一昨年はNHKの大河ドラマ｢風林火山｣で亀清旅館では撮影現場になった荒砥城を案内する｢風林火山プラン｣を実施いたしました。好評でした。
今年の４月と５月は善光寺の７年に１度の御開帳です。私はこれで始めて体験することです。何かお客様が喜んでいただける｢御開帳プラン｣を色々と考えていますが、なかなか思いつかないです。善光寺にある宿坊に良い｢コネ｣がいるけれども、｢その時期は宿坊の皆がパンク状態；勘弁してくれ｣と言われました。やはり、御開帳はビッグなイベントですね。それこそ、お客様が寄り深く御開帳と触れ合えるように何かないかな。。。。座禅とか、精進料理とか。。。。とずっと悩んでいます。
そしてまさか思いつかなかった事が出てきました：キグレサーカス長野公演｢善光寺御開帳記念｣＠千曲市。３月２０日から５月２４日に行う予定です。３月にオープンする予定の千曲駅側だそうです。
サーカスは御開帳とどういう関係化私のはまだ分かりませんが、御開帳に行くついでにお子さん達の楽しみに是非、お越しになってください。４月１０日までに申し込めば切符は安くなります：大人2700円-->2200円、子供1500円-->1200円

Two years ago while national TV broadcaster NHK was showing their Fuurinkazan year long historical drama, we here at Kamesei Ryokan put on a special package included guided tours of Arato Castle which NHK used for some of the show's scenes. Our guests enjoyed the added bonus of seeing the castle.
This year, in April and May, Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City will hold their once-every-seven-years "Gokaicho". For this major event, I once again wanted to provide something special for our guests, and I've been striving to think of what would be appropriate. This will be my first time to experience the event, so I'm at a double disadvantage. I have a "connection" at Zenkoji and asked him for help, but he said "no way" -- they're absolutely slammed for the entire two months. This really is a big deal. So I've been thinking, and thinking ... zazen meditation? Buddhist cuisine? ...
Then I spotted a flyer in the newspaper for a special Zenkoji Gokaicho Memorial Circus. Now, why didn't I think of that sooner? It will take place from 20-March through 24-May near the new Chikuma Station scheduled to open in March. What the heck a circus has to do with Zenkoji, I have no clue, but if you contact us by 10-April, we can get reduced rate tickets: Adults 2700yen --> 2200yen, Children 1500yen --> 1200yen. Come and enjoy the circus after your pilgrimmage to Zenkoji!

建設会社で働いている親戚から聞きましたが、作る事に当たって一番誇りになるのは橋だそうです。
でも、川を渡る橋を作って、川の位置が変われば大変ですね。その新しい部分まで橋を伸ばすことになる。そして、川の流れがまた変われば橋をもう一度伸ばす。また変わればまた伸ばす。
そして伸ばすたびに、その時に橋作りの規則に従わなければならない。昔はうんと狭い橋でも良かったらしいけど、年数が立てば立つほどその規則幅がどんどん広くなってきた。
という訳です。
(何の訳？）
あっ、言うのが遅れました。戸倉上山田温泉の下流の橋、この冠着橋、は面白い橋です。西側はこの写真の様に車一台分の幅です。渡る内に幅は三回も変わります。段々と広くなります。
でも今の内に体験しなければなりません。長野県はこのあまりにも不便(？)な橋の横に新しい橋を作っている最中です。世の中で面白い橋はまた１つ消えます。
A relative of ours that's in the construction industry once told me that one of the things they have the most pride in building is a bridge.
But one of the things that's difficult about bridge building is the river doesn't always stay put. So what happens when the river you built a bridge over shifts its channel? You extend the bridge to cover the river's new position. And if the river changes again? You extend the bridge again? And another change? Another extension.
Another tricky thing about bridge building is government building code tends to change, especially regarding the required width of the bridge. A long time ago, when there were few cars on the road, you could get away with a one-lane bridge. But as the years go by, the minimum width restrictions get increasingly wider.
So that's why.
(Why what, you ask?)
Oh, I neglected to mention that this picture is of Kamuriki Bridge, just downriver from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. This is the west end of the bridge, where it is a 1-lane deal. As you cross the bridge, the width changes. 4 times
If you want to experience a bridge that changes width 4 times, you'd better hurry. Nagano Prefecture is building a replacement for this inconvenient (?) bridge next to the existing one.
That means we're losing another funky bridge from the world.

