1252mの冠着山の上半は夕べの嵐の雪から白くなりました。戸倉上山田温泉は標高７４０ｍ前後なので雨だけでした。周辺の山々が冬景色になって、とっても綺麗です。

During last night's storm, it rained down here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, elevation around 740m. But the snow level shows on 1252-meter Kamuriki Mountain -- the top half is dusted in snow. Winter scenery has come to Nagano!

冬と言えば、お鍋！と私が思いますが、如何でしょうか？一昨年から冬限定で亀清旅館のお鍋プランを出させて頂いております。今までは野菜たっぷり寄せ鍋と信州味噌ベースの牛鍋という選択を出しておりまして、今年からはピリ辛ゴマベースの豚鍋も足しました。私は個人的に家族で暖かい鍋物を食べるのが大好きで、この楽しい食事は是非、お客様に提供したいと思っております。

When it comes to winter in Japan, one thing I always look forward to is eating 'Nabe'. What's 'nabe'? Literally, it means 'pot', so in this case it means a meal served in a hot pot in the center of the table, eaten family style. Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu are two popular versions. For the past two winters, here at Kamesei Ryokan we have been offering a special winter-only 'nabe' plan for our guests. Once again, this winter, we are happy to offer it.

北信では毎年の冬の楽しみの1つは野沢菜です。親戚から野沢菜の葉っぱを頂きましたのでこうやって一日、二日間で干して、うちの女将社長の味で漬けます。お茶を飲みながら野沢菜を食べながら友達とお話しする時が長野の生活の幸せの一つですね。

Here in Northern Nagano, one thing we look forward to every winter is nozawana, our local preserved vegetable specialty. One of our relatives brought us a bunch of nozawana leaves. Here they are pictured being put out in the sun for a couple of days to dry out. Then Mom here will season them with her secret recipe to preserve them for the winter. Sipping tea and munching on nozawana while talking to friends is one of the pleasures of living in Nagano.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

戸倉上山田温泉の周辺の山は紅葉が終わって、葉っぱの皆が落ちました。亀清旅館の庭の木も、葉っぱが大分落ちました。これからはホワイトクリスマスと冬を向かいます。（車のタイヤーをスタッドレスに変えるべきかな？）
The hills surrounding Togura Kamiyamada Onsen are now bare, as the leaves have completely fallen. Here in Kamesei Ryokan's garden, the trees are almost done dropping their leaves. From here on out, we look forward to winter and (hopefully) a white Christmas. (I guess that means I have to change the tires on our cars to snow tires!)

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano

亀清旅館の前に斉藤さんの自宅があります。今日は柿をざるに丁寧になれべて、秋の最後（？）の太陽に干した。この辺は柿の木が多いです。１０月のかぼちゃに次いで、１１月にもオレンジ色の作物が多いです。

Across the street in front of Kamesei is the Saitoh's house. Today they had persimmons out drying in the last of the Autumn sun. The persimmon slices were laid out carefully on bamboo trays. There are persimmon trees all over the area. In October, you see orange pumpkins here and there. In November, its orange persimmons!

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

私達の住んでいる部屋から戸倉上山田温泉の周辺の山々が見えます。今朝、起きたら、城山の天辺が白くなっていたことを見ました。やはり、秋が終わって、冬が始まりましたね！

The bedroom where we sleep here at Kamesei Ryokan has a view of the mountains surrounding Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. When we woke up this morning, we were greeted by the sight of Jyou-Yama (Joe Mountain?) covered in white. Alas, Autumn is gone and Winter is starting!

上山田保育園に寄ったら、子供達が落ち葉と遊んでいました。昔、実家で落ち葉をでかい山にレーキングして、その葉っぱの山にジャンプした遊びを思い出しました。日本の子供達もその遊びするかな？

When I stopped by Kamiyamada Preschool, I spotted this scene of the kids playing outside with the fallen leaves. It reminded me of when I was a kid, how we used to rake the leaves into a huge mound and then jump into them. I wonder if kids here in Japan do that, too?

亀清旅館の中庭に今度紅葉の色が目立ってきました。特に今日の秋晴れでこのもみじが綺麗でした。日本は四季がはっきりしていて良いですね！

Fall Colors have come to Kamesei's 'naka-niwa' garden. This Japanese Maple is especially pretty in the Autumn sun.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano

偶然に見あがったら、「ほっ」と。城山の上の空が戸倉上山田温泉のサインのネオンに負けないように光っていました。あわててこの写真を撮りました。

I happened to look up, and was pleasantly shocked to see the sky above Jyou-Yama (Joe Mtn.?) lit up, matching the neon of our town's Togura Kamiyamada sign.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館　HPはこちら
Click here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano

戸倉上山田温泉から車で５分で紅葉の綺麗で有名知識寺があります。紅葉状況を見る為に、よって行きました。葉っぱの色は変わり始まっていて、いい雰囲気でした。もう１週間ぐらいで更に綺麗になると思います。
About 5 minutes by car from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen is Chishiki Temple, famous locally for the brilliant fall colors of its maple trees. I checked to see how the colors were developing today. They were just starting to turn -- I think the leaves will be in peak color in another week or so.
温泉街の周りの山々は既にいい色になっています。黄色とオレンジと茶色のキルトのように。今日は若女将と若若女将で西公園で紅葉ピックニックしました。
The mountains around our onsen town are a collage of yellow and orange and brown colors. This afternoon I went with Mari and our baby Misaki to Nishi Kouen (West Park) for a Fall Foliage Picnic.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the Website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.