ブログ - 信州戸倉上山田温泉旅館亀清 | 青い目の若旦那がおもてなし（長野県千曲市）

小布施の栗の香りThe Scent of Chestnuts at Obuse

2008.09.11: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

Obusedo

栗の小道、あちらこちらの味のある格好いい蔵、栗菓子工場からの香り、ここはこっと小布施でしょう！今日はインバウンドサミットの関係の会議で小布施に行ってきました。同じ長野でも、ちょっと違う、お洒落った雰囲気です。北斎館や沢山の楽しいお土産やさんに美味しいお菓子店、その上に何十年前から頑張ってきた町興しの影響で町の見た目がやはりすごいですね。
小布施は戸倉上山田温泉から車で約１時間です。電車のローカル線でもいけます。
The walnut wood block path, classic earthen walled storehouses, the scent of walnut sweets wafting from inside the factories -- this must be Obuse. I came here today for an Inbound Summit meeting. Obuse is its own little world within Nagano Prefecture, with the Hokusai Museum, the classy shops, the walnut sweets makers, and on top of it all, the hard work of the town improvement people over the last 20+ years. It all adds up to make Obuse a unique place to visit.
Approx. 1 hour by car from Kamesei, or accessible via a leisurely ride on the local rails.

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

小布施堂のHPはこちらClick here for Obusedo website

Walnut block path

Hokusai Museum

小布施はオープンガーデンの町でもある

前田さんのお蔭で新しい屋根New Roof Thanks to Maeda-san

2008.09.11: 日米関係Culture Shock

新しい屋根のお蔭で勉強になりました。

亀清の客室のトイレの屋根を１つ直してもらった。この前田さんの会社にお世話になりました。
前田さんに教えてもらったけれど、せっかく直すから日本風の瓦にしたいと言ったら、勾配（こうばい）が足りないのでその場合は鉄板を利用するしかないと。じゃ、屋根の角度を変えれば？と聞いたら、その上の屋根と余裕がないと。よく見たら、建物と建物の間が狭い為、それぞれの屋根の勾配がそれに合わせられている。日本はとにかく、狭いところで建ているからそれなりの建築になっている。感心しました。
そして、もうひとつ感心したのはこの前田さん自身です。私に似ていて、外から来ました。(まあ、私の場合は海外から、彼の場合は東京からです。）地元だったら、周りの目を気にしたり、どうしても地味になる。私達はどちらかというと、その人生を捨て来た様な、とにかくもっと派手になる自由があるって感じです。だから考えからが合うかもしれない。前田さんも、頑張ってください。
Maeda-san's company replaced the roof on one of our guest room's bathrooms. It became a lesson in Japanese architecture for me. I asked Maeda-san about using traditional Japanese roof tiles, but he informed me that the slope was insufficient -- we had to go with metal roofing. So, I asked about building up the roof to increase the slope. He pointed out that there wasn't enough room with the next roof up. Buildings in Japan are built in such narrow spaces, they practically overlap, as in this case. I thought that was very interesting.
One other thing I realized talking with Maeda-san is that he's also an 'outsider'. I came from overseas, he came from Tokyo. Locals tend to be concerned about what their neighbors think so usually are more reserved. Outsiders have in some way thrown away that part of their lives, so tend to be more flamboyant. Like Maeda-san!

中秋の名月がそろそろThe Harvest Moon is Near

2008.09.11: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

The Moon over Kamesei

今晩のお月様がうんと綺麗でした。あと１週間ぐらいで満月：中秋の名月。この辺では大事な時期です。今週末（９月１３日から１５日まで）は姨捨の観月際です。「田毎の月」で有名な姨捨で俳句大会等行う予定です。今年は特に楽しみです。先日の日経新聞｢トップ１０月見スポット」として一番に選ばれました。
（姨捨は亀清から車で１０分です。）
Tonight's moon was so bright and clear. Almost a full moon; the Harvest Moon. Around here, that has special meaning. Obasute will hold their annual 'Kangetsusai' (Moon Viewing Festival) this weekend from September 13th thru 15th. Obasute is famous for it's 'Tagoto-no-Tsuki' terraced rice paddies and a haiku contest will be held as part of the festival. This year is especially celebratory, as Nikkei Newspaper recently selected Obasute as the best place in the country for 'tsukimi' (Moon Viewing).
Obasute is located 10 minutes by car from Kamesei.

