亀清旅館の初めての家族風呂を作り始まりましたが、まずは周りを壊さないと駄目。元々プールだったところを利用して、お風呂を作る訳です。そのプールのコンクリートを大分取り消さなければならない。

こういう道具を仕事で毎日使っていたら辛いけど、こうやってたまに使うのは逆に、ちょっと楽しい。

As we start building Kamesei Ryokan's first family bath, we have a lot of demolition to do at the start. We're using a corner of an old pool for the bath, so we first have to remove much of the concrete from the pool wall.

I don't think I'd want to use a jackhammer every day for my work, but every once in a while like on a job such as this, it's actually kind of fun!

5年半前に若女将と亀清旅館に後継としてきたころ、お客さんから一番言われたのは「温泉に入りながら、星の光も浴びたい」と、露天風呂のご要望が強かったです。その後、自慢の手作り「１００年風呂」をこの手で造って、あれから沢山のお客様に喜んで頂いております。

この頃は今度、もう一つのご要望があります：家族風呂。１００年風呂の裏に場所もあるし、実はお風呂の枠が既にある。（１００年風呂造りのついでに作った。）この夏はここで貸切露天風呂を作ります。今日から作業が始まる。まずは会場準備。

When Mari and I moved to Nagano 5-1/2 years ago to start helping out here at Kamesei Ryokan, we oftened heard comments from our guests that they enjoyed our inn's onsen bath, but would enjoy it even more if there were an outdoor one. "We want to soak in the onsen as we bathe in the starlight," was how one guest eloquently put it.

So, after a lot of effort and help from friends, I built our "100 Year Bath" outdoor bath. And countless guests have enjoyed it over the years.

Since then, a new need has surfaced -- a family bath. We have the guy's bath and ladies' bath, both now with outdoor baths. But it would be great to have a bath that families or couples could enjoy together. So I have broken ground on our next bath. I hope to complete it by the end of October. Check back for updates on the progress.

今年の温泉夏祭りから、獅子からお神輿の方に移りました。
祭りの最初の日は、若連の皆が一番でかいご神体神輿を夕方から出します。
2つ日間目はお昼から4つのお神輿が出て、グランドフィナーレでご神体がもう一度出るという流れ。

私のお神輿の初体験はどうだったか？

最初の日は結局、塵取りでほとんど終わっちゃった。私の5年目の祭りでしたが、お神輿としてはまだ1年目だったから仕方がないと思いました。

次の日は人数が足りたか、塵取りは卒業。彦神輿の周りを守る役割になりました。先輩方に指示を受けながら、少しずつ慣れました。最後にご神体神輿が出た時に、周りを守る事はしなくていい;逆に、お神輿の後ろへ行って、押す役割になりました。

えっ、やった事がないけど…と不安でしたが、おんべを持っているリーダーの動きに従ってお神輿を押したり、回ったり、違う方向の回りを止めたりしました。

こんな面白いことをやって良いのか？と思ってぐらいに面白かったです。お神輿が最高でした！

次の日、お客様とお話したら、お神輿だけじゃなくて、獅子、太鼓、花火、とにかく全部が最高だったようです。戸倉上山田温泉は決して大きい街じゃない。それなのに、この温泉夏祭りは感動するほど迫力がある。お客様はみなさんが口を揃って、そう言います。

来年はぜひ、見に来てください。その時にまた汗をかきますので宜しくお願いします。

For this year's big Onsen Summer Festival, I switched from the giant shi-shi lion to the omikoshi (see previous entry for omikoshi explanation).

On the first day of the festival, the biggest
'Goshintai' omikoshi is paraded around town in the evening. It carries the, err, object from the fertility-themed Okutsu Shrine.

For the second day, 4 smaller omikoshi are paraded around an even longer route from just after lunch until late at night, at which the Goshintai mikoshi is brought out again for a grand finale.

So, how was my first experience with the omikoshi?

Well, to be honest, it was boring at first. I ended up being in charge of sweeping up garbage for most of the first day. It was my 5th summer festival, but only my first with the omikoshi guys so I figured 'low man on the totem pole...'

But the second day, I started out with a bit more action. I was charged with accompanying the hiko mikoshi on the side, keeping the carriers safe from the surroundings and vice versa. After we put the hiko to rest and brought out the masive Goshintai mikoshi, I was told I wouldn't be needed on the side any more. Instead, I would be at the back pushing the mikoshi.

