露天風呂に新しい看板 New Sign for the Outdoor Bath

2009.05.18: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

普段は露天風呂が浴場の外にあるけれど、亀清のメインのお風呂の場合は、浴場の外に2階からの非常階段が邪魔しています。従って、露天風呂を造った時に仕方がなく、脱衣室の方から行けるようにしました。「若旦那の手造り露天風呂はこっち-->」って看板を立てたにかかわらず、「あっ、露天風呂があったの?」と後で言われた事が多かったです。「せっかく作ったのに」と悔しくて自分で思っちゃって・・・。
と言うことで、改善!今度、こんなに大きい看板を作ってみました。ちょうどいい板があって、ステインを塗って、黒いペンキで書きました。これでお客様の皆様に亀清の「100年風呂」露天風呂も楽しんでいただけるでしょう。

Most open air "rotenburo" baths are located directly outside the inside baths. However, when I built the one outside Kamesei's main inside bath, I had to put the entrance off the clothes-changing room since the emergency stairs blocked the access from the main bath. I put a little sign up to show the guests the location, but apparently it's too small. There have been numerous times when guests have said, "What? There was an outdoor bath?" I'm sure the guests were disappointed they missed it, but it was frustrating for me, too, considering all the work that went in to making that bath.
Anyways, I went ahead and made a new and improved sign for the bath. I had just the perfect piece of wood for it, stained it, and painted the wording. Now hopefully all of our guests will be able to enjoy Kamesei's "100 Year Bath" outdoor bath!





戸倉上山田温泉のカランコロンのついでに飲泉所 As you stroll around Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, try drinking the onsen water

2009.05.17: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

戸倉上山田温泉では、宿泊者が下駄を履いて温泉街をカランコロンで歩く習慣があります。銀座通りの商店街や楽しいお店もあり、昭和レトロの風情もあり、所々にギャラリーがあり、足湯もあり、そして、2箇所に飲泉所もあります。せっかっく「温泉」に来ればもっと触れ合うように飲泉所で上山田温泉のお湯を飲んでみるのがお勧めです。

温泉の成分は体に良いそうです。上山田温泉は特に硫黄の香織がたっぷり合って、温泉らしいお湯です。

我々旅館においてある戸倉上山田温泉の女将の会の「ぶら~りお散歩」地図に飲泉所が載っていますのでどうぞ、下駄を履いて飲泉所も回ってぶらぶら、カランコロンしてみてください。

It customary for people who come and stay at a ryokan here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen to put on a pair of wooden geta sandals and go for a stroll around the onsen town before dinner. There are plenty of sights to see and things to do, such as sampling the goodies at the shops along Ginza Dori, shopping for souvenirs at the many unique shops, taking pictures of the Showa Retro atmosphere of the bar district, enjoying the several art galleries, and soaking your feet in the foot bath. One other thing people can do is go to one of the 2 spots where you can drink the onsen water.

The hot spring mineral water is of course relaxing to soak in, but the minerals are also good for your body internally as well. And our onsen here at Kamiyamada is the real thing, nice and high in sulfur content.

So if you come to Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, pick up one of the walking maps, and stroll around town. Be sure to try drinking the onsen water, too.







千曲サイクリングクラブの市民イベントの知らせ Notice about Chikuma Cycling Club's Upcoming Fun Ride

2009.05.17: サイクリング Cycling

冬が終わって春になると、自然に自転車を乗りたくなりませんか?私の自転車の修理がやっと終わって、信州の自然の中で走りたくてしょうがない。と言っても、今日は雨でNGでした。残念。
さて、私の事はどうでも良いとして、千曲サイクリングクラブの次の市民サイクリングが6月6日(土)に予定してあります。金井さんの上手いガイドで風林火山コースを走る予定で、初心者は大歓迎です。観光客も大歓迎です。

詳しくはここ

As winter turns to spring, don't you just get an urge to get out and enjoy the outdoors? For me, the warm spring air makes me want to hop on my bike and cruise around. My bike just got back from the shop yesterday, and I was all pumped up ready to ride today. Until it started raining. Bummer!

But forget about me and my problems -- there is an event coming up for everyone to participate in. The Chikuma Cycling Club will hold another Fun Ride on Saturday 06-June, starting at 8am in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, following the Cycling Road along the Chikuma River, and coursing through the samurai battle field at Kawanakajima and the castle at Matsushiro, before returning back for a 50km loop. No hills and a leisurely pace. Perfect for beginners and/or tourists. Feel free to contact me if interested -- everyone is welcome. There are rental cycles available at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen for anyone who is bike-less.

