Onsen, hot spring in Nagano

Hello. This is Murasaki Japanese Institute.


Today, I would like to introduce onsen, hot spring in Nagano.

I think Onsen reminds you Hakone or Beppu in Fukuoka, however, there are a lot of onsen in middle of Hoshu like Nagano, Yamanashi prefecture.

 

Nagano is mountains area. You can enjoy nature green, autumn leaves, hiking and onsen.

There are many big onsen towns and small onsen towns. You can find information about big onsen towns in a lot of website like;

http://www.go-nagano.net/

This is very nice website about Nagano.

This time, I would like to pick up a small onsen town, Yamada onsen. It is small town which has less than 5 ryokan, Japanese style inn, but, their hospitality is so nice.

For example, they has free bus tour in the morning to see Autumn leaves, beautiful water falls etc.

This is the picture to see one of the water falls.

And in another water falls, you can see it from back side of it.

There is a cave and you can go through it.

You can taste nice sake in dinner time.

They have big bath and small private bath which you can make reservation and use private 30 minutes. The view from there is so nice, autumn leaves etc.

 

Next day, they send you to Obuse station. You can enjoy Obuse town. 

There are a good path to walk around,

,

And there are nice restaurant;

Kamo nanban, backwheat noodle with duck meat,

Tofu full course lunch,

 

There are the tomb of Masanori Fukushima. He was one of samurai who was in the service of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

Enjoy your trip in Nagano!

お正月(しょうがつ) Oshōgatsu New Year’s Day

<お正月(しょうがつ) Oshōgatsu New Year’s Day>

日本人(にほんじん)がどうやってお正月(しょうがつ)を祝(いわ)うのか知(し)っていますか。

お正月(しょうがつ)は日本人(にほんじん)にとって、とても大切(たいせつ)な祝日(しゅくじつ)です。沢山(たくさん)の特別(とくべつ)の行事(ぎょうじ)が行われます。

Do you know how Japanese people celebrate their New Year’s Day?

New Year’s Day is the most important holiday in Japan. Many special events

take place during the first three days.

① 初詣(はつもうで)---沢山(たくさん)の人(ひと)が神社(じんじゃ)やお寺(てら)に行(い)って一年(いちねん)の幸運(こううん)を祈ります。

Hatsumōde---Many people go to the shrine and temples wishing for the good

Fortune and good luck during the year ahead.

 

② おせち料理(りょうり)---お正月(しょうがつ)におせち料理(りょうり)という特別(とくべつ)な料理(りょうり)を食(た)べます。おせち料理(りょうり)は

　　　　　　　　重箱(じゅうばこ)と言(い)われるうるしの箱(はこ)にきれいに並(なら)べられています。

 People eat special food called Osechi ryōri (New Year’s special food)

   Osechi ryōri are beautifully arranged in the lacquer box called Jubako.

それぞれの料理(りょうり)には特別(とくべつ)の意味(いみ)があります。

Each dish has some special meanings.

 黒豆(くろまめ)--まめに働(はたら)きまめ(健康(けんこう))になります。

 Kuromame (black beans) 

　　　　—working hard and become healthy.

 伊達巻(だてまき)---学問(がくもん)が上達(じょうたつ)します。

Datemaki( egg omelet)

Because the shape looks like a scroll, it is

associated with scholarship.

 きんとん---お金持(かねも)ちになります。

　　 Kinton (sweet potatoes and chestnuts)

the word ‘kinton’ means golden dumplings, and the color looks like a gold.

  　 It is associated with treasure.

こぶまき---幸(しあわ)せになります

　 　Kobumaki (dried herring wrapped in seaweed)

the word ‘kobu’ means to be happy.

田作(たづく)り---収穫(しゅうかく)にめぐまれます。

Tazukuri (dried sardines)

In ancient times, dried sardines were used for fertilizer for the rice field.

   　Also Tazukuri literally translates as ‘making rice corps’. It is associated with

   　Good harvest.

数(かず)の子(こ)--- 子宝(こだから)に恵(めぐ)まれます。

  　　Kazunoko (herring roe)

    　　　　Herring roe contains a lot of eggs and the word ‘kazu’ means number and ‘ko’ means children. That means you are blessed with many children.

   

海老(えび)---- 長(なが)く生(い)きられます

　　　Ebi(shrimp)

      Because the shape of curved body, it is associated with longevity. Because when

people get older, their bodies are hunchbacked.

③お雑煮(ぞうに)を食(た)べます。

　お雑煮(ぞうに)は、お正月(しょうがつ)に食(た)べられる特別(とくべつ)な汁物(しるもの)です。地域(ちいき)によって具材(ぐざい)やだしが違(ちが)います。

　Ozōni is a special soup eaten on New Year’s Day. Ingredients for Ozōni differ from region to region.

  関東(かんとう)Kanto style (clear soup) 

関西(かんさい) Kansai(white miso soup)

  ④年(ねん)賀状(がじょう)をもらいます。

     2015年(ねん)の干支(えと)は羊(ひつじ)です。羊(ひつじ)の絵(え)がついた年(ねん)賀状(がじょう)を交換(こうかん)します。

　   We receive New Year’s Cards on New Year’s Day. The Chinese zodiac sign of the 2015   will be the year of the sheep ‘hitsuji’. So you will exchange many nengajo like Christmas cards with the picture of the sheep.

 ⑤お正月(おしょうがつ)の飾(かざ)り

      門松(かどまつ)と鏡餅(かがみもち)を飾(かざ)っておき、氏神(うじがみ)様(さま)をお迎(むか)えします。

　　　We have placed ‘kadomatsu’ in pairs in front of houses to welcome year God and

      displayed ‘Kagamimochi’ for the offering to Year God.

