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

県旅館組合と県庁訪問 Visiting the Prefectural Office and the Ryokan Assoc. Gen'l Meeting

June 5, 2013: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

５日は県の旅館青年部の仲間と県庁へ行って観光課の国際室と私達の「ユニーク長野」の企画の打ち合わせしました。その後、長野県旅館ホテル組合会の総会に参加しました。今年は特別で、私ども青年部役員の紹介もありました。

総会の後の懇親会で普段はお話が出来ない親会の先輩方や県観光課のリーダー達や国会議員さん達などと会える機会です。今年は宿の方が忙しくて顔だけ出して帰りました。本当はもっと積極的にそういう所に参加しないと…

慣れなっきゃ！

On the 5th, I went into Nagano City and along with some fellow Junior Innkeepers, stopped at the Prefectural Office and paid a visit to the Tourism Association to discuss our "Unique Nagano" project. Then we attended the annual General Meeting of the overall Nagano Prefecture Ryokan Hotel Association. As something new this year, myself and the other Junior Innkeepers directors were introduced at the meeting.

At the reception afterwards, the elder innkeepers as well as leaders from the prefecture's Tourism Department and various politicians gathered for a buffet. It's a chance to get to talk with people you normally don't have a chance to meet. But our inn was a bit busy so I had to leave early after making a few greetings.

I have to get used to attending such functions!

上山田お神楽テレビ用の獅子舞 Kamiyamada Lion Dance for TV

June 4, 2013: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi

３日間連続のそれぞれ別なテレビ局の撮影…
疲れますが何とか戸倉上山田温泉のPRの為！

今回は上山田神楽保存会の皆さんが亀清旅館で集まって頂いて、ロビーで獅子舞の演奏しました。私は獅子笛をやっております。泊まっていたお客様も喜んでくれたし、テレビのディレクターが東京で味えない近所の熱意の繋がりを感動してくれました。

振り替えてみれば、私はこの戸倉上山田温泉に来て良かった。メンバーになって７年目。こうやってお神楽の皆さんが仲間として受けてくれて、恵まれています。

3 different TV shootings in 3 days.
It's getting exhausting, but I hope it's good PR for our onsen town, Togura-Kamiyamada.

For the latest production, we had the Kamiyamada Lion Dance troupe come and perform in our lobby here at Kamesei Ryokan. I play the flute with the group. Our guests really enjoyed the performance, and the TV crew appreciated how close-knit our group is -- something they don't see in Tokyo.

I am really fortunate in moving to Nagano that the lion dance guys have really accepted me into their group, now going on 7 years!

亀清旅館の６月メニュー＠テレビ撮影 Kamesei Ryokan's June Menu Being Filmed for TV

June 3, 2013: グルメFoodie

As (to be) seen on TV

亀清旅館・Chef武井の６月会席料理メニュー：
Kamesei Ryokan's Chef Takei Kaiseki Dinner Menu:

旬の物　山菜のウルイ酢味噌和 Vinegar Miso-flavored Urui (young Hosta montana)
酢の物　佐久鯉南蛮漬け　Spicy Nanban-seasoned Saku Carp
サラダ　生湯葉サラダ　Salad with Yuba (tofu skin)
蒸し物　びっくり茶碗　Surprise Chawan egg custard
つくり　かじき、甘海老、間八　Kajiki Tuna, Shrimp, Amberjack Sashimi
焼き物　山女煮浸し　Stewed Yamame River Fish
台の物　豚肉と山菜鍋 Hot Pot with ‘Sansai’ wild mountain plants and Pork
蓋物　　銀目鯛豆腐の蒸し物 Steamed Seabream with Tofu*
揚げ物　信州サーモン唐揚げ風 Shinshu Salmon Fried, Topped with Onion Sauce
別皿本日採りたて焼き筍 Freshly-picked grilled bamboo shoots
お椀　　蛤清汁仕立　Clam Nectar Soup
香の物　野沢菜　Nozawana and assorted Pickled Vegetables
水皿　　抹茶の水羊羹、杏加え Maccha Youkan Jelly with Apricot Jam

