渋湯田中の魅力Check out Shibu-Yudanaka

June 10, 2008: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

弓道@魚敏旅館

講演をする為に山の内町に呼んで頂きましたが、実は裏の目的もあった:渋湯田中温泉を亀清旅館のお客さんに案内できるように勉強したかったというのもありました。

最初は北信州のバウンドのPioneerの宮坂様の魚敏旅館でした。その弓道の道場を見せて頂いた。入り方は床の間などを認識しながら入る事を聞いて、欧米では自分の事ばかり考えて、周りを認識しないくせがあると思い付いた。宮坂先生に30歳を超えてからじゃないとその事の関心が出来ないと言われました。すごい!やはり日本の文化・物の見方が深い!

そして、湯田中の温泉街を始めて歩いて、朝市の家やギャラリー等があって、驚きました。戸倉上山田温泉のまねすべきなことばかり!次の日は平和公園に行って、遠くまで響く鐘を鳴らした。

渋湯田中が信州の宝物だとすごく思いました。

I managed to get myself invited to Yamanouchi Town to give a talk, but actually I had somewhat of an ulterior motive: to learn more about Shibu-Yudanaka to be able to give travel advice to our guests at Kamesei Ryokan.

I first stopped at the inn of Miyasaka-san, the pioneer of 'inbound' tourism in this corner of Nagano. He showed me his archery 'dojo' at Uotoshi Ryokan, and explained how even the way to enter it is dictated by the position of the toko-no-ma, etc. It made me realize how us Westerners tend to be so self-centered and out of touch with our surroundings. Japanese traditional culture is so attuned with nature and what's going on around us -- very impressive!

I also got to walk around Yudanaka Onsen for the first time, and was encouraged to see a permanent stand for their morning farmers markets and an open gallery. These are things that Togura Kamiyamada Onsen should try to accomplish, too! The next day I got to go to the World Peace Memorial and rang the bell -- it reverbrated up and down the entire valley!

Shibu-Yudanaka is a true gem of Nagano.

Uotoshi Ryokan: www.avis.ne.jp/~miyasaka/index-e.html
Seifuso Gallery: www1.ocn.ne.jp/~seifuso
Kamesei Ryokan: www.kamesei.jp



New old Panorama Train to Yudanaka


Morning Farmers Market


Yudanaka Gallery


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