あずまや高原ホテルと上田城 "Azumaya Kogen Hotel" and "Ueda Castle"

２００６年６月１０日～１１日、上信越国立公園の四阿山（あずまやさん）の南の中腹に
ある｢あずまや高原ホテル｣に行って来ました。
I went to "Azumaya Kogen Hotel" (alpine hotel) at halfway down south of
Mt. Azumayasan in Jyoshinetsu National Park in June 10 and 11, 2006.

瀬戸市の自宅からホテルまで、途中、寄り道をし、なるべく、最短距離で有料道路
を使わないように経路を設定。目的地までの所要距離は片道約２５０kmでした。
We drove out of our way to the hotel, and stopped for rest or shopping in several
"Michi-no-Eki" (or Station of Road along national road). In addtion, we tried to
take the shortest way and not to use toll road as far as possible. Distance required
to arrive at the hotel was about 250 km.

詳細なアクセスルートは下記。
Detail access route is shown below.

標高１５００ｍに位置するホテルからは、南に浅間山、西に美ヶ原高原や
北アルプス連邦が見渡せるとのこと。
宿泊当日の夜は浅間山や北アルプス連邦の稜線が暗いなりに望めたが、
翌朝は雲に覆われ、見ることが出来なかった。　従って、このページに写真を
掲載できません。
Mt. Asama at south and Utsukushigahara Plateau and North Alps mountain ranges
at west are said to be looked over from the hotel at a height of 1500 m above sea level.
The edges of Mt. Asama and North Alps mountain ranges could be viewed even if
it was dark at the night. Then, photos for the mountains were not shown.

雑誌｢楽風（らくふう）｣２００５　１０月号　Vol.1の最終ページにこのホテルに関し
写真入りで３ページにわたって紹介されていた。　紹介記事の一部。
主として、この雑誌の取材記者とホテルの副支配人との問答形式で紹介されています
（内容の要旨を変えない程度で、一部、ウェブ作者が勝手に文章を変更）。
On final 3 pages of a magazine "Rakufuu Oct. 2005 issue Vol. 1", an introduction
of this hotel was given with 3 photos. Part of the introduction is summarised by this
web writer below. The introduction is mainly given in question and answer between a
news reporter of the magazine and an assistant manager of the hotel.
(Without departing from the gist, the expression is changed by this web writer.)

ページのタイトルは｢雄大な自然と心温まるサービスが出迎えてくれる高原ホテル｣。
Title of the page is "Alpine hotel greeting guests with grand nature and heartwarming
hospitality".

１　四阿山（あずまやさん）の西側にはスキーヤーやスポーツ合宿の若者たちで
　　賑わう菅平高原がある。　四阿高原は知名度こそ菅平に劣るが、それだけに
　　手つかずの自然と静かな環境が保たれている。
1 Sugadaira plateaul crowded with skiers or youth for sport camping is at west of
　Mt. Azumayasan. Mt. Azumayasan is not bigger name than Sugadaira plateau.
　So, intact nature and quiet environment is kept.

２　｢特別なことはしていませんが、お客様の声を聞いて、それにできるだけ
　　応える努力をしています｣と副支配人。
2 "Something special is not done. We try to meet with guests request after hearing",
　said the assistant manager of the hotel.

３　近くの観光地を回る｢バスツアー｣など、これまでも宿泊客の要望から
　　さまざまなイベントが生まれてきた。
3 Various events such as "Bus tour" visiting nearby sightseeing spots were created
　up to now.

４　これらのイベントにつき、ホテルのスタッフが自らガイドをする。
4 Staffs of the hotel guide by themselves on the events.

５　スタッフの多くが地元出身者で出入りが少ない為、家族経営の日本旅館の
　　ように、いつ来ても、なじみの顔が出迎えてくれる。
5 Many of the staffs are home-grown people. So, they do not come and go frequently.
　The hotel is like family-run Japanese inn and greets guests with the staffs familiar
　to the guests even if they visit the hotel any time.]

６　お客様に自分たちの望むホテルを作って頂いているようなものです。
6 As if the hotel is converted to comfortable house for the guests by the guests.

