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taka

An amazing hot spring spot! Kusatsu-Onsen

2022-06-25 by Taka

Hi, it’s been a while.
Good news! Japanese government finally resumed accepting foreign tourists this month. Although we are still only able to welcome people from countries designated by the government (and the escorted package tours only), I’m very happy to know that we are gradually regaining our connection with the world outside. For the detailed information, please visit Japan Tourism Agency https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/index.html I have many friends overseas, but I have not been able to see them since the coronavirus outbreak, and it has been a lonely two years … so I really hope that the situation will get better soon.

By the way, on a weekend last month, I took a first trip from Tokyo to Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. It was a place I had wanted to visit for a long time, and it was really great! Let me share some information here.

About Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan, located in Gunma Prefecture, with a natural gush of more than 32,300 liters of hot spring water per minute. Located at an altitude of 1,100 to 1,200 meters above sea level, the hot springs here have been known since the Muromachi period (1336-1573) as medicinal waters that are “effective for all but love sickness.” Visitors can walk to a variety of hot springs in the area. Recently, buses and other transportation has become more readily available, and the area has become a popular tourist destination for young people.

Yubatake

This hot spring is located in the center of the hot spring resort. Designed by the famous artist Taro Okamoto, it is a popular spot for photographers because of the constant flow of fresh hot spring water and the beautiful lighting at night. Yubatake is for viewing only and you can not take a bath here, though!

yubatake

Yumomi

The onsen of Kusatsu is very hot, around 50°C, so Yumomi is done to lower the temperature. Wooden boards approximately 180 centimeters long are placed in the hot spring water to stir and cool the hot onsen. You can see a performance (named Yumoni) of folk songs sung while the hot water is being stirred at a place called Atsunoyu near Yubatake.

yumomi

3 Major Hot Springs

Visitors can take a tour of three famous hot springs in Kusatsu Onsen, Oza-no-yu, Otaki-no-yu, and Nishi-no-Kawahara Natural Hot Spring, with a 500 yen discount. Tickets are sold at each hot spring location. These three hot springs are definitely worth a visit. You’ll need a towel at the hot springs, so don’t forget to bring one!

3 major hot springs

Souvenirs and Food

Popular foods in Kusatsu Onsen include onsen manju(steamed bun), udon, pudding, and more! Gunma Prefecture is famous for leeks, so you can also enjoy dishes using leeks and fresh vegetables. Glass works inspired by hot springs are also popular as souvenirs. I bought one for myself!

Access

The easiest way to get there from Tokyo is by bus. You can take a direct bus from major bus terminals such as Shinjuku/Shibuya, which takes about 4 hours and costs about 3,800 yen one way.

If you want to get to Kusatsu from Tokyo more quickly, you can take the express train from Ueno Station to Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station and then take a bus to the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. The trip will take about 3 hours and cost 5,450 yen one way.

*Since the onsen is shared with other guests, you cannot enter if you have tattoos. If you have a tatoo, you may want to book a hotel with a private hot spring for your own use.

I have visited many hot spring resorts in Japan, but Kusatsu Onsen is the best place to enjoy onsen so far! You can go sightseeing on foot in Kusatsu Onsen area, and it’s a great place to visit with friends, couples, families, or even by yourself. I highly recommend that you visit Kusatsu Onsen when you come to Japan!

See you next time,
Taka


久しぶりの投稿です。

今月、ついに日本でも外国人観光客の受け入れが再開しました!

旅行業者等を受入責任者とする添乗員付きのパッケージツアーの受入れが6月10日にスタートしていて、まだ政府が指定した国からの入国しかできませんが、少しずつ世界とのつながりを取り戻しつつあることは本当に嬉しいことです。

今後、より自由に渡航ができるようになると予想されます。詳細については Japan Tourism Agency https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/index.html をご覧ください。

僕は海外に友達がたくさんいますが、コロナウイルスの流行以降会えず、とても寂しい2年間だったので、これからさらに状況が改善されていくことを願います。

さて、先月の週末、東京から群馬県にある草津温泉に初めて旅行に行きました。以前から行ってみたかった場所で、本当に良いところだったので、ここで色々と情報を共有いたします!

草津温泉について

草津温泉は群馬県にある、日本で最も有名な温泉地の一つで、温泉の自然湧出量は毎分3万2300ℓ以上もあります。標高1,100から1,200メートルの高地に位置するこの場所の温泉は、室町時代から「恋の病以外は全てに効果がある」薬湯として親しまれており、歩いてさまざまな温泉に訪れることができます。最近ではバスなどの交通アクセスも便利になり、若者にも人気の観光地になっています。

湯畑

温泉街の中心部にある源泉です。有名な芸術家、岡本太郎によりデザインされたこの場所では常に温泉が流れ、夜には美しいライトアップがされるため、写真家たちの間でも人気です。

湯もみ

草津温泉の源泉は50℃ほどでとても熱いので、温度を下げるためにこれが行われます。温泉の中に約180センチメートルの板を入れて温泉をかき混ぜます。湯もみを行いながら民謡を歌うパフォーマンスを湯畑すぐそばの熱乃湯という場所で見ることができます。

3湯巡り

草津温泉にある、御座之湯、大滝乃湯、西の河原天然温泉の3つの有名な温泉を500円引きで巡ることができます。それぞれの温泉の場所でチケットを販売しているので、この3つの温泉は、ぜひ一度訪れてみてください。温泉ではタオルが必要なので、持っていくのを忘れないように!

お土産や食べ物

草津温泉で人気な食べ物は、温泉まんじゅう、うどん、プリンなどさまざまなものがあります。群馬県はネギが有名なので、ネギを使った料理や新鮮な野菜も楽しむことができます。お土産として、温泉をイメージしたガラス細工も人気です。僕も一つ購入しました!