去年の市民サイクリングの写真はここClick here for pic's of last year's Fun Ride.





座禅プラン実施 Making the Zazen Plan happen

2009.05.16: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

Kenny and Renee in lotus position

戸倉上山田温泉から車で約15分に開眼寺と言う座禅堂付きのお寺さんがありました。そのお坊さんとコラボレーションで善光寺の七年に一度の御開帳中で座禅プランをやっております。先週の土曜日は始めて実施して、今朝はオーストラリア人のお客さんと次男のKen君と一緒に行きました。朝五時から座禅をやれば、一日は平和的になりますよね。是非、ご一緒にどうぞ?

Aproximately 15 minutes by car from Kamesei and Togura Kamiyamada Onsen is Kaigan-ji Temple, an historic temple that features a modern zazen-do, a room for zen meditation. In collaboration with the monk, Shibata-san, Kamesei is offering a "Zazen at 5am" plan during Zenkoji Temple's once-every-seven-years Gokaicho. Last Saturday was the first time we had a guest sign up for this plan, and this morning I went with a guest from Australia and our #2 son, Kenny. Starting your day with meditation puts you in a peaceful mood for the whole day. Anyone care to join me?








ラベンダーは日本の旅館に合う? Does lavender fit with a Japanese ryokan?

2009.05.15: 季節 Seasons

Lavenderus Mickeymouseearus

妻も自分も、ラベンダーが好きです。シアトルに住んでいた時の家にもラベンダーを育っていました。それが懐かしくて、数年前に亀清の玄関の前にも植えてみました。信州の気候に合うかどうか不安でしたが、見事に丈夫にイキイキしてきました。こうやって、綺麗に咲いてくる時に、植えて良かったと思います。ただし、どんなに綺麗でも、洋風な花が和風の旅館とミスマッチになるかな?まあ、このラベンダーぐらいは、許してください。(笑)

My wife and I both really like lavender. We grew some at our house back in Seattle. Kind of as a reminder of that, we planted some in front of Kamesei when we moved here. I wasn't sure if lavender would do well in Nagano's climate. However, the plants have grown up and spread nicely. This time of year, when they are in bloom, it makes me thankful that we did plant them. I'm just worried, though, that no matter how pretty they are, western flowers probably don't match with a traditional Japanese-style ryokan. I hope they're not too much of a mismatch.



亀清の裏の中央公園のつつじも綺麗に咲いていました。


県からの豚インフルエンザの知らせ Message from Nagano Prefecture re: Swine Influenza

2009.05.14: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

ニュースでは新型インフルエンザの情報が多いです。長野県ではまだかかった人がいないけれども、既に影響があります。今週から千曲市に中国からの留学生が来る予定でしたが、インフルエンザが流行らなくなるまで中止になった。他では国際会議などが中止になっているのもあるらしいです。
長野県は受身で待っているだけではなく、積極準備している。知事からの知らせはここ
そして、ジャパニーズ・イン・グループのメンバーの中で、お客さんにマスクの無料提供などの動きがある。こうやって皆でこの新型インフルエンザに負けないで、頑張りましょう。
Swine Influenza has been in the news headlines so much lately. Even though there are no cases (yet?) in Nagano, it still has effected us. Our town was scheduled to host a group of exchange students from China this week, but they canceled the trip until the swine flu epidemic is over.

Canceled seminars, canceled exchange study groups … this flu is having a huge impact on tourist #’s.

Some organizations here in Japan are trying to be proactive and make the best of the situation. On the Japanese Inn Group internal mailing list, there was mention of inns catering to foreigners to offer free masks, advise guests to wash hands, and provide handwipes at lobby PC’s.

Also, Nagano Prefecture isn't just sitting back and waiting. It is actively making preparations. Here is an announcement from the governor in English.




楽しいミニ・カー Funky Miniature Car

2009.05.13: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

戸倉上山田温泉の写真屋さん、富岡さんがこの面白い車に乗ってきた。私が最初に見た時に、モーターバイクのサイドカーが独自で動いているように見えた。光岡が一時売ろうとした「ぶぶ」と言うミニカーだが、許可が下りなかったせいで販売が途中で中止になったそうです。
言わせて頂けたら、全ての町にこういう面白い車が必要。と言うより、こういう面白い車を乗る、富岡さんのような楽しい人が必要!
Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's funky photographer, Tomioka-san, stopped by driving this crazy contraption of a car. At first I thought it was a motorcycle side car without the motorcycle. Craft car maker Mitsuoka apparently tried selling these "mini-cars" called the "Bu-bu", but never got governmental approval, so production had to be stopped.
If you ask me, all towns need a funky car like the Bu-bu. Or rather, they need a funky man like Tomioka-san driving funky cars like this!

