Local Supporter Ayumi Endo | Michikusa Guide

Local Supporter

Ayumi Endo

Shinshu Camera Girls

The photographer of Kai Alps. With a camera in hand, he is constantly researching how to take killer photos. He keeps a keen eye on the changing seasons, from cherry blossoms and fresh greenery to autumn leaves and snowy landscapes, always waiting for the perfect shutter opportunity.

KAI Alps: A hot spring inn where you can experience the luxurious countryside of Shinshu. Guest rooms and hot spring buildings are lined up on both sides along the "gangi" (snow country arcade), overlooking the magnificent views of the Alps and a river filled with snowmelt water. Enjoy a stay where you can warm up in a sunken kotatsu and relax with the hospitality of an irori hearth.

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Local Supporter FAQ

What are your recommendations for the Nagano Omachi area (places, experiences, gourmet food)?: Oyaki Village is located in Ogawa Village in northern Nagano Prefecture, which is also a member of the "Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan." Here, you can enjoy freshly baked oyaki and handmade soba noodles inside "pit dwellings" modeled after Jomon-period homes. Also, although a reservation is required, a highlight is that you can experience making authentic oyaki for just 500 yen!

Please secretly tell us some hidden gems that only a local would know.: The first spot is the summit of Mt. Takagari, about a 30-minute drive from KAI Alps. From here, you can get a panoramic view of the Northern Alps illuminated by the morning sun. The sight of the snow-capped Northern Alps turning red is truly a breathtaking view.
The second spot is the summit of Mt. Oguma, also about a 30-minute drive from KAI Alps. The collaboration between the morning sun rising over the Higashiyama area of Omachi City and Lake Kizaki is another spectacular sight. Depending on the day, you can even see a sea of clouds!

Who did you travel with and where did you go last year?: During a long weekend, my partner and I went to Cuba and Mexico on the other side of the world. It was a super whirlwind trip with two nights in Mexico, two nights in Cuba, and two nights on planes, but we fully enjoyed it, visiting Mayan ruins and going horseback riding in the Cuban countryside.

How do you spend your days off?: I love "making" things, so on my days off, I basically stay home and cook, arrange dried flowers, make accessories, or draw. When the weather is nice, I also go out to take pictures.

Is there anything you always bring with you when you travel?: I always bring a notebook to write my travel diary, a single-lens reflex camera, and a GoPro if I'm going diving. For the past few years, it has been my personal trend to make an original calendar every year using the photos I've collected from various countries and regions.