They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. If that's the case, then I guess I am flattered. Today I went to the Kamiyamada Onsen Company's office. Guess what they were making -- a yagura! Just like the one I built next to our outdoor bath. Apparently they liked the idea so much they decided to build one, too. (A yagura, by the way, is basically like an oil rig that they used 100 years ago to dig the onsen wells.)
英語のことわざで「模倣はもっとも誠実なお世辞」と言います。ところで、今日は上山田温泉会社によりました。何を作っていらっしゃったでしょうか？　櫓！　私が去年に露天風呂のそばに立てた櫓のまね。温泉会社がその発想を気に入ったようです。嬉しいような。。。

Train and Bus Schedule from Togura (closest station to Kamesei Ryokan) and the Snow Monkeys, updated as of 08-April 2008. (Bus schedule has changed with the end of ski season.) If you go, please say Hi to the monkeys, and their park manager, Hagiwara-san, for us!

以前に「長野インバウンドサミット」の事を書いたので今日はその関係で白馬に行って来ました。そこの参加者の一人がこのBonoさんでした。Bonoさんの宿にお邪魔させて頂きました。モデルトレインがあるって聞きましたが、こんな多きいいセットだと知りませんでした。亀清では機関車トーマスの木造のセットを作っていますが、大きさ的にはこの２０分の一です。Bonoさん、これからも宜しくお願いいたします。
In previous posts, I've mentioned about the Nagano Inbound Summit. Today, I went to Hakuba for a meeting there. One of the participants was Bono-san. Afterwards, we checked out his inn and played with his cool train set. Thanks for your hospitality, Bono-san.

Bonoさんの宿のHPはこちらClick here for Bono-san's website.

長野インバウンドサミットの詳しくはInfo on the Nagano Inbound Summit

Most of the guests from overseas that stay at Kamesei come to Nagano to see the snow monkeys (www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp). We couldn't let the guests have all the fun, so today, our family made the trek. The monkeys were so entertaining! I took loads of pictures, some of which are here, as a companion to my article in Naga-Know (http://www.nagaknow.com/snowmonkeys.shtml). We also got to meet Hagiwara-san, the park manager, and bought his new book, 'Monkey Kingdom', which features his award winning photos.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

以前に報告した様に、私が個人でお客さんに提供していた姨捨夜景・伝説ツアーが千曲市観光協会に取り上がれて、毎週土曜日にちゃんとした（有料）のツアーになりました。今日はせっかくポスターも作ったし、お客さんをリクルートしたのに、申し込んだら「人数が集まらなかった為に中止だ」と言われてしまいました。仕方が無い、私の無料ツアーが行いますので宜しくお願いします！
As previously mentioned, the Obasute Night View Tour that I often give as service to our guests has been taken over by the town's Tourism Bureau and has been turned into an official (for-pay) tour every Saturday night. Today, I went through all the effort of making a poster and recruiting a couple of guests, but when I called to make the reservation I was told tonight's tour has been canceled due to lack of guests. So, I will just have to do my regular (free) tour instead!
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.

遠い親戚の北山さんがどう九回で亀清をご利用していただきました。この青い目の若旦那の手作りの露天風呂に早速チャレンジしました。周りは大雪でしたが、北山さんがぽかぽか！
A distant relative, Kitayama-san, held his class reunion here at Kamesei. Right away, he took a soak in the outdoor bath I made last summer. It was snow all around, but Kitayama-san was nice and warm in the bath.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

我が息子と友達を連れて、さらしな古代体験公園に行ってきました。縄文時代のこの飾りを皆で作りました。亀清旅館から車で約１０分のところで、縄文の生活や文化を体験できる施設です。子供さん達が喜ばれます！
Just 10 minutes by car from our inn is this Sarashina Ancient Experience Park, where you can experience the culture and lifestyle of the Jomon Era, approx. 1600 years ago. Our son and his friends made these stone decorations. Kids love this park!

We have a guest from Australia staying with us currently, and she left for a day trip to go see the Snow Monkeys. I made this little time schedule (train and bus) to make the trip a bit easier. Feel free to print it out!

今日はオーストラリアからのお客様が電車で地獄谷の野猿公園へ出かけました。分かりやすくする為に、亀清からの時刻表を作成いたしました。

Click here for Kamesei Ryokan website亀清旅館のHPはこちら

11日のブログで書いたＦｒｅｄｅｒｉｋさんからお猿の温泉の写真が届きました。ちょうど、長野放送テレビ局から連絡が来まして、そのスノーモンキースが本当に海外に人気ですか？と聞かれました。この写真の通り、ほんまに可愛いのです。人気のある訳です！
In yesterday's blog, I mentioned Frederik and the guys from Germany. He sent some pictures that he took of the snow monkeys. I just got a call from Nagano Broadcasting tv station, asking if the snow monkeys were really that popular overseas. Just look at these pictures -- how can you not want to go see them!
Snow Monkey website: http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.

戸倉上山田温泉は今朝から雪が降り始めて、段々と積もってきて、亀清の露天風呂がこんな風景になりました。やっと信州らしい冬になりました。露天風呂に入りながら、雪が顔にちらちらと落ちるのは最高ですね。
This morning here at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, it started to snow, and kept on snowing all day. By mid-afternoon, Kamesei Ryokan's outdoor bath took on this beautiful white scenery. Nagano's winter has finally arrived! You can't beat the feeling of soaking in the warm mineral bath with the feel of snowflakes softly falling on your face!
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.