地元の酒屋さん、姨捨正宗、の０９年の酒造りお祝いで先日に亀清旅館で宴会が行われました。その送迎で私が姨捨の酒倉に行ってきました。善光寺街道沿いです。三百うん十年の歴史があるそうです。中に入ってしまえば江戸時代、そのまま。
今年は姨捨の名月の棚田のお米と地元の湧き水１００％というこだわりで造ったそうです。
亀清旅館こそ、姨捨正宗の酒とのこだわりです。熱燗でも生酒でも、うちのChef武井のお料理に合いますので是非、召し上がってください。

Our local sake brewer, Obasute Masamune, celebrated their '09 sake with a banquet here at Kamesei. I went to the brewery to pick up some of the guests. Their brewery is so cool. It is located on the Zenkoji Kaido, the Edo-era road between Nagano and Matsumoto. The buildings and the garden of Obasute Masamune's complex all retain the feel of the Edo period.
This year, they made the special effort to use only rice from the Obasute terraced rice fields, and only water from a local natural spring. Made with pride locally using local ingredients. Kamesei in turn serves only Obasute Masamune sake. It complements well the cooking by our Chef Takei. Come and try it!

詳しくはDetails at:　www.obasute.co.jp

次男のKen君を保育園で向かいに行きましたら、この格好良い藁の馬がおいてありました。上山だのおじさん達の会で藁の色々を作っています。こうやって保育園の子供たちにも貢献していて、素晴らしいですね。日本の伝統も子供たちに伝えれて、きっとお互いに楽しい思い出が出来ています。

I went to go pick up our #2 son, Kenny, from Preschool. Outside the office there were these two horses made of straw. There is a group of elderly gentlemen that get together from time to time to make traditional straw crafts such as this. Not only do they get to pass on Japan's traditions, but the kids enjoy it too.

五木ひろしという演歌家の｢千曲川｣という歌の記念で戸倉上山田温泉の中の万葉橋の横に千曲川側であります。歌の詩が書いてあるのでボタンを押せば、その歌が流れます。
今朝は演歌の好きなお客様と一緒に歩いて行ってみました。千曲川の流れをバックで、遠くの戸隠山を投げ目ながら、２人でその歌をひろしさんの声と一緒に歌いました。気持ち良かったけど、ビールがあれば更に良かったかもしれません。また今度、朝ではなく、夜に、そして泡の物を持って、もう一度来る約束しました。
There is a song by enka singer Hiroshi Itsuki called "Chikuma River". Here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, on the banks of the Chikuma River, there is a rock engraved with the lyrics to the song. And if you push a button, the song plays.
This morning I walked there with a guest that likes enka music. There, with the Chikuma River in the background, and the snow-capped Togakushi Mountain in the distance, we sang along with the voice of Hiroshi. It was fun, but we both agreed it would be more enjoyable with a beer. So we promised to come again some day, in the evening instead of morning, and with a frosty mug or two.

戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

戸倉上山田温泉の中で隠れた宝は沢山あります。その１つは光文堂さん。外から見れば、ただの日本でよくある文房具屋さん。でも、通り過ぎないで実際に中に入ると、色々な楽しい不思議があります。昔懐かしいおもちゃやゲーム、機械で作られた安い凧じゃなくて綺麗な手書きの凧、消しゴムおみくじ、などなど。
お店のお姉さんも優しい方なんでもご親切に説明してくれます。海外から私は特にめんことか始めてみる者で面白いです。お子さんを連れてくれば、きっと喜ぶでしょう。その親や親の親も自分の子供のころの遊びを見ると｢懐かしい！｣というと思います。

光文堂は上山田温泉の本通にあります。散歩がてらでどうぞ、お出かけになって行ってみてください。

All throughout Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, there are hidden little treasures. One of them is our town's stationery shop, Kobundo. Today I took our son Andy to pick up some office goods, and ended up trying the 50 yen eraser raffle. Andy got a cute whale-shaped eraser. That's typical of the old-fashioned toys and games Kobundo carries. That traditional kite isn't a mass-produced cheapy, it's hand-painted. Ths shop carries lots of surprises like that.