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

姨捨観月際の情報はこちらObasute 'Kangetsusai' Info Here

信毎HP賞ノミネートの知らせ Blog Nominated for ShinMai Newspaper Website Award

2008.09.10: メディア Media

皆様のお蔭で当ブログは信濃毎日新聞のホームページ賞にノミネートされました。私なりに長野の情報はこのブログを通じて、発信するように努力しておりますのでそれが認められたようです。宜しければ、皆様のVoteをお願いしたいと思っております。宜しくお願いいたします。

Thanks to everyone's support, this blog has been nominated for the Website Award of Nagano's main newspaper, Shinano Mainichi. In my own little way, I have been trying to share info on Nagano Prefecture with the world wide web. Apparently that caught the attention of the judges. Now it's up to everyone of you out there to vote for this blog for the top award. I'd certainly appreciate everyone's vote!

信毎HPはこちらClick here for the Awards website.

せっかく晴れている日なのに会議ばかりToo Nice of a Day to be Stuck in Meetings

2008.09.09: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi

Our Turtle Says 'Hi'

この青空で外に行きたくなるけれど、今日は会議が４つもありました。町お越しの大会議とその小さい打ち合わせ、来月のそば祭りの実行委員会(私はハロウィーンの実行委員長として呼ばれた)と、１１月末の講演会の打ち合わせ。まあ、観光会館と亀清の間に何度も行ったりきたりしています。走る度にうちの新しい電信柱の看板を通りました。真緑の柳の葉っぱと真っ青の空といい雰囲気でした。
On a sunny day like this, you feel like doing something outside. However, I was stuck indoors today with 4 different meetings. There was a big one on the town's 'machi-okoshi' followed by a small one on the same, then a meeting of the Soba Festival organizers (I partook as the head of the Halloween Festival), and finally a meeting to coordinate a speech I will be making in Nagano City in November. As a result of these meetings, I had to run back and forth between Kamesei and the Kanko Kaikan Meeting Hall so many times. Each time, I saw our new Utility Pole Sign, shining in the sun with the green willow tree branches and the blue sky.

楽しそうな童謡キルト展　Nursery Tale Quilt Show

2008.09.08: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

Quilt by Judi Lynch, at Kamesei Ryokan

戸倉上山田温泉から来るまで１５分のところで小さな歴史資料館があります。蔵の街の稲荷山の中の｢蔵し館｣です。今月は１０日から３０日までは｢心のふるさと童謡キルト展｣が行う予定です。隣の松代町の町田京子さんの布絵で童話が生きてきています。
私の母親も趣味でキルトを作っています。もっと近くにいればこう言うキルトショーに連れて行きたいですね。亀清旅館の中で母親の作ったキルトを展示しております。見るたびにその愛情を思い出します。キルトはそういう魅力がありますね。
まあ、この機会で、キルトにご興味のある皆様は是非、見にお越しください。
There is a cute little history museum about 15 minutes by car from here. It's in Inariyama, a district of old, earthen-walled storehouses that had been used for raising silk worms. "Kurashikan" utilizes one of those buildings. This month, from the 10th to the 30th, Kurashikan is holding a nursery tale - themed quilt show featuring quilts by artist Kyoko Machida of neighboring Matsushiro. Her quilts really bring the fairy tales alive.
My mother also makes quilts as a hobby. If she were living closer, I would love to take her to this show. Here in Kamesei, we have several of my mother's wall hangings on display. Everytime I see one, it reminds me of her kindness. Quilts have that magical power.
Anyways, for all of you quilt fans, this is a great opportunity to come and see some beautiful quilts.

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

蔵し館のHPはこちらClick here for Kurashikan's website

日経新聞：姨捨は去年｢行ってみたい駅第２｣、今年は｢月見スポット第... Nikkei Newspaper Awarded Obasute Best Station to See #2 Last Year; This Year: Best Spot for Moon Viewing #...

2008.09.07: その他 Miscellaneous

日経新聞は去年、｢行ってみたい駅」のトップ１０の中で、姨捨駅を２番として選びました。昨日の新聞で今度は｢月見」のトップ１０で、姨捨は何と１番として選びました！月見部屋付きの松本城の第９番より上でした。やはり｢田毎の月｣の姨捨棚田と｢月見堂」のある長楽寺が注目されています。

タイミング的にちょうどいいです。今年の姨捨観月際は今月の１３日(土）から１５日(月)までです。全国俳句大会や「さらしな・姨捨歴史の道を辿る」ウォーク、棚田農道道しるべ等、イベントたっぷりです。戸倉上山田温泉からシャトルバスも。

Last year, the venerable Nikkei Newspaper created a list of the Top 10 Train Stations to visit. Our favorite local station, Obasute, was listed as #2. The station is unique because it is on a Switchback. In days past, the steam engine trains couldn't make the steep grade and had to do switchbacks on their way up. Obasute Station is located on one, and even today you can see local trains literally backing into the station.
Obasute's station building itself is a cute, historical structure.
The view from the station is fantastic. During the day, you can see the Obasute terraced rice fields, famous for reflecting the full moon in each paddie ("Ta-Goto-no-Tsuki"). Some of the ancient haiku greats like Bassho and Issa came here just to see the moon reflecting in the rice paddies. At night, you can see the lights of the Zenkoji Plain, making for a spectacular night view. The view is so nice, in fact, that Obasute Station has been selected as one of the Top 3 "Views from the Train Window" locations in Japan.
And on top of all of that (literally) is Obasute Mountain, from the famous legend about taking the elderly ("Oba" means old lady) and throwing them away ("Sute") at the top of the mountain. Add all of that up, and you get the #2 station in Japan to visit.