I thought, "How could I do that? I've never done it before!" But I soon figured out the techniques to follow the leader's baton-like 'onbeh', pushing the mikoshi forward here, twisting to turn it there, and trying to stop it from turning over there. In other words, I was driving the mikoshi!

Was it okay to be having so much fun?! It turns out the mikoshi was a blast!

And talking to our guests the next day, it wasn't just the mikoshi. The lion, taiko drums, fireworks all were so exciting. For a small town, we sure put on an energy-filled summer festival. Hopefully you can come see it next year!

旅館青年部の北関信越ブロック大会の為に、茨城県に行きました。３月末で行う予定だったが、3.11地震のせいで延期になった。この２年間で蔵元ブロック長(akaブロック王）に大変お世話になったので、恩返し参加しました。

泊は筑波山温泉で、夜の懇親会で私が女子プロレスのマネジャーになったがその話はまた違う記事に。(また違うブログで。）それは別として、目玉のイベントはカート大会＠つくばサーキット。長野の全部会長の宮原さん(写真左下)が元プロのドリキ(ドリフトキング）の土屋ドライバーを呼んで、コースの走り方を教えていただきました。(真似が出来る訳無い！)

旅館青年部の仲間と良い経験！宿経営の苦労の中で、たまにこういうレジャーも必要。蔵元様、有難うございました！

The Northern Kanto / Niigata / Nagano Block of the Ryokan Junior Association held a major gathering at Ibaraki Prefecture. It was scheduled to take place in March, but got delayed due to the 3.11 earthquake disaster.

At night, we stayed at a ryokan at Tsubasan Onsen. During the ensuing banquet, I became the manager for a ladies pro wrestling team. That will have to be the subject of another blog entry. Just not on this blog!

Anyways, the main event of the gathering was go-cart racing at Tsukuba Circuit. A pro driver showed us some techniques, and we all got a chance to drive on the racing track.

My Dad always told me, one has to work hard, but also play hard. Along with my fellow junior innkeepers, I certainly took care of the latter today.

つくばサーキットのHPはこちらClick here for Tsukuba Circuit's website.

この春から姨捨駅の駅舎はずっと改造工事中でした。駅舎の分の工事は大分終わって、今は歩道橋が綺麗に改造されている。その工事の全ては7月24日（日）まで完成の予定だそうです。なぜなら、その日は「姨捨駅舎リニューアル記念セレモニー開催」です。12：10から始まる予定で、ＪＲのえらいさんたち及び千曲市の市長や、この戸倉上山田温泉からの冠着太鼓など、くす玉開花の開催など、とにかく盛り上がる予定でございます。

今回のリニューアルセレモニーの目玉改造工事は駅の事務室が整備された事です。「無人駅になぜ事務室が必要か」と思われるかもしれないが、その理由は事務室が「くつろぎの駅」になり、「おばすて　くつろぎの駅友の会」の方々がボランティアーでお茶を出したり、周辺の観光案内をしたりする訳です。

7月24日に姨捨駅リニューアルで是非ご一緒に大騒ぎしましょう!

Chikuma City's pride and joy Obasute Station has been under construction getting a face lift since the start of spring. The station house is pretty much finished, and now the footbridge is getting touched up.

Everything will be wrapped up by 24-July, or it had better be because that's when JR is holding an official ceremony to commemorate the station's renewal open. JR big wigs will be there along with Chikuma City's mayor and our local Kamuriki Taiko from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen.

The main part of this restoration is the depot's office. It has been refinished into a 'kutsurogi-no-eki' -- a Relaxation Station. Some may wonder why an unmanned station needs an office. But some local volunteers have agreed to offer tea service at the office.

So come and help celebrate the grand re-opening of Obasute Station on July 24th.

詳しくはＪＲのＨＰへClick here for details from JR's website.

姨捨の「田毎の月」の棚田の田植えはすでに終わっているけど、稲がまだそんなに伸びていないので、今月の満月でまた「田んぼ毎に映っている月様」を見るチャンス!

