Blog - Kamesei Ryokan (inn) in Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen, Nagano, Japan | Hosted by an American Innkeeper

県EU協会でのインバウンドについての講演 Speech on Inbound issues at the EU Society

July 25, 2009: Uncategorized

長野県EU協会に呼ばれて、長野市に昨日、講演で喋ってきました。（私はEUではなくて、US人ですが、父親のお父さんはアイルランド生まれ、従って、私は４分の１のEU人かな？）
欧米人は日本でどういうおもてなしを求めているかについて話しました。さまざまの企業から約６０人が集まりました。県の観光部の方もいらっしゃいました。こういう場面でしゃべる機会がなかなかないので良いチャンスでした。良い続いている２点に集中しました：

＊欧米人の個人旅行者はJRのフリーパスを買う方が多い。そのパスさえ買えば全国に動けると思われている。交通関係はそれ以上な予算を考えていない。ただし、長野県に入ってしまえば、しなの鉄道や長電、アルピコバスなど、JRのパスを使えない所が殆ど。長野県なりなフリーパスが必要だと。
（それによって、例えば、飛騨高山から松本に来やすくなる。外国人を外国から呼ばなくても、裏ゴールデン・ルートと言われている飛騨高山・金沢から呼べる訳！）

＊何十年間で設備投資していなくて、見所よりお土産屋さんが多いような場所は日本の古い観光である。日本の観光文化が進化してきた：好きな人と好きな所で好きな事をするのは現状。それに答えていない観光地は、日本人のお客さんがどんどん減っている。仕方がなく、外国人の観光客でカバーする様に考えている観光地もあるそうです。
日本人の買わない商品であれば、どうして外国人が買わなければならない？だったら、まずは自分の観光地を磨く努力しろ！

今日の信濃毎日新聞で講演についての記事があった。上記の２ポイントは残念ながら載っていなかった。ちょっとがっかり。自分の意見はきつすぎるでしょうか？

Nagano Prefecture's EU Society invited me to speak at their annual gathering today. About 60 people from various industries, including the prefecture's Tourism Department, met to hear the talk. It was a great opportunity for me to voice some of the issues facing "Inbound" tourism and focused on these two:

*Many FIT (Foreign Independant Travelers -- as opposed to group travel) buy a Japan Rail "Free Pass" to cover their transportation needs. However, here in Nagano, there is the Shinano Railway, Naga-Den, Alpico Bus, and many other private transportation lines. Nagano really needs a "Free Pass" for the prefecture.
For example, such a pass would make it easy for tourists to go from Hida-Takayama to Matsumoto. Rather than working to attract tourists from overseas, it would be so much more practical to attract them from the popular Takayama / Kanazawa "Ura-Golden Route" course.

*Many tourist areas are outdated, with more souvenir stands than places of interest and no facilities investment for decades. It's no wonder Japanese tourist numbers are declining. Japanese tourism has evolved. No more groups going to famous places for "status" -- it's individuals travelling with people they want to be with, to places they want to go to, to do things they want to do.
The problem is, some of these tourist areas think they can make up for the drop in Japanese tourists by attracting ones from overseas. But why should foreigners buy a product that Japanese won't buy?!?! Instead, they should focus on developing their areas to meet modern tourism needs.

Today's Shinmai newspaper had an article about the speech, but unfortunately they didn't mention the above two points. Perhaps my opinion is too confrontational?

