戸倉上山田温泉の最新の英語マップ及びハウツー動画　Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada's Newest English Map and How To Videos

March 18, 2018: その他 Miscellaneous

戸倉上山田温泉のインバウンド用の散歩地図・飲食店ガイド3.0及びPR動画4本シリーズが出来ました!

一年間をかけた事業はやっと形になりまさした。これで海外からの旅行者が更にウエルカム！
Our Onsen Town Togura Kamiyamada now has its 3rd generation Walking Map & Restaurant Guide as well as 4 PR videos.

The project I’ve been working on for a whole year has just taken shape.

協力なされた皆さんに感謝！
Big thanks to all who assisted!

我が温泉タウン戸倉上山田のハウツー動画シリーズOur Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada "How To" video series,

Video 1: How to Enjoy an Onsen Town 温泉街の楽しみ方

Showcasing several of Togura-Kamiymada's unique shops as well as a feature on Zukudashi Eco Tours.
Come wear a yukata robe, slip on the wooden geta slippers, and explore our onsen town!
戸倉上山田の足湯や面白い専門店、そしてずくだしエコツアーの特集。

Video 2: How to Enjoy Local Food ローカルフード

Shows how to order (and eat) at some quintessential types of Japanese restaurants, like soba noodles, yakitori, izakaya and even 'horumon' (not for the faint of heart). Plus a local Nagano favorite, oyaki dumplings and the video has a feature on Togura-Kamiyamada's legendary Kohaku including an interview with Susa-san about our area's signature 'oshibori udon' noodles.
どうやって注文するか（そして食べるか）の説明。蕎麦や焼き鳥、居酒屋そして…ホルモン（勇気が必要!）。長野の代表のおやきそして戸倉上山田の伝説のおしぼりうどんで有名な古波久さんとのインタビュー。

Video 3: How to Stay at a Ryokan 旅館の過ごし方

Curious about staying at a traditional ryokan while visiting Japan, but not sure what to do during your stay?　　From the kaiseki-style dinner, soaking in the onsen bath, and your futon spread out on the straw tatami mat, this video explains how to make the most of your ryokan experience.　　It also shows many of the great inns here in Togura-Kamiyamada.　　Don't miss the seeing one of our town's geisha, Takeshi, showing the proper way to wear a yukata robe.
日本の伝統文化を守る旅館だけど、泊まったらどうなるの?　懐石料理やお風呂、畳と布団など、旅館体験をたっぷり楽しみましょう。戸倉上山田の代表的な宿のも紹介。そして、芸者の武さんが浴衣の正しい着方の説明も。

Video 4: How to Bathe in an Onsen 温泉の入り方

When in Japan, one of the can't miss experiences is taking an onsen bath. But the process can be a bit intimidating. (Yes -- as local onsen expert Tonegawa-san explains in the video, you have to be naked.) Learn these simple tips of onsen etiquette and bath like a native. The video also explains the unique characteristics of Togura-Kamiymada's hot spring mineral water (beware bathing with silver jewelry!), featuring a special interview with Goro-san, president of the Kamiyamada Onsen Company.
温泉のマナーは温泉入浴指導員の利根川さんが説明してくれます。（Yes、ネイキッド！）戸倉上山田の湯の特徴も（銀の指輪はどうなる?）。上山田温泉株式会社の小平社長と貴重なインタビューも。

玄関の松の今年のちょきちょき　Our symbolic Japanese pine tree getting it's annual trimming

March 14, 2018: 季節 Seasons

庭師、お疲れ様です。We appreciate your hard work, Mr. gardener!

3月10日の姨捨夜景ツアーはこの青い目のガイド♪　Obasute Night View Guide

March 5, 2018: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada, 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan, 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano, 信州の山 Nagano’s Mountains

（しばらくブログ更新してなくて、すみません。）

久しぶりです。青い目のおもてなし・亀清旅館のタイラーです。

ビッグニュースがあります:　戸倉上山田温泉発の姨捨夜景ツアーこの青い目のガイドで参加したい皆さん、今週末（H30年3月10日・土曜日）がツアー料金の値上げ前のラストチャンスです。現在はツアー参加費が2000円/人ですが、H30年4月からは千曲市観光局がその料金を値上げする予定です。

