戸倉上山田温泉飲泉所のアイリス Irises and Onsen

2008.05.01: 季節 Seasons

美咲ちゃんと飲泉所とアイリス

戸倉上山田温泉の中心の公園にこの飲泉所があります。今日、娘を連れて行ったら、青いアイリスが綺麗に咲いていました。アイリスのファンに周辺のアイリス更埴観光花園のアイリス祭りがお勧めです。問い合わせ:026-274-3261。詳しくはhttp://www.chikuma-kanko.jp/event_calendar.shtml

At the park in the middle of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen is this place where you can drink the hot mineral water. I took our daughter there today, and was pleased to see the pretty blue irises in bloom. For Iris fans, I suggest checking out the German Iris Festival nearby, details as per this link:
http://www.chikuma-kanko.jp/event_calendar.shtml

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





荒砥城の花桃が満開Flowering Peach trees flowering at Arato Castle

2008.04.29: 季節 Seasons

荒砥城と花桃(とKenちゃん)

戸倉上山田温泉の裏の城山の天辺山城、荒砥城、の桜が咲き終わりましたが、こんどは花桃が咲いてきました。勘助も喜んでいるかな?(我が息子Kenちゃんがデルモしてくれました。)
The mountain castle, Arato-Jyo, above our town (Togura Kamiyamada Onsen) is famous for its cherry blossoms. While the cherry trees are done blossoming, now the Flowering Peach trees are in full bloom. (Model: our son Kenny)





露天風呂の春の花Spring Flowers at our Outdoor Bath

2008.04.29: 季節 Seasons

ギボウシ Classic hosta

亀清旅館の新しい露天風呂の周りの庭はガーデナーの岡田さんのお陰でこの初春で素晴らしい植物があちらこちらで生き生きしている。私の地元のシアトルでも人気あるギボウシとこの紫の花と白い花の植物(岡田さん、この植物名を教えて頂戴!)露天風呂を浴びながら、どうぞ楽しんでください。
Kamesei Ryokan's new outdoor bath is surrounded by a garden that, thanks to our gardener Okada-san, is coming alive with beautiful plants and flowers this, its first spring. I particularly love this hosta plant -- it reminds me of gardens back in my home town of Seattle.



purple flower


white flower


Kawanakajima Peach Blossoms川中島桃の花

2008.04.26: 季節 Seasons

電車から見た川中島の桃の花Peach Blossoms viewed from the train

長野駅から戸倉駅の帰りの途中で桃で有名な川中島と通り、桃の木はちょうど咲いていました。電車から見た桃のピンクの花にりんごの白い花は綺麗でした。
On the way back from Nagano Station to Togura Station, we passed through Kawanakajima, an area famous for it peaches. And the peach trees were in full bloom. From the train, we could see the pretty pink peach blossoms and some white apple blossoms.

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





亀清の花のパレード:スタート! Kamesei's Parade of Spring Flowers Starts

2008.04.21: 季節 Seasons

purple 'tulip tree'

亀清旅館の中庭は春になると、次から次に色々な花が咲きます。今年のパレードが始まりました。まずはこの紫の木蓮。

Every year, Kamesei Ryokan's nakaniwa garden comes alive in the spring in an explosion of colors. This year's parade of flowers started with this purple magnolia tree.

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



山吹も


変わった花びら Funky Blossoms

2008.04.19: 季節 Seasons

おもろい花びら

戸倉上山田温泉に散歩したら、この面白い花びらを見つけました。同じ木なのに白のピンクの赤の花びら。最初は桜だと思ったが、もしかしたら「ボケ」かな?週末は雨の予想ですけど、雨が降ってもこういう花は楽しめます。

While strolling around Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, I came across these intersting blossoms: red and pink and white flowers all on the same tree. At first I thought it was a cherry tree, but on closer inspection I think it's perhaps a 'boke' tree. Rain is forecasted for the weekend, but if with rain you can still enjoy the colorful blossoms.

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





杏の里をお客様に案内 Taking guests to see the apricot blossoms

2008.04.16: 季節 Seasons

Anzu no Sato Sketch Park

「杏の里」の花、特に上の方、はまだ満開です。今日は常連のお客様、佐藤さん達、を連れて、ご案内いたしました。戸倉駅の裏の天狗パークの桜の道を通って、地元の人達しか知らない近道で杏の里を上から入りました。杏も桜も、この時期はマジックのように。
I took some guests to go see the apricot blossoms at nearby Anzu-no-Sato (Apricot Homeland). The Satoh's are regular guests of ours. We took the road that goes through the cherry trees of Tengu Park (behind Togura Station) and went on the short cut that only the locals know about. The Apricots blossoms were still in peak form, and the cherry blossoms were so beautiful, too -- what a magical time of the year.

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



Anzu close-up


千葉から杏の里に From Chiba for the Apricot Blossoms

2008.04.08: 季節 Seasons

Yoga & Anzu

千葉間からこのヨガのグループがあんずの里を見に来ました。今朝は天気は雨だったけれども、遠くから態々来ましたので私が連れて行きました。一昨日に見た時より多少咲いていました。週末(12日当り)が満開ではないか。
This group of yoga practioners came all the way from Chiba Prefecture to see the apricot blossoms. So even though it was raining, I drove them to Anzu no Sato (Apricot Homeland) to see them. The blossoms were coming out a bit more than when I saw them 2 days ago. I think the peak will be this weekend, around Saturday the 12th.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan webiste.



雨のあんず


杏の里、咲き始めた 'Anzu-no-sato' Apricot Blossoms starting to bloom

2008.04.06: 季節 Seasons

亀清旅館の若女将とあんず

今日は春らしい日で家族を連れて、杏の里にお出かけしました。(亀清旅館から車で約25分)莟が咲き始めたばかりの状態。信州の春の暖かい風とあんず味のアイスで幸せ!
Today was a warm spring day, so we took the family to 'Anzu-no-sato' (Apricot Homeland), approx. 25 minutes by car from Kamesei Ryokan. We enjoyed the gentle spring Nagano breeze and the apricot-flavored soft ice cream, but the apricot blossoms themselves were still mostly just buds.



杏の里にこのでかいケヤキも