上山田温泉夏祭りは今度の連休、7月17，18日に行います。その一部としてはこの下駄供養です。我々旅館が一年間のお客様のお使いになった下駄の供養で、その一年間のお客様の皆が戸倉上山田温泉にお越で騒ぎますが、その中で一生懸命で感謝もする。

The Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival will be held this weekend, July 17th and 18th. Part of the festival is this geta offering in honor of all the guests that have come and stayed this year at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. The innkeepers and I will put our full energy into the festival this weekend, and we will also put our full thanks into the geta offering.

千曲市は食品８０個を認定して、「千曲ブランド」を立ち上がました。今日はそのPRで、高速道路の姨捨SAで千曲ブランド祭りを開きました。千曲市に戸倉上山田温泉がせっかくあるから、上山田温泉株式会社からお湯を提供してもらって、足湯を設置しました。そして、私が市役所に声をかけられて、足湯係りでボランティアーしました。足湯に入りながら、SAに出入りしている皆様に「足湯はどうですか？上山田温泉のお湯を運んできました。気持ち良いですよ！」と。
やってみたら分かりましたが、SAの利用者はトイレや自販機、食堂でちょっと寄って、直ぐ行く人がほとんどです。SAに寄って、足湯にゆっくり入るような雰囲気じゃないですよね。余裕のある方は姨捨SAのビューポイントから善光寺平の眺めを見たりします。私だったら、足湯をそこで設置しました。景色を見ながら、上山田温泉のお湯を楽しめたら最高じゃないですか？

The City of Chikuma designated 80 locally made products as "Chikuma Brand". To promote the brand, the city worked with the highways board and held a Chikuma Brand Fair at the Obasute Service Area rest stop today. Since Chikuma City also has Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, it set up a foot bath featuring onsen water supplied by the Kamiyamada Onsen Company. City Hall asked me to attend the footbath during the festival. So I took our kids up for the morning and soaked my feet, calling out to passers-by to come and enjoy the footbath.
That experience made me realize that your average rest stop user is more interested in the toilets, vending machines or cafeteria, and doesn't have time to dilly dally in a footbath. People with a bit of extra time tend to go over to the viewpoint that overlooks the Zenkoji Plain. If it were up to me, I would have set up the footbath at the viewpoint, so people could soak their feet as they enjoyed the scenery. Alas, it's not up to me, it's up to the guys from City Hall who are more interested in getting the "Chikuma Brand" in front of more people, regardless of whether or not those people have the time or interest.

千曲川の上山田・坂城周辺に今朝５時に花火が上がりました。鮎釣りの解禁です！

昨日は坂城のオトリ小屋「マルケン」に挨拶をしに行きました。今年の解禁は去年より２週間遅らしたのでそのお蔭で鮎の大きさは良さそうです。

鮎釣り解禁に合わせて、亀清旅館のChef武井はこの頃、鮎塩焼きを出しております。旬の味、地元の味、やはり長野はいいね！

Along the Chikuma River here in the Kamiyamada and Sakaki areas, fireworks went off at 5am this morning. They were announcing the start of the Ayu Fishing Season.

Yesterday I paid a visit to one of the fish shacks, Maruken in Sakaki. This year's start was delayed by 2 weeks to allow the ayu to size up, and according to the Maruken guys, it was worth the wait.

Here at Kamesei Ryokan, Chef Takei is marking the start of the season by serving salt rubbed grilled ayu to our dinner guests. 'Tis the taste of the season, and our region. Ahh, it's so nice to be here in Nagano!

千曲川鮎釣り漁業組合のHPはこちらClick here for the Chikuma River Ayu Fishing Association website.

上山田はお湯も果実も、ダブル宝物があります。しかし、意外にお互いの連携がない。これからはその境を越えるプロジェクトが始まります。有志で我が亀清旅館ともう２つの旅館がリンゴ農園の４か所と話し合って、両方の魅力ををどうやって生かせばいいか考えていきます。リンゴ園曰く、「上山田の宿はデザートで美味しいリンゴが近くで取れるのに、どうしてみかんを出すの？」というクレーム。宿側の板長達の悩みはリンゴがすぐ変色するし、もっと工夫した料理を出したいと。
今夜は私の先輩の宿、滝の湯で集まって、リンゴのアイディア料理を旅館関係、農家関係、市役所関係約１０人が集まって、試食会を開きました。滝の湯のリンゴで甘みを取るすき焼きとか、農家の自然に乾燥したリンゴスライスとか、亀清のChef武井のベークドアップルなど、お互いにいい刺激になりました。これからは我々宿側がリンゴ料理プランを作って、農家がヤブキ林檎を提供して、上山田温泉の新たな魅力を作っていきます！

Here in Kamiyamada, we have both an outstanding onsen as well as outstanding fruit orchards. However, for some reason the two don't have many areas in common. Along with two other inns, Kamesei Ryokan is working with a handful of forward-thinking fruit farmers to combine the best of both and provide guests even more enjoyment.
We've had some great discussions so far. The farmers complain that Kamiyamda's inns serve oranges for dessert despite having delicious apples grown nearby. The chef's on the other hand don't like the fact that fresh sliced apples turn color so soon, and besides they pride themselves on being more creative with the cuisine.
Last night we had a tasting party, attended by people from the inns, the orchards, and even city hall. Host Taki-no-Yu's sukiyaki using apple instead of sugar for the sweetener, one of the farmers' naturally dried apple slices, our Chef Takei's baked apples -- it was a very educational event. Now the inns will make "Apple Cuisine" plans, and the growers will provide some of the 2nd grade apples at low cost, and combining forces we will make a result that our guests will enjoy!