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.



It really says


戸倉上山田温泉のアット・ホームなそば屋さん "At-Home" Soba Shop in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen

2009.05.12: グルメFoodie

信州のそれぞれの町にあっと・ホームなそば屋さんがあるべきだと思います。民芸品がチョコチョコ飾ってあって、地元の方の常連が多くて、お店の女将が周辺の山で自分で採った山菜を出して。。。 この戸倉上山田温泉ではた屋がそういうお店です。はた屋の女将さんが地元の花を守る会や周辺の山のハイキング地図作りなど、色々と貢献しています。お店の中は落ち着いた雰囲気で面白い民芸品が所々にあって、そしてお料理がシンプルなスローフードでおはらが満足になります。私のお勧めが味噌のぶっこみうどんです。昨日に食べに行ったら、サイドの一品で手造りふき味噌と竹の子が出た。旬の味で最高でした!

Every town in Nagano needs a little "at-home" soba shop -- one of those little shops with local crafts decorating the interior, a bunch of regular guests at the tables, and a mama-san who serves wild mountain vegetables she picks herself. Here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, we have just such a shop: Hataya. The mama-san volunteers to protect local wildflowers as well as making maps for hiking trails in the nearby mountains. When I went yesterday, she served a side dish of fresh bamboo shoots topped with hand-made fuki-miso (miso paste mixed with bitter wild fuki-no-to). My favorite dish is the "bukkomi udon", oversized chunks of veggies with fatter than normal udon noodles.

はた屋 Hataya
Tel 026-276-2888
Hours 11:30-14:30, 17:00-19:00
Closed Tuesdays and whenever they feel like it.
定休日:火曜日と不定休もあり

ぶっこみうどん(味噌か醤油):750円
Bukkomi Udon (Miso or Soy Sauce flavor): 750 yen



Cozy Interior


Fresh Bamboo Shoots with Fuki-Miso


My Favorite- The Bukkomi Udon


Choose Your Chopsticks: Disposables or


今日の特別な旬の一品:アカシア天ぷら Special Seasonal Dish: Acacia Tempura

2009.05.11: 季節 Seasons

アカシア天ぷら a la Chef武井

近所の仲間と旬の料理を話したら、確かに去年のこの時期にアカシアの天ぷらを食べた覚えがあるという話ししました。そうすると、今度、仲間から電話が来て、千曲川沿いのアカシアの花があると;ほんで持ってきてくれました。せっかくだったから、Chef武井が今日のお客さんの料理に天ぷらで出しました。油の温度が高すぎたら花が茶色くなっちゃうので普段より低い温度でと言うコツがあるようです。本当に旬のものなのでこの1週間ぐらいしか提供できなく、それ以降は千曲川沿いのアカシアの花が終わっています。(日本のお料理は「旬」を生かして、良いですね!)

Chatting with some friends, I recalled that it was about this time last year that I first had acacia flowers tempura. After that, one of those friends brought me some acacia flowers from along the Chikuma River. I surprised our chef with them, and he went ahead and fried them in tempura as a special treat for our guests tonight. The trees only bloom for about a week, so if you want to try acacia tempura, you had better hurry! (This is one of the things about Japanese cuisine that I love -- the attention paid to the seasons.)





戸倉上山田温泉にお母さん達が大歓迎: 母の日@亀清旅館 Mother-friendly Togura Kamiyada Onsen: Mother's Day at Kamesei

2009.05.10: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

Making Corsages for Mother's Day

戸倉上山田温泉は楽しい買い物が出来るお店は沢山あり、気持ち良い足湯もあり、女性が喜べる温泉街です。尚且つ、母の日には私共若旦那達がお母さん達にコサージュを作ると言う習慣があります。今年は私と有田屋さんの若旦那でずくを出して、手作りでお母さんのお客様の為に綺麗なコサージュを造りました。ちょっとした事ですが、私たち若旦那の気持ちで、この戸倉上山田温泉にお母さん達が大歓迎だとのことです。

Togura Kamiyamada Onsen has pleasant parks to stroll, fun little shops for shopping, and a relaxing foot bath -- so many things for women to enjoy. For the past few years, myself and some of the other innkeepers have started a tradition of making corsages for mothers on Mother's Day. Arita-ya's young innkeeper and I took time out of our busy schedules to make these carnation corsages for our guests that are mothers. It's just a small sign of how our onsen town likes to welcome ladies.

有田屋さんのHPはこちらClick here for Arita-ya's website.

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



Kitayama-san and friends sporting their Mother's Day corsages