For Kamesei Ryokan’s Anniversary Plan guests can choose a preserved flower making lesson. A couple celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary gathered in our lobby next to the wood stove and followed the kind instructions of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen’s flower artist Satoh-san from Atelier Bamboo to make a beautiful flower decoration.
Our Chef Takei's December version of his Kaiseki-style dinner. We're calling it our White Christmas menu. It features some new dishes and our latest addition of Arita-yaki porcelain.
Chef Takei's "White Christmas" menu, December 2022
旬の物 射込み蕪 Roe-stuffed Turnip
酢の物 フルーツ膾 Fruit Vinegarette
サラダ 若鳥サラダの安曇野仕立て Azumino Salad with Chicken
蒸し物 びっくり茶碗 Surprise Chawan egg custard
つくり 三点盛り Sashimi Trio
焼き物 鮎の煮びたし Stewed Ayu (Sweet fish)
台の物 6種類茸鍋 Hot Pot with 6 types of local mushrooms
中皿 牡蠣の土手焼き Oysters with Nagano Miso
揚げ物 信州サーモン唐揚げ風 Shinshu Salmon Fried, Topped with Onion Sauce
お椀 もずくと豆腐の味噌汁 Mozuku Seaweed and Tofu Miso Soup
香の物 野沢菜 Nozawana and assorted Pickled Vegetables
水菓子 隠し味のアップルパイ Apple Pie with Secret Ingredient
Mt. Eboshi is a relatively easy-going climb from a very convenient trailhead (Tomi City’s Yunomaru plateau, a convenient 45 minutes by car from our Kamesei Ryokan). The view from the 2066m peak overlooks Tomi and the Chikuma River Valley below, and along the way there’s a marsh with a boardwalk, a treasure trove of alpine flowers, and reminders of ancient volcanic activity.
Mt. Eboshi’s distinctive 2-pronged peak is a prominent feature of the skyline in Ueda City (especially the Maruko District) and of course Tomi City. Its relatively tall height means it’s one of the first mountains in the area to be covered in snow in the winter. “Eboshi” refers to the high-peaked hat worn by nobility in the ancient Heian Era for ceremonies. The ascent is relatively mild hence the trail is popular with schoolchildren as well as elderly climbers. On our first climb we passed a group of over 100 elementary students. This time we met a guy in his 70s that climbs Eboshi several times a week. (His advice: May and June are best for seeing Mt. Fuji from the peak.)
If climbing Mt. Eboshi wasn’t enough exercise for you, from the col (1850m) you can take the short but steep 800m long trail to the top of Mt. Yunomaru (2101m). You’ll get your exercise in addition to a well-deserved sense of accomplishment. The trail back down to the parking lot at Jizo Pass goes through an azalea field as well as one of the ski slopes (watch out for cow paddies as the slope is used for grazing in the green season). Mountain weather tends to be fickle — on our descent we were suddenly enveloped in fog. Use caution and be prepared!
立ち寄り湯: 湯の丸高原ホテル Post-Hike Onsen: Yunomaru Kogen Hotel
登山口である地蔵峠に湯の丸高原ホテルがあって、日帰り入場が可能。塩素の匂い無く、山の自然を楽しめる露天風呂あり、汗を流すのに最適だ♪ Located at the Jizo Pass trailhead, Yunomaru Kogen Hotel allows day-use of its onsen baths. The outdoor bath has an especially lovely setting, and is perfect for washing away the sweat and dust from the hike.
Nagano Prefecture's "Special-Wari" Discount has been extended to 30-September. For accommodation price of 10,000 yen or more there is a 5,000 yen discount. In addition, each person receives 2000 yen in area coupons. To be eligible, you need to be a resident of the following prefectures and have proof of your 3rd Corona vaccine shot. Eligible prefectures: Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Niigata, Shizuoka, Gifu, Toyama, Gunma, Aichi, Ishikawa, Fukui, Mie.
Chikuma City's 3rd round of the Chikuma-Wari Discount will be from 01-Aug through 31-October. The discount is for 3000 yen off of accommodation prices 5000 yen or higher. Included is a 1000 yen cash-back coupon good for eating in at local restaurants and/or massage at our inn. In addition, there are now coupons for shateki shooting parlors, too!
Kamesei Ryokan's number of Chikuma-Wari discount tickets is limited. We want to have guests enjoy our newly-constructed guest rooms with private onsen baths, so reservations for those rooms will be prioritized. Call or e-mail us for more information.
長野市・善光寺さんの七年に一度のご開帳は6月29日(水)まで。駐車場が溢れて、回向柱、戒壇巡り、御朱印そしてお蕎麦屋さんに列が長くて、最後まで待つ人が多いんで、これからはさらに混む可能性大。ラストスパートのご開帳のためのアドバイスを提供します。The venerable Zenkoji Temple in center of Nagano City is celebrating its once every 7 years Gokaicho ceremony through 29-June.
先日は常連のお客様の送迎でさくらんぼの出荷場に寄ってお土産に買ってあげました。The other day I was driving some longtime guests home and stopped at a cherry stand and bought them some as a gift.
お客様は90代の女性お二人です。前回に送迎した時はハゼ掛けの時期でしたのでせっかくだから姨捨棚田をサービスで通りました。お二人に凄く印象的だったのようで、今回の滞在で「素敵な思い出だった」と何回か言ってくださりました。(90代の割には頭がしっかり…) The guests were a pair of ladies in their nineties. Last time they came it was rice harvest season so on the drive here I took them through the Obasute Rice Terraces. Apparently the scenery made a big impact on them because they couldn’t stop talking about it. (Both of their minds are quite sharp for being in their nineties.)
今回の送迎でより大きな印象を、と思い、しかし、何が良いかと悩みました。そして、途中にさくらんぼの出荷場があると思い出しました。シーズンが短いんですが運が良く販売してました。On the drive this time I was hoping to do something that would make an even bigger impact. Then I remembered there’s a cherry stand along the way. Cherry season is so short but fortunately they were open.
お二人は朝採りのさくらんぼが初めてだった様で、大喜び。90代の方を喜ばせるのはなかなか難しいですが、おかげ様で大成功しました!It was their first time to have fresh-picked cherries so they were very pleased. It’s not everyday that you can make a pair of ninety year olds happy but this was an outstanding success!
次回はさらに大きな印象が出来る様に、青い目のおもてなしにおまかせください♪ Next time I’ve got to think of something to make an even bigger impact, but that’s what hospitality is about.