このタイトルやスタッフのもてなしの精神に偽りなしを実感しました。
True to the title of the page such as grand nature and heartwarming hospitality

装飾、全面ガラス張りのレストラン、部屋など設備は申し分ない。
Decoration, glass-walled restaurant or room is satisfactory.

温泉の泉質は単純アルカリ低張性泉で良いが、湯量が少ないので、源泉かけ流し
ではなく、循環式（？）の為、時間とともに泉質が薄まっていく。１回目入浴した時は
良いと思ったが、２回目入浴時は、ヌルヌル感と引っ張るような感じが余りなかった。
従って、２４時間入浴可能ではあったが、３回目以後の入浴は止めました。
Cold plain alkali hypooncotic spring quality at this hotel has characteristics of pulling
skin out and making it smooth. I like the characteristics. But, volume of spring does
not seem to be affluent. So, water seems to be added to the spring, warmed and
circulated in bathtubs. 1st bathing was comfortable, but 2nd one was not because
the spring was watered down. I did not take the bath after that.

夕食は和風会席で、特に豪華とか美味しいという感じはしなかった。
刺身の素材がいまいち。朝食はバイキングスタイルで一般的。
Dinner was a set of Japanese style dishes served on an individual tray, but there is
nothing worthy of special mention in luxuriousness or delicacy. Quality or material of
sashimi (or sliced raw fish) is not enough to satisfy. Breakfast was served in ordinary
buffet style (or all-you-can-eat).

帰りは、真田十勇士で有名な上田城に立寄りました。この城跡公園内の真田神社で
交通安全のお守りを買い、又、時代を天正年間（１５８０年頃）に遡らせ、当時の雰囲気
の一端を西櫓（やぐら）や真田井戸などで味わってきました。
On the way back to home, we dropped by Ueda Castle which is famous with "Sanada
Jyuuyuushi" (or "Sanada ten brave"). We bought lucky charm for safe driving at
"Sanada Jinja"shrine in a park of "ruins of the castle". Dating back to Tensho era
(year of 1580's; or the age of provincial wars between 1467-1615) , I appreciated a
part of an atomosphere of that time through "west turret" or "Sanada water well".

真田幸村は真田昌幸の長男だと思っていたら、次男で、長男は真田信之。徳川を
震え上がらせた真田の知謀と上田城とはどんなだろうと思っていたので、現地確認を
しましたが、こんな平城でよく徳川秀忠の大軍を阻止したものだと不思議に思いました。
I thought Mr. Yukimura Sanada was eldest son of Mr. Masayuki Sanada 【See Note 1】,
but was his second son. Lord Sanada, his family and his follower gave Tokugawa Ieyasu
a shudder. I have been interested in Sanada and went to Ueda Castle to confirm the
reason. The castle did not stand at an upland area of difficult terrain, but at plain field.
It was surrounded by water-filled moats at north, east and west, and by a cliff at south.
But, it appeared to be easily broken through by attack from many enemy forces.
I wonder Sanada in Ueda Castle could preven large enemy force of Hidetada Tokugawa
from penetration.

【Note 1 (only for English explanation)】
Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo Shogunate (1603 - 1867)

【アクセスルート】
往路も帰路もホテル指定のルートとは別のルートを利用。
【Access Route】
For outward and homeward journeys, different access route from the one designated
by the hotel was taken.

＜往路＞　約２５０km
瀬戸市の自宅→国道２４８号→多治見市笠原＜県道６６号｢多治見・恵那線｣＞
→恵那＜国道１９号＞→中津川→平瀬口＜国道１９号＞右折→
松本トンネル＜１００円＞→六助池＜国道２５４号＞→｢三才山トンネル｣＜５００円＞
和子＜国道２５４号＞を左折→国道１５２号を北進→国道１８号を横切り一般連絡道
→国道１４４号→菅平口（進行方向を斜め右へ；左折すると菅平高原へ行ってしまう）
→約３km先の分岐点を看板に従って左折；約２kmでホテル到着
＜Outward journey＞　Ab. ２５０km
My house in Seto City →　National road Route 248 →Kasahara, Tajimi City
＜Prefectural road route 66 "Tajimi-Ena route"＞ →Ena ＜Route 19＞→Nakatsugawa
→ Hiraseguchi＜Route19＞right turn → Matsumoto Tunnel＜\100＞→Rokusukeike
＜Route 254＞→ "Sansaiyama Tunnel＜\500＞ Kazuko ＜Route 254＞left turn
→Route 152 northing →cross Route 18 to General connecting road →Route 144
→Sugadairaguchi （advance the road diagonally to right hand side); if turning to left,
taken to Sugadaira Plateau） →Turn right at the fork about 3 km up the road
according to signboard; arriving at the hotel in about 2 km

