新緑の百年風呂露天風呂 New spring growth around the outdoor bath

2008.04.24: その他 Miscellaneous

新緑の露天風呂

Our outdoor bath's garden is starting to leaf out. The yellow-green color of the first spring leaves is precious. Come and enjoy the view while soaking in our bath!
亀清旅館の「百年風呂」の露天風呂の周りの庭は新緑で綺麗な色になってきました。お風呂を浴びながらこの景色を楽しんでいてください。





Imitation Yagura コピーの櫓

2008.04.22: その他 Miscellaneous

工事中の櫓

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. If that's the case, then I guess I am flattered. Today I went to the Kamiyamada Onsen Company's office. Guess what they were making -- a yagura! Just like the one I built next to our outdoor bath. Apparently they liked the idea so much they decided to build one, too. (A yagura, by the way, is basically like an oil rig that they used 100 years ago to dig the onsen wells.)
英語のことわざで「模倣はもっとも誠実なお世辞」と言います。ところで、今日は上山田温泉会社によりました。何を作っていらっしゃったでしょうか? 櫓! 私が去年に露天風呂のそばに立てた櫓のまね。温泉会社がその発想を気に入ったようです。嬉しいような。。。



Our yagura 亀清の櫓


Snow Monkey Train Schedule Update

2008.04.17: その他 Miscellaneous

snow nonkey schedule update 4/08/08

Train and Bus Schedule from Togura (closest station to Kamesei Ryokan) and the Snow Monkeys, updated as of 08-April 2008. (Bus schedule has changed with the end of ski season.) If you go, please say Hi to the monkeys, and their park manager, Hagiwara-san, for us!





Meet Bono, Hakuba Innkeeper and Model Trainer

2008.04.15: その他 Miscellaneous

Engineer Bono-san

以前に「長野インバウンドサミット」の事を書いたので今日はその関係で白馬に行って来ました。そこの参加者の一人がこのBonoさんでした。Bonoさんの宿にお邪魔させて頂きました。モデルトレインがあるって聞きましたが、こんな多きいいセットだと知りませんでした。亀清では機関車トーマスの木造のセットを作っていますが、大きさ的にはこの20分の一です。Bonoさん、これからも宜しくお願いいたします。
In previous posts, I've mentioned about the Nagano Inbound Summit. Today, I went to Hakuba for a meeting there. One of the participants was Bono-san. Afterwards, we checked out his inn and played with his cool train set. Thanks for your hospitality, Bono-san.

Bonoさんの宿のHPはこちらClick here for Bono-san's website.

長野インバウンドサミットの詳しくはInfo on the Nagano Inbound Summit





Snow Monkey Trip

2008.03.09: その他 Miscellaneous

The Snow Monkeys taking their onsen bath

Most of the guests from overseas that stay at Kamesei come to Nagano to see the snow monkeys (www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp). We couldn't let the guests have all the fun, so today, our family made the trek. The monkeys were so entertaining! I took loads of pictures, some of which are here, as a companion to my article in Naga-Know (http://www.nagaknow.com/snowmonkeys.shtml). We also got to meet Hagiwara-san, the park manager, and bought his new book, 'Monkey Kingdom', which features his award winning photos.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website



Trailhead from Kanbayashi Onsen


On the trail through the cedar forest


Why it's called Hell Valley


Park Entrance


The 'rustic' inn across the river from the park


Enjoying 'chimaki' at the inn


Half poofy, and half slicked-back


姨捨ツアーのポスター Obasute Tour Poster

2008.03.08: その他 Miscellaneous

夜景ツアーポスター

以前に報告した様に、私が個人でお客さんに提供していた姨捨夜景・伝説ツアーが千曲市観光協会に取り上がれて、毎週土曜日にちゃんとした(有料)のツアーになりました。今日はせっかくポスターも作ったし、お客さんをリクルートしたのに、申し込んだら「人数が集まらなかった為に中止だ」と言われてしまいました。仕方が無い、私の無料ツアーが行いますので宜しくお願いします!
As previously mentioned, the Obasute Night View Tour that I often give as service to our guests has been taken over by the town's Tourism Bureau and has been turned into an official (for-pay) tour every Saturday night. Today, I went through all the effort of making a poster and recruiting a couple of guests, but when I called to make the reservation I was told tonight's tour has been canceled due to lack of guests. So, I will just have to do my regular (free) tour instead!
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.





雪見露天風呂のおじさん Snowy Outdoor Bath

2008.02.24: その他 Miscellaneous

ぽかぽか北山さん

遠い親戚の北山さんがどう九回で亀清をご利用していただきました。この青い目の若旦那の手作りの露天風呂に早速チャレンジしました。周りは大雪でしたが、北山さんがぽかぽか!
A distant relative, Kitayama-san, held his class reunion here at Kamesei. Right away, he took a soak in the outdoor bath I made last summer. It was snow all around, but Kitayama-san was nice and warm in the bath.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website





縄文子に Jomon Kids

2008.02.23: その他 Miscellaneous

縄文アクセソリー Jomon Accessories

我が息子と友達を連れて、さらしな古代体験公園に行ってきました。縄文時代のこの飾りを皆で作りました。亀清旅館から車で約10分のところで、縄文の生活や文化を体験できる施設です。子供さん達が喜ばれます!
Just 10 minutes by car from our inn is this Sarashina Ancient Experience Park, where you can experience the culture and lifestyle of the Jomon Era, approx. 1600 years ago. Our son and his friends made these stone decorations. Kids love this park!





Snow Monkeys Transportation Schedule スノーモンキース時刻表

2008.02.20: その他 Miscellaneous

How to get to the Snow Monkeys

We have a guest from Australia staying with us currently, and she left for a day trip to go see the Snow Monkeys. I made this little time schedule (train and bus) to make the trip a bit easier. Feel free to print it out!

今日はオーストラリアからのお客様が電車で地獄谷の野猿公園へ出かけました。分かりやすくする為に、亀清からの時刻表を作成いたしました。

Click here for Kamesei Ryokan website亀清旅館のHPはこちら





お猿の温泉はやはり見る価値ありThe Snow Monkeys are sooooo cute!

2008.02.12: その他 Miscellaneous

スノーモンキーが可愛い!

11日のブログで書いたFrederikさんからお猿の温泉の写真が届きました。ちょうど、長野放送テレビ局から連絡が来まして、そのスノーモンキースが本当に海外に人気ですか?と聞かれました。この写真の通り、ほんまに可愛いのです。人気のある訳です!
In yesterday's blog, I mentioned Frederik and the guys from Germany. He sent some pictures that he took of the snow monkeys. I just got a call from Nagano Broadcasting tv station, asking if the snow monkeys were really that popular overseas. Just look at these pictures -- how can you not want to go see them!
Snow Monkey website: http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.