酒と枝豆にうるさい：新潟 Picky about sake and beans: Niigata

July 24, 2009: Uncategorized

Niigata edamame and sake

旅館青年部関係で私の入っている研究会は昨日、新潟の燕・三条の近辺の温泉で集まりました。大変良い勉強になりました。新潟の酒が日本の中でも評価が高いと前から知っていました。そして、泊まった宿はやはり、地酒は６つぐらい並べてありました。しかし、その辺は枝豆の産地なので枝豆の世界があんなに奥深いか、びっくりしました。今までは冷凍食品の感覚しかなかった。ビールのおつまみ程度。でも、お世話になった宿、ホテル小柳は地元の農家さんたちと連携して、規格外の作物を利用してSweetsを作る運動しています。その１つは枝豆入りの生キャラメル。意外に美味しかった。
上山田の周りにりんご農園が多い。今年は表の損が心配なので我々旅館が利用できる方法を皆で考えています。新潟からのヒントも生かしたいですね。
Members of my Ryokan Junior Association Research Team gathered in Niigata yesterday. I had previously known that Niigata is one of the top producers of fine sake in Japan, and was pleased to find that our host served 6 different types of local sake at our dinner. But I was surprised to find out that the area also is a major soybean grower, and that the locals there are very picky about their edamame beans. Our host, Hotel Oyanagi, worked out an arrangement with local farmers to use 2nd-rate produce to make desserts. One of the products is edamame-caramel. It was surprisingly delicious.
Here in Kamiyamada, we have a lot of apple orchards around. Last month's hail caused a lot of damage, and us inns are gearing up to use the cosmetically inferior but superior quality apples in our cooking this fall. I hope to use some of the ideas I got from Niigata!

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.

新潟県湯田上温泉のホテル小柳のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Hotel Oyanagi in Niigata

Yummy edamame caramel (strawberry, too!)

霧ヶ峰のニッコウキスゲ：信州の七大旬の自然？ Kirigamine's Day Lillies -- one of Nagano's Seven Seasonal Wonders?

July 23, 2009: Uncategorized

Andy君と去年の霧ヶ峰のニッコウキスゲ Andy with the day lillies at Kirigamine last year

昨日は松本で長野県の「観光シナジー研究会」に参加してきました。行政と大学と我々民間の約４０人がお互いにどういうコラボレーションができるかと、観光客がもっと長く滞在して楽しんで頂けるかとの意見交換でした。
そこで、車山高原の方と行き会って、聞いたら、霧ヶ峰のニッコウキスゲは今、ピークだそうです。このごろは花が鹿で大分やられたけど、今年は電気の塀で防げたので高原の表面が真っ黄色になっているそうです。７月いっぱい咲く予想です。
霧ヶ峰のニッコウキスゲは見た事がまだなければ、ぜひ、お勧めです。信州の七大旬の自然だと（勝手に）思っています。
日本人は何でも「三大何とか」を付けるのは好きですよね。例えば、戸倉上山田温泉の近くの姨捨駅は「日本三大車窓」となっています。つまり、電車の窓から見る景色が綺麗だと。我々欧米人は逆に「七大」が好きかもしれません。
従って、この欧米人の「信州七大旬の自然」のリストを発表させて頂きます：

＊森「杏の里」の杏の花
＊高遠の桜
＊上高地の新緑
＊鬼無里の水芭蕉
＊辰野の蛍
＊霧ヶ峰のニッコウキスゲ
＊戸隠鏡池の紅葉

皆さんはどうですか？自分の「七大」を教えてください。

Yesterday I went to Matsumoto for a Nagano Prefecture Tourism Synergy Research Meeting. About 40 people from various government agencies, universities, and businesses gathered to discuss ways to get tourists to spend more time enjoying our prefecture.

One of the guys I met there was from Kurumayama. He said the nikko-kisuge day lillies in Kirigamine are in bloom now. Recently, deer have been eating a lot of the flowers. This year, though, thanks to lots of electric wire fencing, the hills of Kirigamine are carpeted in yellow flowers. The blooms usually continue through the end of July.

If you've never seen the nikko-kisuge of Kirigamine, I highly suggest it. Their yellow blossoms cover the highlands -- an amazing sight to see. In fact, I would say it's one of Nagano's top seasonal wonders.

People in Japan have a habit for picking the "Top Three" Whatever. For example, nearby Obasute Station is one of Japan's Top Three Best Views from the Train Window. (It's true -- I couldn't make that up if I tried.) Us Westerners, on the other hand, tend to choose the Top 7 of whatever (except for David Letterman and his Top 10 Lists). For example, the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, etc.