And the lady who runs the place kindly takes the time to explain everything. That's especially helpful for me, since I've never seen half of the stuff before.

Kobundo is a great place to pick up unusual souvenirs if you're looking for something fun to take to friends back home.

The shop is located on Kamiyamada Onsen's main street, a quick 5 minute stroll from Kamesei.

戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

戦国時代に隣の坂城町に北信を守る村上義清という郷士がおった。彼のお城が戸倉上山田温泉から千曲川の向こう側の五里ヶ峰の方にあった葛尾城でした。
武田信玄が一度、甲府から攻めてきはった時に、上田ヶ原で戦争しました。村上の人数が少なかった割りに、上手くやったが最後はあかんかったので葛尾城に逃げました。信玄が山城におる人達に水や食べ物が行かれへんようにブロックする戦略しました。それでも攻め切れへんで、真田の方と交渉したやと。真田が村上と仲良しのはずでしたが、その交渉に応じて裏切りしたと。
真田も攻めて来たのを見た村上が「ここまでなればもうあかんやな」と分かりました。まず、自分の嫁はんを逃げさせました。戸倉上山田温泉の上の荒砥城に逃げるように指示を出しました。姫様が五里ヶ峰から降りて、まずは千曲川を渡らんとあかん。当時は橋があらへんかった。どうやって渡ったかというと、ボートのおじさんに頼んで、乗せてもらとった。姫様はその優しいおじさんにお礼したかったが慌てて逃げていたからお金も何もあらへんかった。代わりに、当時の髪の毛の飾り、笄というのをあげました。いまだに、五里ヶ峰が千曲川に当たる所が「笄渡し」という地名が付いっとる。
今度、姫様が荒砥城へ行く途中で知識寺という十一面観音で有名なお寺さんで休みはった。後ろを見ると、五里ヶ峰の鉄片から黒い煙が出とるのを見て、「あっ、うちのだんなが駄目や」と、泣きました。その知識寺の前の坂がいまだに「女涙坂」という地名です。実は村上氏が生き残りはったので逃げて逃げて上越まで逃げて、上杉謙信の手伝いを依頼して、川中島合戦の1つが行われました。
という言い伝えがあります。今日、京都から来はったお客様を荒砥城に連れて行き、笄渡しを上から眺めながらその言い伝えを話しました。
During the Warring States Era, the neighboring lord, Murakami Yoshikiyo, was charged with defending northern Nagano. Murakami's mountain fortress was called Katsurao Castle, and was located on the shoulder of Gorigamine Mountain, on the other side of the Chikuma River from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen.
One time when Takeda Shingen invaded from Kofu, they did battle at Ueda-ga-hara. Murakami's men were few, but they fought valiently. In the end, Murakami had to draw back to his fortress. Shingen tried to blockade Murakami's fortress, but needed to enlist the help of neighboring Sanada forces. Sanada was supposed to be Murakami's ally, but he succumbed to Shingen's negotiations and turned sides.
When Murakami saw Sanada's forces join the blockade, he realized there was no way he could win. So first he had his wife escape. He ordered her to the safety of Arato Castle, the mountain fortress above us here at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. After sneaking down Gorigamine, the princess had to cross the Chikuma River. Back then, there weren't any bridges. So she asked an old man to ferry her across in his boat. The princess was touched by the old man's kindness and wanted to repay him, but she was on the run and so didn't have any money to give him. Instead, she gave him one of her hair ornaments, a traditional one called a 'kougai'. Even today, the place where Gorigamine meets the Chikuma River is called 'Kougai-Watashi' (watashi means crossing or handing over).
After the princess continued for a bit, she took a rest at Chishiki Temple, famous for its 11-Faced Buddha statue. When she glanced back, she saw black smoke billowing up from the top of Gorigamine. "Ah, my beloved husband is doomed," she thought, and started crying in anguish. Today, the place is known by the name of "Onnamizaka" which means the slope of the woman's tears.
Murakami was able to escape and made it Joetsu in neighboring Niigata Prefecture, where he entreated the help of Uesugi Kenshin, Shingen's arch-rival. The two then held on of their series of clashes at Kawanakajima.
...that is a tale handed down through the generations around here. And that is the tale I told some guests from Kyoto as we enjoyed the view from Arato Castle, looking down over the Chikuma River and the Kougai Watashi.

