どこか温泉へ行きたいときには、大抵、長野へ行きます。東京から新幹線ですぐに行けて、良い温泉宿がたくさんあるのが魅力です。今回は、仲良しの友人たちと遠足気分で行ってきました！
長野には見所がたくさんありますが、途中、長野の名物お蕎麦を食べたり、酒造に寄ったりしながら、お気に入りの湯宿せきやで１泊してきました。
When we feel like going to onsen we usually go to Nagano prefecture, and spend one night at a nice onsen-yado (Japanese traditional inn where you can enjoy hot springs). Access from Tokyo to Nagano is easy by taking a bullet train Shinkansen, and there are many excellent onsen-yado in Nagano. On the day before Christmas Eve we took a trip to Nagano with my best friends. There are lots of things to see and do in Nagano. On the way to Yuyado Sekiya, our accommodation for the night, we had soba noodles for lunch, which is one of the local specialities of Nagano. Closer to our destination we also stopped by a sake brewery for a tasting.
長野と言ったら、お蕎麦〜。途中、上田インターで降りて、草笛というお蕎麦やさんでランチ。長野県全土にあるチェーン店のようですが、ものすごいボリュームで食べきれない！
When you think about Nagano, soba noodles might first come to mind. We got off the highway at Ueda exit and had lunch at the local restaurant “Kusabue”. This restaurant is one of the chains spreading out all over Nagano. The amount of the food is huge, you can barely finish!
渋温泉で、玉村本店へ入っていく輩たち。こちらの酒造では、お酒だけでなく、「志賀高原ビール」や「山伏」というクラフトビールを造っています。
My friends are entering the gallery of “Tamamura honten” a sake brewery in Shibu onsen. This sake brewery brews not only sake, but beer as well. Their famous brand is “Shigakogen beer” and “Yamabushi”. Craft beer is booming in Japan, and you can sometimes find a local brewery in the countryside.
渋温泉は、近くにスノーモンキーの愛称で人気の地獄谷野猿公苑があるということもあって、外国人に大人気のようです！酒造はまるでバーのようでした！
Shibu onsen became popular due to the “Jigokudani Yaen-koen” a.k.a. snow monkey park near by. The tasting room on the first floor was bustling with overseas tourists! You can also enjoy some art collections from the artists who visited Shibu onsen on the second floor.
こちらの試飲は無料で〜す！こんなにたくさんの種類の飲み比べができるなんて素敵〜。
These bottles of sake are free for tasting! I find it amazing that you can taste such a variety of sake?
長野県山ノ内町にある上林温泉（かんばやしおんせん）は、北アルプスの麓にある閑静な温泉地で、知名度はあまりないかもしれませんが、情緒ある温泉街として有名な湯田中・渋温泉郷にほど近い丘の上にあります。ここには宿は数軒しかなく、林に囲まれた上品な温泉地です。
歩いて数分のところには、地獄谷野猿公苑への山道があるので、猿を見に行くには便利なロケーションです。
Kanbayashi onsen in Yamanochi village is located on the foot of the northern Alps, surrounded by quiet neighborhood. It is not famous onsen but there are a few sophisticated onsenyado where you can relax and enjoy the tranquil time. The entrance to the hiking trail to “Jigokudani Yaen Koen” is just a few minutes away from Kanbayashi onsen. Yudanaka/Shibu onsen is only 15~20 minutes walk away from Kanbayashi onsen, which is known for its traditional atmosphere of onsen village.
お部屋が改装されていて、和洋室になっていました！これでもいちばんスタンダードな遊季亭というお部屋なんですが、５４平米、最大６名まで泊まれます。
湯宿 せきやへの宿泊ははこれで５回目です！いつ行っても、お部屋綺麗で広し、食事美味しくて量多し、露天風呂素晴らし、コスパ良し、とサイコーの宿なんです。
The standard room “Yukitei” has been refurnished from the Japanese style room to the Japanese-Western style room. The size of this room is 54 square meters large, and can accommodate up to six people. I think it is quite huge for the size of a standard room. Actually this is the fifth time for me to stay at Sekiya, and I am always satisfied with their service, food, onsen, and the price. It is great value for money!
貸切露天風呂は３種類（木桶風呂、岩風呂、ヒノキ風呂）ありますが、私の一番のお気に入りは、この木桶風呂！ここでボーっと外を眺めながら、ずっと入って入れるんだな〜。この木桶にはジャグジーも付いてます！
There are three kinds of roten buro (outdoor bath), wooden barrel bath, stone bath, hinoki wooden bath. My favorite bath is the wooden barrel bath! I can spend a whole day just soaking in the onsen and looking at the forest besides. This wooden barrel bath has a jacuzzi function.
せきやの魅力の１つは、ボリュームミーな食事にあります！かなり食べ応えがありますね。お肉も気前の良い大きさ！
One of the reasons I am so fascinated with the Sekiya is, the large amount of the food! The dinner course menu starts with the appetizer that you can enjoy the different tastes little by little. On our most recent visit we had beef shabu shabu, sashimi, stewed seasonal vegetables, grilled river fish, tempura, scallops and beef steak, rice, clear soup, pickles, finally dessert.
翌朝は、馬曲温泉（まぐせおんせん）望郷の湯へ！途中、志賀高原の白樺と雪がおとぎ話のワンシーンのように綺麗でした！
Next morning we were to explore “Maguse onsen”, which is located about 25 km up north from Kanbayashi onsen. On departure we made a detour to the higher altitude Okushiga kogen and enjoyed the beautiful winter scenery.
望郷の湯からの眺めは、名前に違わず圧巻です！秋には山が赤く染まり、とても綺麗なんでしょう。
The view from “Bokyono yu” is stunning! “Bokyo” literary means overlooking the village, and it also suggests thinking back to the old days, about your hometown, etc. The view of the sky is expansive and I felt so liberated. During the autumn you can enjoy the colors of the foliage.
最後に、小布施ワイナリーへ。こちらもお気に入りの立ち寄り先のひとつ。テイスティングもできますよ〜！
We concluded our trip with a visit to Obuse Winery, one of my favorite spots in Nagano, where you can enjoy tastings along with purchasing.
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湯宿 せきや
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Day 1: Rue de Vin〜Villa De’st Garden Farm and Winery〜草笛上田店〜玉村本店〜湯宿せきや
(Rue de Vin~Villa Deist Garden Farm and Winery~Kusabue Ueda brunch~Tamamura hoten~Yuyado Sekiya)
Day 2: 志賀高原〜馬曲温泉〜小布施ワイナリー
(Shiga Kogen~Maguse onsen~Obuse Winery)
