Annual Geisha Greeting
戸倉上山田温泉は色んな顔がある。
活発的に自慢なお料理を出しているレストラン、
信州と千曲市に特化した、ここでしか買えない品物の商店、
大衆演劇から貯金箱まで、色んな劇場や資料館・博物館、
川辺の公園や千曲川サイクリングコース、周辺の山の緑、
ステンドグラスやプリザーブフラワーなど、十数件の思い出になる体験
と、もちろん我々旅館や日帰りの温泉施設。
そして、もう一つな顔は戸倉上山田温泉の芸者さん達。今日はお正月の挨拶で亀清旅館に顔を出してくれました。ちょうどその時にアメリカ大使館で働いているお客さんがロビーに行って、彼が芸者さんの姿で驚いて、カメラを直ぐ出して、「メアイテークアピクチャー？」と喜んで写真を撮りました。
彼もそうですし、芸者さんと会ってみたい方、興味深い方が多くて、ただ、宴会で呼ぶような機会がなかなか無い訳です。そこで、この頃に新しいお店が出来ました。亀清旅館から歩いて5分のところに：
芸者衆が営む安らぎの店「スナックえんや」
焼酎飲み放題・歌い放題 90分 3,000円
（ビール・日本酒は別当、お座敷中は「ごめんなさい」と。）
Tel (026)275-7009
注: 芸者さん達がお座敷中は「ごめんなさい」。
私はこの戸倉上山田温泉の繁華街の遊びがあまりしないので飲み屋さんのお勧めは基本的にノータッチです。しかし、「えんや」は男性と女性の暑グループで行ってみた時、楽しく盛り上がりました。えんやなら、お勧めが出来ます。
Our onsen town, Togura-Kamiyamada, has so many different faces.
The wide variety of restaurants with chefs always working hard to make innovative new dishes.
The local family-run shops making unique, local products.
The many entertainment spots, from a Geisha drag show theater to a piggy bank museum.
The natural scenic beauty of the Chikuma River and surrounding mountains.
The activites and cultural experiences that are offered, like stained glass making and preserved flower decorating.
And, of course, the various ryokans and onsen bathhouses.
Then, perhaps the most beautiful face is that of the Geisha ladies.
One of our town's geisha houses stopped by our inn for their annual New Years greeting. Having so many beautiful ladies dressed up in full kimono in our lobby at once was like a happy blossoming of color.
Just by chance, one of our guests, an American working at the Tokyo Embassy, was in our lobby when the geisha arrived. He was so pleasantly surprised to see them, and got his camera out right away to take pictures.
As with many of our guests, this guest from the Embassy is fascinated with geisha culture, but isn't in a position to put on a banquet and arrange for geisha entertainment. However, there is good news: Some of the geisha have started a karaoke bar where they work after the banquets. So it's possible to go for drinks and sing karaoke with the friendly presence of kimono-clad geisha.
Snack "Enya"
3,000 yen for 90 minutes including karaoke and shochu (beer and sake extra).
Tel (026)275-7009
(Note: The geisha may not be present due to banquet commitments)
I normally do not patronize the karaoke bars very frequently. Hence, I avoid making recommendations. However, I recently went to Enya with a small group of guys and ladies, and was pleased to find that the kimono-clad geisha presence adds a classy yet fun, bubbly touch to the karaoke pub atmosphere. Highly recommended!