亀清旅館の女将社長と他の女将さん達のプロジェクト：
＊大衆演劇の信州大勝館の入場券
＊上山田の温泉らしいお湯で気持ち良い入浴
＊お昼間での休憩
＊ヘルシー弁当にお味噌・御飯付き
＊インが１０：３０、アウトが昼公演に合わせて１３：００

劇場へ歩いて1分～3分の旅館グループへ直接問い合わせを
山風荘　026-275-1262
ホテル晴山 026-275-1201
若乃湯　026-275-1560
亀清旅館 026-275-1032

戸倉駅にお客様にお迎えに行った時の写真です。駅ビルから出て最初に見る風景です。皆様の代一印象はどうですかね。
戸倉上山田温泉からの距離が２ｋｍの最寄駅です。我々旅館が随時にお客様の送迎しております。戸倉駅がこの温泉の日本交通ネットとのライフラインです。
戸倉駅の方から見れば、戸倉上山田温泉はどんな存在でしょうか？まあ、これだけな「温泉へようこそ」アーチがあるという事は存在が大きいでしょう。
3月に戸倉駅の一個下に「千曲」という新しい駅が出来る予定です。しなの鉄道にせっかくこの変更があるから、戸倉駅の名前も「戸倉上山田温泉」駅に変更すると言う案があったそうです。残念ながら実現が無理らしいです。変更する機会は恐らく2度と来ないからやった方が良いと思いましたが。
長野あさま新幹線が出来るまで、JR特急あさまが戸倉駅に止まりました。「特急がなくなったせいで温泉が静かになった」という声が良く耳に入ります。どうでしょうかね。新幹線が止まるようになれば、日帰りのお客さんが増えるだけという説もある。私が思いますが、東京からいらっしゃるお客様は新幹線で上田か長野まで来て、ローカル線のしなの鉄道に乗って戸倉に下りて、私がお迎えにするというのは旅らしい旅じゃないですか？皆様のお越しをお待ちしております。
I took this photo as I waited for some of this evening's guests to come off the train at Togura Station. This is the 1st sight our guests who come by train see. I wonder what kind of 1st impression everyone gets.
Togura Station is only 2km from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, and is our life-line to Japan's transportation network. But how important is the Onsen to the station? Judging by this huge Welcome sign, I would say it's pretty big.
A new station one stop down line is scheduled to open in March. There was a proposal to at the same time change the name of our station to "Togura Kamiyamada Onsen". But apparently the proposal was not approved due to the costs related with changing the signs, etc.
Before the Nagano Shinkansen bullet train was built, Togura used to be a main stop on the "Asama" Special Express train from Nagano to Ueno (Tokyo). Every once in a while I hear people say that one of the reasons our onsen is so quiet is the Shinkansen doesn't stop here. However, if you ask me, being on a bullet train line would make it convenient to come for just the day and not spend the night. As it is now, guests from Tokyo take the Shink to Ueda or Nagano, change to the local Shinano Railway and get off Togura Station, where I meet them to take them to our inn. That sounds like a proper way to make a "journey".

戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

大勝館の大衆演劇の１月のチラシです。一般人用の歌舞伎。綺麗な踊り、綺麗な着物。但し、足がけばけばしている。最近、我が宿の外国人客さんに人気です。是非、お勧めです。毎日２ショーです。午後１時と午後７時から。亀清にて割引券もございます。（大勝館は亀清旅館から歩いて５分です。電話番号は026-276-1233）
Here is the January flyer for Taisho-Kan's geisha drag theater. It's Kabuki for the masses, with beautiful dancing, beautiful kimonos, it's just the hair legs that make me shiver. Two shows daily, at 1pm and 7pm. Most of the shows have 3 acts, including a yakuza (gangster) and geisha play. Discount tickets are available here at Kamesei. The theater is about 5 minutes away on foot. Several of our guests from overseas have gone and seen it lately and loved it!