雪見露天風呂のおじさん Snowy Outdoor Bath

February 24, 2008: 季節 Seasons

ぽかぽか北山さん

遠い親戚の北山さんがどう九回で亀清をご利用していただきました。この青い目の若旦那の手作りの露天風呂に早速チャレンジしました。周りは大雪でしたが、北山さんがぽかぽか!
A distant relative, Kitayama-san, held his class reunion here at Kamesei. Right away, he took a soak in the outdoor bath I made last summer. It was snow all around, but Kitayama-san was nice and warm in the bath.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website





3月22日に注目イベントx2 イースターとデビトさん講演 Two 'Hot' Events for 22-March: Easter and a talk by Debito-san

February 23, 2008: 季節 Seasons

千曲国際交流教会(この青い目の若旦那もメンバー)が3月22日(土)に1つじゃなくて、2つな注目イベントを予定しています。
1.イースターエッグフェスティバルIII
2.アルドウデビトさんの講演
詳しくは下記のチラシです。
On Saturday March 22nd, the Chikuma Int'l Exchange Assoc. will hold not one, but two 'Hot' events. (I am proud to be the p.i.c. for both!)
1. Easter Egg Festival in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen III, starting at 1:30pm at the fountain park along Chikuma River in front of the onsen town.
2. A talk on prejudice in Japan by Arudou Debito, starting at 10:30am here at Kamesei. See the brochures below.

イースターのちらし



デビトさんのお話


hot apple cider ホットアップルサイダー

February 23, 2008: 上山田お神楽 Kamiyamada Lion Dance

ホットアップルサイダーを召し上がれ

お客様のご来館のために、亀清のロビーの薪ストーブでアップルサイダーを暖めました。ロビー中がりんごとシナモンの香しました。外は雪、中は暖かいサイダー!
The lovely scent of apples and cinnamon greeted our guests this evening, as we warmed up some hot apple cider on the wood burning stove in Kamesei's lobby. As it snowed outside, we had a warm fire going and a warm cider to drink.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website





縄文子に Jomon Kids

February 23, 2008: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi

縄文アクセソリー Jomon Accessories

我が息子と友達を連れて、さらしな古代体験公園に行ってきました。縄文時代のこの飾りを皆で作りました。亀清旅館から車で約10分のところで、縄文の生活や文化を体験できる施設です。子供さん達が喜ばれます!
Just 10 minutes by car from our inn is this Sarashina Ancient Experience Park, where you can experience the culture and lifestyle of the Jomon Era, approx. 1600 years ago. Our son and his friends made these stone decorations. Kids love this park!





こんな大きいうどん鍋は初めて!The biggest pot of udon I've ever seen!

February 22, 2008: 季節 Seasons

白藤のでかい鍋 Huge 'Nabe' at Shirafuji

戸倉上山田温泉の白藤と言う食堂に昼食しました。うどん鍋を注文したら、こんなに大きい鍋で着ました。驚きました!温泉で亀清から歩いて行ける範囲で沢山の面白いレストランがあります!
Today for lunch, we went to 'Shirafuji', a little shop in our onsen town. I ordered the 'Nabe Udon', and was surprised by how huge the pot was! We are fortunate to have lots of interesting restaurants here in Togura Kamiyamada, all within easy walking distance of Kamesei Ryokan.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.







After the snowfall 雪の降った後

February 21, 2008: Uncategorized

Fresh snow on our outdoor bath

夕べは雪が降っていていましたので、私が作った露天風呂に入りました。暖かくて気持ち良い上山田温泉のお湯に入りながら、雪が顔にちらちらと降りました。是が日本の温泉文化だなと思いました。
今朝に起きたら、雪の降った後の露天風呂の写真を撮りました。
It snowed last night, and I took a bath in our 'rotenburo' outdoor bath that I hand-made. While soaking in the warm and relaxing Kamiyamada Onsen mineral water, the snow flakes gently fell on my face. This is Japan's onsen culture!
This morning when I woke up, I took this picture of the bath with the freshly fallen snow.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.





An Evening With Debito-san

February 21, 2008: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi

デビトさんの講演

On Friday evening, March 21st, Kamesei Ryokan will be pleased to host 'An Evening with Arudou Debito'. This is the man who gained notoriety for taking a bathhouse in Otaru to court for its racially discriminating 'Japanese Only' policy. He is the author of several books, and a regular contributor to the Japan Times (from where I got to be familiar with him). Debito-san will tour around Japan promoting his new book, 'Handbook for Immigrants to Japan', and has kindly agreed to come here to Nagano. Details as per the brochure to the left.





Snow Monkeys Transportation Schedule スノーモンキース時刻表

February 20, 2008: Uncategorized

How to get to the Snow Monkeys

We have a guest from Australia staying with us currently, and she left for a day trip to go see the Snow Monkeys. I made this little time schedule (train and bus) to make the trip a bit easier. Feel free to print it out!

今日はオーストラリアからのお客様が電車で地獄谷の野猿公園へ出かけました。分かりやすくする為に、亀清からの時刻表を作成いたしました。

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





温泉の銀座通りの次のイルミネーション The Ginza's next Illumination

February 20, 2008: Uncategorized

銀座通りの流木行灯

戸倉上山田温泉の冬のイルミネーションは昨日、片付けられた。でも、既に、次のイルミネーションを考えているようです。写真のように千曲川からの流木を使った灯篭をこれから作るようです。亀清旅館にも造りたいと思っています。

The Ginza here in our Togura Kamiyamada Onsen put away their Winter Illumination lights yesterday. The Business Association group is already planning their next 'Illumination': lanterns like the pictured one made from Chikuma River driftwood. I'm planning on helping out, too, and making some for our inn, Kamesei Ryokan.

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