Buddies Nakajima-San and Tobita-San
先日、雑紙のインタビューで『亀清旅館の特徴は？』と聞かれた。
…
青い目の若旦那じゃ特徴にならない？
同じ日に泊まった別のお客さんは『長野農業と生活』という雑紙を持って来た。表紙に亀清旅館の付き合っているぶどうとりんご農家の中島さんと飛田さん達の写真があった。こんな広い長野の中で写真の二人が知り合いって、嬉しい。
お二人の畑にぶどうやりんごを直接で買って、お客さんに採りたての果実を提供したり、畑に連れて行ったり、冬は剪定ものを頂いたり薪ストーブで燃やしたり、とにかく農家との関連ふぁ多い。もしかしたら、この戸倉上山田温泉の中で農家とのえ連携が一番多いかも。
亀清旅館のもう一つな特徴だ。青い目の若旦那の存在が十分ではなければ。（笑い）
The other day during an interview for a magazine, one of the questions I got asked was, "What makes Kamesei Ryokan unique?"
Hmmm....
Having a blue-eyed proprietor isn't unique enough for a traditional Japanese onsen inn?
The same day, one guest brought a magazine titled, "Nagano Prefecture Farming and Living". On the cover were pictures of 4 farmers. Upon closer inspection, I realized 2 of them were Nakajima-san and Tobita-san, local Kamiyamada orchardists from whom we buy grapes and apples during the season.
I personally go to their orchards and buy freshly picked fruit to serve our guests. Numerous time I actually take guests to the orchards to meet the famers and see the fruit on the trees, breathe in the fresh, clean air and taste fruit picked right off the tree. And in late winter / early spring, they give me their tree trimmings to use in our lobby's firplace helping to keep the guests toasty warm.
No other inn in town has this close of a relationship with the local farmers.
So there you go, another thing that makes Kamesei Ryokan unique. In case having a blue-eyed proprietor isn't enough. (LOL!)
