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子供達の夏休みは昨日から始まりました。宿が忙しくなる前に、二日間に休館して、家族の夏休みを取りました。行先：北アルプその窓口の上高地！

天気は協力してくれなかったけれど、曇っていても大正池から焼岳、河童橋から穂高が見れて、感動的でした。温度はさすが標高１５００ｍの上高地で、涼しくて気持ちよかった。
うちの住んでいる戸倉上山田温泉の標高は約３７０mです。温泉の裏の冠着山（別名：姨捨山）の標高は１２５２ｍです。同じ長野県の中でも、上高地の標高が高くて、温度が涼しくて感心しました。

そこから上がる北側の焼岳（２４５５m、今でも噴火が続いている）と３０００mの山々と、南側の霞沢岳（２６４６m）と六百山（２４４９ｍ）がまたすごい景色になる。時間と勇気の余裕のある方は山登りに最高；そうじゃない方は梓川周辺で十分楽しめる。梓川のターコイズ‐ブルーの色は私が大好きです。今回は初めて子供と一緒に上高地に来ましたので、梓川の色を子供に見せれて、嬉しかった。

他には子供連れの観光客も大勢いました。島根県から、山形県から、福岡県から、あちらこちら彼来ていました。やはり、北アルプスの大自然を子供たちに見せるのが大事だ。そして、香港や韓国、欧米からの観光客も来ていました。日本アルプスの大自然は海外にも通じる。

梓川・河童橋の周辺で散歩するのはおすすめ。色んな自然が見れるし、角度によって山の景色が変わる。上高地のインフォメーションセンターから朝は大正池向け、お昼は明神池向けのネーチャーウォークが行います。保険料として５００円がかかるそうです。詳しくはTel(0263)95-2433。

今回の私達の度で曇っていましたから楽しめなかったけれど、上高地の日の入りや日の出、そして夜の空がうんと綺麗だそうです。日帰りの方が多いらしいけど、観光バスが帰った後の夕方は静かで上高地をもっとも楽しめる時間です。私達が西糸屋にお世話になりました。奥原社長は親切で色々と山の情報をくれました。お料理は海の物じゃなくて、長野らしくで川魚や高原野菜が多かった。お部屋は和室にしましたが、ベッド付きの洋室及び、別館にホステル用な部屋もあるそうです。お風呂から３０００ｍの山々が見えるらしいです。（私達がいた時は曇っていて、残念ながら何も見えなかった。）

全国や全世界から人が集まる上高地。家族の夏休みでいい思い出になりました。

Our kids' summer vacation started yesterday, so before our inn gets busy for the summer, we took our own family vacation. Destination: Kamikochi, the gateway to the northern Japanese Alps.

Even with the weather not cooperating and the sky being overcast, we could still see Mt. Yake-dake from Taisho-ike Pond, and the massive Mt. Okuhotake-dake and the surrounding peaks from Kappa-bashi Bridge. And the temperature was so nice and cool. Where we live, Togura Kamiyamada, the elevation is 370 meters, and the mountain behind us (Kamuriki-yama, the mountain from the famous Obasute-yama legend) is 1,252 meters. The Kamikochi valley is at 1,500 meters, making for cool days even in the middle of summer.

And the mountains that raise up above the valley are simply awesome. Yake-dake (2,455 meters and still puffing volcanic ash) and the 3,000+ meter peaks on the north side, and 2,646-meter Mt. Kasumizawa-dake & 2,449 meter Mt. Roppyaku-zan on the south tower over the valley. For people with the time and courage, the mountains beg to be explored. For everyone else, there is still so much beauty and nature to be enjoyed around the basin below with the Azusa River flowing down the middle. I have been to Kamikochi several times, and one of my favorite parts is the Azusa River, with its turquoise blue water. This time, I was excited to finally be able to share my love of the river with our kids, and they, too, enjoyed it.

In fact, looking around we saw many other families bringing their kids to Kamikochi. There were families from northern Japan, western Japan, even the southern islands. In fact, there were a number of travellers from Hong Kong, Korea and Europe, too. I think the need to experience and have your kids experience the wonder of nature is universal!

For visitors that are just staying down in the valley, I highly suggest taking a walk along the Azusa River. The Kamikochi Information Center by Kappa-bashi offers nature walks, one in the morning to Taisho-ike, and one in the early afternoon to Myojin-ike Pond. The walks cost 500 yen to cover insurance. For more info, the Center's tel# is 0263-95-2433.

This time, we ran into cloudy weather so we couldn't enjoy Kamikochi's beautiful sunset and sunrise, and the stars at night must be spectacular. The valley can get pretty crowded during the afternoon with daytrippers, but after the tour busses leave in the evening, Kamikochi is at its quietest and most peaceful. That means you simply have to take the time to spend the night at Kamikochi. We had the pleasure of staying at Nishiitoya. Okuhara-san, the owner, kindly gave us all kinds of information about the Alps. For our room, we choose one of the Japanese style tatami mat rooms, but they also have western style with beds, as well as an annex with hostel-type rooms. And the meal was short on seafood, and long on Nagano's regional cuisine. We enjoyed soaking in the bath, but it would probably even have been better if the clouds weren't obscuring the 3000-meter peaks normally visible from the picture windows.

From all across Japan and the world, travellers are coming to Kamikochi to enjoy the spectacular nature. A trip here makes a perfect summer vacation.

上高地の詳しくはwww.kamikochi.or.jp is the official website for Kamikochi.