戸倉上山田温泉の冬イルミネーションは11月17日からスタートしました。その夜の8時に私達旅館青年部の主催で点灯式を開催しました。
イルミネーション委員長の滝澤さん（ホテル雄山）が点灯音楽を準備して、そして見えたお客様の為に小石の湯の伝説のお守りのプレゼントも持って来てくれました。ＯＢの俊樹さんが馬車で来て、観光客（と私たち青年部）に乗せてくれました。地元のケーブルテレビも来て、撮影してくれました。
当日はずっと雨でした。点灯式の時間帯、20:00は雨の降る確率が100％でした。しかし、実行委員長の滝澤さんが晴れ男で、20:00の直前で雨がやみました。
今回の点灯式は初めてでした。ＰＲ不足や良くない天気のせいで、お客様が少なかったですが、工夫しながら継続したいと思いました。
カラコロ足湯の公園の光は2月末まで、本通りの光は3月17日までの予定。この冬の戸倉上山田温泉もどうぞ、楽しんでください。
The winter illumination for our onsen town, Togura Kamiyamada, officially got underway Saturday November 17th. The ryokan junior association held a Lighting Ceremony that evening at 8pm.
Our official Illumination Chief, Hideo-san from Hotel Yuzan, prepared music especially for the ceremony. He also brought gifts to give visitors who came to see the lights. And Toshiki-san brought his horse and buggy and gave free rides to guests (and to us ryokan guys, too!). Our local cable TV cameraman came and shot footage of the event.
This was the first time we've held an official lighting ceremony. It actually rained the whole day, and the weather forecast called for 100% chance of rain at 8pm. However, Hideo-san has a perfect track-record of no rain for any event he has been in charge of, and this time was no different. As if by magic, the rain stopped around 7:30, and we were able to enjoy a lovely, if a bit cold, ceremony.
Due to poor publicity and the rainy weather, we had very few people come to see our event. But with a little tweaking, I hope we can continue this in years to come.
This winter, Togura-Kamiyamada's lights will be on at the Kara-Koro footbath through the end of February, and our main street, Chuo-Dori, will be lit up until March 17th. Come and enjoy our onsen town this winter!
Our daughter Misaki Enjoying the Glow
Koishi-no-Yu Monument Glowing, Too.