この姨捨夜景ツアーは戸倉上山田温泉を夜8時ごろバスで出発して、姨捨駅のホームから善光寺平の夜景を見下ろして、さらに上の長野道姨捨SAから違った角度からまた夜景をまた見て、帰りは味噌蔵「高村商店」に寄って、また温泉に戻るというコースです。途中で駅の記念入場券や、SAの売店から絵葉書、高村商店からお味噌をお土産でもらえます。私たち地元の者がボランティアでガイドしてまして、10日が私の当番の火です。10名揃えば、バス運行になりまして、私が戸倉上山田や姨捨の周辺の伝説の話（60％ウソ!）や魅力を説明したりします。

亀清旅館は3月10日でまだ空きがございますので、是非にお泊りになって、夜はご一緒に姨捨夜景ツアーに参加して頂きたいと思っております。

(Apologies for the lack of updates recently.)

He's back! This is Tyler, American-born owner of the traditional onsen inn, Kamesei Ryokan.

I have big news: This Saturday, 10-March, 2018 will be the last time you can take the Obasute Night View Tour with me as the guide before the price goes up. Currently, the tour costs 2000 yen per person but the Chikuma City Tourism Bureau is set to raise the price in April.

The Obasute Night View Tour departs our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada around 8pm, stops at Obasute Station to look down upon the picturesque lights of the Zenkoji Plain, continues up to the Obasute SA for another angle of the view, and stops at our local miso factory Takamura Shoten on the way back to the Onsen. Along the way, participants are given a commemorative entrance ticket to Obasute Station, a post card from the SA gift shop, and a sample of Takamura's miso. Plus, you get one of us local volunteers to tell some of the area legends and explain about the places to see around Togura-Kamiyamada and Obasute. If 10+ people sign up for the tour, it will be done by bus and I am scheduled to be the guide this Saturday, so the explanation can be in English.

We still have rooms available at Kamesei Ryokan for 10-March, so I invite you to come and spend the weekend, and join us for the Obasute Night View Tour.

姨捨「田毎の月」：　6月9日の満月でタイラーがガイド♪ Obasute's Moon Reflecting Terraced Rice Fields; Next Full Moon 09-June

June 8, 2017: その他 Miscellaneous

姨捨の「田毎の月」で有名な棚田は伝説によると、田んぼ毎にお月様が反射するそうです。

見るタイミングとしては田植えの時期の満月。2017年では、6月9日（金）となります。

そして、戸倉上山田温泉発の姨捨夜景ツアーの6月9日のガイドは何と、亀清旅館の主人、タイラーです。

申し込みは亀清旅館で受けています。6月9日（金）も10日（土）もまだ空室がございますので、姨捨「田毎の月」でお出かけください。

The famous moon-reflecting Obasute terraced rice fields are said to be positioned in such a way as to reflect the moon in the individual rice fields. The best time to see this is the full moon around the spring planting season. For 2017, that means the June 9th full moon. Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen runs a convenient Obasute Night View tour. You can make reservations through at Kamesei Ryokan. The guide for June 9th will actually be Kamesei Ryokan's owner, Tyler. We still have rooms available for Friday the 9th and Saturday the 10th, so how about come for an onsen stay for the spring full moon?

www.kamesei.jp

2017 Snow Monkey and Togakushi Schedules 雪猿及び戸隠の時刻表

May 15, 2017: その他 Miscellaneous

How to get to or from Kamesei Ryokan here in our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada and Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park (world-famous Snow Monkeys) as well as Togakushi (massive cedar trees, superb soba noodles and ... ninja!) for 2017 spring/summer/fall. (Will be updated for 2017/18 winter once the new train / bus schedules are announced.)　亀清旅館（戸倉上山田温泉）と地獄谷野猿公苑及び戸隠との間の交通機関の時刻表を作ってみました。2017年のグリーンシーズンの分です。

