日帰りの草津温泉A day trip to Kusatsu Onsen

2008.08.17: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano
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Kusatsu Yu-batake

お盆のピークが終わって、家族とドライブしてきました。本当は奥志賀へ行こうとしたが、志賀高原の上が雲の中でした。従って、途中でプランを変更して、白根山を通って草津温泉に出ました。私にとっては１５ねんぶりでした。子供達を連れて、テルメテルメのプールでたっぷり遊びました。その後、草津の湯畑の辺でぶらぶら。うらやましい事で草津はやはり楽しめる事が沢山あります。この戸倉上山田温泉も頑張らなきゃ。
草津温泉は亀清旅館から車で約1時間半。
With the O-Bon rush over, our family went for a drive today. We tried to go to Oku-Shiga but as we reached the highlands, we found ourselves in the clouds. So we switched plans, and drove by the Shirane cauldron on the way to Kusatsu Onsen. We took the kids to Therme Therme Land and played in the pool. Then we went to Kusatsu's famous 'Yu-Batake', a chain of small pools used to cool off the hot mineral water for use in the baths in the town's ryokans. We were jealous of all the attractions Kusatsu has. Our town, Togura Kamiyamada, has to try harder!
Kusatsu Onsen is a 1.5 hour drive from Kamesei.

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



Classic Footbath


海の後の姨捨夜景が特に綺麗

2008.08.16: その他 Miscellaneous
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夕立の大雨の後、勇気のあるお客様を連れて、姨捨夜景・伝説ツアーにご案内いたしました。雨のお陰で空気が綺麗になりましたので今晩の姨捨の夜景が普段よりもちかちかしていました。
After the evening showers (actually, more of a typhoon-like downpour), I took some brave guests out to see the night view from Obasute Mountain. Thanks to the rain, the air was really clean, so the lights of the night view twinkled even nicer than normal.





戸隠マジックMagical Togakushi

2008.08.15: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano
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杉木並びThe line of Ancient Cedar Trees

地元のシアトルから友人が遊びに来てくれました。信州のどこを案内するか考えたら、戸隠を選びました。短い間でお盆の混みこみなんですが、最初は皆でまずそばを美味しく頂いて、そして奥社の杉木並びまで軽いハイキング(行く度に、そのすごい木の姿を見て、自然の力を感じて、感動します）、最後はにんぽうセンターで忍者遊び。帰る直前に雲が開いて、戸隠山はその感動的な顔を出してくれました。本当にマジックな、魅力な日帰り旅でした。
We had some friends visit us from back home. Of all the great places to see in Nagano, we decided to take them to Togakushi. It was a short day trip, and was at the peak of the the Obon travel season. However, we started off the trip by eating delicious soba (Togakushi is famous for its soba's great taste, thanks to the clean air and crisp water). Then we did the short hike to the Sugiki Narabi -- the ancient cedar trees lining the path -- on the way to Okusha Shrine. Those trees never fail to impress my with their majesty -- you can really feel the power of nature in them. We finished the trip at the Ninpo Center and had some ninja fun.

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

戸隠の山口屋おそば屋さんのＨＰはこちらClick here for Yamaguchi-ya Soba restaurant website



山口屋で忍者そばNinja Soba at Yamaguchi-ya


奥社へ行く途中の門：屋根工事が完成されて綺麗！


忍法センターNinpo Center


英語の看板でよこそ!ジャパンYokoso! Japan spirit via an English signboard

2008.08.15: 活動 Activities
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Friendly English Sign

戸隠の蕎麦屋さんの前でこの英語の看板がありました。本当に「よこそ」の気持ちです。この欧米人が喜んでおります。

ちなみに、一昨日に我が宿に泊まったカナダ人の旅行者２人にこのお店を紹介しました。美味しかったし、サービスがうんと親しかったと言いはりました。

While at Togakushi, I spotted this signboard in English outside of a soba restaurant on the trail to Okusha Shrine. I had to stop and take a picture -- it's not often one sees such a friendly sign in Japan, let alone Nagano. It made this gaijin very happy.

Coincidentally (or, maybe not so), two days ago I recommended this restaurant to a couple of Canadian guests making a day trip to Togakushi. They said the soba was great and the service very friendly.

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

戸隠の「なおすけ」そばのＨＰはこちらClick here for Naosuke Soba (Togakushi) website





射的当番 My turn to run the Shateki

2008.08.15: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi
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射的はいかがですか？

戸倉上山田温泉の盆踊りで商工会の青年部の屋台もあります。金曜日の夜は私が射的当番でした。皆様のお陰でかなり盛り上がりました。売り上げは前日の2倍でした。亀清のお客様も来て頂きました。皆様、有難うございました。
As part of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's Bon Odori dance, the town's Business Association runs several food and game booths. Friday night I was in charge of the Shateki (cork gun target shooting) booth. It was a happening night -- we raked in twice as much as the previous night. Some of Kamesei's guests even came. Thank you everyone!



