉の味噌屋さんは中島です。お店に昔の道具が展示してあるし、味噌や地元の特徴の醤油豆の味見もできます。銀座通。Tel(026)275-1069。

佐良志奈焼きのたからや
地元のリンゴの木の灰で特徴な色が出された：佐良志奈焼きのたからやの陶芸です。お洒落な店内で美しい青い色の陶芸。上田獅子の木彫りや地元の森獏郎さんの版画など、他の民芸品も展示してあります。銀座通りの西入口。Tel(026)275-0778。午前８時から午後７時まで。

旅行の時にお土産を買うと、やはり思い出になるその当地の商品がいいですよね。戸倉上山田はこれだけ地元の商品がそろっているのは自慢だと思います。

Chikuma City recently announced a list of 80 local products designated as "Chikuma Brand". Here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, we are fortunate to have 4 shops that have been making made-in-Togura-Kamiyamada products for decades. So guests that come and stay at our onsen can enjoy shopping for locally-made items. Here are the 4:

Sasasuzu Manju with the Rokumonsen Mark
You can find manju pastries with the purple adzuki bean paste inside at pretty much any onsen, but you can only find manju with the Rokumonsen mark of the local Sanada samurai family here at Sasasuzu. You can also try your hand at branding the manju yourself with a hot branding iron. Baked freshly every day, so they are extra delicious. On Ginza Dori. Tel(026)275-1228.

Shimaya Kanroni Marinated River Fish
Nagano Prefecture doesn't have an ocean, so river fish are an important part of the local cuisine. Shimaya takes ayu, the main fish from the Chikuma River, as well as wakasagi and haya, to other local types of river fish, and marinates them in a sweet sauce "kanroni" style. You can see how the kanroni process works in their shop, as well as try a sample of some of their creations. They are constantly making new batches, so if you're lucky you can try some just made kanroni, too. The kanroni is available for sale in take-home vacuum packs. On Ginza Dori. Tel(026)275-1175.

Nakajima Miso's "Homare" Label Shinshu Miso.
Shinshu, the classic name for Nagano, is one of Japan's major producers of soybeans. So the prefecture has naturally become known for the quality of its miso paste, Shinshu Miso. Here in Togura Kamiyamada, we have our own maker of Shinshu Miso, Nakajima Miso. In their showroom and shop at the front of their factory, you can sample the different types of miso they make, as well as see some of the antique tools they have on display. Be sure to try the shoyu mame, a local variety of processed soybeans. On Ginza Dori. Tel(026)275-1069.

Sarashina-Yaki Pottery at Takaraya
Our local pottery style, sarashina-yaki, has a distinct blue color resulting from the ash of applewood from the local orchards. Takaraya is a small, chic store displaying lots of the beautiful sarashina-yaki pottery as well as Ueda Shishi lion wood carvings and wood block prints by local artist Mori Bakuro. At the western entrance of Ginza Dori. Tel(026)275-0778. Hours from 8am to 7pm.

When on a trip to a new place, its always nice to buy a souvenir made there in where you are travelling to. We are fortunate to have four shops making local specialties here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen.

注：テレビ局NBSの「千曲市自慢」の連携記事です。
Note: This entry is in conjunction with local TV Station NBS's Pride of Chikuma City blog.
（http://www.i-nagano.com/ipc/ch02/17/single.php）

戸倉上山田温泉の中心の公園「水と緑と潤いのある公園」はこのにぎやかな温泉街の中の静かなスポットです。鯉が池に泳いでいて、池の真ん中の島に水天宮があり、でかい木の間を歩きながら池を一周したり、東間で休憩したり、湯飲み処で上山田温泉のお湯を飲んでみたり、そして新しくできた足湯も楽しめる。この公園の一番目立つところは芝生の前に立っている能舞台です。立派な木造の建物です。ハロウィーンとかのイベントの時によく使われています。そして、この夏は新しく毎週日曜日（夜７時半ごろ）は美女連の日本舞踊の練習、毎週水曜日（夜８時から）は私が入っている上山田神楽保存会の練習が開催されます。１０月ごろまでは週二回に日本の文化が水と緑と潤いのある公園の能舞台で戸倉上山田の温泉街を盛り上がります。今までは美女連の踊りの練習と我々お神楽の獅子舞の練習がどこかの公民館とかで行っていましたが、町をさらににぎやかにするために能舞台でやる事にしました。ぜひ、見に来てください。練習ですから気楽で見て頂いて、皆と触れ合っていただけます。