 鏡餅(かがみもち)　形(かたち)が鏡(かがみ)に似(に)ています。

 kagamimochi/mirror rice cake

The round shape looks like a mirror.

 門松(かどまつ)　

 Kadomatsu/pine decorations 

皆様(みなさま)昨年(さくねん)一年(いちねん)大変(おせ)お世話(おせわ)になりました。

　Thank you for everything you did for us this past year.

どうぞ良(よ)いお年(とし)をお迎(むか)え下(くだ)さい。

Please have a good new year!

----　by Yada-sensei

Mt. Fuji climbing season is coming!

Hello. This is Murasaki Japanese Institute.
今日のブログは、富士山についてです。

Mt. Fuji was declared a World Heritage(世界遺産 : せかいいさん) site in June 2013.

It is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Everybody wants to climb it!

In Japan, we have a superstition that you gain 3 more years of life if you watch the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji. Do you believe it?
One of the most popular ways to climb Mt. Fuji is to start in the evening, arrive at the 8^th station around 11pm, then stay in the log house there for a short sleep. You start climbing again around 2am, arriving at the peak around 4am to catch the sunrise.

So, let me tell you how to climb Mt. Fuji!

There are four main routes to the peak.

All routes to the top are divided by 10 stations. You can reach the 5^th station on each route by car or bus, but from here you have to park your vehicle and walk the rest of the way.
When you get to the summit, you can walk around the crater and can chose a route to go back down (if you parked one, it’s probably a good idea to take the route leading back to your car!).

l  Yoshida-guchi 5^th station  2305m 15.1km 6 hours to the top / 3.5 hours back down

l  Fujinomiya-guchi 5^th station 2400m 10km 5 hours to the top / 3.5 hours back down
l  Gotenba-guchi 5^th station  1440m 19.5km 8.5 hours to the top / 4 hours back down
l  Sugashiri-guchi 5^th station 1970m 14km 8 hours to the top / 4 hours back down

<Yoshida 5^th station Yoshidaguchi 吉田口　>

This is the most popular route and it is good for beginners.
The 5^th station is one of the highest and it takes a short time to reach the summit. 
There are a lot of facilities on the route too.
Since the route’s gradient is quite gentle for the first part, your body can get used to the high altitude easier.  On the way to the top you can see the five Fuji lakes beneath you.
The problem with this route though, is that it is very crowded. When you climb in the night to see the sunrise from the peak, it is like a traffic jam!
Climbing season : From July 1^st to September 14^th 2014

<Fujinomiya 5th station Fujinomiyaguchi 富士宮口

This is the highest station and the shortest distance to the top.
It is easy to get to from the Shinkansen (Bullet train) station. Buses are also frequent.
If you come from Osaka or Nagoya, this station is very convenient.
There are excellent views of the ocean and Izu Peninsula along this route.
However, this is the steepest path. You should climb slowly, or you will be mountain sick!
Climbing season : From July 10^th to September 10^th 2014

<Subashiri 5th station Subashiriguchi 須走口> 
Fewer people use this route so it is not so crowded.
It is covered with greenery until the 6^th station and covered with sand after that.
It is located on the east side, so you have more opportunity to see the sunrise.
Climbing season : From July 10^th to September 10^th 2014

<Gotenba 5th station  Gotenba-guchi  御殿場口> 
This route is famous to climb down. It is called “O-suna bashiri”.
It is the lowest station, so, it is the longest route. Be careful though, there are no facilities if you need a break!
Climbing season : From July 10^th to September 10^th 2014

Here is how to get each 5^th station

Yoshida 5th station (Fuji Subaru line 5th station)  吉田口

From			time	frequency	one way	return	Time table
Shinjuku	新宿		145 minutes	2-6 every day	2600yen	5200yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/highw/jikokuhyo/12.html
Fujisan station	富士山		60 minutes	5-11 every day	1500yen	2000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/10.html
Kawaguchiko station	河口湖		50 minutes	5-12 every day	1500yen	2000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/10.html

Fujinomiya 5th station　富士宮口

From			time	frequency	one way	return	Time table
Mishima station	三島		125 minutes	1-5 every day	2390yen	3000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/32.html
Fujinomiya station	富士宮		80 minutes	3-11 every day	1970yen	3000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/33.html
Fuji station	富士		130 minutes	1- 3 every day	2240 en	3000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/33.html
Shin-Fuji station	新富士		115 minutes	3-9 every day	2310 en	3000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/33.html
Shizuoka station	静岡		130 minutes	1-2 every day	2500yen	4500yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/highw/jikokuhyo/21.html

Fujinomiya Station  富士宮　駅

From			time	frequency	one way	return	Time table
Tokyo station	東京		140 minutes	6-7 every day	2570yen	4840yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/highw/jikokuhyo/14.html
Roppongi Hills	六本木		120 minutes	2-3 every weekend	2570yen	4840yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/highw/jikokuhyo/14.html

 Subashiri 5th station  須走口

 

From			time	frequency	one way	return	Time table
Gotenba station	御殿場		60 minutes	7-12 every day	1500yen	2000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/11.html
Shinnmatsuda station	新松田		90 minutes	2-5 every day	2000yen	3000yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/30.html

 Gotenba 5th station 御殿場口
 

From			time	frequency	one way	return	Time table
Gotenba station	御殿場駅		40 minutes	4-7 every day	1080yen	1500yen	http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/line/jikokuhyo/31.html

 

 

Congratulations Mt. Fuji !

You are a world heritage site !