シカゴジャズvs上山田お神楽保存会Jammin' with the Shi-Shi Troupe

August 21, 2008: Uncategorized

Chicago Jazz and Okagura Jam

Last night, the Davis's, a couple of jazz performers from Chicago, played a set for us and our guests in Kamesei's lobby. Tonight I invited them to my flute practice with the Kamiyamada Okagura troupe, the shi-shi lion dance group of which I'm a member. Not only did the Davis's do a jam with their sax and trumpet combined with our flutes and taiko drums, but then they tried the flutes, too. I was embarrased to find that they were better than I after 2 minutes, and I've been practicing for over 2 years!
Davisさん達は夕べ、亀清のロビーでジャズの演奏してくれて、今晩は私のお神楽の獅子笛の練習に連れて行きました。お神楽の笛と太鼓と一緒にサクソホーンとトランペットをやって頂いたし、今度は二人が獅子笛をやってみました。2分間ぐらい練習したら、2年間練習している私より上手になりました。恥ずかしかった!



First-Time Flutists


亀清のロビーにシカゴジャズ演奏A Chicago Jazz concert in Kamesei's Lobby

August 20, 2008: Uncategorized

Sax and Trumpet performance at Kamesei

シカゴから来たDavisさん達を駅に迎えに行ったら、面白い形の荷物を持っていました。中身はサクソホーンとトランペットでした。頼んでみたら、亀清のロビーで演奏してくれました。お客様の皆が大喜び。(うちの子供達も;長男のAndyがピアノを弾いて、一緒にジャムした。)
When I picked up the Davis' at the station, I noticed they had some odd-shaped bags. Inside were a saxophone and a trumpet. I asked if they'd be interested in performing in our lobby, and they happily agreed to do so. And what a performance it was. All of our other guests gathered, and we got to enjoy some real Chicago Jazz. Our kids really liked it, especially our oldest son, Andy. He got to jam with them on the piano.





おまけに若若女将の写真One More Pic of Misaki

August 19, 2008: Uncategorized

我が娘の美咲ちゃんを連れて、亀清の裏の中央公園のブランコで遊びました。そうすると、こんなに可愛い笑顔してくれました。

I took our daughter Misaki to the park behind Kamesei. We played on the swings, and judging by her big smile, she really enjoed it!





露天風呂に雨のマジック Rain's magical touch on our outdoor bath

August 19, 2008: Uncategorized

The moss has grown in well around the stepping stones

お客様に亀清旅館の露天風呂の庭を良く褒めていただきます。「とっても落ち着きます!」と言われます。雨の日はさらに落ち着かせる雰囲気になります。露天風呂に入りたくなりませんか?
Guests often comment on how relaxing the garden around our outdoor bath is. On rainy days, the garden takes on an even more relaxing ambience. Do you feel like taking a soak?

亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website



Raindrops glisten on the leaves


ブログは500個を超えたBlog Entries Top 500

August 19, 2008: Uncategorized

2005年の秋に私が後継ぐ為に亀清に引越ししてきました。そのころにこのブログを始めました。それ以降、ブログのコモクの数は500個を越えました。今年の三月からは毎日のペースです。「今日は何を書こうかな?」と言うより、「今日の面白い事のどれを選ぼうか」と言う問題の方が多いです。この旅館若旦那の生活で毎日に楽しい事があります。このブログを読んで頂いている皆様はそれを感じて頂いているではないかと思っております。そして、読んで頂いている方は毎日平均で1200人以上いらっしゃいます。多い日は2000人も超えます。ブログを見てお越しになるお客様もいらっしゃるし、このブログを通じて沢山の良い知り合いがで来ました。ありがたい事です。亀清旅館、そして長野県の良さを多くの方々とShareしたいと思っております。この青い目の若旦那のおもてなしの1つです。そのおもてなしは見事に良い形になってきています。部屋を提供しているサイト、じゃらんネット、のクチコミの数は100件に近付いていますし、「サービス」の点数は何と4.7です(5点満天)。せっかく努力しておりますからこの良い結果が出せれるのは嬉しい事です。
これからのブログは戸倉上山田温泉と信州の良さをどんどんPRしていきたいと思っております。そのうち、この青い目の若旦那の見方も見えてきたら有難いです。これからも宜しくお願い致します。
I moved here to Kamesei to start helping out in the Fall of 2005. About that time, I started this blog, and since then have recorded over 500 entries. Since March of this year, it's been on a daily basis. Rather than trying to find something to write about every day, more often than not I have the problem of deciding which topic to write about. Through running this inn, I have fun and interesting experiences every day. I think that shows in my blog entries, and maybe that is what attracts people's attention. It's surprising how many readers there are -- an average of over 1,200 per day, with some days reaching over 2,000. I am humbly grateful. Often times, guests show up and mention they read my blog, and I have made a number of acquaintances thanks to the blog. I am hoping to share Kamesei's and Nagano's greatness with the world through this blog. That's part of my 'omotenashi' service. And thankfully, that service is starting to take shape. Our main source for reservations is a Japanese site called Jalan. We are getting close to the 100 comment milestone on the site, and our 'Service' score is 4.7 out of a possible 5.0. It is encouraging to see people responding favorably to my service.
From here on out, I hope to make the blog even more useful for introducing our onsen, Togura Kamiyamada, and Nagano Prefecture to the world. Thank you everyone for reading!