＜昼食＞
松本市内の国道１９号沿いの｢味の民芸｣で昼食。　
｢『あんかけうどん』と『白玉のあんみつ』のセット｣非常に美味しかった。
偶然、立寄ったが、量は多く、味は良く、値段は納得で大満足。
＜Lunch ＞
Had a lunch at a restaurant, "Aji-no-Mingei" along route 19 in Matsumoto City.
Set of "Ankake-udon" and "Shiratama-Anmitsu"【See Note 2】) was delicious.
Although we happened to drop by the restaurant, the lunch was large in volume,
good in taste and reasonable in prices, satisfying very much.

【Note 2 (only for English explanation)】
"Ankake-udon" is "Japanese noodle in hot soup mixed with starch".
"Shiratama-Anmitsu" is "sweet bean paste parfait with flour sweet dumpling".

＜帰路＞
ホテル→国道１４４号→｢中央東｣を右折→国道１８号→｢中央西｣左折
→２つ目の信号を右折→上田城【注3参照】と真田神社→国道１８号
→更埴（こうしょく）IC＜長野自動車道＞→塩尻北IC＜長野自動車道＞→
→国道１９号　→県道６６号→国道２４８号→瀬戸市の自宅
＜Return journey＞
Hotel →National road Route144→ "Chuo Higashi" turn right→ Route １8→
"Chuo Nishi" turn left → Turn right at 2nd traffic signal → Ueda Castle 【See Note 3】
and Sanada Jinja shrine → Route １8 →Kooshoku IC ＜Nagano Expressway ＞
→Shiojiri Kita IC＜Nagano Expressway ＞ → Route １9 →Prefectural road route 66
→ National road Route 248 → My house in Seto City

＜昼食＞
国道１９号の交差点｢原野｣（木曽駒高原の入り口）にある「水車家」で｢ぶっかけそば｣。
量が多いうえに、非常に美味しい。ざる蕎麦ではないので、蕎麦湯は出ませんが、
蕎麦茶が出されます。これも美味しいです。木曽駒高原へ来るたびに、ここで｢ざる蕎麦｣
を良く食べます。　これも量が多いうえに、非常に美味しい。
ここはお奨め。　自宅近くにあれば、毎週でも食べに行きたい。
＜Lunch ＞
Had a "Bukkake-soba" buckwheat noodle at a restaurant, "Suishaya" at an
intersection "Harano" (an entrance to Kisokoma plateau) on National road Route１9.
big in volume, and good in taste.
"Bukkake-soba" is not "Zarusoba" (or "bamboo sieve buckwheat noodles") . So,
"Sobayu" or "(hot liquid taken after buckwheat noodle was boiled in hot water")
was not served, but "Sobacha" (or "buckwheat tea") was served.
"Sobacha" was tasty.
We had "Zarusoba" here amost every time we came to "Kisokoma plateau".
This is also large in volume and very good in taste and recommendable.
If the restaurant is near my house, we would go for lunch almost every week.

