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千曲市の「森」地区に長野県立歴史間が有り、常設展示室の動くナウマン像が印象的。今日は学校が休みなので「長野県立歴史館へ行こうか」って聞いたら、「いや、ナウマン像を見たい」と言われた。同じところじゃないですか？

と言うことで、歴史館へ行って見ました。そうすると、駐車場がいっぱいで吃驚しました。こんなに人気あるかと考えながら、良く聞いたら太鼓の音があった。太鼓を見に行ったら歴史館の横に縄文時代な「科野のムラ」があって、村の田んぼに田植え祭りが行われていた。江戸時代の格好の娘達が手作業で田植えをやっていました。その応援（エンタテインメント？）で屋代の太鼓グループが演奏していました。田植え体験コーナーもあった。

偶然で見れた田植え祭りで盛り上がって、その後は歴史館に入ったけど例の像の写真を撮り忘れた。また行かんとあかん。今度は田んぼの収穫の時かな？１１月３にここでまた祭りがあるのでこの田んぼから取れたお米の料理が出るそうです。お楽しみに。

歴史館は戸倉上山田温泉から車で約２５分。しなの鉄道屋代駅から歩いて２５分（バスも有り）。HPはwww.npmh.net

Here in Chikuma City there is the Nagano Prefectural Museum of History. At the entrance to their Regular Collection display is a dynamic moving statue of a pre-historic Nauman Elephant. The kids were off from school, so I asked them if they wanted to go the History Museum. They said, "Nah, we want to see the elephant statue." It's the same place!

So anyways, we drove over to the museum, and were surprised to see the parking lot was so full. As I was thinking to myself, "Is this place that popular?" we heard the beats of taiko drums. Hmmm. We went to see what was going on, and there in the mock-up of a Jomon-era village next to the museum, a "Ta-ue" (Rice Planting) Festival was taking place in the "village" rice fields.

Some highschool girls were dressed up in Edo-era traditional clothes and planting rice to the entertainment(?) of the taiko drums. There was even a field where festival participants could try doing ta-ue.

We were so impressed by the festival we happened upon, that when we finally made it over to the museum, I totally forgot to take a picture of the elephant. We'll have to again -- maybe this time in the fall when they harvest these rice paddies. Apparently on 03-November, there will be another festival featuring rice dishes made from the "village" rice.

Nagano Prefectural Museum of History is located about 25 minutes by car from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, or 25 minutes by walking from Yashiro Station on the Shinano Railroad line (busses also available). Website is www.npmh.net.