上山田温泉夏祭りの獅子の準備は昨日、行われました。今までは私が獅子の中の役でしたが、今年は黒い法被を着て、外に出るようになります。外を倒してやるところから、倒せられる方に。中にいる時に、準備は何も必要なく、当日に精一杯暴れるだけ。外になったら、以前準備は大変だし、当日の責任は重いです。子供から大人になってきたって感じ。また初体験だが、失敗しながら、成長しながら、また上山田温泉を盛り上がるように頑張ります！

Preparation for the huge Shishi lion for the Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival took place yesterday. Up until now, I had been inside the lion. This year, my role will be outside the lion, wearing a black happi coat. The guys inside try their hardest to knock over the people on the outside. So this year, I will be one of those people getting knocked around. In addition to the new responsibility on the day of the festival, there is also a lot of prep work involved that I've never had to do before. I'm looking forward to my new role at this year's festival!

上山田温泉夏祭りは毎年の７月の海の日の連休。２０１０年は７月１７日と１８日です。The Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival takes place every year during the 3-day Marine Day holiday. The dates for 2010 are July 17th and 18th.

７月の連休にこの上山田温泉夏祭りが行います。毎年の事ですが、我々旅館の皆も寄付集めで町を回ります。私は先週も出て、今週は二日間連続で出ました。それぞれの会社やお店に行って、頭を下げて、｢今年もご協力をお願いします！」と。疲れます。しかし、見事に沢山の良い出会いにもつながるし、町にどういう企業があるか良く分かります。(そして、どの企業が貢献的かも分かります。応援したくなりますね。）
この間は戸倉駅前の歴史のある酒蔵コレクションに行った時に、シルクロードの｢ニコ｣と言う楽器の演奏が行われていました。何百年前に出来た茅葺屋根の酒蔵に何千年前からの楽器の音が響いて、なおかつ、その楽器を弾いていたのは現代の日本の高校生。感動的！
また別な所は旅館のシーツや浴衣を洗濯する工場「ＣｏＣｏ」。工場見学をさせて頂きましたけど、そのでかい機会に細かい作業でまた感動しました。４０人が働いていて、その内の１０人が指導員でのころの３０人が障害者達。障害でいながら、社会に出たいので、こうやって温泉に泊まるお客さんの皆が綺麗なシーツと浴衣で寝れるように努力しています。感心しました。
寄付集めは暑い中でつらい仕事で、それぞれの会社の努力をかけて得た利益から分けて、申し訳ないな仕事ですが、良い出会い、良い勉強になります。今年の祭りがこのお陰で盛り上がるといいですね。

Kamiyamada Onsen's Summer Festival is held every year on the Ocean Day holiday weekend. And every year, us ryokan owners help out with gathering donations. It's hard work, going around to the various businesses and shops, humbly asking for their financial support. But you get to know more about the local businesses (as well as which ones support the community!).
One of the places I went to was the historical sake brewery in front of Togura Station, Shuzo Collection. There happened to be a musical performance going on. There in the courtyard of the hundreds of years old thatched roof brewery was a concert on a thousands of years old Silk Road instrument called a niko, played by a very modern Japanese high school student. The whole contrast was very impressive.
Another place I got to go to was CoCo, the factory where all the sheets and yukata from our onsen are sent for cleaning. I was given a tour of the factory to see all the impressive machinery as well as the detailed work that is involved. 40 people work at CoCo, 10 of which are instructors, and the other 30 are people with mental disabilities. Those 30 people all want to get out and work in society, and CoCo provides that opportunity. It is thanks to their amazing efforts that the guests of our onsen town can enjoy clean linens when they stay.
Those are just some of the great experiences I had while going around for donations for this year's summer festival. I hope everyone's contributions will lead to another fabulous matsuri!

上山田温泉夏祭りの詳しくはこちらClick here for more info on the Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival.

このごろは天気が良くて、夕方は夕食ピックニックをしたくなりました。今日は家族で外へ出かけて戸倉駅の裏の天狗公園へ弁当を持って楽しいピックニックしました。太陽がアルプスの裏に沈んで行きながら、戸倉上山田温泉の光がついてきて、公園の桜木の下ででかい天狗の側で、そして子供たちが終わったら公演の遊具で遊んで、(もちろん、パパも一緒に！）、幸せなお時間を過ごせました。

天狗公園は亀清旅館・戸倉上山田温泉から車で約１０分、戸倉駅から歩いて約１０分(かなり登るけど）

The weather of late has been so pleasant, we were in the mood to go out for a picnic for dinner. So we grabbed some take-out and drove up to the Tengu Park above Togura Station for a family picnic this evening. It was a romantic setting, with the sun setting behind the Japanese Alps and the lights of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen coming on, there among the cherry trees and the huge Tengu statue of the park. And when the kids finished eating, they ran off to the play structures (along with their dad, of course). All in all, a lovely warm spring evening.