「別皿」の焼き筍はちょっと特別でした。亀清の露天風呂の周りの竹やぶから筍が出ていました。せっかくだから板長が焼いてくれました。採りたて、焼き立て筍。旬の味♪

The grilled bamboo shoots were a special edition. Kamesei's outdoor bath has a small bamboo grove. We took a look and spotted lots of shoots coming up, so I picked them and our chef added them to the menu. Freshly picked bamboo shoots right off the grill -- the taste of the season!

ちなみに、東京からのテレビ取材が来ていて、Chef武井のお料理の撮影してくれました。どの番組かいつのOAか、お楽しみに！

A TV crew is here from Tokyo shooting a show about Kamesei Ryokan. They also filmed Chef Takei's menu. As for what TV show and when it will air, stay tuned!

英美アナウンサーに戸倉上山田案内 Guiding Announcer Emi-san around Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen

June 2, 2013: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi

Showing Emi-announcer the Kara Koro footbath

長野放送「ほほ笑みチャンネル」のアナウンサー、小野英美さんは最近に長野県に引っ越したので、それぞれの地域を旅しているそうです。2日にこの千曲市にお越しになった。姨捨「田毎の月」棚田で田植え体験してから、この戸倉上山田温泉の足湯を入りに来ました。そして、私の方に声が掛かれて、温泉街を少し案内させて頂きました。

撮影の最中で、千曲市・長野のトップ10は何かと聞かれました。いきなりだったのでその時に答えは忠太半端だったけど、良く考えたらこういうリストはどうですか？
１．山
２．温泉
３．郷土料理（お蕎麦、おやき、川魚、茸等など）
４．特製品（戸倉上山田でしたら、佐良志奈焼き、お味噌、甘露煮等）
５．果実（上山田のりんごが最高！）
６．花（特にモリ日本一あんずの里）
７．侍の歴史
８．スピリチュアル（戸隠の杉並び木等）
９．雪
１０．人♪

番組放送は６が月15日（土）9:55－10:40だそうです。お楽しみに！

Nagano Broadcasting's announcer Emi Ono-san is featured in a TV show with her travelling to various locations throughout Nagano Prefecture. On the 2nd, she came to our Chikuma City. In the morning, she helped plant rice at the famous moon-reflecting Obasute terraced rice fields. After that she came to our onsen town for a soak in the footbath. NBS contacted me to act as her guide.

At the end of the shooting, they asked for my Top 10 'Best of Nagano' list. It was kind of all-of-the-sudden, so I'm not sure how my response came out. But after thinking a bit, here is my proposal:
1. Mountains
2. Onsens
3. Local food (soba noodles, oyaki dumplings, wild mushrooms, river fish, etc.)
4. Local products (here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen we have Sarashina pottery, miso makers, marinated river fish, etc.)
5. Fruit (especially Kamiyamada's apples
6. Flowers (like the apricot blossoms in Mori)
7. Samurai history
8. Spirituality (the massive cedar trees of Togakushi)
9. Snow
10. People!

The show is scheduled to air on Saturday June 15th from 9:55 to 10:40. Stay tuned!

ほほ笑みチャンネル Hohoemi Channel TV show

ガンダム観光の効果 The Power of Gundam Tourism

June 1, 2013: メディア Media

先日に東京に行った時に、他の旅館青年部と合わせて、お台場のガンダムにプッチ観光しました。ダイバーシティーというショッピングモールの外に本物の大きさのガンダムが設置してある。

ガンダム文化の知らない私でも感動しました。そして観光客が大勢見に来ていました。ガンダムファンが多いので、観光客を呼ぶのにやはり魅力がある。皆さんはショッピングモールでどれだけ買い物をするのかは知りたいですね。

観光業の皆は「魅力つくり」に必死ですが、大きい夢を持つのは重要だな。ガンダムサイズの大木さ！

On my latest trip to Tokyo, I hooked up with some of my fellow junior innkeepers for a short side trip to see the Gundam statue in Odaiba. It stands outside the Diver City shopping mall.