That was last year. This year, yesterday's issue in fact, Nikkei made a new list: The Top 10 Places to View the Moon. And this time, Obasute was listed as #1!!!! The "Ta-Goto-no-Tsuki" rice paddies are getting some well-deserved recognition. Besides the moon reflections, just below Obasute Station is Chorakuji Temple. The temple has its own moon-viewing building, "Tsukimi-Dou". How cool is that?

The timing of this Moon Viewing Award couldn't be better. Coming up on September 13th through the 15th, Obasute will hold their 25th annual Moon Viewing Festival. There will be a haiku contest, a guided walk, special illumination at night of Chorakuji, and much more. Shuttle busses will provide access from our Onsen, Togura Kamiyamada.

姨捨観月際の詳しくはこちらClick here for info on the Obasute Moon Viewing Festival

一番の月見スポット姨捨！(長楽寺）#1 Spot for Moon Viewing: Obasute! (Chorakuji)

そば畑の白い花The White Flowers of a Soba (Buckwheat) Field

2008.09.06: 季節 Seasons

Soba field near Togura Kamiyamada Onsen

長野県を代表できる風情：そば畑の白い花。一茶の言う通り：
信濃では
月と仏と
オラがそば

This picture catches the essence of Nagano: a soba field with its white flowers. As the haiku poet Issa wrote:

Shinano de ha
Tsuki to Hotoke to
Ora ga soba

As for Shinano,
The Moon and the Buddha and
For me, the soba.

(Shinano = the old name for Nagano)
(Moon refers to the moon at Obasute that reflects in the Ta-Goto-no-Tsuki rice paddies.)
(Buddha refers to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City.)

大町の観光ヘルプ

2008.09.05: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

大町の中学生がアルペンルートの観光を勉強していて、欧米人観光客はどうやって増やせるかという話題で私を呼んで頂きました。欧米人はどうして日本に来るかから始まって、どういうおもてなしを求めているかのお話しました。そして、私たち家族が１ヶ月前にアルペンルートを観光したばかりなのでその印象もお伝えしました。私の外から来た自然な見方と学生の自然な見方で何か良い結果が出れば良いと思います。
(後、どうして戸倉上山田中学校その感じで戸倉上山田温泉とのふれあいがしないのかという疑問を思ってきました。うちの妻のお姉さんが小学校のころ｢上山田温泉の由来｣の劇をやったというし、そうやって町の子供達が温泉とのなじみつくりが大事だ！）
せっかく大町に行ったので塩の道の博物館も見学しました。その立派な歴史が感動的に伝われた。お勧め！
Omachi City's middle school students are studying how to increase tourism for the Kurobe Dam Alpen Route. They invited me to talk about travel culture of Westerners. I also gave my opinions on the Alpen Route from when our family went last month. I hope my fresh opinions can combine with the fresh opinions of the students so they can come up with some new ideas.
I was also left with the question why our local Togura Kamiyamada Middle School doesn't engage itself more with Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. My wife's oldest sister said when she was a school girl, she did a theatrical play about the legend of Kamiyamada Onsen's origin -- it's important for the town's children to form a connection with onsen like that.
Anyways, at Omachi, I went to their 'Shio-no-Michi (Salt Road) Museum'. It really brought to life the impressive history of the lives of people who carried salt from the ocean to the mountains of Nagano.

博物館のHPはこちらClick here for Museum website

博物館の玄関Museum's Facade

味のある廊下Cool Outer Passage

中庭の井戸Inner Garden Well

帳場(私が提灯を気に入った）Reception -- Check out the Chochin

シカゴからの写真Jazzy Pictures from Chicago

2008.09.04: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

Kamesei Lobby Jazz

先月にシカゴのJazzの二人が泊まってくれました。ジェムスさんとカロラインさんからこの写真が来ました。信州の旅を楽しんでいただいたようです。

Last month, a couple of jazz musicians from Chicago stayed at Kamesei. They sent back these pictures. Judging by these pic's, I'd say they enjoyed their stay in Nagano.

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

シカゴジャズのHPはこちらClick here for James' and Caroline's Chicago Jazz website