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２年前のNHKの大河ドラマ、風林火山の時に、亀清のお客さんの中でその戦国時代のファンが多かったです。戸倉上山田温泉の裏の荒砥城は撮影現場として使われたし、周辺の山がその話の中で出てきたし、川中島古戦場が近いからです。今年の大河ドラマ、天地人では隣の新潟県がメインですから長野に影響が無いだろうと思いました。でも、やはり、真田ファンが多いみたいので戦国時代に興味のあるお客さんはいまだに少なくは無いです。

先週末は家族で直江津に行ってきました。そこに住んでいる友人のBlairさんが高田城（結局、謙信の後で出来たお城と分かった）と春日山城跡を案内して頂いた。高田城は復元したお城もあるし、周りの公園が綺麗です。（小林古径邸が必見！）比較的に、春日山城は何も無いといえば何も無いですが、登っていくうちにどれくらい凄かったか、謙信はどれくらい偉かったか、感じました。

直江津は戸倉上山田温泉から高速で約１時間です。

Two years ago, national broadcaster NHK's year-long historical drama, "Furinkazan" focused on Nagano. As a result, we had lots of guests interested in the Sengokujidai (Warring States Era) history. This year's drama, "Tenchijin", focuses on neighboring Niigata, so I assumed it wouldn't affect us much. However, we have been getting several guests that are fans of the Sanada family, our local samurai warlord.

Last weekend, our family went for a drive to Naoetsu, home of Tenchijin's star Uesugi Kenshin. Blair, my Canadian buddy who lives there, took us around to Takada Castle (which we found out later didn't come into being until after Kenshin) and Kenshin's home fortress, Kasugayama Castle. The castle in Takada has been rebuilt and there is a fantastic park around it (the Kobayashi Kokei house is a must see!). By comparison, Kasugayama is relatively bare as nothing remains of the original castle. However, climbing up to the location gives you a sense of how massive it must have been, and how powerful it's lord was.

Naoetsu is approx. 1 hour from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen by freeway, or approx. 2 hours by train.