Even for me who didn't grow up with Gundam, the statue is impressive. And a fairly large crowd of tourists had gathered to see it. I am curious as to whether or not the statue's ability to draw crowds translates into extra sales for the shops in mall.

People in the tourism industry like me are always trying to think of ideas for new attractions. It's important to dream big -- Gundam big!

戸倉上山田温泉・亀清旅館を全世界へ Taking Togura Kamiyamada Onsen and Kamesei Ryokan to the World

May 31, 2013: 信州の山 Nagano’s Mountains

5月29日に長野県観光課の主催で東京・浜松町でインバウンド旅行会社との商談会がありました。2年ぶりに行って、この戸倉上山田温泉と亀清旅館を一生懸命PRさせて頂きました。

以前にも私が参加しましたけれども、亀清旅館は小さい宿なので日本国内の旅行会社のの付き合いさえありません。従って、海外から観光客関係の旅行会社とあまり合わないけれども、今年は千曲市が新しい外国語パンフも出来たし、ある専門家と相談した結果、亀清旅館の「勝負」値段表を作りましたので、今年は参加する決意しました。

その「勝負」値段表の戦略はお神楽の獅子舞又は芸後初―などのオプシオナルツアーを団体客向き無料で提供する事。写真はその表です。これからも良い結果を追いかけておきます♪

On May 29th, the Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association held a sales conference in Tokyo for Land Operators -- travel agents that deal with visitors from overseas. For the first time in 2 years, I participated in the hopes of promoting Togura Kamiyamada Onsen and our inn, Kamesei Ryokan, to the world.

As Kamesei Ryokan is so small (only 12 guestrooms), we don't even have contracts with Japanese domestic travel agents. So it's questionable how effective we can be in dealing with "Inbound" agents. But our city, Chikuma-shi, put out new foreign language brochures this year. And I conferred with a mentor in the industry and put together a strong price list to present to the agents. So I made the trip to Tokyo and made as good a presentation as I could.

Pictured is a copy of our price list for agents. It's main feature is the inclusion of free 'optional tours' for groups such as a geisha show or Kagura lion dance performance. I'll keep pursuing some leads and hopefully get some interest in attracting groups of foreigners to the area.

日本原風景：　田植えの姨捨「田毎の月」」棚田 Quintessential Japan: Obasute's Rice Fields at Planting Time

May 30, 2013: 季節 Seasons

Photo courtesy of Takahiro Wakabayashi

「田毎の月」で有名な姨捨棚田は平成22年2月22日には国の重要文化的景観に選定された。本当に日本の原風景です。この田植えの時期は特に綺麗です。

FBの友達から写真を頂きましたので、ここでシェアーさせて頂きます。

The terraced rice fields in Chikuma City's Obasute district have been designated an Important National Cultural Landscape. I think the fields are a quintessential Japanese scene. They are especially beautiful at planting time.

One of my Facebook friends sent this picture, and with his request I am sharing it here on Kamesei's blog.

2013年戸倉上山田温泉夏祭りと千曲川花火大会 2013 Summer Festival Dates

May 29, 2013: その他 Miscellaneous

戸倉上山田温泉の夏祭りと千曲川花火大会の準備が本格的に始まりました。2013年度の予定は下記の通り：

戸倉上山田温泉夏祭りと煙火大会
2013年7月13日（土）と14日（日）　海の日の連休
温泉夏祭りはこの地域の毎年の一番大きいイベント。
土曜日は午前中に上山田のそれぞれの地域のお神輿。お昼は皆が温泉に集まって、上山田神楽保存会先頭で温泉街を行列する。夕方は民踊流し、夜はご神体のでかいお神輿。
日曜日はお昼から4つのでかいお神輿と勇実獅子が温泉街を巡って、夜は太鼓と花火に合わせてグランフィナーレ。
こんな迫力のある祭りは必見！