So I hereby announce Nagano's Seven Natural Wonders (as chosen by Yours Truly):

*The Apricot Blossoms in Mori "Anzu no Sato"
*Takato's Cherry Blossoms
*Early Spring in Kamikochi
*Skunk Cabbage Flowers in Kinasa (which means "Village Without an Ogre" -- and I couldn't make that one up if I tried, either)
*Tatsuno's Fireflies
*Kirigamine's Nikko-kisuge day lillies
*Autumn Leaves at Togakushi's Kagami-Ike (Mirror Pond)

That's my list. What about yours?

霧ヶ峰・車山高原の詳しくはこちらClick here for details on Kirigamine and Kurumayama

珍しい姿　A rare sight

July 22, 2009: Uncategorized

Mari watching the eclipse

今日は珍しい日食が行われた。隣の薬局のお兄さんがこの特別なメガネを持ってきてくれて、滞在のお客さんとみなで日食を楽しめました。

Today was a rare event: a solar eclipse. Our neighbor, the pharmacist, brought over these special glasses. So along with some guests from the States, we all enjoyed watching the eclipse.

松代象山地下壕が英字新聞に Matsushiro's Tunnels in the Japan Times

July 21, 2009: Uncategorized

先週に英字新聞「Japan Times」に松代の象山地下壕の特集がありました。第二次世界大戦のころに天皇さまが隠れる場所としてできたトンネルは現在、地震のセンサーの設備地として使われている事。
そのセンサーは５月２５日の北朝鮮の原爆テストを感じたと書いてあった。
まあ、この記事は信州の戦争「遺産」のPRしてくれて、嬉しいですが、松代地下壕の大事なストリーが抜けていました。工事の時に、「およそ述べ３００万人の住民および朝鮮人の人々が労働者として強制的に動員され１日３交替徹夜で工事が進められました。食糧事情が悪く、工法も旧式な人海作戦を強いられ、多くの犠牲者を出した。」（松代地下壕の正式パンフから）
気象庁精密地震観測質は見れないけど、トンネルの一部は見学ができます。戦争の遺産、そのころの辛さや苦しみが感じれます。お勧めです。

松代象山地下壕　入壕料：無料　午前９時～午後４時まで　休み：第三火曜日と年末年初 Tel c/o長野市観光課026-224-5042

Last week, the Japan Times had an article about the Matsushiro Zozan Tunnels -- the underground shelter that was built at the end of WWII to be used as an emergency military headquarters. The article talked about how the tunnels are now used as a seismological observatory and how the sensors detected North Korea's nuclear test on May 25th.

While I'm glad the J.T. is doing some publicity on one of Nagano's WWII heritage sites, I'm disappointed they missed one of the main stories about the tunnels. An unknown number of people, many of which were Korean, lost their lives in the construction of the tunnels.

Matsushiro is a fascinating little town. It still has many buildings representing its samurai heritage, a unique style of pottery ("Matsushiro-yaki"), important Warring States-era battle site (Kawanakajima), a peaceful, pastoral setting with Nagano's main 'yama-imo' farming, bicycle friendly country roads (free bicycle rental at Matsushiro Station), and the sad WWII history of the Zozan tunnels. One of the passages is open to the public daily from 9am to 4pm (except the 3rd Tuesday of the month and from 29-Dec to 03-Jan).

Japan Times article here.

2009年上山田温泉夏祭りの写真 Pictures from the 2009 Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival

July 20, 2009: Uncategorized

今年の夏祭りは無事に終わりました。県外からお泊りになったお客様からの声で「こんな小さな町にこんな大きくて迫力のある祭りで吃驚した」と。参加する私達がエネルギーの全てを使い尽くしたもの。迫力のある訳だ。妻と二人は今日、へろへろ。ここで祭りの印象を一杯書きたいけど、書く元気もないし、言葉で伝え切れないと思う。代わりに、デンマークから来たお客さんの写真を提供します。Nielsさんは今年で３度目の祭りだ。デンマークからわざわざ来ている訳。上山田温泉夏祭りはそれぐらいな迫力がある。

This year's Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival has finally come to an end. Several of our guests that had come from neighboring prefectures to see the festival said they were surprised that this small of a town puts on this big of a festival. I should hope so -- all of us participants put in all of our energy into the event. My wife and I, for example, are completely drained today. Normally, I would write up a report about the festival here in the blog, but not only do I not have the energy to do so, but even if I did, words couldn't do it justice. So, instead, I will put up some pictures from the festival taken by Niels-san from Denmark. This is his 3rd festival. Yes -- he came all the way from Denmark just to see our town's matsuri. It's that impressive of a festival!