Kamesei Ryokan to/from the Snow Monkeys　亀清旅館⇔地獄谷野猿公苑

Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park is located at the end of a 30-minute walk along a scenic forest trail. The trailhead is at Kanbayashi, just up the road from the Shibu-Yudanaka onsen resort area. Access from Nagano Station to Kanbayashi is one of two ways: 1) Express Bus bound for the Shiga Kogen mountains to the "Snow Monkey Park" stop (NOTE: the bus stop is 30 minutes on foot from the actual park on the aforementioned trail) or 2) Nagaden Train to Yudanaka Station, change to local bus to either Kanbayashi Onsen stop (bus bound for Kanbayashi) or Snow Monkey Park stop (bus bound for Shiga Kogen). The Express Bus and Nagaden Train depart opposite sides of Nagano Station -- Express Bus from the East Exit side, platform #23; the Nagaden Train starts out as a subway on the Zenkoji Exit side. The Snow Monkey 1-Day Pass covers trains/buses from Nagano Station to Kanbayashi as well as the park entrance fee. It saves a bit of money, but more importantly, saves the hassle of figuring out how/when/where to pay. It is only sold at the Nagaden Train ticket office, so if you take the Express Bus, make sure you allow time to buy the pass on the Zenkoji Exit side before crossing the station to the bus platform on the East Exit side. The schedule below covers the more convenient options in conjunction with connecting Shinano Railway trains to/from Togura, and is not a complete schedule.

Kamesei Ryokan to/from Togakushi　亀清旅館⇔戸隠

Buses run from Nagano Station to Togakushi approximately once per hour. They depart from Bus Stop #7 which is located in front of the Alpico Bus office across the street from Nagano Station's Zenkoji Exit. Below schedule matches up those buses with connecting Shinano Railway trains to/from Togura Station.

Togura-Kamiyamada to Snow Monkey Train/Bus Schedule for 2015 戸倉上山田温泉→雪猿の電車・バス予定表　２０１５年グリーンシーズン

June 18, 2015: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada, 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano, その他 Miscellaneous

Due to popular request, we are once again posting the train & bus schedule to get to Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park (home of the world-famous "Snow Monkeys") from our onsen town, Togura-Kamiyamada, for the 2015 Green Season.

Access to the trail head at Kanbayashi is via Nagaden's express bus or train/bus combo from Nagano Station. This year there is only 1 express bus in the morning instead of 2. Apparently with the extension of the Nagano Shinkansen to Kanazawa and the opening of the new station in Iiyama, the 2nd a.m. express bus now originates in Iiyama instead of Nagano Station. However, there is still relatively frequent service by Nagaden's train line to Yudanaka. Just keep in mind that from Yudanaka, you'll need to change to a local bus to Kanbayashi.

Nagaden's express bus leaves from bus stop #3 outside Nagano Station's East Exit, while the train to Yudanaka starts out as a subway from Nagano Station. Look for the elevator outside Nagano Station's Zenkoji Exit.

タイラーの次の姨捨夜景ツアーのガイド当番：　6月12日（金）　Tyler's Next Turn to Be the Obasute Night View Tour Guide: June 12th

June 11, 2015: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada, 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan, 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano, 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi, その他 Miscellaneous

戸倉上山田温泉発の姨捨夜景ツアー、
6月12日(金)のガイドか千曲市観光の顔(?)、私です。善光寺平の夜景はもちろん、この辺の伝説のお話しも。ご一緒に行きませんか？
亀清旅館は12日にまだ空きがございますし。
どうぞ、お起こし下さい。

Guess who's going to guide the June 12th Obasute Night ViewTour? Yours Truly, the new face of Chikuma City tourism.

菖蒲湯は長野で6月5日（旧暦のこどもの日）　Shobu (Calamus) Bath for June 5th (in Nagano)

June 5, 2015: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan, 温泉Onsens, 季節 Seasons, 日米関係Culture Shock

菖蒲湯(しょうぶゆ)。　普段はこどもの日に合わせて5月5日ですが、雪国である長野県の場合、菖蒲の成長が1か月遅れて、旧暦のこどもの日との事で、菖蒲湯は6月5日です。

うちの前島おじさんによると:

端午の節句は「菖蒲の節句」とも伝われ、菖蒲湯に入ることで邪気を払い厄病を除くと伝われています。実際菖蒲に含まれる「精油」という成分が、血液の循環を良くし、新陳代謝を促すことで、疲れを取る効果があるといわれています。

古代のエジプトやギリシア、ローマで菖蒲が香水や薬として使われているらしい。

古代から今日の亀清の温泉へ、菖蒲の力で健康になるように！

Shobu (Calamus) Bath, for good health

In Japan, it is tradition to put calamus (Acorus calamus, aka sweet flag, myrtle sedge, pine root, sweet rush, et al) in one's bath on Children's Day, May 5th. Called 'shobu' in Japanese, the reed-like plant is supposed to have medicinal properties to ward off diseases.