第84回千曲川納涼煙火大会
8月7日（水）
こんなに近くからこんなに大きい花火大会は他にない！真上で光って、光は千曲川で反射して、音は周辺の山々で反射して、感動的！

Preparations for the sumemr festivals here in our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada are under way. Dates for 2013 are as follows:

Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival
July 13th and 14th, 2013 (the Saturday and Sunday of the Marine Day holiday weekend)
Saturday starts with processions in the various neighborhoods of Kamiyamada. Then they all gather for one big parade through the onsen town in the early afternoon, led by the Kagura lion dance troupe. In the evening, there is a Minyo dance procession followed by the main omikoshi.
Sunday afternoon, 4 big omikoshi's and the huge Isami Shishi lion process through town, gathering at the main festival site for the grand finale with taiko drumming and fireworks at night.
The festival is one of the most exciting you'll ever see.

84th Annual Chikuma River Fireworks Festival
Wednesday August 7th, 2013. From 7:30pm to 9pm.
Fireworks will light up the night sky above the Chikuma River in front of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. The bursts will practically be directly above you, with the flashes reflecting in the Chikuma River and the sounds reverbrating off the surrounding hills.

Ninja Training Lessons at Monzen Ninja Dojo

May 28, 2013: 季節 Seasons

戸隠れ道忍術の宮下さんは先日に紹介した長野市善光寺近辺の門前忍者道場で忍術の稽古の自由参加は週三回提供しています。毎週水・土・日の09:00－10:30で、一人2000円となります。子供から年寄りまで、誰でも参加できます。内容は参加者に合わせるそうですが、忍びの歩き方や簡単な身の守り方から手裏剣投げや屋根の上り方まで、さまざまな忍術を習える。
忍者の着レンタルや忍術の道具展示もある。
予約・お問い合わせは宮下さんへどうぞ。090-3558-0179, 200111hayaki@ezweb.ne.jp

Ninja Training Lessons by Miyashita-san, a master of the Togakuredo school of Ninjutsu, are available to the public at his Monzen Ninja Dojo located near Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City. He offers 3 lessons per week, on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30am. Price is 2000 yen per person.

Lesson content varies according to the interests and abilities of the participants. Want to learn how to walk stealthily like a ninja? Or are you interested in learning some basic self-defense manuevers? How about throwing shurikens? Or climbing up walls to reach the roof of the building -- and then jumping down from the 2nd story? The Monzen Ninja Dojo is the place for you!

Anyone can participate in the lessons -- from kids to adults, and even kids WITH adults.

For information and/or reservations, call or e-mail Miyashita-san at 090-3558-0179, 200111hayaki@ezweb.ne.jp.

空き家再生：　忍者道場？！ Re-Using Empty Houses -- as a Ninja Dojo?!

May 27, 2013: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

善光寺の周辺の空き家の再生活動NPOとＮＰＯ法人こども忍者スクールながの忍法武術会のコラボで、門前忍者道場ができました。先日は寄ってみましたので、宮下忍者がこの新しい道場を案内してくれました。忍者道場だからその案内は壁や床の穴を通したり、2階の屋上から飛び降りたり、手裏剣針投げとか、普段は出来ない体験たっぷり。今度は親子で遊びたいというか修行したい！

An NPO trying to find uses for empty houses and buildings around Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City hooked up with another NPO teaching ninjutsu to kids. The result is the Monzen Ninja Dojo.

Officially open for business, the other day Miyashita-ninja gave me a tour of the dojo. The tour included crawling through holes in the walls and floor, jumping off the 2nd floor roof, and throwing shuriken darts -- not your typical everyday experiences!
I am looking forward to taking our kids there for some father-son bonding through ninja training!

門前忍者道場 Monzen Ninja Dojo
For information and/or reservations, call or e-mail Miyashita-san at 090-3558-0179, 200111hayaki@ezweb.ne.jp.