夕べにまた行ってみました。写真はうまく取れなかったけど、
お月様の柔らかい光、
姨捨山のシルエットの背景、
田んぼの稲の模様、
キラキラ輝くお月様の反射、
水のちょろちょろの流れの音、
カエルの歌

幻い風情。

The famous moon-reflecting Obasute terranced rice fields are all planted for this season. But the seedlings are still young, meaning this month's full moon is another chance to see the moon reflections.

Last night, I drove to Obasute to check out the scene.
The light of the full moon falling softly over the fields,
The silhouette of Obasute Mountain in the backgound,
The mesmerizing patterns of the rice seedlings in the paddies,
The glistening of the moon's reflection
The gurgling of the water flowing through the fields,
The sounds of the frogs serenading the night.

All in all, a magical scene.

芸術家と温泉。

温泉と芸術家。

つながりはあるかな？つながりを作れるかな?

まだまだ計画中ですが、戸倉上山田温泉と地元の芸術家と連携する案があります。その関係で、今朝は上山田温泉に住んでいる芸術家ご夫婦の若林文夫さん（版画家）とハンガリー人のＡｇｎｅｓさん（陶芸家）の家にお邪魔して、お茶をしました。

お二人、特に文夫さんはこの戸倉上山田温泉との付き合いが長いです。芸術家から見る「温泉」とは、色々と聞かせて頂きました。文夫さんの発言が特に耳に残っています：

「旅館」と「ビジネスホテル」の違いは何?
ホテルはただの箱。
旅館は床の間にオブジェが置いてあって、掛け軸が掛けてある；つまり、「文化」がある。

亀清旅館もそうですが、宿の所々に絵が掛けてあり、芸術的な置物が飾ってある。様々なものがあります。刀師の人間国宝宮入さん書画から私の母親が作ったキルトまで。しかし、良くある事はお客様に「これは何?」と聞かれたら、「分からない；女将社長に聞いてみなきゃ」となった。

それと比較したら、私がものすごく憧れている北信湯田中温泉の「よろづや」。一度、館内ツアーに参加させて頂きました。「これは何?」と聞いたら、「それは明治時代の誰々が作った。ここと京都の何処々の一流美術館にしかない」と。

「えっ、ここに何の説明も無し、ただ普通に置いてある物が、美術館にあっても良い物？！」と聞いたら、「まあ、分かる人は分かって頂いて、分からない人は分からなくても良い」との答え。

まあ、亀清旅館はこのごろ、それなりにストーリのある文化を少しずつ取り入れています。その中で、せっかく地元で立派な芸術家がいらっしゃるから、どんどんと連携を取って行きたいと思っています。

Artists and Onsen.

Onsen and Artists.

Is there a connection? Is it possible to make a connection?

Things are still very much in the planning stages, but I am hoping to put Togura Kamiyamada Onsen together with our local artists. We are fortunate to have a small group of talented artists here in our town. This morning, I had coffee with a husband and wife team of artists: wood block print artist Fumio Wakabayashi and Hungarian-born ceramicist Agnes Husz-san. Both of them, especially Fumio-san, have had many years of ties with Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. I was fortunate to get their perspective on our onsen town and its relation with art.

One of Fumio-san's comments especially struck me:

What is the difference between a business hotel and a ryokan? A hotel is simply a box. A ryokan uses the tokonoma alcove in the rooms to display a piece of art as well as a 'kakejiku' hanging scroll. In other words, the difference is culture.

It made me think about Kamesei. We have an assortment of artwork displayed throughout our inn. Everything from a piece of calligraphy from living national treasure katana-smith Miyairi-san (since deceased) to hand-made quilts from my mom. But a common occurance is for a guest to ask what a particular object is, and for us to say, "I don't know; We'll have to ask the proprietress."

On the other hand is the case of one of the ryokans I most look up to: Yorozuya in Yudanaka Onsen by the snow monkeys. Once I had the privelege of participating in a tour of the inn. When asking about some object, we were told, "Oh, that's from Meiji era. There are only two of them in the world. One is here and the other is in some top class museum in Kyoto."

"Huh, and you have just have it sitting here out in the open with no explanation?"

"Well, if someone knowledgeable sees it and appreciates it, that's great. But if people don't and just walk by, that's fine, too."

We here at Kamesei will never be able to duplicate the level of culture at Yorozuya, but bit by bit we are starting to expand our collection with pieces that have meaningful stories. And connecting with our local artists will be a major part of that.