アクセス

東京からバスで行くのが最も楽なアクセス方法です。新宿/渋谷などの主要なバスターミナルから直行バスを利用することができ、4時間くらいの所要時間で片道3,800円ほどで行き来することができます。

より早く東京から草津に行きたい場合は、上野駅から長野原草津口駅へ特急列車で行き、その後バスで草津温泉バスターミナルまで行く方法があります。その場合、3時間ほどの所要時間で片道5,450円になります。

*温泉は他のお客さんと共有するので、タトゥーがあると入れません。その場合は、プライベートで使える貸切温泉がついているホテルを予約して利用すると良いでしょう。

色々な温泉地を訪れましたが、草津温泉は温泉を楽しむには1番良い場所だと思いました!歩いて観光ができ、友達やカップル、家族でも楽しめるので日本を訪れたらぜひ行ってみてください。

それではまた!
Taka


※ Please note that the translation is not exact!
ブログの対訳は気分で書いてるので、厳密な訳文ではありません笑 あしからず

Today’s words and phrases

foreign tourist   外国人観光客(がいこくじんかんこうきゃく)
hot spring spot  温泉地(おんせんち)
folk song    民謡(みんよう)
souvenir     お土産(おみやげ)
express train     急列車(とっきゅうれっしゃ)

Filed Under: Learn Japanese, Places outside of Tokyo, 英語学習 Tagged With: gunma, japan, kusatsuonsen, onsen, study english, study japanese, taka, tour in japan, travel in japan, what to do in japan, yubatake, yumomi, 原貴浩, 日本語学習, 温泉, 温泉観光, 湯もみ, 湯畑, 英語学習, 草津温泉

New music is available online!

2020-06-20 by Taka

Hi, how are you doing?
I have just released my new single, “Multicolors” online!
It is available on Spotify, iTunes music, Apple music, and more.

I wrote this instrumental music and played all instruments.
Mastering engineer is Michifumi Onodera
Art work in by Eternal Sunshine by Jessamine Narita(https://www.jessaminenarita.com/).

This work is called “Multicolors”. I mixed the elements of western and eastern sounds using Koto, the guitar, the bass, etc. This is my way of respecting the different cultures and telling the importance of diversity.

Since the spread of the virus, I haven’t heard any good news recently… some people started hating each other and many are stressed out staying home and keeping distance.

I hope this music will give you some energy to go through the difficult time right now and remind you of the importance of understanding and helping each other.

You can also listen to my 2 albums that are also available online.

Enjoy your weekend!
Stay safe and well.
Taka

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: applemusic, artist, composer, coronavirus, itunes, japanese musician, koto, multicolors, multiculturism, music, new music, respect, spotify, stayhome, taka, マルチカラーズ, 国際協力, 多文化共生, 箏

Visit Mt.Norikura, an excellent hiking place in Japan!

2019-10-16 by Taka

Hi, how’s eveything?
We just had a terrible typhoon a few days ago. 

It didn’t hit Takayama, the area where I live now, but a lot of places in Nagano have damaged seriously. 
I hope nothing bad will happen this year any more… 

Beautiful view at Mt. Norikura

Last month I climbed Mt. Norikura, which is 3,026m meters above sea level and is one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains. 
It was my first time to get there and I really enjoyed my trip so I would like to share about it here. 

To get there, it is the best to take a bus.
Private cars are not allowed in the area.
Bus goes to a station at 2,702 meters above sea level (which is the highest bus stop in Japan).
You can use Nohi bus from Takayama, Hirayu, or Honoki-daira(takes about 90min, 60min, 45min respectively).

From the bus station, you can choose to climb different areas as shown on the map below. 

Map is provided by Norikura Natural Environment Guide Center,
Hida Norikura Tourism Association

To its highest peak, Mt.Kegamine, it takes about 90 min on foot. 
Although you could wear casual clothes and shoes, you are strongly advised to wear climbing shoes as the way to get there is really steep and can be slippery if it rains. 

This is the way to the highest peak of Mt. Norikura

You can enjoy watching beautiful ponds, flowers, and wild life such as Ptarmigans in Mt.Norikura.

A pond in Norikura

From mid-July to mid-September, you can take early morning bus to see the sunrise, and Norikura is particularly popular during September to October when visitors can enjoy beautiful Autumn leaves. 

Norikura in Autumn

If you are planning to visit Mt. Norikura this year, you need to be hurry because it will be closed at the end of Oct. The opening day is on May 15th every year.

Mt. Norikura is a perfect place to hike in Japan! 
Enjoy visiting there and taking pictures of beautiful nature. 

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.

Filed Under: Places outside of Tokyo Tagged With: chubu mountains, hidanotaka, hidanotaka.com, hiking in japan, mountain in japan, mt.norikura, natura in japan, taka, Takayama, visit japan, 乗鞍岳, 原貴浩, 日本観光

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Taka/原貴浩

Taka吉祥寺出身の元大手英会話学校教務主任、作曲家、コンテンツ開発/編集者。高校生の時に出会ったアメリカ人の英語の先生がきっかけで英語や海外文化に興味を持つようになり、18歳で単身アメリカのフロリダ州へ音楽留学、主席で卒業。帰国後は舞台や楽曲制作などエンタメ業界に関わりながら長年英会話の講師として務め、英語関連の書籍や音声/動画コンテンツの制作、編集なども行っている。コロナ禍前に岐阜県の高山に移住し、同市の英語講師、通訳案内士やゲストハウスの立ち上げを行いながら、外国人移住者と地域住民との架け橋となる多文化共生支援団体、Family Planet Japanの代表としても活動。英語や音楽を通した人とのつながり作りや、まちづくりにも精力的に関わっている。 Introduction

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