Myojinkan's omotenashi kaiseki dinner
我々戸倉上山田温泉の青年部員の研修会・忘年会で扉温泉の明神館に泊まりに行ってきました。明神館は業界の中で憧れている宿で、若社長の齊藤さんがついでに講演してくれました。エコ、無農薬、体験、電気自動車、インバウンド、色々な面で進んでいらっしゃる。日本らしい旅館作りで、感心しました。
齊藤様、大変お世話になりました。
Of all the ryokans in Nagano, one in particular stands out as world-class: Myojinkan in Tobira Onsen on the outskirts of Matsumoto City. While their address technically reads 'Matsumoto City', the inn is definitely in the hinterlands.
It's at the end of a narrow mountain road and the location is so isolated, there isn't any cell phone reception. (Actually, that's become a sales point for the inn. So much so that when NTT built a transponder tower nearby, the owner installed a blocking mechanism so the lobby is cell phone-free.)
You have to build a pretty darn attractive ryokan to get people to come so far out to the boonies, and Saitoh-san, the 30-something year old owner has done just that. The other junior innkeepers and I from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen spent the night there as our end-of-the-year excursion, and were treated to Myojinkan's fabulous treatment as well as talk by Saitoh-san himself.
Saitoh-san, thank you for your hospitality!
明神館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Myojinkan's website.