Togura Kamiyamada's Bon Odori


夏は露天風呂へのアプローチが大オープンOur summer open-door approach for the outdoor bath

2008.08.14: その他 Miscellaneous
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夏の良い天気の日に脱衣室から露天風呂へのアプローチはドアを最近に開けておいています。そうすると、皆様がもっと気楽に露天風呂へ行って頂けます。ドアが開いていると、脱衣室から露天風呂の中庭も眺めれます。良い雰囲気ですよ。皆様、どうぞ、お入りください。

On these nice summer days, we have been leaving the doors open between the changing room and the outdoor bath, giving a clear approach to the bath. This way, our guests can also enjoy the outdoor bath's garden from the changing room. Please, come and enjoy our bath!

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





社長物語 A Shacho (Company President) Tale

2008.08.13: 日米関係Culture Shock
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先日はＮ石油の社長だった方が亀清に泊まりました。５ヶ国語が喋れました。やはり国際的な会社の社長らしいと思いました。本人はこの辺で色々なつながりがありましたので引退なされても周りの皆がうんと尊敬していました。
それと比較したら、夕べは全然違うタイプな社長が泊まりました。駅に迎えに行ったら直ぐに信州の悪口を。文句や命令ばかり。まあ、それは良いのですが、夜中に起こされました。本人は飲みに行ったので、飲み屋さんでトラブルを起こしたり、帰りは迷ったり、結局は亀清に着いてもどの部屋か忘れて、ロビーで寝ちゃった。亀清のお客さんの殆どは嬉しい事でもう一人の社長と同じく我が宿の伝統的な落ち着かせる雰囲気の良さ、そして信州の自然の価値、が分かって頂いております。
A few days ago we were honored to host the retired president of N. Oil Corporation. I was impressed to hear he speaks 5 languages. That must be part of being the president of a multinational corporation. Over the years, he's had a lot of connections with the area, and even though he's retired the people here treat him with the utmost respect.
Last night, we had a 'shachou' (company president) from the opposite end of the spectrum. When I picked him up at the train station, he asked why I moved to this dump of a place. When I brought him his meal, he complained, "Hey, Ty [Note: I HATE being called 'Ty'], why do you serve 'maguro' sashimi even though your inn is in the mountains?" [Note: our chef uses an abundance of local ingredients. However, over half of our guests are locals, and they would be disappointed if no 'maguro' sashimi.] I don't mind such opinions, but then this morning we were woken up at 3:15am when he came back from drinking. Apparently he had forgotten to take cash with him, and the barkeep accompanied him by taxi. But he had forgotten which inn he was staying at, and went to the wrong one (a ryokan of my 'senpai', no less), then made it to Kamesei but he had forgotten his room so he slept in the lobby. I really don't want Kamesei's image tarnished by the likes of this guy. How can people here tolerate such a rotten shachou? I am thankful most of our guests are like the first shachou, and appreciate the relaxing atmosphere of our traditional inn.




戸隠への予定表完成New Time Schedule for Togakushi

2008.08.13: 活動 Activities
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Togakushi Schedule

亀清旅館に泊まる海外からの旅行者の９割ぐらいは信州に来る目的が地獄谷のスノーモンキース（温泉に入るお猿さん）。亀清からの日帰り行き先人気＃２は戸隠です。奥社へのハイクの途中の何百年の杉の並びが私のお勧めです。そして、おそばは我々欧米人も好き。後は、戸隠の忍者！奥社の近辺に忍法センターがあります。大人も子供楽しめる。
この間は地獄谷への電車・バスの予定表を作ったので今日はと額へのを作成しておきました。マイカーじゃない方はどうぞ、お使いになってください。
Approximately 90% of our guest here at Kamesei that come from overseas come to Nagano to see the snow monkeys of Jigokudani. The 2nd most popular day trip is to Togakushi Mountain above Nagano City's Zenkoji Temple. My favorite spot is the section of the trail to Okusha Shrine that's lined with ancient cedar trees. Togakushi's famous soba noodles are popular with us Westerners, too. And to top it off, there is are a couple of ninja sites. Previously, I made a train/bus schedule to get to the Snow Monkeys. Today I made one for Togakushi. Feel free to use it!





東京テレビ、有難う！

2008.08.13: メディア Media
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東京テレビの「男はつらいよ」記念トラベル番組の中で亀清の取材もありました。今晩に放送されたので見た親戚から「よく映っていたよ！露天風呂と若女将の食事の案内と若旦那の夜景ツアー、良かったよ！」と言う声を頂きました。そして、放送された最中に「今、テレビを見ているけど予約をしたい」と言うお電話も。やはりテレビの力がすごいですね。
Tokyo TV aired a special travel program tonight that featured Kamesei Ryokan. We heard from a relative that watched it that they showed our outdoor bath, Mari's serving the meal, and my Obasute Night View tour. We even received a call during the broadcast by a viewer wanting to make a reservation. That shows you how strong the power of TV is! I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Tokyo TV for choosing Kamesei for their program!