Here in mountainous Nagano, the plant's growth is delayed by snow, hence we honor the tradition on June 5th instead.

It is said that the ancient Egyptians as well as Greeks and Romans recognized the beneficial effects of calamus and used it for perfumes as well as medicines.

So from ancient times all the way to today's onsen bath here at Kamesei Ryokan, calamus for good health!

御開帳の回向柱の梵字　The Gokaicho 'Eko-Bashira' Pillar's Sanscrit

June 5, 2015: その他 Miscellaneous

七年に一度の御開帳は無事に終わりました。皆さんは善光寺で参拝なされた時に回向柱を触れましたか？その回向柱の上部を見た事がありますか？梵字で何かが書いてある。いつもどういう意味なのかと不思議に思っていました。

この戸倉上山田温泉の上の善光寺別院もこの4月・5月で御開帳が行われて、長野市の善光寺と同じように本堂の前に回向柱が立てられています。これも、謎の梵字が。この間のお朝事の当番の時に、住職にお聞きしました。教えて頂いたのは、

4面とも、同じ梵字が書いてある。ただし、良く見たら、向かって右の面は梵字の右側に二つの点が付いていて、裏面の梵字の上に一点が付いていて、向かって左側の面の梵字の上左にチョンが付いています。点とかチョンを付ける事によって「ン」とか「ク」が付いたり、またはのばしたりするそうです。真正面の何もついていない梵字はキャカラバアと読むそうです。右手はキャクカクラクバクアク、裏面はケンカンランバナン、左手はキャーカーラーバーアーだそうです。

この四つの表現がおとけさまの4つの知恵を意味しているそうです。

正面・東へと結界（春）　「大円鏡智」　（鏡のように正しく映る）

向かって右・北へと結界（冬）　「成所作智」　（形になる貢献する）

裏面・西へと結界（秋）　「妙観察智」　（良く見て、差別しない）

向かって左・南へと結界（夏）　「平等性智」　（平等的に判断する）

なるほどですね。住職さんのおかげで勉強になりました。御開帳へ行かれる皆様、是非に回向柱の梵字を見てみて下さい。

そして、回向柱と例の秘仏を結んでいるは5本の糸です。仏様の5つの知恵を表現しています。その説明はまた別の記事で。（このブログの別な記事かどうか分かりませんが…）

The once-every-seven-years Gokaicho event taking place at the venerable Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City features a wooden pillar called an "Eko-Bashira" standing in front of the Main Hall. The 4-sided pillar has writing on each side. A closer inspection will show that the top 5 characters are actually sanskrit.

長野流のＧＷ Golden Week - Nagano Style

May 3, 2015: 温泉Onsens, 季節 Seasons, 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano, グルメFoodie, 信州の山 Nagano’s Mountains

皆さん、ハッピーゴールデンウィーク！

あれっ、ハッピーじゃないって？まあ、確かに、連休でどこへ行っても混みますよね。

長野県こそ、松本城や軽井沢の様なメージャーな観光スポット、

そして、佐久の気球フェスティバルや飯山の菜の花畑の様な大きいイベントは混む。特に、今年は七年に一度の善光寺「御開帳」が偉い人数でしょう。

しかし、あきらめないで。長野県は穴場的な隠れ宝が沢山あります。静かな信州が連休の最中でも十分楽しめます。

一つな裏コースを紹介します。娘と白馬方面へドライブした時。

Happy Golden Week, everyone.

Or is it? With practically everyone and her brother having the week off, it seems wherever you go there will be crowds, crowds, and still more crowds.

Here in Nagano, the major attractions such as Matsumoto Castle, the Utsukushigahara ridge drive, the resort town of Karuizawa etc. also tend to be jam-packed during peak holidays. And the many major events taking place in Nagano during Golden Week, such as the hot air balloon festival in Saku, the rape blossom festival in Iiyama and, especially, the once-every-seven-years Gokaicho at Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City, will likely draw hordes of visitors.

