Local Guide ~ Ayumi Endo, MICHIKUSA Guide ~ Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Ayumi Endo

Shinshu Camera Girls

Photographer of Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps. With camera in hand, he is constantly researching to take killer photos. He is sensitive to the daily seasonal changes, such as the blooming of cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and snowy landscapes, and is always on the lookout for the best photo opportunities.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps: A hot spring inn where you can experience the luxurious countryside of Shinshu. Guest rooms and hot spring baths line both sides of the "gangi," an arcade in the snow country, and offer a spectacular view of the Alps and a river filled with melting snow. Warm up in the sunken kotatsu and enjoy a peaceful stay with the hospitality of the sunken hearth.

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Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend (places, experiences, food) in the Omachi area of Nagano?: Oyamachi Village is located in Ogawa Village in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, which is a member of the "Union of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan. Here, visitors can enjoy freshly baked oyaki and handmade soba noodles in a "pit dwelling" that resembles a Jomon-era dwelling. Another important point is that visitors can experience authentic oyaki making for only 500 yen, though reservations are required!

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: The first is the summit of Mt. Takagari, about 30 minutes by car from Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Northern Alps illuminated by the morning sun. In particular, the view of the snow-covered Alps turning red is truly breathtaking.
The second is the summit of Mt. Oguma, about 30 minutes by car from Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps. The collaboration of the morning sun rising in the direction of Higashiyama in Omachi City and Lake Kisaki is also spectacular. Depending on the day, a sea of clouds can also be seen!

Where did you travel to last year and with whom?: Over the holiday weekend, my partner and I went to Cuba and Mexico, two places on the other side of the world. It was a very short trip, two nights in Mexico, two nights in Cuba, and two nights on a plane, but we had a great time visiting Mayan ruins and going horseback riding in the Cuban countryside.

What do you do on your days off?: I love "making" things, so on my days off, I basically stay at home cooking, arranging dried flowers, making accessories, and drawing pictures. When the weather is nice, I go outside to take pictures.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: I take a notebook to write my travel diary, my SLR camera, and my Gopro if I go diving. For the past few years, it has been a boom for me to make an original calendar every year with the photos I have taken in various countries and regions.