In the center of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen is a small little park with a really long name: "Mizu to Midori to Uruoi Koen" which roughly means "Water and Nature and Moisture Park". In the middle is a cute koi pond with a stone bridge to the island with its shrine to the water god. You can weave in and out of the tall trees as you walk around the pond, then take a rest at the wooden gazebo. And since this park isn't in any old town, it's in Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada, there is a spot to drink the onsen water (the minerals are good for your health!) as well as the new Kara-Koro Footbath, to soak your feet in the soothing onsen. The biggest feature of the park is across from the grassy lawn -- the impressively huge, wooden Noh theater. It gets used for events throughout the year, such as the Halloween Party. And now, this summer it will see some action twice a week. The Bijoren group will practice their traditional Japanese dancing every Sunday night around 7:30pm, and the Kamiyamada Kagura Preservation Group will do their lion dance practice every Wednesday at 8pm. These are both low-key practices, not full performances, so you can interact up close and personally with the members. Both groups typically held their practices in area community centers, but this summer and through October, they will be helping to liven up the onsen town by bringing their traditional arts to the Noh Stage. Come and check it out!

私の気に入りの姨捨駅は今、工事中です。駅のホームからの夜景は大好きで、週２，３回ぐらいにお客さんを連れて、案内しています。このＪＲ篠ノ井線にある駅は夜景が綺麗だし、｢田毎の月」で有名の棚田も見えるし、駅実態が珍しいスイッチバックになっているし、駅のホームの俳句投函箱もあるし、駅舎が「となりのトトロ」から出てきそうなかわいい木造の建物だし、とにかく楽しい駅です。その上に、駅は無人です。従って、自由に入れる訳です。切符を買おうと思ってもお金を受けてくれる所はない。この世の中で、お金を要求しないって、不思議ぐらいな魅力です。
この楽しい駅は工事中とのことはちょっと心配です。ＪＲが地元の方が観光客と触れ合えが出来る場所に改造しているそうです。通常ならば、こういう改造の目的はお金につなげる。お金を落とそうと思っても落とせない現状は変わるのかな？市役所に聞いたら、ＪＲのＫｉｏｓｋ社との契約の仲で、Ｋｉｏｓｋ以外の販売は違反なので今回の工事はお話したりお茶を飲んだりするスペースのためだそうです。
良かったですね。姨捨駅の魅力はさらに増えるみたいです。出来上がったら、また写真を提供します。

One of my favorite local spots, Obasute Station, is being remodelled. I love the night view from the station's platform, and I guide guests here 2 or 3 times a week. The view of the Zenkoji Plain is spectacular, you can see the "moon-reflecting" Obasute terraced rice fields from the platform, there is a haiku "post", the station itself is a rare "switchback" set-up, and the train is a cute wood building like out of an anime movie. And on top of it all, it is an un-manned station. that means you can enter and roam around for free. Even if you wanted to pay an entrance fee, there isn't anyone or any machine to accept payment.
So I was worried when I saw the construction going on. Construction usually leads to making money, which would spoil this otherwise gem of a station. So I asked at City Hall. Apparently JR is building a place for locals to talk and have tea with travellers, not to sell anything as that would be against their contract with the Kiosk stores.
What a relief! It looks like Obasute Station will gain another charming aspect with this remodel.

