◆Apricot Blossom Festival, Mori See a hundred thousand apricot blossoms in one glance. The light pink blossoms cover the valley and their faintly sweet aroma fills the air. April (exact dates vary by year). Approx. 20 min. by car. ◆Tsukeba / Ayu Fishing, Chikuma River From mid June to mid September, you can see all along the Chikuma River the tomo-tsuri fishermen and their unusual style of catching ayu river fish. With their implausibly long poles, the fishermen make for a classical, rustic scene. From early April to mid June, freshly caught, grilled on the spot ugui and ayu can be had at one of the many tsukeba fishing pavilions along the river front. Not to be missed! ◆Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival and Fireworks Traditional local festival featuring several processions, including o-mikoshi portable shrine procession (even a geisha mikoshi!) and a group procession of singers and dancers clad in colorful festival yukatas, all topped off by a fireworks display from Joyama Mtn. behind the town. July 16 & 17, 2006. ◆Togura Onsen Noryo Fireworks Display Huge fireworks display lighting up the night sky, while reflecting (and echoing) off of Chikuma River, all in the noryo spirit of enjoying the cool summer evening breeze. August 07, 2006. ◆AREA POINTS OF INTEREST Zenkoji Temple (Nagano City, approx. 1 hr. by car, or train) Olympic Venues from the 1998 Winter Olympics (various half-day or all-day tours can be arranged) Matsumoto Castle (approx. 1 hr. by car or train) Monkey Onsen ? Jigokudani (approx. 1.5 hrs. by car or train) Kawanakajima, battle field of one of the major sengokujidai (warring states era) conflicts (approx. 30 min. by car)   　 　 長野/戸倉上山田温泉　旅館「亀清」 〒389-0821 長野県千曲市上山田温泉2-15-1 TEL:026-275-1032/FAX:026-276-1032 Address: 2-15-1 Kamiyamada Onsen, Chikuma City, Nagano Pref. 389-0821 Japan *Telephone: (026)275-1032 *Facsimile: (026)276-1032 (24 hours) このページの先頭へ▲