夏祭りの顔 Faces of the Summer Festival

July 19, 2009: Uncategorized

Wife Mari, in charge of the 500-person dance procession

上山田温泉の夏祭りの週末です。家族は皆、仕事をしながら祭りにも参加しています。「仕事を休まないで、祭りに出なきゃいけないって、大変ですね」とよく言われます。でも「大変」じゃなくて、「当たり前」と思っています。この温泉に住んでいる限りで、温泉夏祭りに全面的に参加するのは当たり前。

我々家族の祭りの顔の写真を送りします。

This is the weekend of Kamiyamada Onsen's big Summer Festival. Our family participates in the festivities while at the same time running our inn. We often get comments about how most other participants are off of work for the weekend so it must be bothersome for us to have to work at the same time. We don't see it as "bothersome", but rather a "privelege". As long as you we work and live in this onsen town, we participate fully in the festival.

Here are some pictures of our family's participation.

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

Kenny carrying the o-Mikoshi

Andy carrying the o-Mikoshi

Tyler playing the Okagura Flute

Tyler and buddy Igaraa after the shi-shi

水の神様の祭りの朝：やはり、雨 Start of a Summer Festival For a Water God: Rain

July 18, 2009: Uncategorized

上山田温泉の夏祭りは水天宮の祭り。元々は千曲川の水が暴れないように神様の為の祭りだそうです。水の神様の為、そのお陰か、必ず雨が降る。今年の祭りは今日と明日なので今朝はやはり、雨です。午後からやむ予定なので、皆様、是非、この迫力のある神やまだ夏祭りにおいでやす。

Kamiyamada Onsen's Summer Festival is for the Suitengu, a water god. Originally it was in the hopes that the waters of the Chikuma River stay within the banks of the river. Nowadays, the levees pretty much take care of that. But the festival is still for the Suitengu, and perhaps because of that, it rains every festival. This year's festival will be held today and tomorrow and, of course, this morning it's raining. But the rain is forecasted to let up for this afternoon. So if you have a chance, come and check out our exciting festival!

Meaningful Comment from a Guest

July 17, 2009: Uncategorized

A couple of days ago, I posted a kind comment from a Japanese guest. Today it's English time. Guest I.S.-san from Canada wrote us this comment:

Hi Tyler.
M. and I had hoped to see you before checking out Wednesday morning. We wanted to personally thank you for the wonderful hospitality provided to us at Kamesei this week. We had an unforgettable three days at your inn, and I can honestly say that Kamesei is among the nicest and most "authentic" ryokans I have seen in Japan. We loved our tatami room, the gardens, onsen, dinner, and most of all the quiet, peaceful ambience of Kamesei. We would love to visit again in the future (to see the snow monkeys!!). Thanks again Tyler. All the best to you. I.S.

I.S.-san,

Thank you for your e-mail, and for coming and staying with us at Kamesei Ryokan. I apologize for having to leave early for a meeting and not being able to say good-bye.

I am grateful that you and M.-san enjoyed your stay at our inn. And I appreciate your kind words.

Sometimes I think my fellow ryokan-owners here are forgetting the real purpose of the traditional Japanese ryokan (hence all the Western hotel-style concrete/steel boxes around). As an outsider, I am in a unique position to honor the ryokan's "essence" in my work here at Kamesei. When I read your comments, it made me realize that some Japanese travelers have forgotten the true purpose of staying at ryokan, and could learn from your words.

You and M.-san are most welcome to come and stay with us again. Maybe we could all go to see the snow monkeys together.

Take care, and we wish you the best.