（この記事は長野県公式外国語ＨＰに連携です。）

Many foreign tourists travel around Japan using a JR Rail Pass. But when they get to Nagano Prefecture, they are hit with the realization that most of the most popular destinations like Kamikochi, Togakushi and Jigokudani Snow Monkeys (as well as my onsen town, Togura-Kamiyamada) all require non-JR transportation. Then there's the issue of getting from Hida Takayama to Matsumoto, two major "Inbound" tourist destinations. Using JR would take over 5 hours. However, another option would be the trans-Alps bus that takes just over 2 hours.

Well, the people at Alpico Bus have apparently been listening, and have come up with the following 2 new bus passes that are perfect for people wanting to explore the Matsumoto - Kamikochi - Hida Takayama area:

2 Day Free Passport Kamikochi / Norikura
*Price: 5,000 yen for adults, 2,500 yen for children
*Area: Kamikochi, Shirahone and Norikura to the west, Matsumoto, Asama Onsen and Utsukushigahara to the east.
*Availability: Buy at the Matsumoto Bus Terminal or Shin Shimashima Station from 01-April 2010 until 31-March 2011.
This pass covers Nagano's most spectacular scenic spot, Kamikochi, which is also the launching area for mountaineers to climb the Japanese Alps, as well as secluded Shirahone onsen with its milky white hot spring waters and Norikura, outdoor sports paradise. Then you can ride back down to Matsumoto and see its world-famous castle, take a dip in the hot springs at Asama and Utsukushigahara Onsens, before riding back up to the panoramic views from Utsukushigahara Kogen.

4 Day Alps Wide Shinshu/Hida Free Passport
*Price: 10,000 yen for adults, 5,000 yen for children
*Area: Same as the 2-day pass PLUS Hida Takayama, Shirakawago, Shinhotaka Onsen and Gero Onsen
*Availability: Buy at the Matsumoto Bus Terminal, Shin Shimashima Station, and Takayama or Gero Bus Centers from 01-April 2010 until 31-March 2011.
Included in this Pass are the impeccably restored neighborhoods of Hida Takayama, the world heritage thatched roof farmhouses of Shirakawago, Shinhotaka Onsen on the western side of the Alps, and Gero Onsen, known from long ago as one of Japan's top 3 onsens.

Fellow Nagano Inbound Ambassador Tom-san reports that Kamikochi is in fine spring form, so take advantage of these new passes from Alpico and enjoy!

For more information, contact Matsumoto Dentetsu at 0263-28-3111

今日は上田市へ出かけました。目的は長野インバウンドサミットの仲間と上田紬の工房「小岩井」さんとの交渉。今年の目的は長野県のユニークな体験、海外からの旅行者が喜ばれる体験をまとめて何かの形でＰＲする事。戸隠の忍者、善光寺の文化、亀清旅館で提供しているLunch with a Geisha等など。その第一歩としては300年の歴史の有る、日本三大紬である上田紬の代表：小岩井紬工房の手織り体験。
ＮＩＳのＫｅｎさん、Ａｎｄｙさんと私が小岩井良馬さんとカリナさんと、外国人観光客との取り組み方の打ち合わせしました。協力してくれると言う良い結果が出ました。早速、来週はテストでオーストラリアからのお客さんが体験するので、我々ＮＩＳのメンバーが立ち会う予定です。

話が変わりますが、その打ち合わせの後、東新担当でいる私がＫｅｎさんとＡｎｄｙさんを連れて、昼ごはんのレストランを紹介する立場でした。私が松本へ行く度に、Ｋｅｎさんに物凄くいいところばかり連れて頂いているので、今回は私の番でした。どこが良いかな？と悩んでいました。結局、上田市の柳町のパン屋さん「ルヴァン」にしました。味のある酒倉の建物と趣のあるパンがポイント高かったようです。お昼でセットメニューは三つがあって、せっかくだったから「ターブル」を注文した。アスパラのキッシュが最高でした。今度、若女将を連れて行かんとあかんと思いました。

