地元の戸上中学校の２年生達は４人がこの二日間で亀清旅館に社会見学して来ました。亀清は社会の代表になるかどうか不安ですが、取り敢えず私が担当していた男子組みにしっかりと汗をかかせました。可愛いそうぐらい。旅館の仕事はちょっとでも理解してもらえたかな？
Our local middle school sent their 2nd graders out around town to different businesses to experience what the working world is like for a couple of days. We had 4 students come here to Kamesei Ryokan. I was in charge of the 2 guys. Needless to say, I put them to work. I hope they didn't get too harsh of an impression of life working at a ryokan!

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

戸上中のＨＰはこちらClick here for Togura Kamiyamada Middle School's website

戸倉上山田温泉の中で町興しで一番頑張っている商店街が銀座通りです。１０月１３日（日）にまた楽しいイベントを計画しているそうです。千曲川からの流木でアートを作る事です。天才の村越さんが指導する予定です。この連休でご家族で楽しい思い出を作りませんか？
Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's most active shopping district is our version of The Ginza. Their latest project is a new event: Driftwood Art. Following the lead of our handyman, Murakoshi-san, participants will go down to the Chikuma River and pick out some driftwood to take back and shape into light fixtures and other fun objects. This holiday weekend, bring the family and enjoy making fun art projects.

詳しくは村越さん　For details, contact Murakoshi-san 090-3426-3651

As Robin would say, Holy Fungi, Batman! Look at all these different varieties of mushrooms! Today was our town's annual Mushroom Display at the Tourism Hall. Chino-san and the gang came through with an impressive display of delicious-looking but mostly dangerous mushrooms.
千野さんたちが周辺の山でキノコを沢山集めて、観光会館で年一度のキノコ展示会を開きました。

戸倉上山田温泉の中心の公園に新しい足湯が今、工事中です。「２０年遅い」と言う声もあり、「千曲川と周辺の山が見える所の方が良い」と言う声もありますが、町興しはそんなに簡単なものじゃないと良く分かってきました。取り敢えず、ちょっとでもお客様の喜びが増えれるようにここで出来ます。１０月１９日のそば祭りまで間に合う予定だそうで、是非、上山田温泉のいいお湯を生かして足風呂をお楽しみに。
Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's first public Foot Bath is now being built in our town's main park. Some people say this should have been done 20 years ago. Some people (including me) say it should be done closer to the river to take in the views of the Chikuma River and the surrounding mountains. But, hey, you try accomplishing a public works project like this! Anyways, the bath is scheduled to be done in time for the Soba Festival on October 19th. Everyone will finally be able to soak their feet in the rejuvenating waters of Kamiyamada Onsen hot spring.

町興しの詳しくはこちらClick here for more info on our town's 'machi-okoshi'.

私は今日の一日、法被を着ています。皮閉科神社の秋祭りなので朝の布団上げが終わってから、夜遅くまでという長い日です。今は途中で抜かしてもらって、今日のお客さんの布団引きの為に亀清旅館にちょっと戻っています。私は上山田お神楽保存会で獅子笛をやっている訳です。町中を歩いて、老人ホームや祭りの祭典取締役の家とかで、あちらこちらに披露してきました。お昼は神社の方に戻って、子供相撲も見えました。恐らくプローの相撲より楽しいかもしれない。
まあ、物凄くハードな一日ですが、他に日に変えたいと思わない。
Today is a long, long day. This morning, as soon as I was done flipping the futons of last night's guests, I changed into my Happi and joined the Okagura Lion Dance troupe for a day of walking all around town and performing as part of the Habeshina Shrine's Fall Festival. We performed at everything from a retirement home to somebody's brand new house. Midway through, we stopped back at the shrine, and got to see some of the kids sumo. Watching the kids wrestle has to be as fun as seeing the big pros. Anyways, I'm taking a quick break from the Okagura tour to come back to Kamesei and flip the futons for tonight's guests. Then it's back out for the 8:30pm grand finale at the Shrine. Like I said, this is a long day. But you know what? I wouldn't change it for anything.

