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夕べ、東京からの帰りの新幹線から浅間山を見たら、噴煙も出ていました。日の入りの光で、でかい浅間山の火山の動き、新幹線の速度で、凄く感動的でした。

Last night, on the Nagano Shinkansen coming back from Tokyo, around the Karuizawa area you could see Mount Asama with a cloud of volcanic ash rising from its peak. The whole scene was impressively dynamic -- massive Mount Asama showing signs of volcanic activity, with the ash cloud dark against the sunset-tainted orange sky, all while flying at 260 km/h in the "Asama" Nagano Shinkansen bullet train -- human and natural forces at work.

題名の河童と忍者とつけばと鬼はどういう関係？皆の2009のシーズンの始まりの時期です：

河童・上高地　Kappa * Kamikochi
今年は雪が少なくて、上高地までの道はノーマルタイヤーで既に通れますが、正式的のオープンは4月27日です。その月曜日に第41回　上高地開山再が行います。スイスホーン（？！）で盛り上がります。
The Kappa (water sprites) of Kamikochi officially come out of their hibernation on the 27th of April every year. This year, the snowfall in the Alps has been less than average, and the road to Kamikochi is already snow-free. Kamikochi will hold its 41st annual official "Opening of the Mountains" festival, complete with Swiss horns, on Monday the 27th.

上高地の情報はこちらClick here for info on Kamikochi

つけば Tsukeba Fish Shacks
戸倉上山田温泉の代表のつけば(川魚専門料理の小屋）「正村つけば」は20日(月)からスタートする予定と言う知らせが来ました。川魚が苦手な方が多いかもしれないけど、川沿いの小屋で取立てのはやと鮎を食べるのは最高！
正村つけばは午前10時から午後10時まで夏までやっています。つけばコースは2000円～3000円です。ご予約は亀清旅館にてでどうぞ。

Even people with the strongest aversion to river fish should be able to appreciate eating just-caught fish served in a Tsukeba river shack along the shores of the Chikuma River. Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's main Tsukeba, "Shomura", opens for business this season on the 20th of April, and will serve "haya" and "ayu" prepared in various ways in their multi-course meal (prices 2000~3000 yen per person). Shomura will be open from 10am to 10pm until mid summer. You can make reservations through Kamesei.

正村つけば Shomura Tsukeba Tel (080)5109-8901

忍者・戸隠 Ninjas * Togakushi
戸隠の忍者達の冬眠が終わりました。4月18日から戸隠忍法センターの本年度スタートでした。戸隠流忍術の資料館や手裏剣道場、忍者屋敷など、大人も子供楽しめる。
Togakushi's ninjas came out of their winter hibernation on the 18th of April. That's when the Togakushi Ninja Center opened for business for the year. At the Center, there is a ninja artifacts hall, a shuriken range, and a ninja fun house, where you go through the building finding the secret doors from room to room.

詳しくは忍法センター Ninja Center Tel(026)254-2395

鬼：鬼押し出し Oni * Oni Oshi Dashi
浅間山の鬼は忍者や河童より冬眠が短いせいか、3月から鬼押し出し園が既にシーズン・オープンしていました。鬼押し出しは火山の世界、この地球らしくない世界、本当に鬼の世界です。軽井沢から簡単なアクセス。
An Oni is a Japanese ogre. On the flanks of Mt. Asama is an area that looks like a bunch of volcanic matter was pushed out of the mountain by an oni, hence the park's name, "Oni Oshi Dashi". It is a fascinating example of geological forces at work. The park has been open since March -- apparently that's when the oni hibernation ended.
Easy access from Karuizawa.

鬼押し出し園のHPはこちらClick here for the Oni Oshi Dashi website

Inboundの営業で、白馬へ行ってきました。外国人を誘客するのに、白馬に来ているオーストラリアなどからのスキー客という近道があるのではないかと。
というわけで、今日は久しぶりに白馬に行ってきました。改めて、白馬村から見えるアルプスの素晴らしさに感動しました。本当に自然に恵まれている。そして、やはりオーストラリア人の影響で色んな個性のあるお店がある。お昼はこのUncle Steven'sで食べました。さすが白馬、Funkyなお店です。
白馬のFunkyな、個性のあるお店のガイドブックもあります。白馬へ行けば是非、手に入れてください：白馬のEssential Guide.

Today, I went on a sales trip to Hakuba. I am hoping to share the traditional Japanese onsen ryokan experience of Kamesei with others from overseas. One short cut is to try to appeal to the Australian and other foreign skiers that flock to Hakuba in the winter.
It had been a little over a year since my last trip to Hakuba, and once again, I was mesmerized by how huge Hakuba Mountain and the Japanese Alps are when viewed from the base at Hakuba Village! Hakuba is truly blessed with outstanding nature.
Hakuba is also blessed with a wide variety of funky shops and restaurants. I had lunch at Uncle Steven's, a Tex-Mex joint. With cool restaurants like Uncle's, I can see why Hakuba is popular for apres ski also.
If you go to Hakuba, make sure to pick up a copy of the Hakuba Essential Guide. It is a great list of Hakuba's funky offerings.

Uncle Steven's website is here.

Essential Guide publisher, Hakuba Tourism's website is here.