Tengu Park is 10 minutes by car from Kamesei Ryokan and Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, and/or a 10 minutes walk (climb?) from Togura Station.

千曲川を大正橋で渡った時に、雲と雲の間に太陽が出ていて、戸倉上山田温泉がちょうど光られていた。千曲川と周辺の山々を見て改めて思いましたが、戸倉上山田温泉は本当に自然で恵まれている場所です。温泉のお湯も最高だし、空気が綺麗だし、ヘルシーな食材はたっぷりあるし、やはり、ええ所やな。

Crossing over the Chikuma River by bicycle on the Taisho Bridge, I was treated to this scene of the sun peaking through the clouds, bathing Togura Kamiyamada Onsen in bright sunlight. Situated as it is on the Chikuma River, surrounded by green hills and mountains, Togura Kamiyamada Onsen truly is in a blessed location. And with the fresh, clean air, absolutely the best onsen mineral waters, and an abundance of fresh water fish and delicious produce to eat, Togura Kamiyamada really is a great place!

無事だとは言えないけれども、牛に引かれて善光寺2010年と言う30ｋｍのウォーキングイベントは昨日、終わりました。今年の実行委員長は我々戸倉上山田温泉旅館青年部の当番で、私でした。去年は一日雨だったが、今年は天気が晴れていました。但し、暑かった。温度は３０℃まで上がったそうです。参加した313人はかわいそうでした。一人のおじさんは水分不足で救急車で病院に運ばれた。結局は軽い現象だったのでその後は家に戻られました。そして、先週に書きましたが、今年のイベントの看板動物、里子ちゃんと言う牛がデビューで出る予定でした。練習もしました。しかし、イベントの直前に長野県の保険所から連絡が来まして、先月に宮崎県で牛の病気が出た；危ないですから牛の参加を自粛する様にと。遠い九州から、尚且つ人間に移らない病気、なお尚且つ「止めて」と言わないで「自粛」と言う逃げ道の言い方で・・・　結局は参加者の安全を選んだ。そのお陰で、テレビや新聞の皆は「牛に引かずに善光寺」で大騒ぎ。
まあ、思い出の牛2010年でした。参加者の皆さん、ご苦労様でした。そしてスタッフの皆さん、有難うございました！

Well, the 2010 Zenkoji Walk went as scheduled yesterday, and wasn't exactly uneventful. This is our town's major event of 300+ participants and 70+ staff for the 30km walk from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City in honor of the "Pulled by an Ox to Zenkoji" legend. And this year's organizing committee chaiperson was -- me! (Us ryokan junior leaders take turns being the chief organizer, and this year was my turn.)
Last year, it rained during the entire walk. This year, it was sunny, but way too hot -- 30 deg C. One elderly man collapsed due to the heat and had to be taken to a hospital by ambulance. (Luckily nothing serious -- he went home later in the afternoon.) And then there was the problem with Satoko-chan, the cow that was going to lead our parade. Last week I wrote about how I went to meet Satoko-chan and go for a practice walk with her. Well, Nagano Prefecture's Health and Welfare contacted us right before the event. A cow disease had broken out in Miyazaki Prefecture last month, and they wanted us to "reconsider" bringing a cow into the crowds of people for our event. Not only is Miyazaki hundreds of miles away and on another island, but the disease isn't spreadable to humans! And to top it off, they didn't have the balls to order us to cancel the cow, all they would say is to "reconsider", making the cancelation our responsibility. In the end, we had Satoko-chan stay home to avoid any possible problems, and the TV stations and newspaper had a field day with our "Not being pulled by an Ox to Zenkoji". At least that meant a few extra minutes of media exposure for our town...
Anyways, I want to take this time to congratulate all the people who walked the 30km from Togura Kamiyamada to Zenkoji, as well as to thank all of the staff!

戸倉上山田温泉の隣の坂城町に「鉄の展示館」があり、今の展示会は「人間国宝宮入行平とその高弟子たち」です。本人が生きていたころ我が旅館にも書を書いて下さりました。廊下に飾ってあります。
今回の展示会に宮入さんの息子さんが「刀匠と手づくりナイフを作ろう！」という体験を提供してくれます。去年は私達家族で体験しましたので非常に面白かった。機会があれば行っていて下さい。そして、終わったら、亀清旅館に飾ってある行平氏の作品もご覧になっておいでやす！

坂城町「鉄の展示館」
Tel/Fax 0268-82-1128 http://tetsu.town.sakaki.nagano.jp
宮入行平の展示会は4月17日から7月11日まで
特別ナイフ作り体験：　7月4日　午前10時と午後1時半の2回
参加費500円　（小学生は保護者同伴）