Tyler Lynch
Kamesei Ryokan

インバウンド的な諏訪「体験」　Doing Suwa through Inbound Eyes

July 16, 2009: Uncategorized

長野インバウンドサミットの仲間と一緒に、昨日は諏訪市で集まりました。２つなエクスカーションそして「パワー・ランチ」で諏訪地方を体験しながらいい情報交換・交流が出来ました。
１つ目のエクスカーションは真澄の酒倉の見学でした。海外担当のキースさんが親切に長野県の代表が出来る真澄の酒を説明して、工場を案内してくれました。キースさんの熱心さが伝え割れましたので私も真澄のファンになりました。
そして、社長のボス（?）、Kumiさんが真澄のコンセプトを説明してくれました。普通な酒倉は酒の作り方に集中するけど、真澄では消費者はどうやって真澄の酒を楽しむかという事も考えている。お店の中はいかに酒の楽しみ方を高めるか、そして販売店で真澄に合う酒のカップや県内も県外ものおつまみを扱っている。
２つ目のエクスカーションは御柱ミニ体験でした。下諏訪町木遣保存会の小松さん（akaミスター御柱）が諏訪市の新しく出来た御柱体験公園を案内してくれて、御柱の流れを説明して、木遣を教えていただきました。地元の伊藤さん（B&BめぐハウスZuKu)は外国人向けの英語説明もくれました。
柱の大きさは印象的でしたが、小松さんの木遣が一番の思い出になりました。周りから響いたぐらい。
エクスカーションの間、真澄で弁当を食べながら(Kumiさん、お味噌汁が美味しかった!）、長野県のインバウンドの人たち１１人と情報交換しました。諏訪の伊藤さんが地元の外国人をVolunteer Guideとして育っていく事業や、松本の清風荘の「浴衣を着て松本城散策」、南信州観光公社のエコ体験実例などなど、外国人観光客が長野県をさらに楽しめるようにの努力を聞いて、感心しました。これからはここでも詳しく紹介していきたいと思っています。
最後で諏訪大社下社秋宮を見学しました。なんとなくその周辺の雰囲気が好きです。「決めた。下諏訪ファンになった」と言ったら、仲間が上社を見てから決めるべきだアドバイスをくれました。仕方がない、また来なきゃ。
I met up with some of my fellow "Nagano Inbound Summit" participants for a meeting in Suwa yesterday. We did 2 'excursion' tours with a power lunch in the middle.
The 1st excursion was a tour of Masumi Sake's brewery. Their Export Manager, Keith-san, graciously showed us the facilities and explained Masumi's sake production. His enthusiasm for sake and Masumi was impressive -- I think I've become a Masumi-fan, too.
The owner's boss (?), Kumi-san, proceeded to explain Masumi's sake "concept". Most sake brewers just concentrate on how to make sake -- Masumi also focuses on how to enjoy sake. Their sake-tasting room provides the proper ambience for guests to properly enjoy Masumi's sake, and their gift shop has everything from sake cups to a wide variety for local and other foods to complement their sake.
The 2nd excursion was to see Suwa City's new "Onbashira Experience Park". The park just opened last weekend and features two pillars of the same size as that will be used in next year's once-every-seven-years Onbashira Festival. An important component of the festival is the Kiyari, a traditional work song. We were fortunate to have Komatsu-san of the Shimo-Suwa Kiyari Preservation Society come and lead us in a chant. Another local, Itoh-san of B&B Megu House ZuKu, provided English explanation. Seeing the massive pillars was impressive, but hearing Komatsu-san's (aka Mr. Onbashira) chant reverbrate off the far away buildings was most memorable.
In between the excursions, we met over bento at Masumi (compliments to Kumi-san for her miso soup!) and shared info on recent Inbound-related activities. Itoh-san gathering local foreigners to be volunteer guides, Seifuso in Matsumoto organizing a "Wear a Yukata to Matsumoto Castle" event, Minami-Shinshu Kanko Corporation's successful eco tourism, and so much more. I hope to introduce some of these activities here in this blog.
It was impressive to hear everyone's efforts to make Nagano Prefecture a more enjoyable place for tourists from overseas.
At the end, some of us stopped at Shimo-Suwa's Aki (Fall) Shrine. I was really enthralled by the area, and announced I had become a fan of Shimo-Suwa. One of my buddies said I should wait until I've seen the shrines at Kami-Suwa before deciding. I guess that means I'll have to come back to Suwa again soon!