良い交渉。良い昼ごはん。良い一日だった。

My Nagano Inbound Summit cohorts and I went into Ueda City for negotiations for this year's goal. Our target is to combine several of Nagano's unique "taiken" experiences, like Togakushi ninjas, Zenkoji's cultural tour, not to mention Kamesei Ryokan's "Lunch with a Geisha", into a package that can be promoted to guests travelling from overseas. First step towards that goal is Ueda Tsumugi, a 300-year old tradition and one of Japan's 3 foremost silk weaving traditions. Andy, Ken and I met with Ryoma and Karina of Koiwai Tsumugi Workshop and discussed ways in which their loom weaving lessons can be offered to tourists from overseas. The discussions went very well, and a first test case of an Australian couple coming next week has been scheduled. I look forward to working with the Koiwai's to make their "tsumugi" lessons enjoyed by more foreign visitors in the future.

After the "negotiations", Andy, Ken and I went out for lunch. As Ueda is considered my neck of the woods, it was my responsibility to choose the restaurant. This was no small task, considering the standards that Ken-san had set with all the unique restaurants he has taken me to in the Matsumoto area. I decided to introduce them to Levain, the breadshop in Ueda's Edo-era "Yanagi" neighborhood. It's classic sake brewery construction and amazingly delicious bread scored some pretty high points with Ken and Andy. I just felt guilty that I haven't taken my wife Mari there yet!

Great "negotiations", great lunch -- it made for a great day!

ルヴァンのＨＰはこちらClick here for Levain's website.

上田紬の小岩井紬工房のＨＰはこちらClick here for the website of Koiwai Tsumugi Workshop

市役所の知り合いの鹿田さんが声をかけてくれて、昨日は子供たちを連れて姨捨の有名の「田毎の月」の棚田で田植えの準備の作業を手伝いました。色々と活躍している堀口さんとの仲間と一緒に水を払えるように田んぼの周りの土をいじりました。平地の土と違って、棚田の土は粘土が入っていて、面白い感覚でした。普段は手で田んぼの土を触る機会ない私達にとっては新鮮で楽しい経験でした。

戸倉上山田の温泉街から車でたった10分でこんなに別な世界があるって不思議です。これからは堀口さん達と連携して、戸倉上山田温泉にお越しになる観光客も姨捨の棚田と農家の面で触れ合えるように計画を立ちたいと思っています。お楽しみに。

亀清旅館に泊まる海外からのお客さんの約8割ぐらいは長野県に来る目的が地獄谷のお猿の温泉です。つまり、スノーモンキーズ。その温泉に入っているお猿の顔の表情が綺麗な訳。亀清旅館に2，3泊して、一日は日帰りで地獄谷へ行ってくると言うパターンが多いです。（今日もシンガポールから6名、カナダから二名がその様にお猿を見に行っています。）その足は長野駅経由で電車とバスのコンビネーションです。そのつながりは割りと分かりつらいです。ちょっとでも分かりやすくする為に、このオールマイティーな時刻表を作りました。電車やバスの予定が変り度に、更新します。2010年の春・夏・秋の戸倉上山田温泉から地獄谷までの予定表をここで発表いたします。
Approximately 80% of our guests from overseas here at Kamesei Ryokan come to Nagano for the purpose of seeing the snow monkeys at Jigokudani. The most common pattern is to spend 2 or 3 nights at our inn in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. Then on one of their full days here they make a day trip to Jigokudani to see the monkeys soak in their onsen bath with that oh-so blissful expression on their faces. (There are 6 guests from Singapore and 2 from Canada doing something similar to that today.) The trip involves a combination of train, bus and walking and can get rather confusing. I matched up the various train and bus schedules into this one master schedule, and have just updated it for the Spring / Summer / Fall 2010 period. So come and see the Jigokudani snow monkeys and enjoy staying at Onsen Town Togura Kamiyamada!

軸谷野猿公苑のＨＰはこちらです。The Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park website is here.

