戸倉上山田温泉の近くで千曲川沿いにちょっとしたラベンダー畑があります。万葉スポーツエリアーにあり、亀清旅館から車や自転車で5分、散歩で20分、走り（？！）で約10分という便利な場所。
ラベンダー畑は写真の様に無茶苦茶広い訳でもないですが、周辺の山々や遠くの戸隠連峰という背景で、綺麗ですよ。
そして、千曲市のおもてなしでシーズンの後半でお客様がラベンダー狩りを無料で出来ます。今年は6月22日（土）からとなります。
この頃は私が朝6時にジョギングをやりだしました。息子は中学校で陸上部に入っていて、一緒に走りたいと思いました。大間違えでした。彼が早くて、私は叶えない。
という訳で、毎朝箱のラベンダーを楽しませて頂いております。
Togura Kamiyamada's lavender fields along the Chikuma River are in full bloom. Located in the Manyo Sports Area, the fields are a convenient 5 minute drive or bike ride, or 20 minute walk (or about a 10 minute jog!) from Kamesei Ryokan and our onsen town, Togura-Kamiyamada.
The fields are fairly large by Japanese standards (which means small compared to the lavender fields I've seen back home), but the setting is exquisite -- with the sound of the Chikuma River gurgling by and the surrounding hills and distand Togakushi Mountain providing a lush, green background for the vividly purple flowers. And that's not even mentioning the delicious fragrance the flowers give off.
From Saturday June 22nd, visitors will even be allowed to pick some lavender stalks to take home with them. A bit of 'omotenashi' service on the part of our city.
This week, I've been jogging down to the lavender fields every morning. I'm trying to get my legs in shape for an upcoming junior ryokan association soccer game. Being able to enjoy the lavender fields has made the sweat and sore muscles bearable.
I hope you, too, can come and enjoy our beautiful lavender fields this year!
萬葉の里スポーツエリアラベンダー畑 Manyo Lavender Field