【注３】　上田城
　＜インターネットhttp://shiro39.hp.infoseek.co.jp/koushinetu/ueda/ueda.htm
や上田城で頂いたパンフレットの説明を参照＞

平城で二度、徳川軍の攻撃を守り抜いた戦国の名城。
上田城は真田幸村と真田信之の父、真田昌幸が天正１１年(１５８３)から築城に着手、
天正１３年(１５８５)に完成。
徳川家康の上田攻めや、関ケ原の合戦に駆けつける徳川秀忠の大軍を阻んだ。
関ケ原の合戦に際して、長男の信之は東軍(徳川方)につき、真田昌幸と幸村親子
は西軍(石田三成方)に味方した。真田家の存続を思えばこその選択であった。
合戦後、真田昌幸・幸村親子は紀州九度山に蟄居を命じられ、上田城は破却されて、
東軍に加わった真田信之に与えられた。
元和８年(１６２２)信之は信濃松代に移封、替わって仙石忠政が信濃小諸から６万石
で入封した。
仙石忠政は徳川幕府の許可を得て、寛永３年(１６２６)から上田城の再建に着手。
現在見られる上田城の姿はこの時のもの。
【Note 3】Ueda Castle
An introduction on Ueda Castle is summarized briefly by this web page writer from
a pamphlet received at the castle and a web page on the following URL
http://shiro39.hp.infoseek.co.jp/koushinetu/ueda/ueda.htm.

Sanada and his follower defended Ueda Castle standing on plain field against attack
from Tokugawa army two times . Ueda Castle is said to be one of representative
castles in Japan. Mr. Yukimura Sanada and his second son, Nobuyuki Sanada
started to build the castle in 1583, and completed in 1985.
Ueda Castle blocked attack from Tokugawa Ieyasu or Tokugawa Hidetada's great
army which was expected to rush into "Sekigahara Battle".
In the Sekigahara Battle, Sanada family took on each side. Masayuki's eldest son,
Nobuyuki becameon a side of East army (or Tokugawa) and Masayuki and his
second son, Yukimura became on a side of West army (or "Mitsunari Ishida") .
This choise was made by Sanada family to maintain Sanada family
After the battle, Masayuki and Yukimura, parent and child ware ordered to stay at
Mt. Kudoyama in Kishu clan (Wakayama Pref. at present) , and Ueda Castke was
broken and given to Nobuyuki Sanada who fought for the East army.
Nobuyuki Sanada was transferred to Shinano-Matsushiro (Matsushiro City, at
present) in 1622, and Mr. Tadamasa Sengoku was transferred into the Ueda Castle
with control right for 60 thousands bale of official rice harvest from Shinano-Komoro
(Komoro City at present).
Mr. Tadamasa Sengoku was allowed to start reconstructing the Uedda Castle by
Tokugawa government from 1626 on. The Ueda Castle seen at present was shaped
with this reconstruction.

ホテルを西から見る　＜正面２階は全面ガラス張りのレストラン＞ View of Hotel from west ＜Glass-walled Restaurant at 2nd floor of front＞	バイキングスタイルの朝食 Buffet style (or all-you-can-eat) Breakfast

レストラン前 In front of restaurant	レストラン前 In front of restaurant

和洋室入口から奥を見る View of back from entrance	和洋室奥から入口を見る View of entrance from back

玄関横に熊の人形 Bear doll at side of entrance	玄関横の花 Flower at side of entrance

真田神社（手前左右に狛犬） "Sanada Jinja"shrine (a pair of stone-carved guardian dogs at front left and right sides)	真田井戸（手前） Sanada water well (at front side)

西櫓 West turret ＜窓は突き上げ戸の｢武者窓｣。射撃用の小窓｢矢狭間(やざま)・｣｢鉄砲狭間｣も設けられている＞	西櫓から南を望む View to south at "West turret"

本丸跡南の土手に咲く花｢シモツケ｣ Flower, "Shimotsuke" at south bank of ruin of castle keep	左の花のズーム Zoom in of left flower

戊辰後上田藩従軍記念碑＜本丸跡＞【注４参照】 Monument for army joining Ueda Clan after Boshin War ＜Ruin of castle keep＞【See Note 4】	本丸掘＜南の絶壁以外本丸を三方から囲む堀；これでは攻めにくい＞ Moat of castle keep ＜The castle keep is surrounded by moats except for south; Cliff is at south.＞

アグリパークでいちご狩り＜１２月～６月；今の季節が最も安い＞ Strawberry Picking at Agripark ＜Dec. - June; June is the cheapest for experience.＞	アグリパーク横のポピー農園＜近くの保育園の園児が育てた；自由に花を摘める＞ Poppy farm near Agripark ＜Nearby nursery school child brought up; tourists can pick free.　＞