このごろで亀清旅館の中庭の亀は甲羅干しの姿がよく見ます。それと偶然かもしれないけど、「100年風呂」露天風呂の庭の中に作った「鶴亀」の亀の背中に立っているもみじは深い色になってきました。この亀も甲羅干しをしているように見えた！
(この写真じゃ見つらいですが、「亀」の頭、前足、後ろ足と尻尾は丸い石で出来てい、真ん中の立ている石と広がっているもみじは「鶴」のイメージです。）

Lately, our koi pond here in the middle of Kamesei Ryokan has been graced with the presence of our namesake turtles coming out and sunning themselves in the grass by the pond. The "crane / turtle" motif feature in the garden around our "100 Year Bath" outdoor bath has a Japanese maple whose leaves have developed into a deep red color, making it look like it, too, has been sunning itself.
It's a bit tricky to see in this picture, but the round river rocks make up the head, foreleg, back leg and tail of the turtle, and the rocks standing up along with the branches of the maple are in the image of a crane spreading its wings.

先輩の中央ホテルの小平さんによると、姨捨の「田毎の月」で有名な棚田はここからの写真写りが一番良いそうです。棚田も、善光寺平も、遠くの飯綱山も見える、尚且つ、電線が邪魔になっていない。小平先輩がここから通年で写真を撮り続いているそうです。田植えの準備で土が掘り起こされた時、水が払ってある時、苗が出ている時、真夏の真緑のころ、穂が出ているころ、収穫の時、お米を干す時、そして冬に棚田が雪がかぶっている時。それぞれの時期にそれぞれの魅力があると。戸倉上山田温泉から車で約5分の所に既に変わっている景色のスポットがあって、嬉しいね。

注：写真の様に、田んぼの水払いは始まっています。例の「田毎の月」を見たい方は今日の満月より、5月27日の方が水払いの田んぼが多いのでお勧めです。

One of my senpai (elders), Kodaira-san from Chuo Hotel, told me this is the best spot to view the Obasute Terraced Rice Fields. These are the fields that are situated in such a way as to reflect the moon in the individual rice fields. Many a haiku poet has come to be inspired by the sight.

This particular vantage point allows a perfect view of the rice fields as well as the Zenkoji Plain and the mountains in the distance, with the added bonus of there not being any electric poles or wires to block the view. Kodaira-san apparently comes here at various times throughout the year to take pictures. The rice fields put on a different face depending on the time of year: a deep brown after the dirt has been worked in preparation for planting, reflections of the sky when filled with water, lines of seedlings after they've been planted, lush green once the plants are at full growth in the summer, golden fuzz when the tips grow, mesmerizing patterns as the rice is harvested, rows and rows plants set out to dry, a pale brown as the fields go fallow for the winter, white and brown designs as snow falls and melts. It's great having such a scenic spot that changes by the season only 5 minutes away by car from our onsen, Togura Kamiyamada.

小平さんの撮っている写真は中央ホテルにＨＰにて。See Kodaira-san's pictures on the Chuo Hotel website.

夕べは九州からのお客様と一緒に「姨捨夜景・伝説ツアー」に行きました。雨が止んだ後だったので、空気が澄んでいて善光寺平の光がうんと綺麗でした。そして、おまけに、姨捨駅の一本桜が満開でした。戸倉上山田温泉の標高が370ｍぐらい；この標高で桜がもう終わりました。でも標高540ｍの姨捨駅で桜がまだまだ綺麗でした。姨捨からの夜景の魅力が更に良かったです。

Last night I took some guests to Obasute Station for our Obasute Night View / Local Legends tour. We timed it right -- it had just stopped raining, so the sky was clear and the lights of the Zenkoji Plain were twinkling sharply. Plus, we had the added bonus of the Singular Cherry Tree there being in full bloom. Down here at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's elevation of 370 meters, the cherry blossoms are already gone. But at Obasute Station's elevation of 540 meters, the trees are in full bloom.