百日紅が咲いている The Slippery Monkey Trees in bloom

August 18, 2008: Uncategorized

Sarusuberi blooming at the top of Joe Mountain behind Togura Kamiyamada Onsen

戸倉上山田温泉の上の城山の百日紅(猿滑・サルスベリ)の木が綺麗に咲いています。名前通り、百日日間も咲きますかな?まあ、見事の夏の花です。
There is a type of tree here that fascinates me. It's called 'Saru-Suberi', which literally means 'Monkey Slips', a reference to the smooth bark that is so slippery even a monkey couldn't climb it. But the Kanji (Chinese Characters) for it literally mean '100 days red', apparently referring to it's flowers that bloom for a long time (seemingly 100 days). The bark is a beautiful pattern of slipperiness, and the red blooms certainly brighten the dog days of summer.





日帰りの草津温泉A day trip to Kusatsu Onsen

August 17, 2008: Uncategorized

Kusatsu Yu-batake

お盆のピークが終わって、家族とドライブしてきました。本当は奥志賀へ行こうとしたが、志賀高原の上が雲の中でした。従って、途中でプランを変更して、白根山を通って草津温泉に出ました。私にとっては15ねんぶりでした。子供達を連れて、テルメテルメのプールでたっぷり遊びました。その後、草津の湯畑の辺でぶらぶら。うらやましい事で草津はやはり楽しめる事が沢山あります。この戸倉上山田温泉も頑張らなきゃ。
草津温泉は亀清旅館から車で約1時間半。
With the O-Bon rush over, our family went for a drive today. We tried to go to Oku-Shiga but as we reached the highlands, we found ourselves in the clouds. So we switched plans, and drove by the Shirane cauldron on the way to Kusatsu Onsen. We took the kids to Therme Therme Land and played in the pool. Then we went to Kusatsu's famous 'Yu-Batake', a chain of small pools used to cool off the hot mineral water for use in the baths in the town's ryokans. We were jealous of all the attractions Kusatsu has. Our town, Togura Kamiyamada, has to try harder!
Kusatsu Onsen is a 1.5 hour drive from Kamesei.

亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website



Classic Footbath


海の後の姨捨夜景が特に綺麗

August 16, 2008: Uncategorized

夕立の大雨の後、勇気のあるお客様を連れて、姨捨夜景・伝説ツアーにご案内いたしました。雨のお陰で空気が綺麗になりましたので今晩の姨捨の夜景が普段よりもちかちかしていました。
After the evening showers (actually, more of a typhoon-like downpour), I took some brave guests out to see the night view from Obasute Mountain. Thanks to the rain, the air was really clean, so the lights of the night view twinkled even nicer than normal.





戸隠マジックMagical Togakushi

August 15, 2008: Uncategorized

杉木並びThe line of Ancient Cedar Trees

地元のシアトルから友人が遊びに来てくれました。信州のどこを案内するか考えたら、戸隠を選びました。短い間でお盆の混みこみなんですが、最初は皆でまずそばを美味しく頂いて、そして奥社の杉木並びまで軽いハイキング(行く度に、そのすごい木の姿を見て、自然の力を感じて、感動します)、最後はにんぽうセンターで忍者遊び。帰る直前に雲が開いて、戸隠山はその感動的な顔を出してくれました。本当にマジックな、魅力な日帰り旅でした。
We had some friends visit us from back home. Of all the great places to see in Nagano, we decided to take them to Togakushi. It was a short day trip, and was at the peak of the the Obon travel season. However, we started off the trip by eating delicious soba (Togakushi is famous for its soba's great taste, thanks to the clean air and crisp water). Then we did the short hike to the Sugiki Narabi -- the ancient cedar trees lining the path -- on the way to Okusha Shrine. Those trees never fail to impress my with their majesty -- you can really feel the power of nature in them. We finished the trip at the Ninpo Center and had some ninja fun.

亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

戸隠の山口屋おそば屋さんのHPはこちらClick here for Yamaguchi-ya Soba restaurant website



山口屋で忍者そばNinja Soba at Yamaguchi-ya


奥社へ行く途中の門:屋根工事が完成されて綺麗!


忍法センターNinpo Center


英語の看板でよこそ!ジャパンYokoso! Japan spirit via an English signboard

August 15, 2008: Uncategorized

Friendly English Sign

戸隠の蕎麦屋さんの前でこの英語の看板がありました。本当に「よこそ」の気持ちです。この欧米人が喜んでおります。

ちなみに、一昨日に我が宿に泊まったカナダ人の旅行者2人にこのお店を紹介しました。美味しかったし、サービスがうんと親しかったと言いはりました。

While at Togakushi, I spotted this signboard in English outside of a soba restaurant on the trail to Okusha Shrine. I had to stop and take a picture -- it's not often one sees such a friendly sign in Japan, let alone Nagano. It made this gaijin very happy.

Coincidentally (or, maybe not so), two days ago I recommended this restaurant to a couple of Canadian guests making a day trip to Togakushi. They said the soba was great and the service very friendly.

亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

戸隠の「なおすけ」そばのHPはこちらClick here for Naosuke Soba (Togakushi) website