姨捨の「田毎の月」で有名な棚田でその「お月様が田んぼ毎に反射している」場面を見る為に２つが必要：
１．お月様
２．田んぼにお水が入っている事

ちょうど今が満月（１．はＯＫ！），そして田植えの準備が始まったので、棚田の田んぼの皆に水が入っています（２．もＯＫ！）．

つまり、今は田毎の月タイム!

夕べもお客様を連れて、見に行きました。大きい満月が田んぼに移っていて、とっても綺麗でした。

ちなみに、普段は１ヶ所から見ると、お月様が田んぼの一つに反射している様に見える。「田毎」で見るには、まず、姨捨政宗の地酒を飲むようにお勧めします。（笑い）

The nearby Obasute terraced rice fields are famous for 'Tagoto no tsuki' -- the moon reflecting in the individual rice paddies. In order to see that, 2 things are required:
1. the moon
2. water in the paddies.

Right now is the full moon (1. OK!), and all the fields have been flooded in preparation for planting (2. also OK!)

So right now is the magical 'tagoto no tsuki' time! Last night I took some guests, and the full moon reflecting in the fields was sereenely beautiful.

NOTE: In order to see the moon reflecting in multiple fields (which 'tagoto no tsuki' mysteriously hints at), I suggest drinking some of the local Obasute Masamune sake first!

姨捨駅の外観掃除が始まっています。いつも可愛いらしい駅舎は今、緑のネットで隠れています。6月まで我慢すれば、きっと更に綺麗な外観になります。

そして、姨捨駅・長楽寺周辺は下水道管工事が行われています。道の通行止めもあります。詳しくは千曲市観光協会のＨＰへ。

亀清旅館の姨捨夜景・伝説ツアーにこの工事は影響がありませんので、お客様の御希望があれば喜んでご一緒に行きます。是非、声をかけてください。この時期は姨捨の「田毎の月」で有名な棚田の田植えの準備が始まっています。今年こそ、田んぼ毎に映っている月様が見えるかな？

The Obasute Station station house is getting a heavy-duty cleaning. The normally cute station house is currently covered in green construction netting. But we'll only have to put up with it for a couple of months, and then the facade will surely be even cuter than ever.

In addition, the roads around Obasute Station and Choraku-ji Temple are being torn up for sewage pipe installation. The construction will result in some road closures. Details are on the Chikuma City Tourism Bureau's website.

None of this construction will affect Kamesei Ryokan's 'Obasute Legends / Night View Tour'. So if our guests would like to go on the tour, I would be happy to go with them. And the famous moon-reflecting Obausute rice fields are in the process of being prepared for flooding and planting. Hopefully this year I'll be able to see the moon reflecting in the rice pads.

善光寺平アートラインの加盟館　北野カルチュラルセンター　と　北野美術館　から春の企画のチラシが来ました。

「山岳巡礼」
北野カルチュラルセンター　
３月１日～６月２６日
戸隠のパーワースポットは今がブームですが、その自然の力は以前から芸術家に随分伝われて、山の神秘の作品が多いです。当館で戸隠山を含めて、浅間山から富士山までの山岳絵の展示会です。

「春を逍遥」
北野美術館
３月２日～５月２９日
著名日本画家の春テーマの絵の展示会。雪が解けて来て、花が咲いてくる季節の気分。

両館は亀清旅館から車で約１時間です。善光寺参りのついでに最適です。まずは亀清に寄って、割引券付きのチラシをどうぞ。

Two of the Zenkoji Plain Art Line museums have sent us their Spring Program fliers:

'Mountain Pilgrimage'
Kitano Cultural Center
March 1st - June 26th
Togakushi Mountain above Nagano City has been a hit lately as a 'power spot'. But the spiritual power of the mountains has been the muse for many an artist from time eternal. This display features paintings inspired by not only Togakushi, but mountains from Asama to Fuji.

'Haru wo Shouyou' (Greeting Spring)
Kitano Museum of Art
March 2nd - May 29th
Spring-inspired artwork by Japan's master painters. Just in time for the season of snow melting and the flowers coming out.

Both museums are approximately 1 hour from Kamesei by car, and are perfect for seeing in conjunction with Zenkoji Temple. Stop by Kamesei first for the fliers which contain discount coupons.

詳しくはＨＰへClick here for details.