戸倉上山田温泉から来るまで１５分のところで小さな歴史資料館があります。蔵の街の稲荷山の中の｢蔵し館｣です。今月は１０日から３０日までは｢心のふるさと童謡キルト展｣が行う予定です。隣の松代町の町田京子さんの布絵で童話が生きてきています。
私の母親も趣味でキルトを作っています。もっと近くにいればこう言うキルトショーに連れて行きたいですね。亀清旅館の中で母親の作ったキルトを展示しております。見るたびにその愛情を思い出します。キルトはそういう魅力がありますね。
まあ、この機会で、キルトにご興味のある皆様は是非、見にお越しください。
There is a cute little history museum about 15 minutes by car from here. It's in Inariyama, a district of old, earthen-walled storehouses that had been used for raising silk worms. "Kurashikan" utilizes one of those buildings. This month, from the 10th to the 30th, Kurashikan is holding a nursery tale - themed quilt show featuring quilts by artist Kyoko Machida of neighboring Matsushiro. Her quilts really bring the fairy tales alive.
My mother also makes quilts as a hobby. If she were living closer, I would love to take her to this show. Here in Kamesei, we have several of my mother's wall hangings on display. Everytime I see one, it reminds me of her kindness. Quilts have that magical power.
Anyways, for all of you quilt fans, this is a great opportunity to come and see some beautiful quilts.

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

蔵し館のHPはこちらClick here for Kurashikan's website

戸倉上山田温泉の近辺に国際的なジーンズ・メーカーの本社があります：フラットヘッド。ロックアンドロールな雰囲気なブランドです。今週末は長野市のM-WaveでSuper Weekendというロックアンドロール大イベントが行いました。せっかくだったので、家族で行ってきました。格好良い車や楽しい音楽、珍しいアンティークなど、色々楽しんできました。
お客さんの車で県外ナンバーが多かった。フラットヘッドのお蔭で長野でこういう楽しいイベントが出来て、嬉しいです。
Right here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, we have the headquarters of an international jeans manufacturer: Flat Head. The brand has a classic rock 'n roll flair to it, and the company put on a huge rockabilly event this weekend. They rented out the entire M-Wave arena and had a car show, live music, a wide assortment of funky shops, and lots of good food. People from all over the country gathered, all thanks to the people at Flat Head.

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

フラットヘッドのHPはこちらClick here for Flat Head website

M-WaveのHPはこちらClick here for M-Wave website

戸倉上山田温泉のかめ乃湯通りで毎週金曜日の夕方に市場が行います。今は夏の野菜と果実のピークなのでれたすや玉葱に、桃と初ぶどうが沢山出ています。農家さんたちとの会話も楽しめます。
亀清旅館から歩いて5分です。

Every Friday evening, Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's "Evening Market" takes place. Now that we are at the peak of the summer fruit and vegetable season, there is an abundance of lettuce and early onions, and peaches and the first of the grapes. Shopping at a market like this lets you talk directly with the farmers, so you get a sense of how Mother Nature is shaping our world (or vice versa?).
The 'Kame-no-Yu Dori Evening Market' is 5 minutes on foot from Kamesei Ryokan

戸倉駅の上に天狗公演があります。その看板天狗がこの人です。千曲川と戸倉上山田温泉を上から見守っているようです。今日はお客さんを駅からもお迎えのついでにご案内いたしました。
Above Togura Station is Tengu Park. This huge statue is the Tengu behind the name. He overlooks Chikuma River and Togura Kamiyamada Onsen as if he's protecting the area.
I took a group of guests there today on the way from picking them up at the station.

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

この夏休みに戸倉上山田温泉の芸者の演奏を楽しめます。８月４日（月）、５日（火）と６日（水）は観光会館(亀清旅館から歩いて３分）で夜８時半から芸者の演奏が行います。無料です。上山田温泉のお湯に亀清旅館の伝統的な雰囲気に、そして、芸者の踊り。いかがでしょうか？
This summer, Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's geisha are providing three free dance and song performances:
August 4 (Mon), 5 (Tues) and 6 (Wed)
8:30pm ~ 9:30pm
Kankou Kaikan Hall (3 minutes on foot from Kamesei)
Come and enjoy Kamiyamada's envigorating onsen hot spring, and Kamesei Ryokan's relaxing atmosphere, and enjoy a traditional geisha performance.

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

戸倉上山田温泉の芸者のＨＰはこちらClick here for Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Geisha website