Don't despair -- the prefecture has plenty of off-the-beaten-path places and simple, local events to enjoy in a quiet, Nagano-like fashion.

As but one example of how to enjoy Golden Week Nagano-style, here is what my daughter and I found on a drive to the Hakuba area.

先ずは白馬村の南にある青木湖に行ってみた。桜が咲き、背景の白馬連峰の雪が残り、青空遠い湖で素晴らしい景色。本当は時間があったらカヤックに乗りたかった。

First, we stopped at Aoki Lake just south of Hakuba Village. The Northern Alps were still covered in snow which contrasted brilliantly with the deep blue color of the sky and the lake. The cherry trees were still in bloom, adding a spash of reddish-pink to the scene.

Aoki Lake with the Snow-capped Hakuba Range in the Distance　青木湖と雪景色の白馬連峰

湖の西側に千国街道が通ります。昔の塩の道で、ＧＷの連休でその記念で三日間をかけて歩く塩の道祭りが行われる。江戸時代の行列が復元される。

The old 'Chikuni-Kaido' trail passes on the west side of the lake. This ancient path used to be known as the Salt Road by which mountainous Nagano got its salt from the sea. Every year for three days during Golden Week, a special event is held to commemorate the trail's history. Participants walk along the trail, one section each day, many in period costume.

青木湖の西側に通る千国街道。塩の道祭りがここを通る。
Chikuni Trail along the west side of Aoki Lake. The Salt Road Festival procession passes along here.

湖の東側にゼーブリックと言うラーメン屋さんがある。ログハウスの中の店で薪ストーブがあって、落ち着く風情。湖も眺めれて、良い所。チャーシューラーメンを頂いたが、あんな部厚いチャーシューは初めてだった。次回には味噌ラーメンかカレーライスが美味しそうだった。連休でお店が賑やかだったが、上の県道沿いの店の全部は人が並んでいました。

While at Aoki Lake, we stopped for lunch at Seebrick, a ramen shop in a quaint log cabin located along the old lane on the lake's east side. We tried the soysauce based ramen, mine with the extra charshu pork (the thickest slices I've ever seen!). The miso based version as well as the curry rice menu options looked enticing, too. The restaurant was busy, but not nearly as much as the restaurants we passed on the main highway.

Seebrick's woodstove
ゼーブリックの薪ストーブ

昼ごはんの後は、「温泉に入ろう！」との事で、白馬村の中心にあるみみずくの湯に入りました。選んだポイントは内風呂及び露天風呂からは白馬連峰が見える事。最高の景色だった。そして、お湯はpHが11.6って、日本最高です。娘と二人で肌がすべすべになって、驚いた。透明と無色だが、その美肌効果が素晴らしい。

After lunch, it was time for a soak in an onsen bath. Since the sky was so clear and the snow-capped Alps were so blazingly beautiful, we opted for Mimizuku no Yu in the center of Hakuba Village. The baths, both the indoor ones as well as the open-air outdoor ones, feature a stunning view of the Hakuba Range. The onsen water source is Hakuba Happone, and has a pH of 11.6 -- possibly the highest in all of Japan. We were surprised how silky smooth it made our skin feel. The onsen water is clear and doesn't have any smell, but the view and the beautifying effect of the water are both outstanding.

みみずくの湯 Mimizuku no Yu Onsen Bathhouse

みみずくの湯の外観
Mimizuku no Yu's Facade

みみずの湯の露天風呂から見える山景色
The View of the Hakuba Range from Mimizuku no Yu's Outdoor Bath

帰りの道でオリンピック道路を走ったが、途中で鬼無里への道があった。そう言えば、鬼無里はこの連休で祭りがある。細かい手彫りの飾りの山車が特徴だそうです。今年は三味線の演奏も。地元の皆の為のイベントで観光客はあまり来ないけど、だからこそ信州の田舎の良さを味わえる.

On the way back towards Nagano City along the Olympic Highway, we passed the road that heads to Kinasa. This hamlet tucked in the hills above Nagano holds a very local, non-touristy festival during Golden Week involving some ornately-carved 'dashi' parade floats. This year's festival featured some shamisen entertainment. This is the type of event that best showcases Nagano's rural charm -- and without crowds!